Is this the best we can do?

Colin Smith, Mount Waverley

Mike Foley's excellent article makes it clear that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is good legislation and that what is needed is the political will to use the legislation.

Instead what we seem to have is the political will to water it down.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act failed to prevent the loss of over one-third of threatened species and ecosystems. The main causes included a lack of political will, land clearing and exemptions and neither consideration nor prevention of climate change. We now await Graeme Samuel's imminent review of the act, and Environment Minister Sussan Ley's response ("Running out of time", The Sunday Age, 14/6).

Obviously we must do better. We must accept that the natural environment is the fundamental basis of all life. We ignore or over-exploit it at our peril. Hence, ideally now, we should start again and urgently create a new, compulsory national environment act, a national environment commission, and an Environment Protection Authority as a watchdog with very big teeth.

Barbara Fraser, Burwood

Despite being a wealthy, developed nation, Australia's environmental track record is among the world's worst. We lead the world in mammal extinctions, have the highest rate of biodiversity loss bar Indonesia, and we are the WWF's only "developed" land-clearing and deforestation official "hot spot".

Nevertheless, in The Sunday Age we read that Sussan Ley's main issue with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is "unnecessary delays" in approvals.

Is it a coincidence that the readers of our nation have put Nineteen Eighty-Four, the 70-year-old dystopian novel that introduced the idea of "doublethink", (holding "simultaneously two opinions which cancel out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them"), back in the M's bestseller lists?

Lesley Walker, Northcote

Shane Wright's article "Billions wiped off Boomers' nest eggs" (The Sunday Age, 14/6) contained a few surprises.

There is no doubt that many self- and part-funded retirees are finding things a bit tough. But surely asking the government for significant relief will be against many of their principles.

Many of these people have their assets courtesy of being born at the right time and have become asset rich because of rising wages, inflation and asset values over the past 30 or so years. Many were the same ones who campaigned so vigorously against the proposal to stop franking credits being returned as cash (ie because they actually paid no tax).

While the government should assist in a few ways (the deeming rate adjustment, for example), asset-rich retirees should be down the pecking order for assistance. Many people are struggling to keep a roof over their head or to get the next meal on the table.

Australia will have a significant debt once we come out the other side and it will have to be repaid by the younger generations. These retirees should be prepared to pay their share and complain a little less.

Shaun Quinn, Yarrawonga

Jacqueline Maley ("The PM's blind spot", The Sunday Age, 14/6) is succinct as ever. But why would we be surprised at the hypocrisy of Scott Morrison.

Let us consider for example, the incarcerating of people rightly seeking asylum, yet Morrison and others in the government brandish their Christian values.

It is not hard to be cynical when it comes to Morrison's outrage at racism targeting Chinese people, it is an economic response, not a moral response. It seems that many present and past members (Alexander Downer, for example) of the government need to go back to school ... Captain Cook did not discover Australia.

Education Minister Dan Tehan's talk to the National Press Club motivating our young to study STEM subjects was revealing. While criticism would follow is it an acknowledgment by government at last that science is important?

Will we now get action on climate change? Science has been at the core of our success in combating COVID-19 and climate science will ensure survival of the planet. Here's hoping.

Howard Brownscombe, Brighton

I have earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics, a bachelor's degree in business and accounting, a master's degree in finance and a doctoral degree blending accounting and organisational learning.

In all of that study, the subject that most educated me, as opposed to trained me, was first year English literature in my maths degree. I learnt from the ancient Greeks, Scottish poets, Shakespeare, Russian masters and 20th century authors. I learnt about human behaviour and frailty. About the best of humans and the worst of humans.

The study of humanities is essential to our society, not something to be discouraged.

Louise Kloot, Doncaster

Michelle de Kretser and Richard Flanagan are right to condemn proposed changes to funding of the humanities at Australian universities. ("'Aren't we supposed to be the clever country?"', 20/6).

If we are to avoid becoming a nation of barbarians, we must acknowledge the importance ofstudying in depth the great movements of history, which are the foundation of our modern civilisation.

If arts degrees are to continue to "be the 'bedrock' of culture and democracy" then they must be recognised for what they are and not have the almighty dollar sign attached to them.

Helen Scheller, Benalla

Yet again we are seeing politicians misusing public money. Pauline Hanson, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Chris Bowen and three cabinet ministers are reported to have lodged a string of questionable travel claims further confirming our lack of trust in politicians.

The Museum of Australian Democracy says if current trends continue, fewer than 10 per cent of Australians will trust their politicians by 2025 resulting in ineffective and illegitimate government and declining social and economic wellbeing. Perversely, the most trusted organisation in Australia, the ABC, is the very one that the current government is emasculating.

Australia desperately needs a genuine bipartisan corruption watchdog as in other democracies around the world. When we see the unrelenting hypocrisy of our politicians it breeds cynicism, which eats away at the very core of community.

Surveys show that increasing numbers of Australians are seeing politics as irrelevant, and a look around the world where authoritarian-populist forms of government are gaining momentum should awaken Australia to that which ultimately threaten the institution of democracy itself. The stakes could not be higher.

Bryan Long, Balwyn

The Australian Home Heating Association is quoted in The Sunday Age ("GPs support removal of home wood heaters", 14/6) as estimating the nationwide industry to be worth well over $400 million and a significant provider of jobs. Once again we have the jobs argument used to attempt to justify pollution and environmentally destructive activities.

