Posted March 20, 2019 18:53:42
![]() The Queensland Government is being urged to expand the controversial practice of koala translocation, despite previous programs having a high mortality rate. Key points: The East Coomera translocation project had a 42 per cent mortality rateGold Coast City Council says the program "a success" as the mortality rate "very similar" to koalas not movedThe council said the impact of wild dogs was "higher than anticipated" Under present Queensland law, koala translocation, which involves relocating the animal to similar bushland, is only permitted if it is part of a scientific research program. The chair of the state's Koala Advisory Council, Mark Townend, has told 7.30 it should be made easier to move koalas, whose habitat is under threat, to similar bushland. "At the moment you can only put a koala back within 5 kilometres of where it came from," he said. "Why would you put them back in danger? We need to review that policy. "You've got all these admissions to wildlife hospitals of koalas because they're not mixing right with people, dogs or cars," he said. "So we need to try and review that policy." The comments have shocked leading koala researcher Professor Frank Carrick, who is worried a change in policy will encourage further destruction of koala habitats. He said translocation was highly risky and past programs had failed. "It's a zero-sum game. If you have x amount of habitat, you remove half of it, by and large the population in that region will decline by at least half, probably more," he said. "Shifting them around is the old classic, shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic." Currumbin Wildlife Hospital veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne said translocation was a useful tool, but only as a last resort. "Movement of koalas from one area to another in many cases is a necessary evil," he said. "When you've got young koalas that are dispersing and moving through urban areas, there's no choice but to try to find a better spot for them." ![]() The Queensland Government has announced a review of the translocation policy after it was revealed in State Parliament last August that the mortality rate for the project at East Coomera was 42 per cent. 7.30 can now reveal more details about the project, which relocated 180 koalas between 2009 and 2014. Documents obtained under Right to Information laws show the death rate was blamed on "unforeseen wild dog attacks". A scientific permit report from the council to Queensland's Environment Department in 2014 admitted "the impacts of wild dog predation were higher than anticipated in the early stage of the project". But despite the high death rate, the council argued the project was a success, as the mortality rate was "very similar" to the rate for koalas that were not moved. Under the heading "relocation success", the report said "at six months after relocation, approximately 80 per cent of koalas had survived and generally appeared to have coped with the initial stress". "At the 12-month mark, approximately 70 per cent of koalas in the relocation group had survived and had essentially become residents at the recipient sites," it said. The 2014 report also promised to submit "a series of research papers" that were "planned for preparation to scientific journals over the next two to three years". A Gold Coast council spokesman told 7.30 that the papers had yet to be submitted. But the council's 2014 report was already claiming significant scientific findings. "Koala relocation is a complex undertaking, but can be achieved with success in many cases where the koala is healthy, in good body condition, is at least 4 to 5 kilograms in weight and aged from two to around seven years," the report said. Critics say program 'a failure' ![]() Australians for Animals, which obtained the Right to Information documents, said the council was drawing a long bow. "It's really important to understand that these Coomera koalas were nationally significant," Australians for Animals coordinator Sue Arnold said. "They're the heartland of koalas in south-east Queensland and the translocations were a failure." Koala researcher Frank Carrick also remained sceptical about the council's claim of translocation success. "If that's their idea of success, I'd hate to see what failure looks like," he said. "If you accept at face value what we've been told, and it's on the basis of, 'trust us, we're politicians', then it's a pretty dismal outcome. "But we can't judge, because we don't have the actual data." Questions remain about East Coomera program The Right to Information documents show the sites where the 180 East Coomera koalas were resettled had not be surveyed since late 2014. However, the Gold Coast Council has confirmed to 7.30 that it commissioned further surveys of the translocation sites in the Lower Beechmont and Wongawallan conservation areas in November and December last year. "The report detailing the results of these surveys is currently being prepared and is expected to be presented to council in mid-2019," a council spokesman said. Queensland Environment Minister Leanne Enoch said she would wait to hear the final report from the Koala Advisory Council before making a decision. "That's why we've got a koala expert group a council an advisory council to provide all of that input to government to make sure we have the right policy that gives us the best practice is this area," she said. Watch the story tonight on 7.30. Topics:animals,human-interest,environmental-impact,environmental-management,environmental-policy,environment,coomera-4209,qld,australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-20/controversial-koala-relocation-policy-urged-to-expand/10917602?source=rss
