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Work on $16-Million Upgrader Package for Malabar Biomethane Project Begins

Work has started for the $16-million Malabar Biomethane project that will deliver Australia’s first biomethane-to-gas network.

Jemena signed a partnership with Sydney Water to construct the Malabar Biomethane project upgrader that will then be exported into Jemena’s NSW gas distribution network. The upgraders work to remove the water, carbon dioxide, and other gas contaminants from the wastewater so that renewable biomethane.

The initiative is expected to reduce 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, which may be comparable to taking 4,500 cars off the road. The biomethane project has the potential for increased 11,0000 tonnes of carbon emissions thus becoming a significant contributor to the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan, which aims to cut emissions by 35 per cent by 2030.

“Fabricating the upgrader package in Australia is a great step towards helping to build a new design and manufacturing industry which will support our renewable energy transition,” Gabrielle Sycamore, Jemena’s General Manager of Renewable Gas, said.

“We’re excited about the potential for bioenergy and biofuels to help decarbonise sectors of our economy, like manufacturing, which rely on gas as a feedstock, as well as provide renewable gas for customers to use at home.

“Biomethane production is a great example of creating a circular economy – it keeps products and materials in use, reducing the production of new waste and pollution, and regenerating natural systems.

“Projections indicate that by the start of the next decade, with the right policy support, the bioenergy sector could create about 26,200 jobs.”

Per Sydney Water, “The Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located near the Malabar Headland National Park, is one of Sydney Water’s multiple Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants. The bulk of the current AD Biogas output is used for electrical power generation and water heating. The balance of biogas that cannot be used via site processes is combusted through waste gas burners.”

The Malabar Biomethane project is expected to finish by the end of the year. For more information, refer to Jemena’s official site.

Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public School Joins NSW’s New School Hours Trial By Term 3

Eight schools in New South Wales, including Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public School, may shift to new school hours as part of a trial that will scrap the traditional 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. school day.

The shifted school hours, which will begin by Term 3 (18 July 2022), are expected to run for 20 weeks in partnership with local businesses, sporting clubs, and community organisations that will be offering high-quality after-school activities for the children.

The initiative will also allow busy parents to manage their time, especially with congested pick-ups and drop-offs that eat up their hours for work and other important obligations mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

Matraville dad David Chalmers welcomed the change. He has two kids attending Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public who are eager to try out new activities after their classes as they wait for their parents to be done with work.

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A post shared by Soldiers’ Settlement PS (@soldierssettlementps)

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said that schools joining the pilot are not expected to change their teaching hours but they now have the option to tap other sectors to expand and implement activities that will support the needs of the kids “whilst their parents manage commitments.”

“The reality is that the traditional school day, like the 9 to 5 workday, is a 20th-century concept which may not be the best model for 21st-century families, schools and the community,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This research pilot will give us a better understanding of what schools are already doing, and how we can expand on or implement effective practices at similar schools.”

“We want to offer greater support and comfort to parents, knowing that their kids are safe and happy taking part in a homework club in the school library, a dance class in the school hall or soccer practice on the school oval,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

The schools participating in this pilot research are:

Cawdor Public School
Hanwood Public School
Hastings Secondary College
Kentlyn Public School
Matraville Soldier’s Settlement Public School
Orange High School
Spring Hill Public School
Tacking Point Public School

Stop-Work Order Halts Construction Works on Yorktown Parade Development

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Construction of a 3-level residential building on Yorktown Parade has been halted after a stop-work order was served due to safety issues.

Effective 5 pm on 2 June 2022, ABDC Holdings was ordered to cease construction works at 80 Yorktown Parade, Maroubra except for building work that is carried out to stabilise the site. The NSW Building Commissioner conducted the inspection on 23 May 2022 on the excavation works, installation of pilings and a capping beam that was being undertaken at the time.

It was observed that the pilings at two identified locations showed cracks, rendering them ineffective in supporting the soil and the structures above it. Particularly, a cracking measuring more than 10cm in the concrete driveway slab was noticed as well as the soil was already collapsing between the pilings.

“I consider that pilings are a key element of a building. The proper performance of this element is critical to the safety and integrity of the building, as it provides support for the other structures,” Building Commissioner, David Chandler, said.

He furthered that in circumstances where the pilings are not able to support the structures above it could lead to “failure of the element” and result in significant harm to the property and to the workers on the site “ as a result of movement.”

