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NSW Herbarium goes global with state-of-the-art platform

People from around the world can now access digital records of more than one million plants with the launch of the first searchable image archive from the National Herbarium of New South Wales.

The Herbarium is located at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and holds specimens from across the Pacific region for critical biodiversity, ecological, and evolutionary research studies.

Over the past five years, scientists from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney have archived and digitised the entire collection, including more than 800 specimens collected by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander on Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific in 1770.

The new platform is the most comprehensive searchable image archive in Australia, and the first and largest mass digitisation of a natural history collection undertaken in the southern hemisphere. Around 4,000 images were taken daily to transform the plant specimens into a high-resolution image.

The digitisation process has already revealed new discoveries of Australia’s botanical science history, including specimens collected by celebrated Indigenous painter Albert Namatjira and illustrations by renowned botanical illustrator Margaret Flockton.

The collection of high-resolution images has been uploaded to Amazon Web Services (AWS), who are providing free storage as part of the AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program. The program covers the cost of storage for publicly available datasets, supporting community access to the records for the first time.

People can visit the Botanic Gardens of Sydney Herbarium search portal and search for plants using scientific name, collection date, collector and other criteria. The search result will reveal the images of the plants and collection data associated with the specimen.

Acting Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The National Herbarium of New South Wales located in Western Sydney is one of the most significant botanical resources in the southern hemisphere.

“For the first time, scientists and plant enthusiasts can now access hundreds of years of botanical history to learn about Australia’s unique biodiversity.”

Chief Executive, Botanic Gardens of Sydney Simon Duffy said:

“To see the transformation from an 18^th century specimen library to a cutting-edge digital collection for public use is quite extraordinary.

“Technological advancements such as this also help foster better collaboration with educators and students, decision-makers, private land holders and managers, and community groups to help save plants from extinction in this rapidly changing world.”

Chief Technologist Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, Simon Elisha, said:

“AWS is proud enable the digitisation of over one million priceless plant specimens by the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.”

“Leveraging our scalable cloud and AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney has created a globally accessible digital treasure trove that can revolutionise botanical research and conservation.”

Families left struggling while Labor fails to deliver for NSW

Two years ago, Anthony Albanese grabbed Chris Minns by the hand, parading him as his mate and welcoming him as the new NSW Premier. Fast forward to today, and Chris Minns and his ministers now avoid being seen with the Prime Minister, knowing full well their policies mirror Canberra’s failures.

New South Wales is hurtling towards an economic dead end, shackled by the same small target policies and failed priorities that are crippling households under the Albanese Labor Government in Canberra. The similarities between the two governments have proven disastrous for families and businesses alike.

Under Labor, New South Wales is enduring its slowest economic growth in more than three decades. The state’s economy is projected to expand by a pitiful 0.75 per cent this financial year, a dramatic downgrade from the already bleak 2 per cent forecast just six months ago. These numbers are not just statistics—they are the grim reality faced by families struggling to keep their heads above water amidst skyrocketing living costs, stagnating private sector wages, and soaring housing prices.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor’s mismanagement has left New South Wales households exposed to economic pain, echoing the same failures unfolding under the Albanese Government.

“The Treasurer waited until days before Christmas to try and hide the dire truth about the state of our economy, hoping no one would notice. But let’s be clear—there is no hiding from the facts. Labor has no plan to turn this state around, and the only spark they can find is in spin and excuses,” Mr Tudehope said.

We have two Labor governments, federally and in New South Wales, united in failure. Both promised hope and delivered despair. Families are hurting, businesses are folding, and economic growth has stalled. Meanwhile, Labor’s only response is to keep pretending there is nothing to see here.

Economists are painting a bleak picture of what lies ahead. Westpac warns that NSW’s economic engine is “running low on fuel”. Despite this, the Minns Labor Government continues to ignore the warning signs, just like their mates in Canberra, who have buried projections showing Australians face almost a decade of lost living standard.

