Major flooding in Clarence Town in the NSW Hunter
Photo shows When will rain ease?: a graphic map of weather in south-eastern NSW and an inset picture of a man in glasses
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Socceroos v Japan, FIFA World Cup qualifier live coverage and how to watch on TV
Australia coach Tony Popovic has implored his side to 'finish the job' ahead of the Socceroos' crunch World Cup qualifier against rivals Japan on Thursday in Perth. A drought-breaking win over the Asian powerhouse would all but assure Australia an automatic berth in next year's World Cup in North America. The Socceroos have a three-point lead and a significant goal difference advantage over Saudi Arabia as they jockey for second place in Group C of Asian qualifying. But a loss or draw against already qualified Japan means Australia will be thrust into a critical clash against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on June 10. A win does not totally guarantee Australia's passage if Saudi Arabia claim victory in their away game against Bahrain later on Thursday. 'We just need to finish the job off. We can take a major step tomorrow night by winning,' Popovic told reporters on Wednesday. 'There's a real excitement from the group, but there's a calmness and confidence in our ability.' Australia have not beaten Japan since 2009, but hopes are high against a considerably weakened side resting a slew of top players. Leeds United star Ao Tanaka, Reims forward Junya Ito and Hidemasa Morita from Sporting Lisbon are among the players missing for the Samurai Blue. In contrast, Australia will boast a near full-strength side and buoyed by the recent return of Parma defender Alessandro Circati from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. 'It's been a long time since Australia has beaten Japan, but I have a lot of confidence in this group,' said Popovic, who has turned Australia's fortunes around since replacing Graham Arnold in September. 'At some point, Australia will beat Japan. We have a chance to do that tomorrow and we want to take that opportunity.' A febrile atmosphere is tipped with 50,000 fans expected to attend Optus Stadium despite stormy weather in Perth ahead of the game. 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us and mean to Australia,' Popovic said. 'I'm very confident the players will go out there and execute in a very calm, composed manner.' With an eighth straight World Cup appearance assured, Japan are using their trip to Australia and subsequent home game against Indonesia as an opportunity to trial younger players and build depth. Japan's 27-man squad includes eight uncapped players, but Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo provide plenty of class for the Asian nation eyeing a first World Cup triumph. 'The ultimate goal is to win the World Cup,' Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. 'So we really need to take each match and the time we prepare for matches seriously. 'We need to build the strongest team possible (for) the World Cup.'
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Snow forecast for first weekend of NSW ski season despite warmer winter forecast
The first weekend of the winter ski season is expected to be a snowy one, despite fears warmer forecasts could spoil conditions. Snow is forecast to fall from Friday night over the next few days, coinciding with the official start of the 2025 ski season this long weekend. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted temperatures will be above average this winter, after warmer temperatures in 2023 and 2024 led to record-low snow seasons. Traders in the NSW Snowy Mountains are making their final preparations before visitors arrive and remain hopeful about the season ahead. "It's a nervous time of year with forecasts the way they are," said Phil Schulte, manager of The Shed Ski Hire in Jindabyne. "But there's a lot of work to do, so [we] just knuckle down and look out the window, and in a couple weeks hopefully there's plenty of snow out there." The resorts at Perisher and Thredbo are expected to begin operating lifts for guests on Saturday, with the latter expecting 50 centimetres of snow over the next three days. It was refreshing news for business owners like Mr Schulte. "You can't count it off until it happens, right? he said. Although the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting warmer than average temperatures this winter, it does not mean there will not be snowfall. "Over the three months, it is likely that it will be warmer than average, not necessarily the warmest on record, but warmer than we have had in the past," said BOM climatologist Caitlin Minney. "The warmer than average forecast doesn't rule out the possibility of a good snow season or some really good snow coverage during the snow season." Many locals are prepared to wait and see what the season brings. "At the end of the day, we can't really predict a snow season so there's always going to be predictions, good or bad," said Jessica Rutherford, visitor experience manager at Charlotte Pass Snow Resort. "With two seasons with less snow in them, we're feeling like it's going to be on the way back up this year." Charlotte Pass has the advantage of being at the highest altitude of all four resorts, and requires over-snow transport to reach. It is scheduled, along with Selwyn Resort, to open in two weeks. With this weekend's forecast, staff at Charlotte Pass are already switching out tyres for tracks. "We're expecting 70cm at the moment, which is going to be enough to cover a lot of the resort," Ms Rutherford said. The same goes for businesses back in Jindabyne, where excitement is building. The poor snow conditions of the last couple of years and cost-of-living pressures have led to a noticeable decline in tourism spending. "Last year was a bit better than the year before, but still it's been a bit of a let-down," said Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce president Olivier Kapentanakos. "When we add that to the calamities we've had over the last five years with COVID and floods and the bushfires in 2020, we've had a pretty ordinary trot." Many see the snowfall over the opening weekend as a positive start to the season. "We will get snow, we just don't know how much," said Mr Kapentanakos.
ABC News
8 hours ago
- ABC News
Warrnambool council abandons peer-reviewed flood study citing 'supposed science'
A south-west Victorian council has abandoned an independent and peer-reviewed flood study after councillors decided they did not trust the data. The South Warrnambool and Dennington Flood Investigation found high flood risks in the area and recommended changes to council planning schemes. But at a Warrnambool City Council meeting on Monday night, councillors voted that down, with some claiming they could not believe the "supposed science". Although the study will go no further, the data is already being used by state government agencies, insurance companies, and the council as the most up-to-date flood information. Emergency Management Victoria declined the ABC's request for comment. The southern Warrnambool flood study was a three-year endeavour commissioned and funded by the Victorian government to ensure climate modelling matched the latest rainfall and sea level rise estimates. The investigation was designed to update 2007 data and reassess the impacts of climate change and flooding through to 2100, including the likelihood of a one-in-one-hundred-year flood event. Warrnambool City Council was in charge of managing the study — putting it out to tender, conducting community consultations, and dealing with submissions. Councillors were then required to vote on whether to refer the flood investigation to the state government's planning panel for changes to planning schemes. On Monday night, they voted against doing so. Venant Solutions was the specialist consultancy company responsible for the peer-reviewed report. Principal environmental engineer and lead investigator Michael South said the team used national and localised rainfall inputs, and streamflow and water level data to assess flood risk to the area. Mr South told the ABC the findings were on the "upper end" of risk, but this was on par with statewide assessments and climate inputs. "The methodologies we used for the flood study are consistent with other studies and the trajectory of climate change," he said. "We've never used anything but that." In the last decade, Mr South said he had worked on around 20 flood studies, half of which he had led, and the push-back in Warrnambool was "a first". During Monday night's council meeting, four councillors opposed the flood study, claiming the science was "difficult to comprehend", based on "assumptions", lacked detail, and was unable to be validated. Councillor Vicki Jellie raised the motion against the referral of the study to the state government. "How do we, with the utmost certainty, know that we can believe this data and supposed science?" Cr Jellie said. "Some of this has been undoubtedly an assumption." Councillors were also concerned about loss of land value and crippled development prospects. Mayor Ben Blain was the only councillor to back the study and told the ABC that failure to formally integrate the flood investigation into the council's planning schemes was a loss for residents, prospective buyers, and the region in general. "There's now no obligation for sellers to tell buyers that land falls in flood zones, there will be houses built in floodways, and insurance premiums will sky-rocket."
