West Gippsland Week

It's spring in southern Australia, so all creatures great and small are working to deliver the next generation. In some cases, like magpies, this means hyper-vigilance to threats which sometime causes perceived threats (such as humans) to be warned off by swooping. How to lessen the risk and get on with our wildlife.

Some spectacular videos of electric cars burning in cargo ships has raised some concerns in the public, but it appears that the facts don't back up such concern

Cruelty to animals reports are increasing putting costs onto the RSPCA, who are enforcing state laws with their own fundraising. Repeat offenders are increasing as well raising the need to stronger deterrence. Both issues are being raised ahead of the coming state election.

An Adelaide University team have examined the best combination of solar panels and batteries for maximum return. We also consider the factors to consider before accepting the options of apparently cheap rates offers in power bills, and the developing idea of "virtual power plants".

H5N1 doesn't only affect birds. It has been found to kill some mammals, including pets. The RSPCA has ideas on what you need to do to protect your pets.

Sean Dooley is a knowledgeable birdo and policy advocate with Birdlife Australia. We discuss in detail the impact on native birds in australia whose genetics have not encountered this disease before, and the preparation, and lack of it, by authorities.

We discuss the on-going controversy about rubbish collection, with the State opposition chiming in, we discuss the other issues council is raising with candidates, and the process when a Councillor chooses to stand for election. We also touch on the new community consultation policy which now looks at how to cope with AI generated submissions, and a new flood mapping planning overlay which may aff...

Full replay of our chat with Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham, in which he defends proposals by te Liberal leadership to mandates "red bin" collection and cap road tolls. He also takes a swip at One Nation's leader for standing in a seat that is considered winnable, rather than his residential community.

Several Battery Energy Storage System proposals are in the application process around west gippsland and raising much miss-understanding, miss-information and even husteria, so here we seek explanations for what is proposed and what the real risks are.

Warragul RSL has a strong focus on supporting veterans with health issues and getting appropriate support from Veterans Affairs, and in this chat we discuss their services with Ben Vahland, immediate past president and welfare manager, and he also raises the wide concern about decisions to cap some medical services

EV cars have been selling strongly in recent months in Australia, at an average rate of one every 77 seconds, so will the charging infrastructure match this surge?

Well intention-ed efforts to assist wild life following disasters such as the wild-fires on Kangaroo Island can be counter-productive unless done with knowledge. Prof Sophie Pettit from Adelaide University has done some of the research required.

Is hoarding a symptom of anxiety? In at least some cases, so we chat with psychotherapist Chris Roering about it and how to tackle the issue.

After the huge Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse a redress scheme was established but demand has well outstripped initial estimates to administration has been slow, and it is now due to close which risks many missing out. We discuss the issue, the problems with and benefits of the scheme, and the options victims have.

A survey by federation University aims to understand the ways in which phone apps are used in domestic abuse. We explore what is going on and how to be part of the survey.

There is much talk of critical minerals but what are they and are they a net benefit to our environment?

Employment in Australia appears to be statistically "full", but hours worked show many want more work, but employers still complain of insufficient skills in applicants. And further many are using automatic culling of written applications. What helps to get through this maze...

Home batteries come with several different chemistries with different performance. We explore some basic choices.

We discuss state politics with Wayne Farnham, member for Narracan in Victoria. We look at language in robust debate, the experience of late night sitting in parliament, the opening of a new rail tunnel in Melbourne and some fresh ideas to speed the supply of housing.

A recent report from Infrastructure Victoria (the state government organization that plans and recommends development) has set out the costs likely to be faced arising from continuing climate change

The increasing threat to our environment and safety presented by feral deer has prompted the start of an awareness campaign, the need for which we discuss with the manager from the federal department.

Increased scrutiny and aggression has increased the stress on umpires and referees and a recent survey has shown just how much it has become an issue, and looked at the threat to our sports if they do not continue to offer their services.

With batteries in almost everything these days, the need for much increased recycling is obvious. But the different chemistry and the many machines in which the batteries are built in makes it tricky. We discuss the problems with the industry association CEO.

Returning veterans from military service often need support across a range of medical issues and Warragul RSL has taken on the issues from the ground up. Beginning with opening a tranquil garden to advocacy and support for those seeking from the department of veteran affairs they have set out to actively back their members.

Simon Ortega is an employment consultant in Gippsland and we discuss current opportunities, future possibilities and approaching applications from the point of view of the employer.