American-style burger slingers Varsity is adding another ingredient to its tasty empire as it announces the takeover of the Northshore Tavern kitchen.
The Whitfords venue, already a go-to for sports and live music lovers, will be dishing out the larger than life burgers, wings and loaded fries to devour from August 22.
“Punters can expect all their Varsity favorites slinging from the kitchen and our super popular weekly specials,” says Varsity group director Ben Maher.
“The Northshore Tavern Kitchen Take Over allows the group a space to have a play around with some ideas and concepts, while at the same time working towards a longer-term plan for the venue.”
In addition to the menu update expect a Monday quiz night and an array of bargains across the week, while the rest of the venue will run as is for the time being.
“The Northshore opportunity arose quickly, and therefore the focus will be on completing the developments in Morley, Innaloo and Midland prior to offering the full Varsity experience in Whitfords,” Maher says.
This takeover marks the seventh Varsity branded business.
Most recently, it announced a Texan-inspired extension with a backyard kitchen specializing in Southern cooking at the Morley location.
More than 100 new species have been discovered and named in Australia within the past year, including 11 jumping spider and a “special” ant, the CSIRO says.
The national science agency said the nation has 117 new insectthree plants, four marine fish, one frog, and 14 other invertebrates.
The discoveries have been branded a “win for biodiversity”, with researchers particularly excited about one ant.
The newly named ant Anonychomyrma inclinata is the obligate attendant for the rare and beautiful bulloak jewel butterfly Hypochrysops piceatus. (jon)
CSIRO entomologist Dr David Yeates said the known but newly named ant, Anonychomyrma inclinatawas special, as it supports the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus.
“The ecological requirements for this beautiful butterfly are very narrow, which is probably why it is so rare,” Yeates said.
“The ant species we’ve now named needs to be nesting in a mature bulloak, Allocasuarina luehmannii.
“The butterfly caterpillars live under the bark and are carried to soft bulloak leaves to feed at night by ‘babysitter’ ants.
“The ants protect the caterpillars from predation and receive a sugary gift from the caterpillars, a win-win for both species.”
A newly named species of ant helps support the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus. (Michael Brabby)
CSIRO scientist John Pogonoski said the new, “elusive” silverspot weedfish, Heteroclinus argyrospiloswas described from only two known specimens.
Both of these were collected from south-western Australia by researchers on the former CSIRO Research Vessel Southern Surveyor in 2000 and 2005.
“We named three new species of small, brightly-colored anthias by comparing specimens of related species held in fish collections,” Pogonoski said.
“New species of anthias are still being recognized because they are rarely encountered due to being outside of normal diving depths, small in size, or living in habitats difficult to sample.”
The silverspot weedfish is known from south-western Australia (SA and WA) collections in 55-100m depth. Only two specimens of this elusive species are currently known. (CSIRO)
Scientists found four members of the new species in southern Western Australia, 60 meters underground last year.
And 34 new beetles, including two weevils in the new genus undarobiuswere found in lava caves at Volcanic National Park in north-eastern Queensland.
The leggiest animal on the planet was discovered in Western Australia. (Scientific Reports)Lava caves within Queensland’s Undara Volcanic National Park were a treasure trove for new insect species. (Supplied)
Yeates added the newly named species to highlight the importance of scientific collaboration.
“Working together with our research community to name species is incredibly important – it is the first step in Australia understanding and managing its biodiversity,” Yeates said.
“As a country, we are still in the very exciting phase of species discovery.”
CSIRO said only about 25 per cent of Australia’s species are known to science.
‘Lost’ species rediscovered after more than 100 years
A review into transitional accommodation for people with disabilities who have been discharged from hospital has found some people are getting stuck at facilities almost permanently, amid reports from patients that they are receiving substandard care.
