Latest news with #Impact
Scoop
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
How Smart Traffic Planning Is Unlocking New Zealand's Urban Development Potential
As housing intensification accelerates across New Zealand's major cities, traffic planning has emerged as a critical factor determining which developments succeed in the consent process. The Hidden Gatekeeper of Urban Growth New Zealand's cities are experiencing unprecedented development pressure. Auckland continues to grapple with housing shortages while Wellington and other centres push forward with ambitious intensification plans. In this environment, developers are discovering that transport considerations can make or break their projects. The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) has evolved from a simple compliance requirement into a strategic development tool that's reshaping how our cities grow. Forward-thinking developers are recognising that engaging with traffic planning early in the design process, rather than as an afterthought, can provide significant advantages. Beyond Compliance: Strategic Transport Planning Modern traffic planning goes far beyond meeting minimum regulatory requirements. The most successful developments integrate transport considerations throughout the design process, identifying opportunities to enhance both project viability and community outcomes. This strategic approach is becoming increasingly important as district councils raise their expectations for development proposals. Councils want to see how new developments will contribute to broader transport and urban planning objectives, not just manage their immediate impacts. The Policy Landscape Driving Change The National Policy Statement on Urban Development, implemented in 2020, is driving intensification around transport corridors and town centres. District councils across New Zealand are updating their plans to accommodate this growth mandate. However, intensification without integrated transport planning can create the kind of urban dysfunction that New Zealand is working to avoid. Traffic Impact Assessments are becoming the critical link between policy ambition and practical implementation. The Multi-Modal Reality Today's traffic planning extends well beyond vehicle movements. With growing focus on sustainability and liveability, modern TIAs consider walking and cycling infrastructure, public transport connections, and emerging transport modes. Contemporary assessments typically evaluate: Pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity Public transport accessibility and integration Parking management strategies Travel demand patterns and management Future transport technology considerations Transport planning specialists are at the forefront of this evolution, developing methodologies that account for the full spectrum of transport modes and their interactions in urban environments. Benefits Across the Development Ecosystem Developers benefit from streamlined consent processes, reduced project risks, and more attractive end products. Well-planned transport connections consistently enhance property values and marketability. Councils gain the robust analysis they need to make informed decisions and demonstrate to communities that growth is being managed responsibly. Communities experience safer streets, better connectivity, and neighbourhoods designed around accessibility and liveability rather than just vehicle accommodation. The broader economy benefits from reduced congestion, more efficient urban form, and transport networks that support productivity and economic growth. The Collaborative Approach The most successful projects involve integrated teams where transport engineers, urban designers, and planners collaborate from the earliest stages. This approach identifies solutions that single-discipline assessments might overlook. Strategic design decisions, such as building orientation that naturally encourages pedestrian movement or site layouts that optimise public transport access, can significantly improve transport outcomes while enhancing overall development quality. Technology and Future Trends Advanced modelling and analysis tools are making traffic planning more sophisticated and accurate. Real-time data integration, predictive modelling capabilities, and scenario planning tools help planners understand not just immediate impacts, but how developments will perform as urban environments evolve. Climate considerations are also becoming increasingly important, with assessments now factoring in transport network resilience and the role of developments in supporting emission reduction goals. Strategic Implications for Development Success As New Zealand's urban development landscape becomes more complex, Traffic Impact Assessments are proving to be much more than regulatory requirements. When approached strategically, they become tools for creating competitive advantage and ensuring project success. The integration of transport planning with broader development objectives is creating opportunities for innovative solutions that benefit all stakeholders. Developments that successfully integrate these considerations are setting new standards for urban growth in New Zealand. The Path Forward The projects that will define New Zealand's cities over the coming decade are being shaped by transport planning decisions made today. Success in this environment requires understanding that traffic planning isn't just about managing vehicle movements, it's about creating the sustainable, connected communities that New Zealand's growing urban population requires. As urban development continues to evolve, the most successful projects will be those that recognise transport planning as a fundamental component of good design, not an obstacle to overcome.
