Latest news with #BassCoast
CBC
12-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Music festivals focus on harm reduction efforts as B.C.'s toxic drug crisis enters 10th summer
Thousands of people will roll up to music festivals all over B.C. this summer in search of some great tunes, good vibes and a little escape. For some, that may include the use of drugs. "Live music festivals and substance consumption, I think, have gone hand-in-hand for a long time," said Stacey Forrester with the Bass Coast Music Festival. "If we think about my parents' generation and Woodstock, it's not a new phenomenon that people consume alcohol or other drugs at a music event." What has changed, however, is just how toxic illicit drugs can be. That's where people like Forrester, the festival's harm reduction manager, come in. She's been preparing all year for her festival, which is being held this weekend in Merritt, B.C. "It's really important to me that we implement measures and talk about safety to our community throughout the whole year," said Forrester. "It's not just the [harm reduction] tent that keeps you safe, but rather we are helping our patrons build their own skills." Forrester is one of the many festival organizers focusing on harm reduction across the province, as B.C.'s toxic drug crisis persists into its 10th year. In the two months leading up to the festival, Forrester's team has increased messaging around harm reduction and making drug use safer; things like consent and access to water are included in that, but the main focus is on safer consumption. One of the biggest parts of that is drug testing. In 2024, the Bass Coast and Shambhala festivals alone tested more than 4,800 samples. About nine per cent of all drugs tested did not match what the person expected. About 11.3 per cent of samples were unknown — that is, the intended user didn't actually know what it was to begin with. But, Forrester said, just because a drug isn't what someone expected doesn't mean they choose not to take it. "Not all adulterants are necessarily detrimental or unsafe. Some things are cut with things like sugar into the sample, which isn't necessarily a risky sample," she said. "Drug checking is about giving people the informed choice to decide to consume it, to decide to dispose of it, to use less of it, to use more of it." But it's not just about drug testing; Forrester is also educating festival-goers about things like what signs to watch for for an overdose or poisoning and how to reduce the risk of running into trouble. A medical team is on site to provide care if things do take a turn, she said. While Bass Coast and Shambhala are two of the biggest festivals working hard on harm reduction, other festivals around the province are too: Rifflandia, FVDED in the Park and Otherworld are just a few of the many. Even the provincial government is putting out information to protect people. A webpage has been established to remind people about safer drug use, with tips like never using alone, making sure you know where things like first aid and water are, not mixing substances and checking drugs. Forrester said harm reduction at festivals is a "microcosm for how we can show up with each other in the world." "From my harm reduction lens, I am really here to show people that wherever you sit on the use spectrum, whether your drug of choice is alcohol or something else, you deserve to be cared for, and you deserve resources that can keep you and your loved ones safe."
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Quiet town beating the rest of Australia in big national race: 'Saving $6000 annually'
As Australia pushes to cut carbon emissions and reduce household bills, electrification has emerged as a key focus — from the cars we drive to the way we power our homes. But while rooftop solar is booming, the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and fully electric homes remains modest. Nationally, just 2.7 per cent of vehicles on Australian roads are electric, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. While over 10 per cent of new cars sold are now electric, that figure still trails the UK (17 per cent), Germany (19 per cent) and Norway (over 80 per cent). At the household level, gas is still widely used, and many homes are poorly equipped to make the switch. Advocates argue the future of EVs in Australia looks bright, but in a quiet corner of Victoria's Bass Coast, one community has already quietly surged ahead, offering a glimpse of what a fully electrified future could look like. At The Cape, a purpose-built sustainable estate in Cape Paterson, more than 30 per cent of households now own an electric vehicle. Every home is powered without gas, using rooftop solar and passive solar design principles, and achieves an average eight-star NatHERS energy rating — well above the national average of 6.2 stars for new builds. "More than 30 per cent of households have an EV," Director and resident Brendan Condon told Yahoo News Australia. "Homes are 100 per cent electric with no gas connections, powered by rooftop solar, and designed using passive solar principles. This community-wide commitment to electrification, from the grid to the garage, makes [us] a national front-runner and an insight into the future of a fully electrified Australia." The estate comprises 230 residential lots, with about 140 homes completed and over 250 residents. More than 95 per cent of EV charging is done at home, helping cut costs and reduce strain on the wider grid, particularly in a regional area where public charging infrastructure remains limited. "Even in regional areas, most trips are local or to nearby centres like Wonthaggi and Inverloch, which are well within EV range," Condon said. "A round trip to Melbourne is under 300 kilometres, which is easily achievable by numerous long-range EVs now on the market." The Cape also challenges the notion that electric living is the preserve of wealthy