Key points:
A state government review reveals people with disabilities get stuck in transitional accommodation after hospital discharge
Last week, the ABC revealed complaints from patients at the Repat center
Human Services Minister Nat Cook, who commissioned the review, says the government needs to do better
The State Government ordered a review of the Transition to Home facilities after multiple complaints, including the case of a man known as “Mr D” who was found by ambulance staff in squalid conditions with an infected wound.
Mr D was at a Hampstead facility that has since closed, but the remaining Transition to Home programs at The Repat and St Margaret’s Rehabilitation Hospital have also come under fire for a lack of care, with allegations clients have been left to soil themselves in their wheelchairs .
Last week, the ABC revealed multiple complaints from patients at the Repat Health Precinct, including allegations that patients were being left in their own faeces and had been given the incorrect doses of medication.
Originally designed to help NDIS clients stuck in hospital waiting for support to return home or to permanent accommodation, the independent report has found clients were being referred to the service without a discharge pathway, “resulting in clients being admitted whose length of stay in T2H will most likely to be static, long stay or permanent.”
A man known as Mr D was found by ambulance staff in squalid conditions with an infected wound.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
It found while the expected length of stay in a T2H facility was 90 days, the average length of stay was 207 days. As of June this year the longest stay was 536 days.
Staff and clients told the reviewers that in some cases clients were waiting on simple home modifications, but NDIS requirements to get three quotes, combined with the post COVID-19 market was leading to delays.
Major facility misunderstanding
The report found the centers were designed to operate as step-down facilities, but there were frequent misunderstandings with clients who expect ongoing hospital-level care, a situation exacerbated by their location in a hospital setting.
While both facilities were supposed to be a home-like environment, the report found they had significant limitations including shared rooms with just curtains to separate clients, a lack of storage, limited access to outdoor areas and a lack of amenities like kitchen and laundry facilities. .
The “Robust Unit” at The Repat was singled out for particular criticism.(ABC News: Isabel Dayman)
The so-called “Robust Unit” at The Repat was singled out.
“The new Robust Units … are stark and confronting, and the current bright white color and fit out are unlikely to contribute to calming a person with challenging behaviour,” the report found.
It found St Margaret’s “arrangements are of a much higher standard, although a number of shared rooms impact client privacy and dignity”.
The facilities have already been subject to multiple investigations, including internal audits and an inquiry by the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner.
But the latest report said, “it became evident during the review that corrective actions by management in response to key reports and investigations lack appropriate timeliness and effective resolution of the gaps and risks that were identified.”
That includes a recommendation for a new role of Health Monitor, which still has not been filled because, “the position was advertised and candidates shortlisted, but they then withdrew.”
Instead, the Director of Nursing is overseeing the role, making weekly visits to the facilities.
Previous reports also recommended clients whose hygiene needs could not be met in the T2H centers should be transferred to a more appropriate facility, but the latest review found no evidence that was happening.
It found that intake assessments were often incomplete and inconsistent, risk assessments of clients were incomplete and in some cases clients who do not meet the eligibility criteria were still being admitted.
SA Minister for Human Services Nat Cook says she had long concerns about this issue.(ABCNews)
The state government it said was introducing new intake and referral forms, carrying out both scheduled and ‘spot check’ audits and introducing clearer terms of engagement with NDIS workers who support residents in the facilities.
Human Services Minister Nat Cook said she’s long had concerns about the T2H facilities.
“Complaints brought to my attention before and after coming to government showed we need to do better,” she said.
“I’m confident that the actions we’re taking to address the review’s findings will better support staff to provide a consistent quality service.”
Ms Cook said she was working towards a future where NDIS clients could leave hospital directly into their own homes.
Perth has shivered through one of its coldest days of the year, thanks to an icy cold front spreading over south west Western Australia
The air driving the cold front is said to be “unusually cold”, with temperatures forecast to drop 4 and 8C below average today.
The mercury at Perth’s main weather station reached just 9C at midday on Tuesday.