Bangkok Post
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Creamfields Asia seeks emerging DJs
In a groundbreaking move to celebrate regional talent, the organisers of Creamfields Asia 2025, which is set to take place in Bangkok in December, are launching an open call for aspiring DJs in Thailand and across Asia to join the lineup and represent their countries on one of the largest stages in electronic music. This first-of-its-kind campaign aims to select one to three emerging DJs from each Asian country, providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the festival alongside world-renowned artists in front of an audience of 50,000 fans. Creamfields Asia is the biggest edition of the globally renowned dance music festival. Scheduled for Dec 13 and 14 at Impact, Muang Thong Thani, the event will feature a fully immersive indoor production and some of the biggest names in global EDM. Designed to spotlight the incredible diversity of electronic music talent across Asia, the open call is a testament to the festival's commitment to fostering local talent and creating a lineup that truly reflects the region's vibrant music scene. Eligible candidates must be residents of Asian countries, of Asian nationality, and at least 20 years of age, who have the skills, originality and energy to perform music on a global stage in front of thousands of fans. Aspiring DJs can apply by submitting a personal introduction detailing their background and journey as an artist, samples of their best work that represents their unique music style, and a brief explanation of why they should represent their country on the Creamfields Asia stage. Submissions should be made via by Aug 8 (10.59pm Bangkok time). Applications will be reviewed by a panel of industry experts and final selection will be announced on Sept 5.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt begins process to acquire 'strategic' Lakshadweep island for defence use; locals oppose move
The government has initiated steps to acquire Bitra Island in Lakshadweep for defence and strategic purposes, triggering strong reactions from local residents and political leaders. The Lakshadweep revenue department issued a notification on July 11 announcing a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the land acquisition process reported by TOI. Island picked for its strategic location Bitra is one of the ten inhabited islands in Lakshadweep, which comprises 36 islands in total. The Union Territory is spread across 32 square kilometres in the Arabian Sea, located about 220 to 440 kilometres off the coast of Kochi , where the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command is based. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Degree Others Project Management Finance Leadership Data Analytics PGDM Product Management Operations Management healthcare Cybersecurity Design Thinking Data Science Technology MBA Management Data Science Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing Healthcare CXO Public Policy MCA others Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details According to the official notification, Bitra Island's 'strategic location' and 'national security relevance' are the key reasons behind its proposed acquisition. The department of revenue has been named the project developer, and the SIA is expected to be completed within two months. Consent not mandatory under land law The notification mentions that consultations will be held with stakeholders, including gram sabhas. However, it clarifies that their consent is not mandatory under the existing land acquisition laws. Bitra Island is currently home to 105 families. Many of them have raised concerns about the move and expressed opposition to the project. Live Events MP joins residents in protest Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed has opposed the proposal and criticised the administration's approach. In a video statement, he urged residents to remain calm and assured them of his support. 'As your MP, we held a conference that included leaders from Bitra and Lakshadweep and discussed it in detail. We have decided to fight with the people of Bitra, politically and legally,' he said to TOI. Sayeed also questioned the administration's earlier acquisition of land on other islands and asked why Bitra had been chosen this time. He raised concerns about the lack of consultation with local residents before issuing the notification. Region gained attention after Modi visit Lakshadweep drew national attention earlier this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the islands in January 2024. He shared photos of his visit on social media, highlighting the region's natural beauty and development potential. The visit came soon after a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives, where three Maldivian deputy ministers had made derogatory remarks about India and the Prime Minister. Their comments sparked public outrage in India and led to calls for a boycott of the Maldives as a tourist destination. Following the incident, Lakshadweep saw a surge in domestic tourism interest, with many promoting the islands as an alternative travel option.
