Anthony's Web Site

The Australian Government does not know how to listen. Their "environmental" policy is a clear example of how not to do things.

It started with a glimmer of hope.

Prime Minister John Howard is expected to reveal a $500 million plan to encourage the private sector to develop energy technologies that release low levels of greenhouse gases today. Source ABC News

Then the reality hit.

In summary from most significant to lease significant

• $1.5 billion to reduce the cost of petrol
• $500 million to encourage the private sector to put $1 billion into research
• $100 Million to develop commercial renewable energy
• $75 Million to develop house hold renewable energy.

More...

logged by Anthony at 6:58:37 PM Link

The Sydney Morning Herald implemented full CSS on Thursday, April 29. and I must say I really like the new design. Using Print style sheets now means no loading pages for printer friendly styles and they have two layouts one for 800x600 and one for larger screens. Once again CSS allows readers to more easily access content. They even use the same style switch that I do from ALA.

Peter Ottery will address a meeting of the Web standard Group on June to discuss it. I'd love to go but I will be in Sydney the day before and will miss it.

I do have one concern though. The site nowhere near validates. I accept some items are there for older browsers, but I don't think having all tags in upper case was necessary. And making your tags up like <HEADLINE> is inexcusable.

logged by Anthony at 10:50:41 AM Link

The ACT Government is looking to introduce bike racks on buses. After the Brisbane Mayor went to the U.S. and saw it in practice there the Brisbane City Council are now trialing Bike racks on buses. The ACT Government is now also looking to trial it and Pedal Power backs bikes on buses plan

logged by Anthony at 10:35:01 AM Link

Queensland is joining the ACT is putting in place guidelines to prevent bullying in schools with Mobile phones. Early April the ACT Government introduced guidelines to prevent bullying with SMS. Both Governments have been keen to point out that they have yet to receive any complaint about bullying with phone but have taken a preemptive step.

Queensland schools ban mobile bullying

Excerpt from ZNET Australia

Under the guidelines, released today by the state government, camera phones will be banned in change rooms, and students caught using them to bully or cheat in exams will be "disciplined."

logged by Anthony at 10:39:32 AM Link

Do you need a good reason to study maths. Well at the Inquest into the bushfires that burnt part of Canberra last year it appears the initial estimate of the size was only 10% of the size due to a mistake in maths. Now I feel some credit need to be afforded to the person, but while in a helicopter above the fires he estimated the blaze to be 100 metres by 50 metres. However he reported the size of the blaze as 500 square metres not the 5000 square metres it was.

What worries me is that when I hear of school children not learning how to do maths by hand, because they can always use a calculator, this is the sort of stuff so say why we should keep the education basics in the curriculum.

Inquest hears Bendora blaze grossly underestimated

The Canberra bushfire inquest has heard how a senior emergency services member grossly understated the size of a blaze at Bendora last year.

On January 8, 2003, David Ingram was sent out on an evening helicopter flight over bushfires at Gingera, Stockyard Spur and Bendora to determine their size and location.

The inquest saw Mr Ingram's notes taken at the time which estimated the Bendora blaze measured 100 metres by 50 metres.

When calculating the fire's total size Mr Ingram made a mistake, calculating the size as 500 square metres and relaying this figure to the operations centre. Fire crews were pulled out from Bendora that night.

Today, Mr Ingram admitted that measurement should have been 5,000 square metres, however he stood by the following morning's report saying the Bendora fire measured 750 square metres, apparently much smaller than the previous night.

Mr Ingram said he noted down only what he saw of the fire from the air.

The former head of the department overseeing ACT emergency services has told the inquest he recalls little about bushfire emergency discussions.

Tim Keady told the inquest that discussions about electricity infrastructure rather than the threat to urban areas had stuck in his mind.

Mr Keady told counsel assisting the coroner he cannot even recall if he was present at some planning meetings during the bushfire emergency.

He later gave a detailed recollection of discussions about power infrastructure at the cabinet meeting.