A large pool of icy air from the Southern Ocean is spreading over southwestern Australia today. (BoM)
“This is equal to the city’s average overnight minimum temperature at this time of year and a whopping 9C below its average August maximum temperature,” Weatherzone said.
“If Perth fails to reach 14.2C before 9am on Wednesday, this will have been the city’s coldest day so far this year.”
Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the system will cause a spate of wild weather.
‘River City’ wakes to white-out as fog swallows city
“Cold and gusty winds behind the front will bring showers, small hail and isolated thunderstorms on Tuesday,” it wrote.
A spokesperson confirmed plane QF1206 is undergoing engineering checks at Karratha Airport in the state’s Pilbara region.
The Qantas flight was diverted to Karratha Airport in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. (Flightware)
The cool air mass began moving over Perth yesterday and by 11:40am 9.8mm of rain had fallen.
“A cold front marks the boundary between two airmasses – warmer air ahead of the front and cooler air behind,” BoM explained.
Water flowing into South Australia has hit a six-year high at 53 gigalitres a day, as a report reveals full storages and wet conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin.
Key points:
Flows into South Australia are the highest in six years, at 53 gigalitres
Many storage catchments are reaching peak capacity
Department for Environment and Water says the river flow peak is expected in September
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) Murray River annual outlook, released yesterday, showed southern basin storages are at unusually high levels for this time of year, with the Hume Dam sitting at 95 per cent capacity.
It comes as the Dartmouth Dam records 97 per cent capacity, the Menindee Lakes sits at 115 per cent capacity and Lake Victoria at 62 per cent.
The MDBA said the storages have been bolstered by healthy flows entering the Murray River from the Murrumbidgee and Goulburn rivers and other Victorian tributaries.
“The primary purpose of both the Dartmouth and Hume Dams is to store water to meet irrigation and other entitlements, so that’s our focus,” MDBA executive director of river management, Andrew Reynolds said.
He said irrigators and environmental water entitlement holders were in a good position to receive full entitlements this season, and that the MDBA was set up to manage the risk of shortfalls.
“If we do get a sudden hot period of weather and a spike in demands, it can be a bit harder for us to manage, but we’ll work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to adapt to the season ahead,” he said.
Some roads and walking paths around the Riverland have been flooded.(Supplied: Gabriella Fraser)
Caution urged for river users
At the South Australian border, Murray River flows have reached 53 gigalitres of water a day for the first time in six years, prompting one river council with low-lying areas to issue a formal warning.
Mid Murray Mayor Dave Burgess said river users and property owners in the district are encouraged to be wary of faster currents, higher water levels and submerged debris.
“We don’t expect to reach flood risk levels, but based on current forecasts, we’re encouraging property owners and residents to take precautions just in case,” he said.
When flows reach above 60GL a day at the SA-Victoria border, low-lying areas and flood plains become inundated and flood advice is issued to shack areas between Cadell and Mannum.
Recent rains in the Murrumbidgee catchment will flow down to South Australia in September.(ABC Riverina: Olivia Calver)
Even bigger flows on the way
Heavy rains in the upper parts of the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchment last weekend totaled up to 150 millimetres in rainfall in some areas, which means South Australia’s flow levels are yet to peak.
The MDBA has commenced airspace management releases from the Dartmouth and Hume Dams, and big releases from Burrinjuck Dam in the Murrumbidgee system.
Department for Environment and Water manager of water delivery Chrissie Bloss said peak flows were still four to six weeks away.
“It’s really too early to forecast what those peaks might look like, but what we know for certain is that flows will be elevated for some months in the Riverland,” she said.
Donna Adams has been appointed Tasmania’s first female Commissioner of Police, after 35 years in the force.
Key points:
Commissioner Adams will take over the role of Darren Hine, who will retire on October 11 after more than 40 years in Tasmania Police
She has previously spoken about being greatly outnumbered by men when she first started in the force
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the significance of her appointment could be “understated”
The highest-ranked woman in the 125-year history of Tasmania Police began her career as a constable when she was 19 years old.