The $400 million claim must be viewed alongside the $8 billion the Victorian Environment Protection Authority claims air pollution will cost the state by 2027.

Municipal councils do not enforce their nuisance laws against wood heater pollution and the best the EPA can do is say that they preferred people not to use wood heating and issue a suggestion for owners to clean their flues.

As these instrumentalities are useless in enforcing existing laws there is no sensible alternative to banning wood heaters in residential areas.

Robin Stewart, Romsey

I recall there was a sustained and robust battle over the volume of water that needed to be returned to the Murray-Darling to keep it healthy and viable. Finally a figure of 3200 gigalitres was settled on, much lower than what many experts were aiming for.

Now Victoria and NSW, four years out from the agreed deadline of 2024, are saying they cannot meet the deadline (The Age, 20/6), meaning that something less than 3200 gigalitres is their target.

We've all seen the photos; Our politicians and bureaucrats and authorities have a lot to answer for. They are not standing guard over our critical resource as they are supposed to.

Brendan O'Farrell, Brunswick

In 1933, Nazi Germany outlawed the Jewish practice of kosher animal slaughter. Kosher was deliberately misrepresented. The propaganda claimed Jews partook of perverse ritual killings of humans for their blood as well as animals.

The notion that Halal food is somehow cruel and "foreign" has become very popular within the right-wing anti-Muslim narrative in Australia and around the world.

As was kosher, as is halal, Chinese wet markets are now in a fuzzy cultural focus. The Western hysteria about wet markets runs concurrently and as subtext to the cultural contestation.

Criticism of Chinese cultural food practice has a long history. Historically the threat of Chinese political culture and people brought with it the threat of rice and noodle domination. From the Victorian gold rush to COVID-19, attitudes to China have been carefully curated.

The dissemination of information is now as it's never been before. New platforms for news broadcasting, new technology, new viruses bring new narratives rich in perspective but ridden with echo chambers.

Food narrative and culture are inseparable. A good diet should be balanced.

Political polemic on food is more than just a culinary perspective.

Denzil Hunter, East Melbourne

Your editorial ("Scandal shows need for watchdogs with teeth", 17/6) rightly queries the Morrison government using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse fornot releasing its exposure draft on its proposed integrity commission.

What's more disturbing is that a National Integrity Commission Bill approved by the Senate last September has been languishing in the lower house since then because the Morrison government has gagged a vote on it.

Prime Minister, what is so hard or time consuming about putting this bill on the agenda for a vote. We need an effective integrity commission now. You say you are on our side; it's time to walk the talk.

Carlo Ursida, Kensington

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Link:
Australia needs to have a minister with commitment - The Age

Dr Steve Thomas.

IN the era of COVID-19 and the need to get the economy back on track, the focus has to be on jobs.

There has been a massive hit to employment, especially in areas such as tourism and hospitality and the construction industry is standing on the edge of an employment cliff.

Now that the health issues are largely contained, at least for the time being and as long as we maintain our standards, what is important?

The economy, stupid!

The focus right now has to be jobs, jobs, jobs.

And there is a role for the WA Parliament in making sure we keep that focus while not sacrificing our standards or protections.

The government has presented Upper House MPs with an opportunity to make real and significant change to the way environmental protection operates in Western Australia and it has never been more important to get this right.

It has introduced a wide ranging rewrite of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), presenting us with an opportunity to make improvements and streamline the environmental approvals process.

The government's agenda is modest but positive.

Their changes will, for example, allow the State to enter into bilateral environmental agreements with the Commonwealth government, a much welcome move supported by the Opposition.

They are also proposing to introduce Environmental Protection Covenants - agreements between the State and landowners on the long-term preservation of natural assets on their land.

Of particular value will be allowing the EPA to measure and assess the cumulative environmental impacts of multiple actions on an ecosystem, as will be the capacity for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) chief executive officer to pre-assess whether a clearing application needs to be made in some circumstances.

These and other measures are welcome changes that the Opposition will support.

However, to only support the government's modest agenda without greater action would be a wasted opportunity to achieve far more ambitious and beneficial gains.

We have a real opportunity to make the system work better for all.

To that end I have proposed additional amendments that I think will make the system of environmental management in this State more streamlined and effective.

They would also deliver a fairer system, supporting landowners who too frequently face an extremely unfair battle with bureaucracy.

DWER, in particular, is empowered by the current system to a point that treats landholders as second class citizens and this is a great opportunity to rebalance that power.

The amendments that I have proposed are focused on small but critical areas.

In particular, they would:

- Introduce statutory time limits in the process of gaining environmental approvals;

- Require the government to register environmentally sensitive areas on the land title of impacted landowners;

- Require the government to register environment protection covenants on land titles;

- Ask the Environmental Protection Authority to specify timelines for environmental regulation under Part V of the Act; and

- Remove the need for a landowner to seek approval to clear vegetation within 25 metres of their home for the purpose of creating an adequate firebreak.

Having stricter timelines for assessments, approvals or rejection and the announcement by government of the environmental assessment of proposals is critical to the future management of our State.

This is equally important to both those who propose development and those who are opposed to it.

The system too often sees the clock stop on assessments with no set timeframe for it to restart.

I am proposing to limit the government's capacity to do this, by applying set timeframes for the period that government departments can sit on proposals.