0 Comments
Posted February 22, 2019 15:45:30
![]() South-east Queensland's bid to host the 2032 Olympics could fail without billions of dollars invested in roads and infrastructure. Key points:The Games are expected to bring 110,000 visitors and competitorsA new Olympic stadium would be needed, as well as several new regional venuesAn estimated shortfall of 62,000 rooms is predicted That is the grim prediction of an 18-month feasibility study, released on Friday by the region's mayors, assessing likelihood of a successful Olympic Games bid. The report estimated the 2032 Games would come at a cost to ratepayers of $900 million that's not inclusive of the billions of dollars needed for roads and public transport. However, Brisbane Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Graham Quirk told ABC Radio Brisbane the study showed the cost would be lower than that of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. He said the Olympic bid would be unsuccessful without crucial investment. "We cannot hold an Olympic Games if we don't build the infrastructure to keep up with population growth," he said. "An Olympic Games would set a catalyst, a line in the sand as to when infrastructure needed to be built by." About 3.4 million people currently live in South East Queensland an additional 1.8 million people are expected to call the region home by 2041. ![]() The report predicts the Olympic Games would bring an additional 100,000 visitors to the region as well as 10,500 competing athletes. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said cost will be a major factor. "We have a tight budgetary situation that the Treasurer is well aware of and we have to give it due consideration," she said. "Let's see how much the Federal Government put in to that Sydney Olympics bid and let's have a look at the proposal." This is what is holding south-east Queensland back: Transport RACQ Chief Communications Officer, Paul Turner, said the current network would struggle to cope with population growth, let alone the influx of prospective Olympic visitors. "What I think the Olympics in 2032 does is actually give a focus and a lightning rod to something we should be doing anyway," he said. Future public transport upgrades like Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro are a necessity. ![]() So too is new road projects in the Brisbane area, upgrades of significant regional road corridors, light rail on the Sunshine Coast and the extension of the light rail on the Gold Coast. Furthermore, faster bus routes are needed through to Toowoomba, and faster rail links to Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. The RACQ flagged continued funding for major arterials like the Bruce Highway as a key priority. While the M1 held up during last year's Commonwealth Games, Mr Turner said: "It was only one major incident away from being a problem". "We need to have redundancies, we need to talk about alternatives to the M1 and the Bruce Highway." New regional venues ![]() Another major shortfall is the need for an Olympic-sized stadium, despite the report identifying 28 existing (or 60 per cent) of venues across south-east Queensland which do meet requirements. Brisbane would be the predominant hub, accounting for some 53 per cent of the venues. Cr Quirk said there was no doubt Brisbane needed an additional stadium, which could host at least 55,000 people, but he is keeping the finer details of the proposal close to his chest. "That would give our opponents down the track information. We do need a new stadium, there's no question about it," he said. The region would also need several more major indoor venues to host events like basketball, gymnastics and volleyball. It is expected venues would be spread around the region in Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Logan and Moreton Bay. According to the study, a main media centre would also need to be built in Brisbane, with access to reliable public transport. 