80 Yorktown Parade Development — Photo Credit: Randwick City Council / planning.randwick.nsw.gov.au

The $1.86-million development which was approved on 9 August 2018 involves the establishment of a 3-level residential building comprising nine 2-bedroom apartments, of which, three are affordable housing units. Included in the plan are 12 parking spaces spread across the ground and basement levels.

The developers may appeal the order to the Land and Environment Court within 30 days of receipt of the notice of the order.

Pop-Up Pedal Parks Open for the Winter with the Addition of a New South Maroubra Site

Photo Credit: RandwickCC/Facebook

The winter riding season is officially open with the return of pop-up pedal parks, which now include an additional location in South Maroubra. Time to have a wheely good time at these outdoor recreational spaces! Don’t forget to wear your helmets!

The South Maroubra pop-up pedal park along the Arthur Byrne Reserve, 1R Marine Parade, Maroubra, officially launches Thursday, 9 June 2022, at 3:00 p.m. with Mayor Dylan Parker. It will remain open until August, alongside the pop-up pedal parks at the Clovelly Beach and the Chifley Sports reserve car park on Bunnerong Road.

This initiative was originally set up in June 2020 to encourage the kids to have their exercises and physical activities amidst the lockdown when many sports facilities were temporarily shut down and the children have to homeschool.

The Council proposed to install safe and accessible pedal parks for winter exercises every year. With its re-opening in 2021, Council added ramps and tunnels so that kids could develop new skills as well as allow families more time for outdoor recreation.

“It’s wonderful to be able to build on it and expand the pedal parks so more kids can take part in the time-tested fun of riding a bike or skateboard[ing] with your friends,” said Mayor Dylan Parker.

While the pedal parks are installed, the parking spaces will be closed to cars.

Mahon Pool At Maroubra Beach Set To Undergo Coping Restoration

Following the success of Wylie’s Baths pool coping restoration, three more ocean pools across NSW are set to receive upgrades, including Mahon Pool, which is located to the north of Maroubra Beach at the base of Jack Vanny Reserve.

Read: Get To Know Maroubra-Born Ron Finneran OAM, Australia’s First Winter Paralympian

Scope of works for Mahon Pool involve removing existing hand rail, preparation and installation of new timber posts, removal of existing hand rail and installation of new hand rails, grout repair, removal of loose materials.

The upgrades are part of the Ocean Pool Restoration Program, which is one of the major projects of Randwick City Council in 2022. A grant of $300,000 has been provided by the federal government for this project.

mahon pool maroubra — Photo credit: Randwick City Council

Aside from Mahon Pool, the Malabar Ocean Pool and Ross Jones Pool were also identified as needing restoration work around the outer edge of the pool, known as the coping.

A product called Cement-All was used when coping was redone at Wylie’s Baths, and the end result is of excellent condition, even more than a year later. It will now be applied at Malabar, Mahon and Ross Jones Pools to upgrade and renew the coping. In addition, minor civil works will be done at each pool.

Cement All is a highly engineered cementitious grout product that can be applied from feather edge to as much as 100mm thick in single passes. It’s also a rapid set product, enabling its application to set within one-hour, prior to tides returning and compromising the bond to the substrate or the curing of the product.

Meanwhile, locals are being reminded that ocean pools will be closed whilst the work takes place.

The timeline for work at Mahon Pool will be from Tuesday 14 June – Thursday 30 June 2022.

To stay updated about the project, visit Randwick City Council’s website.

Shared Space Trial At McKeon Street In Maroubra Encourages People To Use Public Spaces More

McKeon Street, one of the busiest streets in Maroubra, is about to undergo a transformation that will make it pedestrian-friendly and will encourage people to make more use of public spaces.

Read: Sleepless in Maroubra: Mom Stayed Up to Wait for Life-Changing News

This comes after Randwick City Council qualified for the second round of Streets as Shared Spaces program with a $500,000 grant that will be used for public alfresco dining and general seating, public art and activations.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker is looking forward to seeing how residents and businesses enjoy the additional outdoor amenity once McKeon Street becomes more pedestrian-friendly.

He highlighted some of the benefits of creating people-centred spaces, such as fostering connection, reinforcing a sense of community and allowing the local economy to flourish, to name a few.

“I have no doubt this new space will bring a freshness and vitality to the area and when people engage with the space they will come away having had a positive experience,” Mayor Parker said.

The trial closure of a section of McKeon St, adjacent to Marine Parade, will kick off in September 2022.

