Latest news with #Bendigo
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
New $5.6m Golden Square fire station in Bendigo useless because water pressure too low
A new multi-million-dollar fire station has sat dormant for months in Bendigo because the water pressure is not strong enough. The opening of the new $5.6 million Country Fire Authority (CFA) Golden Square fire station has been delayed since February following the failure of the water pressure compliance test. Golden Square CFA captain Bryan Greenwood said it was a frustrating time for the brigade. "Everyone's done everything they were meant to do. Unfortunately, it's just gotten to this point," he said. "Hopefully, it won't be too long." Mr Greenwood said the water pressure in Golden Square had worsened as the population grew in the area. He said the water pressure issue in the region had hindered their ability to fight fires in the area. "Our fire trucks only carry a certain amount of water on them," he said. "We need to be able to get that water out of the piping systems under the ground. "That [water] wasn't meeting the requirements. So, if we, unfortunately, did have a fire there [in Golden Square], we would have needed to get another water source in." Mr Greenwood said firefighters hoped to be inside the new station within the next two months. The old station, which Mr Greenwood said crews were still operating from, is one of the oldest in Victoria. The new station is about three times the size of the old building. Local water authority Coliban Water said all required infrastructure had been installed at the CFA facility. "All Coliban Water requirements for metering and sewer services have been approved and installed at the CFA site in Golden Square," a spokesperson said. The Victorian government said it was working with the CFA and Coliban Water to address the problem. "We're working with the CFA and Coliban Water to make sure appropriate water pressure is delivered to the site before the station opens in the next few months," a spokesperson said. The CFA was also contacted for comment but referred requests to the state government agency in charge of the building, the Community Safety Building Authority (CSBA). The CSBA has been contacted for comment.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Laptop left charging on bed causes house fire in Bendigo
By Rebecca Norman and Emile Pavlich , ABC News Kate Robinson left her laptop on charge in her bedroom while running errangs. An hour later, she returned to find her house and yoga studio engulfed in flames. Kate Robinson is warning people about the risks associated with leaving devices on charge. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich) Photo: ABC News: Emile Pavlich When Kate Robinson thinks back to the sight of thick black smoke billowing from her roof last month, she becomes deeply distressed. "There was nothing salvageable," she said. Ms Robinson's Bendigo home and yoga studio were destroyed by fire on May 30, when she popped out for about an hour to run errands. She returned to find her home on fire. "I went into my bedroom and there were flames on my bed almost up the ceiling," she said. Ms Robinson ran out of the burning building to find her dog, which had made its way outside, and ring triple-0. She wants to warn others about the risks associated with leaving devices on charge. The remnants of Ms Robinson's yoga studio after a laptop caught alight while charging on her bed. (Supplied: Kate Robinson) Photo: Supplied: Kate Robinson Fire Rescue Victoria said the fire at Ms Robinson's home on Bakewell Street in North Bendigo was caused by a laptop charging on a bed. A building insurer and a forensic fire expert showed Ms Robinson the burnt laptop and told her they believed the lithium battery inside the computer overheated on a blanket on her bed, causing it to catch alight. "Once they started asking me questions about why there was so much intensity around my bed, and what was on my bed … I remembered that the laptop had been charging there," she said. Ms Robinson said the laptop was an 18-month old AppleMac Pro and it had started to lose charge more often in the lead up to the fire. "It seemed to be going flat a lot, which can identify a faulty battery," Ms Robinson. Fire Rescue Victoria commander Craig Houlahan attended the blaze. "It was clear the fire had actually started from the bed," he said. "It was quite obvious with the development of the fire that it was the laptop, because of the battery." Apple Australia has been contacted for comment. The remains of the laptop after a fire ripped through Ms Robinson's property. (Supplied: FRV) Photo: Supplied: FRV Commander Houlahan said the fire had prompted new warnings about the risks involved with leaving devices on charge unattended. "The main thing is that if you're charging any electrical device, you have it on a hard surface and that allows it to cool," he said. Mr Houlahan said across Victoria, there was at least one call to fire authorities every day related to charging devices. "Over the years that's changed because a lot of our devices now are battery-operated," Mr Houlahan said. His advice was to think about four key things before charging a laptop, tablet or mobile phone. These included overheating of batteries through excessive charging, checking devices for damage, not charging in your bedroom and avoiding charging laptops overnight. He also said working smoke alarms were crucial as a house fire could spread throughout a home within 3 minutes. "Every bedroom should have a working smoke alarm in it," Mr Houlahan. Ms Robinson is now living in a rental property offered through her insurer. She said she was grateful to have been able to save her dog from the fire, and for her community's support, but the experience has stayed with her. "There's still a lot of grief and sadness about losing my space," she said. - ABC
