Latest news with #SteveDimopoulos
The Age
27-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Public lockout at Albert Park GP precinct set to triple in length
New laws would allow the Albert Park Formula 1 precinct to be closed to the public for up to three weeks during race periods, extending the current maximum seven-day lockout. The proposed changes, to be introduced to parliament by the state government, are part of the Australian Grand Prix Amendment Bill. The new laws would permit a race 'declaration period' of between seven and 21 days to accommodate the set-up and dismantling of the race infrastructure. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the plan, which also includes updates to corporate and intellectual property rights, new permissions for non-motorsports events hosted by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, and an increased annual state payment to Parks Victoria for the ongoing maintenance of Albert Park. 'The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is one of the highest attended races on the Formula 1 calendar,' Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said. 'This consultation will ensure we're listening to the community as we create a safer and more secure Albert Park.' The proposed changes come as the scale of the Melbourne Grand Prix continues to grow. The 2025 event broke attendance records, drawing 465,498 spectators over four days – an increase of more than 10,000 from the previous year. In 2023 and 2024, Victorian taxpayers paid $100 million each year to cover the shortfall in revenue which failed to meet the costs of staging the grand prix. The government says the new 21-day window will allow for safer, more controlled access for workers and reduced risk for park users during construction periods.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-07-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Public lockout at Albert Park GP precinct set to triple in length
New laws would allow the Albert Park Formula 1 precinct to be closed to the public for up to three weeks during race periods, extending the current maximum seven-day lockout. The proposed changes, to be introduced to parliament by the state government, are part of the Australian Grand Prix Amendment Bill. The new laws would permit a race 'declaration period' of between seven and 21 days to accommodate the set-up and dismantling of the race infrastructure. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the plan, which also includes updates to corporate and intellectual property rights, new permissions for non-motorsports events hosted by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, and an increased annual state payment to Parks Victoria for the ongoing maintenance of Albert Park. 'The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is one of the highest attended races on the Formula 1 calendar,' Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said. 'This consultation will ensure we're listening to the community as we create a safer and more secure Albert Park.' The proposed changes come as the scale of the Melbourne Grand Prix continues to grow. The 2025 event broke attendance records, drawing 465,498 spectators over four days – an increase of more than 10,000 from the previous year. In 2023 and 2024, Victorian taxpayers paid $100 million each year to cover the shortfall in revenue which failed to meet the costs of staging the grand prix. The government says the new 21-day window will allow for safer, more controlled access for workers and reduced risk for park users during construction periods.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hopes for a new national park dashed, to the delight of hunters
Hunters and fishers have celebrated a vow from Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos that the Victorian government will not legislate a new national park spanning more than half a million hectares. Conservationists had for a decade campaigned for the creation of a Great Forest National Park, which would add another 355,000 hectares of forests to triple the area of Central Highlands that is currently protected. The expanded national park, joining seven existing forests and state parks, would have offered critical protections for endangered and imperilled animals like the Leadbeater's possum. But the proposal has been controversial among bush users' groups, who say it would lock recreational park users out. Gold prospectors, 4WD enthusiasts, shooters, horse riders and other groups, backed by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), have joined forces in a growing campaign against national parks, and have strongly campaigned against the creation of a Great Forest National Park. Sparked by a renewed push to ban duck hunting in Victoria, the ETU (Victorian branch) in 2023 brought together hunters, bush user groups, rock climbers and prospectors to form the Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group. Speaking at an ETU delegates' conference this week, Dimopoulos assured attendees the Great Forest National Park proposal was not Labor policy, and Labor would not implement it. After the 2014 state election, Labor established a taskforce comprising representatives from environment groups, forestry unions and the logging industry to work towards a consensus on the creation of a Great Forest National Park.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Hopes for a new national park dashed, to the delight of hunters
Hunters and fishers have celebrated a vow from Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos that the Victorian government will not legislate a new national park spanning more than half a million hectares. Conservationists had for a decade campaigned for the creation of a Great Forest National Park, which would add another 355,000 hectares of forests to triple the area of Central Highlands that is currently protected. The expanded national park, joining seven existing forests and state parks, would have offered critical protections for endangered and imperilled animals like the Leadbeater's possum. But the proposal has been controversial among bush users' groups, who say it would lock recreational park users out. Gold prospectors, 4WD enthusiasts, shooters, horse riders and other groups, backed by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), have joined forces in a growing campaign against national parks, and have strongly campaigned against the creation of a Great Forest National Park. Sparked by a renewed push to ban duck hunting in Victoria, the ETU (Victorian branch) in 2023 brought together hunters, bush user groups, rock climbers and prospectors to form the Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group. Speaking at an ETU delegates' conference this week, Dimopoulos assured attendees the Great Forest National Park proposal was not Labor policy, and Labor would not implement it. After the 2014 state election, Labor established a taskforce comprising representatives from environment groups, forestry unions and the logging industry to work towards a consensus on the creation of a Great Forest National Park.
The Age
28-06-2025
- Climate
- The Age
One fish, two fish, 35,000 fish: Rainbow trout released for school holiday anglers
They wiggled and squirmed as thousands of them splashed their way to freedom. Big white buckets full of rainbow trout were hauled into Karkarook Park Lake in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday by keen fishermen and women. Two thousand of the fish species found their new home in Heatherton's icy lake. They are among 35,000 fish being added to 70 lakes across Victoria, with the aim of getting kids off their screens and into the great outdoors during the school holidays. The ready-to-catch rainbow trout – which are ideal for beginner anglers and can be caught with lures cast from the shore – are part of the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan. Victoria stocks more fish than any other state or territory. Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said the fish were being distributed in time for the school holidays. 'We are saying come to your local waterway, you don't need an expensive boat, you just need a rod,' he said. 'You'll catch a fish in Victoria more than anywhere else in Australia.' The release follows on from former premier Daniel Andrews' 2022 pledge of $1.5 million over four years to give 95,000 free fishing rods to year 5 students, and all students at specialist schools. That program had varying levels of success: while some were excited to take up fishing, the ABC reported a number of students tried to re-sell the rods online.
