Water flush
Authorities are preparing to flush half a billion litres of water down the Moorabool River as the region’s storage levels fall to a third of their capacity.
The “temporary transfer of water” would “improve Aboriginal and environmental values” along the river, said Corangamite Catchment Management Authority.
Safeguarding shipwrecks
A new 12-month program is set to safeguard the state’s most fragile shipwrecks, including sites off Queenscliff.
Patrols would be on the look-out for any damaging activities including anchoring, fishing and diving in protected zones, State Government announced this week.
Boss gone
The chief of Geelong-based National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has quit less than two years into the job.
The next Federal Government would appoint a replacement for Rob de Luca after he departed the agency’s top job “effective immediately” on Tuesday, the NDIA said.
Auto future
Australia needs a “smarter” approach to vehicle use and design practices, according to a Geelong expert helping manufacture the next generation of electric cars and buses.
Deakin University’s Professor Bernard Rolfe said autonomous vehicles “may be able to pick up passengers, make deliveries and earn money for their owner while the owner is busy at work” in the next decade.
Late ambos
Almost half the ambulances servicing Queenscliff are arriving late, according to new data.
The latest response-time figures revealed that the average wait time was 16 minutes and two seconds, more than a minute above the state’s benchmark.
Rain deluge
An overnight downpour has ended Geelong’s driest start to a year, according to rain gauges.
The city recorded 21mm of rain on Wednesday night, the same it received during the first four months of the year.
Golf plans
Geelong council has released plans to ditch its direct operation of golf facilities across the municipality.
The new strategy aims to move to club-based management models for seven golf courses on council-owned crown land, potentially saving City Hall of $1.2 million.
Wanted pair
A woman wanted for allegedly recklessly causing injury and a man with warrants for his arrest on charges including theft and deception are separately on the run in Geelong, according to police.
Investigators this week released images of Madison Anderson, 21, and Nicholas Hruska, 32, with a call for anyone knowing their whereabouts to phone Geelong Police on 5225 3100 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