62,000 rooms needed ![]() The south-east corner also has a significant lack of accommodation with experts warning this could be difficult to overcome. About 81,000 rooms would be needed. By 2032 it is estimated facilities would fall well short with only 62,000 rooms available. Antonia Mercorella from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) said it would be difficult to see how the region could accommodate those numbers with the current supply. "What we don't want is something to be built in a rush and then to be left behind with something unattractive that permanently stays in our city." Housing the world's media will also be a significant issue. It is estimated 15,000 rooms will be needed for all the technical officials and media. The official bid is required to be complete by 2023, but Cr Quirk said a decision will need to be made next year if the group was to proceed. "We're going in with eyes wide open and there has to be discussions with federal and state governments before we get to the bid," Cr Quirk said. However, not all councillors are on board though. Greens councillor Jonathan Sri said it was not worth the cost, despite the loss estimated to be less than the expense of hosting the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. "Hotel operators and big promoters will make a lot of money, but they won't be hiring local companies to run the big parts of the event," Cr Sri said. "You look at the pros and cons and it doesn't stack up financially and I hate to be a spoilsport but there are better ways to spend money to kick start an economy." Topics:regional-development,olympics-summer,housing,local-government,environmental-management,brisbane-4000,qld,maroochydore-4558,southport-4215,toowoomba-4350,mermaid-beach-4218 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-22/brisbane-olympic-bid-2032-how-capital-will-look/10837264?source=rss Updated March 04, 2019 15:19:31
![]() The Australian humpback whale population has recovered from near-extinction linked to hunting, but new Queensland research warns that numbers could soon fall again due to the effects of climate change. Key points:Humpback whale species has recovered rapidly since commercial whaling ended in 1962, averaging a 10.9pc increase per yearResearchers remain worried the whale population may be overshooting the carrying capacity of the environment to maintain its numbersIf there was going to be a whale population crash, researchers say the modelling suggests it will be soon The University of Queensland (UQ) study monitored humpback whales migrating past North Stradbroke Island off Brisbane on the southern Queensland coast, over a 12-year period. Associate Professor Michael Noad said the species had recovered rapidly since commercial whaling ended in 1962, averaging a 10.9 per cent increase per year. "The good news is that the whales have recovered, but the bad news is that the whales don't seem to have realised that," he said. "Australian humpback whales were hunted to very, very low numbers almost completely wiped out by the early 1960s but since we've started [taking] surveys, the population has essentially been doubling every seven years or so. "The last survey in 2015 found that the population has essentially recovered back to our best guess of the population prior to whaling in the 1950s, reaching an estimated 25,000 whales." ![]() Despite the good news, Dr Noad feared the species still faced many threats. "We don't really know what is going to happen in the future, but we worry that the population may in fact be overshooting the carrying capacity of the environment to maintain that population, so we might see a spike in the population followed by a crash," he said. ![]() He said if there was going to be a crash, the modelling suggested it would be soon. "The thing that's most likely to have an impact on these whales is them starting to run out of krill in the Antarctic and we predict that to happen somewhere between 2021 and 2026," he said. "On one hand they're recovering quickly, but these whales are also threatened by climate change and its impact on Antarctic krill, their main food source." ![]() The most recent data was collected in 2015 by scientists observing whales from a platform at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island off Brisbane. "This is a fantastic place to monitor the whales because they come very close to the headland," Dr Noad said. "We know that about 80 per cent of the population passes within 5 kilometres of the headland, so they're easy to see it's a bit like counting sheep as they go through a gate." ![]() If there was a population crash, it could have several consequences for Queensland. "There'll certainly be fewer whales and those whales might be struggling you might be seeing sick calves not in good condition and that could have an impact on the east coast whale watching industry, which is worth more than $100 million to the economy," Dr Noad said. "We are very likely to see an increase in the number of strandings as well possibly sick whales beaching themselves, and also whales that die at sea will represent a shipping hazard." The research has been published in the scientific journal Population Ecology. ![]() First posted March 04, 2019 14:32:05 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-04/humpback-whale-migration-numbers-off-southern-queensland/10867396?source=rss Updated February 24, 2019 00:09:38
