The NSW Government has commenced further work to secure water for Greater Sydney with preliminary planning for the expansion of the Sydney Desalination Plant (SDP) commencing as Greater Sydney dam levels continue to drop at record pace.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said all of NSW is experiencing the worst drought on record and Sydney’s Desalination Plant is playing a significant role in maintaining Sydney’s water supply.
“We are experiencing one of the worst droughts in living memory. Our State is under pressure, city and country,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Sydney storages have dropped from around 90 per cent to 50 per cent capacity in approximately two years, with Sydney’s dam levels currently at 50.3 per cent.
“The SDP reached full production at the end of July – two months ahead of schedule.
“The Plant is now producing an average of 250 million litres a day – approximately 15 per cent of Sydney’s supply.”
Mrs Pavey said since the Plant was turned on, the current dam depletion rates have improved by around 0.2 per cent per week.
“By undertaking this Planning work, should the drought worsen and water levels continue to drop, we will be ready to act immediately to increasing water supply,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This is on top of the work already underway to preserve Sydney’s water supply, including the Sydney Water ‘Love Water’ campaign, leakage reduction and increasing the beneficial uses of treated wastewater.
“This government has worked hard to ensure that Sydney residents pay the lowest rates in the country, however as Sydney grows, it is critical that we continue to ensure that our water security continues to grow as well.”
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City prepares for electric vehicle future
The City of Newcastle has completed a solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging hub that will also provide 100 percent renewable electricity to supply all of No.2 Sportsground.
Known as an ‘E-Transit Hub’, the charging station is the first to roll out across the city and includes a 44kW solar car park cover, three EV chargers and more than 120kWh of battery storage, which is enough to power an average Newcastle home for nearly nine days.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with City of Newcastle’s Smart City team
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the E-transit Hub will act as a testbed for similar facilities around the city as Newcastle adopts sustainable energy technology across its facilities and operations.
“Novocastrians are known for embracing sustainability and it’s no surprise that electric vehicle ownership is on the rise in Newcastle,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Installing this E-Transit hub is an important part of demonstrating to our community that Newcastle is an electric vehicle-friendly city where you can be confident the infrastructure is in place to support the vehicles’ growing popularity.
“Number 2 Sportsground is the first location in a planned roll-out of future EV charging stations across the city, as we progressively see a move away from the dependence on fossil-fuel powered transport to cleaner and more sustainable modes such as electric vehicles and bikes.
“Through our own Smart City Strategy, and with the help of the Federal Government’s $5 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program grant, Number 2 Sportsground is now a completely self-sustaining site capable not only of charging electric vehicles but also powering the sportsground lights and other facilities.”
The Lord Mayor with Climate Council Funding Coordinator Sonya Williams and City Program Coordinator Adam Clarke
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and the Smart City team flank a Tritium 50kW Fast Charger at No.2 Sportsground
EV owner Michael Barwell said he was thrilled to see the City develop environmentally friendly infrastructure for eco-minded transport users.
“The adoption rate of electric vehicles in Newcastle is definitely on the rise and we are only going to see more people transfer from traditional fossil-fuel engines to electric powered in the years to come,” Mr Barwell said.
“It is fantastic that the City of Newcastle is supporting the future of electric vehicles which not only helps our residents but also visitors to our beautiful city.”
The EV charging stations will be free for users for an introductory period to encourage usage before moving to a pricing structure based on demand and cost recovery.
The City has installed one Tritium 50kW Fast Charger and two 22kW Level 2 chargers. For the average vehicle, the fast charger takes around 30-40 minutes to charge to 80 percent, while the other two take up to two hours depending on battery size and state of charge.
Three other EV charging sites are planned for the CBD at the Queen Street car park, Laman Street and on Wharf Road by early 2020. The City is also currently planning the expansion of the public EV network to other suburbs.
The EV infrastructure is part of the $13 million Smart Moves Newcastle project, which received $5 million through the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program in 2017.