Commissioner Adams said she felt “privileged” and “honoured” to be the 15th person to take on the role of commissioner.
“This is an extremely proud moment for me, and I’m really looking forward to making positive change,” she said.
“It’s not a position I thought I’d be awarded when I first joined Tasmania Police back in 1987, straight out of school.
“In fact, I only had a very simple ambition to join the drug squad, and as it turns out, it was an ambition I did not fulfill.”
Commissioner Adams has previously spoken about being greatly outnumbered by men when she first started in the force.
“When I first went to Bellerive CIB (Criminal Investigation Branch) in 1990, I had to share a toilet with the men and had my name on the first cubicle,” she said.
In 2009, she became the first woman promoted to the rank of commander, before last year becoming the state’s first female deputy commissioner.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff (R) described Commissioner Adams as “a highly capable professional”.(ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Focus on ‘back-to-basics policing’
Throughout her career, Commissioner Adams has received several awards, including the Commissioner’s Commendation for her work after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, as well as an Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
She will take over the role of Darren Hine, who will retire on October 11 after more than 40 years in Tasmania Police and 14 as Commissioner of Police and Secretary of the Department.
Commissioner Adams said she had a “big pair of shoes to fill.”
“Darren [Hine] you have provided outstanding leadership, and support to me over the past 14 years,” she said.
“He has transformed Tasmania Police through his inclusive leadership.”
The 54-year-old said she would focus on “back-to-basics policing” in the wake of the pandemic and that “prevention and disruption” would also be a key issue.
“Now’s the time to re-focus on high visibility policing, and ensuring we have a strong focus on local policing issues in local communities,” she said.
“We need to do everything we can to prevent harm before it occurs, we need to do everything we can to prevent victims, from being a repeat victim of crime.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the significance of his appointment could be “understated.”
“Donna is a highly capable professional, and well placed to provide exceptional leadership to Tasmania Police, and the community,” he said.
New South Wales nurses say the tax office has claimed much of their $3,000 pandemic “thank you” payment after many were pushed into a higher tax bracket by working extra shifts during the latest COVID-19 wave.
Key points:
The $3,000 bonus for NSW nurses was spruiked as a ‘thank you’ payment for their hard work during the pandemic
Nurses have since been pushed into a higher tax bracket by working extra shifts during the latest wave of COVID-19 infections
A union secretary said many senior nurses were leaving the profession due to work conditions
NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet announced in June that public healthcare workers would receive the bonus to thank them for their increased workload due to COVID-19.
It came four months after thousands walked off the job to protest staffing levels that had pushed an already stretched system to its limit during the pandemic.
But according to Diane Lang, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association’s delegate at Bega’s South East Regional Hospital, the promised $3,000 had since been cut in half for many staff.
She said the reduced payment came at a time when many nurses were doing overtime and extra shifts to cover staff shortages caused by the latest wave of infections.
Diane Lang says the thank you payment has been taxed significantly for some nurses.(ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon)
“For many nurses, completing overtime and ensuring the health system did not collapse during a wave of COVID and influenza cases placed them in a higher tax bracket than usual,” Ms Lang said.
“All those people who have done all those extra shifts and all that overtime have paid a lot of tax.
“We knew we had to pay tax, but we were under the impression it was going to be paid separately to our wages, so there’s a lot of angry nurses out there at the moment.”
NSW Health has been contacted for comment.
Taxed for hard work
Genevieve Stone is the secretary of the union’s branch at Wollongong Hospital where nurses were “heartbroken” after the full amount failed to land in their bank accounts.
“What we found is the nurses who worked overtime in that pay period were the ones who were taxed the most, and got the least amount of money,” she said.
“The pandemic has been dragging on for a ridiculous amount of time, and I think we were all hoping for a morale boost in the way of this payment.
