Latest news with #New South Wales
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Plymouth marines participate in Sydney training
A Royal Marines unit helped swoop on a passenger ferry in Australia during anti-terrorism training in view of tourists visiting Sydney Opera part of Australia's largest-ever military exercise marines from Plymouth-based 42 Commando worked with counterparts from the host nation, the US, Japan and Singapore in Sydney training saw allies work on boarding operations, which the Royal Navy said aimed to perfect the skills needed to hunt down smugglers, terrorists and pirates around the training in Sydney finished with the recapture of an iconic green and yellow New South Wales ferry using US Black Hawk helicopters among other specialist vehicles. The 42 Commando unit was recently involved with the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of illegal narcotics in the Middle East.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion halted after community legal challenge
A Hunter Valley community group has won a legal challenge to bring one of the largest coal mine expansions in New South Wales to a halt. In 2022 the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) approved MACH Energy's application to extend the life of its Mount Pleasant coal mine to 2048 and increase its output. The Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group (DAMSHEG) appealed the approval in the Supreme Court, arguing that the impacts of the project on the environment and climate were not properly considered by the IPC. The NSW Court of Appeal sided with the group on Thursday morning. DAMSHEG president Wendy Wales said it was a "landmark case". "We're just over the moon," she said. The group had requested a judicial review of the approval but that was denied by the Land and Environment Court. The Court of Appeal ruling has rendered the IPC's approval invalid. It will be subject to a review in the Land and Environment Court. The proposed expansion would allow the company to mine an additional 247 million tonnes of coal by 2048. In court DAMSHEG argued that the impact of scope 3 emissions — those created from the burning of exported coal — was not adequately considered. Justice JulieWard ruled there was "nothing" in the IPC's reasoning that showed it had accepted the scope 3 emissions would contribute to global climate change. "Thus, I consider that it has been established that the commission failed to consider a mandatory consideration in this regard," she said. Ms Wales said she wanted the region to move away from reliance on fossil fuels. "We would like to see that Mount Pleasant doesn't go through till 2048, doubling its rate of production," she said. The judge ordered MACH Energy to pay the costs incurred by DAMSHEG for the appeal. The ABC has contacted MACH Energy for comment. The case will now proceed to the Land and Environment Court for a decision on whether the expansion approval should be reversed. The mine employs more than 400 people in the Upper Hunter region and was previously approved to mine until the end of 2026. Ms Wales says bringing new jobs to the Muswellbrook region needs to be the priority. "We need to be working at how we do that and it takes all the collective brains to work towards that," she said. "[Muswellbrook Shire] Council has been calling for much more investment in and attention to how we're going to look after the workers and the rehab of our area."
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Turf Talk: Shayne O'Cass makes $15 chance his best bet at Randwick on Saturday
Form experts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate the chances in all the key races at Royal Randwick on Saturday in this week's edition of Turf Talk. Shayno is taking a swing at a $15 chance on Saturday, making Race 8 No.4 CIGAR FLICK his best bet of the day, while Mitch's big play comes in the last race of the day, Race 10 No.6 PUNTIN. â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Hello Mitchy. Back to HQ on Saturday. It was unusually biased against middle and outside horses trying to run on (all my tips as it happened!) last time. I am wondering, nay, even worried about the 11m rail. Just have to hit and hope I guess. Mitch: G'day Shayno. Fun fact for you. Two horses running on Saturday won at the same meeting 12 months ago with the rail out – Race 8 No.13 TARPAULIN and Race 8 No.6 HI DUBAI. I haven't found either of them in my numbers but I know you love a bit of history. Tarpaulin runs away with it! ðŸ'¨ @mcacajamez and @JamesCummings88 combine to win the Randwick opener 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024 • Shayno: These 2YOs in the first will all be 3YOs as of next Friday. You know yourself that lots can change for the better or for the worse when they make that step hence why it will be fascinating to see how SHAGGY (Race 1 No.1) has come back, so too OPEN SECRET (4), NASHVILLE JACK (3) and others. Mitch: The question has to be asked, what did NAZWAH (Race 1 No.7) beat at Gosford? We won't know this weekend as both placegetters are now spelling. With that said, she smashed them and looked to have plenty to offer on the line. I am with her but very wary of Shaggy. He's got the runs on the board. Wow, look at Nazwah go! 😮 An impressive win to the @SnowdenRacing1 - trained filly at @gosford_races with @tomo_sherry in the saddle! ðŸ'¨ @EmiratesPark — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2025 • Shayno: Mitchy, I can't believe I am tipping CIGAR FLICK (Race 8 No.4). In fact, I must be mad because I have made her best bet. She's not the biggest certainty on the card BUT at $15, I say she is the best bet, so bet small! Mitch: I am saving the best for last this week Shayno. PUNTIN (Race 10 No.6) is as consistent a galloper as you'd find and can add another win to the 'last race Baker' tally. He stepped a touch slow in a race dominated on speed by Oh Diamond Lil the other day but expecting him to atone this time. Puntin wins on debut! 🤩 @RachelK11 @BBakerRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 15, 2024 Shayno: Might be just me, I always take a Daily Double, saves you backing one in the last if the first has already won, that's my logic. And tomorrow, I'll be taking the Bryce Heys pair to win both legs. It'll pay off big time! Mitch: That's GENTLY ROLLED (Race 7 No.7) and KING RATEL (Race 10 No.9) for those playing at home. Personally, my blackbook is going to come under the microscope this weekend. KINGSTON CHARM (Race 2 No.2), IN SUMMER (Race 3 No.6) and SACRED ROCKS (Race 7 No.4) are all horses I've got highlighted in the 'back me next start' category. Give me strength.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Outback astronomers lodge appeal against Hydrostor's $1b energy storage project
