Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Weed-seeking lasers keep Canberra looking sharp

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Weed control is essential to keeping Canberra free from invasive species.

The ACT Government’s City Presentation Team works to keep Canberra weed-free in several ways.

But did you know these include the use of lasers?

While some Canberrans spend their Sundays pulling weeds from gardens, City Presentation Team members work through the night.

“We start early in the morning – 3am,” City Services employee Yogesh said.

Their vehicle is fitted with an optical boom sprayer equipped with an infrared beam. As they move along roadsides, the laser zeroes in on plant material, then sprays it with herbicide.

Not only is this more precise, but it minimises chemical use. Working in the early hours of the morning allows work to be completed to avoid any traffic disruption.

“We follow strict rules when using chemicals for weed control. The trucks move slowly so the sensor can accurately detect and target the weed. It won’t spray a dead plant or areas where there are no weeds growing,” Yogesh said.

“We spray 30cm above the ground, to minimise the risk of spreading to another non-invasive plant. We don’t use chemicals in areas with native grasses.”

Yogesh and his team employ a wider combination of weed control practices. These include brush cutting and hand weeding, used in sensitive areas like waterways.

Weed control is essential to keeping Canberra free from invasive species.

It is carried out along laneways, in urban parks and open spaces, along kerbs and gutters, in stormwater channels, along fence lines and bollards, on gravel medians, and in and around car parks and shopping centres throughout the year.

And weed control varies each season.

“Spring to autumn we focus on laneways, parks, shops and urban spaces. In winter we target guard rails, bridges and areas we don’t frequently do. We use pre- emergent chemicals more in winter to prevent the growth of weeds in warmer, wetter months,” Yogesh said.

The City Presentation Team also seek out and trial alternative methods. They prioritise activities to prevent weed growth such as mulching, and landscape design.

Yogesh has seen such pre-emptive weed control used successfully.

“One of the projects I worked on was to control environmental weeds along the Barton Highway. We identified that the highway was becoming a high-speed transport corridor for weed seeds,” he said,

“We conducted reactive brush cutting/spraying along one part of the highway just for them to pop up in another area. We started using pre-emergent spray to target weed seeds before they started growing.

“This reduced the number of weeds along the highway and allowed us to control their spread more effectively.”

Find information on invasive weeds and how to identify them.

Get weekly updates of weed spraying in your region.

Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


Posted on

Traffic changes as Monaro Highway Upgrade progresses

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

Released 04/04/2025

Work is continuing on construction of a flyover and interchange at the Monaro Highway and Lanyon Drive intersection to improve safety, freight efficiency and commute times.

From 14 April 2025 there will be changed traffic conditions to support the demolition and construction of a new bridge over Dog Trap Creek.

Temporary traffic lights will be installed on the northbound lanes of the Monaro Highway at the Lanyon Drive intersection and lane changes put in place northbound to Dog Trap Creek bridge.

The traffic lights will allow vehicles on Lanyon Drive to safely turn north onto the Monaro Highway and light sequencing will be coordinated with other traffic lights in the area.

Road users travelling northbound, after the new temporary traffic lights, will see a change in lane configuration over Dog Trap Creek for the duration of the bridge work. These changes start from 14 April 2025 and are expected to be in place for approximately 15 months. These changed traffic arrangements will only impact northbound traffic.

During the peak travel periods the speed limit will remain at 60km/h. Outside of peak travel periods, the speed limit may be temporarily reduced to 40km/h as required.

Travel impacts and alternate travel options

The changed traffic arrangements will impact travel times throughout construction. This will be most significant in the morning peak periods where delays could be up to 8 minutes for northbound travel on the Monaro Highway and up to 10 minutes for westbound travel, towards Canberra on Lanyon Drive.

Road users travelling northbound towards Fyshwick, Symonston, Pialligo, Majura, Canberra City, and other suburbs are advised to expect delays of up to 8 minutes, particularly in the morning peak period.

The ACT Government recognises this is a major delay and has investigated alternative traffic management options. The traffic management plan that will be implemented is designed to have the least impact on traffic and ensure safety for all.

Alternative travel routes have been identified, however, it is acknowledged that additional traffic on the alternative routes will also impact travel time on those roads.

Road users coming from Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra or Googong and surrounds heading to the airport or central Canberra can divert along the northern most section of Lanyon Drive, toward Canberra Avenue.

Road users coming from Tuggeranong or Royalla and surrounds and heading to the airport or central Canberra can divert along Johnson Drive, Ashley Drive and Yamba Drive.