When the nature of his memory was questioned he admitted it may sound a bit eccentric to have a so-called island of recollection from that meeting but said the discussion about electricity supplies had stuck in his mind.

Mr Keady also testified that he never discussed last year's bushfire emergency with New South Wales fire authorities.

Chief fire controller Peter Lucas-Smith already testified that on January 15 that he told Mr Keady he was concerned the New South Wales Fire Commissioner had described the fire situation as the worst in decades during a media interview.

Mr Lucas-Smith said the media comments were not consistent with what Commissioner Phil Koperberg had told him earlier that day.

The inquest heard Mr Keady was due to discuss the matter with Mr Koperberg, whom he knew well and considered a good friend.

Mr Keady testified that conversation never took place.

Source ABC News

logged by Anthony at 5:05:44 PM Link

A friend brought this birth notice to my attention during the week.

Rachelle and Darren have unleashed unto the world 'The Twins' Will Bradley Jake Thomas, born 24 March 2004 - 'the baby boys' to Callam and Ella. Our thanks to proud Nanna Laurel, Dr Mutton and staff at JJMH. The gob-smacked parents would like to thank Carlton United Brewery and the makers of Chocolate Body Paint for making this blessed event possible. Source The Canberra Times

logged by Anthony at 9:33:43 AM Link

Looks like for once the law is ahead of society. The local government is looking to prepare guidelines on how to punish students who use SMS for bullying.

ACT moves to prevent electronic bullying Source ABC News

logged by Anthony at 2:23:48 PM Link

It appears the relaxed water restrictions have allow our water usage to rise in Autum. When water restrictions were first relaxed the water usage jumped to over 250ML and now the daily consumption hovering around that number. So much for only using 150ML a day during summer. Previous story

logged by Anthony at 3:20:58 PM Link

Well you can tell that March 1 was the first day of eased water restrictions. The daily consumption has been under 150ML. Well March 1 and the usage is over 250ML. The funny part is that March 2 was about 175ML. So either all the even numbered people watered on the odd day or all the even numbered people showed restraint. Given the March 3 was about 200 I guess that there must have been some even people that watered on the odd day. Can I just say that even with Stage Two we still have to follow the odds and evens system.

logged by Anthony at 9:42:12 AM Link

The PM is getting very good at the flip flop act lately, although The road to surfdom has pointed out that he was well practiced doing this back in 2001 when the PM changed his stance on refugees

logged by Anthony at 9:48:19 AM Link

These things are noisy. They land on the oval outside my office and the desk vibrates when they do. But they do look impressive, so I have no complaints.

Noisy Chinooks to fly over city Source NEWS.com.au

logged by Anthony at 1:51:28 PM Link

Today is the end of stage three and the beginning of stage two water restrictions for the ACT. But just because you can use a sprinkler every second day doesn't mean you should use every second day. I'm setting my water computer to every fourth day until it starts looking a bit green then every sixth day like I had before stage three.

logged by Anthony at 9:28:29 AM Link

While the overall level f water holdings is going down, the ACT Government has decided ease water restrictions to level 2 from the 1st of March. This is because we are moving out of summer and ACTEW is able to make better use of the other dams. But it is estimated that we wil stay at stage 2 until next summer.

logged by Anthony at 3:31:44 PM Link

It appears there has been a last minute change of mind on the exemption for sprinklers on Sunday's. The Chief Minister has announced that the exemption will be extended to the end of February. So it appears that our efforts in conserving water are paying off and we can use a little more water.

logged by Anthony at 9:54:35 AM Link

The exemption to use sprinklers once a week was only until the end of January. regrettably there has been so significant change in water levels and the exemption will not be extended. So no more sprinklers. Source ABC News

logged by Anthony at 4:54:21 PM Link

Well talk about a change in the weather, after having the hottest New Years Day on record and then continuing to have hot 32° to 38° days the Bureau of Meteorology kept promising a cool change and overnight it came dropping to 22°, they even have the Friday minimum predicted a 8°. And you guessed it, the water usage has spiked again, but for some reason ACTEWAGL has stopped updating the web graphs, I guess someone must be having a holiday.

