Latest news with #Dix
Sky News AU
29-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
A former church is on the market in outback south Australia, and it comes with no council rates
A former church in the South Australian outback is being touted as a bargain buy, with the property listed for under $100,000. The former church, located 375 kilometres north-west of Adelaide in the town of Iron Knob, is on the market for just $96,800. 'You couldn't get much cheaper,'' Ray White agent Colin Dix told 'There's no actual council in Iron Knob… so you're not paying $1000-plus a year in rates.' There are also no sewer charges, with the owners only required to make a $360 a year payment to a government body called the Outback Community Authority - which helps oversee the management of remote communities. Mr Dix said the listing had drawn interest from locals and former residents looking to return to Iron Knob. While there were few facilities in Iron Knob, a formerly bustling mining town regarded as the birthplace of Australia's steel industry, it is located just 30 minutes from Whyalla and 40 minutes from Port Augusta. While the old church contains a kitchen, it does not have an interior toilet. The bathroom is instead located in an exterior building on the property. Mr Dix said the exterior toilet could be easily converted into a full bathroom, adding: "The plumbing is all there so it's just a matter of installing it". Referencing the cheap OCA payments, Mr Dix also claimed living in the church would likely be less expensive than renting a home.
Vancouver Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Capacity crunch? B.C. Hydro seeks proposals for more backup power for provincial grid
With no new big dams of its own to build, B.C. Hydro on Wednesday threw open a window for private developers to propose new sources of 'baseload' power to backup the growing list of renewable electricity proposals it's enlisting to expand the province's grid. 'Baseload' refers to sources of power utilities can turn on or off as needed, such as B.C. Hydro's existing dams. With this, Hydro is considering possibilities for geothermal, pump-storage hydro or even grid-scale batteries as a means to meet peak demand when intermittent wind and solar sources are less reliable. B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix didn't put a number on the amount of electricity Hydro might be looking for in a request for expressions of interest, just that 'we want to see what's out there and get those proposals in place.' Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dix, however, characterized the step as 'a moment when we have to build again to diversify, to build the economy and to create wealth,' not dissimilar to the period of B.C.'s dam-building boom in the 1960s and 1970s. 'This call for power, though, is about the growth of our economy, about the opportunities in mining, about the requests for power that are at an extremely high level,' Dix said. 'We've got to build out clean electricity, which is one of our significant economic advantages in B.C.' Critics of the government's energy policy, however, look at the announcement as evidence that the ambitions in government's Clean B.C. plan to electrify the economy are putting a strain on the province's electricity grid. 'This is an acknowledgment that B.C. Hydro is facing a capacity crunch,' said Barry Penner, executive director of the Energy Futures Institute and former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister. Penner's Energy Futures Institute is one of the groups that has questioned whether Hydro is keeping up with demand, particularly since B.C. Hydro is in the third year of drought conditions that have pushed it to being a net importer of electricity. B.C. Hydro's Site C dam, which is expected to be fully in commission by the end of this year, will add eight per cent to B.C.'s electricity supply. Dix added that the 10 independent power projects approved last fall will add another eight per cent, but won't start coming online until 2028. On Wednesday, Penner acknowledged that it makes sense for Hydro to explore the capacity of future options, such as geothermal, but it shouldn't discount the potential of the existing natural-gas-fired power generation that it has on hand now, but is planning on decommissioning as part of its Clean B.C. plan. Penner added that he was attending the Go Clean Energy Conference in Bend, Ore., as he spoke to Postmedia News, where representatives from California talked about that state's plans to pause its plans to get rid of natural-gas-fired plants in light of long-term drought. 'There is some policy cognitive dissonance, shutting down existing capacity when they say we need more,' Penner said. Conservative Opposition critic Larry Neufeld said 'we need to be far less scared of natural gas.' 'We have nothing against green energy whatsoever, the geothermal, the biogas he's talking about,' said Neufeld, who is also the Tory MLA for Peach River North. 