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Laptop left charging on bed causes house fire in Bendigo
When Kate Robinson thinks back to the sight of thick black smoke billowing from her roof last month, she becomes deeply distressed. "There was nothing salvageable," she said. Ms Robinson's Bendigo home and yoga studio were destroyed by fire on May 30, when she popped out for about an hour to run errands. She returned to find her home on fire. "I went into my bedroom and there were flames on my bed almost up the ceiling," she said. Ms Robinson ran out of the burning building to find her dog, which had made its way outside, and ring triple-0. She wants to warn others about the risks associated with leaving devices on charge. Fire Rescue Victoria said the fire at Ms Robinson's home on Bakewell Street in North Bendigo was caused by a laptop charging on a bed. A building insurer and a forensic fire expert showed Ms Robinson the burnt laptop and told her they believed the lithium battery inside the computer overheated on a blanket on her bed, causing it to catch alight. "Once they started asking me questions about why there was so much intensity around my bed, and what was on my bed … I remembered that the laptop had been charging there," she said. Ms Robinson said the laptop was an 18-month old AppleMac Pro and it had started to lose charge more often in the lead up to the fire. "It seemed to be going flat a lot, which can identify a faulty battery," Ms Robinson. Fire Rescue Victoria commander Craig Houlahan attended the blaze. "It was clear the fire had actually started from the bed," he said. "It was quite obvious with the development of the fire that it was the laptop, because of the battery." Apple Australia has been contacted for comment. Commander Houlahan said the fire had prompted new warnings about the risks involved with leaving devices on charge unattended. "The main thing is that if you're charging any electrical device, you have it on a hard surface and that allows it to cool," he said. Mr Houlahan said across Victoria, there was at least one call to fire authorities every day related to charging devices. "Over the years that's changed because a lot of our devices now are battery-operated," Mr Houlahan said. His advice was to think about four key things before charging a laptop, tablet or mobile phone. These included overheating of batteries through excessive charging, checking devices for damage, not charging in your bedroom and avoiding charging laptops overnight. He also said working smoke alarms were crucial as a house fire could spread throughout a home within 3 minutes. "Every bedroom should have a working smoke alarm in it," Mr Houlahan. Ms Robinson is now living in a rental property offered through her insurer. She said she was grateful to have been able to save her dog from the fire, and for her community's support, but the experience has stayed with her. "There's still a lot of grief and sadness about losing my space," she said.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Unbeaten filly sprinter Fieldelo faces Flemington test on Saturday
Many trainers have to wait a lot longer than two years for a horse like Fieldelo. Former picnic rider Toby Lake will get a guide on whether he has a stakes contender after Fieldelo runs in Saturday's fifth heat of the Creswick Sprint Series (1100m) at Flemington. The three-year-old will be on trial for a start in the Listed AR Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington early next month should she perform up to expectations in her maiden city assignment. 'Saturday just determines her next step, whether we go to the Creswick Final in two weeks or whether we wait for something else thereafter,' Lake said. 'We're going to learn a lot about her on Saturday but she's going to line up in really good order. 'We don't know where her ceiling is.' Lake has spaced Fieldelo's two runs. The Deep Field filly won on debut at Kilmore last November but blitzed her opposition when a seven-length winner when resuming at Bendigo on May 30. 'It worked out there was a soft option at Bendigo for her so we went there,' Lake said. 'She's a young horse and as we saw at her first start, she did a lot wrong but was still able to win. 'We just thought, if we took her to the softest option and she did it again, she might get away with it, but she blew them away.' Lake, who received his licence to prepare his small team at his Bendigo base less than two years ago, said Fieldelo arrived at his stable needing some work before she got to the races. 'She came to me a bit over 12 months ago and she was half broken in,' Lake said. 'The breakers had a bit of difficulty with her and through a friend and good client, Mark Schiavello, she arrived at my stables basically with the plan to just get her back on track. 'She needed to have some education and get her career on the right path.' • Lake said Fieldelo learned quickly with the trainer having the benefit of getting to know the sprinter from riding her in daily trackwork. He said Fieldelo's long education process had started to show, with a constantly improving attitude to her racing aiding her development. 'I could see very early on that she was a very sharp filly and she was a point-and-shoot type,' Lake said. 'I only had to show her something once and she'd pick it up so we let her come around. 'She was a little bit hot and cantankerous when she first started but she's starting to really enjoy her racing as she showed at Bendigo. 'We just nurtured her along and gave the best start to life we could and she's ready for the next step.'
