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Rummaging around for that last silver coin, to contribute to your mate’s silver coin, just to afford the phone call to his mum to come pick us up after spending all of your hard-earned school holiday savings playing video games in a 1980s ‘pinnie parlour’, was the absolute definition of ‘a good day out’. At least it was back then. As a kid, particularly in that era, computer gaming was still in its infancy – or starting its emergence out of it, depending on how you see it – ‘playing the pinnies’ was just the absolute priority for budding gamers back in the day. The intent was to go see a movie; I’m sure many of you have been there. Summer holidays in Sydney, no school ’til next year’, you’ve…
SKYBUS OPERATOR Kinetic will introduce no fewer than 36 fully-electric buses to the Melbourne metro network by mid-2025, following its AUD$2.3 billion ‘franchise’ win. As part of the Victorian state government’s aim to transition its massive bus fleet to low-to-zero emissions – pledging specifically, “…all new public transport buses to be zero emissions from 2025” – Melbourne-based Kinetic will operate a third of the metropolitan bus network from January 31, 2022, to June, 2031, the government confirms. Kinetic, which runs Skybus and local bus routes across Australasia – a slew of key operations now, in fact – will introduce the 36 fully electric buses to the network by mid-2025, including five by June next year. More than half of the franchise fleet – 341 of the 537 buses – will…
THE BELATED 2022 Australasia Bus and Coach Expo will be held October 5-6 next year in The Dome and Halls at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, organisers have announced. BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld says the association was excited to announce the new dates for 2022 after postponing the 2021 Expo due to Covid and the lockdown in Sydney. “We anticipate that there will be a strong focus on battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses.” “The dates have been chosen following the consideration of school holidays, venue availability and the industry events in 2022,” Threlkeld said. “We believe the 12-month delay gives us the best opportunity to host a world-class exhibition and optimise attendance.” The Covid-safe event will involve displays covering more than 13,000 square metres, all under the one…
NSW IS SET TO attract more than $80 billion of investment, drive deep decarbonisation and establish itself as an energy and economic superpower with the launch of the NSW Hydrogen Strategy. Premier Dominic Perrottet says that, as NSW worked through post-lockdown recovery, hydrogen was an opportunity to drive new investment and help secure jobs right across the state. “Australia has an opportunity to be an energy superpower; New South Wales will lead the country with this hydrogen strategy,” Premier Perrottet said. “Our major trading partners see hydrogen as part of their energy future; this state has the skills, infrastructure and renewable energy resources to compete globally in this new industry.” Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole says hydrogen is a huge opportunity for regional NSW. “We know…
WELCOMING the federal government’s announcement in September of extra grants and the expansion of its shortlist for a national network of clean hydrogen hubs, Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) CEO Dr Fiona Simon said the extra AUD$150 million in funding underlines the government is, “… serious about investing in Australia’s hydrogen future. “Committing grant funding of $464m to support feasibility studies and construction is another important step forward,” Simon said. Simon said the decision to increase the number of hubs from five to seven is good news for jobs and getting the industry to scale, as hubs drive collaboration and shared benefit. AHC represents the Australian hydrogen industry, it states. Members include: Air Liquide, Aluminium Revolutionary Chassis Company, Ampol, ANT Energy Solutions, ANZ Banking Group, APA Group, Arup, Arthur Phillips Pty…
FOLLOWING a whirlwind week of dramatic changes in NSW state Liberal Party politics, Planning Minister Rob Stokes has been announced as the new Minister for Transport, according to new NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. After Stokes’s challenge for the party leadership in a ballot at NSW Parliament House – where Perrottet defeated him with 39–5 votes – the new Premier of NSW says Stokes was happy to take on the Transport portfolio, confirming he thought he would be ideal for the job given his 10 years of ministerial experience. “When I called him this morning, he was very happy to take it on and I think balancing both planning, transport, and infrastructure makes perfect sense,” Premier Perrottet informed reporters at the announcement on October 6. According to independent national newswire AAP,…
