Latest news with #Victorian
Perth Now
20 minutes ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
City braces for months of commuter chaos
Melbourne commuters can expect headaches for the rest of the year as the $15bn Metro Tunnel opens in stages. Passengers on three different train lines will have to switch at either of two different stations as the first trains carrying passengers through the new tunnel are opened to the public. Speaking to media on Saturday, Transport Infrastructure Minister, Gab Williams, said the amount of disruptions owing to the state's massive infrastructure projects was too long to list. 'You've probably already seen the media release with an outline of many of the disruptions that will be taking place over the winter break, because we have a huge winter of work,' she said. Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams acknowledges there will numerous disruptions in coming months. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia The Parkville Station is one of five new Metro stations. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia 'So I won't go through all of them. I will choose to single out a few, but in short, we are ensuring you know the final stretch and opening, getting ready to open, the Metro Tunnel project and of course as well the West Gate Tunnel.' On June 21, the train-carrying Metro Tunnel will run a 'dress rehearsal', however the tunnel hasn't yet been signed off to transport passengers. On this one rehearsal day, passengers on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will have to switch trains at Caulfield or Footscray stations. The empty trains will then continue on through the tunnel as a sort of dry run. Media got a look at the new Parkville Station on Saturday. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia There are two AFL games in Melbourne on that Saturday, being contested by four Melbourne-based teams. Ms Williams said staff will 'be out in force' at the stations where passengers have to get off the train to tell people where to go, on top of the usual announcements ringing out. This June 21 trial marks the first in a string of major transport disruptions over the next six months. Final works on the West Gate Tunnel will cause lane closures on outbound arterial routes later in the year. Sections of the Eastern Freeway will be shut during the weekends in August and buses will replace trains on the Hurstbridge line in July.
Sky News AU
35 minutes ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
John Pesutto facing bankruptcy proceedings
Former Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto is facing bankruptcy proceedings after he missed the deadline for more than $2 million in legal costs to MP Moira Deeming. Senior Liberal party figures were unable to reach an eleventh-hour bid to negotiate a deal to cover the debt - following her successful defamation case. Ms Deeming's lawyers are planning to issue a bankruptcy notice to the former state liberal leader after he raised only one-third of the debt. The party's administrative committee could reportedly meet on the weekend to discuss a possible loan to Mr Pesutto.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Quiet seaside town named as one of UK's top summer destinations
The travel review website has released its summer travel index for 2025, revealing the fastest growing destinations in the UK, with one destination much closer to home making the list No British summer is truly fulfilled without a trip to the seaside. For years, families have flocked to the coast for a paddle in the waves, sandcastle building, and indulging in ice creams and fish and chips. Coastal destinations continue to be a hit, as recent data from Tripadvisor indicates that seaside spots are trending this summer. The travel review platform unveiled its summer travel index for 2025, featuring the UK's fastest-growing destinations, which are predominantly coastal locations. The top three hotspots are Seaview in the Isle of Wight, Ingoldmells in Lincolnshire, and Bamburgh in Northumberland. However, also nestled within the top ten is little Lytham St Anne's on the Lancashire coast, which secured the eighth spot on the list. Tripadvisor compiled the data by analysing responses from its Consumer Sentiment Survey, which polled over 2,800 consumers, and traffic data from the Tripadvisor website. The research revealed that affordability was a crucial factor for two-thirds of Brits when it comes to travel, with cost outweighing considerations such as work schedules and school holidays. Given these factors, it's easy to understand why UK seaside destinations remain so popular - they're often budget-friendly and more accessible, allowing for day trips instead of splashing out on an overseas holiday. With its grand Victorian pier, expansive sandy beach and charming pastel-hued beach huts, it's no surprise that Lytham St Annes was listed as one of the top holiday spots this summer, reports the Manchester Evening News. Comprising two towns, Lytham and St Annes, this coastal gem offers visitors a unique experience compared to neighbouring Blackpool, exuding an old-world seaside charm. The vast beach is perfect for building sandcastles or enjoying a picnic, while the 600ft Victorian Pier boasts amusements, a café and ice cream stalls. What distinguishes this resort from others in the vicinity are the delightful beach huts available for daily hire starting from £135. They're equipped with everything you might need, including mains electricity, a compact kitchen area, chairs and a table. For families with children, the Splash park is a hit with youngsters - suitable for ages three to 12 - featuring various attractions such as spray loops, water sprays, bucket drops and water domes, priced at £2 for a one-hour session. Parking at Lytham St Annes is plentiful, with options including the beachside North Promenade (FY8 2NQ) and Fairhaven Road (FY8 1NW), both starting from £1.30 for one hour and up to £4.60 for over four hours.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
The Age
2 hours ago
- Climate
- The Age
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