THIRD POLICE STATION OPENED IN 11 DAYS
The new Redfern Police Station is the third police station opened in 11 days by the NSW Government.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott unveiled the refurbished station at Tower 1B, Lawson Square after moving from Tower 1A. This follows Mount Druitt opening on Monday and Bay and Basin last week.
Mr Elliott said the NSW Government had refurbished the bottom three floors with state of the art infrastructure.
“The new Redfern Police Station will help our police better serve the local community and continue to drive down crime. It provides the space and resources to accommodate the growing number of sworn and unsworn officers,” Mr Elliott said.
The station has been fully operational since 28 July this year and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Commissioner Fuller said this opening follows the recent formation of the South Sydney Police Area Command, which incorporated the former Redfern and Botany Bay Police Area Commands.
“The realignment of South Sydney Police Area Command better distributes resources to address crime trends, local development, population growth and the needs of the South Sydney community,” he said.
The station includes a customer service area, interview rooms with family break out areas and facilities, operational and specialist policing areas, CCTV, an audio-visual link room and modern meeting facilities.
South Sydney Police Area Commander Superintendent Andrew Holland acknowledged the local community’s help in setting up this new station including local children who designed the artwork featured inside.
Man charged following search operation – Thornton, near Maitland
A man has been charged with multiple offences after a large-scale search operation in the state’s north which began last week.
Just before 12.45pm on Thursday 1 August, police were called to a property on Pepler Place, Thornton, after concerns for welfare for residents inside a home.
Police will allege that a man was located outside the property armed with a firearm, before he began to pour petrol over the front door, threatening to light a fire.
The man ran from police, jumping over a rear fence and fleeing into bushland.
A search operation was commenced coordinated by officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District – with assistance from the Dog Unit, PolAir, and various police resources – where bushland and numerous residences were searched, however he was unable to be located.
Following extensive inquiries, the 27-year-old man was located and arrested at a property on Cassia Way, Metford about 9.45pm yesterday (Friday 9 August 2019).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), armed with intent to commit indictable offence, possess unauthorised firearm, and in relation to an outstanding arrest warrant.
The Metford man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 10 August 2019).
COALITION FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER WIND FARM LAWSUITS: GREENS
Greens climate change and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt, responded to the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) announcement that they will launch legal action against four wind farm operators over the 2016 South Australian blackout, saying the regulator needed to explain why only a few months ago it investigated the blackout, found that breaches of the market rules did not contribute to the event and advised it would not take companies to court.
“The AER shouldn’t be doing the Coalition’s dirty work,” said Mr Bandt.
“In its investigation into the blackout last December, the AER declared that ‘we do not intend to take formal enforcement action in respect of these matters.’ Yet just over six months later they’ve launched legal action.
“Energy Minister Angus Taylor, a known wind-farm opponent, needs to come clean on what role he has played in facilitating this complete about-face from the AER.
“Ageing coal-fired power stations are regularly failing in the heat and they get off scot-free, but wind farms get taken to court by the very same body that investigated and cleared them just a few months ago.
“According to The Australia Institute, Australia has experienced 195 coal and gas breakdowns since December 2017, but the Minister and his regulators turn a blind eye to fossil fuel failures.”
From the official investigation by AER (Black System Event Compliance Report released 14 December 2018):
- “Overall, the investigation found a high level of compliance by market participants with their obligations. However there were instances in which obligations were not complied with. The AER considers the breaches found did not contribute to the state going black, and that all core obligations were met”
- It goes on to say (in the detailed report): “While we have found some areas of non-compliance with administrative requirements in the Rules, we do not intend to take formal enforcement action in respect of these matters, as we consider that it would be more effective to focus on remedial recommendations for improved processes. Further, we have noted the unprecedented circumstances as part of our consideration of all the available information.”
Misguided performance measures not the funding solution unis need: Greens
Australian Greens Senator and Education Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has commented on reported details of university performance-based funding measures. Senator Faruqi is a former academic with the University of New South Wales.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The Government’s plan to tie measly funding increases to misguided performance measures is just the latest episode in their storied history of undermining higher education in Australia. It is just another excuse to not fund higher education properly.
