Regional Victoria will see an easing of restrictions tomorrow night as Melbourne faces a further seven day lockdown. Acting Premier James Merlino said in today’s press conference this includes the restriction of travel between Melbourne and regional Victoria. “You can only travel to Melbourne for a permitted reason and you must follow Melbourne restrictions once you are there,” he said. “Businesses that are open in regional Victoria but closed in Melbourne, so restaurants and beauty for example, must check the ID’s of everyone they serve.” The five reasons to leave home still apply to Melbourne city; including shopping, study and…
Author: Lucy Dinn
The Australian Greens have proposed a new law to make major polluters liable for damages caused by climate change. Greens leader Adam Bandt pushed the law on Monday in response to the latest federal budget, which the Greens claim includes billions of dollars for coal, oil and gas companies. “The government committed a further $600 million for a new gas generator and $2.3 billion in subsidies to oil, it is crazy,” Mr Bandt said. Illawarra Greens Councillor Cath Blakey said the federal government is giving subsidies and handouts to the fossil fuel industry rather than investing in renewables. “We know…
Theatre students at the University of Wollongong are preparing for their first in person performance since the pandemic. Written by English playwright Carol Churchill, the play ‘Love and Information’ will be performed by the students in front of a live audience at tomorrow’s opening night. The play is based around the discussion surrounding topics of love and information with various scenes ranging in length. “It’s such an awesome opportunity to be able to put on a play as part of our uni degree. I’m really excited, a little bit scared, but really excited,” Ms Begbie said. RadioU UOW · Production…
The Illawarra Hawks cheerleaders showcased their moves last week after almost a year off the court due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheerleader Ashleigh Ope said there was an exciting new season ahead, even if social distancing and health safety measures have made it look different to previous years “So, it is a little bit different but I think everyone’s adapted really well and we’re just happy to be back,” Ope said. The Hawks next home game is on Saturday, 24 April, when they take on the Sydney Kings. Cheerleading audio: (sourced) JLD Entertainment youtube RadioU UOW · Illawarra Hawks…
Australia just experienced its wettest and coldest summer in almost a decade, and the records have continued to break in March. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology showed a 29 per cent increase in Australia’s average rainfall over the summer. All Australian states had an increase in rainfall over the 2020-2021 summer period. Long-term average is relative to the 1961-1990 average. (Data source: Bureau of Meteorology). This heavy rain continued into March and Sydney experienced almost a year’s worth of rainfall in two weeks. The BOM data revealed lower-than-average summer temperatures were also experienced in most Australian states due…
A clinical trial to assess the effects of a plant-based diet on kidney disease could offer new hope to patients, according to University of Wollongong researchers. The Illawarra-Shoalhaven area has double the national average rate of kidney disease and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) scientists are investigating the impact of plant-based on gut microbiota to help manage the disease. “Microbiota produce chemicals that are either good or bad for us. In the case of kidney disease there is a higher portion of bugs that can cause toxic chemicals that attack the kidney and cause further progression,” PhD…
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were down in all major cities amid COVID-19 lockdowns, according to data from the World Air Quality Index project. At the start of March, all major cities had recorded lower levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). Levels of carbon monoxide (CO), which is a by-product of motor vehicle use, decreased nationally an average of 23 per cent between January and March. According to CSIRO principal research scientist Dr David Etheridge, CO is a strong indicator of fossil fuel use and its levels fluctuate in response to usage. “Carbon monoxide is a key indicator…
Thousands enjoyed the Autumn sun at this year’s Botanic Gardens Day in Wollongong. The open day, held last Sunday, drew attention to ecological conservation and diversity. “The focus of the day is to actually educate people on what the Botanic Gardens are about…on the importance of the conservation efforts that the Botanic Garden actually plays in the broader scheme,” ABC Illawarra Compost Heap radio talkback program host and ambassador for the Botanic Gardens Open Day Wollongong, John Gabriel said. Wollongong City Council Bush Care Support Officer Greg Fikkers said the Botanic Gardens’ efforts help restore the city’s natural ecological areas.…
Visitation has increased and tourists are spending more in Wollongong, according to the recent National Visitors Survey. The survey, for the year ending in December 2017, showed a five per cent increase on last year’s domestic overnight visitors on the South Coast. “This visitation has come from a range of areas including major events, cruise ships and conferences,” Destination Wollongong director and Wollongong City Councillor Tania Brown said. STR Global Data said hotel occupancies have also increased. “Our most recent data suggests that hotel occupancies in Wollongong have risen from an annual average of 68 per cent in 2014 to…