In just 78 days, the Premier will stand up alongside his Treasurer and try to convince New South Wales that in two years, Labor has achieved something substantial. The reality? Small targets and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for infrastructure projects inherited from the Liberals and Nationals.

The Premier’s Department is already scrambling to create Excel spreadsheets, spin documents, and talking points to dress up their failures as successes so they can issue a media release saying look at what we have achieved and separately create window dressing answers for the government for budget estimates next month. But the truth is clear—they have delivered little, while wages are blowing out, and there’s no real infrastructure pipeline on the horizon.

We know that a fiscal cliff is coming as wage blowouts spiral out of control, yet this government has failed to deliver any new infrastructure projects of its own.

The Treasurer and his Labor colleagues want us to believe they have things under control, but the reality couldn’t be more different. The Minns Labor is following the Albanese Labor Government down the same destructive path—and it’s the people of New South Wales who are paying the price.

Housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures, and sluggish economic growth are set to plague New South Wales for years to come, mirroring the crisis facing Australians nationwide under the Albanese Government.

NSW is worse off under the Minns Labor Government.

$7.2 billion in new funding from the Australian Government to fix Bruce Highway

Queenslanders deserve a long term plan for essential infrastructure, and the Albanese Government is delivering that certainty as we build Australia’s future.

The Albanese Government will provide an additional $7.2 billion to upgrade and fix the Bruce Highway in Queensland, to bring it up to a minimum three-star safety rating.

This historic funding is the single largest investment ever into the Bruce Highway, and brings the Australian Government’s total outlay for the 1,673 km road to more than $17 billion.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has estimated $9 billion will achieve a minimum of three out of five-star safety rating for the entirety of the Bruce.

In recognition of the Bruce Highway’s national importance, unique challenges and dire safety record, we are committing to funding 80 per cent of that $9 billion.

Key stakeholders, including RACQ, Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), and Queensland Tourism Industry Council along with everyday Queenslanders have called for more investment and a long-term plan to fix the Bruce.

While Peter Dutton is yet to commit a dollar to the iconic Highway, the Albanese Government has prioritised fixing this key transport corridor since coming to office.

The Bruce Highway has an average Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) crash rate three to five times higher than any major highway in New South Wales and Victoria.

As the major north-south corridor which connects Brisbane to the regional centres of Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the Bruce is critical to the movement of passengers, freight and tourists across the state – supporting around 62 per cent of the population in Queensland.

The new safety package will fast-track critical projects along the whole corridor, and will initially focus on priority sections north of Gympie that have been identified by stakeholders due to their higher than average crash rates.

Priority sections include Maryborough to Benaraby, Rockhampton to St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville and Ingham to Innisfail.

Projects within the package may include installing safety barriers, wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking; constructing wider shoulders; increasing run off areas, overtaking lanes and rest areas; and improving intersections, signage, and sight lines.

There will also be a focus on resealing and rehabilitating road surfaces for resilience to “Build Back Better”, thereby mitigating damage from increasing weather events.

The identification and prioritisation of projects funded under the package will be informed in consultation with the Queensland Government and the Bruce Highway Advisory Council, with works commencing in 2025.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I’ve driven the Bruce Highway many times, and I know the critical role it plays for Queenslanders, tourists and freight.

“Today’s announcement takes the total investment in the Bruce Highway to more than $17 billion.

“Queensland deserves a long-term plan, and that is what my Government is delivering.

“We’re getting on with building a better future for all Australians.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“We backed the Bruce with billions in the Budget and now we are investing billions more in the Highway that means so much to our regional and national economies.

“As a Queenslander I know how important the Bruce is to our state, from the south east corner to the tropical far north and everywhere in between.

“This is all about transporting people, goods and opportunities and linking and strengthening local communities and economies right around regional Queensland.