The thorny issue of environmentally sensitive areas also needs to be better addressed.

The current system allows DWER to arbitrarily blight land with this label without any consideration of the landowner who manages it.

The impacts on those landholders can be horrendous, yet the government can ignore them.

The measure is not even recorded on the land title, meaning the blighting of land is invisible to the wider community.

I intend to change that.

The government must have some problem with the operation of the EPA, otherwise it would not be proposing to throw it out the window in its proposed changes to the Planning Act that it says are in response to the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson is in the unenviable role of having to carry a Bill that throws environmental assessments out the window.

In doing so he will be the first environment minister to tell the Parliament and the community that the environment actually doesn't matter.

My plan is not to toss the EPA aside, but instead to make it better.

Better for the environment but also more workable for industry and landowners.

Continued here:
Reforms are needed to make the EPA better - Farm Weekly

Post Views: 20

Phurpa Lhamo | Gasa

Work on the new Gasa town at Kolikha would begin in the 2020-2021 financial year.

Construction of stormwater drainage, an internal urban road, and electricity connection are the three projects that would start in the later half of this year.

Gasa dzongkhag Municipal Engineer, Kinley Dorji, said that for the stormwater drainage system, the dzongkhag had proposed Nu 21.14 million (M). The system will include service ducts, and ensure that the drains are underground with pedestrian paths on top.

While Nu 12M was proposed for the internal urban route connection, another Nu 2.3M was proposed to bring electricity connectivity.

The projects are funded through the Small Development Project grant and will be executed within two years.

Apart from the three projects, a preliminary study has also been conducted to bring water from the new source Zamjina located around 4km from the new town area.

Road formation cutting to the new town is underway

Today, water is brought from Shingtachu, located around 6km away from the old Gasa town.

Kinley Dorji said that the old water source was not enough. The new source would be enough for the whole Gasa settlement, he said.

Gasa dzongkhag has today spent Nu 2M to clear the site for construction at the new town area, formation cutting, and soiling of the road leading to the area.

Talks to shift the town to Kolikha began in 2015. The Gasa dzongkhag administration is today in process of clearing the 74 acres land. Kolikha is located around 1km from Gasa dzong.

The Gasa town shifting process will be executed in two phases.

In the first phase, the 48 identified plots, as the commercial central zone will be allotted to the shopkeepers. Today, 29 shopkeepers based at the old town have been allocated 5-decimal land each.

The remaining plot will be assigned as people apply, Kinley Dorji said.

In the second phase, 18 plots identified as residential and resort area will be allotted after the first phase of the project is complete.

The new town will also have a bus terminal and taxi parking.

Today, the old town located near the Gasa hospital accommodates around 29 shopkeepers and institutional buildings.

Gasa Dzongdag Rinzin Penjore said that the current location didnt have any place for expansion and moreover, most of the shops in the old town are on state land.

There is no space to expand in the current area. At the new town, the infrastructure and facilities could be improved.

After the town is shifted, the old area is expected to accommodate institutional structures including the offices of Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd and the National Housing Development Corporation Limited, among others.

A shop owner at the old town said that because she didnt own the land her shop stood on, she was glad to move to the new town where His Majesty The King had granted them land.

The 15-year project will complete in 2030.

Read the rest here:
Work on new Gasa town to begin soon KuenselOnline - Kuensel, Buhutan's National Newspaper

The remains of the old smokehouse sit just beyond our kitchen porch The Kitchen Porch Cafe at Delialand it has been dubbed. The smokehouse was one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina when she unleashed her wrath on this area. The storm took out most of the trees around our house and laid part of a huge pecan on top of Smokey. Now 15 years later, after some land clearing and further decay, weve decided to take the old building all the way down.

Its a shame.

For years my entire childhood in fact there was no porch outside the kitchen door. Just a solid wood door and a screen door with about a three foot drop to the ground.

My Granny and plenty of folks before her would open the door in winter and summer to let the heat of the kitchen out and after dinner was over and the dishes were done the dishpan of dirty water would be tossed out that door as well.

In the late 90s we built the first ever little porch out there with steps down to the ground. It was more for the purpose of walking outside than sitting outside for a dozen or so years, and then a couple of years back wife Danny and I built a larger porch as an outdoor kitchen of sorts. Hence The Kitchen Porch Cafe name.

But back to the smokehouse.

Although it was orignally built as a place to cure meat and cure meat it did it has served a variety of different purposes over the years.

Back in the day...

The days when we raised and butchered hogs the saltbox inside the smokehouse created the best country cured ham around and casings of smoked sausage and shoulders kept us all full and happy through the winters.

The lid of the saltbox now serves as a table top on our back porch Herbies Hideaway named for my grandfather. I hope to be able to salvage the remainder of the box very soon. Itll be a tricky endeavor. To get the lid I had to slither in on my belly like the resident king snake. To get the box, I hope to remove what is left of the wall in the back corner where it lies. There is some salvageable, very old, very pretty, wood I hope to do something with as well.

Last week I pulled a big old pressure cooker lid out of there and plan to invert it on top of a cedar post saved from one of the downed trees, and make a bird feeder for the red birds that call our place home.

When it comes to calling a place home, the smokehouse has been just that to all sorts of critters large and small. Currently an armadillo hangs out in there when its not rooting up the yard something that is about to come to an end one way or another if you know what I mean.

