Floods don’t occur randomly, so why do we still plan as if they do?
Anthony Kiem, University of Newcastle
Engineering practice assumes that floods are randomly distributed but science suggests they are not. This raises questions about the reliability of flood infrastructure and management strategies.
https://theconversation.com/floods-dont-occur-randomly-so-why-do-we-still-plan-as-if-they-do-93371
Today’s Celebration
Battle of March Dominican Republic
St. Joseph’s Day Christianity
Undiagnosed Children’s Awareness Day http://www.swanaus.com.au/
Walk for Water http://www.waterchallenge.org.au/walk-for-water
A Taste of Harmony http://www.tasteofharmony.org.au/
International Read To Me Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-read-to-me-day/
More about Mar 19 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_19
National
State targets make energy plan immaterial
Energy analysts say state renewable energy targets are driving far more investment than predicted under the Turnbull government’s new energy policy.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/03/19/03/40/state-targets-make-energy-plan-immaterial
Death traps: Push to phase out cars made before 2002
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/death-traps-push-to-phase-out-cars-made-before-2002-20180313-p4z458.html
This is how Labor wins elections
Mark Butler
Ged Kearney’s resounding win in Batman – and Jay Weatherill’s gutsy election campaign in South Australia – were powerful demonstrations of Labor’s willingness to take on all parties in a contest over values.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/this-is-how-labor-wins-elections-20180318-p4z4zf.html
Floods don’t occur randomly, so why do we still plan as if they do?
Anthony Kiem, University of Newcastle
Engineering practice assumes that floods are randomly distributed but science suggests they are not. This raises questions about the reliability of flood infrastructure and management strategies.
https://theconversation.com/floods-dont-occur-randomly-so-why-do-we-still-plan-as-if-they-do-93371
Victoria
‘There were flames over the trees’: Bushfire victims tell of glowing red sky
Victims of a massive bushfire in western Victoria say the blaze arrived suddenly and without warning, with flames more than seven metres high.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/terang-victoria-bushfire-victims-tell-of-losing-property/9560740
High winds leave thousands without power
Crews are working to restore power to thousands of homes across Melbourne after high winds knocked out electricity.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thousands-of-homes-in-melbourne-without-power-due-to-high-winds-20180318-p4z4zi.html
New South Wales
Controversial wind farm application withdrawn after pressure from locals
A wind farm between Canberra and Goulburn will not go ahead after more than 400 people submitted objections to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/controversial-wind-farm-application-withdrawn/9560698
‘Tennis ball-sized’ embers fall
The water supply to Tathra near Bega on NSW’s south coast has been cut off, after a fast-spreading bushfire destroyed dozens of homes and properties.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/03/19/05/24/tathra-nsw-south-coast-bega-bushfire
Berejiklian makes change at the top as Coalition tries to dampen water scandals
NSW government says Simon Smith will leave Department of Industry and be replaced by Simon Draper
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/19/berejiklian-makes-change-at-the-top-as-coalition-tries-to-dampen-water-scandals
Almost half of voters not convinced their journey to work will improve
The NSW government has made a multi-billion investment in transport- but commuters are not convinced it will improve their journey time.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/almost-half-of-voters-not-convinced-their-journey-to-work-will-improve-20180318-p4z4yp.html
ACT
Tathra evacuated as out of control bushfire destroys property
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/tathra-evacuated-as-out-of-control-bushfire-burns-20180318-h0xmyt.html
Bush and grass fire blazes through Namadgi National Park
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bush-and-grass-fire-blazes-through-namadgi-national-park-20180318-h0xmt3.html
Canberra takes energy innovation crown from South Australia
Canberra has pipped South Australia to the post for energy innovation as it carries out the trials of the world’s largest virtual power plant.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/canberra-takes-energy-innovation-crown-from-south-australia-20180318-p4z4xy.html
Queensland
Wildlife reserves ‘destroy local jobs’ [$]
New laws aimed at selling land in Queensland for private environmental parks have been condemned as job-destroying.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/wildlife-reserves-destroy-local-indigenous-jobs/news-story/4bb82aed5937dd3867ae6aa8e56cc9fd
South Australia
SA election: Robert Brokenshire and Kelly Vincent likely to lose Upper House seats
The most likely result in the Upper House is four seats to Labor, four to the Liberals (including Jing Lee), two SA Best candidates (Frank Pangallo and Connie Bonaros) and a Green (Tammy Franks).
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/sa-election-focus-now-turns-to-upper-house-and-in-doubt-seats/9560666
Boats banned to stop oyster disease spread [$]
Commercial boats from Adelaide’s Port River are banned from travelling to two popular tourist areas, as a precaution to stop a deadly oyster virus spreading.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/pacific-oyster-mortality-syndrome-outbreak-in-south-australian-waters-prompts-boat-ban-to-commercial-oyster-growing-regions/news-story/fd9623e058c26e7253dddd6a367b6a94
Sea Shepherd goes deep to save Bight [$]
Conservation group Sea Shepherd heads to the Great Australian Bight in a bid to save it from oil drilling.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sea-shepherd-and-friends-head-to-the-great-australian-bight-armed-with-underwater-cameras/news-story/1d1b9ca0c161e84efb43eab508b50f7e
Tasmania
Cable car storm brewing [$]
Hobart City Council may drag the Federal Government into debate on the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car project amid concerns over drilling and surveying on the mountain.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/the-federal-government-could-find-itself-in-the-cable-car-saga/news-story/c51f4dc46384cf6834751cb53f19a11e
Plumbers dig in for wildlife [$]
A flood of plumbers marched on Brighton’s Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary recently to deliver a $33,000 good deed, as part of World Plumbing Day celebrations.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tassie-plumbers-deliver-33000-good-deed-for-bonorong-wildlife-sanctuary/news-story/a6ff9c89b2fc0499b5ab6837f374c03d
Managing the true cost of free camping
Katrena Stephenson
There has been recent interest in the role councils play in supporting free camping.
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5288839/managing-the-true-cost-of-free-camping/?cs=97
Northern Territory
Clean-up for defiant Darwin
The true devastation of Cyclone Marcus was realised across the Top End yesterday as tens of thousands woke to a monumental clean-up task
http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/cleanup-ramps-up-for-defiant-darwin/news-story/ebc83a99ecd413f83be9569e7c117156
Sustainability
EPA: Pruitt is expected to restrict science. Here’s what it means.
U.S. EPA chief Scott Pruitt is expected to roll out plans soon to restrict the agency’s use of science in rulemakings, pitting him against critics who say it would threaten public health and environmental protections.
http://www.ehn.org/epa-pruitt-is-expected-to-restrict-science-heres-what-it-means-friday-march-16-2018-www-eenews-net-2549037245.html
Prenatal exposure to plasticizer may affect male fertility in future generations
Chemicals found in a variety of routinely used consumer products may be contributing to the substantial drop in sperm counts and sperm quality among men in recent decades, a new study in mice suggests.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/tes-pet031418.php
Kim has ‘given his word’ on nukes: envoy
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has given his word that he’s committed to ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons, a South Korean diplomat says.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/kim-has-given-his-word-on-nukes-envoy/news-story/29196ce0a107d11399ad16aec6bb5f76
Now for something completely different …
Older adults’ difficulties with focusing can be used to help put a face to a name
Everyone has experienced the awkward situation of meeting someone and then forgetting their name shortly after. Among older adults, this happens more often than not. Baycrest researchers have discovered a new method to resolve this problem
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/bcfg-oad031618.php
Maelor Himbury