Latest news with #Rayment
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Havoc filming locations: Where in Wales was Netflix thriller filmed?
Although it is set in an unnamed US city, the whole of Netflix's new thriller Havoc - including shootouts and car chases - was filmed in Tom Hardy as a "jaded" detective, the film tells the aftermath of a drug deal gone Evans, the Welshman who directed the action film, said recreating the USA in south Wales was "challenging", but he wanted to bring work to the area."I started going around, like, Swansea, Port Talbot, Cardiff and Newport, looking for any little bit of architecture that I could find that might pass as a little bit Americana," he said. "And so we took a look and we thought if we can get 30% or 40% real in camera then the VFX (visual effects) can take care of the rest."While many scenes were filmed in a studio in Cardiff, a number of real Welsh locations provided the backdrop for action film's producer Ed Talfan said the idea of transforming south Wales into North America sounded "nuts" on paper, but said what was achieved was a testament to the talented crews working in Wales. 1. Brangwyn Hall, Swansea Swansea's Brangwyn Hall doubled up as the exterior of a fictional city police the concert venue, which was built in 1934, the stairwell was also used for filming as part of the film's gala revealed the film's interior police station scenes were actually shot at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay."I think we weren't popular when we did that because it was in the middle of half-term week," said Evans."So we had to shut down the fair for two days, so for any mums and dads and kids - I'm very sorry." 2. Bute Street, Cardiff Cardiff's Bute Street was turned into a US boulevard with 30cm (12in) of fake snow for one of Havoc's night-time Rayment, a goldsmith whose business on Bute Street became part of the set, described how the production team built a fake metal stairway in front of his shop before filming began."They came and constructed this amazing thing," said Mr Rayment. "I've been to New York and it looked like that very sort of iconic steel structure walkway... quite dark, quite industrial, and they'd literally built three storeys of that all up the outside of the front of a building."He said the front of his shop was also covered with the fake snow."Every time we'd bring down the shutter for the next three months after they'd wrapped we'd have like little bits of snowflakes falling at the front of the shutter."Mr Rayment also made some of the detective badges used as props in the show. "They have certain pieces that have to be really authentic. They're called the hero pieces because they're in close-up," he said."Then we had some action ones that had to be quite flexible, to make sure they put up with a bit of fighting, because there's always action isn't there when Tom Hardy's involved." 3. Swansea University's Bay Campus A key scene in the film is when Forest Whitaker's character is waiting in gridlocked was shot at Swansea University's Bay Campus, with added visual effects applied after filming. 4. Trade Street, Cardiff Trade Street, just behind Cardiff Central Station, was used for exterior shots of Chinatown, a fish market and Wong's Alley."We came up with a Chinatown and I didn't want it to feel like the Chinatowns you see in western cities like London," said Evans."Let's take a look at the old-walled city vibe. We went a little mythic in our world-build." 5. The fishing shack The film's fishing shack location was filmed in multiple parts of Wales. Some interior shots were filmed at the Swansea University Bay exterior shots were filmed at Dragon Studios in Bridgend. But the third and final iteration of the shack, used for dramatic scenes, was built in Candleston Woods in Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend. 6. Baglan train station There are no spoilers here but Havoc's climax - filmed on train tracks - was actually shot at Baglan railway station in Neath Port film's producer, Ed Talfan, said Evans had "always wanted this final, gigantic set piece in the fishing shack and on the railway sidings"."I don't think there's any limit to the scale of projects that can come to Wales and hopefully it's the first of many," he added.
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Townsville's worst NIMBY suburbs exposed
