You can read a statement from federal minister Gary Gray here:

THE HON GARY GRAY AO MP

SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE

MEDIA RELEASE

2 February 2012

KUNUNURRA AIRPORT READY FOR TAKE OFF

Economic development in Kununurra will take an important step forward tomorrow with Special Minister of State, Gary Gray officially opening a refurbished and expanded Kununurra Airport.

The Kununurra airport redevelopment was made possible through the Australian Government’s East Kimberley Development Package and the West Australian Government’s Regional Airports Development Scheme.

Gary Gray has a special link with the East Kimberley having worked extensively with Brendon Grylls, the Leader of the WA Nationals to implement the Federal Government’s East Kimberley Redevelopment Package.

Mr Gray praised the partnership arrangement between three levels of government and local Indigenous leaders in achieving an important outcome for the community of the East Kimberley.

“This is an example of how funding partnering by the Commonwealth, State and Local Governments can deliver benefits for communities,” he said.

“The $8.68 million airport redevelopment will ensure Kununurra Airport is a gateway to the region as it is the only airport offering regular flights to Perth, Broome and Darwin.

“Heavy wet seasons often result in this area being cut off from essential outside services and deliveries. The airport is a crucial piece of infrastructure which enables people and goods to enter or leave from the region and especially supports tourism and economic development.

“The airport now has the capacity to meet predicted local and tourist demand. The completion of this project is an important building block to achieving the goals that the Federal Government’s East Kimberley Development Package set out to deliver. Developing our transport infrastructure is one such crucial goal.

“With a small, widely dispersed population, effective transport infrastructure is critical to the economic development of the region. The redevelopment of the airport also provided short-term employment benefits for the people of the region. Developing jobs is as important as developing vital infrastructure” the Minister said.

“36 people were employed during this project, including 7 Indigenous people. This provided meaningful employment for this community and ensured long term skill development,” he said.

Event details:

Opening of Kununurra Regional Airport Expansion Project

Date: Friday 3 February 2012

Time: 1700 – 1900

Venue: East Kimberley Regional Airport, Victoria Highway, Kununurra, WA

Kim Hames

An internal police report recommended an inquiry into last year’s “Racing the Planet” marathon at El Questro.

The report found the event, in which two women were badly burned, placed undue stress on local health and emergency services and and inquiry needed to be made into the organisers and their management.

This appear to contradict Minister Kim Hames’ statement that there is “no avenue” to hold an inquiry.

PerthNow [read this story]

A wilderness lodge accessible only by seaplane opens on 1 April.

Sydney Morning Herald [read this story]

He says he broke down near Timber Creek in the Northern Territory, and his automobile club had him towed 300 kilometres back to Katherine rather than 150 kilometres to Kununurra.

Adelaide Now [read this story]

Police charged Thomas Camus, 22, of grievous bodily harm last week after Mr Dixon died of a stab wound on Christmas Day, however the charge has now been upgraded to murder.

ABC [read this story]

They allege Thomas Camus, 22, of Paris stabbed Mr Dixon outside the Bungalow Bar causing his death.

ABC [read this story]

Thomas Camus, 22, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

The West Australian [read this story]

Mr Money, who is deputy principal at Derby District High School, spends every second Christmas at Perth’s popular holiday retreat.

The West Australian [read this story]

Courtesy Atlanta Commissioner Emma L Darnell

The deadly Murray Valley Encephalitis and Kunjin viruses have been reported in the Kimberley this season.

The health department warns everyone to take care to avoid mosquito bites.

You can read a media release here:

Communications

Media Statement

9 December 2011

Widespread activity of mosquito-borne diseases in Western Australia

The Department of Health is advising people living or travelling through the Kimberley and Wheatbelt regions of WA to take care to avoid mosquito bites following detection of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) and Kunjin (KUN) viruses for the first time in the 2011-2012 season.

The Department of Health’s surveillance program (undertaken by The University of Western Australia) has detected Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) in the Kimberley and also detected activity of the related Kunjin (KUN) virus in the Wheatbelt region.

Department of Health Acting Medical Entomologist Dr Peter Neville said it was unusual to detect activity of these viruses this early in the northern wet season, but above average rainfall during October and November in both regions had resulted in populations of biting mosquitoes that could be carrying these viruses.

“Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin viruses are carried by mosquitoes, and while the risk of being infected and becoming unwell is low, the illnesses can be severe and people should take sensible precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” Dr Neville said.

“Initial symptoms of MVE include fever, drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness and people experiencing these symptoms should seek medical advice quickly. In severe cases, people may experience fits, lapse into a coma, may be left with permanent brain damage or die.