About Streets as Shared Spaces

A carpark transformation in Griffith as part of the Streets as Shared Spaces program (Photo credit: dpie.nsw.gov.au)

The Streets as Shared Spaces program allows local councils to apply for grants that will increase public space, amenity and connection all over bustling streets of their communities.

The NSW Government has allocated $20 million for the second round of funding in October 2021, which was awarded in March 2022. The program started in 2020 as a pilot to enable improvements across the state during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was backed by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment research, which revealed that people in NSW were using and appreciating public space more than ever during the pandemic.

They conducted a survey where they learned people want high-quality public space that’s

easy to access and more people felt less safe in public spaces, especially because of crowding.

For more information about the program and a list of all the Streets as Shared Spaces Round 2 projects, visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au.

Rock Fishing In Maroubra: Important Safety Tips That Can Save Your Life

Did you know that an average of eight people die each year in NSW from rock fishing-related accidents? Despite the dangers that come with it, rock fishers continue to flock to Sydney’s beaches, including Maroubra beach for this ‘pastime.’

Read: Drowning in Little Bay Prompts Call to Observe Increased Rock Fishing Safety Measures

A research by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) in partnership with the University of Melbourne revealed that over 1.2 million people in Australia – around 8 per cent of the population – go rock fishing each year.

The NSW Government declared rock fishing as one of the most dangerous sports in Australia, highlighting that it’s the second most common cause of drowning, next to swimming. The sport has led to 192 deaths between 2004 and 2019.

With rock fishing becoming increasingly popular, authorities continue to remind rock fishers to follow these safety tips:

Stay alert to weather forecasts and warnings

rock fishing nsw — Photo credit: Randwick City Council/Facebook

According to SLSA, previous safety measures were based on the belief that rock-fishing deaths were usually caused by unpredictable, ‘freak’ waves. The research team disproved this belief after discovering that danger arises instead from inexperienced rock fishers’ failure to recognise hazardous ocean conditions.

Check severe weather warnings or coastal waters forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology before leaving home.

Choose the safest location

the stake maroubra — Maroubra beach (Photo credit: Gordon/Google Maps)

Ask local people and experienced anglers (rod and line fishers) about the safest areas to fish.

In Maroubra, there’s a popular spot for rock fishing, also known as “The Stake.” If you’re not that familiar with the area, simply avoid it when you can. There have been a total of three deaths in the said spot, according to Council’s signage.

Wear the right clothing

The Marine Area Command of NSW Police Force recommends wearing an approved lifejacket and appropriate non-slip footwear and light clothing.

For adults, lifejackets must meet Australian Standard AS 4758 level 50S or greater. In NSW, there’s a wide range of approved lifejackets to suit different activities and conditions. To see which one is right for you, check out this list of approved types of lifejackets.

Lastly, never fish alone. Inform others of your plans or have an escape route in case you’re washed in. For more information about rock fishing lifejacket law and declared areas, visit NSW Government’s website.

Rate Increase to Impact Residents of Maroubra, Malabar, and Matraville

A rate increase has been proposed in the 2022-23 Operational Budget that will see the completion of facility upgrades across Maroubra, Malabar and Matraville.

Council announced that it’s pushing for a 2.5 per cent rate increase and a 2.5 per cent domestic waste charge for the incoming financial year, which should generate enough revenues to deliver the following projects:

MAROUBRA

Finishing the Heffron Centre, the newest community sporting facility at Maroubra’s Heffron Park
Construction of new seating and shaded netball court area at Heffron Park Netball Centre
Stage one of Heffron Park Criterion Loop construction
Replacement of the Des Renford Leisure Centre indoor pool roof and upgrading the poor filtration system
Construction of a new amenities block at South Maroubra Beach
Upgrade to the Heffron Park irrigation and drainage systems
Upgrade to Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club
Local road upgrades – Burnie Kelly Dr, The Causeway, Gale Rd, Scott Lane, Portland Cres, Wride St, Maroubra Rd, Osprey Court, Hughes Ave, Beauchamp Rd
Local footpath works – Anzac Pde, Malabar Rd, Torrington Rd, Fitzgerald Ave

MALABAR

Design work on Pioneers Park Club House refurbishment
Upgrade works to Malabar Memorial Hall and Malabar Community Library
Local road upgrade – Victoria Ln, Fishermans Rd
Local footpath works – Zions Ave, Howe St.

MATRAVILLE

Upgrade works to Malabar Memorial Hall and Malabar Community Library
Local road upgrade – Shirley Cres, Daunt Ave.
Local footpath works – Eastern Rd, Windsor St.

