Latest news with #DavidReilly


Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys: Plans to turn church into house resubmitted
A Powys church could soon become a family home after plans were resubmitted. David Reilly is hoping to convert a Methodist chapel near Churchstoke into a two-bedroom property. His part-retrospective application is identical to one that granted planning permission to convert it into a residential property in 2020, and then later that year as a holiday let. The plans for the redundant building in Hyssington would include a living room area with a kitchen/diner, utility room, bathroom, and porch downstairs, with two bedrooms upstairs. There would be a void over the kitchen. A planning statement from Mr Reilly, who lives in Bromyard, Herefordshire, explained: "The current planning approval being requested is based entirely on the original planning approval reference 20/0636/FUL being the same in every respect. "This includes that the proposal is still a two-bedroom property." Mr Reilly added that to his knowledge, the property has not been used as a holiday let.

ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal Group wants 'independent assessment and oversight' of Macquarie Point stadium
Daniel Hanna I think we always thought this would be the final process. Obviously, we had a debate not that long ago about referring the stadium proposal to the Project of State Significance and the Planning Commission. So we put in submissions in good faith. And yeah, I certainly believe probably the process should continue. I think we need some independent assessment and oversight of this proposal. Obviously, we've got quite a number of concerns about what is proposed for the stadium at Macquarie Point. I want the opportunity to hear them and think they should be independently assessed. David Reilly So to be clear, you feel like this overriding legislation that's been proposed or that's been supported, that's already been tabled and supported by both Labor and Liberal, we're expecting after the election, you feel that that is the wrong approach, Daniel Hanna? Daniel Hanna Yes, absolutely we do. I've had a good look through that draft legislation, which was previously tabled. And there obviously was a consultation process. We put in a submission to that, but we had a lot of concerns. I mean, effectively that draft legislation, if anyone can have a look at it, I'd encourage them to do so. Really what that took away was all of the, for example, the appeal rights for any third party. It would override any piece of legislation, anything in the planning scheme, and also would give the Minister of the Day absolute discretion to make amendments at any time. So really there's, we thought all of the usual protections that neighbours and other parties have would be overridden. And it's, I don't think a good piece of legislation at all. David Reilly So opening submissions today, you're not due to give evidence, I think for a week or so, is that right? But what's the gist of what you'll be telling the commission? Daniel Hanna Yeah, look, we're appearing next week and we'll be making our submissions. Obviously we put in a comprehensive submission to the TPC and we'll be making submissions along those lines. I mean, we've got a number of concerns and certainly some of the more general ones are around this. We believe this stadium is just, what's proposed is in the wrong location. It's in a heritage zone. We, as a private sector operator and investor, have developed in good faith, complying with the existing Sullivan's Cove planning scheme, which represents a lot of those heritage values. And we just don't think a 55 metre tall stadium of the bulk and height that's proposed is appropriate right to the edge of Evans Street. And it will forever change what is a beautiful maritime heritage zone that's valued by Tasmanians and visitors. David Reilly Well, also, of course, valued by your company, it does push up pretty closely against some of your own accommodation assets. Exactly what's in that area that Federal Group currently owns and operates? Daniel Hanna So we own and operate the Henry Jones Art Hotel and the facilities that surround the Henry Jones. We've also got the Mac One Hotel, both on the waterfront. Clearly the Henry Jones is probably the most impacted. If you look at that iconic vista, I guess, from the docks from Mures over towards Hunter Street and the Henry Jones, it really is one of the iconic images in Tasmania. Unfortunately, with the stadium that's proposed, we'll have a massive structure looming right over the top of Henry Jones, right to the edge of Evans Street. We've also got some other very direct concerns around the stadium during construction and operation in that location. And that goes to things like getting access, for example. We believe Evans Street will be closed a significant proportion of the time during construction and then operation. And that's how our guests, our staff and our suppliers can all access our hotels. We're very concerned about access. We're also concerned about other things, yeah, noise, lights and shadowing, and parking as well, to be frank. David Reilly We've had a couple of people asking about this Mac 2.0, the Stadium 2.0 proposal, backed by Dean Coleman and of course, former Labor Premier, Paul Lennon. One text are asking, is it true that Federal Group is behind Stadium 2.0? Now it's sort of gone off the boil a little bit, this project, but is that still your preference, that site? Daniel Hanna Yeah, look, that would still be our preference. I think it deals with a lot of the heritage issues that we've got concerns about. So I would certainly encourage whenever we run over this election and we have a new government in place to consider that proposal. But let me first of all, address the concern raised in that text. I can absolutely tell you that Federal is definitely not behind 2.0. David Reilly So not linked to 2.0 and Paul Lennon? Daniel Hanna No, we have nothing to do with that project. Obviously the proponents of that project have presented to us in the past as a company, many months ago. And we thought that that was a very good project, worthy of consideration, would address a lot of our concerns and is, I think, still worthy of consideration. We think it's a much better location and I think delivers a better bang for the buck.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New chip could be the breakthrough the quantum computing industry has been waiting for
