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Report on health of Gladstone harbour due

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 29 Juni 2013 | 15.03

THE health of Gladstone harbour and any impacts the port may be having on the Great Barrier Reef will be revealed in a report due out on Sunday.

The UN's environment arm was highly critical of Australia's management of the reef in a report last year and requested a review of the harbour.

Of particular concern is development on nearby Curtis Island, increased shipping, dredging and sea dumping activities.

Concerns have also been raised by commercial fishers about the health of fish within the port and the loss of seagrass.

Environmentalist Bob Irwin, father of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, has described the harbour as a war zone.

"What they've done to Gladstone Harbour and the southern end of Curtis Island is environmental vandalism without a doubt," he told AAP.

In February, Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke commissioned an independent review of the harbour.

The review panel is expected to report back to Mr Burke on Sunday.

The research will be used as part of the government's long-term strategic assessment of the reef, which UNESCO also requested Australia implement.

The Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) recently released research on the state of the harbour which showed the port was having little impact on its surrounds.

It showed an increase in commercial fishing catches, an increase in protected conservation areas, and consistent water quality over two decades.

GPC boss Leo Zussino told the Gladstone Observer the port was impacting the environment but the firm was mitigating that impact.

Earlier this month the World Heritage Committee told Australia it must present a plan on how it intends to protect the reef.

If improvements aren't made the reef could be listed as "in danger" when the committee meets in June next year.


15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Eight Thai soldiers killed in blast: army

A roadside bomb has killed 8 soldiers in Thailand's south, the army says. Source: AAP

EIGHT soldiers have been killed by an early morning roadside bomb in Thailand's restive south, an army spokesman says.

The attack raises questions over the durability of a fragile peace process aimed at ending the near-decade-long insurgency.

More than 5700 people have been killed in an insurgency in Thailand's Muslim-majority southern provinces, but optimism for peace has flickered recently after talks between authorities and some rebel groups including the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

The bomb, among the most deadly single attacks by rebels on Thai security forces in recent years, ripped through a military truck transporting the soldiers after a night on duty at a base in Krongpinang district of Yala province.

"It was a very powerful bomb that completely destroyed the truck," spokesman Colonel Pramote Promin said by phone.

"Ten soldiers were in the truck. Eight died and two were wounded," he said, adding that two villagers had also been injured in the blast.

"It's likely the biggest loss for our military so far this year."

Local media reports said the bomb weighed more than 50 kilograms, backing up the view of experts who say the rebels are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the bomb attacks.

Near-daily assaults on security forces and civilians have continued despite a successful round of talks on June 14 in which both sides agreed to work towards curbing violence over Ramadan.

But prospects for a significant reduction in violence appeared to receive a blow last week after the BRN called for the army to return to their bases over Ramadan in exchange for a ceasefire during the holy month, a condition swiftly rejected by the kingdom's government.


15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police hold concerns for missing Qld woman

POLICE hold concerns for a missing 24-year-old Queensland woman who hasn't made contact with her family for more than a week.

They want to speak to anyone who has been in contact with Monique Clubb as her family haven't heard from her since June 22.

Ms Clubb left Hervey Bay on June 20 and planned to travel to Brisbane.

Her family told police that it is out of character for her not to stay in contact with them.

She is described as Aboriginal, 170 centimetres tall with a slim build and brown hair.


15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Power bill heart attack' kills Sri Lankan

A SRI Lankan man suffered a fatal heart attack after being presented with a shocking electricity bill, a media report says.

The 61-year-old victim had protested at the Ceylon Electricity Board in Colombo on Friday that his bill had suddenly spiked, the Ceylon Today newspaper said.

It said the man was told that the bill was due to a hefty tariff increase from last month and suffered a heart attack on the news, collapsing at the electricity board headquarters.

The newspaper did not give the victim's bill amount, but said it was in line with the new 50 per cent tariff increase.

The man identified as S. P. Samaradasa collapsed on a chair, the newspaper said in a front page report headlined: "Electricity tariff claims first victim."

"The cause of death was identified as a heart attack," the paper added. He was dead on arrival at hospital.

Sri Lanka is one of the most expensive countries in Asia for electricity with a kilowatt hour costing up to 47 rupees ($A0.40).

About two thirds of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated using coal or oil, while the balance comes from hydropower stations which cannot be used during droughts.

The state electricity utility has said it would incur a loss of $US750 million in 2013, but the tariff hike from May will bring the projected loss down to $US225 million.


15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More
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