Latest news with #CraigWilliamson
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Regional Council Commits To Engaging On Seabed Mining Application Process
Taranaki Regional Council is keenly aware of and understands the desire from the community to state a position on the TTR seabed mining application, says Chair Craig Williamson. 'The Council is fully committed to its task of engaging with the process as maybe the region's only 'relevant local authority,' which brings certain opportunities to input into and potentially influence the outcome that other councils and the public will not have,' Mr Williamson says. 'Any formal position taken at this time by the Council will jeopardise its ability to participate, because of bias and predetermination. Council cannot be considered to offer fair and balanced advice, evidence and opinions on the application if it has a fomalised, publicly stated position on the matter. 'Because the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 introduced by the Coalition Government does not give the public the ability to freely submit on the application, the Council considers it essential that it be able to participate in the process. 'This means that for now, the Council must maintain a neutral stance to ensure that is allowed to continue to participate in the fast-track approvals process but will reassess its position after considering the all the latest information and data made available during the submission process.' The Council expects to be considered and confirmed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a 'relevant local authority' in the very near future, although this is still subject to confirmation by the EPA. Under the Fast Track Approvals Act, a decision on the application will solely be made by a panel created by the EPA for this purpose 'It is critical for the regional council to have a voice in this process as the legislation provides limited opportunities for public input. Waiting to consider all the information enables the Taranaki Regional Council to have a seat at the table,' adds Mr Williamson. 'If the regional council is identified as a 'relevant local authority' our responsibilities are to nominate a member to that decision-making panel, provide written comments on the application and, if a hearing is held, being able to speak to those comments. 'We would also provide additional information if requested by the EPA and provide comments on the conditions if the panel decides to grant the application. If the application is approved, we would expect to be involved in monitoring of the consent conditions.' The panel is expected to be appointed by mid to late July and the Council will be able to provide details of its appointee when the full panel members are identified. By law, the Fast Track Approvals Act only allows relevant local authorities, identified iwi authorities, and select others to make written comments on the application. Other local authorities and the public are excluded from making submissions unless invited to do so by the panel. While the Council, as the relevant local authority, will not initially be taking a formal stance on the application, Mr Williamson confirms it will be able to do so at the time of providing the Council's written comments.
Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
SPFL fixtures 2025-26: Premiership opening card revealed plus Celtic v Rangers and Hearts v Hibs dates
Key dates as 2025-26 fixture calender released Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Celtic will begin their defence of their William Hill Scottish Premiership title at home against St Mirren after the 2025/26 fixtures were released by the Scottish Professional Football League. The reigning champions will raise the league flag to mark last season's success when they welcome the Buddies to Celtic Park on Sunday, August 3, kicking off at 4.30pm, with the match to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year's runners-up Rangers are away from home on the opening day and will face Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, August 2. That match is also due to be broadcast live on Sky Sports with a 5.30pm kick-off. Celtic unfurl the league winners flag ahead of their opening William Hill Premiership match last season. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Kilmarnock host newly promoted Livingston at Rugby Park on Saturday, August 2, at 3pm while last season's Championship winners Falkirk raise their title flag at home to Dundee United on Sunday, August 3 at 2pm, in a match also being shown live by Sky Sports. In addition, Dundee welcome Hibs to Dens Park for a 3pm kick-off on Sunday, August 3. The start of the Premiership spans three days and concludes on Monday, August 4, with Hearts under new manager Derek McInnes beginning their campaign against Aberdeen at Tynecastle, kick-off 8pm, with the match being the fourth to be shown live on Sky Sports across opening weekend. Old Firm matches The first Rangers v Celtic derby will take place at Ibrox Stadium on Sunday, August 31 with the 12 noon showdown being shown live on Sky Sports. The next Old Firm clash takes place on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Celtic Park (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports), with the final pre-split clash due back at Ibrox on Saturday, February 28. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh derbies The first Edinburgh derby of the new season will take place at Tynecastle on Saturday, October 4. The festive Edinburgh derby will be played at Easter Road on Saturday, December 27. The fixture will kick off at 12.30pm and has already been selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports. The final pre-split derby has been slated for a midweek slot - Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - with a 7.45pm kick-off at Easter Road. Dundee derby Dundee United and Dundee will first meet on the Saturday, August 30 at Dens Park. Their next meeting is at Tannadice on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with the third derby at Dens Park on Saturday, March 14. Since none have been selected for live TV coverage as yet, all three matches are currently scheduled for a 3pm kick-off, although that might change. Winter break? The recently-revised UEFA calendar – with 10 matchdays set aside for the league phase across the three European competitions – means there is again no room for a winter break in the William Hill Premiership. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other key dates