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Evil killer who beheaded girlfriend Phoenix Spencer Horn & tried to dismember her body at Scots flat jailed for 23 years
A MONSTER who butchered his girlfriend before severing her head in a barbaric killing has been caged for life. Ewan Methven, 27, 8 Ewan Methven has been caged for at least 23 years Credit: Police Scotland 8 He committed the savage killing at the flat in East Kilbride last November Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Phoenix's body was discovered by cops after Methven dialled 999 Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Phoenix Spencer-Horn had been dating Methven for two years before her murder Credit: fACEBOOK The 27 year-old postman later dialled 999 himself insisting he had a drug-induced blackout and could not remember what he had done. But, it emerged after stabbing the 21 year-old to death , he mutilated her body , pretended to her mother she was still alive while also trawling the internet for porn for hours. Methven admitted to the gruesome murder as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow . Judge Lord Matthews ordered Methven to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. The judge said: 'You pleaded guilty to a dreadful crime, namely the murder of Phoenix Spencer-Horn who was a much loved and sorely missed daughter, sister, niece cousin and friend. 'At age 21 and 134 days she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long fulfilling life. 'You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way. 'Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and tried to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. Most read in The Scottish Sun 'The way you treated her after her death meant that her family didn't have the comfort of saying goodbye to her. 'No punishment I can inflect or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life. Girl, 17, hands herself into police over murder of mom and stepdad who were gunned down three months ago 'I saw a letter written by you which answers none of the questions. 'You blame substances, but that is not an excuse.' Lord Matthews added: 'I have rarely read such outpourings of grief as are contained in the Victim Impact Statements from her family, who have endeavoured to put into words what can never truly be encapsulated, the sadness and the deep sense of loss they all feel and will continue to feel thanks to what you did. 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant that her family did not even have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' Members of Phoenix's grieving relatives were at the sentencing. The couple had started dating two years before the killing. They had recently moved into the top floor one-bedroom flat in East Kilbride. 'No punishment I can inflect or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life." Judge Lord Matthews Methven was employed by the Royal Mail while Phoenix - known as 'Phe' - held part times jobs at both the Strathaven Hotel and a local coffee shop. Phoenix had been working on November 16 - she was described as in "good spirits". Methven had texted her during her shift complaining of feeling "lonely" due to her hours. Phoenix apologised to her boyfriend. The postman had also been working that morning. He told a colleague he was then going home to "chill". Methven ordered a takeaway that night and the couple ate when Phoenix got back. The young woman had contacted her mum at 9.37pm stating she was at home having dinner. The court heard this was the last communication she had with her daughter. "You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way." Judge Lord Matthews It was around midnight that a downstairs neighbour heard "loud noise and hurried footsteps". Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: "This coincided with increased activity recorded in an app measuring steps at 12.13am which was discovered upon later interrogation of Methven's phone. "At that time, around or shortly after midnight on November 16 through to November 17, Methven attacked Phoenix by compressing her neck and repeatedly stabbing her to the head and body." The court then heard of Methven's sick behaviour as his girlfriend lay dead including hacking at her with knives. He repeatedly arranged to buy drugs via contact on his phone. Killer's warped online posts EXCLUSIVE BY GORDON TAIT TWISTED Ewan Methven fantasised about violence from the age of 14. In chilling Facebook posts from his school days, the warped postman wrote: 'You've always got that one person you choke to smash f**k out of.' Other alarming remarks, uncovered from 2013 to 2014, read: 'It's kill or be killed' and 'I always get all tingly when angry and it makes me agitated'. The disturbing posts emerged after the fiend this week admitted killing and butchering Phoenix at their flat in East Kilbride. His now-deleted account listed his occupation as 'Local Drug Dealer & Occasional Pornstar'. Referring to an unknown female, Methven told how he wanted to 'kick her big horrible f****** teeth oot' in a vile post dating back to December 2015. And he raged: 'F*** peace everybody's gony die.' In a reply to a friend, he claims: 'I wantae kill the f*** out of you' while in another he hails hard drugs as 'the bomb'. Sources close to the brute described him as 'popular' in his hometown but with a mean streak and a 'dead' stare. READ MORE HERE Phoenix's mum Alison Spencer had also tried contacting her daughter on the morning of November 17. Methven instead got in touch initially claiming "Phe is not up yet" and that he would get her to message when she was. The sick killer then later pretended to be his girlfriend and sent a text to Alison. It stated: "Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx". Another claimed Phoenix was apparently "all good". The court heard, minutes after this, Methven logged on to the adult websites. 