Nowra Bridge Update - Australian/NSW Government

 

 

Historic Nowra Bridge repurposing
Community update

 

 

Review of Environmental Factors published for the historic Nowra Bridge

An environmental assessment has been completed for the historic Nowra Bridge which will be repurposed as a pedestrian and cyclist pathway. 

The historic landmark will require essential maintenance and repair work prior to repurposing.  

The REF assessed the environmental impacts of the proposed repurposing and repair work. It assessed the impacts on the landscape, as well as water quality, noise and vibration, biodiversity, and socio-economic factors. 

Work to repurpose the bridge will involve prioritised repainting of the bridge, removal of the attached footpath, and improved lighting. It will also involve critical repairs to damaged and degraded steel elements and installing new features so the bridge meets current safety standards suitable for use by pedestrians and cyclists.  

During this time the bridge will remain closed to the public. 

A copy of the REF is available on the project web page, and at the link below.

View the Review of Environmental Factors for the Historic Nowra Bridge

 

Next steps 

Early work is expected to start later this year. The community will be updated prior to work starting and as the project progresses. 

 

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the project team:

nowrabridgeproject@transport.nsw.gov.au
nswroads.work/OldNowraBridge 
PO Box 477 Wollongong NSW 2520

If you need help understanding this information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 1800 555 638.

 

Hang Up On remote Access Scammers - Austraion Government National Anti-Scam Centre 'Scam Watch'

 

Hang up on remote access scammers Criminals who contact you unexpectedly offering to help 'fix problems' with your account, phone or computer are causing increasing financial loss through remote access scams. Professional-sounding scammers ask you to download well-known screen-sharing (or remote desktop application) software. They then use this software to steal from you. Australians reported losing $15.5 million to these scams in 2023, with criminals stealing averages in the tens of thousands of dollars. Australians over 65 years old are losing the most money in these scams. How to spot the scam You get an unexpected phone call from someone telling you there's a problem with your account, phone, or computer. They may pretend they're calling from a well-known bank, internet, phone, software or web security business and they can help you 'fix the problem'. They tell you to download software or an app which will let them remotely control your computer or mobile phone. How the scam works When you download the software or app they say they need to 'fix the problem', the scammer can now fully control your device. They don't fix any problem, because there's no problem to fix. They ask you to tell them your banking passwords or one-time security codes. Sharing these lets the scammer access your bank accounts, personal information and steal your money. You might not realise they have stolen your money and emptied your bank accounts until the next time you log in. Protect yourself STOP – Don’t rush to act. Hang up on anyone asking you to download software or an app over the phone. Never provide banking information, passwords, or 2-factor identification codes over the phone. THINK – Ask yourself if you really know who you are communicating with? Take the time to call the business you're dealing with using independently sourced contact details, or check you're talking to a real employee using their secure app. PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong. If you've shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. Help others by reporting to Scamwatch. If you've been affected If you have lost money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. If you've had personal information stolen or need support to recover from a scam, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch. Tell your friends and family: you can share your experience, get support and help to protect others from scams. Who is the National Anti-Scam Centre? The National Anti-Scam Centre is where government and industry work together to protect Australians. We’re harnessing shared resources and smarter analytics to cover blind spots, strengthen weak links and use data to react faster, stopping scams before they happen. Our aim is to make Australia a harder target for scammers. For more information about how to avoid or report a scam, visit the Scamwatch website. We send these alerts to tell you about new scams and how to avoid them. We don't use links in these emails. Not clicking on links in emails and messages is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from scams.

Which Voice Does Australia Need?

The Albanese Australian government is calling for an Indigenous 'One Voice' as a direct response to 'Uluru Statement from the heart' of 2017 at the National Constitutional Convention. 

Although I understand that our Australian Indigenous Australians would prefer to call themselves Australian Aboriginals.

I am split on the notion we need one voice for a few reasons, as I'll explain.

White history says Captain James Cook discovered Australia firstly at Inscription Point, Botany Bay on the 20th April 1770

The Uluru Dialogue represents the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and leads community education on the Uluru Statement’s reforms of Voice, Treaty, and Truth. The Uluru Dialogue is based at the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Sydney.

Right, so thinking about this take me back to way before I was born and way before the nation was discovered by Captain James Cook. Why?  Simply we need to look at how Australia became Australia through early history.

I know it is a theory, but looking at the 'Continental Drift' by Geologists or 'Plate Tectonics' by scientists seems to make all nations connected at some earlier point in time and split into different continents, as we know them. Click here for details from Nation Geographic

So, does that make us all interrelated somehow? If you agree we are interrelated, my thing here is we are originally from one landmass. Which there means that white colonial people didn't discover 'Australia'. It would have been just stepping foot on land that was previously all connected into one land mass, that over time separated.