Thus, residents are encouraged to fill out their inputs on the 2022-23 Operational Plan and Budget online.

The consultation period for the rate increase will run until Friday, 27 May 2022. Council said that all submissions will be considered before finalising the plans.

Residents may also send their inputs through email – council@randwick.nsw.gov.au or snail mail – 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031.

Shark Mitigation Technologies Deployed in NSW Beaches Including Maroubra Beach

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council / randwick.nsw.gov.au

Did you know that shark mitigation technologies are being trialled along Randwick’s coastline? These technologies – SMART drumlines and shark listening stations – were rolled out in February this year, along with drones flying over NSW beaches, including Maroubra Beach.

Following Randwick Council’s decision in April 2021 approving the deployment of shark mitigation technologies in cooperation with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real-Time) drumlines and listening stations were deployed along Randwick coastlines in February 2022.

These tools were put in place in at least 21 locations, 500 metres off the coastline to catch, tag, release and monitor dangerous sharks, and will complement the two shark nets already positioned in Maroubra and Coogee.

What exactly are SMART drumlines and listening stations?

A SMART drumline is a baited hook attached to two buoys and equipped with a GPS that can send alerts to contractors when an animal takes the bait. The contract boats then go to the site to tag the shark with an acoustic tag before taking it about one kilometre offshore and finally releasing the animal.

SMART drumlines are shown to be 15 times more efficient than nets in catching target sharks and are less likely to catch non-target animals. As a result, animals caught by these tools have 99 per cent of survival as compared to 40 per cent in nets.

Listening stations, on the other hand, are buoys that are capable of sending real-time alerts to the SharkSmart app, website and Twitter account whenever a tagged shark is detected to be within 500 metres. It provides the date and time, the location where it was previously detected and where it was tagged.

See the Shark Smart map here.

“They don’t often stick to one beach and ‘lurk’,” said Dr Paul Butcher, Principal Research Scientist with the DPI who has been tracking sharks since 2015.

“They move quite vast distances. We’ve seen one white shark travel to WA and back three times. It’s covered more than 40,000kms since it was first tagged in 2016.

“The benefit of this program is that we primarily catch the species that are responsible for most serious shark bites in NSW.”

Non-lethal alternatives

Along with these technologies, drones are also being used on 50 NSW beaches including Maroubra Beach. Dr Butcher is currently working on a program that would make autonomous, image recognition software-equipped drones that could fly over beaches and detect shark presence close to the beach and alert lifeguards who would usher beachgoers to safety.

Another research project aims to eliminate the need to capture sharks altogether. The project involves some environmental DNA sampling of water columns to “detect spikes or troughs that would indicate the presence or absence of white, tiger and bull sharks.” Dr Butcher said that a one-litre sample of water is enough to determine the presence of dangerous sharks in the region.

According to International Shark Attack File data, Australia ranks second in the world when it comes to the number of unprovoked shark bites in 2021. There have been just 12 unprovoked incidents recorded in 2021 which is lower than the region’s recent five-year annual average of 16 and significantly lower than the top ranked USA’s 47 incidents.

New South Wales recorded six incidents – two were fatal – whilst Western Australia had four and one of which was fatal. Queensland and Victoria have one incident each.

Sleepless in Maroubra: Mom Stayed Up to Wait for Life-Changing News

A mother from Maroubra spent one sleepless night waiting for the great news that would change her and her daughter’s life.

The Maroubra woman was expecting a call that would confirm her million-dollar windfall after watching the Division One draw on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

She was holding the proof in her hand when the Division One winner was announced but she wanted to hear the official call.

When she finally got the life-changing call, The Lott informed her that she had won $1,093,753.75.

“I checked my ticket last night on The Lott app and saw that I’d won division one,” the woman said.

“I couldn’t believe it! I was shaking so much.

“I screamed out to my daughter to check my ticket for me. We were so happy. There were lots of hugs and kisses.

“I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I just felt so happy and excited! I didn’t want to miss your call, so I stayed by the phone all night.

“My family kept calling me last night, too, checking to see if it was real. It was hilarious!

“It’s a dream come true.

“I want to get a bigger house for all the kids and grandkids to enjoy, so they can come and visit whenever they want.

“I’ll help my kids and then use the rest to enjoy retirement.”

The winner bought her ticket at Pacific Square News along Anzac Parade in Maroubra. The shop’s team was thrilled for the Maroubra mom and wished her all the best.

So far, The Lott’s Division One winners have reached over 360 this financial year and 119 have been from New South Wales.