“In young children, fever might be the only early sign, so parents should see their doctor if concerned, particularly if their child experiences drowsiness, floppiness, irritability, poor feeding, or general distress.

“Infection with Kunjin can cause symptoms that are similar to Ross River virus disease, such as swollen and aching joints, fever and rash. However in rare cases, Kunjin, like MVE, can cause more severe symptoms which include headache, neck stiffness, fever, delirium and coma.

“There are no specific cures or vaccines for MVE or Kunjin viruses so it is very important that people take care to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.

“The type of mosquito that carries these viruses is most active around sunset and after dark, so this warning particularly applies to people undertaking outdoor activities during the evening and night in both regions,” Dr Neville said.

Dr Neville said controlling mosquitoes in regional areas of WA was generally not possible because of the sheer size and inaccessibility of natural mosquito breeding habitat.

People do not need to alter their plans to visit the north-west or wheatbelt as a result of this warning, but it is important to avoid mosquito bites by taking a few simple steps, such as:

• avoiding areas of high mosquito activity, especially around dawn and dusk;
• wearing protective (long, loose-fitting) clothing when outdoors;
• using a personal repellent containing diethyl toluamide (DEET) or picaridin. The most effective and long-lasting formulations are lotions or gels.  Most natural or organic repellents are not as effective as DEET or picaridin or need to be reapplied more frequently;
• ensuring insect screens are installed and completely mosquito-proof: use mosquito nets and mosquito-proof tents;
• ensuring infants and children are adequately protected against mosquito bites, preferably with suitable clothing, bed nets or other forms of insect screening. Only infant-strength repellents should be used on small children.

]]> http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2011/12/beware-mosquito-born-viruses/feed/ 0 http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2011/12/horizontal-falls-chapple-criticises-premier-over-copper-project/ http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2011/12/horizontal-falls-chapple-criticises-premier-over-copper-project/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:05:53 +0000 admin http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/?p=23401

Robin Chapple MLC

Robin Chapple MLC is critical of the Premier for failing to rule out a copper mine at the Horizontal Waterfalls.

You can read his media release here:

ROBIN CHAPPLE MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

BARNETT MAY BE CONSIDERING HORIZONTAL COLLABORATION: GREENS

8 December 2011

Colin Barnett’s commitment to protect the West Kimberley’s Horizontal Waterfalls from mining operations is wavering, Greens MLC Robin Chapple said today.

“In August this year the Premier stated that he “supported protecting parts of the west Kimberley, including the Horizontal Waterfalls in Buccaneer Archipelago” but he now seems to be hedging his bets.”

“At the recent Pegasus Metals AGM the company made the claim that the Premier was supporting their copper mining project at Horizontal Waterfalls.”

“I followed up this statement with a Parliamentary Question as to whether Mr. Barnett would protect the area from copper mining, and the Premier’s answer was ambiguous as far as protecting the area is concerned.”

“Mr. Barnett’s answer was that the EPA declined to formally assess Pegasus exploration activity near the Waterfalls due to their low impact, despite both the exploration camp and drill site being very close to the waterfalls and visible from the air.”

“Local tour operators are not happy that a mining exploration site is clearly visible in an area long advertised, and regarded as, pristine. This is the beginning of the end for a tourism icon if the exploration is allowed to proceed, to say nothing of ongoing environmental impacts.”

“What is most outrageous about Mr. Barnett’s answer is that he concedes that his government will consider any proposal from Pegasus to mine the area, rather than reject it outright.”

“This flies in the face of the Premier’s prior commitment to protect the Horizontal Waterfalls from mining activity, and the Heritage Listing of the area by the Commonwealth. He appears to be playing both sides on the matter and in the process, endangering one of the country’s great environmental and tourism areas.”

“According to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, the State’s position is that ‘no exploration and mining will be allowed around the Horizontal Falls that would in any way compromise the environmental and tourism values of the Falls.’ Anyone who has been to the site would recognise that this should preclude any exploration or mining at all.”

“Mr. Barnett needs to clarify his position to both Pegasus and the local business people whose livelihoods depend on a viable, pristine future for the Horizontal Waterfalls.”

Mr. Barnett’s response to Mr. Chapple’s Parliamentary Question (PDF) is available here: http://bit.ly/tEv9lX

The full text (PDF) of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs letter regarding mining at the Horizontal Waterfalls is available here: http://bit.ly/tKrrNs

Robin Chapple MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872

41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

Phone: (08) 9486 8255 | Email: Robin.Chapple@mp.wa.gov.au | Freecall: 1800 138 610