![]() Some of surfing's biggest names are making the most of the massive waves being caused by ex-tropical cyclone Oma, but other board riders are being warned to stay out of the water. The system, which has been downgraded from a category two to a sub-tropical low, is currently 700 kilometres east of Brisbane. A warning remains in place from Fraser Island to the New South Wales border for damaging winds, abnormally high tides, and dangerous surf. But that didn't stopped former world champion surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo who all hit the waves at Kirra on the Gold Coast on Saturday morning. Surf Life Saving Queensland's Jason Argent warned wannabes it was not worth it. ![]() "The average punter going out to catch big waves just because Mick Fanning is out there is probably not a good excuse," he said. "What you don't see from the photos and the media is that Mick Fanning has his own jet ski with an operator on there assisting him if he gets into trouble, whereas someone just paddling off the beach with their own board by themselves is obviously exposing themselves to a lot of risk". All beaches on the Gold Coast were closed on Saturday due to the wild conditions, while some of the more protected beaches on the Sunshine Coast are open. A rescue helicopter pulled a man from the surf on the Gold Coast after an incident with a jet ski. Eight people were also pulled from the water during dawn patrols this morning. Lifesavers said an overseas tourist was almost swept away while taking photos in ankle-deep water on a beach. External Link:Kids splashed by a wave at the Kings Beach ocean pool (ABC News: Bruce Atkinson) Mr Argent said the Gold Coast beaches were more affected and were "definitely a no-go". "Conditions are really dangerous and the winds are picking up again," he said. "On the Gold Coast the beaches are very exposed to the easterly swell and southerly winds whereas on the Sunshine Coast they have some protected pockets at places like Noosa and Mooloolaba." ![]() "On Thursday we did 45 rescues, and yesterday 10, with four reports of missing people in the surf last night who were later located. "We're pleading with the public to just take a little extra care and to not go out after hours as it's very dangerous." Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Gabriel Brunescu said the system was staying well away from our shores. ![]() "The impact from the system is just the winds which will continue over the next two days. "Rainfall itself is not a big deal any more. We will struggle to see any rainfall on the south-east coast as the system moves away." Mr Brunescu said while it was turning north there was still uncertainty about exactly where Oma would go next week. "Later on the system is forecast to slowly recurve and potentially approaching the tropical north coast, and with all those systems up in the north there is a slight chance to reform or regain a tropical strength but we need to monitor it closely," he said. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() First posted February 23, 2019 10:13:18 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-23/tropical-cyclone-oma-weakens-off-southern-queensland-coast/10839374?source=rss Updated February 24, 2019 00:09:38
![]() Some of surfing's biggest names are making the most of the massive waves being caused by ex-tropical cyclone Oma, but other board riders are being warned to stay out of the water. The system, which has been downgraded from a category two to a sub-tropical low, is currently 700 kilometres east of Brisbane. A warning remains in place from Fraser Island to the New South Wales border for damaging winds, abnormally high tides, and dangerous surf. But that didn't stopped former world champion surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo who all hit the waves at Kirra on the Gold Coast on Saturday morning. Surf Life Saving Queensland's Jason Argent warned wannabes it was not worth it. ![]() "The average punter going out to catch big waves just because Mick Fanning is out there is probably not a good excuse," he said. "What you don't see from the photos and the media is that Mick Fanning has his own jet ski with an operator on there assisting him if he gets into trouble, whereas someone just paddling off the beach with their own board by themselves is obviously exposing themselves to a lot of risk". All beaches on the Gold Coast were closed on Saturday due to the wild conditions, while some of the more protected beaches on the Sunshine Coast are open. A rescue helicopter pulled a man from the surf on the Gold Coast after an incident with a jet ski. Eight people were also pulled from the water during dawn patrols this morning. Lifesavers said an overseas tourist was almost swept away while taking photos in ankle-deep water on a beach. External Link:Kids splashed by a wave at the Kings Beach ocean pool (ABC News: Bruce Atkinson) Mr Argent said the Gold Coast beaches were more affected and were "definitely a no-go". "Conditions are really dangerous and the winds are picking up again," he said. "On the Gold Coast the beaches are very exposed to the easterly swell and southerly winds whereas on the Sunshine Coast they have some protected pockets at places like Noosa and Mooloolaba." ![]() "On Thursday we did 45 rescues, and yesterday 10, with four reports of missing people in the surf last night who were later located. "We're pleading with the public to just take a little extra care and to not go out after hours as it's very dangerous." Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Gabriel Brunescu said the system was staying well away from our shores. ![]() "The impact from the system is just the winds which will continue over the next two days. "Rainfall itself is not a big deal any more. We will struggle to see any rainfall on the south-east coast as the system moves away." Mr Brunescu said while it was turning north there was still uncertainty about exactly where Oma would go next week. "Later on the system is forecast to slowly recurve and potentially approaching the tropical north coast, and with all those systems up in the north there is a slight chance to reform or regain a tropical strength but we need to monitor it closely," he said. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() First posted February 23, 2019 10:13:18 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-23/tropical-cyclone-oma-weakens-off-southern-queensland-coast/10839374?source=rss Forgotten railway tunnel on track for heritage protection after locals get up head of steam4/23/2019 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 Second Gold Coast casino push raises concerns about problem gambling and market saturation4/21/2019 Updated March 05, 2019 17:43:22
![]() The Queensland Government has announced it will search for a developer to build a second casino on the Gold Coast, with the promise of a swag of new jobs for the rapidly growing city. But the announcement has also alarmed anti-gambling groups, who say Queensland is being turned into Australia's version of Nevada, the home state of Las Vegas, and is a magnet for problem gamblers. On the other hand, Star Entertainment Group, which runs the Star Casino at Broadbeach, has said the city's gaming machine market is already saturated. Authorities will need to balance the potential economic benefits from such a big project against the potential for further harm to families and the broader community. What's been announced? Tourism Minister Kate Jones told ABC Radio the Queensland Government will open an expression-of-interest process, allowing companies to put forward proposals for a casino and integrated resort. She said it would be a $1 billion development and that it had to include several key elements, including "a major Gold Coast concert venue, new entertainment facilities, convention space, high-end dining and retail experience". The location for such a venue within the city would be proposed by the organisations applying to build and run it. But the Queensland Government has already ruled out The Southport Spit, a major park north of Surfers Paradise, as well as Wave Break Island in the Southport Broadwater the sites of the ASF Consortium's previous failed casino proposal. "We don't want a decision made in Brisbane about where the best place on the Gold Coast should be," Ms Jones said. "What we are saying is we'll go to market and the market can come forward with what the sites they think stacks up." ![]() Ms Jones said a Gold Coast Tourism Advisory Panel would be created to offer advice on the proposed casino. She said the State Government estimated a second casino and resort would create 6,000 local jobs. Why are anti-gambling groups alarmed? Stephen Mayne from The Alliance for Gambling Reform said Queensland was already the second-worst state in Australia for gambling losses, running at an average of more than $1,000 per person. "The idea they are going to have six casinos (in Queensland), I mean they are turning it into a Nevada," Mr Mayne said. The anti-gambling activist is concerned about the impact of a second casino on the city. ![]() "It will be very interesting to see what the proposal is in terms of any more poker machines will they have to buy them off existing pub and club operators?" he said. "Or will the Government allow an increase? "We think there should be a decrease in Queensland and there certainly shouldn't be any increase on the Gold Coast given that $330 million a year is already lost at Gold Coast pubs and clubs which have poker machines." Mr Mayne said he did not believe job creation justified an extra casino. "Ultimately the jobs are coming off human misery and there is massive amounts of suicide and family violence and fraud and imprisonment and mental health issues and homelessness that flows from gambling," he said. "Gambling is a fundamentally destructive industry that doesn't create any net economic benefit because of the huge social harm it causes." Could Star build the second casino? Ms Jones told ABC Radio the Star Entertainment Group, which runs the Gold Coast's existing casino, is free to apply to the State Government's expression of interest process for a second casino. "If The Star wants to put forward an integrated resort and can build the case they should be the only proponent (on the Gold Coast) then we are welcome to that, but we want a true integrated resort that delivers increased public infrastructure for Gold Coast residents," the Minister said. She said the company did have expansion plans but were not locked into any future