logged by Anthony at 9:21:55 AM Link

The ACT Government has rewarded the excellent water saving efforts of the ACT People by allow limited use of fixed sprinklers leading up to summer. Stage Three restrictions have a target daily usage of 167ML, as the last few days have been under 140ML and the recent rain has increased the levels in our dams we will be able to use sprinklers on Sundays in December and January.

logged by Anthony at 2:08:18 PM Link

It looks like a case of man fighting with nature and nature winning. Parliament House has very bright lights to light up the building, these lights attract Bogong Moths, and have done so for many years. Each year Parliament House tries something different to make them go away. A previously tried idea that worked by was not seen as the best idea, has again been suggested. Turn off the lights said Dr Josephine Flood Source ABC.

logged by Anthony at 9:19:14 AM Link

Looks like our water is still too dirty to use. I read in the Canberra Times late last week that the recent rainfall has again muddied up the Cotter, Bendora Dams and that we have to rely only on Googong Dam for our water. You just have to look at these charts and where Bendora goes up we can't use the water.

logged by Anthony at 1:06:39 PM Link

Water consumption has been rising in Canberra for the last 6 days. The Autumn target consumption is 127ML and the last three days consumption have been well over that limit. Everyone needs to remain vigilante in saving water

logged by Anthony at 9:37:21 AM Link

I came across this Rainwater tank ready reckoner from Environment ACT. It estimates your water requirements, how much water you could harvest, how much you would need to use it in your house, and how much you could store to help in picking a rainwater tank. Rainwater tank ready reckoner

logged by Anthony at 8:44:17 AM Link

I guess the water problem must not be quite as bad as it would first appear. Local water restrictions have been relaxed to allow cars to be washed from bucket only. Car may not be washed more than once a week. Source ABC News ACTEW

logged by Anthony at 10:57:24 AM Link

Googong dams water level has finally risen. The recent rain had slowed the drop in the water level, but the level has finally risen. I am sure the opening of the Bendora water treatment plant has also helped. Although the level is still down around 40%. I am sure that water restrictions will remain at stage 3 for the rest of summer.

logged by Anthony at 9:47:18 AM Link

I'm glad to see that Canberra appears to not be embracing the military bunker approach to dealing with terrorism. We have to accept that in today's world people can pretty much destroy things if they really want to. Just look at some of the tactics being used in the middle east. shoulder launched rockets could easily do as much damage to a shopping centre as a bomb. We have to try and get along with each other more.

Canberra warned off fortress mentality ABC News

logged by Anthony at 9:35:53 AM Link

Fire does not only bring destruction but also creation. Regrettably the bushfire's early this year have made space for a toxic weed, Patterson's Curse to grow. Most of the hills and paddocks around Canberra have a purple tinge to them. This weed has apparently killed a number of horses and Environment ACT is to being weed spraying to attempt to control the weeds.

Source ABC News

logged by Anthony at 10:29:33 AM Link

Well it is that time of year again where we have to play with our clocks. But do you know how it all started for Australia. Basically a severe drought in Tasmania, which relies heavily on hydro electric power, brought it in the save power and therefore save water. That started in 1967 and Tasmania convinced the other states to trial it in 1971, and it has been in since then. There were other time during World War I and World War II, but that how it got going. About Daylight Saving time National Standards Commission

logged by Anthony at 10:00:34 AM Link

I must be lucky, on Saturday there were severe storms, but I drove from the north side to the south side of Canberra and only saw about 5 mins heavy rain.

logged by Anthony at 9:59:27 AM Link

Well it would appear that we don't wish to offend the Chinese Government by having protectors demonstrating their Australian right to free speech and association. But it is curious that the U.S. President requires to be sheltered from such freedoms. As part of the security restrictions put in place for the upcoming visit by the leaders of U.S.A. and China, formal protestors will only be allowed in front of the Parliament House, which is normal. However they will not be allowed to use public address systems that face the house. Likewise the public is banned from going inside the house. What a shame the U.S. President will not be able to view democratic free speech in action.Source Sydney Morning Herald

logged by Anthony at 9:43:50 AM Link

Well we love to hear about rain but now it has started snowing in Canberra. The snow is only ever so light and nothing you could even make a snow ball out of. According to the BoM this happens about once a decade.