This brings the question then of whether we still have the 195 countries that the United Nations recognises (not including Taiwan, Cook Islands, and Niue) Check here for details Or remain as one previously connected nation.

If you check the outline of the southern Australian coast indicates that we were once connected to Antarctica. Following that the western coast of Australia was connected to the Indian Continent. Lastly, New Zealand was connected to the east coast of Australia. A lot of Australians and New Zealanders may be happy with that prediction of previously being connected as one greater landmass as some people would like New Zealand to be Australia's eighth State or Territory.

Anyway, going back to the one voice that the new Australian Government is seeking, is it really required. The one voice required is from our Indigenous people, (I believe they would prefer to be called 'Aboriginals') how much of a say will that voice as a power be included in our Parliamentary Government? 

Currently, in our Australian Parliament which includes the Upper and Lower Houses, we have 10 Members of Parliament that identify themselves as Indigenous or have Indigenous heritage. Click here for details

Here they are:

• Pat Dodson (Labour) Senator - Western Australia
• Linda Burney (Labour) House - Barton
• Mallamdirri McCarthy (Labour) Senator - Northern Territory
• Lidia Thorpe (Independent) Senator - Victoria
• Dorinda Cox (Greens) Senator - Western Australia
• Jana Stewart (Labour) Senator - Victoria
• Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (National) Senate- Northern Territory
• Gordon Reid (Labour) House - Robertson
• Kerrynne Liddle (Liberal) Senate - South Australia 
• Jacqui Lambie (JLN) Senate - Tasmania

Based on The Australian Bureau of statistics of 2021, Our Indigenous population was 881,600 Click here for details

Compare it to Australia's total population of 25,690,000,  our Indigenous population represents approximately just over 3.35% of our current population (2021) Click here for details

Here we have a  combined total from our Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament 227 members. So with 10 members indicating their Indigenous history the representation in The Australian Parliament is over 4.5%. I've always said since Sir Neville Bonner was elected to the Australian Parliament.

My point is, how many Aboriginal voices do we need?  Although, I am for aboriginal people to be represented in our Australian Parliament. To me they are. And in time, there could be more Aboriginals elected into Parliament in the future as more of them see, this is where their voices are counted and can remain prominent. What do you think?

On the funny side, I always thought 'The Voice' was Johnny Farnham always singing 'You're the voice', released as a single (B side was Going, Going, Gone), and his 'Whispering Jack' album in 1986

Click here to listen to the song

Credits:

• Ulurustatement.org website
  
• Wikpedia
• Google
• Youtube

Weekend work continues at Bolong Road and Princes Highway intersection - Australian & NSW Government Joint Project

Click here for updated details 

Senator Linda Thorpe conduct in Australia's Parliament

While we see the new Upper House and Lower Houses of Australia's Parliament open up and see all Senators take the Australian Oath., this Senator didn't seem like she liked the New Australian Government taking over Parliament. 

No matter what happens in life, we must all act with dignity and respect as we represent our constituents. Taking the Oath should be an honour not dishonour. Even if we have opposing thoughts on taking on the oath, my thoughts to Greens Senator Linda Thorpe, 'Is  to keep your comments away from the Oath.' If the oath needs to be changed, then discuss, and debate it after you have taken the oath through motions referred to Parliament! Good on ya 'Thorpo' for getting on the media news with your behaviour. Is that what you wanted? I hope all Greens Members of both houses don't react this way.

Is this the kind of attitude Albo will allow in our Australian Parliament?

Click here for video 

Click here for previous Posts on Australian Politics

Be Alert For Another Scam Representing Australian Government - Ron - Whyilovemountdruitt Face Book Page

There are so many deceitful people around the world that will do anything to try to get your money. When I first read the below document, I first thought at first it was an official document from the Australian Government -  But what got me was the heading on top ' Subject: Approval Notification' and the bottom asking for all personal details. 

That is not the norm  for the Australian Government asks you! A Completely Total Scam - Spread the word and ask for the same details from the sender - NO, I would not give them the benefit of doubt of doing that as well. A non -responsive answer is the best resolution

Click here for previous post

Coronavirus COVID -19 Statistical Question?

I have a simple question , which needs to be asked regarding the Statistics of Coronavirus COVID figures around the world. It is a simple question, 'Once the people that have tested positive complete isolation for 14 days and then afterwards come back with a negative test, which these figures drop from these Government figures?'

 If any government official can answer this, we would appreciate it.