development. "At the moment they have a proposal but they are not contractually obliged to deliver any of that infrastructure, and certainly through this process we will be asking a proponent to deliver infrastructure in a timeline in a contractual arrangement," she said. But Star Entertainment Group Queensland managing director Geoff Hogg said they had already committed to $2 billion expansion plans at their Broadbeach site. "We are very pleased to have done public consultation in 2016 and then to get the Government approval to be able to expand up to another four towers on the island, in addition to the tower we have already commenced," he said. ![]() Mr Hogg said the city's gaming machine market is already saturated and that Star Entertainment Group would not be increasing its gambling services. He said the Queensland Government held no conversations with the gaming company about signing contracts to guarantee its expansion plans. "For us, we have got to find out a bit more about what that means, what it involves, I don't have enough information to comment," he said. "The key message for us is we have just been getting on and doing our development and continuing to invest in the coast." State Opposition tourism spokesman David Crisafulli criticised the Government's process, saying the plans kept changing. "This has been a moving feast, it has been a moving feast when we had proposals cancelled and back on, and then we had pokies in and then out and it is just going nowhere," he said. "We need certainty, we need a proposal and a project that can deliver for the coast." Topics:gambling,urban-development-and-planning,tourism,state-parliament,activism-and-lobbying,southport-4215,brisbane-4000,qld First posted March 05, 2019 16:44:08 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-05/second-casino-gold-coast-call-from-queensland-government/10872640?source=rss Updated March 02, 2019 16:16:33
Map: Brisbane 4000 A Gold Coast man who allegedly ran a global investment scam worth almost $12 million has been charged with 25 fraud offences. Anthony David Gray, 54, from Paradise Point was arrested in New Zealand and extradited to Australia overnight. Mr Gray has appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 25 counts of fraud and did not apply for bail. His arrest follows a year-long investigation, dubbed Operation Quebec Kidback, following multiple complaints from people in Australia and overseas. Mr Gray's alleged victims trusted his legal and financial advice, handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars in what they thought was a sound property investment scheme. Police have alleged that between May 2007 and November 2016, Mr Gray acting as a solicitor and financial planner ran a bogus property investment scheme based on short-term bridging loans under a number of companies supposedly based in New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. Mr Gray, whose company name was Synergy Gray Professional Services, allegedly promised investors that developers would pay high interest for funds borrowed over a short period until the banks funded the developers' projects. Police said the scheme did not exist. Mr Gray's co-accused, a 72-year-old woman, was arrested at a home on Dornoch Terrace in Highgate Hill on January 31. She appeared in court on February 25, charged with nine counts of fraud. To date, 21 alleged victims from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the United Kingdom, the USA and Europe have come forward with losses totalling $11,960,000. It is alleged one couple lost $2,814,416 and another woman lost $2,025,000. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Paskin said police had received a further six complaints in relation to the scheme and believed more alleged victims may still come forward. Asked about the relationship between Mr Gray and his co-accused, Detective Senior Sergeant Paskin said they were business partners. He said the alleged victims, who were either known to the pair or referred by others, had invested their personal savings. "People have potentially lost their entire superannuation savings as a result of this investment scheme," he said. It has been alleged Mr Gray had a background in law and finance but did not hold qualifications at the time. "We'll allege that the offenders were not qualified to act as solicitors or financial planners and this highlights the importance of questioning broadly each element of a proposed investment," Detective Senior Sergeant Paskin said. Detective Senior Sergeant Paskin alleged the 54-year-old left Australia in February 2017 to flee creditors. The case will return to court on April 1. Topics:courts-and-trials,law-crime-and-justice,fraud-and-corporate-crime,consumer-protection,business-economics-and-finance,brisbane-4000,qld,paradise-point-4216,australia,new-zealand First posted March 02, 2019 12:39:53 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-02/man-charged-over-alleged-bogus-property-investment-scheme/10864462?source=rss If you've been pushing a trolley around the supermarket fruit and veg section lately, one thing has probably jumped out at you high prices.
