Posted December 29, 2018 15:50:43
![]() The Gold Coast City Council has confiscated 23 electric scooters less than a day after a global company launched a scooter ride share service in the city. Key points:Lime halts Gold Coast operations after a day after council starts seizing scootersCouncil says Lime has not sought permission to operateCompany now says it is halting operations temporarily The company, Lime, rolled out electric scooters on the Gold Coast on Friday, after rolling out the scooters in Brisbane in November. But a dispute broke out immediately with the Gold Coast council. Council transport director Alton Twine told the media on Friday the company was in breach of a local law and would have two hours to move their scooters off the streets. On Saturday, the council released a statement saying it had taken 22 Lime scooters off Gold Coast streets and one scooter owned by the company I-RIDE. Mr Twine said Lime needed permission to set up a scooter ride share service and had not approached the council before starting operations on the Gold Coast. "What we don't accept in this city is operators just turning up and essentially plonking their products down on city streets and footpaths," he said. ![]() Mr Twine said council was undertaking a study into the possibility of electric scooter ridesharing on the Gold Coast. "The issue here is one of public safety we know that there is already plenty of concerns from the public about scooter use on footpaths and shared paths," he said. Lime's director of government affairs, Mitchell Price, said in a statement they had decided to temporarily cease operations on the Gold Coast and "request the council ensure the same standard for other operations". Mr Price said Lime would hold community events in the coming weeks to educate residents about the company's scooters. Topics:local-government,road-transport,tourism,surfers-paradise-4217,brisbane-4000,qld http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-29/lime-scooters-halts-gold-coast-roll-out-council-dispute/10673452?source=rss
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Updated November 28, 2018 15:32:13
![]() Regulators allowed the company at the centre of one of Queensland's biggest building industry collapses to keep trading for nine months after it defaulted on a $75,000 debt. Key points:The Cullen Group owed more than $42 million to more than 600 creditorsA liquidator finds the company was trading while insolvent for almost all of 2016Phoenix activity has "been exponential" in the industry over the past few years The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) was advised of a magistrates court default judgment against the Cullen Group in March 2016, but decided to make no changes to the company's licence. The Cullen Group collapsed in late December of that year, owing more than $42 million to more than 600 creditors. "I don't think there's enough checks and balances in place," said Rick Low, a subcontractor who successfully sued the Cullen Group. "I don't think they [QBCC] were ready for how much work came through the pipeline." The QBCC ordered an independent audit of the Cullen Group in early 2016 and decided its financials were secure enough for it to retain its licence to deal with projects of up to $60 million a year. Asked whether the regulator was misled by the audit, QBCC commissioner Brett Bassett told 7.30: "We are always interested in making sure that the people who provide information to the QBCC, that might be provided by accountants, is factually correct," he said. 'That's a lot of creditors' ![]() The liquidator of the Cullen Group, Michael Caspaney, has found the company was trading while insolvent for almost all of 2016. "They were using a whole group of subcontractors and when they couldn't pay them, they just went to another lot, then another lot," he told 7.30. "It ended up there were 658 creditors, and that is a lot of creditors." He said the March 2016 default judgement against the Cullen Group was a sign the company was possibly insolvent. "That's a very obvious indicator that the company can't pay its bills," he said. But the QBCC commissioner says that was not significant enough to change the Cullen Group's licence conditions. "One debt does not necessarily mean a company is trading while insolvent," Mr Bassett said. The QBCC did issue a notice of proposed licence suspension against the Cullen Group if it did not pay the $75,000 to Mr Low's company, All Pro, before July 18, 2016. "And it was only as a result of our interaction that the day before the suspension was due to take effect, that the money was paid," Mr Bassett said. The liquidator found that in early 2016 the Cullen Group had committed itself to $43 million worth of new projects with a bank overdraft facility of only $2 million. "It is my opinion that the company could not sustain this level of work," Mr Caspaney wrote in the 2017 solvency report. Building industry 'seeing a proliferation of phoenix activity' ![]() The financial state of the Cullen Group and another failed company, Queensland One, will be the subject of a public hearing before the Federal Court in Brisbane next year. The hearings are also likely to address the liquidator's findings in both companies of possible illegal phoenix activity that is, the creation of new companies to avoid paying creditors. Just before the collapse of the Cullen Group, the company's operations manager Geoff Belford was appointed a director of Onpoint Construction Pty Ltd. The following month, the QBCC issued a public warning against dealing with this company. "The QBCC warns all persons dealing with Onpoint