Rural Queensland welcomes downpour
On Saturday morning, parts of southern Queensland have had a month's worth of rain in a day.
Roma recorded 96mm of rainfall, which according to Meteorologist Rosa Hoff, is significant as Roma usually receives 90.7mm of rain in the entire month of February.
In the drought-declared region, the rain is welcome, as Roma are not expected to receive another downpour this week.
15TH FEB 10AM ZEDLINES
Your 10am Zedlines with Justin, Kat and Bronte.
[Image: Wikimedia Commons/John Robert McPherson]
Increase in Illegal dumping since kerbside collection cancellation
The Brisbane City Council opposition says almost 1,300 cases of illegally dumped rubbish and household goods show the mess left since the Brisbane City Council cancelled kerbside collections almost a year ago.
The chair of Council’s city standards, Kim Marx, said they have implemented a range of high-tech cameras that are installed in dumping hotspots and are rotated to different locations.
Ms Marx also said kerbside collection would return when it is economically viable, meanwhile $800,000 is spent on removing illegal dumping every financial year.
Funding announced for Townsville Cycling Club
$1.86 million in funding has been granted to Townsville Cycling Club in order for them to rebuild their velodrome, the Queensland government announced today.
The velodrome suffered flood damage during the North Queensland Monsoonal Trough in 2019. According to Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, the repairs will have a positive impact on the community.
The work has been jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements through the Community and Recreational Assets program.
Tamil refugee transported to Sydney for treatment
(Content Warning: Violence)
A 36 year-old Tamil refugee was transported by air ambulance from Nauru to Sydney on Friday after a targeted attack.
The Tamil refugee is the victim of a deliberate hit and run on Nauru on 9 February, which has reportedly resulted in fractures to his back, shoulder, leg, hand and hip.
The Australian government continues to hold roughly one hundred and twenty seven refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, at a reported cost of $10,000 a day.
Motorcycle club shift focus in support of Vladimir Putin
For the past six years, a motorcycle club known as the Night Wolves, have been establishing a presence in Australia in support of Vladimir Putin.
Founded in 2015, the club says it now has 40 to 50 members around New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.
Being described as a ‘proxy’ for the Kremlin, the Russian arm of the club is willing to conduct or support military operations at arms-length from the Russian government.
Overdose deaths pass COVID deaths in British Columbia
Drug overdose deaths outpaced deaths from COVID-19 in Canada’s British Columbia in 2020 with a 74 percent increase from 2019.
Province's Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe suggested urgent changes on decades of criminalization, the increasingly toxic illicit drug market, and insufficient evidence-based treatment with recovery services.
15th Feb 9am Zedlines
Your 9am Zedlines with Justin, Kat and Bronte
[Image: Cox Architecture]
74 day fund raising walk for charity
A Melbourne man has completed a 74-day walk from Melbourne to Brisbane to raise funds for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.
27 year-old Domenic Moore travelled the equivalent of 56 marathons, walking until midnight on most nights.
He arrived in South Bank on 11 February and has raised over $3,000 for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.
More electric vehicle chargers introduced in Queensland
The Queensland government has added 13 new electric vehicle charging stations, to what they are now referring to as Australia’s longest electric vehicle superhighway.
Today there are 31 vehicle chargers west to Toowoomba and 22,000 chargers from Coolangatta to Port Douglas.
Australia now has 2,307 chargers, 357 of those being fast public charging stations, which charge cars in twenty minutes.