logged by Anthony at 4:54:50 PM Link

ACTEWAGL today announced that the Bendora dam would be back on line. Bendora has not been able to be used since April and so Canberra has relied on Googong for all of its water. Even the recent rain has not helped as Googong did not receive it. However the increase in water quality at Bendora has now allowed it to be used. This will allow ACTEWAGL to access the 40 000 ML currently in Bendora system.

Source ACTEWAGL

logged by Anthony at 5:56:55 PM Link

Well the letter came home on the weekend. Stage three water restriction will be introduced from the 1 October. No sprinklers at all, no washing cars at home, only at exempted commercial car washes. no filling ponds, even construction sites must now use a trigger hose.

Despite recent rains falls and increasing overall dam levels Stage three has been introduced as the Corin Dam system is still clogged with mud and Ash from the January bushfires. The only other dam system Googong is still emptying out. They want us to keep our daily consumption to less than 127 mega litres. But heading into Summer with our typical daily consumption of 300-450 ML it will be pretty dry at only 127.

logged by Anthony at 8:55:44 AM Link

Can you see my house from this satellite view. Earth View

logged by Anthony at 10:12:17 AM Link

A 28 year old Swedish man was detained at Sydney Airport for having eight snakes down his trousers. The Justice and Customs Minister is proud to have stop the snakes getting into Australia, but I would have been more concerned by the possible terrorist threat. Imagine letting snakes lose on board a plane or if he threatened the crew with them.

Source BBC News

logged by Anthony at 9:08:31 AM Link

Someone is having a big free BBQ soon, after 10 pallets of beer were stolen from the Carlton & United Breweries depot in Queanbyen. Authorities have asked people to be on the look out for cheap beer.

Source NEWS.com.au

logged by Anthony at 1:01:47 PM Link

This is what my brother gets up to at his work. He is responsible for updating about six of the maps and helping on about 10 others. More...

logged by Anthony at 12:46:16 PM Link

Well once again Mark Webber continues to hold he own in Formula One racing. Webber qualified 11th, and he conceded that this was not his best result, especially given his qualifying position in the last Grand Prix. He finished in the points in 7th position one lap down on the leader.

As for other local driver, Neil Bates was racing this weekend, even thought there was no ARC event. More...

logged by Anthony at 8:44:15 AM Link

I noticed at the shops last night that Capilano Honey have put stickers on their jars saying that due to the drought they have to use imported honey. I guess even the bees are drying up!

logged by Anthony at 12:18:31 PM Link

Now I hear that water restrictions will be in place in Sydney as they prepare for this years summer. Dam levels are still well above the usual restrictions levels but being the start of summer Sydney Water is taking pro active measures.

Tough water restrictions for Sydney

It is the first time in nine years that the region serviced by Sydney Water has had to endure compulsory water restrictions.

Dam levels within the Sydney Catchment Authority have dropped to 60.5 per cent, still above the 55 per cent level when mandatory restrictions are normally applied.

But NSW Premier Bob Carr said with the start of warmer weather it was responsible to introduce water restrictions now. Source Yahoo AAP

As for Canberra there is little hope that things will change in time for the start of this years summer. Googong dam is still below 40%.

logged by Anthony at 4:05:49 PM Link

Well the rain has finally made a difference to the usable dame levels. ACTEWAGL is finally reporting an increase in the level of Googong dam, however it is still well within levels to maintain water restrictions. The main problem continues to be the silt built up in the other dams.

logged by Anthony at 10:24:14 AM Link

So much for tight security around airports and heightened awareness. It appears the good old social engineering trick worked again. Just look like you know what you are doing and you just might get away with it.