Construction Pty Ltd to exercise extreme caution and seek legal advice before making any payments, to protect their interests," the QBCC said on January 6, 2017. The Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association says illegal phoenix trading is a particular problem in the building industry. "There's no doubt that right across the building industry we are seeing a proliferation of phoenix activity," the association's John Winter said. "In fact it's the one sector where it's almost unconstrained." Subcontractor Hayden Quaife, who did work for Cullen on the multi-million-dollar Boheme apartment complex on the Gold Coast, says building company liquidations have cost his roofing business millions of dollars. "It's getting worse. In the past four to five years it's been exponential, absolutely disgusting," he said. Topics:building-and-construction,business-economics-and-finance,regulation,law-crime-and-justice,qld,brisbane-4000,australia,southport-4215 First posted November 28, 2018 15:26:08 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/regulator-allowed-cullen-group-to-trade-after-default-on-debt/10561874?source=rss Posted December 29, 2018 15:50:43
![]() The Gold Coast City Council has confiscated 23 electric scooters less than a day after a global company launched a scooter ride share service in the city. Key points:Lime halts Gold Coast operations after a day after council starts seizing scootersCouncil says Lime has not sought permission to operateCompany now says it is halting operations temporarily The company, Lime, rolled out electric scooters on the Gold Coast on Friday, after rolling out the scooters in Brisbane in November. But a dispute broke out immediately with the Gold Coast council. Council transport director Alton Twine told the media on Friday the company was in breach of a local law and would have two hours to move their scooters off the streets. On Saturday, the council released a statement saying it had taken 22 Lime scooters off Gold Coast streets and one scooter owned by the company I-RIDE. Mr Twine said Lime needed permission to set up a scooter ride share service and had not approached the council before starting operations on the Gold Coast. "What we don't accept in this city is operators just turning up and essentially plonking their products down on city streets and footpaths," he said. ![]() Mr Twine said council was undertaking a study into the possibility of electric scooter ridesharing on the Gold Coast. "The issue here is one of public safety we know that there is already plenty of concerns from the public about scooter use on footpaths and shared paths," he said. Lime's director of government affairs, Mitchell Price, said in a statement they had decided to temporarily cease operations on the Gold Coast and "request the council ensure the same standard for other operations". Mr Price said Lime would hold community events in the coming weeks to educate residents about the company's scooters. Topics:local-government,road-transport,tourism,surfers-paradise-4217,brisbane-4000,qld http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-29/lime-scooters-halts-gold-coast-roll-out-council-dispute/10673452?source=rss Updated January 12, 2019 09:49:42
![]() Economists have warned property owners in south-east Queensland to brace for a bumpy ride in 2019, even though Brisbane was one of four capital cities to experience steady price growth last year. Key points:Queensland's affordable property is attracting strong interest from southern buyersPrices are set to remain subdued because of broader property market uncertaintyBrisbane is through the worst of its apartment glut In the year to December, house prices in Greater Brisbane rose 2.3 per cent to $525,000, with Sunshine Coast property values growing 6.3 per cent and the Gold Coast 3.8 per cent over the same period. Antonia Mercorella from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) said the market in the south-east was in an enviable position compared with Sydney and Melbourne because it offered much greater affordability. "We are seeing more and more people coming, particularly from New South Wales, so the demand will continue to rise," she said. More than 80 Brisbane suburbs still have a median house price of $500,000 or lower. Yet despite the 2018 sales figures, confidence in the state's property industry has crashed to its lowest level in five years. The latest ANZ/Property Council survey showed a decline in sentiment to 118 index points for the March 2019 quarter. Shane Oliver, AMP Capital's head of investment strategy, said the poor industry outlook for the year ahead was due to the negative headline news about property in general. ![]() "A lot of that is dominated by Sydney and Melbourne, which have been seeing 10 per cent declines in property prices," Mr Oliver said. "But of course, that's feeding through to sentiment in Queensland as well." While the Brisbane property market remained stronger than Sydney and Melbourne, Mr Oliver predicted price growth in 2019 would be constrained by a tightening in lending. ![]() "When you go to talk to the bank, they're a lot tougher," he said. "They want to check your income levels, they want to check how much you spend, including on coffee each day." Ms Mercorella said with the findings of the banking royal commission still pending and a federal election on the horizon, some buyers had been spooked. "That's causing some nervousness for investors and we'll have to wait and see what the outcome of that is," she said. However, the forecast is more promising for Brisbane's rental market. The latest Domain Rental Report, released