Townsville is regional Queensland's NIMBY capital with five of its suburbs being named in the top 10 NIMBY resistance hotspots thanks to almost non-existent new dwelling approvals. A shock analysis revealed 'an entrenched pattern of underdevelopment' across Queensland, intensifying the affordability crisis as families compete for a limited supply of new homes. Research by MCG Quantity Surveyors pinpointed areas with the lowest building approvals across the past two years, with undersupply dire in Brisbane and regional growth areas from the Gold Coast to Townsville. 'Australia's housing market faces significant pressure due to surging population growth, heightened demand, and an alarmingly low rate of new dwelling approvals,' MCG Quantity Surveyors managing director Mike Mortlock said. 'While many regions grapple with meeting housing demand, certain suburb areas stand out starkly as hotspots of resistance – often referred to as NIBMYism (Not In My Back Yard) – to new developments.' In the 24 months to January 2025, only 337,564 dwelling units were approved nationally. MCG's report identified 65 suburbs in Queensland with less than 5,000 building approvals, coupled with less than a 1 per cent increase in housing stock. Five of the 10 worst regional Queensland suburb areas were in Townsville, three were in Central Queensland and one each in Mackay and Wide Bay. Brisbane's worst-ranked areas included: Wakerley, Riverhills, Seventeen Mile Rocks-Sinnamon Park, Middle Park-Jamboree Heights, Carindale, Jindalee-Mount Ommaney, Mansfield, Stafford Heights, Sheldon-Mount Cotton, and Boondall. Topping the regional Queensland list was Cranbrook, followed by the Wulguru- Roseneath area and Annandale. Also making the top 10 were Heatley and the Gulliver-Currajong-Vincent area. Mr Mortlock said the dearth of approvals in Townsville reflected an 'ongoing reluctance to densify or renew, even in the face of population pressures'. The pattern was repeated across hubs including Mackay and Bundaberg. 'These are established communities with thousands of homes, yet the housing stock has barely budged,' he said. 'The risk here is clear: without intervention, affordability in these markets will erode just as quickly as in the capitals.' Natalie Rayment, Brisbane town planner and CEO of YIMBY Qld, said homeowners with 'blind faith' in opposing development risked 'pricing a new generation out of the housing market'. 'Good housing policy and quality design are essential,' Ms Rayment said. 'But I like to ask people – if you say 'no' to more housing in your neighbourhood, then what are you saying 'yes' to? 'There's always a trade-off, whether that be increasing housing costs, increased levels of homelessness or reducing opportunities to downsize and age in place in the future. 'There's also added pressure to push new housing further out of the city, increasing the commute and potentially expanding into farm land or koala habitat.' Ms Rayment said when a housing project was denied or delayed in response to strong community objection, it often led to further restrictive practices. 'Decision makers tighten up the rule book to ensure no more are allowed to slip through the system – think the townhouse ban, or capping heights, reducing floor plates, or increasing carparking numbers, each coming with a direct cost on housing,' she said. 'Worse still, each time this happens, it rocks the confidence of the housing sector, reducing the risk appetite needed to get new projects off the ground. 'It's a downward spiral. And we need a re-set. Urgently.' NIMBY pressure in wealthier suburbs like Noosa, New Farm and Main Beach was strong, as homeowners fought to preserve 'neighbourhood character', Ms Rayment said. 'But NIMBY pressure plays out in many areas, often opposing affordable housing options like smaller units,' she said. 'Recently, we've seen even more intense objections to social and affordable homes, with some residents going beyond planning issues to raise concerns about social issues like youth crime.' Building approvals for new houses and units plummeted across much of the state over the summer months. While approvals for detached homes and units rose by 8.4 per cent from last year, the 36,147 homes approved fell short of the government's annual target of 50,000 new homes. The three-month trend to February 2025 shows approvals down by 8.8 per cent – blowing out to about 30 per cent in regions like Mackay and Whitsunday, Far North Queensland, and the Gold Coast. Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell highlighted a critical skills shortage. 'The disconnect between the number of people entering the construction industry and the workload is growing, and is the most pressing challenge for our sector,' Mr Bidwell said. The Construction Skills Queensland Horizon 2032 report found the shortfall in workers will intensify to around 50,000 by 2026-27. 'With a pipeline of just over $59b in homes, schools, hospitals, and community infrastructure in play for 2024-25, and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games projects ahead, it's time to rethink our approach to finding more workers.' The housing shortage is a key issue ahead of next week's election, with both major parties unveiling policies aimed at addressing the supply-demand imbalance. Ray White economist Nerida Conisbee said skyrocketing building costs had made it more affordable to buy an existing home than purchase a new one – undermining policies aimed at encouraging new construction. 'Construction challenges have worsened, with industry insolvencies continuing to rise and now exceeding 1200 annually,' Ms Consibee said. 'Labor productivity remains low, and the average time to complete a house has increased from approximately 6.5 months pre-pandemic to over 10 months today. 'These factors severely limit the industry's capacity to deliver on ambitious housing targets.'
