Call for Victorian Govt to rethink push to trim trees near power lines

Victoria’s urban areas need to keep their tree canopies, says botanist Dr Greg Moore. Photo: supplied The Victorian Government’s decision to persist with pruning trees around urban power lines has come in for criticism. Prominent botanist and academic Dr Greg Moore wants Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to protect tree canopies, not trim them. “The state…

Severe storms, hail, flash flooding predicted for Qld-NSW border

Picture: supplied Severe thunderstorms, hail and even flash flooding could hit south-east Queensland and north-east NSW today and tomorrow. Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore says storms are possible in every state and territory today (Tuesday) except for Tasmania. “Those storms brought destructive winds to a few locations through central and northern Australia,” he says. Woomera…

PFAS turtles

PFAS contamination is killing freshwater turtles: CSIRO study

Population declines was also observed in the freshwater turtle populations. Picture: CSIRO HIGH levels of PFAS (‘forever chemicals’) contamination is killing off freshwater turtles, a new CSIRO-Qld study reveals. The three-year study found biochemical changes in adult turtles and hatchlings, and noticed a drop in population of contaminated animals. Dr David Beale, Senior Research Scientist…

westport design kwinana

Planning for $7.2 billion container port at Kwinana enters final stages

Picture: stock The WA Government says the move to a new $7.2 billion Westport container port at Kwinana is now entering its final planning stages. The work involves completion of designs, securing approvals, resolving risks, land acquisition, and refining costs and construction strategies ahead of the award of capital works contracts for construction. The government…

missing medals

One auction and many Facebook posts later, Townsville vet regains medals just in time

Picture: Brisbane Airport A lost property auction and Facebook posts across two countries allowed a Townsville Vietnam veteran to reunite with his medals in time for Remembrance Day. Townsville resident Malcolm Edmiston lost the medals on his way to Christchurch, New Zealand, just before last year’s commemoration. He had considered the medal lost in Christchurch and returned…