earlier this week, revealed rental prices had risen in Brisbane for the first time in three years. The median cost of renting a house in Brisbane rose by 2.5 per cent to $410 a week in the December quarter. ![]() Mr Oliver said the surge of new apartment dwellings had reached its peak. "That supply surge has run its course, unlike in Sydney and Melbourne," he said. Last year, approvals for new dwellings across Queensland were down 20 per cent. "Queensland population growth is edging above that seen in New South Wales at a time when there's a reduction in supply of apartments coming onto the market," Mr Oliver said. Brisbane CBD real estate agent Rebecca Herbst said she was constantly fielding inquiries from interstate. "It's so affordable in Brisbane compared to Sydney and Melbourne so they see the value," she said. Topics:housing-industry,brisbane-4000,southport-4215,maroochydore-4558 First posted January 12, 2019 09:31:13 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-12/southern-queensland-property-outlook-subdued-experts-say/10710018?source=rss Blackmores vitamin chief says $10m for naturopathic centre at university will not influence research2/13/2019 Posted November 29, 2018 16:52:45
The man behind a $10 million donation to Southern Cross University in northern New South Wales says he will not try to influence what is taught in holistic medical courses. The head of the Blackmores vitamin empire, Marcus Blackmore, and his wife Caroline handed over the money this week to the university at a ceremony in Sydney. The funds will be used to establish a National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at the University. Mr Blackmore said the donation had no strings attached and is to fulfil his father's dying wish. "My father, who is regularly referred to as Australia's pioneering naturopath, said on his death bed that it saddened him not to see naturopathy as a profession in his lifetime," Mr Blackmore said. "I want to change the perception of natural medicines being something for hippies only and now have a wonderful opportunity to grow the professional side of naturopathy at Southern Cross University." Southern Cross University's vice chancellor, Professor Adam Shoemaker said the donation would not buy the company any influence over research. "I can absolutely guarantee you that this is a personal gift, at arm's length and not from the company. ![]() "Second thing is we've absolutely been scrupulous about a contract which enables the science and the rigour of the university and our laboratories to be there on the back end and not on the front end of anything to do with potential commercial products," Professor Shoemaker said. He said the university's reputation would not be compromised. "It's actually more about teaching people about naturopathic medicine as a profession, and giving that the respect it deserves in Australia and overseas. "I think the world has moved on, and I think those things which a decade ago some people might have felt some discomfort, now they realise they're mainstream," he said. Impact on standards But Emeritus Professor, John Dwyer, from the Friends of Science in Medicine group thinks SCU is being compromised by accepting the personal gift. "Blackmores is a company that's made a fortune capitalising on the poor health of Australians and convincing them they need a whole lot of supplements and vitamins they don't need," Professor Dwyer said. "Naturopathic medicine has got a long way to go to get the respect from clinical-based evidence scientists. "This will only downgrade the level of tertiary academic standards at the university, not improve them," he said. "To spend more money on doing research on homeopathy would almost be unconscionable," Professor Dwyer said. Orthodox medicine showing interest Mr Blackmore said the people who would be running these courses had proper status. "They're not some turkey we've just pulled off the street," Mr Blackmore said. "Doctors in orthodox medicine often aren't taught about nutrition and that's concerning. The world has to change," he said. "Some doctors trained in orthodox medicine are showing interest in holistic medicine, so there's movement in traditional medicine to embrace these ideas. "This centre will run seminars for practitioners interested in naturopathic medicine,". Work is expected to start immediately on the new National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine with a planned opening in 2019. Topics:health,medical-research,science-and-technology,research,research-organisations,diet-and-nutrition,health-policy,university-and-further-education,business-economics-and-finance,lismore-2480,north-lismore-2480,tweed-heads-2485,southern-cross-university-coffs-harbour-2450,coffs-harbour-2450 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-29/blackmores-pledges-donation-will-not-compromise-scu-research/10567286?source=rss Forgotten railway tunnel on track for heritage protection after locals get up head of steam2/12/2019 Posted January 27, 2019 07:15:00
