Key events
Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop is a multibillion-dollar vision for a ‘city of centres’ – but how long will it take?
Benita Kolovos
When Dan Andrew’s Victorian government released the business case for the Suburban Rail Loop in 2021, in the middle of yet another Covid-19 lockdown, much of the coverage focused on the cost – $34.5bn for the first stage alone.
But contained within the 400-page document was also a new vision for the city of Melbourne. It read:
SRL is much more than a transport project.
It will transform Melbourne into a ‘city of centres’ – supporting vibrant precincts outside the central business district that will provide more high quality jobs, greater housing options, and green and open space in attractive, well-connected neighbourhoods.
After the release of draft vision papers earlier this month, it’s becoming clearer how the project will reshape the first six areas along the SRL East line: Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.
Here’s what we know so far:
Queensland’s power demand expect to spike again as heatwave rolls on
Peter Hannam
Queensland is set for another scorching day as the sunshine state more than lives up to its moniker, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Queensland is in the midst of a multi-day heatwave, with temperatures tipped to rise into the mid-40C range in some inland places on Friday. Brisbane’s maximum is forecast to reach 37C, with nearby towns nudging 40C. (Source: @bom_au) pic.twitter.com/7jVmEO02oC
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) December 28, 2023
Actually, it’s not just Queensland but also much of northern Australia that is roasting in unusually hot weather. (And while some people will say, “this is just summer”, it’s worth noting that native species have their thermal limits, as we’ve seen in past heatwaves.)
Across northern Australia, some high 40C temperatures may be reached in the next couple of days. (Marble Bar may be among the hottest with a 10-day stint of 45C+ days possible, including 48C forecast for Saturday.) pic.twitter.com/M8v1gnToPV
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) December 28, 2023
The Christmas-new year period is typically one of relatively low electricity demand because most of industry is taking a break, and roof-top solar and solar farms are harvesting that sunshine.
So it was interesting to see Queensland had one of its heaviest days for power demand yesterday, with supplies nearing record levels, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Given that today looks likely to be hotter than yesterday in the populated south-east of the state, it’s not surprising that Aemo is forecasting power demand to peak a bit higher.
Paul McArdle, an energy expert at Global-Roam, noted on his Watt Clarity website that the demand jump comes even as about 50,000 households remain offline because of the Christmas Day storms across parts of the state. (Media reports this morning put the number at about 35,000.)
As McArdle notes, we’re lucky the heatwave isn’t happening a bit later in the summer:
Imagine what would have happened to the demand levels had this same weather pattern hit us late in January or early February 2024 with industry and commercial industrial energy users back at work!?
He added that the state would “surely” break the all-time demand record of 10,119 megawatts if such heatwaves return then.
‘Only now are we starting to see some relief’
The price of petrol spiked globally after Saudi Arabia, Russia and Opec announced they would deliver sustained production cuts.
Record levels of oil production from the US and other non-Opec nations, coupled with ongoing uncertainty about the Chinese economy, has helped force downward pressure on prices and delivered petrol pump relief for Australian motorists this Christmas.
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said Australia’s exposure to the volatility of world oil prices was painfully apparent:
Fuel prices – and in particular diesel – have had a negative impact on the budgets of Australian families and our nation’s economy throughout much of 2023 and only now are we starting to see some relief.
Australia’s economy runs on diesel with so much of our goods and services delivered by heavy freight. It also drives key industries like agriculture, mining and manufacturing, so higher diesel prices throughout 2023 have reverberated across all sections of our society.
– AAP
Australia’s most expensive cities for petrol revealed
Drivers in Brisbane bore the brunt of record petrol prices this year with the Queensland capital the nation’s most expensive city to put fuel in the tank.
Regular unleaded cost on average 193.4 cents a litre, an NRMA analysis of 2023 petrol prices across the nation revealed.
It was a different story for Perth, which had the lowest average for regular unleaded at 183.9 cents a litre, cementing the city’s place as cheapest or second cheapest capital since 2017.
Adelaide, which has one of the strongest concentrations of independent service stations in the country, recorded the second cheapest price for the year at 186 cents a litre.