Stray cats like to check the place out on occasion and for years it served as a buzzard roost and we watched as a pair of the big birds raised many a family. They always lay only two eggs and nurture to adulthood two of the ugliest and meanest chicks ever seen.

The buzzards finally tired of the smokehouse likely because it is now down to pretty much the roof and the back corner where that box is and they moved their nursery to the a horse stall in the big barn. The majority of that barn, by the way, succumbed to high winds several yeas ago and about all that is left of it is the back corner where those buzzards hang out.

One of the last years that my grandmother was alive we held a family reunion in the side yard of Delialand the name Danny and I gave our place in honor of my grandmother, Delia Mae Lang Hudson, when we took up residence there. My uncle, Jimmy, served as MC, I suppose you could say, and the smokehouse served as the stage as he read the family history he had compiled.

For as long as I can remember there was a basketball goal, minus the net, above the door of Smokey and in the sultry summers there is no telling how many games of H-O-R-S-E and Around the World were battled there by a host of cousins.

In more recent years even with the tree on it the smokehouse served as a storage room for all sorts of things and all sorts of things are currently crushed beneath its timbers. I know there is a croquet set in there and I can see the old basketball in a big aluminum pan between some of the rotted boards of a wall.

I forget what all else might be buried there but well find out before long. Before long old Smokey will be gone, but the memories, ahh the fond memories, those will carry on.

Visit link:
The old smokehouse - Scott County Times

WHEN trees were being felled at a parcel of land earmarked for development in Bukit Cerakah, Shah Alam, residents nearby began to worry.

I was in the living room when I heard trees falling and it did not sound like branches falling off during a thunderstorm.

Land clearing started in March, a few days before the movement control order (MCO) was in place. It then stopped and resumed later, said Perdana Heights resident S. Yuga.

Yuga, who lives right behind the said parcel of land, is concerned over some aspects of the land clearing.

I am not sure if the developer is aware there is a river behind my house which leads to a lake, like a water catchment area, she said, adding that rainwater flows from the river into the lake, preventing flooding in the neighbourhood.

With land clearing works going on, soil and dirt end up in the river and residents worry it may obstruct the flow of rainwater into the lake.

Apart from this, they are also concerned about the wildlife in the Bukit Cerakah forest reserve.

I see tapirs in the neighbourhood. The animal is an endangered species and have nowhere to go, she said.

There are also wild boars and other wildlife which residents see occasionally around the area.

Yuga said residents were unaware of the type of development taking place there as no signboards were put up by the developer.

Pertubuhan Perlindungan Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) Selangor chairman Damien Thanam said approval for land clearing and development should have only been given after engaging with residents in the area.

There are very few forests left in Selangor and they must be preserved for our next generation.

With this development, wildlife in the area will migrate due to the presence of humans, machinery and pollution, he said, adding that this would force animals to move closer to housing areas, thereby creating human-wildlife conflict.

He also raised concerns that workers at the development site might catch these animals illegally either for consumption or wildlife trade.

When contacted, YCH Develop-ment Sdn Bhd project manager, who only wanted to be known as Chai, said the residents concerns would be addressed soon.

We have planned a meeting with residents and will also invite relevant government departments such as Drainage and Irrigation as well as Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), he said.

Chai said work at the site had commenced after obtaining all necessary approvals from the various authorities. However, the MCO kicked in two days later forcing the developer to stop work.

The company, he added, obtained approval to restart work after applying to MBSA and the International Trade and Industry Ministry last month.

Due to the MCO, we could not get our signboards done, which is why there is no signboard providing information at the site, he said, adding the 20.2ha development consisted of residential landed properties and there was no project name given to-date.

As for wild animals sighted in the neighbourhood, Chai urged residents to contact the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).

He assured residents that contractors would take proper measures to prevent soil or other debris from flowing into the river and lake throughout the construction.

We will filter the soil and other debris before water is channelled into the river, he said.

In previous reports, there were claims that the area in question had been gazetted as a forest reserve.

Asked about this, Chai said the area had been degazetted many years ago.

When we took over the land in 2011, it had already been degazetted for several years.

The Forestry Department came to the site a few times to ensure that we did not encroach into forest reserve, he said, adding that the boundary was more than 400m away.

Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi said the developer had obtained all the necessary approvals from the state, MBSA and other relevant authorities.

The developer must adhere to the rules set by the government and ensure that the issue of river pollution is addressed properly, he said when contacted.

The ongoing land clearing is not illegal. However, the developer must monitor its contractors closely to ensure work is done properly, he said.

MBSA corporate communications head Shahrin Ahmad said, The developer has obtained the green light from the city council, Forestry Department, land office, Selangor department of environment and other relevant authorities.

Developers have to adhere to the rules and contractors must follow the standard operating procedure given, he added.

Read the rest here:
Land clearing near Bukit Cerakah raises concerns - The Star Online

Throughout the course of its meeting held on May 19, the Rochester Conservation Commission moved to address a number of Notices of Intent filed by applicants seeking approval by the commission in order to go forward with project planning.

Up second were Paul Shamoian of Civil & Environmental Consultants and Dan Peters of SEMASS Partnership, who came before the commission in order to represent a Notice of Intent meant to act as retroactive approval for emergency tree trimming and tree removal that took place in March.