'Our concern would be, though, that investing too much in one area leaves us open to not fulfilling the baseload (requirements) as fully as it should be.' However, Mark Zacharias, a special adviser to the think-tank Clean Energy Canada, said 'there are many sources, all of them are … feasible and should be cost-competitive over time.' Considering regulatory timelines, Zacharias said grid-scale batteries would be the quickest to roll out and 'costs at grid scale are just plummeting.' On geothermal, Zacharias said B.C. has a 'medium' potential for the method, which taps heat from underground to power steam turbines, and 'has been successfully used around the planet.' Wednesday's announcement also included a request for expressions of interest for ideas for energy efficiency, which would reduce electricity use. This component does include a target to reduce some 2,000 gigawatt-hours worth of electricity use, the equivalent of powering 200,000 homes, to free up power for potential new industrial users. Hydro CEO Chris O'Riley said the utility wants to talk with potential partners about new technologies that could expand its 'leading energy-efficiency programs.' 'We are looking beyond the near term and opening up exploration of the next chapter of B.C.'s energy future,' O'Riley said. depenner@
Global News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
BC Hydro issues new call for baseload power supply
British Columbia's power utility wants to boost the province's baseload electricity generation capacity in a bid to meet the province's growing demand from residents and industries. Baseload capacity refers to constant and stable power sources, with Energy Minister Adrian Dix announcing BC Hydro's request for expression of interest from companies to provide geothermal or hydroelectric projects to expand long-term power capacity and meet peak demand. 2:12 BC Hydro selects 9 new wind power projects BC Hydro has also launched a second request, seeking partners who can deliver 'market-ready technologies' for boosting power conservation in homes and buildings across the province. Story continues below advertisement Dix says both requests are aimed at matching B.C.'s growth potential with stable and affordable electricity supply. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy BC Hydro has been dealing with a long-term drought that forced the province to import electricity last fiscal year. 2:15 BC Hydro rates going up 7.5 per cent over next 2 years The Crown utility says 13,600 gigawatt hours of power was imported in 2024 — about 22 per cent of all B.C's power — but that the province has been a net electricity exporter for eight of the last 15 years. The utility last year issued a call for power from renewable sources, later selecting nine wind and one solar project — but these are distinct from baseload projects because they rely on what BC Hydro calls 'uncontrollable conditions.'
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Daily Record
Terrified fans took refuge in Liverpool pub after parade crash
Bobby Dix, who runs the Pig & Whistle pub, said around 80 people took shelter after the car was driven into dozens of Liverpool fans. A landlord in Liverpool says people "knocked out of the way" by the car involved in the parade crash took refuge inside his venue in the wake of the incident. Bobby Dix, who runs the Pig & Whistle pub on Covent Garden, said around 80 people took shelter after the car was driven into dozens of Liverpool fans. Thousands of people were in the city centre to celebrate the club's Premier League title-win. Mr Dix, who has been in charge of the pub since last summer, told the Echo: "It was a really joyful day until late. What happened for us was we saw violence kicking off about halfway up Covent Garden. We shuffled the people we had in the little queue inside. It was only after I locked down the pub and got inside that people were saying what they saw. "A couple of the people who were in had been knocked out of the way by people who got struck by the vehicle. They were really close to being hit and were saved by other people's misfortune. Other people were there and saw it. It was a horrific scene and they were just glad to be somewhere safe. For me it was just making sure people were warm and dry. "The spirit was actually good in the pub because everyone was safe. We were pouring beer and everything was okay. There were probably about 80 people in there, so I was close to capacity. Luckily capacity matched the demand." Mr Dix said that police advised him and his staff not to open the door onto Covent Garden, so they closed it for the rest of the evening. The landlord added: "We were on a bit of a lockdown. "They never stopped us from letting people leave but we had to escort them up through the accommodation and through a separate exit. It was probably an hour before people learned a bit more about the incident and were anxious to get out to find what happened to their friends and loved ones who were still out in the street." At least 65 people were injured as the car collided with pedestrians. Fifty of those were taken to hospital, with 11 still receiving treatment. They were all said by police to be in a stable condition and appearing to be recovering well. Merseyside Police confirmed today that a 53-year-old man, who was arrested at the scene, is from West Derby. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. We reported earlier today that the driver may have been attempting to follow an ambulance through the crowds. Multiple sources claimed that the driver of the Ford Galaxy had possibly tailgated an ambulance was a working theory for how the car had gained access to Water Street. At a press conference held this afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told the media police were following this line of enquiry. She said: "It is believed the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in this incident was able to follow an ambulance on Water Street. After the road block was temporarily lifted so the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "As with many large events, with event organisers, we plan for all contingencies, and this included the implementation of road closures to protect pedestrians and an armed policing presence was also in place throughout the day. "There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place, and as we've previously stated, the incident is not being treated as terrorism." A large police presence remains around Water Street and Dale Street, as well as a number of side roads, as police continue to work at the scene. A large blue evidence tent remains on Water Street. Last night the streets packed with fans quickly emptied as police erected a huge cordon around the area. Mr Dix added: "It was more shock for most people. You know these things can happen when there's a big crowd, but you don't ever expect it. It was just a horrible thing. For something like this to happen at the height of everyone's emotions is really devastating. "It's a bit of a ghost town at the moment. It's a bit isolated. There's very little pedestrian traffic. It's mostly just sombre-looking, soggy police folk." Merseyside Police, who is receiving support from neighbouring forces, confirmed the suspect remains in police custody, with the force applying until tomorrow lunchtime (May 28) before they have to make the decision to charge or release him. Detective chief superintendent Karen Jaundrill, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, said: "Our detectives are of course speaking to any witnesses, including those injured, witnesses at the scene and emergency responders as we seek to get a full picture of exactly what happened. "In addition, extensive CCTV enquiries are being carried out across the city to establish the movements of the car, a Ford Galaxy, before the incident took place. We have already had an incredible response from many of those who were there on the day, and I thank them for their co-operation with our investigation."
Global News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
B.C. government supports dredging Burrard Inlet so tankers can carry more oil
The B.C. government was initially opposed to the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion but is now supporting a proposal that would allow tankers to carry more oil through B.C. waters. Trans Mountain wants to increase the volume of oil each tanker transports but that would involve dredging the Burrard Inlet to prevent heavier tankers from hitting the sea floor. 'The circumstance now is that the pipeline can't be fully utilized because the ships would simply touch the bottom of the Burrard Inlet,' Adrian Dix, B.C.'s minister of climate and energy told Global News. 'So the proposal from the federal government, what they suggested would happen, is that there be some dredging done so that we have, there would be less traffic, ship traffic, in the Burrard Inlet and we don't have ships leaving Vancouver after we spent $34 billion on the pipeline and going down to the United States to fill up before they go, say to Asia.' Story continues below advertisement Dix said the B.C. government would have no issue with the proposal if it passes federal environmental checks and balances. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He added that it would mean fewer ships travelling through the ports, which would be better for the environment. 2:47 BIV: Pipelines costs go way up Environmental groups, however, are against the proposal. 'The fact he is putting his support behind another fossil fuel project when this province is not going to meet its emissions targets is absolutely ridiculous,' Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas with the Wilderness Committee said. Premier John Horgan actively opposed the original plan for the pipeline expansion to the point where the original owner, Kinder Morgan, unloaded it on taxpayers for $4.5 billion. The pipeline cost another $34 billion to complete, according to the opposition Conservatives, partly because of the New Democrat opposition Story continues below advertisement 'It was David Eby and Adrian Dix who used every tool in the tool kit to block this pipeline,' Gavin Dew said. 'Now… suddenly when everyone is talking about international trade and trade diversification they're on board.' The plan to dredge the inlet is in its infancy and would need to be initiated by the federal government and would need to clear several environmental and regulatory hurdles.