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘Practices like ours are dying': why GPs aren't celebrating Medicare's record investment
On a Thursday morning in April, the patients in Dr Phillip Loxley's waiting room have either been coming to his practice in south Sydney since he opened it nearly 40 years ago, or – like 27-year-old Liam there for a check up – since they were born. Wendy Rayment, 75, is the former. Loxley has not only managed her asthma for years but was the doctor who helped her get a diagnosis for lymphoma in her eye after she experienced a range of 'red herring' symptoms, starting in 2016, and then helped manage her care throughout the treatment. Now in remission, Rayment is back at the practice after slipping on holiday in Vietnam and tearing open her calf, and Loxley is peering at the medication she received there with a magnifying glass, attempting to translate it. Sue Loxley, Phillip's wife, is the practice manager and a registered nurse. She has just changed Rayment's bandages before reminding her to get her flu vaccine when she comes in next week to have the stitches out. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter The Sutherland practice's books are full with around 6,500 current patients, many of whom are second and third generation, Loxley says. 'They almost start to feel like family after a while.' But the general practitioner (GP) says he's somewhat of a 'dinosaur'. 'Practices like ours are dying out. It would be hard to have a practice like this these days. We can do it because we've been doing it for 40 years,' he says. Despite this election being dubbed a 'health election', with the government spruiking its record investment in Medicare to expand the bulk-billing incentive to all Australians, many GPs say the plan will not help the financial viability of practices running on the slimmest of margins. When Loxley began his career he was able to work as a GP with simply 'a wooden bed, a desk and some cards you wrote on'. The rent was far cheaper in those days, and in 1993, seven years after starting his practice, Loxley bought a house nearby for $240,000. Loxley estimates that today it would cost at least $1.8m. Over the decades, the practice has absorbed new expenses like the introduction of complex software and rising costs of indemnity insurance 'bit by bit rather than have to start and pay the whole lot in one go'. Even with the advantage of starting the practice when he did, Loxley has to charge one in four patients $75 for an appointment (leaving them out of pocket $33.80 after they receive the rebate for a standard consultation) to retain the practice's financial viability. And now, as he looks to retirement, he can't find a young GP willing to take over his practice. Dr Louise Stone, a professor of general practice at Australia National University, says by her calculations, a GP today starts working with $400,000 debt from undergraduate and postgraduate Hecs, as well as the cost of GP fellowship training, including $10,000 to sit qualifying exams. Newly fellowed GP Dr Claire Francis says she has the best job in medicine with the worst pay. While specialist doctors charge up to $950 an appointment, when Francis accepts bulk billing a patient $44 for a 20-minute appointment, she is left with about $20 after paying super, tax and the practice she works for 30% to cover rent, nursing and reception staff, electricity and other expenses. That does not take into account the time she spends helping patients when they are not in the room, which goes unpaid. Once her day in the practice is over, Francis's work can include checking blood and pathology test results, making referrals, filling out social housing forms for disadvantaged patients or spending up to an hour on the phone with the state's justice department, reporting at-risk children if a patient faces homelessness. 'That has to be done for free at the end of the day, after you've knocked off work, on the phone in my backyard or at the dog park,' she says. 'That's often what general practice comes down to – it's just doing the needful, because there is no one else to do it.' As the nation increasingly loses its social safety nets – not only for universal healthcare but housing and liveable incomes – people are struggling more and 'GPs really are the catch-all of the entire system,' Francis says. Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Stone, also a GP, says on average, they do about 10 hours a week unpaid administration. 'So a quarter of our time is not paid. We estimated it at around $1.2bn a year on in labor from general practice. A lot of that is trying desperately to get patients into services.' Working in Redfern and Broadway, Francis' patients range from people who are chronically homeless to affluent Australians who live in $2m homes and have personal chefs. In order to afford to bulk bill the former, she says she has to charge a gap fee for the latter. Francis says she believes the government's $8.5bn election policy, which the Coalition quickly matched, to expand the bulk-billing incentive to all Australian Medicare cardholders from 1 November, is 'designed to fail'. 'I couldn't afford to keep working if I bulk billed everyone. I still have more Hecs debt than I do in superannuation,' says Francis, who went to medical school as a mature age student. Stone says practices are closing 'left, right and centre', and there are three reasons behind it. The first is the shift to increasingly more complex patient presentations, such as mental health and chronic disease, Stone says. 'The sweet spot for Medicare is six minutes. If you see a doctor for less than 10 minutes, the Medicare rebate is about $6 a minute. If you see a patient for 30 minutes, it's about $2 a minute,' she says. 'It shouldn't matter if you need your cut finger bandaged or you need your five chronic diseases managed, you should get the same support per minute of time or per problem.' General practices used to make more money on brief consultations, which would subsidise the longer ones, Stone says. However, many simple consultations are going elsewhere, including urgent care clinics, where the government invests $246.50 per patient, nurse-led clinics, where it invests $200 per patient, or emergency departments, which cost it $692 per patient without an admission, Stone says. GPs are left with longer, more complex consultations where the Medicare rebate is significantly lower per minute, and the government is only investing $42 per patient, by comparison, she explains. The second reason GPs are not able to sustain practices financially, Stone says, is because the rebate was frozen for so long it has fallen under 50% of what it costs for the service to be delivered. Despite the government spruiking bulk-billing incentives, Stone explains they are only a small bonus on top of the rebate. The third reason, she says, is the 'extraordinary political and community pressure to bulk bill everybody' despite the fact that general practice has never done so. The health minister, Mark Butler, says: 'The Albanese Government's investment in Medicare will close the earnings gap that Peter Dutton forced upon our doctors, so that a GP no longer has to sacrifice their earnings to bulk bill every patient.' Dr Michael Wright, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, says while some practices that already bulk bill patients and rural ones that receive higher incentives to do so have indicated they will take up the government's policy, the majority the college has spoken to say they are unlikely to change their billing. Wright says the workforce incentives both major parties have agreed to will help encourage more doctors to specialise in general practice. While previously a doctor leaving a public hospital to start GP training lost their entitlements and had a large pay cut, 'both of those have been fixed'. Trainee GPs will now receive an incentive payment while they're training and be paid entitlements like parental leave for the first time, he says. Wright says GPs are up for the health challenges the nation faces with a growing and ageing population, including one in two Australians having a chronic health condition, but increasingly it takes more time to provide that care. 'We're here to do it, and if we're properly funded to do it, we can do it – but if the funding is only for quick consultations, then that's going to make it harder and harder.'