vegetable prices rise Key points:Vegetable supply hit by floods and droughtOther regions will pick up shortfallsShort-term prices increases likely After floods in Queensland and continuing drought in other parts of the country, the supply of vegetables has been hit particularly hard, with staples like broccoli now selling for $8.90 a kilogram. Vegetables such as womboks have risen to $7.90 per head, cabbages are $4.90 a head, and other crops like green beans are limited in availability altogether. Extreme weather driving high prices Shaun Lindhe from the peak vegetable industry group AUSVEG said that widespread flooding in Queensland and heat in other areas were the main reasons prices had risen. "Our industry is naturally a supply and demand driven industry," he said. "What we saw over summer was some very hot weather, which affected southern Victoria's key growing regions, and flooding in Queensland as well." Mr Lindhe is calling on consumers to continue to support Australian vegetable producers. "Most vegetables are grown in different regions around the country. He said if there were supply issues in one area, it would take some time for another region to pick up the slack. "In the meantime, there will be a short-term price increase. "It can be hard to predict when prices will fall, I don't want to put a time on it, but I would be very surprised that if in the next few weeks supply issues weren't returning to what we'd normally expect at this time of year, and then prices should reflect that supply." Many supermarkets now put up signs explaining the reasons behind a jump in price or a lack of availability. It's a move that has been welcomed by AUSVEG. "There is a growing disconnected between the consumer and the farmer, and any way the retailer can give a consumer a bit more information about what goes into their fruit and veg helps bridge that gap." If it's not flooding, it's drought Meanwhile in Victoria, for the first time in over a decade the Lindenow farming area, which relies on irrigation from the Mitchell River, has had a total ban on water-use put in place. ![]() Andrew Bulmer stands in front of crops (Isabella Pittaway) ![]() Andrew Bulmer stands in front of crops Isabella Pittaway Lindenow farmers are waiting for a text from Southern Rural Water each day to see how much water they are allowed to use. They are on heavy water restrictions. Rural Newsletter Rural news in your inbox? Subscribe for the national headlines of the day. Andrew Bulmer is one of the country's largest lettuce growers, and supplies McDonald's with a fifth of the lettuce used in its meals nationally. Mr Bulmer said a lack of water due to drought had puts his entire business under pressure. "We've had to reduce production in some areas, and we've got people working on keeping our bores working overnight. "We've got a couple of hundred people employed with the business and we'd like to maintain employment , but a lack of water means a lack of production and we have to look at how we run our business through times like this. He said February had been a financial disaster for the business. "We had a freak hail storm come through, and that coupled with the drought, has probably knocked $750,000 off the bottom line." Mr Bulmer said he wanted to see on farm water storages co-funded by the Victorian government. "If we could get some matched funding in that space, then we can take some confidence into next season that we could get the water storages in place on farms and help offset further droughts in the future." Heat impacts vegetables in South Australia In South Australia hot weather has also impacted supply of vegetables At the SA Produce Market vegetable lines that are normally well supplied at this time of year such as broccoli, celery and cauliflower are also seeing high prices. SA Produce Market marketing manager Nadia Boscaini said as a result the wholesale prices had increased two and threefold. "We saw broccoli at about $55 a box. It's normally about $45 wholesale. "We saw cauliflower at $5, it's now come down to $2.50 a piece. Celery remains high and beans are about $100 a box so that's $10 a kilo for customers," Ms Boscaini said. "He said lemon prices had been in with short supply and prices went to about $130 a box, now had recovered to about $80 a box. "But keep in mind this time of year we're in between seasons. We're sourcing citrus from both Queensland and Renmark and the Riverland so that means our SA produce increases," she said. Struggling in the heat Northern Adelaide Plains grower Anthony De Ieso said his crops were produced in open fields and were struggling in the heat. He said there was a slight dip in quality and it was not so much from the farm point of view. "Our stuff still looks good on the farm but once it's picked there is only a certain window that we have to bring it to the packing shed to get it washed, to get some water on it, to rehydrate it and get it into the cool room. "So as far as quality goes you might see a slight dip in shelf life and also some of the leaves might look a little sad, but the quality is still there. "It's just a matter of getting it into a cold environment as soon as possible," Mr De Ieso said. While consumers have queried the prices at the market Mr De Ieso said consumers were generally understanding on the weather situation. "I think the consumers are pretty fantastic. We've got a Facebook page and I get a lot of support messages from consumers saying 'hey I wish I could take that whole pallet of rejections off you, I absolutely love silverbeet.' They're [the consumers] are experiencing the heat as well so they're pretty understanding," Mr DeIeso said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-02-26/vegetable-prices-on-the-rise-after-floods-and-drought/10849234?source=rss If you've been pushing a trolley around the supermarket fruit and veg section lately, one thing has probably jumped out at you high prices.