Sydney airport computers stolen

Australia's top security agencies are to conduct emergency damage audits following the theft of computers from Sydney Airport's intelligence centre.

Customs officials have told The Sydney Morning Herald the stolen computers held thousands of confidential files, including top-secret communications between customs investigators, Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

The newspaper reports two men of Pakistani-Indian-Arabic appearance presented themselves as computer technicians and were given unfettered access to the airport's top security mainframe room on August 27.

"Inside, they spent two hours disconnecting two computers, which they put on trolleys and wheeled out of the room, past the security desk, into the lift and out of the building," the newspaper reported.

"The Australian Federal Police and ASIO, the two chief guardians against terrorism, fired off angry memos to customs officials, demanding to know the extent to which their top-secret operations have been compromised."

The theft is being investigated by the AFP.

Source Yahoo

Customs computers stolen from Sydney Airport

Australian Federal Police are investigating the theft of computer equipment from the Australian Customs Service at Sydney International Airport.

It is believed two men were involved in the high-level security breach.

The AFP are investigating the theft of two file servers from a Customs building at the airport last week.

A spokesman for Customs Minister Senator Chris Ellison says extensive testing of the system is now being conducted to determine whether it has been compromised by the theft.

He says there is no evidence to indicate there has been any intrusion.

He says Customs has been advised the servers did not contain any information about national security.

Senator Ellison has requested a report into the incident.

Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 9:58:37 AM Link

Despite recent heavy rain falls Canberra is still having to move to the next level of water restrictions. The recent rain has made the water in half of the water supply to muddy to filter for drinking. So come the first of October we will move to level three restrictions.

ACT water restrictions still on

The introduction of stage three water restrictions in the ACT and Queanbeyan in New South Wales will still start on the first of October despite an increase in dam levels.

Dam levels in the ACT are now at 48 per cent, 8 per cent above the level that would normally trigger stage three restrictions.

ACTEW says Bendora Dam is now 100 per cent full and Corin Dam which feeds it, is at 56 per cent.

But Googong Dam, which is currently the ACT's sole supplier of water, is at just 38 per cent capacity.

Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 10:35:20 AM Link

The Canberra International Airport has offered its services as a second airport to overcome problems at Sydney airport with issues like noise and night time curfews. However there is always the fog issue to content with and the local government planning issues.

Canberra 'a Sydney airport option'

Canberra has offered itself as an option, asking in its advertisements: "Is the solution to Sydney's second airport still 20 years away?"

The answer: "Less than three hours actually."

Source The Courier Mail

logged by Anthony at 10:25:56 AM Link

The recent rain is a double edged sword. The heavy downpours have been helping to fill dams but have also been stiring up the mud and ash so the water is now more unusable and we contiune to wait longer before using some of the dam systems.

Rain hinders ACT water quality plan

The heavy weekend rain has proved a setback for water quality at some of Canberra's main water storages in the ACT.

The Bendora and Corin dams have been offline for some months because of erosion caused by the January bushfires.

Bendora water quality had been improving but the weekend rain increased turbidity.

ACTEW spokesman Aspi Baria says it is unclear when the storages can be returned to Canberra's water supply.

"We have still to keep on assessing and see," Mr Baria said.

"We have certain guidelines which ACT Health provides us with to say this is the water is considered safe and as soon as we reach those guidelines and have an okay with Health, we'll let the community know." Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 11:44:17 AM Link

Well this week was a good weekend for Canberra region race drives.

Neil Bates finished fifth and continues to improve his Toyota. However maybe they should use extra glue on the front bumpers. Check out as his bumper is coming off his brother lost his bumper and other photos of the rally.

Meanwhile on the other side of the planet, Mark Webber, who polled third had a good result finishing sixth, ahead of Trulli and Schumacher. This moves him up the ladder in F1.

logged by Anthony at 10:14:51 AM Link

Do you believe it, the Liberal party has it mind set on selling Telstra. Now they have dragged the National party along as well. The majority of Australians do not want any more of Telstra sold. In recent polling 81% do not want it sold. But De-Anne Kelly still feels that people want it sold because they want jobs and opportunities. The things that the polling said people would do with the proceeds.

