The City is hosting a Be Well Be Connected Positive Ageing and Disability Expo Roadshow for older adults and people living with a disability at the Elmore Community Hub in Clarke Street from 10am to 2pm on Friday May 30, 2025.
City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Acting Manager Jo Connellan said the expo is free to attend and will feature a number of exhibits showcasing aged care, community and disability products and services that support positive ageing and living well in Elmore and surrounding areas.
“It will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet face-to-face with local service providers, advisors and community groups,” Ms West said.
“The Expo aims to connect organisations, community groups and individuals with a network of available support and community activities to enjoy.
“The theme Be Well Be Connected is important, as it emphasises the importance of being well, connected and participating in the community.
“This is the second Be Well Be Connected Expo travelling roadshow to take place in Greater Bendigo with the first taking place in Heathcote last October.
“Everyone is welcome to come along to the Elmore Roadshow. It’s a not to be missed opportunity for older people and people living with a disability to be better informed.”
An illustration of the lightweight plastic mirrors, which are a more cost-effective alternative to traditional glass-based solar thermal systems.
Industry and academia are collaborating to build a world-first, cost-effective concentrated solar thermal (CST) demonstrator that is set to transform Australia’s industrial heat sector by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Leveraging more than a decade of research into durable, weather-resistant reflective coatings, the project – funded by the Federal Government’s Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program – will fabricate and install a novel, two-module CST demonstrator incorporating the mirrors.
These mirrors, created through patented UniSA technology, offer an affordable and easily transportable alternative to traditional glass-based solar thermal systems. They generate heat that can either be applied directly in industrial processes or to heat water to create steam to power a turbine and produce electricity.
“Industrial process heat accounts for a staggering 25% of global energy use and 20% of CO2 emissions,” says project lead Dr Marta Llusca Jane.
“Unfortunately, most renewable energy technologies – like photovoltaics – fall short of meeting the high-temperature demands of these sectors. Our plastic-based CST technology fills that gap and does so with significant cost and installation advantages.”
The project’s first phase will see two full-scale models – each made up of 16 thermoformed and coated panels – constructed, installed and tested at CSU’s “Vineyard of the Future”.
The panels incorporate a multilayer aluminium-silica reflective coating developed by UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, applied via a physical vapour deposition to ensure durability and optimal solar reflectivity.
Unlike conventional solar thermal systems that require heavy infrastructure to support fragile glass mirrors, this new system features Impacts’ durable, patented lightweight plastic mirror panels that can be flat-packed, transported, and assembled with ease.
The goal is to generate solar thermal energy at temperatures between 100°C and 400°C – ideal for processes such as food production, grain and pulse drying, sterilising, solar desalination, mining sites, polluted groundwater remediation and wastewater treatment.
Dr Llusca Jane says the AEA funding is critical to the project’s success.
“Without this funding, the technical and financial risks of early-stage commercialisation would be too high for private investors. This demonstrator will allow us to scale the technology for real-world applications,” she says.
The second stage, to be pursued under the AEA’s Innovate program, will see a larger, commercial-scale pilot tested with key agribusiness and industrial partners. Strong interest has already been expressed by several national and international producers, highlighting the technology’s outstanding commercial potential.
Industry Professor Colin Hall, inventor of the plastic mirror coating technology currently used in the automotive industry, says the time is ripe for such innovation.
“We’re seeing record fossil fuel prices and increasing pressure for industries to decarbonise,” Prof Hall says. “This CST solution is uniquely suited to Australia’s hot, dry climate and offers a viable pathway to zero-emissions process heat.”
With the potential to reduce the cost of renewable process heat for agribusiness and industry by 40% and unlock export opportunities for Australian manufacturing, Dr Llusca Jane says the project signals a green industrial future.
“By proving this technology in the field, we are laying the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient energy system across Australia and beyond.”
Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
The first 150 metres of a planned 3000 metre-long Antarctic ice core has been safely returned to Australia after a successful drilling season for the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC).