Sydney’s average of 190.7 cents a litre made the harbour city the fourth cheapest capital, despite being the nation’s largest market.
Record petrol prices and a continuation of highly volatile movements in global oil prices in 2023 contributed significantly to the nation’s inflation crisis and rising interest rates.
In September petrol prices reached the highest on record in Australia.
– AAP
(More to come on this one … )
Man accused of exposing himself to children at Melbourne beach
A 52-year-old man has been charged with lewd behaviour in front of teenage girls at St Kilda in Melbourne’s south-east.
Detectives arrested the man at Preston in Melbourne’s north-east yesterday after Victoria police in October called for the public’s help to find the person behind incidents in the St Kilda area on Boxing Day 2022 and January 8 2023.
Both allegedly involved a man approaching teenage girls then exposing himself and performing a lewd act.
The first took place on Beaconsfield Parade at Middle Park and the second happened near the water on the popular St Kilda beach, police alleged.
Officers raided a home at Heidelberg Heights in Melbourne’s north-east and seized a number of items before they arrested the man, who was charged with a total of 13 offences.
The charges included performing a sexual act in the presence of a child, directing sexual activity at another person, sexual exposure and committing offences while on bail.
The 52-year-old was granted bail to face Melbourne magistrates court today.
– AAP
Alive primed to claim Sydney to Hobart overall win
Tasmanian yacht Alive is in the box seat to take out Sydney to Hobart yacht race’s overall honours, with skipper Duncan Hine confident the 66-footer has a winning time on the board.
Hine and his crew finished the 628-nautical-mile blue water classic yesterday afternoon as clubhouse leaders on handicap time.
Alive is no stranger to success, having claimed the overall win in 2018 and fourth spot in 2019. Hine said:
It’s a waiting game. We’re looking good, though. I believe we could do it again, but the reality may be different. Now we wait with bated breath to see if anyone can beat our time.
Alive was one of just six yachts to have crossed the River Derwent finish line by last night, with more than 80 still at sea.
– AAP
How Hobart and Adelaide are bringing in 2024
The Hobart waterfront is expected to be packed as spectators celebrate 25 years since the city’s first New Year’s Eve river fireworks.
Lord mayor Anna Reynolds said the $127,000 event would include two nine-minute shows from multiple barges on the Derwent.
In Adelaide, revellers can enjoy 9pm and midnight fireworks coupled with live music at a Riverbank event.
– AAP
What’s in store for Brisbane’s NYE
Brisbane’s official New Year’s Eve event has not been altered despite heatwave conditions in the days beforehand.
An event at South Bank Parklands will include two fireworks displays along the Brisbane River, one at 8.30pm and one at midnight.
Gold Coast council was yesterday considering cancelling some events, with a possible risk of fire amid heatwave conditions and emergency services continuing to respond to storm-damaged homes.
But it continued to list fireworks events on its website, including at 8pm at Coomera Sports Park and Broadwater Parklands, 8.30pm at Lake Orr Varsity Promenade and 9pm at Paradise Point Parklands.
– AAP
Western Australia’s NYE festivities
WA will celebrate the New Year with community events, parties and fireworks displays across the state.
Perth city will be treated to two explosive displays, one at 8pm from a barge on the Swan River and a second at 11.59pm, when fireworks on top of buildings dotted across the city announce the arrival of 2024.
New Year’s Eve fireworks are also planned in Karratha, Esperance, Albany and Pemberton, on Rottnest Island and the Cocos Islands, at Rockingham, Mandurah and a handful of other Perth beach and riverfront suburbs.
– AAP
What to expect from Melbourne’s NYE
In Melbourne, a similar New Year’s Eve crowd to 2022 is expected, when a record 475,000 people flooded the CBD.
A midnight fireworks display will showcase more lasers and projections than previous years, lighting up the skyline from 27 rooftops.
The City of Melbourne has designated four “celebration zones” where families can watch the 9.30pm fireworks, and measures will be in place to avoid pedestrian “pinch points”, including closing the Elizabeth Street underpass, lord mayor Sally Capp said:
We are expecting a safe and sparkling New Year’s Eve for hundreds of thousands of Melburnians and Victorians who will come into the city to celebrate.
