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Perth Now
08-08-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Big bin change coming for one Aussie state
The Queensland Government has initiated sweeping changes to the Sunshine State's way of tackling waste. Nearly 500,000 extra green bins will be rolled out across the state which will save 100,000 tonnes of green waste from going to landfill, the government said. Currently, funding has been approved for four LGAs, which will allow them to obtain new kerbside organic bins, replace older bins and bin lids with new ones and introduce education and awareness activities for recycling. The LGAs which have been approved include the city councils of Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Brisbane City. Councils have been encouraged to sign up to the government's $151 million project so they can prioritise garden waste collection. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia A government spokeswoman said green waste bins 'deliver a genuine win-win for the environment by diverting organic waste from landfill and reducing methane gas emissions'. 'To date, more than $41 million has been approved to seven Queensland councils across South East Queensland, Central and Far North Queensland,' she said. 'Less waste going to landfill means Councils avoid paying a waste levy, while freeing up greenfield housing sites for more homes.' Councils can apply for government grants which allow them to replace old dark green bin lids for new bright green ones, introduce recycling education campaigns and even rollout new bins across their communities. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia Queensland Environment and Tourism minister Andrew Powell said his government was 'committed to reducing waste in landfill while increasing Queensland's recycling rate.' 'Every time a Queenslander puts items like grass clippings and tree branches in a green bin, they are helping us boost recycling rate,' he said. Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said his LGA had diverted 'more than 20,000 tonnes of garden organics from landfill' since December 2024. 'This continued funding helps to support our commitment to going green and making it easy for residents to recycle garden waste at home.'
News.com.au
08-08-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Queensland government rolls out thousands of green bins
The Queensland Government has initiated sweeping changes to the Sunshine State's way of tackling waste. Nearly 500,000 extra green bins will be rolled out across the state which will save 100,000 tonnes of green waste from going to landfill, the government said. Currently, funding has been approved for four LGAs, which will allow them to obtain new kerbside organic bins, replace older bins and bin lids with new ones and introduce education and awareness activities for recycling. The LGAs which have been approved include the city councils of Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Brisbane City. A government spokeswoman said green waste bins 'deliver a genuine win-win for the environment by diverting organic waste from landfill and reducing methane gas emissions'. 'To date, more than $41 million has been approved to seven Queensland councils across South East Queensland, Central and Far North Queensland,' she said. 'Less waste going to landfill means Councils avoid paying a waste levy, while freeing up greenfield housing sites for more homes.' Queensland Environment and Tourism minister Andrew Powell said his government was 'committed to reducing waste in landfill while increasing Queensland's recycling rate.' 'Every time a Queenslander puts items like grass clippings and tree branches in a green bin, they are helping us boost recycling rate,' he said. Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said his LGA had diverted 'more than 20,000 tonnes of garden organics from landfill' since December 2024. 'This continued funding helps to support our commitment to going green and making it easy for residents to recycle garden waste at home.'
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Henderson councilwoman accuses mayor of gerrymandering, city says look at the numbers
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A Henderson councilwoman is alleging her ward is getting gerrymandered in favor of an opponent endorsed by the city council. The mayor calls the accusation a 'stunning lack of knowledge.' During a July 15 Henderson City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Carrie Cox asked city staff to explain the reasoning behind the new ward redistricting set for a vote on Aug. 5, adding she was surprised to see it on the agenda. 'I had no idea this was coming until it was pointed out it was on the agenda,' Cox said. 'I had no prior knowledge, and that was disturbing to me.' Andrew Powell, the Henderson Planning Manager, said based on new population estimates, two Henderson wards are now 5 percent greater than another. The population difference requires redistricting to occur in a year when there is not a general election, according to Powell, who prepared two redistricting plan drafts. 'Because there's not a general election this year that we fit that bill,' he said. 'We also have to complete that redistricting effort at least six months before the closing of the candidate filing period, which is fast approaching in March.' Cox thanked Powell for his explanation; however, reiterated her concerns about the motivation behind the decision and said in her opinion, it felt like it was made behind closed doors. 'It's an unbelievable to me that we're in this situation for the second time in two years, during my term,' she said. 'And my ward is being set up to be the most affected.' Sitting nearby, Annette Dawson Owens, a Nevada State Board of Education board member running against Cox, became the subject of the conversation between the city council and staff. 'I question how political this is,' Cox said. 