vegetable prices rise Key points:Vegetable supply hit by floods and droughtOther regions will pick up shortfallsShort-term prices increases likely After floods in Queensland and continuing drought in other parts of the country, the supply of vegetables has been hit particularly hard, with staples like broccoli now selling for $8.90 a kilogram. Vegetables such as womboks have risen to $7.90 per head, cabbages are $4.90 a head, and other crops like green beans are limited in availability altogether. Extreme weather driving high prices Shaun Lindhe from the peak vegetable industry group AUSVEG said that widespread flooding in Queensland and heat in other areas were the main reasons prices had risen. "Our industry is naturally a supply and demand driven industry," he said. "What we saw over summer was some very hot weather, which affected southern Victoria's key growing regions, and flooding in Queensland as well." Mr Lindhe is calling on consumers to continue to support Australian vegetable producers. "Most vegetables are grown in different regions around the country. He said if there were supply issues in one area, it would take some time for another region to pick up the slack. "In the meantime, there will be a short-term price increase. "It can be hard to predict when prices will fall, I don't want to put a time on it, but I would be very surprised that if in the next few weeks supply issues weren't returning to what we'd normally expect at this time of year, and then prices should reflect that supply." Many supermarkets now put up signs explaining the reasons behind a jump in price or a lack of availability. It's a move that has been welcomed by AUSVEG. "There is a growing disconnected between the consumer and the farmer, and any way the retailer can give a consumer a bit more information about what goes into their fruit and veg helps bridge that gap." If it's not flooding, it's drought Meanwhile in Victoria, for the first time in over a decade the Lindenow farming area, which relies on irrigation from the Mitchell River, has had a total ban on water-use put in place. ![]() Andrew Bulmer stands in front of crops (Isabella Pittaway) ![]() Andrew Bulmer stands in front of crops Isabella Pittaway Lindenow farmers are waiting for a text from Southern Rural Water each day to see how much water they are allowed to use. They are on heavy water restrictions. Rural Newsletter Rural news in your inbox? Subscribe for the national headlines of the day. Andrew Bulmer is one of the country's largest lettuce growers, and supplies McDonald's with a fifth of the lettuce used in its meals nationally. Mr Bulmer said a lack of water due to drought had puts his entire business under pressure. "We've had to reduce production in some areas, and we've got people working on keeping our bores working overnight. "We've got a couple of hundred people employed with the business and we'd like to maintain employment , but a lack of water means a lack of production and we have to look at how we run our business through times like this. He said February had been a financial disaster for the business. "We had a freak hail storm come through, and that coupled with the drought, has probably knocked $750,000 off the bottom line." Mr Bulmer said he wanted to see on farm water storages co-funded by the Victorian government. "If we could get some matched funding in that space, then we can take some confidence into next season that we could get the water storages in place on farms and help offset further droughts in the future." Heat impacts vegetables in South Australia In South Australia hot weather has also impacted supply of vegetables At the SA Produce Market vegetable lines that are normally well supplied at this time of year such as broccoli, celery and cauliflower are also seeing high prices. SA Produce Market marketing manager Nadia Boscaini said as a result the wholesale prices had increased two and threefold. "We saw broccoli at about $55 a box. It's normally about $45 wholesale. "We saw cauliflower at $5, it's now come down to $2.50 a piece. Celery remains high and beans are about $100 a box so that's $10 a kilo for customers," Ms Boscaini said. "He said lemon prices had been in with short supply and prices went to about $130 a box, now had recovered to about $80 a box. "But keep in mind this time of year we're in between seasons. We're sourcing citrus from both Queensland and Renmark and the Riverland so that means our SA produce increases," she said. Struggling in the heat Northern Adelaide Plains grower Anthony De Ieso said his crops were produced in open fields and were struggling in the heat. He said there was a slight dip in quality and it was not so much from the farm point of view. "Our stuff still looks good on the farm but once it's picked there is only a certain window that we have to bring it to the packing shed to get it washed, to get some water on it, to rehydrate it and get it into the cool room. "So as far as quality goes you might see a slight dip in shelf life and also some of the leaves might look a little sad, but the quality is still there. "It's just a matter of getting it into a cold environment as soon as possible," Mr De Ieso said. While consumers have queried the prices at the market Mr De Ieso said consumers were generally understanding on the weather situation. "I think the consumers are pretty fantastic. We've got a Facebook page and I get a lot of support messages from consumers saying 'hey I wish I could take that whole pallet of rejections off you, I absolutely love silverbeet.' They're [the consumers] are experiencing the heat as well so they're pretty understanding," Mr DeIeso said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-02-26/vegetable-prices-on-the-rise-after-floods-and-drought/10849234?source=rss |
Archives
March 2023
Categories |