Electronic signage will be installed on the Monaro Highway before the Isabella Drive turnoff and on Isabella Drive to advise road users of proposed work as well as regular updates.

The ACT Government will undertake ongoing monitoring of the changed traffic arrangements on the Monaro Highway as well as the overflow impacts on alternate routes. Traffic cameras will be installed on the temporary traffic lights and a live feed will be available to our Traffic Management Centre. Whenever possible, changes to the traffic light phasing will be made to try to ease overall congestion.

Road users are encouraged to rethink their routine including travelling outside of peak periods where possible. Some apps such as Waze and Google Maps can be used to identify the best travel time.

Construction of the flyover and interchange is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.

The Monaro Highway upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and ACT Governments.

To stay up to date on the impacts visit www.act.gov.au/builtforcbr/travel-impacts.

– Statement ends –

Infrastructure Canberra | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases

Posted on

Victorian man slips up over $2.4 million fraud

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

A Victorian man has been jailed for fraudulently obtaining over $2.4 million in GST refunds, contrary to section 134.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth).

ATO Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce Chief John Ford welcomed the result.

‘It is astounding that people think they can get away with this type of behaviour,’ Mr Ford said.

‘We take all levels and amounts of fraud seriously and ensure that those who seek to gain an unfair advantage face the full force of the law.’

Kristopher Andree-Jansz was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to 4 years and 7 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 2 years and 7 months, for fraudulently obtaining $2.4 million in GST refunds and attempting to receive a further $300,000. He was ordered to make reparation of $2.4 million.

Between 1 March 2021 and 2 February 2022, Mr Andree-Jansz lodged a total of 31 business activity statements (BAS), claiming his business had made nearly $30 million worth of purchases.

An ATO audit found no transactions or bank activity consistent with the running of a plumbing business. Instead, it was found Mr Andree-Jansz spent the money on various lifestyle items, luxurious accommodation and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

‘This type of behaviour is essentially stealing money from the community that could be used to fund essential services that benefit everyone,’ Mr Ford said.

This matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth)(CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.

As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has taken action against more than 57,000 alleged offenders.

The ATO continues to undertake firm action including debt recovery, as well as criminal investigations for serious offenders.

As of 28 February 2025:

  • 104 people have been arrested.
  • 98 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.
  • the ATO has finalised 61 investigations and referred 51 briefs of evidence to the CDPP.

You can anonymously report suspected tax evasion or crime to us by making a tip-off online or call 1800 060 062. For more information about Operation Protego results, visit www.ato.gov.au/Protego.

Posted on

A chance encounter 40 years on

Source:

Two school friends lost touch after they left high school 40 years ago.

But by coincidence they met again late last year in the Horsham Incident Control Centre during the Grampians fire, where they were both Level 3 incident controllers.

Lachie Gales is now the group officer for Wangaratta Group of brigades and Peter West works for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.  

“We were close from about age 14 through to when Peter left to study forestry at ANU,” Lachie said. “I remember hitch hiking to Canberra to visit him.” 

Peter knew that Lachie was a volunteer with CFA, but their paths never crossed. 

“We grew up in Wangaratta and both attended Wangaratta High School,” Peter said. “My sister Wendy still lives there, so during my visits back home I occasionally heard about Lachie from her. 

“When you have kids, you tell them all your stories of growing up and mention names from your past. My kids had heard of Lachie but never met him – like some folklore myth.” 

While Peter was deployed at the Grampians fire over Christmas 2024, he heard that Lachie was arriving on the next deployment.  

“I was in the middle of running an IMT briefing with a room full of people. I looked around and saw this figure entering the room and I instantly knew he was Lachie – a kind of old gentrified Lachie, not the cocky larrikin but a responsible grown-up.”

“I hung back in the crowded meeting room as Peter worked through a full IMT/EMT briefing, not wanting to intrude on his eyeline,” Lachie said. “Clearly, he was a person that displayed empathy and respect and engaged people with a leadership style that impressed me from the outset.” 

At the end of the meeting, Lachie and Peter exchanged an awkward handshake. 

“When we shook hands, I was struck by his height,” Lachie said. “I didn’t remember Peter towering above me at school. He still had plenty of hair and just as unkempt as it was in the 1970s. All I could manage to say was, ‘Well, here we are’.” 

“It felt weird in the context of this busy IMT scene. We were both swept away into IMT changeover, with him having to get his head around the current state of the fire,” Peter said. 

The following day, before Peter travelled back to Gippsland, he looked for Lachie. 