“We were hoping to be more heard and appreciated, but that hasn’t happened.”
The union says those who worked hardest were taxed the most and earned less.(ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
Ms Stone said a pay rise in line with inflation would be “much more beneficial” to the workforce than a one-off payment, with both senior and junior staff leaving the profession in waves.
“We’re always called martyrs and angels, but that overshadows that we are highly skilled workers,” she said.
“We go to university, we’ve got medical knowledge, we do manual labor and we deserve to be valued.
“We are haemorrhaging nurses.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet had planned to thank employees for their hard work during the pandemic.(abcnews)
Industrial action planned
A nurse for more than 40 years, Jill Telfer is the secretary of the union’s branch at Tamworth Hospital.
She said that while some of the tax could be returned next financial year, many nurses were still “very disappointed”.
“I wasn’t the greatest thank you I’ve ever received,” Ms Telfer said.
“What dropped into our pay was $2,700 as we had super taken out automatically and we were also taxed, so I received about $1,700, but many received much less than that.
“The payment was just like a pat on the head, because we are desperate to change our situation in our public hospitals.
“We would prefer we were offered a fair pay rise.”
Ms Telfer said further industrial action was planned and many, including herself, were considering an early retirement.
“I know good friends who have got positions elsewhere because they didn’t want to keep doing this,” she said.
“We were short staffed before COVID, but now it’s even worse and it’s just got to be fixed.”
The New South Wales government is resisting growing calls to scrap tens of thousands of COVID fines, which lawyers say were unjustly issued, including to a teenager with an intellectual disability.
Key points:
The Redfern Legal Center hopes a legal challenge will quash 45,000 COVID ends in NSW
A total of 3,840 children between 13 and 17 years of age were fined between $40 and $5,000 in NSW
Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay wants to see all ends suspended nationally
The question of whether the government and NSW Police were heavy-handed in their pandemic response will be argued in a test case before the NSW Supreme Court.
The Redfern Legal Center hopes its legal challenge will quash 45,000 fines, which it says failed to properly outline the offense committed.
“The process was unjust, messy, and the rule of law was not followed,” the center’s Samantha Lee told 7.30.
The agency responsible for COVID penalties, Revenue NSW, said that of the 62,035 fines issued since early 2020, more than half, or 38,372 remained unpaid in full.
While the majority of these are being paid in some form of repayment plan, many have gone unanswered.
In total, 3,840 children between 13 and 17 years of age were fined between $40 and $5,000, which lawyers say should be waived as cautions.
Revenue NSW said 17 fines issued to children totaling $45,000 remain unresolved.
Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay says the ends disproportionately affected poorer communities.(abcnews)
“This is a form of unjust treatment to children,” Ms Lee said. “These children have been fined for $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000.
“One child who has an intellectual disability was given three $1,000 fines for being out of his house. I’m of the view that he should never have been issued a fine.
“Under the fine acts, someone who has an intellectual disability should not have been issued a fine.”
The Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay told 7.30 a.m. she wants to see all fines suspended nationally given the system disproportionately affected poorer communities in NSW and Victoria.
“It’s actually a nationwide issue, and what we really need to do is firstly, in respect to the fines, pause enforcement until they can be properly reviewed so that the public can have confidence that the fine system is lawful and working fairly,” she said.
“But secondly, we actually need to have a broader review into the pandemic response.”
Children volunteer to pay off fines through government program
Bronwyn O’Brien, a case worker at SydWest Multicultural Services.(ABC News: Jason Om)
Some people penalized in NSW have chosen to pay off the fines through a program known as a Work and Development Order (WDO).
It allows people on low incomes to pay down the fine through unpaid work or activities such as a life skills course, counselling, drug and alcohol treatment and mentoring.
About 140 children have taken part in WDOs, including some at SydWest Multicultural Services in Blacktown, which was among the suburbs that suffered harsher restrictions than the rest of Sydney.
