Mineral Council Continues to Fight for Regulation of Port

BY PATRICK ALDERTON 

The NSW Minerals Council says it will push on with its campaign to declare the Port of Newcastle a regulated entity. 

Despite having their appeal against treasurer Josh Frydenberg rejected, the Minerals Council believes the port should be regulated. 

Since April last year, the port has refused at least five Australian Competition and Consumer Commission authorised bargaining processes. 

The NSW Minerals Council says they will continue to pursue all options for regulatory oversight of the port. 

Source: Port of Newcastle 

Researchers Team Up to Fight Ross River Virus

 BY PATRICK ALDERTON 

Researchers from the University of Newcastle have teamed up with the CSIRO, the NSW Department of Health, and the University of Melbourne to tackle the mosquito-borne Ross River Virus. 

The three-year project will use genomic sequencing, aiming to inform suppression strategies for the Aedes Vigilax species in the Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens areas. 

The Aedes Vigilax species, originating from coastal wetland areas such as swamps, mangroves and salt marshes, has one of the most widespread populations in Australia, and can fly many kilometres in a lifetime. 

CSIRO researcher Brendan Trewin says the project will be influenced by new advances in genomic sequencing to look at closely related mosquito populations and determine relationships between them. 

"Advances in technology mean we can sequence tiny amounts of DNA to track genetic differences of individual mosquito genomes and find distinct populations" Dr Trewin said. 

The CSIRO has extensive experience working to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. 

Pictured: Aedes Vigilax mosquito 
Image supplied by CSIRO 

Raymond Terrace Library vending machine providing free period packs

BY JAMES CARTER

Raymond Terrace Library has installed Port Stephens first 'Share the Dignity" vending machine to provide free period packs at the press of a button.

The vending machine aims to reduce period poverty in the local community and support access to safe, hygienic menstrual products. 

The system dispenses packs of 6 tampons and 2 pads to ensure that community members have access to basic sanitary items during their menstrual cycle. 

Port Stephens Council Library Services Manager Kris Abbott says many people struggle to afford menstrual products each month. 

“[People] shouldn’t have to choose between purchasing food for their family or buying sanitary products and using something else as a substitute," Ms Abbott said

The machine is located in the Raymond Terrace Library women's toilet and can be accessed by pressing the green button. 

A 10-minute delay between dispensing packs prevents misuse of the machine.

Kris Abbott and Library Circulation Coordinator Nada with
 the Share the Dignity vending machine Image: Supplied

University Defends Job Cuts

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

The University of Newcastle is defending its proposed restructure following a national petition launched against the changes.

The restructure will is estimated to cut 120 job cuts across the institution.

Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says the changes are a necessary response to the university's current financial position.

"We have a financial sustainability problem that at some point our expenses exceed our revenue so we become financially unsustainable.

"It's a $35 million problem and we're addressing it through the reduction of costs and that includes, unfortunately, some job cuts."

The National Tertiary Education Union launched the petition, calling for community support to reject the proposal.

Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says the loss of international students due to international border closures has had additional impact on the university's financial position.

"We've used international students to balance the books," Mr Zelinksy said.

"With COVID, international students didn't come here. So our international student enrolments this year are down 33% compared to the previous year. So that translates to a funding gap.

"The government has put in a package I would say is adequate for teaching only. But we also need to worry about research, so we need other funds for research and we have to work with industry," he said.

Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says the restructure will allow greater resources to meet student demand.

"Students vote with their feet. They enroll in certain courses, they like certain courses more than they do others and in the end we need to match the resources that are available," Mr Zelinksy said.

"There are certain courses that become more popular, like criminology but we don't have the academics to teach there," Mr Zelinksy said.

"So what we're proposing to do is create more resources where the teaching load is and obviously diminishing where the student load doesn't exist," he said.

80 Contractor Jobs to be Dropped from Ravensworth Mine

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

Up to 80 workers will be cut from a Yancoal and Glencore joint venture mine site near Singleton next year.

The Hunter Valley Operations mine at Ravensworth will drop around 80 contractors from its mining, coal preparation, and maintenance departments.

Hunter Valley Operations is a 51:49% joint-venture between Yancoal and Glencore.

A spokesman for Hunter Valley Operations says it will keep all of its permanent staff, but is reducing its coal processing requirements as "a result of ongoing economic and energy demand impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic".

The company says the revised production plan has meant some contracting roles won't be required when the changes take effect from January 2021.

The mine site near Singleton will lose around 80 contractors following changes to its production plans. Image: Yancoal