The ice core, in one metre-lengths, contains a record of the past 4000 years of climate history.
The core was drilled at a deep field camp at Dome C North, about 1200 km “up the hill” from Australia’s Casey research station.
It’s just the start of an ambitious Australian Antarctic Program drilling effort to extract the world’s oldest, continuous ice core record of up to two million years.
MYIC science lead, Dr Joel Pedro, said the full-length ice core is expected to extend the current ice core climate record well beyond 1.2 million years, and help solve a climate mystery.
“About one million years ago the cycle of ice ages shifted from a regular 41,000 year glacial-interglacial cycle, to a cycle every 100,000 years,” Dr Pedro said.
“An ice core record of over one million years can help us answer why that shift in the climate state occurred, and that will provide really important information to test models and better predict climate in the future.”
After a few years of weather and Covid-related delays to drilling, Dr Pedro said the science team, alongside a supporting tractor-traverse team, were relieved to achieve everything they had hoped for this season, thanks to a joint, multi-skilled, team effort.
“Our number one priority was to progress the pilot drilling for the MYIC borehole, but to do that we first had to set up the drill shelter,” Dr Pedro said.
“We joined forces with the traverse team and were able to get the shelter constructed in 10 days – half the time we expected – and our drill built and tested in parallel.
“Then we split in to two shifts to run the drill 16 hours a day, with the traverse team joining us in drilling and core processing.
“After so much effort by so many people, and so much planning and time, it was a very special moment for me to pull out that first ice core – to the point that I had a tear in my eye.”
Independent living
Traverse Field Leader, Chris Gallagher, led a team of mechanics, electricians, a carpenter and a doctor, that towed equipment and supplies to the drill site.
Using snow-groomers, and tractors towing sleds carrying 600 tonnes of gear, the team travelled 18 days through blizzards and heavy snow, via a route established last year.
Once at Dome C North they set up the scientists’ accommodation modules, ready for their arrival by air.
“Over the next few years the traverse will bring up the rest of the inland station so that it can operate independently of the traverse’s ‘sustainability train’,” Mr Gallagher said.
Drill skills
The traverse team were as keen to start drilling ice as the scientists, and put their skills to use.
“Setting up the drill tent was quite complicated, with underground trenches and cabling that had to be installed, including the drill trench itself, which was six metres deep,” Mr Gallagher said.
“Our diesel mechanics used their skills with chainsaws, battery drills, dumpy levels and other construction techniques, to help our carpenter build the tent, and then the scientists helped finish it off.
“Once the drilling started, the mechanics assisted the drill engineers to help ensure the drill kept running properly, and other traverse team members took core measurements and wrapped and packed the cores.
“It was fascinating.”
Boring anxiety
The science team drilled to 150 metres and then progressively widened the borehole from 130 mm wide at the bottom, to 260 mm wide at the top, using a series of ‘reaming’ attachments.
Next season the widest part the borehole will be fitted with a fibreglass bore casing.
This will seal off the porous ice near the surface and allow drill fluid to be added to prevent the borehole closing under pressure, as they drill deeper.
It was a nail-biting time for Dr Pedro.
“We had to go back down the borehole three times to expand it, so we effectively drilled about 520 metres,” he said.
“Every time you put something down the borehole there’s a chance it will get stuck, and there are a number of boreholes in Antarctica that have had reamers or drills stuck in them, and they’ve had to move and start again.
“When we got the last reamer out, I quickly shut the trap door on the hole and I knew we were safe.”
The ice core sections were then loaded into an insulated box for transport back to Casey on the traverse and back to Australia on a C17 aircraft.
The team will begin analysing the cores in coming months. This includes measuring water isotopes for temperature, and greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide trapped in air bubbles in the ice, which reflect changes in climate over time. They’ll also look for impurities that provide information on storms, sea-ice processes and volcanic activity.