However if the question was worded, what would you like to see the proceeds used for, then the answer is assuming it is sold, not that they want it sold.

House of Reps set to pass Telstra sale legislationExtract

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Queensland National Party MP, De-Anne Kelly, whose Party has given in principle support for the sale, says what the Independents are doing is dishonest, leading their voters on, getting a result they want, instead of what their constituents want.

So what does De-Anne Kelly's survey of 69,000 households reveal?

DE-ANNE KELLY: 76 per cent of the people in my electorate would like to see the proceeds from Telstra spent on jobs and opportunities.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: But that doesn't mean that 76 per cent support the sale of Telstra does it?

DE-ANNE KELLY: Well, you can't get jobs and opportunities without the sale.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: As it turns out, her survey found 81 per cent opposition to selling Telstra.

DE-ANNE KELLY: Yes, on first blush people are opposed, but then they say, the very same people, that they would like to see the money spent on jobs and opportunities.

It bears out the sort of polling that's been done which says people have an emotional first response, then they think about the deeper questions of how money could be invested in their particular area to take them forward.Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 10:40:42 AM Link

Man on good behaviour bond after e-mail attack

A Canberra man has been placed on a good behaviour bond after he bombarded the computer system at the ACT Legal Aid office with more than 1,000 e-mails after he was knocked back for legal aid support.

The e-mails clogged the system and prevented staff from getting messages.

He pleaded guilty to five charges relating to improper use of computers.

His defence lawyer Darryl Perkins told the court he had admitted the behaviour was 'reckless' but it did not cause physical damage to the computer system.

Chief Magistrate Ron Cahill gave him a $2,000, two-year good behaviour bond. Edited Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 2:05:49 PM Link

Nothing like looking to the future to avoid problems. Member for Monaro, Steve Whan wants to build house in an area know as Tralee, south of Queanbeyan, despite it being near the Canberra Airport flight path. Apparently Queanbeyan needs some block of land now to reducing housing prices and I tell you what I think those blocks will go cheap.

Aircraft noise no reason to halt land release: Whan

The Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, says aircraft noise should not restrict the development of land at Tralee, south of Queanbeyan.

Canberra airport has been lobbying against approval of the new suburb, claiming it is too close to the flight path.

Mr Whan says Queanbeyan, like Canberra, is fast running out of land.

He says it is having a big impact on housing affordability.

Mr Whan says local authorities cannot afford to sit idle.

"If we want to make housing affordable then we have to work towards getting more land released for housing," Mr Whan said.

"Now the issues for Tralee need to be resolved quickly but I don't think we want to just stall on these things.

"We want to make sure that we deal with any legitimate problems that people might have quickly , resolve them and get on with some release of this land."Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 1:57:44 PM Link

The continuing water crisis has prompted the ACT Government to move to level three water restrictions. At level three the use of sprinklers is banned, with only hand held watering of gardens and lawns allowed at specific times.

Sporting clubs have now warned that some sports may have to be cancelled if they can not water ovals.

logged by Anthony at 1:56:13 PM Link

I live in Canberra which currently has water restrictions and the dam levels is not getting better. While the chart is starting to go up as of August the real problem is that only Bendora Dam has drinkable water at present and if you click on the graph it is continuing to drop.

Information courtesy of ACTEW

This is live rain radar images for the area. We can't wait for it to rain.

Information Courtesy of BOM

logged by Anthony at 1:49:17 PM Link

As you may well know on the 18 January, Canberra was hit by a bushfire storm that destroyed over 500 homes. The public inquiry into

The ACT's chief minister believes that the NSW Rural fire service is responsible for not containing the fires in NSW. It is just a shame the fire didn't follow state boundaries.

Click for the latest on the Bushfires

This website has the best presented Canberra's bushfire pictures.

logged by Anthony at 1:48:29 PM Link