‘East Germany in the ‘80s': Chemical leak turns Melbourne waterway bright blue
Project bosses insist the substance that leaked into a Rosanna creek is safe, but the environmental watchdog says they don't even know what the chemical is yet.
Early reports from the EPA indicate the leak is a polymer used as a dust suppressant at the nearby construction site.
But its exact chemical makeup remains unclear.
In a statement to 7NEWS the Government's Major Roads Authority says there is 'no threat to the community — or the environment.'
The North East Link project — a 10km expressway which will connect Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway — has been plagued by environmental concerns.
'You know, this has been ongoing for five years,' public transport minister and former opposition leader Matthew Guy said.
'It looks like an environmental catastrophe out of East Germany in the '80s.
'At the moment there's radio silence from the government.'
Residents have previously raised the alarm over dust, noise and light pollution.
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ABC News
8 hours ago
- ABC News
How parents and guardians can help kids reduce YouTube use before the ban
Tilly is a "pretty strict" parent when it comes to screen time, electronic devices and social media. Despite this, she says YouTube has caused issues in the home she shares with her husband and young son and daughter in Geelong, on Wadawurrung country. About a year ago, her son accidentally used the regular YouTube app — instead of YouTube Kids — on their TV. As a result, he saw a preview for a horror film. "He is still talking about [it] and being frightened and wanting to come into our bed," says Tilly, who asked us not to use her full name for privacy reasons. While the family does not post on social media, she is relieved to now be able to say, "and the government also said that you guys won't be allowed to have it until you're 16". But, Tilly says "the struggle is real" when it comes to managing screen time and social media use. With the social media ban for under-16s set to come into effect later this year, experts share ways to effectively manage YouTube use in preparation. The federal government's social media ban for under-16s is set to come into effect on December 10. After some back and forth, the government says it will include YouTube. Kids will still be able to access the site's content, but they will not be able to have an account. Without one, they will be unable to view age-restricted content, leave comments or upload their own videos. YouTube Kids is exempt because accounts cannot upload content or comment on videos. Behaviour support practitioner Anne Dobson works with children through the NDIS, and says "boundaries need to be set in anything". A former teacher, she advises parents to support kids to understand and access "appropriate content", which might look like transitioning from a YouTube account to a YouTube Kids profile. Ms Dobson says setting clear time limits on screen time and internet access can also help. Parental controls can be set up on some wi-fi routers and devices. Parenting expert and father to six, Justin Coulson says, "the first thing that I would be doing is having the kids sign out of YouTube [on any accounts they have]". Beyond that, it comes down to monitoring and supervising, says Dr Coulson — who holds a PhD in psychology. He advises being in the same room, making sure a device screen is facing into the room and keeping devices out of bedrooms and bathrooms. "These are basic things. They're not high-tech things." Dr Coulson recommends using the three E's of effective discipline — explain, explore and empower — to investigate how children are feeling about the upcoming changes to social media use. "We need to explain where we're coming from and help them recognise that their perspective is just one … we want to explain by providing really clear rationale." As a parent or guardian, he says to explore your child's perspective, with "empower" meaning "we work on a solution together". "If they make a decision that is inconsistent with our values, the framework or rules that we're trying to work within, we explain that. "Ideally, our children will come up with a solution that they can feel good about that meets with our expectations." Dr Coulson says: "The government is doing every family a favour with this legislation … parents can literally say 'I agree with it but it's not actually me, it's the government.'" Carol Markie-Dadds is the country director of Triple P International, which delivers education and support for parents. She says it is best to have these conversations as soon as possible. It is likely to be most challenging for those teenagers who have or had social media accounts, she says. Frustration and disappointment may come up and she recommends making time "to process those emotions with our children and find out what it is that they think they're missing out on as a result of the change". "Are there other ways in which we can provide a solution for them to meet the need?" Ms Dobson says if you are setting boundaries for the children in a household, the adults ought to have some, too. "That needs to be a commitment for the whole family … parents need to model what those boundaries look like". Ms Markie-Dadds acknowledges that it can be hard for parents to be good role models, as they can struggle with time away from devices too. She says this could look like no-go zones for devices in the home (such as the dinner table) and keeping devices out of bedrooms. "Having a really good routine about when and where we use devices and when and where we don't." She says each family will need to come up with a plan that suits their individual needs.
