Look beyond the Yarra: The rivers Melbourne ignores
Rivers and creeks in Melbourne’s west deserve the sort of planning and environmental protections given to the Yarra, a campaign launched by environmental, legal and local river groups says.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/push-for-tougher-laws-to-protect-rivers-of-the-west-20180105-h0e65b.html
[It’s not often I get quoted in the paper]
Today’s Celebration
Armenian Christmas Lebanon Armenia
Army Day Iraq
La Paradura del Nino (The Parade of Baby Jesus) Venezuela
Maroon Day Jamaica
Pathet Lao Day Laos
Orthodox Christmas Eve Serbia
Nollaig Bheag (Little Christmas) Ireland
Epiphany Christianity
Tirer Gateau (Les rois) Voudon
More about Jan 6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6
National
South-eastern states brace for soaring temperatures as heatwave intensifies
Parts of south-east Australia brace for scorching temperatures today, with Victoria and South Australia issued with a state-wide fire ban and the Mount Lofty Ranges and upper and lower south-east districts warned of a catastrophic fire danger.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-06/catastrophic-fire-danger-predicted-for-sa/9307364
Blackouts unlikely this weekend despite soaring mercury, regulator says
Temperatures are set to soar in the southern states this weekend, but the energy market regulator says we’re unlikely to see blackouts or calls to reduce power consumption.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/energy-regulator-says-it-has-no-concern-despite-soaring-mercury/9306878
Greenies turning off Gen Next
Attacks by green activists on the resources industry are turning millennials off mining jobs, forcing the industry to strike back.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/greenies-turn-off-minings-gen-next-in-alarming-drop-in-enrolments/news-story/95bce3812656c7e8001783eb458e6b2b
Captive breeding can’t save birds
Programs to save our endangered species of birds from extinction have so far met with little success.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/endangered-parrots-in-captivity-may-not-mean-more-in-the-bush/news-story/628acfe36570c79ad266953eb70442ab
Victoria
Total fire ban for Victoria as state prepares for 40C temperatures
Residents in fire-prone areas advised to activate bushfire plans ahead of extreme temperatures this weekend
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/05/total-fire-ban-for-victoria-as-40c-temperatures-on-the-way-this-weekend
Look beyond the Yarra: The rivers Melbourne ignores
Rivers and creeks in Melbourne’s west deserve the sort of planning and environmental protections given to the Yarra, a campaign launched by environmental, legal and local river groups says.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/push-for-tougher-laws-to-protect-rivers-of-the-west-20180105-h0e65b.html
New South Wales
Bushland or bars? What Sydney communities really want
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bushland-for-some-bars-for-others-what-matters-to-sydney-communities-20180104-h0dc90.html
With more Sydney apartments than ever, who is thinking of the streets?
Jacob Saulwick
Sixteen years ago, the NSW government introduced changes to planning laws that started to reshape the way much of Sydney looks, and the dwellings in which a growing minority live.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/with-more-sydney-apartments-than-ever-who-is-thinking-of-the-streets-20180105-h0e0va.html
Queensland
Crown-of-thorns starfish eating their way through Barrier Reef in major outbreak
Thousands of crown-of-thorns starfish are understood to be eating their way through coral in a major outbreak at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, as authorities consider how to tackle the problem.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/great-barrier-reef-crown-of-thorns-starfish-major-outbreak/9305580
Cairns divers head south to control Crown-of-Thorns starfish outbreak
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns-divers-head-south-to-control-crownofthorns-starfish-outbreak-on-southern-reef/news-story/b39eae20b2b6c3fb209c1595277b1c8d
Adani’s $1b loan bid likely to fail before Palaszczuk intervention
Adani’s bid for a $1 billion taxpayer-funded loan may have been doomed even before it was scuppered by Queensland’s Palaszczuk Government, with the Productivity Commission saying it may have failed key criteria for funding.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/adani-loan-bid-likely-to-fail-before-palaszczuk-intervention/9305040
South Australia
From heavy industry to clean energy — mayor’s hope for ‘Steel City’
Regional South Australian cities have seen several clean energy projects announced over the past year and now a local mayor wants to take the state’s thirst for renewables a step further.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/sa-cities-could-become-australian-renewable-energy-centre/9306318
Tidy Towns and Keep Australia Beautiful pioneer remembered
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/vale-mr-south-australia-ross-swayne-oam-leaves-kesab-tidy-towns-program-in-great-shape/news-story/c5887713bfbc7b27eec7af7bca05d168
Act now to avoid tragedy of bushfires
Advertiser editorial
Three major regions of the state are today at risk of a catastrophic bushfire, according to Country Fire Service official declarations.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/the-advertiser-editorial-january-6-2018-act-now-to-avoid-tragedy-of-bushfires-power-of-love/news-story/c91fcdb7e0072098da31fa1e73888500
Tasmania
Plans for Tassie’s frozen future
Tasmania would be the worlds Antarctic gateway of choice under the State Governments first ever strategic plan for the states Antarctic and Southern Ocean sector.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/plans-for-tassies-frozen-future/news-story/9d6145b3d2caa1132ff54e222760decd
Be smart, be prepared
Mercury editorial
Bushfires are a fact of life for Tasmanians — the nasty flip side of our enviable life perched on the edge of the bush.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/be-smart-be-prepared/news-story/57dc810497721cb1f4e3cda76ce7a5e6
The state is prepared for bushfires, are you?
Examiner editorial
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5152239/the-state-is-prepared-for-bushfires-are-you/?cs=97
Northern Territory
$900m rare earths mine in Central Australia approved despite radioactive risk
The project at Aileron, 135 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, would mine rare earth materials such as neodymium and praseodymium, used to manufacture strong magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/epa-approves-rare-earth-mine-in-central-australia/9306610
Western Australia
Party barge for Swan River gets green light after monster second venue bid shot down
A floating event venue that can accommodate parties for up to 250 people is granted approval to operate in the Swan River, about 400 metres from Elizabeth Quay, after a bigger proposal is knocked back.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/elizabeth-quay-party-barge-approved-for-swan-river-in-perth/9307182
Sustainability
Geopolitical Risks to US Oil Supply Lowest Since the Early 1970s
The geopolitical risks to the United States’ oil supply are the lowest since the early 1970s, due to fracking, climate action and a more diverse global supply, according to a new paper.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180105135244.htm
How playing games on your phone or tablet could cut your power bill
Rebekah Russell-Bennett, Queensland University of Technology and Rory Mulcahy, University of the Sunshine Coast
Trying to keep cool this summer while not blowing the power bill? A new mobile game aims to encourage energy efficiency – and research shows it can be more effective than simple advertising campaigns.
https://theconversation.com/how-playing-games-on-your-phone-or-tablet-could-cut-your-power-bill-88701
Nature Conservation
How the web is helping gamers find new spider species
Citizen scientists uncover fishing spiders and arachnids that look like punctuation marks all with the help of a conservation app.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-05/seven-new-spider-species-discovered-by-gamers/9303710
Maelor Himbury