Glasgow Times
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow football club calls it quits after 11 years
Broomhill FC, which has been operating for 11 years, confirmed that it will cease operations after "sustainability" concerns. The Lowland League side cited a "number of factors" behind the move, including the "enforced termination" of its ground-sharing agreement with Dumbarton FC. The club also explained that the decision is "not one they take lightly" and thanked fans for their support over the years. A statement was published on social media confirming the move. A fond farewell, from Broomhill FC. — Broomhill Football Club (@BroomhillFC) May 30, 2025 READ MORE: Three Rangers board members depart amid American revolution Founded as part of Broomhill Sports Club in 2004, the team entered the Lowland League as BSC Glasgow FC in 2014/15 and won the SFA South Challenge Cup in their first season. Broomhill also reached the South Challenge Cup final and Lowland League Cup final before taking home the League Cup trophy in 2018/19. Simon Ferry was appointed manager of Broomhill FC in May 2022 after football media platform Open Goal struck up a partnership with club (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Football media platform Open Goal, which is known for its popular podcast of the same name, struck up a partnership with the club in May 2022, with plans announced for social media content and programming centred on the team. The club was renamed Open Goal Broomhill FC as part of the move. A documentary aired which followed the management team, players and club officials over the course of the 2022/23 campaign. The partnership was hailed by both parties as 'revolutionary' and 'the beginning of a new era for the club and lower league football'. However, the project ended after just 12 months. Broomhill played its final match against Civil Service Strollers on April 25.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Brendan Rodgers: Celtic job carries 'biggest pressure' of my career
Rodgers is aiming to secure a record third domestic treble as Celtic manager when he takes his side into a Scottish Cup final with Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday, May 24. The Irishman said: "This is the biggest pressure job I've been in, and that's because you cannot afford to lose a game of football. "So, you imagine any team that's out there, they'll get a pass for a draw, they'll get a pass for a win. Sometimes we don't even get a pass for a win. We can win and get booed off. "So, that's the relentless nature of it, and that's what I love about the job. The expectation, the support base, is to always be better, to always improve and that drives you forward. So, you know you can never just rest on your laurels here at Celtic. Read more: "So, that means that every single day of your life, you have to be on it. You have to be really focused, you have to be prepared, you know that the other team you're playing against are going to give that extra 10-15% physically, mentally, because every time you operate as a Celtic player and manager, you're managing a final scenario. So, that is there in virtually every game. "So, to prepare the team, to prepare the trainings and the practice and the schedule and everything else that goes with that, to deal with that pressure, to leave you in the best possible position when you play your game, then it's not straightforward. "There are lots of teams that have good resources in other leagues and throughout the world, but they don't necessarily win all the time. Yes, we've got really good resources here, but we haven't been handed money. "This is all generated through a model of work in the club, by our supporters, buying merchandise, everything is organic here at the Football Club, and then of course, my job is to look after the core performance of the team. "It's not easy, it's a highly pressurised situation in which you have to perform every single game and to be at that level, then that's how you train, that mentality has to be in training. So, when you have that every day, you have no rest days." (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Rodgers believes that he thrives when the pressure is on, and he feels that he constantly has to prove himself as a manager. He said: "That's why you see players come here, some really good players, but they struggle because the mentality to survive within it, it's a real challenge, and players will be really good players. "Even at Celtic, I've seen other players come up to Scotland before thinking, we'll come to Scotland, it's quite easy, you play for one of the big teams, you'll be ok. No, the demands are totally different. "Then you can leave and go back into the Premier League and do really well and be a good player in the Premier League. "The difference is pressure, dealing with pressure and at Celtic, and Rangers for that matter, there's massive pressure. "I think I need that challenge, especially at this period in my career and what I've experienced now. I can be no good if I'm uncomfortable, and I would never get to be that in here. I think it's something that I thrive on, I enjoy that, and I enjoy the challenge. "Last season, it was clearly tighter and there were lots of things being questioned of you and whatever else. "So, I enjoy that challenge of proving people wrong, and there will always be something else to improve or prove in the role. So, if I don't have it, I find it from somewhere, and that's what allows me to be the best I can be."