The tree trimming took place in order to protect overhead wires and fiberoptic cables that connect the SEMASS and Eversource switchyards. Shamoian explained that the majority of the lines run through the 25-foot no touch wetlands buffer zone. With that, he explained that the trimming and removal of trees had to take place in order to prevent catastrophe. A damaged line would put the plant down for weeks, Shamoian explained.

Commission member Christopher Gerrior expressed confusion as to why no one anticipated that trees intentionally added to the area might interfere with the power lines.

The trees were initially installed as a decorative enhancement, but they have grown to be a substantial problem, said Peters. Since we were requesting emergency work, we could not work beyond trimming to eliminate the hazard.

Vice Chairman Daniel Gagne mirrored the concerns put forth by Gerrior and questioned why the powerlines were not moved to a less hazardous location. Gagnes primary concern was that if more significant action is not taken, then this will be a recurring problem. Eversource should plan to move these lines, so that this does not come before us again in a couple years, Gagne told Peters.

After discussion with Peters and Shamoian, Chairman Michael Conway agreed that a plan was necessary to permanently resolve the issue. He suggested the addition of maintenance plan for the overhead wires to the NOI.

I believe, as a condition for Notice of Intent, SEMASS should issue an operating plan talking about how it is going to inspect these trees on a semiannual basis. Then they can provide that inspection to the conservation agent. We should get this over and done with once and for all, Conway said to the commission members.

The commission voted in favor of a motion of continuance on the issue to June 16 to allow time for such a plan to be prepared by the applicants.

Norene Hartley, who was heard first, met with the commission to determine if a proposed repair to a subsurface, sewage-disposal system would require the submission of a Notice of Intent. The repair to the system would require work to be done within the 100-foot buffer zone of a vegetated wetland.

Brad Bertolo of JC Engineering, representing Hartley, explained that this is only a project requiring an upgrade to an already existing system. Though the system is in close proximity to a wetland area, the new leeching facility will be introduced in the gravel driveway on Hartleys property and will not impact the wetlands.

After clarifying that the project was strictly a repair to existing systems, Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon recommended that the commission put forth a motion of a negative determination of applicability, meaning that no NOI would be required for the project.

The commission passed the motion, allowing the project to go forward without any further input from the commission members.

Rick Charon of Charon Associates, representing David and Janet Kielty, expanded on a NOI filed to request installation of an in-ground pool on 30 Bates Road, Rochester. Charon noted that the house in question is within the Sippican River-front area. Charon submitted an alternative analysis that provided the reasoning for how the current construction plan was adopted.

We get no closer than any existing structures would be, said Charon. Priority habitats are to the south of the developed area of the lot so it leaves the area that we are dealing with outside of that priority zone.

Farinon displayed images of the property to better explain how the potential plan would affect the property and the surrounding areas.

I see no reason why this project cant be done without adverse impact, Farinon explained to the commission members. My recommendation is to issue a positive order of conditions with the stipulation that a preconstruction meeting be held.

Satisfied with the plan, the commission voted unanimously in favor of a positive order of conditions.

In other business, Brian Wallaceof JC Engineering, representinga project at the Village at Plumb Corner, requested a determination of non-significance for a proposed plan to construct a gas line.The gas-line work would not require any additional land clearing to be completed.

Wallace described how the planned gas line would run alongside the roadway and that previous plans did not accurately demonstrate how the gas line would feed into each unit. The determination by the commission was necessary for Wallace to proceed with his application for construction with Eversource.

I think Mr. Wallace summarized this well. The limit of work for installation of the gas line is nothing beyond what the commission has already approved. It is my opinion that this is a minor change, said Farinon.

The commission determined that the changes were insignificant and allowed the plans to go forward.

The final Notice of Intent to be addressed at the meeting dealt with the construction of new canals and a solar system at the Eldredge Bogs. Sarah Stearns of Beals and Thomas, Inc. represented the NOI filed by Hank Ouimet of Renewable Energy Development Partners.

Stearns outlined that the building of a new canal is an exempt activity under current Wetlands Protection Act laws. The goal of the project is to build canals to improve the cranberry bogs operations, said Stearns.

According to Stearns, the intention of the NOI is to install a new form of solar array canopy above the canal. The solar canopy does not impede on farm operations and provides a renewable energy source to the bog. The proposed solar canopy is advantageous, because it requires no tree removal or the occupation of land that could be used for agricultural use. The idea is to not constrain farming operation by the addition of the solar project, Stearns added.

Gerrior questioned the impact that these canopies would have on the local wildlife that occupy the areas surrounding the canals. He hoped to determine positive and negative outcomes for wildlife and vegetation in these areas.

Research says that the height (of the canopies) allows for indirect and direct solar radiation to support vegetative growth, and the shading effect decreases water temperature which is an agricultural benefit, Ouimet explained to Gerrior. With that, Ouimet admitted that the novelty of the technology meant that he could provide no empirical evidence to support those theories.

The commission voted to request continuance of the issue to June 16. This came after the decision that the commission would conduct an on-site visit to the bog in order to better understand plans for construction.

The next Rochester Conservation Commission Meeting is scheduled to take place on remotely on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Matthew Donato

Go here to see the original:
Tree-Trimming Project Refocuses on Wires - Wanderer

Hokies land another Stroman

Another member of the Stroman family is going to be a Hokie.