“As Treasurer and as a Queenslander I’m especially proud of the billions we’ve found to back the Bruce.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“Almost half the Bruce has a 2 star safety rating and that’s not good enough. This historic investment answers the call of Queenslanders to bring the Bruce up to a 3 star safety rating so Australians stop losing their loved ones on this road.

“We are providing a significant and long-term commitment to fixing the Bruce, and I call on the Queensland Government to partner with us to get this done.”

Appeal to locate missing teenage girl – Mayfield

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Newcastle area.

Shilah Imbornone, aged 16, was last seen in Mayfield about 1pm on Tuesday (17 December 2024).

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to the Newcastle City Police District were notified on Tuesday 31 December 2024 and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Shilah’s welfare due to her age.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of thin build with brown hair and brown eyes.

Shilah is known to frequent the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Newcastle City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Free fitness station puts active ageing on the agenda

Older Novocastrians have a new way to enjoy the benefits of getting fit and staying active thanks to a collaboration between City of Newcastle, Port Waratah and the Hunter Ageing Alliance.

A fitness station has been installed in Maryville between the Drop In The Ocean Playground and the Throsby Creek bridge, featuring a range of age-friendly exercise equipment such as a leg and chest press, stretch station, exercise bike, elliptical trainer and a shoulder mobility wheel.

City of Newcastle’s Recreational Projects Officer Ben Barrett, Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge, Karen Marples from Port Waratah Coal Services, Dr John Ward from the Hunter Ageing Alliance and Natasha Whyte from ActiveStrongerBetter join some regular users of the Maryville fitness station.

The project was delivered by City of Newcastle, which also invested $40,000, after the Hunter Ageing Alliance successfully secured a $40,000 grant from Port Waratah’s Community Investment program.

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said City of Newcastle is always striving to make the city more inclusive and accessible.

“We’re committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community,” Cr Kerridge said.

“Age-friendly fitness equipment means everyone can participate, providing older residents the same opportunities to remain physically, intellectually, and socially active as younger residents.

“I’m particularly enthusiastic about this project as a Doctor. Exercise is a key part of what’s called prehabilitation in medicine, which is a process that aims to enhance a patient’s physical and psychological function to support them before, during and after surgery. This can improve survival rates after major operations and leads to a faster and better recovery. My colleagues at John Hunter Hospital are national leaders in this new field of medicine.

“This project exemplifies the goals of City of Newcastle’s Disability and Inclusion Action Plan to create and contribute to liveable and accessible public places.”

CEO of Port Waratah Coal Services, Hennie du Plooy, said this is a great example of a community organisation identifying an opportunity to benefit our city.

“Port Waratah is proud to be an active member of our local community and to partner with community organisations to make Newcastle a more active, smarter and sustainable city,”
Mr du Plooy said.

“Our collaboration with Hunter Ageing Alliance and City of Newcastle to install new exercise stations in Maryville has delivered free-to-access, long-term equipment to enhance local lifestyles, health and wellbeing for people of all ages in a picturesque setting along Throsby Creek.”

Dr John Ward from the Hunter Ageing Alliance said the evidence for the benefit of exercise for older people is overwhelming.

“Exercise allows for maintained independence, helps people stay at home longer and builds confidence,” Dr Ward said.

“Exercise is the most effective strategy for the prevention of falls injuries and Type 2 Diabetes and helps with the treatment of most chronic health conditions.

“It’s important to have exercise equipment in public spaces that is user-friendly for older people but can be used by anyone.

“We hope this equipment can be the first of many such exercise hubs in public areas in Newcastle.”

Appeal to locate teenage girl missing from Newcastle

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Newcastle area.

Serena-Rose Mallia, aged 15, was last seen in Blackhill about 3pm on Tuesday (31 December 2024).

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to the Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Serena’s welfare due to her age.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall, of medium build and brown hair with blonde highlights.

Police believe Serena-Rose may be in the Balmain area in Sydney’s inner west.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.