“We shut the door and left the IMT outside,” Peter said. “We chatted about family mostly, then friends and although it felt like I was speaking to a different person, the old Lachie was there 
as well. 

“There was a formal, polite edge to our conversation but a curiously familiar ease at the same time. He was a totally different person. I realised I only knew a fragment of his story and experience but behind the glasses and beard I could still see the Lachie I used to know.” 

“I was really pleased when Peter reappeared in the ICC and suggested we take some time together,” Lachie said. 

“We didn’t get a long time on our own and I was struck by how much I learned about his life. He must have felt interrogated as I peppered him with questions. He was genuinely open and generous in the face of my nervousness. 

“I’ve stayed in touch with a handful of mates from school and was able to talk about them. I married Beth, who was also at school with us, and was falling over myself to show Peter her photo.” 

When Lachie and Peter reflected on their chance encounter, to some extent they were not surprised that their paths had finally crossed given they are both Level 3 incident controllers. 

“One of the best things about IMTs is that you form strong relationships with those you work with and you are constantly running into people from past campaigns and reconnecting,” Peter said. “I like the emergency management family vibe – but this was reconnecting to a new level.” 

“There’s a lot of strength in our IMTs where a disparate group of people, all with varied skill sets and drawn from all over the nation, find themselves united in a common effort to achieve great things,” Lachie said. 

“Peter and I grew up in a regional town and our values were formed by that experience together. That showed up big time in Horsham 40 years later, as we found ourselves sharing the motivation to contribute at the highest level we could to keep our community and our environment safe.” 

  • Lachie and Peter as teenagers at Federation Hut, Mt Feathertop
Submitted by News and Media
Posted on

A century of service at Bannockburn

Source:

Over 20 trucks and emergency service personnel marched down the main street of Bannockburn to celebrate the brigade’s 100th year serving their community on Saturday night.

The brigade was born out of a need in the community for an organised fire service in 1925 following a community meeting led by Councillor Samuel Donald Gillett and Constable Ainsworth, who were to become the first president and secretary.   

The brigade quickly purchased fire-fighting equipment, such as fire beaters, tanks, and a pump and was active almost immediately due to the ongoing fire season. 

The brigade grew steadily in both membership and equipment and their early work included responding to major fires, like the Bannockburn Wood Reserve fire in 1927 and the Pound paddock fire in 1931. 

The brigade’s first fire truck, an ex-Lend Lease Chevy, was often difficult to start, and members would either hotwire it or roll-start it by pushing it down High Street. 

In the early days, without radio or telephone communications, organising responses to fires was difficult and key figures like the postmaster, Fred Matthews, and the Moreillon family played vital roles in coordinating efforts.  

During the war years from 1939 to 1945, many men from the district were away fighting overseas or otherwise committed to military duties and brigade numbers on the ground were limited.  

However, this did not stop the brigade from still stoically serving their community. 

In the early days of the brigade there was no station, equipment and trucks were stored on the properties and in sheds of members. Eventually, in the 50s, work began on the first Bannockburn fire station.  

The CFA purchased land for the station in January 1955, and the brigade moved into their new building by October 1955. The station initially had a tin shed with swing doors. 

By 1962, the station had a concrete floor and plans for a siren and fence were underway.  

Over their 100-year history the brigade has been involved in many major incidents like the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. 

Bannockburn suffered its greatest losses from fire in the devastating fires of the 8th of January 1969. There were a number of horrendous fires on that day, including the Lara fire that took 10 lives.  

The brigade has also been involved in many strike teams where members have been deployed to help in major events like Black Saturday, the 2019/2020 bushfire season, and the Echuca floods in 2021/2022.  

In 1995, the new Bannockburn Emergency Services Facility opened on the site of the old fire station. The development began in 1991 with a proposal to combine the CFA and SES services in a shared facility. 

The Bannockburn brigade has a long history and over the years has gone from a rural brigade, predominately made up of farmers, to a semi-rural brigade which is now full of young families.  

To celebrate a century of service the brigade has events dotted throughout the year to gather both old and new members together with the community.  

One of the major events was their community day and torchlight parade on Saturday 5 April. 

During the day the station was open with the community coming out to explore the trucks, historical displays and food.  

In the evening members both past and present marched alongside Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, and SES down Milton Street in a torchlight parade.  

Over 20 trucks from the Bannockburn and surrounding brigades were also a part of the procession.  

Captain of Bannockburn Brigade Shannon Robinson said she was extremely proud to be captain at this special moment in history.  