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have developed a new type of computer chip that removes a major obstacle to practical quantum computers, making it possible for the first time to place millions of qubits and their control systems on the same device. The new control chip operates at cryogenic temperatures close to absolute zero (about minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 273.15 degrees Celsius) and, crucially, can be placed close to qubits without disrupting their quantum state. "This result has been more than a decade in the making, building up the know-how to design electronic systems that dissipate tiny amounts of power and operate near absolute zero," lead researcher David Reilly, professor at the University of Sydney Nano Institute and School of Physics, said in a statement. The scientists described the result as a "vital proof of principle" for integrating quantum and classical components in the same chip — a major step toward the kind of practical, scalable processors needed to make quantum computing a reality. The researchers published their findings June 25 in the journal Nature. Qubits are the quantum equivalent of binary bits found in today's classical computers. However, where a classical bit can represent either 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in a "superposition" of both states. This enables quantum computers to perform multiple calculations in parallel, making them capable of solving problems far beyond the reach of today's computers. Related: Quantum computers that are actually useful 1 step closer thanks to new silicon processor that could pack millions of qubits Spin qubits, a type of qubit that encodes information in the spin state of an electron, have piqued the interest of scientists because they can be built using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. This is the same process used to fabricate the chips found inside modern smartphones and PCs. In theory, this makes spin qubits much easier to produce at scale as it slips into normal manufacturing methods. Other quantum computers use different types of qubits, including superconducting, photonic or trapped-ion qubits. But unlike these other types, spin qubits can be made on a massive scale using existing equipment. However, spin qubits need to be kept at temperatures below 1 kelvin (just above absolute zero) to preserve "coherence." This is a qubit's ability to maintain superposition and entanglement over time, and what is needed to unlock the parallel processing power that makes quantum computing so promising. Spin qubits also need electronic equipment to measure and control their activity. "This will take us from the realm of quantum computers being fascinating laboratory machines to the stage where we can start discovering the real-world problems that these devices can solve for humanity," Reilly added. Integrating the electronics required to control and measure spin qubits has long posed a challenge, as even small amounts of heat or electrical interference can disrupt the qubits' fragile quantum state. But this new, custom CMOS chip is designed to operate in cryogenic environments and at ultra-low power levels, meaning it can be integrated onto a chip alongside qubits without introducing thermal or electrical noise that would otherwise interrupt coherence. In tests, the researchers ran single-gate and two-qubit gate operations with the control chip positioned less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) from the qubits. The control chip introduced no measurable electrical noise and caused no drop in accuracy, stability or coherence, the researchers said. Additionally, the control chip consumed just 10 microwatts (0.00001 watts) of power in total, with the analogue components — used to control the qubits with electrical pulses — using 20 nanowatts (0.00000002 watts) per megahertz. "This validates the hope that indeed qubits can be controlled at scale by integrating complex electronics at cryogenic temperatures," Reilly said. "This will take us from the realm of quantum computers being fascinating laboratory machines to the stage where we can start discovering the real-world problems that these devices can solve for humanity," he added. "We see many further diverse uses for this technology, spanning near-term sensing systems to the data centres of the future." RELATED STORIES —Quantum computing: What is quantum error correction (QEC) and why is it so important? —IBM will build monster 10,000-qubit quantum computer by 2029 after 'solving science' behind fault tolerance — the biggest bottleneck to scaling up —World's first silicon-based quantum computer is small enough to plug into a regular power socket The findings could prompt more researchers to explore the power of spin qubits. "Now that we have shown that milli-kelvin control does not degrade the performance of single- and two-qubit quantum gates, we expect many will follow our lead," study co-author Kushal Das, senior hardware engineer at Emergence Quantum and a researcher at the University of Sydney who designed the chip, said in the statement. "Fortunately for us, this is not so easy but requires years to build up the know-how and expertise to design low-noise cryogenic electronics that need only tiny amounts of power."


