Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Mental Health Australia

Thousands of bus passengers and motorists will benefit from road improvements at Bondi Junction which will boost reliability and travel times.

The work will extend a right turn lane on Old South Head by 65 metres to create a longer lane for vehicles turning right onto Syd Einfeld Drive, allowing more buses and vehicles to move through the intersection more efficiently.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said extending the lane will improve travel times for buses and reduce delays for all traffic.

“The intersection of Old South Head Road, Bondi Road and Syd Einfeld Drive is a key junction for two major bus corridors in and out of Bondi Junction,” the spokesperson said.

“At weekday peak times it is congested with long traffic queues. This treatment is expected to significantly reduce peak time queue lengths and allow traffic to flow more freely.

“More than 24,000 bus passengers each weekday will benefit from improved reliability and journey times as well as the extended lane reducing general traffic congestion. In addition, we expect less weaving of traffic and safer, easier and more reliable journeys for bus passengers, as well as general traffic.”

The change will reduce the northern footpath width from four metres to two metres. 

Two trees will need to be removed, and Transport will try to retain two other trees during construction. 

Tree replacement will be done in collaboration with Woollahra Council.

“We are grateful to those who took part in our consultation on the project. We are working through a detailed design and will continue to update the community and nearby property owners and provide further updates to the project webpage.”

The work is being carried out under the Bus Priority Infrastructure Program (BPIP), a rolling program that delivers infrastructure improvements to address the reliability and efficiency of bus services in Greater Sydney.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

The Albanese Labor Government has today passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payments System Modernisation) Bill 2025 through the Senate, to make sure Australia’s payments system delivers for our modern economy.

These changes will modernise our payments system and help make our economy more productive.

This is all about making our payments system more seamless, safer and stronger, and suitable for the times.

The Bill modernises the regulatory framework for the payments system by broadening the definitions of ‘payment system’ and ‘participant’.

This means the vast array of new services and platforms, including digital wallets and Buy Now Pay Later services, can be regulated effectively by the Reserve Bank of Australia, and address risks posed by new and emerging technologies.

The Bill also introduces a new ministerial power that allows the Treasurer to designate payment systems in the national interest, for example where a system presents risks to national security.

Those designated systems and system participants would then be subject to additional oversight by appropriate regulators.

These changes are another important step in delivering a modern, world‑class and efficient payments system in Australia.

A safer, more trusted and more accessible payments system will help boost competition, innovation and productivity across the economy.

Source: Mental Health Australia

Motorists travelling through Sutton and Gundaroo will soon experience safer journeys, with new 80 km/h speed limits being introduced this month on Sutton Road, Mulligans Flat Road, East Tallagandra Lane and Back Creek Road. 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A 16-year-old male has been arrested in relation to a vehicle that was stolen and driven dangerously through Tennant Creek overnight.

At 3:20pm yesterday, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report that a Toyota Hilux had been stolen from a car rental business on Paterson Street.

It is alleged two female youths attended the business before stealing car keys to the Hilux from a desk and fleeing the scene in the vehicle. At 3:55pm, the Hilux was located by police abandoned in nearby bushland and was towed to the police compound.

Around 9:05pm, unknown offenders entered the compound and stole the Hilux, using it to ram through the locked gates. It was observed driving dangerously throughout Tennant Creek, during which it allegedly drove directly at police multiple times, forcing members to take evasive actions to avoid a collision.

Two police pursuits were initiated but subsequently terminated for safety reasons.

Police CCTV operators later observed the vehicle being abandoned on Peko Road. Police attended and arrested the 16-year-old male driver.

Investigations remain ongoing to identify the outstanding offenders and police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444, please quote reference NTP2500088174. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: South Australia Police

The City of Wanneroo has officially endorsed its first Council Plan, setting a clear direction for delivering the services and facilities needed to support our growing community.

Source:

Ballan and Geelong West firefighters

CFA is further enhancing the safety of its firefighters while working at heights with five new props recently added to its training centres across the state.

The $8mil project included the construction of Safe Work at Heights props at CFA’s Victorian Emergency Management Training Centres (VEMTC) at Sunraysia, West Sale, Longerenong, Penshurst and Central Highlands.

The existing prop at Hunty VEMTC has also been upgraded and plans are underway for Bangholme VEMTC to receive the new prop soon.

Acting Deputy Chief Officer Operational Doctrine and Training David Maxwell joined other dignitaries to officially handover the five new props today at Central Highlands VEMTC.

“Safe Work at Heights training allows CFA members to safely access roofs that aren’t already fire affected,” David said.