Jalen Stroman, the younger brother of Washington Redskins cornerback and former Virginia Tech standout Greg Stroman, announced Friday on Twitter that he has committed to play football for the Hokies.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Stroman is a rising senior free safety and receiver at Patriot High School in Nokesville. He made the All-Region 6B first team at defensive back as a junior last season. He made the All-Cedar Run District first team at defensive back and made the second team as a receiver.

Stroman told Techlunchpail.com last month that his top three schools were Virginia Tech, Virginia and Duke. Hes rated the No. 49 safety in the high school class of 2021 by the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Greg Stroman made the All-ACC first team as a Tech cornerback in 2017. He was chosen by Washington in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Jets bring in Flacco to back up Darnold

The New York Jets and quarterback Joe Flacco, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP with Baltimore, agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

The move to bring in Flacco gives third-year starter Sam Darnold a veteran backup, but one who is also coming off a herniated disk that cut short his only season in Denver and required surgery to repair.

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but ESPN reported the deal is worth $1.5 million and could reach $4.5 million with incentives.

Flacco, 35, spent his first 11 NFL seasons in Baltimore. He helped lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory over San Francisco to cap the 2012 season. Flacco was rewarded by the Ravens by becoming the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history at the time with a six-year contract worth $120.6 million.

Last winter, Flaccos time in Baltimore came to an end officially clearing the way for Lamar Jackson when the Ravens traded him to Denver for a fourth-round draft pick. Flacco started the first eight games for the Broncos, but injured his neck against Indianapolis in Week 8 and missed the rest of the season. He was waived in March.

Seahawks agree to terms with RB Hyde

The Seattle Seahawks pursuit of a veteran running back to add depth at a position that last year was decimated by injuries ended as the team agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Carlos Hyde, who gained 1,070 yards during a resurgent 2019 season with Houston.

The NFL Network reported that the 6-foot, 229-pound Hyde will get a a one-year contract worth up to $4 million, though likely also including some significant playing time incentives to get the entire amount.

Last season, Hyde made $2.8 million with Houston, playing in all 16 games as well as two playoff games, after spending the 2018 season with Cleveland and Jacksonville.

Hyde, who played for San Francisco from 2014 to 2017, gained just 571 yards on 172 carries in 2018 for a 3.3-yard per carry average before looking like his old self again last season after joining the Texans and averaging 4.4 per carry the same as Chris Carson did for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have been searching since early in free agency for a veteran to reinforce their backfield with Carson and 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny coming off season-ending injuries.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Cooper dies

Ashley Cooper, who won four Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian, Wimbledon and U.S. championships in 1958, died at 83.

A right-handed serve-and-volley player, Mr. Cooper added four Grand Slam doubles titles in the amateur era. In 1958, his only loss in the Grand Slams came in the semifinals at the French championships.

Osaka tops female earnings list

Naomi Osaka has been a Grand Slam champion and No. 1 in the WTA rankings and now shes No. 1 on another list: top-earning female athlete.

According to Forbes.com, the 22-year-old earned $37.4 million over the past 12 months from endorsements and prize money, eclipsing Serena Williams in that span.

Forbes said Osakas total is a one-year record for a female athlete, topping the previous mark of 29.7 million set by Maria Sharapova in 2015.

Osaka is No. 29 overall, with Williams at No. 33, on Forbes annual list of the 100 top-earning athletes.

Top recruit charged with attempted murder

A star high school football player is accused of trying to kill his ex-girlfriends boyfriend.

Luke Hill, 18, faces charges including attempted first-degree murder after allegedly firing gunshots that struck a home in Accokeek, Md., on Monday night, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Hill, a defensive back who graduated from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, had committed to play at Oregon, but Ducks coach Mario Cristobal told The Oregonian that he was cut from their program this spring.

ESPN reported Hills alleged target was Ishmael Leggett, a former classmate of Hills. Leggett is a 6-foot-4 guard who has committed to Rhode Island.

From staff and wire reports

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Sports briefs: Hokies land another Stroman | Sports | richmond.com - Richmond.com

The United Nations (UN) is planning to build a medical evacuation (MEDVAC) field hospital in Addis Ababa which will be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

The UN has secured a plot of land for the construction of the field hospital around Bole Bulbula area behind the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. A land clearing work has commenced on the plot of land.

A UN senior diplomat told The Reporter that the field hospital will be used to treat COVID-19 patients that would be airlifted. The hospital is for UN staff and their dependents, international organizations like the World Bank, IMF and AfDB staff and their dependents and international NGOs staff and their dependents, the diplomat said.

According to the UN diplomat, as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic the UN has considered to build six field hospitals globally. Locations in Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Panama and South East Asia have been considered. A final decision has not been made yet, he said.

However, The Reporter has confirmed that the UN has already secured a plot of land from the Addis Ababa City Administration and land preparation work has commenced. The contractor would be an Ethiopian construction firm that will build the hospital in Addis Ababa. It will be built with a pre-fabricated materials which will be imported from Norway, a source told The Reporter.

Dr. Liya Tadesse, the minister of health, confirmed that there is a plan by the UN to build a field hospital in Addis Ababa. There has been consultation with us. But the project is at an early stage, Dr. Liya told The Reporter.

Sources told The Reporter that the UN will be overseeing the overall operations but the hospital will be built by the WFP in collaboration with the WHO and other international NGOs. The hospital would primarily be used by the UN, international organizations and NGOs but in the long run it would be transferred to the Ethiopian government. The planned hospital would serve the east and North Africa region. The decision has to be made by the secretary general of the UN, Antnio Guterres, they said.