Thousands of police officers will be out in force and conducting an operation to find people carrying weapons on New Year’s Eve.
Across Victoria, public transport will be free from 6pm on New Year’s Eve to 6am on New Year’s Day.
– AAP
How Sydney is welcoming the new year
New Year’s Eve revellers across Australia are preparing to farewell 2023 with multiple cities set to sparkle with fireworks, light shows and illuminations.
Sydney will be one of the first major cities in the world to celebrate the start of the new year and will set the tone with 20 minutes of fireworks in two displays, a smoking ceremony, AI-driven projections on to the Harbour Bridge and illuminated boats on the water.
People wanting to celebrate from one of many non-ticketed foreshore vantage points are being urged to use public transport rather than travel by car. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure their spot.
– AAP
(Keep an eye out for a few posts to come on other cities and their celebrations!)
Fierce heatwave conditions to scorch northern Australia
Temperatures are expected to soar across most of northern Australia over the coming days.
Parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia face extreme to severe heatwave conditions from today, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Winton in Queensland’s west is expecting 43C, while temperatures up to 37C are forecast for Gympie in the state’s storm-ravaged south-east.
Highs up to 36C are predicted in Brisbane today, while Longreach in the state’s west is forecast to reach to 47C at the weekend.
More than 42,000 people remained without power across south-east Queensland yesterday as the state recorded higher than average temperatures.
In the Northern Territory, temperatures today are predicted to reach 40C in Katherine and 43C in Tennant Creek.
Marble Bar in WA’s Pilbara region may reach 49C tomorrow and temperatures up to 45C are expected there for the next six days.
– AAP
Emergency alert for Port Douglas, Mossman and Newell beach
Residents of Port Douglas, Mossman and Newell beach in Queensland have been urged to conserve water and cease non-essential water use in an emergency alert issued by the Douglas shire council.
Residents are advised that water infrastructure in the area has been affected by a landslip, which has resulted in a lower rate of water production, according to a Queensland fire emergency service statement:
Water storage is currently at critical levels.
More severe thunderstorms forecast across NYE weekend
New Year’s Eve could be a wet one for parts of eastern Australia, with more severe weather forecast for the weekend.
(Meanwhile, northern Australia can expect fierce heatwave conditions – more to come on that.)
The Bureau of Meteorology says widespread showers and possibly thunderstorms are to return to NSW and Queensland from today.
North-east NSW will bear the brunt of the rain in the state, with isolated and possibly severe thunderstorms into Sunday. Scattered showers are forecast for the remainder of the coast, with the chance of storms.
Severe thunderstorms return to parts of eastern Australia from this weekend, including on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings, particularly heading into the final weekend of 2023. pic.twitter.com/WxR06TxKn6
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 28, 2023
Queensland is also expected to be hit by wet weather, with isolated showers and thunderstorms forecast across much of the state tomorrow, apart from the far south-west. Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully says:
Severe thunderstorms are possible … between St Lawrence and Redcliffe, although activity will not be as widespread compared to previous days.
Isolated gusty thunderstorms are also possible over western South Australia, alongside showers and storms for eastern South Australia and northern Victoria.
There is a risk of severe thunderstorms around Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter region.
– AAP
Good morning
This is Rafqa Touma, and here are the headlines that rolled in overnight.
As the new year approaches, heatwave conditions will spread across northern Australia, while the east coast can expect more thunderstorms and showers. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts rain will probably have cleared for midnight firework celebrations in major cities, with Brisbane set to be the wettest.
Tents and caravans were swept away during 30-minute deluge that inundated Buchan campsite, with holidaymakers describing the terrifying moment a wall of water inundated the popular camping site in regional Victoria on Boxing Day, leaving two people dead and millions of dollars’ worth of damage.
A teenage boy died after a shark attack near Ethel Beach in South Australia and a kayaker has died in waters off Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
I’ll be rolling the blog through the day – if you see anything you don’t want us to miss, send it my way on X, formerly Twitter, at @At_Raf.