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Devonian Mega Folds, Tamworth. Boxwork Iron Pattern, Newcastle. Coalminers with Pit Horses Lymington Colliery, Newcastle.Images courtesy of © Copyright The State of New South Wales through Industry & Investment NSW Minerals Division.about 90% of NSW electricity comes from coal. But fossil fuelresources (oil, gas and coal) come at a cost to the local environmentand probably to the global climate. Moreover , we live on a finiteplanet, so the shift from the industrial era to the sustainability eramust come if we are to maintain our lifestyles through the 2 1stCentury and beyond. Alternative renewable sources of energy areavailable, but many of these have their own limitations in terms ofcapacity, environmental effects and high production costs. At presentthey represent less than 5% of our energy production. Moreover, theimpacts of energy production, particularly coal mining, are stronglyfelt by local communities when mines encroach on urban areas andvaluable agricultural land. Thus, the key themes are the future ofenergy resources in Australia, and the social impact of our transitionto a secure renewable energy future. These are key national issuesand will increasingly become global issues.So, what does the future hold for Australia? What are the bestresources or alternatives to secure a reliable energy future and whatare their environmental effects? Are alternatives really viableand what are the implications of transitioning society into the‘sustainable era’?Speakers at ‘Energy 2050’ have intimate knowledge of theirrespective industries, or have a vision of where we need to be in2050. Presentations will be followed by a public question and answerperiod, and then possibly by the ABC’ s Q&A television program onthe same topic. The evening will commence at 7.30pm at Newcastle’sfamous Civic Theatre, run for two hours, and end at 10.30pm at theclose of Q&A.Why Newcastle?The Hunter region, with its capital Newcastle, has been coinedthe ‘Energy Hub of Australia’, reflecting its high rates of energyproduction and ongoing potential underpinned by vast reserves ofcoal and coal seam gas (CSG). But it is also where coal miningintensification and CSG exploration impinges on an ever-expandingurban zone and critical agricultural clusters, including the equineand viticulture industries.Conflicting land use issues are probably more strongly focused herethan any other region of Australia. The competing land use issueshave created a high level of community uncertainty and concernabout environmental and water resource impacts. In response,the Federal and NSW Governments have introduced tough newregulations, which will change the way coal mining and CSGexploration take place in NSW for the next 20 years. Partly inresponse to these regional imperatives, the University of Newcastlehas launched a long-term whole-university research project focusedon achieving the balanced social, environmental and economictransitions required in the Hunter region during the next twodecades. These are the key issues to be discussed at the 2050 forum.AESC 2014 venue — NewcastleThe convention will be held at the historic Newcastle City Hall, inthe heart of Newcastle. The City Hall is situated close to transportand is within walking distance of the CBD.Opened in 1929, Newcastle City Hall is one of Newcastle’s mostprestigious buildings. Its architecture includes sandstone walls andcolumns, marble staircases, a clocktower, a sweeping staircase anda ballroom. The AESC will be using the entire Hall for the four-dayduration.Located nearby are numerous points of interest: NewcastleMuseum, Art Gallery, Civic Theatre, Nobbys Headland, Fort Scratchly,walking and cycling pathways, parks and beaches.The City of Newcastle has a rich history and following Europeansettlement, has re-invented itself many times, from penal station tocoal town, steel city, live music city, working port and more recentlya centre for energy innovation.Newcastle is the gateway to the resource-rich Hunter Valley andis adjacent to the southern part of the New England Foldbelt. HunterValley wines are highly acclaimed.Registration andexpressions of interestAbstracts deadline: March 2014Presentations: oral and posterRegistration: late 2013/early 2014Workshops and field trips: The convention invites proposals forshort courses, workshops and field trips.Exhibition: The convention will host an exhibition and welcomescompanies and businesses to participate so they can promote theemerging opportunities in their organisation, State or Territory.Supporters: The organising committee invites companies,institutions and technology providers to support this meeting.Expressions of interest: aesc2014@gsa.org.auConvention location: Newcastle City Hallwww.aesc2014.gsa.org.au<strong>TAG</strong> June 2013| 35