“We are a great bunch of people, and it was fun marching, with our members side by side, it was a very proud moment,” she said.  

“We might have flashy new trucks but at our core we are still the same, community minded people who just want to do what they can.” 

Brigade member and Community Safety Officer Dale Smith has been leading a dedicated committee who have been working tirelessly on celebrations for the 100-year milestone. 

“Community members got together 100 years ago and decided there was an issue and set about fixing it and that’s why we have the brigade we do today,” he said.  

“The events throughout the year but particularly the torchlight parade and community celebration day are a way for all of us, past, present, and community to reflect on this amazing history.” 

Submitted by CFA Media
Posted on

Regulatory reform for the energy transition

Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

What’s happening? 5 min read

Reforming the regulatory framework that underpins our electricity system is a key aspect of Australia’s energy transition, and the current volume of reform initiatives can seem overwhelming.

So, here is a snapshot of five key regulatory reforms that are currently in progress or that have recently been implemented, and that are designed to facilitate the energy transition (such developments are covered more comprehensively in our monthly National Electricity and Gas rules update).

Five key regulatory reforms

Posted on

Serious crash at Mantung

Source: New South Wales – News

Police and emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Mantung in the Riverland.

Just after 12.30pm on Sunday 6 April, police and emergency services responded to a single vehicle crash on Evans Road.

Evans Road is closed just north of Farr Road. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

Major Crash Investigators will be attending the scene.

Posted on

Repeat drink driver caught by police in St Helens

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Repeat drink driver caught by police in St Helens

Sunday, 6 April 2025 – 1:51 pm.

A 29-year-old Warrane man has been apprehended and charged with drink driving and other serious traffic charges for the third time in Northern Tasmania.
Just after midnight, police officers from St Helens apprehended the man after he allegedly attempted to evade officers conducting a random breath test.
Inspector Luke Manhood said the man reportedly fled on foot before being caught by officers and subsequently returning a reading of 0.095.
“He has been charged with evading police, exceeding 0.05, and driving whilst disqualified, and his vehicle has been clamped for 28 days.
“This is the third time in recent months the man has been apprehended for similar offences on Tasmania’s East Coast.
“On 31 December 2024, the man was apprehended by police on the Esk Highway, Fingal, where he returned a reading of 0.122 and was charged with evading police, stating a false name, speeding, driving with a suspended licence, and exceeding 0.05.
“Then on 25 January 2025, he was intercepted by St Helens Police, where he returned a reading of 0.088, was charged with exceeding 0.05 and driving with a suspended licence.
“This type of dangerous and repeat behaviour is unacceptable and places the community at serious risk.
“This pattern of behaviour may result in significant legal consequences,” said Mr Manhood.
“We remain committed to road safety and want everyone to get home safely.
“Our message is simple – if you drink and drive, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught. We could be anywhere, at any time,” Mr Manhood added.
Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving or suspects someone may be driving under the influence is urged to contact police on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Posted on

PLUMMERS ROAD, FOREST RANGE (Hazmat)

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

FOREST RANGE

Forest Range Hazardous Material

Issued for FOREST RANGE near Lenswood and Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia.

The CFS is responding to a hazardous materials (HazMat) incident at Plummer Road near Lenswood and Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia.

CFS volunteers, with support from SA Ambulance Service, are on scene with 6 trucks actively monitoring an ammonia gas leak with specialist equipment.

CFS firefighters are working to bring the ammonia gas levels inside the building to a safe level.

Crews, wearing specialist breathing apparatus, are using positive pressure fans to ventilate the building and will continue to monitor the atmospheric readings both inside and outside.

This will help ensure the safety of all personnel at the scene and in the surrounding areas. Building management also has an ammonia technician on site, working to fix the source of the leak.

Crews will remain on site for some time to keep monitoring the situation and ensure the community stays safe.

Emergency services are working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised to stay away. If you need to travel on roads in the area, please take care and drive to the local conditions.

Message ID 0008497

Posted on

Serious crash at Cobdogla

Source: New South Wales – News

Police are investigating a serious crash at Cobdogla earlier this morning.

About 1.30am today (Sunday 6 April), police and emergency services were called to a private property on Spiller Road after reports a man had fallen from a Toyota Ute.

Police arrived and found the front passenger a 20-year-old man from Golden Grove had sustained serious injuries.

The man was air lifted to hospital with life threatening injuries.

Major Crash are in attendance and the driver, a 21-year-old man from Waikerie is assisting with ongoing investigations.