8 Methven admitted to the gruesome murder Credit: Supplied 8 Police at the scene in East Kilbride last year Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Judge Lord Matthews handed down a life sentence Mr McKenna: "Throughout the day on November 17, analysis of his phone and search history revealed that, for prolonged period over several hours, he accessed pornography from 8.12am through to 6.39pm. "He was noted to have accessed a pornographic video site 170 times." Methven was also captured on CCTV driving Phoenix's red Vauxhall Corsa. Concerns were raised when Phoenix did not turn up for work on November 18. Killer on 999 call: 'I know she is dead' Methen then went on to dial 999 that afternoon stating he had had "a drug induced psychotic break" and that he had "killed" his girlfriend. He told the operator: "The past day I have been trying to kind of muster up the courage to phone." Methven added Phoenix remained in the hall with a knife beside her. He said he had been taking steroids and cocaine, which he believed had been spiked. Methven: "I totally blacked out through the full thing." He mentioned having "stabbed" and "choked" Phoenix adding: "It was f***ing horrible." Asked by an officer who came on the line if Phoenix could still be alive, Methven replied: "I know she is dead, mate - she is dead." Cops made grim discovery in flat Police soon arrived and made the grim discovery of Phoenix's remains. Mr McKenna: "Phoenix's naked and mutilated body with her head decapitated was discovered by police covered up within the hall of their home. "An attempt had also been made by him to sever her torso, right wrist and ankle from her body. "There were two bloodstained knives lying next to the mutilated body. A further bloodstained knife was found discarded in the bedroom." Methven was described as "calm". "You robbed her of all dignity in death" Lord Judge Matthews Among the remarks Methven made on his arrest were: "I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there." After he was put in a police cell, he said: "I guess this is what my next 25 years look like." The full extent of Phoenix's injuries were revealed at the hearing. She had suffered a total of 20 stab wounds - the fatal one to the chest. There were others in that area as well as to the face and buttocks. 'The ultimate betrayal' Methven also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice including the mutilation of Phoenix's body and lying to her mum. His KC Tony Graham today told the sentencing that he was 'unable to offer an explanation to why the course of events led to her death other than his admission of drugs.' The advocate quoted Methven who said: 'I know how loved she was and how she made her family complete and I can't believe I took her from them.' Mr Graham then stated in his mitigation: 'Mr Methven appreciates there may be voids in relation to his memory and his ability to give an account of what took place. 'He has flashbacks to what took place but no real memory into how things occurred and progressed to the destruction of human life. 'He appreciates in the whole circumstances that during the two year relationship he was adopted [by her family] and to that family he delivered the ultimate betrayal.' Judge Lord Matthews: 'I have rarely read such outpourings of grief as are contained in the Victim Impact Statements from her family, who have endeavoured to put into words what can never truly be encapsulated. Read more on the Irish Sun "The sadness and the deep sense of loss they all feel and will continue to feel thanks to what you did. 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant that her family did not even have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' 8 Phoenix Spencer-Horn Credit: Police Scotland
United News of India
13-07-2025
- United News of India
Call for sustainable tourism push in inner seraj: Local activist urges green, eco-sensitive development
Banjar, July 13 (UNI) Inner Seraj Valley, a rapidly emerging tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, must embrace sustainable tourism practices to balance ecological preservation with development, says local social worker Hem Raj Sharma from Palach Valley. In a detailed memorandum, Sharma urged the government and tourism planners to prioritise green infrastructure and introduce measures that avoid the environmental degradation often caused by unplanned construction. Citing the rising influx of both domestic and international tourists, Sharma called for eco-sensitive access roads to key hidden gems of the region, including the Serolsar Lake, Raghupur Garh, and the Gahidhar waterfall in Tirthan Valley. He advocated for motorable connectivity only through environmentally responsible methods, without harming nature or disturbing water streams. Sharma emphasised the promotion of temple tourism through local taxi circuits to religious sites like Bala, Bahu, and Goshala temples, saying it would create employment and boost the local economy. Similarly, the development of a paragliding site between Palach and Sheel village and a nature park in Bahu or Jibhi Valley could attract longer tourist stays. Highlighting infrastructure gaps, Sharma demanded the reconstruction of the crucial Aut Bridge over the Beas River and advocated for declaring the Khundan–Luhri road as a National Highway. He proposed a green tax barrier at Larji to generate dedicated funds for sustainable tourism projects, ensuring SDM Banjar oversee fund utilisation. However, Sharma warned against indiscriminate construction, blasting, and mining in fragile hill regions and flood plains. He stressed the importance of conducting proper Environmental Impact Assessments before building hospitality units or laying road infrastructure. 'We must prioritise ropeways, underground tunnels, check dams, and resilient transportation over ecologically harmful methods,' he added. Sharma also called for mapping fault-prone zones in every village and identifying new habitations that respect local ecology. He emphasised the need for strict soil conservation, flood control, and recognising forests and water streams as revenue-vulnerable assets. 'In Inner Seraj, our vision should be to host the world while preserving our roots,' he concluded. UNI ML ARN
