Transport

Am I missing something or does this Federal Labor government have a problem with the Middle East? ... The government’s decision to reject extra Qatar Airways flights into Australia gives us a hint of what they are thinking ... Similar to live exports, the Government can give no coherent reason as to what makes up this social licence ...

At the bottom of all those outgoing planes is spare cargo space or what they call belly cargo which we can fill with rock lobster going to China and chilled lamb and beef going to the Middle East ... If the government is banking on boxed sheep meat replacing live exports, then its decision on Qatar is a step backwards.

In a major boost for domestic tourism,  Bonza  has revealed Darwin and Alice Springs as the airline’s newest destinations. The airline will add 12 new flights per week to and from the NT with three new routes - Sunshine Coast to Darwin, Gold Coast to Darwin and Melbourne to Alice Springs.

The ability of the Australian grains industry to compete internationally is being seriously hampered by supply chain inefficiencies, with recent record harvests highlighting a need for more capacity in the current network, a GrainGrowers commissioned report has found.  The ‘Connecting the Dots: Improving Australian Grain Supply Chain Efficiency’ report was compiled by independent global strategy consultancy LEK.  

With the rest of the world transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels to meet their own net zero goals, how can Australia develop its own successful sustainable aviation fuel industry? Aviation is one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise, contributing 2.5% of the world’s total carbon.

Recent DownsSteam steam engine trials have been successful through Wyreema, likely to be followed by passenger journeys in the region as soon as 2024. A couple of weeks ago, C16 Steam engine 106 went on its maiden trip having departed Drayton station at 10am before a large crowd of train enthusiasts.

There are many ways for people to escape life’s often mundane activities, some hook the van on and head to warmer climates, others traverse the globe to far flung destinations. These three couples decided to do it in style, sailing down the mighty Murray.

Toby Henson, famed for restoring the Pyap at Swan Hill, was joined by fellow skipper, Frank Tucker, in delivering the boat from Murray Downs to Moama … The addition of a bow thruster has made manoeuvring the Temeraire less stressful than just relying on the rudder.

A new Qantas flight schedule and the addition of one extra return flight per week to the Bendigo to Sydney route starts from Monday October 30. Following feedback provided to the airline, the new schedule allows passengers to travel Bendigo to Sydney return in a day, Monday to Friday.

It’s enough to make your heart beat faster: Dollars and visitor numbers graphs shooting skywards, heading for $5.3 billion (yes – with a “b”) in earnings from 2.7 million visitors. Wow. Before your blood pressure too goes through the roof, note that the numbers are demand targets, as operators were told by the Department of Tourism last week, in an update of what’s snappily called the T2030 Strategy.

Gowrie residents are concerned about the proposed North-South road corridor that will "split Gowrie in two" to provide easy transport from Highfields and Westbrook to Charlton. The atmosphere at last Thursday’s consultation meeting was tense.

This year’s 100th anniversary of the launching of the paddleboat Alexander Arbuthnot at Koondrook will be celebrated at a community event at the Koondrook Wharf and Apex Park on Friday, October 27 from 4pm – 7.30pm ... During the event, interpretive signage will be unveiled showcasing the extensive research from the Barham Koondrook Historical Society and volunteers on the local paddleboat history.

A new Sustainable Procurement Policy has been implemented across the State Government’s infrastructure and transport programs as we continue working to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 ... The introduction of this new policy by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport will ensure sustainability risks...

Harwood Slipway will continue the transformation into a more diversified marine precinct servicing vessels along Australia’s east coast after the Polaris Marine Group purchased the facility last week, signalling the beginning of a new marine dynasty for the Clarence – Polaris Marine Dockyards. Established in 1969, Harwood Slipway was focused on designing, building, and repairing ships...

Casino Truck Show became the biggest truck show in the Southern Hemisphere on Saturday, August 5, when about 600 trucks rolled into town. The Tiny Lollback Rig of the Show went to Luke Wilson, Bulmer’s Transport. Luke’s T908 rig has travelled 1.9 million kilometres.

When Maldon resident Kim Brownbill was a young boy, his family car was a Hupmobile – an American model automobile built in the early to mid-1900s ... the spectacular classic and vintage automobile collection that’s currently under the hammer with Donington Auctions and available to view at Kim’s private shed in Maldon.

A meeting held at Westbrook on Monday night provided some clarity on the Department of Transport and Main Road’s (TMR) proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, however some details still remain a mystery. The meeting was organised by concerned community members in conjunction with Member for Condamine Pat Weir.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) aerial firefighting capabilities received a significant boost with the arrival of a $9 million high-capacity waterbombing helicopter at Richmond. The new helicopter will allow for aerial firefighting at night and expand on existing air capabilities.

Port Kembla is now home to Australia's first commercial hydrogen refuelling station for zero emissions heavy road vehicles, in a major breakthrough towards de-carbonising the region’s 7,000 heavy vehicles ... "The H2Station will be the first practical piece of enabling infrastructure towards de-carbonising the region’s 7,000 heavy vehicles as we move towards a cleaner, greener future": Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty.

Last week the community of Nhill was surprised to find the Nhill Railway Station fenced off and out of bounds to the community, without any consultation, after being deemed unsafe for public use by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Local resident Margaret Millington said it was a sad situation and that "Sadly, the Nhill station is now inaccessible to passengers wishing to travel on the Overland.

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll confirmed the Labor Government has entered a new $11.5 million three-year agreement to fund the historic service, guaranteeing a future for the Overland train, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887. This Government investment will ensure the twice weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong will continue to run for the next three years.

Transitioning agriculture to low-emission vehicles will take time and requires a coordinated, strategic and responsive approach, with collaboration across the supply chain, GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said. The comments follow discussions on Transport of the Future at the Innovation Generation event in Adelaide, with presentations from John Deere, Viva Energy and Aclimate Partners.