Boureima Sambo (PhD), country representative of the WHO, told The Reporter that the WHO will provide technical assistance if a decision is made to build the hospital. But the project is owned and run by the UN, Sambo said.

Sambo said that the WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute on major pillars in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. I think after South Africa and Senegal, Ethiopia is the third country in Africa to be able to test COVID-19 locally. Then we have been increasing surveillance, training and risk communication and community engagement. Since we have the first confirmed case in Ethiopia 13 of March we have increased all approaches infection prevention and control case management and tracing of contacts to rapidly identify cases and able to contain the pandemic. And we have seen the effort has paid off. We have cases so far we identified all contacts trace them and be able and test them and keep the pandemic under control so far, he said.

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UN to build MEDVAC field hospital in Addis - The Reporter Ethiopia

Groundbreaking research has identified a new subspecies of one of Australia's most iconic birds, which experts say is unique to inland Western Australia and has been "hidden in plain sight".

The red-tailed black cockatoo is found across Australia with populations in almost all states and territories.

But a large-scale genetic study by researchers from the Australian Museum, University of Sydney, CSIRO and the University of Edinburgh has revealed WA is home to a newly recognised subspecies of the bird.

The newly identified subspecies lives in the regions spanning the Wheatbelt, east of Perth, to the Pilbara in the state's north-west.

Researcher Kyle Ewart said while the population of red-tailed black cockatoos resembled those in other states, its genetic makeup was distinctly different.

"It was previously thought that this West Australian population was going to be genetically exactly the same as the other inland red-tailed black cockatoos," he said.

"We think they were characterised as one subspecies because they all looked the same.

"Evolution is not that simple some things look different but are genetically very similar and vice versa.

"We've found that the WA red-tailed black cockatoo is much more closely related to the forest red-tailed black cockatoo, based around Perth, than it is to the other inland populations."

Mr Ewart said the new subspecies had been named Calyptorhynchus banksii escondidus, as distinct from its previous classification, Calyptorynchus banksii samueli

"Escondidas is new it's the subspecies' name and it basically means 'hidden' because it's been hidden in plain sight," he said.

"We knew this population was there, but we didn't know it was a different subspecies."

The genetic study involved the collection of new and old samples from across the country, including fresh tissue samples from roadkill, as well as old taxidermied birds displayed in Australian museums.

The samples were then painstakingly processed and analysed to determine if the genetics matched previously recognised subspecies.

Mr Ewart said the discovery was an important step in the preservation and protection of the red-tailed black cockatoo.

"Now we have to treat this as a different subspecies so the conservation of this subspecies becomes a priority," he said.

"We just don't know enough about it it's hard to tell if its vulnerable, threatened, endangered [or] critically endangered.

"What needs to be done now is figure out the ecology of the new subspecies where it's eating and nesting and how many there are because it's vital to conserve this distinct piece of genetic diversity.

"Categorising it will hopefully turn the wheel to find out more about it and its conservation status."

Northern Agricultural Catchments Council bushcare officer Jarna Kendle, who helps organise an annual count of cockatoos, has a soft spot for the black cockatoos and describes them as "beautiful" birds with "vibrant personalities".

But their populations have plummeted.

She said the new research would help generate interest in the Great Cocky Count and other projects aimed at protecting the birds and boosting their numbers.

"Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to black cockatoos, and urban development and land clearing contribute to that," Ms Kendle said.

There is also a threat from other species including corellas, which are "thriving", she said

"Black cockatoos require nesting hollows and the nesting hollows are also being used by pest species such as feral bees and corellas so that limits their capacity to breed," she said.

Ms Kendle, whose work covered the Mid West and part of the Wheatbelt in Western Australia, said the black cockies were an iconic bird in the state.

"They definitely deserve our recognition and they deserve us to do everything we can to preserve them for the future," she said.

"They are vibrant personalities and when you hear them fly over you can recognise them instantly by their call."

The rest is here:
Researchers discover new subspecies of red-tailed black cockatoo in WA - ABC Science Online

Highlights

Community-driven development (CDD) programs, which put people at the center of designing their own solutions, are a critical part of the World Banks response to the global COVID-19 crisis.

The Bank is supporting countries in Horn of Africa and in Solomon Islands through CDD programs that are delivering cash and basic services to the most vulnerable.

To tackle a crisis of this magnitude and scale, our countries need an equitable, whole-of-society approach, which lies at the heart of CDD programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives across the world. The crisis continues to have devasting impacts on people, with a disproportionate impact on the poor and the vulnerable, who are faced with job and income loss, uncertain food supply, and disruptions in health and education programs.

The most vulnerable lack the essential services they need to prevent or manage an outbreak, including migrants, persons living with disability, women, the elderly, LGBTI, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups will struggle. For example, refugees living in camps and settlements already battling overcrowding, limited water and sanitation facilities, and shortages of medical supplies could face disastrous outcomes. Similarly, persons with disabilities will face constraints in accessing basic necessities or critical medical appointments due to reduction of public transportation services.