The National
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Brendan Rodgers: Celtic job carries 'biggest pressure' of my career
The 52-year-old, who guided the Hoops to their 55th league title at Tannadice last weekend, admits he thrives on the relentlessness of working at a club where it is unacceptable to even lose a game. Rodgers is aiming to secure a record third domestic treble as Celtic manager when he takes his side into a Scottish Cup final with Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday, May 24. The Irishman said: "This is the biggest pressure job I've been in, and that's because you cannot afford to lose a game of football. "So, you imagine any team that's out there, they'll get a pass for a draw, they'll get a pass for a win. Sometimes we don't even get a pass for a win. We can win and get booed off. "So, that's the relentless nature of it, and that's what I love about the job. The expectation, the support base, is to always be better, to always improve and that drives you forward. So, you know you can never just rest on your laurels here at Celtic. Read more: "So, that means that every single day of your life, you have to be on it. You have to be really focused, you have to be prepared, you know that the other team you're playing against are going to give that extra 10-15% physically, mentally, because every time you operate as a Celtic player and manager, you're managing a final scenario. So, that is there in virtually every game. "So, to prepare the team, to prepare the trainings and the practice and the schedule and everything else that goes with that, to deal with that pressure, to leave you in the best possible position when you play your game, then it's not straightforward. "There are lots of teams that have good resources in other leagues and throughout the world, but they don't necessarily win all the time. Yes, we've got really good resources here, but we haven't been handed money. "This is all generated through a model of work in the club, by our supporters, buying merchandise, everything is organic here at the Football Club, and then of course, my job is to look after the core performance of the team. "It's not easy, it's a highly pressurised situation in which you have to perform every single game and to be at that level, then that's how you train, that mentality has to be in training. So, when you have that every day, you have no rest days." (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Rodgers believes that he thrives when the pressure is on, and he feels that he constantly has to prove himself as a manager. He said: "That's why you see players come here, some really good players, but they struggle because the mentality to survive within it, it's a real challenge, and players will be really good players. "Even at Celtic, I've seen other players come up to Scotland before thinking, we'll come to Scotland, it's quite easy, you play for one of the big teams, you'll be ok. No, the demands are totally different. "Then you can leave and go back into the Premier League and do really well and be a good player in the Premier League. "The difference is pressure, dealing with pressure and at Celtic, and Rangers for that matter, there's massive pressure. "I think I need that challenge, especially at this period in my career and what I've experienced now. I can be no good if I'm uncomfortable, and I would never get to be that in here. I think it's something that I thrive on, I enjoy that, and I enjoy the challenge. "Last season, it was clearly tighter and there were lots of things being questioned of you and whatever else. "So, I enjoy that challenge of proving people wrong, and there will always be something else to improve or prove in the role. So, if I don't have it, I find it from somewhere, and that's what allows me to be the best I can be."