'As requirement I understand, but given recently, an opponent is in the race and was supported by the mayor and council.' Councilwoman Monica Larson pushed back on claims the decision was made behind closed doors and pointed to the growth in the neighborhoods of Cadence and Inspirada. 'It was implied this was a back-door meeting, closed-door meeting, we all found out at the same time,' Larson said. 'This is a state law, a state requirement.' 'Clearly looks political' Two weeks after the city council meeting, Councilwoman Cox furthered her statements in a press release from Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, a Nevada campaign consultant. The release characterizes the decision as politically motivated and directed by Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero. 'Redistricting should reflect facts — not political convenience,' Mayo-DeRiso wrote. 'By bypassing the U.S. Census, the city has eroded public trust and possibly violated redistricting norms designed to protect equal representation.' The release claims the changes were made using internal population estimates, not official U.S. census data, to redraw all wards but Ward 1. The release characterizes the redistricting of Ward 3, which would be the second in two years, as an act to disenfranchise thousands of voters, and an attempt to weaken Cox's position. Cox wrote that she is directly challenging the assertion made by city staff that the 5 percent population growth rate justifies the redistricting. 'Redistricting is a huge concern for me. As always, my number one priority is my constituents. It is well known that I have stood up for them and have not always agreed with the mayor,' Cox wrote in response to 8 News Now request for comment. 'The redistricting of my ward twice in a two-year period is not typical and frankly unheard of. My ward stands to be most impacted, with two other wards being affected also, which is unacceptable. The 'estimated' numbers do not make sense and clearly, this looks political; it amounts to suppression of the voters and a needless tax burden to the residents.' The city's reasoning and documents associated with the redistricting were also disputed by Dr. Scott Gavorsky, a demographer, according to the press release. 'The 'Consensus Population Estimates' that the city provides are consistently higher than any publicly available Census estimates,' Gavorsky wrote. The data used to arrive at the city's 'population estimates' have yet to be approved by the city and it has not yet been explained where the data came from, according to the press release. City staff answer questions The City of Henderson responded to several of the accusations outlined by the press release and Cox's questions, again describing the redistricting as normal. 'This is not a new process and has been systematically followed for years. It is guided by highly skilled City staff who are experts in municipal planning and follow best practices and established standards,' city staff wrote. 'It is conducted impartially and independently, without influence or direction from elected officials.' The formula and data set used by city staff was a specific question from opponents who questioned the origin of the internally generated estimates. 'The data utilized to estimate the population includes building permit data, U.S. Census Bureau persons per household data, and local utility record data provided by NV Energy and other utility providers,' staff wrote. 'The estimate methodology is consistent with the provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code that govern the estimation of population in Nevada. The U.S. Census Bureau does not estimate population at the election precinct level and would not be usable for redistricting outside of a decennial census.' Opponents also questioned the frequency of the changes for Cox's ward. City staff described that change as normal and within guidelines. 'We avoid moving precincts from one ward to another to the extent practical, particularly if they were already moved during the last redistricting effort,' city staff wrote. 'Although we strive to minimize back-to-back changes, sometimes it cannot be avoided, as in this instance. Fast-growing areas require adjustments often. The fastest-growing area in the City of Henderson in recent years has been the Cadence Master Planned Community, located in Ward 3, which necessitates back-to-back ward updates in that area.' 'Stunning lack of knowledge' Mayor Romero responded to an 8 News Now request for comment regarding the specific accusation that she was behind the choice to redistrict the wards. A mayoral campaign spokesperson sent the response, not city staff. 'Ward maps are developed independently of the Mayor and Council office. The newly drawn Ward maps presented at the last city council meeting were made available to the Mayor, City Council and the public at the same time, a week prior to the meeting,' Romero wrote. 'The allegations made by Ms. Cox display a stunning lack of knowledge of the process for both city operations and redistricting as described in our city charter.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Park Guide's Emotional Reaction to Wedding Captures 'True Moment of Connection and Humanity' (Exclusive)
