By Vincey Chan

We’re back to bring you issue four of Good Earth News. In this issue, were taking a look at the latest developments in sustainability. Read on to find out how 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations will be introduced to NSW, the outcome of the Indigenous fight for ‘water justice’ in Victoria, who the first Indigenous female surgeon is, what Ash Barty’s lifelong goal is and who the first African to win the Pritzker architecture prize is.

Good Earth news

NSW to co-fund 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the state over four years.

A new national park has been created in the heart of Western Australia’s Wheatbelt, providing greater New South Wales is promising to build more than 1,000 charging stations for electric vehicles under a four-year plan that would create the most extensive EV network in the country.

data was released showing sales of new EVs in Australia tripled in the past 12 months with more than 20,000 drivers in the country choosing the low emissions option in 2021.

The NSW treasurer, Matt Kean, said the government was initially offering $35m to fund up to 50% of the capital costs for businesses to construct fast and ultra-fast charging bays along key travel routes.

“This is expected to unlock around $160m in private investment under our plan to build the biggest electric vehicle charging network in Australia,” Kean said.

The state government flagged the program would likely be repeated over the next four years to construct more than 1,000 fast and ultra-fast chargers state-wide. Ultra-fast chargers can take as little as 15 minutes to provide charge for 400km.

Source: The Guardian

Good Earth news

Indigenous fight for ‘water justice’ intensifies as Victoria hands back Murray-Darling entitlement.

The Victorian government has announced that 1.36 gigalitres has been set aside for traditional owners in northern Victoria as part of the latest audit of the Connections irrigation modernisation project out of a total 433GL recovered.

Kennedy, who is also deputy chair of Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN), says that, even with the historic allocation, 1.36GL will only water one wetland in northern Victoria. However, there are many traditional owner groups who have several wetlands within country.

“Two-hundred and fifty years ago we owned all the water.”

The chair of MLDRIN, Ngarrindjeri man Grant Rigney, described the move as “an encouraging but long overdue initial step towards water justice for First Nations in the Murray-Darling Basin.”

Source: The Guardian

HEADLINE –

NSW medical graduate set to become first Indigenous female surgeon.

Growing up in a remote part of central west NSW, Rachel Farrelly would spend two hours travelling by bus to get to school each morning.

“Being raised in an Aboriginal community, I really wanted to contribute positively to the health inequality that you see in rural and regional NSW every day. But it was hard, I did have thoughts about quitting at times… going from this small rural community to a city university.”

There are just four operating surgeons in Australia who identify as Indigenous, according to figures from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and another eight surgical trainees in the pipeline. All are men.

After sitting her fellowship exam later this year, Dr Farrelly, a Gunu woman who was raised on Wiradjuri country, is set to become Australia’s first Indigenous female surgeon.

Source: The Guardian

Good Earth news

‘Heartbeat of our nation’: Ash Barty ticks off lifelong goal with visit to Uluru.

Ash Barty has celebrated her 110th consecutive week as the tennis world’s No 1 by ticking a special place in her homeland off her bucket list. The Australian may have travelled the world but only this week did she have the opportunity to visit Uluru for the first time.

“It’s really hard to put into words, just because it’s a feeling,” Barty told Tennis Australia. “When you actually go to Uluru for the first time like I did, it was just an incredible experience for me to understand how much of a spiritual connection Uluru has for so many communities.

“But also as a child, as an Aboriginal girl growing up, it’s the heartbeat of our nation … being able to experience that first-hand is something I always wanted to do. To be able to allow myself, through my profession and through my career, to have this opportunity was really special.”

Source: The Guardian

Good Earth news

Diebedo Francis Kere becomes first African to win Pritzker architecture prize.

For the first time in its history, architecture’s most prestigious award has been won by an African. 

Burkina Faso-born architect Diebedo Francis Kere was awarded the Pritzker Prize, becoming the 51st recipient since it began in 1979.

Mr Kere, 56, was hailed for his “pioneering” designs that are “sustainable to the earth and its inhabitants — in lands of extreme scarcity,” Tom Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation that sponsors the award, said in a statement. 

He became renowned for his architecture of a school in his home town which used local clay and had natural cooling. The success of the project saw the creation of an extension, a library and teachers’ housing in later years.

Source: ABC News

By Vincey Chan