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Marvellous opportunity to be seduced
Today, a marvellous opportunity awaited in the guise of four sub-regional expressions of pinot noir by Valli and two newcomers from Domaine Thomson. The Pisa is a new offering in Valli's sub-regional portfolio, so I'm still getting my head around its style parameters, whereas the sumptuous, perfumed Bannockburn; dark, powerful Bendigo and bright aerial Gibbston have passed my way often. Was I seduced by the power of Bendigo this year? Perhaps, but I must doff my cap to it. Nice to try biodynamic producer Domaine Thomson alongside: their new Aspiring cuvee and the youthful Surveyor Thomson struts its potential. 2023 Valli Pisa pinot noir RRP $85 Price Rating Excellent to outstanding Youthful, a dusty, stony quality, lead pencil, hints of rose petal florality, wild herb, ripe fruit/berry compote happily in support. Peeling back layers of flavour as it unfurls, now fruit, now herb, now schist, now savoury aspects, all neatly wrapped in a corset of tannic grip yet drinkability too. Aerial, a lightness of being, fresh, youthful and lip-smacking. 2023 Domaine Thomson Single Vineyard Aspiring Central Otago pinot noir RRP $45 Price Rating Excellent A wilder nose at first, freshly turned humus evolving to blood and iron filings, reminiscent of syrah, a brooding, darker fruited register. perhaps plum. The palate brings in red fruits too, a humus/ clay like note, chewy tannins and a sense of weight that fills the mouth giving generosity to the wine. Already in a nice place to enjoy now. 2023 Valli Gibbston pinot noir RRP $85 Price Rating Outstanding Bright nose, touches of wood smoke, cranberry, raspberry, bramble, wild herb, something floral, rather beguiling. Fresh, lively in the mouth, nice energy, the tannins jousting with the bright acidity. Ripe fruit, a wonderfully long, dry finish, now blueberry and lavender, developing almost a tingliness as it dances in the mouth. Fine, elegant, great complexity. 2022 Domaine Thomson Surveyor Thomson pinot noir RRP $55 Price Rating Excellent to outstanding Schisty minerality, cracked pepper and spices, florals, savoury nuances appearing, ripe fruit in support. The palate belies the paler colour, powerfully chewy and structured, yet elegant rather than a fruit bomb. Spice and savoury notes frame the palate flowing to a lovely, long, dry close. Surprising power here, potential to unlock further with extra time in bottle. 2023 Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir RRP $85 Price Rating Excellent to outstanding Bolder, really fragrant nose, perfume, wisps of mushroom, a sense of sweeter fruits underlying it. Really juicy and vibrant, sweetness, generosity to the fruit yet there's freshness too, underpinned by an earthy, stony quality and fine tannins. With air this is a more tightly wound, showing its youth, several re- visits see it hinting at what is to come, I'll score on its potential. 2023 Valli Bendigo Pinot Noir RRP $85 Price Rating Outstanding Deeply coloured and brooding, exuding richness without straying to overt sweetness. Flirts with humus, shifting to wild herbs, spices and savoury notes. Rich, dry, yet velvety texture, powerful tannins matched by the fruit depth. Almost crunchiness, lovely vitality and brightness that lifts it above the sheer power it possesses. Long, long dry finish. Superb.