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Councils in the disaster front line
As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles.
ABC News
16 hours ago
- ABC News
Bass Coast locals camping in the bush due to high rents and scarce social housing
Former nurse Veronica has lived in public housing at Wonthaggi on Victoria's Bass Coast for the past eight years. It is a picturesque part of the state, where rental properties are almost impossible to find. Veronica, whose surname has been withheld to protect her privacy, lives in public housing in the region. She said she was lucky, as more than 500 people in Bass Coast were waiting for some form of public or social housing. Veronica is not shy about telling people where she lives. It is part of her own effort to dismantle stigma around public housing and to call for improved funding for the sector. Veronica said security of tenure was a basic right that should be afforded to all people. "It really is a beautiful concept, that nobody is denied a place to live," she said. "People say to me, 'Why should we pay? Why should this be public housing? Why should we pay for these people?' "One day, you never know your circumstances … people who live in public housing are human beings, and they have a right to be accepted. "They're good people, you know." There are 388 social housing dwellings in Bass Coast, according to the Bass Coast Shire Council. According to the Victorian government, social housing is made up of public housing and community housing. A Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance report shows the Bass Coast local government area needs close to 2,500 social housing properties by 2051 to meet growing demand in the area. Data from the Victorian Housing Register shows there are 535 applications for social housing in Wonthaggi, accounting for about 10 per cent of the town's 5,000-strong population. Applications for public housing in other Gippsland areas, such as Morwell and Traralgon, are also strong. About 6.24 per cent of Traralgon's 26,907 population has their name down for some form of social or public housing. A winter shelter providing meals and accommodation on Phillip Island was due to open in early June, but was delayed until late July. Twelve one-bedroom units in Wonthaggi will provide supported mental health care when construction is complete. Founder of Housing Matters advocacy group Jessica Harrison said she had heard stories of people doubling their cooking to provide warm meals to people sleeping rough in the area, while others had resorted to camping in nearby bushland to avoid spending the majority of their pay on rent. Ms Harrison said "chronic underfunding" meant the region was unable to cope with the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness. Carol Maygar is a Wonthaggi-based volunteer spearheading the Owl Ute Pantry, a resource for people to stock up on food and basic necessities. Ms Maygar said she had noted an uptick in people coming to collect food from the pantry in recent months. "We don't ask [why], we only ask if people want a bag. You don't know what someone's situation is," she said. The number of people accessing homelessness services in Australia each month has increased by 10 per cent since May 2022. Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said the problem just kept getting worse. "If I just look at one region, like Gippsland, we have had rents go up by 7 per cent a year for the last seven years," she said. Ms Colvin said the longer people were stuck in homelessness, the more it negatively impacted their lives. "People who are homeless have a much higher risk of early death … often suicide is the leading cause of early death for people who are rough sleeping," she said. "People just end up in despair for their future, and we see the awful consequences of that." Ms Colvin said turning the tide would require sustained investment in social housing, stronger income support, and more frontline homelessness services — especially in regional areas where support could be thinly spread. "Right now, homelessness services are turning away 72,000 people a year, just not able to provide support to them, and a further 48,000 people, we've estimated, not even getting through the door [to seek help]," she said. "What we're seeing across the country is local government responding to spikes in rough sleeping with punitive responses and moving people on. In a background statement provided to the ABC, the office of Housing Minister Harriet Shing said further funded projects would be announced in the future. A state government spokesperson said the government had invested more than $19 million in the Bass Coast to build 37 homes. Only 11 have been completed, with further projects to be announced. A Bass Coast Shire Council spokesperson said the council adopted an affordable housing strategy in 2023, and it would continue to advocate for more social and affordable housing for the region.