When a park guide walked by Ashley and Andrew Powell's wedding, she stopped to watch their entire ceremony despite not knowing them "It was a true moment of connection and humanity. What a beautiful reminder that we can share in someone's joy and happiness, even if we don't know the person," the bride's best friend, Alexa Sorensen, tells PEOPLE The stranger made sure no one interrupted the ceremony or photos, and helped keep the area "clean and safe"An unexpected guest made a couple's wedding day all the more special. Ashley and Andrew Powell surprised an intimate group of friends and family by hosting a wedding outside on Nov. 16, 2024, in Fells Point, a waterfront neighborhood in Baltimore. The couple privately married a year prior and later wanted to publicly exchange vows in the place where they first expressed their love for one another. What the pair never expected was a park guide to witness their entire ceremony from afar. "It was so intimate, joyful and emotional — surrounded by so much love. This sweet park employee made the entire celebration even better," the bride's best friend, Alexa Sorensen, tells PEOPLE. "We noticed her shortly after the ceremony began, and she stayed for the entire thing." As seen in a video taken by Sorensen and recently posted on TikTok, a woman wearing a lime safety jacket happened to stumble upon the wedding. The stranger, whose name is unknown, stopped just a few feet away from the bride, groom and their officiant, and stayed to watch the entire ceremony. The guide became emotional and even shed a few tears. At one point, she rested her hand on her heart. "As a wedding photographer myself, I am always noticing little moments of human connection, and this one could not be missed," Sorensen shares. "We were all so moved by her sweet reaction — for a couple she didn't even know!" "It was a true moment of connection and humanity," she continues. "What a beautiful reminder that we can share in someone's joy and happiness, even if we don't know the person." The bride tells PEOPLE that the park guide sweetly ensured the area was "clean and safe" for the duration of her ceremony, and shooed off people who weren't supposed to be in certain camera shots. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "Everyone thought it was amazing that she came over and congratulated us and told me how much of a beautiful bride I am," Ashley says. "When I mentioned the [Baltimore] Orioles in my vows, I saw out of the corner of my eye her smile so big like she was so proud to be a Baltimorean." The groom was equally humbled and moved by having someone he didn't know "care enough" to make sure no one interrupted his ceremony. "Also to have her come over crying afterward (when I also was bawling!) just shows that moments of vulnerability can really connect even complete strangers," Andrew tells PEOPLE. "She made our day so much more special than it already was, and I hope she knows how much her words and presence meant to us!" Sorensen has been "crying all week" because of all the heartwarming comments left on the wedding clip she posted. Many TikTok users shared their own stories of how strangers made a lasting impact during various milestone moments. This has reminded Sorensen that "love is all around." Her sentiment is a reference to the 2003 rom-com Love Actually, in which Hugh Grant's character, the Prime Minister, says, "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around." "People have been so blown away by this display of human connection and sharing in each other's joys," Sorensen says. In a second TikTok post, she compiled her favorite comments. A few examples included: captains honking horns for a couple getting married at a lake, strangers saluting a casket on the way to a funeral, and a woman running up to congratulate a couple after their beach proposal. One TikTok user called the park guide's act of kindness "a quiet reminder that this life isn't just ours alone." They wrote, "It's something we share. Every moment, every connection … it all matters. And we're lucky to be in it together." Although Sorensen nor the Powells have been able to identify or locate the sweet stranger, someone commented on TikTok that they found the woman, showed her the video, and that "she was thrilled." Read the original article on People
West Australian
19-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Virgin Australia opens new flights to Qatar from Brisbane
Aussies will be given the opportunity to fly directly from Brisbane to the sandy plains of the Persian Gulf thanks to a new travel route opened up by Virgin Australia. Starting from Thursday, Virgin is launching flights from Brisbane to Doha's Hamad International Airport in conjunction with Qatar airways. Virgin Australia chief executive Dave Emerson said the new flights 'mark the beginning of a new era' for the company and for international travel to Australia. 'Through our partnership with Qatar Airways, we're not just launching new routes – we're opening the world to millions of Australians, delivering more choice, better value and a seamless global experience,' he said. 'This partnership strengthens Australia's global connectivity while generating jobs, boosting tourism and injecting billions into the national economy.' Hamad International Airport supports 48 airlines, and ushers millions of passengers through its terminals every month. Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the new flights to Hamad would position the Sunshine State as a new gateway between Australia and the rest of the world. 'These new flights mean more tourists enjoying everything Queensland has to offer, giving visitors from all over the world affordable ways to reach our communities, boosting business for Queensland tourism operators,' he said. About 2.65 million passengers are expected to be arriving in Doha from Australia annually by this December, which Virgin says will increase 'competitiveness in the market and (provide) ample choice for Aussie travellers wanting to visit Europe, Africa and the Middle East'. Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed the new flights. 'This marks the most significant increase in capacity between Queensland and Europe in the past two years, and we're confident these new daily flights will boost tourism, strengthen international ties and support Queensland's exporters,' he said. 'It's fantastic news for the Brisbane-headquartered airline and even better news for travellers and Queensland's tourism-driven industry.' Fares are available now for purchase, with some discounts ranging up to 15 per cent for select travel dates between October 16 and March 31 next year.