inner-city enclaves. While upfront costs are still a barrier, residents claim long-term savings. Condon says homes that pair solar with energy-efficient design and an EV can save upwards of $6,000 annually. Once fully built, the community is projected to save more than $1 million a year. "These are 'super bill-busting' homes," he said. "That money stays in household budgets and bank accounts, which is significant in the current cost-of-living crisis." Experts agree that electrifying homes and vehicles is essential to meeting emissions targets. The Climate Council estimates that switching to solar and electric could save households $3,000 to $5,000 a year and cut domestic emissions by up to 42 per cent. It also supports energy independence and grid resilience by decentralising power generation. Still, challenges remain. Critics point to the cost of EVs and the difficulty of retrofitting older homes. There are also concerns about supply chains, mineral dependency for batteries, and whether the national grid is ready for widespread electrification without major upgrades. Empty Bunnings shelves sparks major change theory Plea to electric car owners ahead of expected 'hottest summer on record' Driver spots Tesla in shocking highway act: 'Licence revoked' But Condon believes communities like his show what's possible when sustainability is designed from the ground up. With the federal government introducing a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard in 2025 and aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, more neighbourhoods may follow suit. "[We're] a real-world blueprint," he said. "It shows how communities can decouple from expensive fossil fuels and thrive — creating zero-emissions, climate-resilient neighbourhoods that aren't just imagined, but built." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Victorian councils count the cost of a decade of rate caps
It's a common catch-cry for those grumbling about their local council — "stick to rates and roads". But today, a decade after council rate caps were introduced to limit rate rises, many local governments are struggling to maintain basic services. Local governments collect rates to fund libraries, community centres, kindergartens and parks as well as roads and footpaths. However, with funding tight and construction costs on the rise, some regional councils are cutting services. South-east of Melbourne, several Gippsland shire councils have recently proposed removing road surfaces and returning some sealed roads to gravel in a bid to lower maintenance costs. In the remote township of Aberfeldy in Victoria's High Country — home to fewer than 20 permanent residents — the Baw Baw Shire Council announced plans to rip up the only sealed road in town and return it to gravel. That plan is now on hold pending a council report on future road maintenance. And that's happening further south, where the Bass Coast Shire was set to replace bitumen with gravel on roads in Wonthaggi and on Phillip Island but was forced to back-track after community backlash. "We're willing to do the work, we're the ones closest to the community, and we're the ones face-to-face with them in the supermarket," deputy mayor Brett Tessari said. "We'll stick by the rate cap, but it's getting tough to continue to provide the services and then do the extra work that the state is putting on us in the current situation. In the state's north-east, Yarriambiack Shire Council has had to slash its capital works program by $8.5 million. "That increases pressure on the council to maintain service levels," chief executive Tammy Smith said. Victorian local governments must apply to the Essential Services Commission to raise annual rates beyond the gazetted rate cap. This year, Hepburn Shire Council outraged ratepayers when it successfully applied for permission to increase rates by 10 per cent, well above the 3.5 per cent cap. Indigo Shire Council was also given an exemption to the cap, increasing rates up by 7.54 per cent. Analysis of the 2022-23 budgets of Victorian councils showed rates accounted for 66 per cent of total revenue in metropolitan municipalities, but less than half of total revenue in small shire councils. Municipal Association of Victoria president Jennifer Anderson said the amount of financial support given to local governments by the state government had declined in recent years, as evidenced by a recent parliamentary inquiry. "It's well and truly out there that over time some of the funding sources that were available to councils are either no longer available or have reduced in time," Cr Anderson said. "Councils like to step in and provide services where there are gaps and there isn't a private provider, particularly in your smaller rural communities." The Victorian government and federal government have both held inquiries into the sustainability of local government. The state government's Local Government Funding and Services report, published in November last year, acknowledged councils were "extremely limited" in their ability to raise revenue to pay for the services they're expected to provide. Recommendations included boosting funding to councils for capital expenditure. Shadow Local Government minister Anne Webster has called on the federal government to deliver a final report. "In my north-western Victorian electorate of Mallee, small shires consistently tell me they are struggling financially, and I am putting that mildly," Dr Webster said. "Every one of them is struggling. "There is not one of the 12 shires in Mallee that is waving a flag and presenting balloons because they're doing a fantastic job. They're all constrained financially. "It makes it very hard for them to repair the roads. Everywhere you go in regional Victoria, the roads are horrendous. "Regional councils and shires often depend on grants to deliver infrastructure, they don't have the alternate means of raising revenue that city councils do."