Click here for COVID-19 cases in Australia by state and source of transmission on the Australian https://www.health.gov.au


"Editor's Notes: We encourage from you (our readers), any comments as feed back to improve  this blogspot or providing important  likes and or recommendations. We also encourage sharing this post to your friends and/or families, spreading this 'post' further into our wonderful world"

Australian Government - Department of Health on Coronavirus

Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)


What you need to know

People who have returned from a country or region that is at high or moderate risk for COVID-19 should monitor their health closely. 

If you develop symptoms including a fever and cough you
should isolate yourself immediately and urgently seek medical attention. Go to www.health.gov.au/covid19-travellers for the list of at-risk countries.

People who think they may have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus should also monitor their health and seek urgent medical attention.

While coronavirus is of concern, it is important to remember that most people displaying symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or tiredness are likely suffering with a cold or other respiratory illness – not coronavirus.

What is a coronavirus and COVID-19?

Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This new coronavirus originated in Hubei Province, China and the disease outbreak is named COVID-19.

How is this coronavirus spread?

The coronavirus is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:
• direct close contact with a person while they are infectious
• close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or
• touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.
Most infections are only transmitted by people when they have symptoms. These can include fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath.

How can we help prevent the spread of coronavirus?

Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. You should:
• wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser
• and if unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 metres from people).

Who needs to isolate?

Specific requirements are in place for people who have returned from a country or region that is at high or moderate risk for COVID-19, or think may they have been in close contact with a
confirmed case of coronavirus. Go to www.health.gov.au/covid19-travellers for the list of at- risk countries and isolation requirements.

What does isolate in your home mean?

People who must isolate need to stay at home and must not attend public places, in particular work, school, childcare or university. 

Only people who usually live in the household should be in
the home.

Do not allow visitors into the home. Where possible, get others such as friends or family who are not required to be isolated to get food or other necessities for you. If you must leave the home,
such as to seek medical care, wear a mask if you have one. For more information visit www.health.gov.au/covid19-resources

What do I do if I develop symptoms?

If you develop symptoms (fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath) within 14 days of leaving country or region that is at higher risk for COVID-19, or within 14 days of last
contact of a confirmed case, you should arrange to see your doctor for urgent assessment. Go to www.health.gov.au/covid19-travellers for the current list of high or moderate risk countries.

You should telephone the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and tell them your travel history or that you may have been in contact with a potential case of coronavirus. You must
remain isolated either in your home or a healthcare setting until public health authorities inform you it is safe for you to return to your usual activities.

Who is most at risk of a serious illness?

Some people who are infected may not get sick at all, some will get mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly. From previous experience
with other coronaviruses, the people at most risk of serious infection are:
• people with compromised immune systems (e.g. cancer)
• elderly people
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions
• very young children and babies*
• people in group residential settings
• people in detention facilities.
*At this stage the risk to children and babies, and the role children play in the transmission of COVID-19, is not clear. However, there has so far been a low rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases
among children, relative to the broader population.

How is the virus treated?

There is no specific treatment for coronaviruses. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.

Most of the symptoms can be treated with supportive medical care.

Should I wear a face mask?

You do not need to wear a mask if you are healthy. While the use of masks can help to prevent transmission of disease from infected patients to others, masks are not currently recommended
for use by healthy members of the public for the prevention of infections like coronavirus.

More information
For the latest advice, information and resources, go to www.health.gov.au Call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.

The phone number of your state or territory public health agency is available at www.health.gov.au/state-territory-contacts
If you have concerns about your health, speak to your doctor.

Click here for previous post

Editor: "We encourage any readers to provide comment on any posts"

Have We got Shortage of GP's to Handle Coronavirus COVID-19 and Should these Politicians be Tested After Meeting With Doctors?

This post was provided by Maria Vorbach about Federal MP's:
Hon. Anthony Albanese, Hon. Chris Bowen, Hon. Richard Marles and Hon. Ed Husic MP's all meeting at Kildare Road Medical Centre in regards to possible shortage of Medical GP's.


Ed Husic MP is at Kildare Road Medical Centre.

March 11 at 1:19 PM · Sydney

Now more than ever, access to quality health care matters - and I’ve been really concerned when local medical centres have told me they don’t have enough doctors to meet community need.

And medical centres such as KRMC have taken their own steps to boost coronavirus testing to give vital help and peace of mind to people in our area.

We need to tackle doctor shortages in some of the fastest growing areas of Sydney.

That’s why I was grateful that Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen MP were able to visit and hear first hand about what can be done to provide greater access to quality healthcare.

Thanks also to Richard Marles MP and the enormously respected Dr Mike Freelander MP for their attendance today.

'myblogaboutanythingeverything' editor's notes: Not much social distancing with these politicians - should they be Coronavirus COVID-19 tested nowbased on social distancing? Especially as 2 Federal Members of Australian Parliament have been Coronavirus COVID-19 tested positive.