“The prop involves the use of a harness, ropes and anchoring to create a safe system for our members to access areas above two metres high.

“It allows the rigging of the system in a controlled environment under supervision, preparing our members for real-life scenarios.

“The training also closely aligns with other emergency services, allowing for cross agency support in multi-agency situations.

“This not only improves our safety and capability at incidents in Victoria, it also allows us to further support our interstate partners by deploying our members to emergencies interstate when required.

“We’ve proudly delivered more than 160 of these specialised training courses to more than 900 members across the state, which accredited 140 brigades for Safe Work at Heights operations.”

The training prop also has the ability to conduct Low Voltage Fuse Removal training which enables our members to disconnect overhead mains power to a structure at an emergency with specialist equipment.

CFA’s VEMTC sites and props are also widely utilised by other emergency services and agencies, providing a broad range of practical skills and services to train members in a safe environment.

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: New South Wales – News

On Thursday 4 September, officers visited the Paediatric Ward and Paediatric Emergency Department with show bags for the kids and their families, kindly donated by the Royal Adelaide Show.

It was smiles all round for children, parents and hospital staff.

Police Link sees police officers visit the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre several times throughout the year to positively engage with children who are unwell or undergoing medical treatment for serious health issues. Each visit involves police delivering crime prevention messages while building kids’ trust and confidence in SAPOL.

Thanks to SA Health and the Royal Adelaide Show for their support of Police Link.

Patient, Mia, pictured with officers

Source: Australian National Party

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source:

Many CFA members took part in the recent Mallee Machinery Field Days

More than 400 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, deep in District 18, you will discover the delightful rural town of Speed.

With a population of nearly 80, Speed transformed into a bustling hub in early August, hosting more than 8,500 visitors when the local Lions Club and various community groups hosted one of the largest events in the Mallee.

Founded in 1979, the Mallee Machinery Field Days is a significant event on the agricultural calendar, attracting over 350 agriculture businesses to showcase their products. Today, the Field Days have gained widespread respect within the industry, attracting a crowd keen to explore the latest equipment and gather technical insights to support modern broadacre farming. Families often attend, making it more than just a day away from the farm.

This event also serves as a vital fundraising opportunity for local clubs, with members from the school, kindergarten, and football club managing catering stations, channelling funds back into enhancing their facilities.

As you stroll around the site, you’ll encounter CFA members at every turn. From event organisers to ground crew, our members tirelessly contribute to the success of this occasion.

Strengthening community relationships

For CFA, this event is a golden opportunity to strengthen relationships. It’s outside the office where we connect, share news, and gauge predictions for the upcoming season, allowing us to truly understand the realities faced by our members. The Community Safety team uses this opportunity to engage with some of our most remote and isolated Victorians, who are often hard to reach. These events allow us to speak to newcomers who may not be familiar with their local risks or support systems, young people eager to contribute to their communities, and small schools striving to provide the best for their students.

Our residents appreciate that we take the time to come and see them in person, helping them understand and apply CFA’s safety messages to their unique situations.

Highlights from the event

This year’s display was a collaborative effort, tailored to address local risks effectively. Around the site:

• Officers from the Vegetation Management team spoke to attendees about upcoming plans to help prepare for fire season, emphasising the significance of these preventive measures.
• The side by side burn vehicle showcased innovations in burn practices, gaining lots of interest from attendees.
• Community Engagement Coordinators used our Mobile Education Unit to conduct residential fire safety sessions, with smoke alarm and kitchen fire demonstrations drawing in curious attendees over the two-day event.

Inside the marquee:

• CFA’s virtual reality unit, FLAIM, captivated teenage visitors, allowing them to experience a firefighter’s world firsthand.
• The Ouyen Fire Brigade promoted their Fire Equipment Maintenance options for local businesses.
• Information on preventing haystack fires was available, including samples of handheld and remote monitoring devices for growers.
• The efforts of local brigades during the 2024-25 fire season was on show, with a photo exhibit collated by Speed Fire Brigade Captain Phil Down.
• We showcased our most adorable appliance in the fleet, Sunraysia Group’s Little Tanker, attracting under-10s and their parents who eagerly dressed up to roleplay as tanker drivers and firefighters.

Members from across the North West Region team, including Captain Koala, engaged with visitors, providing safety information on a range of topics. Our local Member of Parliament even stopped by the site for a friendly chat with our AFCO.

The team thoroughly enjoyed the event, especially when we were honoured as the 2025 Best Small Site. For football fans, the award was presented by the National Australia Bank alongside former Geelong AFL player Tom Hawkins.

Submitted by	Emily Caruso – Community Engagement Coordinator District 18