Fast Company
12-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Mars Petcare teams with mental health company Calm to help your pet become your ‘well-being superhero'
If you've ever felt like your pet knows exactly when to pull you away from the stress of your computer screen, you aren't alone. A landmark study surveying over 30,000 pet owners in 20 different countries found that 78% of dog or cat owners report that their pets remind them to take breaks during work or tasks, with 50% of the participants saying this happens daily. The study, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mars, is the largest international survey of its kind in the world. The findings resonated deeply with David Reilly, global VP at Mars. 'If my dog's at daycare, I don't take a break at lunch time,' he says. 'But if my dog's not at daycare, somehow miraculously, I find the space to create up an hour to take my dog on a walk.' Knowing that his relationship with his own pet had such an impact on his mental health, Reilly was excited by the data. 'I think 46% of people globally report their mental well-being is their number-one health priority and 56% of the population of the world has a pet. So if we can help unlock this idea that the pet could be your well-being superhero . . . then there's a real opportunity there,' he says. To do this, the Mars team needed to seek further expertise. 'We have a deep knowledge of pets and we actually have a deep knowledge of the bond between people and pets. But we aren't experts in human mental health,' says Reilly. The solution was to collaborate with consumer mental health company Calm. Together, Mars and Calm collaborated on a collection of content meant to help pet lovers think about their bond with their pets as ways to improve their own well-being. Its launch marks the first pet-inspired collection featured on Calm. The content on Calm will include: A series of sleep stories inspired by the emotional connection between people and their pets. A series of guided meditations meant to help listeners reflect on the ways pets support their mental wellness. A series of breathing exercises. On Mars's pet advice platform Kinship, Mars and Calm are launching the interactive quiz My Pet Guru, which helps pet owners learn which of six 'wellbeing superpowers' their pet has based on questions about their personalities and behaviors. 'Together, we're helping more people—and their pets—experience the proven benefits of the human-animal bond through real stories, science-backed tools, and supportive content,' says Greg Justice, chief content officer at Calm. 'Once the insights are rich . . . it doesn't need to be overly clinical' says Reilly. The researchers, pet experts, and content creators, 'worked together to find the sweet spot of ensuring that the content was true to what we'd heard, but also really accessible and also engaging for pet owners or other people who love pets.' Mars and Calm are also seeking touching stories from pet owners to inform the wave of pet stories from Calm. 'What I'm looking forward to, honestly, is hearing the stories that people share. Pets genuinely make a really incredible impact on people's lives,' says Reilly.


Fast Company
12-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Study finds pets help 78% of owners take breaks—now Calm and Mars are turning that bond into wellness tools
If you've ever felt like your pet knows exactly when to pull you away from the stress of your computer screen, you aren't alone. A landmark study surveying over 30,000 pet owners in 20 different countries found that 78% of dog or cat owners report that their pets remind them to take breaks during work or tasks, with 50% of the participants saying this happens daily. The study, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mars, is the largest international survey of its kind in the world. The findings resonated deeply with David Reilly, Global VP at Mars Petcare. 'If my dog's at daycare, I don't take a break at lunch time,' he says. 'But if my dogs's not at daycare, somehow miraculously, I find the space to create up an hour to take my dog on a walk.' Knowing that his relationship with his own pet had such an impact on his mental health, David was excited by the data. 'I think 46% of people globally report their mental well-being is their number-one health priority and 56% of the population of the world has a pet. So if we can help unlock this idea that the pet could be your well-being superhero . . . then there's a real opportunity there,' he says. To do this, Mars Petcare team needed to seek further expertise. 'We have a deep knowledge of pets and we actually have a deep knowledge of the bond between people and pets. But we aren't experts in human mental health,' says Reilly. The solution was to collaborate with consumer mental health company Calm. Together, Mars and Calm collaborated on a collection of content meant to help pet lovers think about their bond with their pets as ways to improve their own well-being. Its launch marks the first pet-inspired collection featured on Calm. The content on Calm will include: A series of sleep stories inspired by the emotional connection between people and their pets. A series of guided meditations meant to help listeners reflect on the ways pets support their mental wellness. A series of breathing exercises. On Mars's pet advice platform Kinship, Mars and Calm are launching the interactive quiz My Pet Guru, which helps pet owners learn which of six 'wellbeing superpowers' their pet has based on questions about their personalities and behaviors. 'Together, we're helping more people—and their pets—experience the proven benefits of the human-animal bond through real stories, science-backed tools, and supportive content,' says Greg Justice, chief content officer at Calm. 'Once the insights are rich . . . it doesn't need to be overly clinical' says Reilly. The researchers, pet experts, and content creators, 'worked together to find the sweet spot of ensuring that the content was true to what we'd heard, but also really accessible and also engaging for pet owners or other people who love pets.' Mars and Calm are also seeking touching stories from pet owners to inform the wave of pet stories from Calm. 'What I'm looking forward to, honestly, is hearing the stories that people share. Pets genuinely make a really incredible impact on people's lives,' says Reilly.