“The Government has completely ignored the university sector and experts’ advice that their plan won’t deliver the amount of funding needed while having unintended consequences that may include incentivising universities to enrol fewer students.
“In particular, the narrow-minded use of graduate employment as a measure of success for universities betrays the purpose of our public universities. We cannot allow their collegial, public-focussed mission to be displaced by the Liberal’s vision of unis as just factories for the workforce. Universities should be much more than this. They are places of learning.
“Universities are desperate for a real funding increase. The Greens have a plan to fund free undergraduate university and TAFE, and boost university funding by 10 per cent to improve learning and teaching conditions, reduce class sizes and enable researchers to pursue solutions to the big problems of our time,” she concluded.
SMART MOTORWAY PROJECT PUT TO THE TEST
A range of new intelligent transport systems will be put to the test along the M4 Motorway from next week.
Drivers will see new technologies in action from Wednesday ahead of the M4 Smart Motorway project’s completion in 2020.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the systems will help to control the flow of traffic between Mays Hill and Penrith.
“These new signals have been installed on a number of on-ramps, including at Reservoir Road. They will help to regulate traffic entering the motorway, as well as vehicles trying to merge at the same time.
“This technology will ensure less stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway.”
Mr Constance said crews are also hard at work installing electronic message signs, traffic sensors and lane use signs along a 35 kilometre stretch of the motorway.
“When the project is complete, these systems will talk to each other and automatically adjust to incidents and congestion without a manual operator intervening,” Mr Constance said.
“This testing will measure driver behaviour and reaction to the technology ahead of the project opening to traffic.”
Mr Constance said planning is continuing for technology upgrades to other major motorways, including the M1 Motorway between Gosford and Sydney.
“By introducing these cutting-edge improvements we ensure drivers are spending less time in their vehicles and more time doing what they enjoy most.”
Teen hit by bus has died – Raymond Terrace
A teenager has died after he was hit by a bus in the Hunter this morning.
About 8.30am (Tuesday 6 August 2019), the boy was riding his bike along on Mount Hall Road, Raymond Terrace before he crossed the intersection at Clyde Circuit where he was hit by a bus.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived and established a crime scene.
Despite best efforts by paramedics, the boy died at the scene.
Road closures were put in place and the Crash Investigation Unit commenced inquiries.
The bus will be taken for further examination and the 41-year-old man driving the bus will undergo mandatory testing.
Inquiries continue.
Man charged over assault of police, security at emergency department – Hunter
Police have charged a man following an investigation into the assault of two security guards and a police officer in the emergency department of a hospital in the Hunter region at the weekend.
About 8pm on Friday 2 August 2019, a 42-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department.
About 11pm the man allegedly started to become agitated and aggressive and has attempted to leave.
Three security guards attempted to restrain the patient resulting in two of the guards being assaulted.
Officers from Port Stephens–Hunter Police District were called to assist and, in an attempt to restrain the patient one male officer was allegedly assaulted.
The patient was eventually subdued and admitted for treatment.
Upon his release from hospital he attended Maitland Police Station where he was served a Court Attendance Notice for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, and assault police officer in the execution of his duty.
He was given bail and will appear in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 14 August 2019.
Child killed in crash at East Seaham, woman charged
A woman has been charged following a crash north of Newcastle, where a child died, last month.
About 5.50pm on Sunday 21 July 2019, a 29-year-old woman was driving a Mazda sedan north on New Line Road, East Seaham, when the vehicle left the road, hit an electricity pole and rolled.
The woman and a three-year-old girl in the rear passenger seat suffered facial lacerations and were taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
A six-year-old boy in the rear of the vehicle died at the scene.
Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following extensive inquiries, a 29-year-old woman was arrested at Raymond Terrace Police Station today (Tuesday 6 August 2019).
She was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, and negligent driving occasioning death, and was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 26 August 2019.
Investigations are continuing.