Case worker Bronwyn O’Brien told 7.30 that NSW Police had been unforgiving to residents, particularly if they were multilingual.
She cited a case of a father and a son who had gone out to get groceries and tried to explain themselves to the police, but were ignored.
“Any opportunity for them to explain was shut down and they were immediately given a $1,000 fine each,” Ms O’Brien said.
She said it took weeks for people in the WDO program to pay off their ends.
“They were like $500, or $1,000 per fine. For the clients we’re working with that could be their weekly or fortnightly pay, if they’re receiving Centrelink it’s even worse.”
“Some people, they have to spend months and months to engage in activities just to get the fine down just a bit.”
Connor Jago was 17 when he was fined for not wearing a mask on a train.(ABC News: Jason Om)
Connor Jago was 17 when police issued him with two COVID fines for not wearing a mask on a train, and a separate transport fine, totaling $680.
“That was more than I make in two weeks almost,” he told 7.30.
The second $80 COVID fine was because he was wearing a mask below his nose after putting it on, Mr Jago told 7.30.
He threatened to take the government to court, arguing he was complying with police directions before Revenue NSW dropped one of the COVID fines of $500.
Fines commissioner says repayment system beneficial
NSW chief commissioner of state revenue, Scott Johnston.(ABC News: Tom Hancock)
In a rare interview with 7.30am, the head of Revenue NSW defended the organisation, and welcomed any review of individual cases.
The chief commissioner of state revenue, Scott Johnston, would not be drawn on whether it was appropriate for police to fine children as young as 13, and said the WDO program had had “powerful” outcomes.
“Some of the criticism or challenge on the way that we’ve done that, about imposing unfair penalties on people and youths, I think is not really reflective on the experience that the people who received these fines have had,” he said.
“I understand completely that a fine affects people differently. Some people can’t afford to pay that commitment and the genuine commitment from my organisation, and [me]is to have a conversation with people where they need help and support.”
Mr Johnston said the agency had resolved the cases of 500 children under 15 who were fined $40 for not wearing a mask.
NSW Police declined to comment at 7.30, while the Victorian Government told 7.30 its penalty system protected citizens from the pandemic and that there are options available if people are struggling to pay off fines.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will release further details on Tuesday but the research and proposals have already been discussed by civic cabinet and development along the corridor has been ruled out.
loading
The extensive documentation, including a business case, has also been provided to Infrastructure Australia and the Queensland government.
While Schrinner has yet to comment on the research, or proposals, he announced more Brisbane Metro vehicles on Monday and said: “I am now more confident than ever that we can look towards expanding the Metro network to other areas of our city.”
Former Labor state governments had planned extra bus lanes for the corridor and possible western bypass tunnels under the original Western Brisbane Transport Network strategy in 2009.
The latest research also flagged another possible tunnel south from Everton Park to Toowong, similar to one examined by a former Labor state government. It would link up with the Western Freeway and Legacy Way.
Brisbane’s CBD from the lookout on top of the Chermside Hill Reserve.Credit:Tony Moore
Brisbane City Council infrastructure committee chair Andrew Wines said escalating congestion costs and environmental issues meant there was no option but to go underground.
“This study shows the economic cost of north Brisbane’s congestion will be a staggering $1.5 million a day within a decade, which is totally unacceptable,” Wines told BrisbaneTimes.
“Brisbane is the fastest-growing capital city in the country and our northern neighbors in Moreton Bay – who are investigating options for alternatives to the Bruce Highway – are also growing quickly.
“This study must start a conversation between all levels of government – and the private sector – about options to ensure northside commuters get home sooner and safer.”
The preserved corridor between Gympie Road at Carseldine and Shand Street at Alderley was identified in the 1980s and has remained largely free of houses since then.