A disused railway tunnel, rumoured to have been frequented by Gold Coast bikies and clandestine groups, has been reclaimed by local residents and artists who are now fighting for its preservation. Built in 1888, the Ernest Junction railway tunnel at Molendinar is a remnant of the South Coast railway line, which connected Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Judith deBoer remembers catching the train when she was a young girl. "I used to catch the train from Brisbane to Southport at Christmas time to visit my aunt and I realised it was through this tunnel," she said. Five years ago she and her husband, Ted, were looking for a venue for a music concert and thought of the tunnel. "We came out to take a look at it and it was ghastly," she said. Both entrances were overgrown with lantana and the 110-metre tunnel was filled ankle deep with mud, empty spray cans, and rubbish. Ms deBoer went to a heritage fair and asked for community help to clean up the tunnel. "We had one Saturday morning work party fill truck, after truck, after truck and then Ted and I just kept going," she said. ![]() The couple do a weekly rubbish run, mow the lawns and it has now become a community asset. "The community thinks they own it now," Ms deBoer said. The tunnel walls are lined with graffiti and the volunteer said locals and artists had reached a truce. Spray painting is welcome as long as the messaging and the tunnel is kept clean. "We always call them tunnel artists," Ms deBoer said. "We don't refer to their work as graffiti and it's the only place on the Gold Coast, or I think in south-east Queensland, where they can actually create and not get into trouble. "All creative endeavours are welcome. A lot of filming wonderful stuff goes on here." ![]() Photographer Ness Stretton used to ride her motocross bike through the tunnel as a child and now uses it as a backdrop for her photography. "You can do things during the day that you can [usually] only do at night like steel wool spinning," she said. "The university is using it for film practice now. "I see a lot of independent photographers bringing models down here for photo shoots, which I never expected. "The tunnel is alive at last now." Tunnel history The South Coast rail line was used to transport people and goods until it was shut down in 1964. Amateur historian, Peter Jones, said the tunnel was one of the last remnants of the railway line. ![]() "There's only two main items left of the railway line this [tunnel] and the Nerang Station which is at the Mudgeeraba Museum and that's all that's left," he said. He said the railway line was ripped up because the weight of the trains kept increasing beyond the engineering design of the tracks. "They would have had to have rebuilt the whole line due to the engines getting heavier," Mr Jones said. "The track was not designed that way." Heritage protection The tunnel has been placed on the Gold Coast Heritage Register, but Judith deBoer, and a committed group of locals, now want it placed on the Queensland Heritage Register to give it another layer of protection from future development in Molendinar. Divisional Councillor, Dawn Crichlow, said the tunnel had two owners and an agreement was needed. "We had a problem before because it was half-owned by the council and half-owned by the state," she said. "Now the state is happy to pass it over to the council and the council has supported the Heritage Register. "I feel very confident." The Friends of the Ernest Junction Tunnel are hoping the tunnel will be added to the Queensland Heritage Register by the middle of 2019. ![]() http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-27/gold-coast-rail-tunnel-on-track-heritage-protection/10732322?source=rss A cold front has hit part of the state overnight, bringing wet and windy conditions and a relatively cold maximum temperature in Adelaide.
A top of just 20C is forecast in the city today, much cooler than the searing temperatures experienced in January. Thanks to a cold front that swept across South Australia overnight, there has also been some wet and wild conditions. Although only a spatter of rain has been recorded at West Tce since 9am on Monday, there is certainly a lot of moisture in the air this morning. Latest readings at Adelaide's West Tce station show a 79% level of relative humidity. As for wind, the highest recorded wind gust around the metropolitan area was 63 km/h in Edinburgh about 5.15am today. South of Adelaide, in Kuitpo, a whopping gust of 91 km/h was recorded just before 5am. Nearly 2000 properties are without power today, most of which are in the Adelaide Hills region. Belair, Crafers, Hawthorndene and Stirling are among the hardest hit. Falls of up to 3mm are expected in Adelaide, but Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Simon Timke says the windy conditions rapidly pushed the rain away. "It has been fairly windy overnight, and I think that will continue for most of the day." "There's almost a wintry feel to it today." Only 0.8mm has been recorded at Adelaide's West Tce since 9am on Monday, while Kent Town and the airport received 1.6mm and 2.8mm respectively. FOLLOW THE MORNING'S BREAKING NEWS BELOW Originally published as Cold front brings 'wintry' conditions in Adelaide https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/sas-breaking-news-blog-the-pulse-wet-and-windy-conditions-in-adelaide-as-cold-front-hits-the-state/live-coverage/4591e459c13248b74098780ad1f123a0 Blackmores vitamin chief says $10m for naturopathic centre at university will not influence research2/10/2019 Posted November 29, 2018 16:52:45