A nearly $1 billion energy storage venture has hit a roadblock after an astronomy tourism business lodged a court appeal against the New South Wales government's decision to approve the outback project. In February, the NSW government approved Canadian company Hydrostor's 200-megawatt Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) project on the outskirts of Broken Hill as a State Significant Development (SSD) application. Linda and Travis Nadge own the tourism business Outback Astronomy, approximately 1.1 kilometres from the project, and lodged an appeal in the Land and Environment Court stating the project adversely impacts its business operations. In court documents obtained by the ABC, the Nadges said there is no agreement between them and Hydrostor addressing the noise levels at its address. The pair also said the project did not sufficiently identify lighting impacts, and that the environment impact statement and lighting impact assessment do not provide "any assessment of the light disturbance conducted at night". They say the Outback Astronomy business requires, over the course of a 30-day lunar cycle, three weeks of a dark, moon-free black sky to run its sky shows. Their other events require a moonlit sky to work. The pair also claim the environmental impact statement did not have a construction environmental management plan (CEMP) and therefore the project does not comply with EPA Act or key EPA regulations. In total, the Nadges made nine contentions in their 18-page statement, which was lodged in the NSW Land and Environment Court on May 16. They also contended the project did not meet zone objectives or have adequate essential services, in addition to lacking landowners' consent and detail on the development layout. Overall, the statement said, there was insufficient material to assess the application. Hydrostor lodged a response on June 16 and the NSW government on July 3, respectively. In response to noise concerns, a lawyer acting for the minister for planning and public spaces stated that the noise impacts on the Nadges were "assessed to comply with the NSW Noise Policy for Industry". Both the minister and Hydrostor denied the Nadges' contention regarding lighting impact. Both respondents' lawyers rejected the need for a CEMP, stating the project complied with the Planning Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). "It amounts to a contention that the minister's delegate did not have the jurisdiction to determine the SSD application, which is not a matter that is appropriate to be dealt with in this court's class 1 jurisdiction and is in an event denied," the minister wrote. As part of their statements of facts, the Nadges contend a residence adjacent to the project and across the highway from the Outback Astronomy business would also have adverse noise impacts from the project. In its reply, a lawyer for the state government alleged the residence was "unlawfully occupied" on land legally owned by the NSW government, and the residence had been constructed without "development approval". A day-long conciliation conference for the parties is scheduled for August 21.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson concedes mistake in Chad Townsend selection, recalls Sandon Smith
The Sydney Roosters will have to push for a finals berth without hardman Victor Radley as coach Trent Robinson confirmed he'd miss a month with a shoulder injury starting with Thursday's must-win clash against the Storm. Robinson has recalled playmaker Sandon Smith to team-up with close mate Sam Walker after conceding his decision to bring back veteran Chad Townsend 'didn't work out' in what could prove a costly loss to Cronulla last week. Sitting in 10th, and needing every win possible in the run to the finals, Robinson said Smith had been given a clear message on what was expected after his recall adamant he had 'full belief' in the 22-year-old despite choosing Townsend ahead of him last week. 'It didn't work out how we wanted last week,' Robinson conceded. 'But I've also been clear about what I'd like from him and his improvement. I pulled him out of the reserve grade game last week, he's had a good week of training. 'But there's two separate things there. We weren't happy with the way we played, but also, Sandon wasn't there for a reason. 'But we've always believed in him as a player. I think we've shown that for the last few years in his development. But I know he can get better and have belief in him he can do that tomorrow night.' Robinson hoped Smith's connection with 23-year-old halfback Walker would work in the Roosters favour against a Storm team smarting from it's own home loss to Manly. It's just the second time the young playmakers will start together in the halves for the Roosters. 'I trust our system and I also trust their combination as friends and an intuition there about how they like playing the game,' he said. 'I want him to play his game, I want him to attack the game. Go and play, go and attack the line and take his opportunities. 'He's a really instinctive player and I feel like he can do that more. I'm looking forward to that.' 'We've put him in for big games in the past, and he's in, and we want him to go after it.' Robinson hopes Radley could be return in the back-end of the regular season after succumbing to a shoulder injury the star forward played down earlier this week. '(Radley's injury) is not a week, it's probably closer to three or four. We've just got to repair and do the work,' he said. 'It's been a bit stop-start there. It'd be nice to get him back and firing.'