However, the research found many threatened and endangered species in parks along the original Trouts Road route from Stafford to Carseldine: the large Chermside Hills Reserve, the Downfall Creek Bush Reserve, Mine Hill Reserve and Sparkes Hill Reserve at Alderley.
Environmental issues identified in Chermside Hills Reserves and linked parks
Flora
Chermside Hills Reserve is considered a high-risk trigger area.
There are approximately 21 threatened plant species recorded within the vicinity of the corridor.
This includes endangered eucalypt woodland and open forest community
It is significant conservation value, only found in the Chermside Hills Reserve area. The ecosystem cannot be offset in another location.
Fauna
The identified threatened and vulnerable species are powerful owls, gray headed flying foxes and tusked frogs, in addition to sugar and squirrel gliders.
Koalas are regularly spotted in the Chermside Hills Reserve. Evidence of their presence was detected during environmental investigations undertaken as part of the development of the business case.
cultural heritage
The study found it has a “rich Aboriginal peoples’ history”.
Examples include artefact scatters, marked trees, earthen features, pathways, stone arrangements, story places and campsites.
“A future detailed business case will be important to confirm the presence of Aboriginal cultural heritage values in the study area and strategies to manage potential impacts.”
Those environmental concerns rule out the original plan – first considered in the 1960s – to transform Trouts Road into a four-lane highway between Alderley and Carseldine.
Community concern over the prospect of a highway running between bushland and housing estates, and altering local traffic flows, had seen the future of the corridor debated in recent federal, state and council election campaigns.
Looking towards Brisbane CBD down Old Northern Road from Everton Hills.Credit:Tony Moore
The research shows the proposed underground motorway would reduce traffic on Transurban’s existing Airport Link and Legacy Way toll tunnels by between 11 and 31 per cent by 2041.
However, it reduces traffic on major northside arterial roads; including Gympie Road (35 per cent less traffic by 2041) and Wardell Street (down 23 per cent by 2041).
The long-term plan is to increase bus lanes on those arterial roads.
The RACQ’s 2021 congestion report released in February 2022 shows Stafford, Old Northern, South Pine, Rode and Hamilton roads slowing to mid 30km/h during peak periods, adding minutes to trips.
Two people are fighting for their lives and a crime scene has been declared after a house fire in Queensland’s north.
Key points:
Neighbors raised the alarm after seeing flames coming from the house after 5:30am
Police had attended the house only hours earlier to respond to mental health concerns
The injured man and woman were known to each other and to police
A 47-year-old woman and 65-year-old man suffered severe burns in the blaze, which gutted the home in the rural town of Ayr early this morning.
They were flown to a Townsville hospital in a critical condition and are receiving treatment.
Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said police officers and paramedics had attended the property only hours before the fire to respond to mental health concerns.
“Police received a call in relation to some comments that were made at the residence, so they went and attended and spoke to both residents that were there at the time,” he said.
Police attended the Ayr home only hours before the fire began.(ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)
Neighbors raised the alarm about three hours later just after 5:30am when they spotted flames coming from the house.
“Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service responded to two people who were very severely burned, so there’s obviously graphic scenes around that,” Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said.
A man in his 20s who tried to help was taken to hospital in a stable condition suffering from smoke inhalation.
Couple known to police
Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said a crime scene had been established and investigations were underway.
“We haven’t established the actual cause of the fire at this point, so until we can actually sign up exactly what’s occurred, then we’re not going to speculate as to how the fire started,” he said.
“We’re in constant contact with Queensland Health in relation to the condition of both parties, so as soon as we’re able to, we’ll speak to both parties.”
The Ayr home was gutted in the blaze. (ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)
Police said the man and woman were in a relationship.
“It’s not the first time the police have had dealings with this couple,” he said.
Queensland Ambulance Service Assistant Commissioner Matthew Green said it was a confronting incident for first responders.
“[It’s] a fairly tragic situation as far as I’m concerned and at the moment we’re just looking after the welfare of our staff that have had to attend that event,” he said.