The man behind a $10 million donation to Southern Cross University in northern New South Wales says he will not try to influence what is taught in holistic medical courses. The head of the Blackmores vitamin empire, Marcus Blackmore, and his wife Caroline handed over the money this week to the university at a ceremony in Sydney. The funds will be used to establish a National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at the University. Mr Blackmore said the donation had no strings attached and is to fulfil his father's dying wish. "My father, who is regularly referred to as Australia's pioneering naturopath, said on his death bed that it saddened him not to see naturopathy as a profession in his lifetime," Mr Blackmore said. "I want to change the perception of natural medicines being something for hippies only and now have a wonderful opportunity to grow the professional side of naturopathy at Southern Cross University." Southern Cross University's vice chancellor, Professor Adam Shoemaker said the donation would not buy the company any influence over research. "I can absolutely guarantee you that this is a personal gift, at arm's length and not from the company. ![]() "Second thing is we've absolutely been scrupulous about a contract which enables the science and the rigour of the university and our laboratories to be there on the back end and not on the front end of anything to do with potential commercial products," Professor Shoemaker said. He said the university's reputation would not be compromised. "It's actually more about teaching people about naturopathic medicine as a profession, and giving that the respect it deserves in Australia and overseas. "I think the world has moved on, and I think those things which a decade ago some people might have felt some discomfort, now they realise they're mainstream," he said. Impact on standards But Emeritus Professor, John Dwyer, from the Friends of Science in Medicine group thinks SCU is being compromised by accepting the personal gift. "Blackmores is a company that's made a fortune capitalising on the poor health of Australians and convincing them they need a whole lot of supplements and vitamins they don't need," Professor Dwyer said. "Naturopathic medicine has got a long way to go to get the respect from clinical-based evidence scientists. "This will only downgrade the level of tertiary academic standards at the university, not improve them," he said. "To spend more money on doing research on homeopathy would almost be unconscionable," Professor Dwyer said. Orthodox medicine showing interest Mr Blackmore said the people who would be running these courses had proper status. "They're not some turkey we've just pulled off the street," Mr Blackmore said. "Doctors in orthodox medicine often aren't taught about nutrition and that's concerning. The world has to change," he said. "Some doctors trained in orthodox medicine are showing interest in holistic medicine, so there's movement in traditional medicine to embrace these ideas. "This centre will run seminars for practitioners interested in naturopathic medicine,". Work is expected to start immediately on the new National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine with a planned opening in 2019. Topics:health,medical-research,science-and-technology,research,research-organisations,diet-and-nutrition,health-policy,university-and-further-education,business-economics-and-finance,lismore-2480,north-lismore-2480,tweed-heads-2485,southern-cross-university-coffs-harbour-2450,coffs-harbour-2450 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-29/blackmores-pledges-donation-will-not-compromise-scu-research/10567286?source=rss Gazing out over the rumpled landscape of the Piccadilly Valley, a glass of sparkling wine in hand and a delicate morsel of seafood on the table.
Restaurant settings dont come much more romantic than Hardys Verandah Restaurant, the gracefully refurbished dining space at Mount Lofty House especially as it offers the option of staying there for the night. Hardys is one of a dozen eateries we have chosen from The Advertiser delicious 100 that would be wonderful to take the one you love. While some (including Hardys) wont be available on Valentines Day, its the perfect excuse to book a date night (or day). Other romantic options include a secluded garden hideaway and a place to look over the sparkling sea. The Advertiser delicious 100 is free to subscribers or go to advertiser.com.au/subscribe Originally published as Romantic date? These are SAs best tables for two https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/south-australias-most-romantic-restaurants-from-the-delicious-100/news-story/6f5fc8fa364b2219555cf72794dc4bd0 Owners and tenants of Sydney's cracked Opal Tower who are still living in temporary accommodation have had their return date delayed yet again.
A third group or residents who were due to move back in from Saturday have been told their temporary accommodation and food allowances have now been extended until Saturday, February 16. Residents in two groups have moved back into about 170 apartments since late January. "The engineers are continuing to work through their respective queries to enable the progressive re-occupation of apartments," builder Icon said in a letter to residents on Friday. "As there are various parties involved it is important that all queries are satisfied." Residents were first evacuated on Christmas Eve after hearing and seeing cracks in a wall. Design engineers WSP maintain the building is structurally sound overall - a verdict also made by the government's independent engineering experts. Some 74 apartments were deemed fit for reoccupation by the body corporate's engineers Cardno in late January while another 97 passed the test in early February. Icon expects Cardno will release a third list of safe-to-occupy apartments within the next week. Some of the residents of the units cleared for return have refused to move back because they say the building is still a "construction zone". Originally published as Opal Tower owners' return delayed again https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/opal-tower-owners-return-delayed-again/news-story/e3185d85923ffc4f72a5a899b6ce2f9f |
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