On the issue of General Practioners shortage, are our medical professional adequately trained  to handle this coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic and do we have enough GP's to  handle this situation. One thing we can't do is blame any tiers of Australia's Government's for not preparing for this Pandemic. It is a recently new virus that all medical authorities are trying to understand, including the World Health Organisation.

Click here for previous post

Editor: "We encourage any readers to provide comment on any posts"

Community Information On Coronavirus COVID-19......

I have researched  some community details on the Coronavirus COVID-19, as the pandemic has reached 5,720 deaths  and 152,428 confirmed cases, with 141 cases affected.  Click here for details from World Health Organization


There is a tipping point before it kills Click here for details

All details regarding the Corona virus Covid-19 from the World Health Organization


Within Australia, 

Website: 
Click here for Australian Government Health Department

Coronavirus Health Information line:
:1800 020 080

Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Healthdirect Hotline:

1800 022 222

website: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

Call this number to speak to a registered nurse about your health concerns. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here for previous post

Australian Government Announces Mortgage Guarantee Schemes For First Home Buyers - ABC

          Click here for details

The Fires That Burn In Australia.....

Australia in general, has been in  the midst of catastrophe emergency 'Red Alert' Fires. Lives have been lost fighting the fires or just defending their own homes in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

Although it is a "National Disaster' the responsibility of fire control rests with the State Premiers and Territory Ministers.

While we love our Australian bush, we have to remember that we are a 'sunburn country of droughts and flooding rains'. I've taken this quote as part of 'My Country from Dorothea Mackellar' 'My Country Click here for audio of 'My Country by Dorothera Mackellar

It was written in 1904 and provides true visions, to me of what our country is and was. So by stating this, anyone that doesn't like our country the way it is  as a changing climate from year to year, doesn't need to live here. We need people that appreciate the country we live in. As a country we could accept double the population we have, if we wanted too and yet we are not doing that.

Back to the issue. I have lived in the luxury in City of Sydney  and Western Sydney for  more that 57 years and taking a sea change, which included a country/regional change, I knew what I was in for. Twice in history Sydney experienced  bad fires surrounding the city. What would happen if fires did engulf the entire City how would people, & governments react? I obviously do not wish for this to happen, just opening up conversation.

The Local Shoalhaven Rural Fire Services (RFS) have been using social media in conjunction with Shoalhaven City Council' website and their social Media,  inform of community meetings and afterwards, placing podcasts on Face Book Pages immediately. We are well equip with information about areas affected and could be affected as well as knowing what your fire plan is. That is what is every single individual's fire plan is. 

Click here for details on what is NSW Bush Fire Plan is?

I have been told  recently by a local Rural Fire Services Official that basically it is a 3 part plan:

• Keep your house safe and follow the Fire Plan
• Decide when the right time to leave is and where is are you evacuating too
• If you decide to stay keep informed with social media and  news reports

So  we decided to stay. Was it a risk? Yes, but to us it was a minimal risk. We were safe and we were prepared. Others left, because the RFS  & the NSW Government first requested the tourists from within the area to leave. This will leave a dent in local businesses pockets initially. But it drained the people that came down for a holiday, leaving it easier for Emergency Services to deal with the situation if it headed to affected areas. Did it do what it was suppose to do? Yes.  A win for the NSW Government and Emergency Services and communities.

Now we come to the issue of the Prime Minister to  reduce his holiday, The Prime Minister should not be condemned for taking leave as fires had been going for months. He was due for leave and organised it months before.Putting aside politics he did not have to apologise and a lot opf people I have spoken to agree he has the right to have a holiday. Thee was an Acting Prime Minister in place and I sure the Acting PM would have called the shots as the Prime Minister would have done, in his absence. Here the critics need to be ridiculed. Whether the Prime Minister would have been Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull - the same thoughts are with myself on this.

So, what happens here is 'The Wolf starts crying'. There will be a parliamentary inquiry as to why we haven't got enough volunteers to fight these fires. Out of the politics one side will say ' funds were cut' - the other side will say, ' we have  placed further funds for the provision of strengthening further  potential fires'. And it will go on.

 On the real front, we require proper '  Controlled fire prevention methods in the winter time' to regenerate our bush. Our local Aboriginals would agree that fire regenerate the bush and it is a natural thing. By doing this will reduce the amount of  fuel that fires will go through during the summer. I understand there are party's that  do not want this method to be sued as it will affect animals and  the way our bush appears. Something has to be done.

All in all our volunteer Rural Fire Services need to be with the community's applause for taking on fires in risk of their lives, They are the one's on the fore front that see house saved or lost. Fighting fires is not easy. I take off my cap to these honorable people.

 We also take moments of silence for the ones that lost their lives  as volunteers or fighting for their properties. May you all R.I.P