Next season
Dr Pedro said the science team is now well set up for the 2025-26 drilling season.
“A lot of the work will involve setting up our bigger drill that can get to 3000 metres,” he said.
“We’ll add the bore casing and drill fluid handling system and the aim is to drill to 400 metres. After that the target is to drill 1000 metres per year, which will put us on track to reach bedrock by 2029.”
Mr Gallagher said it had been a remarkable season of achievements.
“Thanks to our highly motivated and skilled teams the inland station is well established and the drill tents are up and ready to go,” he said.
Read more about the MYIC project in this season’s Drilling Diary and our special feature Secrets of the Ice.
This content was last updated 9 hours ago on 12 May 2025.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new Gungahlin Community Centre will meet the needs of a growing population. (Artist’s impression)
In brief:
Construction has begun on the new Gungahlin Community Centre.
Construction is expected to be complete in early 2026.
In the interim, Gunners Place will continue to service the community.
Construction on the new community centre in Gungahlin has begun.
The new centre will meet the needs of the rapidly growing Gungahlin community.
It will be used for a variety of occasions and functions.
Features will include:
a dedicated work hub
meeting and activity rooms
multiple art workshops and studios
outdoor green spaces
a large multi-purpose community hall
kitchen facilities.
The new facility will also include a dedicated youth centre which will provide tailored training, education and recreational services.
It will be conveniently located in the heart of the Gungahlin Town Centre. There will be accessible public parking on site with secure bike parking and end-of-trip facilities available to use.
Gunners Place – a temporary community centre
In the interim, Gunners Place will continue to service the Gungahlin community.
The temporary community centre – run by Barnardos Australia – has been located on Gribble Street in Gungahlin since December 2023.
Services based there include:
Northside Community Services
Relationships Australia
Multicultural Hub Canberra.
Gunners Place will remain until construction of the new community centre is complete in early 2026.
To view the designs for the Gungahlin Community Centre and stay up to date with construction progress, visit the Built for CBR website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
NT Police have arrested and charged a 44-year-old male after he hit a pedestrian and did not stop to render assistance nearby the Mandorah Jetty on Saturday morning.
About 1am, police received reports of a pedestrian strike that left a male with a serious leg injury. Belyuen Clinic staff attended the scene to provide first aid assistance while the Palmerston general duties members deployed to the scene.
Upon police arrival, further reports were made of the vehicle allegedly driving erratically losing control prior to the incident. The pedestrian was evacuated to Royal Darwin Hospital via Careflight for medical treatment of his leg injuries.
Police later located and arrested the male and subsequently located and seized the vehicle. He has since been charged with
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force are investigating the death of a 58-year-old male involved in a single vehicle crash that occurred last night about 500 metres North of Emerald Springs on the Stuart Highway.
Around 8:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a truck that had collided with a tree. Upon police arrival, initial investigations suggested the driver had hit a bull and veered off the road.
Investigations remain ongoing with police on scene of the crash.
The Stuart Highway will be temporarily closed at the crash site for a duration of time this morning as further investigations are conducted, and the vehicle is retrieved.
The lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 11.
Fatal Car V Pedestrian Crash, Bass Highway, Travellers Rest
Sunday, 11 May 2025 – 6:37 am.
At approximately 10pm on Saturday the 10th May 2025, a crash occurred on the Bass Highway at Travellers Rest with a West bound Mercedes Benz striking a pedestrian on the highway. The crash scene was attended to by emergency services however the pedestrian, a 28 year old male from Devonport, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Mercedes Benz submitted to mandatory drug and alcohol testing following the crash.
Numerous specialised police investigators and forensics attended the crash scene and are investigating the circumstances of the crash and death.
Police are appealing for members of the public who observed a pedestrian on the highway at Travellers Rest prior to the crash or the manner of driving of the Mercedes Benz or who have relevant dash cam footage, to contact Northern Crash Investigation Services. Reference OR 774563.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.
You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.