ABC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Country pub flies the flag for live music and the arts
In an unassuming rural hamlet, two hours' drive south-east of Melbourne, a little country pub is growing a big reputation as a popular live music venue in regional Victoria. Nestled between the rustic cliffs of Bass Coast and South Gippsland's dairy farms and green, rolling hills, Archies Creek is a village of 16 houses, a pub, a hall, a telephone booth, a junkyard and an evangelical church. Having run venues for 20 years, most famously the Caravan Music Club in Melbourne, tree-changers Peter Foley, and his partner Mary Howlett moved to Archies Creek six years ago, buying the Archies Creek Hotel. Redecorating the venue with an intimate cabaret lounge, the once sleepy pub was re-imagined with an inner Melbourne rock'n'roll pub vibe and a touch of laid-back country bohemia. The Archies Creek Hotel has since become a pivotal meeting place for locals, frequented by a largely mature crowd seeking nostalgic outings, new cultural experiences and community connections. "It's a different kind of venue, there's just an energy about the place," publican Peter Foley said. "It's an opportunity for people to gather and celebrate music and community." With a mailing list of 18,000, the Archies Creek Hotel runs movies every Thursday night, live music from Friday to Sunday as well as comedy and quiz nights, choral singing, life-drawing classes, spoken word and poetry readings. "This venue can be anything — it's a chameleon venue, because it's outdoors, it's a bit rustic, it's a bit odd, and it works with any type of music and it's in the middle of nowhere, but it still works," Mr Foley said. Veteran radio broadcaster, semi-professional musician and civil celebrant Jon Von Goes moved to Archies Creek as part of Peter and Mary's campaign to re-populate the town with "music types". Living within stumbling distance of the pub, he has since become the unofficial "captain" of the Archies Creek Arts Council that curates a calendar of music and arts events to keep the pub and district parishioners set lists have included The Models, Weddings Parties Anything and You Am I. "The most popular gigs are the people who had hits in the 70s, Ross Wilson, Jo Camilleri and James Reyne," Mr Von Goes said. "They're great gigs because they're established professionals who are great show people," he said, recalling a visit by some retired Phillip Island surfers who hugged and cried through a performance of Girls on the Avenue, when Richard Clapton recently played. Despite the altruistic intentions of owner Peter Foley and the local community's strong appetite for music and arts, balancing the books remains an ongoing struggle with ever increasing costs, including an annual $45,000 insurance bill. With the hotel almost hitting financial breaking point last year, Mr Foley turned to the public for help, calling out for subscribers to pay a $30 annual membership fee, in exchange for priority access to tickets and member discounts. "Rather than seeking government support, we've gone to the community, and we've had an incredible response because people love the place and they wanted to support it, because there's a bit of a cultural vacuum down here," Mr Foley said. "As soon as we put it out there that we were seeking community support, it came in abundance — we've had 1,041 people join up so far." He believes the community subscription model is a much more direct and efficient means of generating funds than applying for grants, and could be applied to venues facing similar challenges across Australia. "I actually think it's a viable model for sustaining a venue, if younger people really took possession of it," Mr Foley said. With three residences on the property, the venue also offers space for songwriter retreats and rehearsal camps. Now in his mid-60s, and getting beyond the late nights of the "hospo grind", the relentless physical work of running a bar and the 7am trips to the tip to recycle countless empty bottles, Mr Foley is looking for someone to run the bar and kitchen or a new owner to take gradual possession of the venue over time. "I still love the place and I want it to keep going and I'm happy to guide anybody who has got any energy to deal with the physical work," he said. "It's not a business that you can make a lot of money out of, but you make enough to survive. "We have a holiday every year and we have a lot of fun — it depends what you define as success really. "It feels like you're doing something decent and worthwhile, but if it was just about the money, you wouldn't do it."