The World Bank Group recognizes the urgency of the issue and is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries respond to COVID-19. In a health, social, and economic crisis of this scale, no single intervention is enough, and countries need to use every available platform and tool. As part of the World Banks operational response to the pandemic, community-driven development (CDD) programs, which put people at the center of designing their own solutions, have been effective in providing quick, large scale responses to tackle this crisis, including in remote and conflict ridden areas. These programs often complement traditional safety net systems by delivering cash transfers and basic services to the poorest and most vulnerable, including sanitation, water, and food through urban and rural programs that involve hundreds of thousands of communities and local civic leaders. CDD programs also protect the most marginalized by targeting livelihood support for women, persons with disabilities, unemployed youth, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returned migrants.

During a crisis like this, trusted community leaders and local governments face enormous demands with limited administrative and financial capacity. In this context, CDD platforms are a critical part of the World Banks response by providing an opportunity to tap into productive partnerships between community groups, civil society, private sector and governments. These partnerships operate on the principles of transparency, participation, accountability, sustainability, and enhanced local capacity all of which are crucial to deliver essential services to people who need it most.

While this pandemic has the potential to fracture societies, it is the resilience, solidarity, strength, and ingenuity of communities at their best that will overcome this. Here are a few examples of World Bank operations are that using community-based approaches to get the vital resources to communities in the Horn of Africa and Solomon Islands.

Horn of Africa: Uganda, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia

As the Horn of Africa was just starting to grapple with the displacement crisis, the largest in recorded history, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In response to the mass and protracted displacement of over four million refugees, the World Bank began to support Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda with the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) aimed at improving access to basic social services, expanding economic opportunities, and enhancing environmental management for communities hosting refugees.. The DRDIP is a 428 million regional operation that has reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries, including host communities and refugees. Today, this community-led platform is being adapted to meet the social demands brought on by COVID-19.

For both refugees and their host communities, a common set of challenges have emerged. For one, the relationship between the two can often be fragile and complex. False or misleading information on COVID-19 has the potential to polarize, and further any stigmatization between the two groups. With government lockdowns come the need to effectively and accurately disseminate information related to the virus as many are forced to follow stay-at-home orders and, as a result, may not otherwise come across this important information.

The disruption of informal sector livelihoods, which are a mainstay for refugees and host communities, is also reportedly causing social tensions. Since the lockdown began in several countries, there has also been a marked increase in instances and reporting of gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children. The pandemic threatens to unravel the important progress made in recent years to improve womens and girls accumulation of human capital, economic empowerment, voice and agency.

In response to the pandemic, the World Bank will scale up the DRDIP project to help mitigate its social and economic risks. The mapping of health and WASH facilities is underway and will inform post-COVID infrastructure investments. Under Ugandas DRDIP, social and water conservation and land clearing activities are being implemented in small groups of five people working in rotation and following new protocols of social distancing. Individual agriculture cultivation and livestock rearing continue. The operation in Uganda is also refocusing its efforts by helping community organizations share prevention and basic hygiene messages through radio, short message services (SMS), and other digital means. The focus has also shifted to providing support to health centers, Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) related investments, doubling beneficiary numbers that will participate in LIPW, and increasing funding to support enterprise-based livelihoods like produce and livestock trading, cage fish farming, and grinding mills for women and youth. Furthermore, the operation will also monitor information on GBV and violence against children and support rapid and adequate referral of cases that have increased following COVID outbreak. Approximately 3 million beneficiaries will be reached across the DRDIP countries.

Solomon Islands

Like many Pacific Island nations, the Solomon Islands are home to a strong community-based culture. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the existing CDD project has been adapted to tackle immediate needs, and is already showing signs of progress. The World Bank-financed Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE) project in the Solomon Islands aims to improve the delivery of basic infrastructure and services through the provision of skills training, short-term job opportunities, and income generation for vulnerable populations, including unemployed youth and women, who may not otherwise have any other opportunities for formal employment.

As in the Horn of Africa, social unrest and violence have plagued the Solomon Islands. From 1998 to 2003, the country underwent a period of conflict known as Tensions, with additional periodic violence in 2006 and more recently in April 2019, following the elections. To offset the risk of violence and social unrest, the World Bank is scaling up short-term employment and training activities for vulnerable groups, especially women, youth, the urban poor and the majority of workers in the informal sector who many have lost their main source of income. The World Bank is also supporting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in their effort to increase prevention and awareness efforts through the sanitation of public areas, construction of public hand washing stations, and training workers and communities on key symptoms and prevention measures.

CDD programs are often chosen because of their ability to adapt swiftly in responding to emergencies and disseminating resources to aid recovery efforts. The agility of the CAUSE project illustrates this point. Amid the government-issued closure of schools and certain businesses, this project is supporting COVID-19 prevention efforts by reinstating critical roads and access for frontline works. It is also delivering additional strategic investments to help stimulate the local economy and protect the livelihoods and incomes of vulnerable groups. The World Bank is coordinating with a range of development partners from the private, public and civil society sectors on investments ranging from the promotion of tourism-enabling infrastructure and services to the construction of markets to help to promote economic activity and create employment.

These are early days in the World Banks response to COVID-19. The operations are drawing lessons from previous pandemics, including the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak, which highlighted the importance of CDD programs in crisis management and recovery to complement medical efforts. In the case of COVID-19, partnerships between communities, healthcare systems, local governments, and the private sector can play a critical role in slowing the spread, mitigating impacts, enhancing ownership and sustainability, and supporting local recovery.

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Community Responses to COVID-19: From the Horn of Africa to the Solomon Islands - World - ReliefWeb