RENEWABLE energy operators in the south-west have remained silent after the state government announced it would drop its Victoria-specific carbon target.

Environment Minister Ryan Smith yesterday released the findings of the independent review which was triggered by the federal government’s carbon tax package last year.

The review found that dual state and national emissions targets would impose additional costs on Victorian households, leading Spring Street to axe its greenhouse gas reduction deadline of 20 per cent by 2020.

“The days of spending large amounts of Victorian taxpayers’ money on expensive advertisements, symbolic gestures, meetings and seminars are over,” Mr Smith said.

“As Professor Ross Garnaut suggested, we will focus on helping home-owners and the business sector to cope with rising power prices.”

The former Brumby government introduced legislation to cut emissions 20 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 after the failure of the Rudd government’s carbon trading scheme to pass federal parliament.

In opposition, the state Coalition supported the 20 per cent target but have distanced themselves from the proposal during the past 12 months.

The Standard yesterday contacted a number of renewable energy companies with projects based in the south-west.

Some were unavailable and others declined to comment.

Opposition energy spokeswoman Lily D’Ambrosio said economic benefits extended to south-west Victoria through renewable energy projects would be jeopardised by the state government’s change of heart.

“With the stroke of a pen, Premier Ted Baillieu has sent renewable energy investors a clear message — Victoria is closed for business,” she said.

“The decision … sends a clear message to the south-west community that the government has no interest in the renewable energy sector and the benefits it has brought to the region.”

Australian Industry Group Victorian director Tim Piper said it was important for business to have consistency across the country.

Environment Victoria chief Kelly O’Shannassy said the target had been about cutting pollution from the economy and attracting clean energy investment.

Mr Garnaut said he saw no need for separate state emissions targets if there is an appropriate national strategy.

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Health and Community Services Union members rally outside Denis Napthine’s office. A COMMITTED group of the region’s mental health workers rallied on Liebig Street yesterday to raise awareness for an industrial dispute of their own.

Just weeks after hospital nurses and midwives were awarded a 21 per cent pay increase, Warrnambool’s psychiatric nurses, mental health clinicians and workers stopped work for two hours to hold the community rally outside the office of Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine.

The two-hour strike and protest rally was part of an ongoing statewide industrial and community campaign in support of enterprise bargaining claims for fair pay and conditions, as well as increased funding to mental health services in Victoria.

Health and Community Services Union state organiser Angela Landmann said despite an election promise to fix the problems, through negotiations the state government had failed to improve services or resolve any bargaining points.

“Today we’re raising awareness about the crisis in mental health services,” she said.

“The Chief Psychiatrist did an investigation into deaths at mental health facilities, recommending we increase staff levels and hire more highly-trained staff.

“Mental health makes up about 20 per cent of health needs but only gets seven to 10 per cent of funding.

“The government wants to remove funding from the community teams in Warrnambool to deal with resourcing issues.

“After Easter we’ve voted to take further action if we still see no results, so we’ll be increasing rolling stoppages across the state.”

About 50 mental health workers across Warrnambool and more than 100 in the south-west could be asked to take part in further action.

Union assistant state secretary Paul Healey said mental health services struggled to cope with demand.

“The suicide rate in the community is higher than the road toll,” Mr Healey said.

“The Baillieu government made big promises before the state election to fix the problems, but have failed to deliver.”

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OCTOBER’S municipal elections are shaping up to be a hotbed of unrest in Warrnambool, with new candidates in the wings wanting to bring fresh blood to the city council debate table.

Second-time candidate Peter Sycopoulis and businessman Graeme Rodger have told The Standard several business operators had indicated they were unhappy with council’s performance and were keen to stand.

This week’s council decision to refuse a planning application by Mr Rodger’s family company to install eight electronic gaming machines at the Flying Horse Inn Bar and Brewery stirred up his annoyance again.

Mr Rodger, who served on the council about a decade ago, is a developer and contractor who has locked horns with the council on several major issues in recent years.

He said the council failed to understand business issues.

“The sooner we bring on a new set of candidates for council the better,” he said.

“I know that a group of business operators is preparing to stand.”

Mayor Jacinta Ermacora denied there was a lack of business acumen around the table.

“I would argue that council has created a very business-friendly environment in Warrnambool,” she said.

“Council’s decision on gaming was a difficult one requiring consideration of significant competing interests and it is not always possible to keep everyone happy.”