Special Report 3Geoscientific Data Warehouse –accessing and delivering NSWgeoscience dataIn September 20 12, the Minerals Resources unit of NSWDepartment of T rade and Investment released its newGescientific Data Warehouse (GDW) on the internet. The GDWis the culmination of the COGENT II project (2008–2012) toidentify, validate, consolidate and store geoscientific datasets ofthe highest data integrity secured in perpetuity. This representedthe first step in fulfilling the vision of “providing on demandaccess to all validated (non-confidential) corporate geologicaldata stored by Mineral Resources from a single spatial-basedinterface”. The GDW provides access to geoscientific informationto attract investment for mineral and petroleum exploration anddevelopment and help inform land use decision-making, a majorrole of the Mineral Resources unit.The COGENT I project (1995–1999), funded by the NSWGovernment’s ‘Discovery 2000’ initiative, started the transfer ofdata to a central, secure environment. COGENT II is a majorproject of the continuing initiative now called ‘New Frontiers’,which continues the government program of pre-competitivegeophysical surveys, data compilation and delivery , frontiermapping and interpretation.The GDW is the delivery vehicle for data captured and storedin the geoscientific database application system. Now that thissystem is in place, users of the GDW will see a steady stream ofnew and updated datasets from nightly replication.How it worksThe GDW uses Google Earth technology to enrich the functionalityand experience of discovering geoscientific data in NSW .Integrating the 3D and layer transparency features of GoogleEarth with geo-referenced field photos and microphotographsprovides a ‘virtual field’ experience for the user. This experienceis shown in the figure that displays data in Google Earth alongwith simple queries within web pages.The geoscientific data held in the new database is primarilypoint data such as field observations, structural readings,geochronology and non-confidential data from explorationreporting. However, the GDW spatial interface also has layers forgeological and metallogenic maps and geophysical imagery(geolocated at all zoom levels), current mineral, coal andpetroleum titles as well as title applications for minerals, coaland petroleum. The GDW also contains a link to the newGeoscience Product Catalogue and to the DIGS database (ofexploration and geoscience reports and maps).For those who wish to bypass the spatial interface,comprehensive text-based search facilities are available, includinggeoscientific database data and reports as well as data and imagesstored in the DIGS database. These are all complemented by adownload facility that supports download in multiple formatsincluding shape files, TAB files and CSV.Maps for mobile devicesA new feature in November 2012 was the addition of a facilityto download free statewide geological maps and geophysicalimagery to smartphones and tablets. This is a one-off file downloadover an internet connection. However , the feature doesnot require an internet connection to display, therefore makingthese maps available in areas without internet reception. GPStechnology embedded in smartphones allows the user to instantlyview maps or imagery at their location. Maps used are NSW1:1 500 000 surface geology, total magnetic image and ternaryradioelement image. This facility has proven to be very popularand more maps will be made available for download on anongoing basis.AccessThe public GDW can be accessed at http://dwh.minerals.nsw.gov.au/CI/warehouse.The entry page has links to demonstration videos and feedbackforms.For maps for mobile devices go to http://dwh.minerals.nsw.gov.au/CI/warehouse/view/mobileapps.DataData migration was prioritised with respect to value and risk. Forexample, radiogenic isotopes were considered the highest prioritybecause of the cost of re-collecting and reanalysing samples,along with storage of records in multiple versions of spreadsheetson the computer network and on individual computers. Resourceswere allocated to compile, model and migrate data based on theirpriority. All data have been secured and there is a work plan forimplementing the data into the GDW . As a result of finiteresources, not all data have been implemented in the GDW atthis stage, as shown by the two tables accompanying this article.36 |<strong>TAG</strong> June 2013
Page 2 and 3: The Australian GeologistNewsletter
Page 4 and 5: Society UpdateBusiness ReportDivisi
Page 6 and 7: Society UpdateGovernance changesAft
Page 8 and 9: Given the prominence of geoscience
Page 10 and 11: Letters to the EditorHydrogeologic
Page 12 and 13: In his summary of the geology, migh
Page 14 and 15: Society UpdateFrom the AJES Editor
Page 16 and 17: Society UpdateEducation&OutreachMor
Page 18 and 19: Society UpdateHeritage MattersThe I
Page 20 and 21: SAGeoNight‘GeoNight at the Pub’
Page 22 and 23: NEWSIn the news this issuen ANU dig
Page 24 and 25: Establishing a research networkUnti
Page 26 and 27: Australian Tertiary Educatorsmeet a
Page 28 and 29: FeatureTasmanian Museum -Rock walls
Page 30 and 31: Installing the frame on the complet
Page 32 and 33: Applied Geology staff in early 1976
Page 34 and 35: Special Report 2Australian Earth Sc
Page 38 and 39: Data implemented as of 28 February
Page 40 and 41: In the GDW, drillhole locations may
Page 42 and 43: arid savannah about 1 000 m above s
Page 44 and 45: Book ReviewsA Short Introduction to
Page 46 and 47: Naica mine, Northern MexicoThe fina
Page 48 and 49: Geological Society of Australia Inc

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