“I would support any person considering putting up their hand to serve our city. The best council team is a diverse one, with broad representation across our community.”

Already businessmen Darren Harris, Brian Kelson and Jed Mast have put their hands up, along with Mr Sycopoulis and policeman David MacPhail.

“There’s a strong feeling in the community that the council is being run like a poor-performing political party rather than a business,” Mr Sycopoulis said.

“Council must be run on a strict budget, spending money like it’s your own and not someone else’s.”

Cr Hulin said he know of at least four people keen to nominate, but denied it would be an organised bloc.

“They believe they can contribute business skills and rise above the 5-2 voting pattern that dominates council now,” he said.

Nominations for all Victorian councils close on September 25 for October 27 elections.

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AN amphitheatre at Cannon Hill has been suggested by Warrnambool mayor Jacinta Ermacora as a way of revitalising the prominent natural landmark.

The scenic hill overlooking Lake Pertobe and the foreshore is a popular vantage spot for locals and visitors, only two block away from the central business district.

Its potential was recognised in the new city centre revitalisation structure plan, officially released by the city council this week for public comment.

The plan recommended upgrading Cannon Hill to become “a key parkland attractor and southern anchor to the city centre, as well as a more inviting place for daily city users”. It suggested reconfiguring car parking to provide parkland/seating areas with elevated views over the lake and foreshore, improving park furniture and landscaping, plus improving pedestrian and cycling links.

Cr Ermacora said consultants who prepared the extensive plan recognised the area’s value from an outsider’s point of view.

“It’s a great expression of potential linking our city centre to the Cannon Hill area,” she said.

Cr Ermacora suggested a stone amphitheatre could be built into the natural slope on the southern side of the hill, providing a great venue for concerts, festivals and relaxation.

“I want to stimulate community thinking on this and get people’s ideas,” she said.

The structure plan, which had its origins in a community workshop more than three years ago, is out for public comment for six weeks.

It sets a vision for the next 25 years covering a diverse range of issues, including parking, traffic, street revitalisation and heritage.

Cr Ermacora said one of the main themes was to make the CBD safer for pedestrians and cyclists, while still allowing traffic through.

Concern was raised by councillors Rob Askew and John Harris, who said good vehicle access to the central shopping area must be maintained, particularly for country residents. “If we make it too hard for people to get into the CBD parking areas they will desert the area,” Cr Harris said.

Cr Askew also cautioned about allowing “minimal heritage value structures to impede good developments in the city centre”.

He said the plan could prompt some owners to improve their properties.

Cr Jennifer Lowe said parking would be the most contentious issue within the plan and consideration must be made for future needs.

She called for a marketing campaign to urge widespread feedback.

City growth director Bill Millard said the plan would be critical in assisting the council to gain government funding for improvements.

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Welcome: international students Wu Jeat Kwan (left), from Malaysia, Amy Chaffee, United States, Heidemarie Pettaues, Austria, Phurit Laochareon, Thailand, Gina Sellinger, US, Silvia De San Laureano, Spain, and Kelsey Heinrich, US. STUDENTS from around the world were welcomed into Warrnambool’s schools, university and TAFE yesterday.

More than 60 international students attended Warrnambool City Council’s official welcoming ceremony in the evening after starting 2012 studies at Deakin University’s Warrnambool Campus, South West TAFE and local secondary schools.

Deakin University Warrnambool head of campus, Professor Greg Wood, said international students brought cultural diversity to Warrnambool.

“They bring a different perspective based on their different cultures, which adds to the social fabric of Warrnambool,” Professor Wood said.

“By sharing their life experiences they enrich the learning experience for everyone on our campus.”

South West Institute of TAFE chief executive Joe Piper said hosting international students provided the region an opportunity to not only work and socialise with a broader international community but to boost the local business sector.

“It expands the global knowledge of our region and it certainly allows international students to provide a professional service to our region in some areas that need it at the moment,” Mr Piper said.

“We welcome them as an ongoing commitment from our institute to broader international education.”

Mayor Jacinta Ermacora said Warrnambool had a growing interest in international cultures.

“It’s always a great experience for schools and families that welcome these students each year and hopefully their stays provide opportunities for extended visits throughout their lives,” she said.

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A WARRNAMBOOL man who allegedly grabbed his 87-year-old grandmother around the throat after she warned him he would head back to jail has had his case adjourned for a contested hearing.

Matthew Phillip Andrews, 31, previously of Ardlie Street, yesterday appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court from prison via video link.

His case was adjourned until a contested hearing on May 11.

Police alleged that on December 28 Mr Andrews was living at his grandmother’s home of 44 years.

His grandmother warned her grandson he would go back to jail if he continued to associate with undesirable people.

Andrews became enraged despite his mother trying to calm him down, police alleged.

He is alleged to have grabbed his grandmother around the throat.

The elderly woman later told police she almost passed out.

Mr Andrews’ mother intervened.

The man’s grandmother’s neck was left raw and bleeding.

Andrews then got hold of a knife and waved it, allegedly causing a defensive wound to the back of his grandmother’s hand.

He also allegedly threatened to kill his mother and grandmother if they called police.

Police were called and used capsicum spray to arrest the defendant.

Police searched his bedroom and found seven bottles of animal medication.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kevin Mullins presented photos of the grandmother’s injuries to the court.

Magistrate Ron Saines told defence solicitor Matthew Senia his client would be best served by negotiating the charges.

He said police had to use force to arrest him and Andrews’ mother had to intervene.

Mr Senia said Andrews had been in custody since December 28.

His parole had been cancelled and he still owed the parole board about 12 months of a four-year sentence that was imposed in 2008.

He said the mother and grandmother were in court and they had made statements of no complaint in relation to the police charges, while Andrews maintained the police allegations were grossly inaccurate.

Solicitor Carolyn Howe said her clients, Andrews’ mother and grandmother, would give evidence that he did not make threats to kill, used his thumbnail, not the knife, to cause an injury and the neck wound bled so much because the elder woman was on blood thinning medication.

Andrews was charged with recklessly causing serious injury, resisting police, possessing the proceeds of crime and two counts of making threats to kill, assault with a weapon and unlawful assault.

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Year 11 Camperdown Mercy Regional College student Joseph Kingston, 17, shows off the new insulin pump and iPad which have streamlined the testing and treatment of his Type-1 diabetes. Behind are nutrition and dietetics manager with South West Healthcare Susan Baudinette, left, his parents Jane and Paul Kingston, and diabetes nurse educator Maree Boyle.A NEW South West Healthcare (SWH) service is set to help Type 1 diabetes patients monitor their carbohydrate intake while on insulin pump therapy.

The pre-admission clinic offers intensive education and advice on food types and carbohydrate counting with assistance from an iPad application, prior to patients starting the therapy, known as IPT.

Seventeen-year-old Joseph Kingston, who recently attended the second of three pre-admission sessions and will start therapy at the end of April, is the first to try the combination.

Like many other boys his age, Joseph enjoys cycling and playing football for his home town Camperdown and recently took part in a debutante ball with the rest of his year 11 class at Mercy Regional College.

Unlike them, however, Joseph’s everyday activities have been punctuated with multiple insulin injections and finger pricks since he was six years old to monitor the auto-immune disease.

Joseph said he was hoping IPT combined with the SWH program would improve his day-to-day life.

“I’d heard a lot of good things about it,” he said. “It will give me better everyday control.”

IPT involves wearing a small device underneath clothing that delivers a steady amount of insulin through a tube inserted just under the skin.

Joseph will go from injecting himself with the glucose-regulating substance four times per day, plus several finger pricks to obtain his blood sugar level, to one tube insertion every three days.

He said IPT would come as a welcome relief as he got further into his VCE studies.

“It affects you at school. You get pulled out of class to have needles,” he said.

“People walking past sometimes give you funny looks.

“Giving (myself) needles is a bit embarrassing sometimes.”

Joseph’s parents Paul and Jane were confident IPT would improve their son’s quality of life after meeting others who were already on it. It should minimise complications later on in life as well,” Mrs Kingston said.

“This will be more discreet.”

T1 patients considering SWH’s new program will have the support of nutrition and dietetics manager Susan Baudinette, senior diabetes educator Maree Boyle and the IPT team.

“It improves people’s choices about managing their diabetes, it gives them another alternative,” Mrs Boyle said.

“It can give a bit more freedom and flexibility.”

Ms Baudinette said the purpose of the pre-admission clinic was to help patients become more familiar with the ingredients in their meals and understand food labels.

“I teach healthy eating and carbohydrate counting starting with which foods contain carbohydrates,” she said.

“After the three sessions, they’re ready to have the pump put in place.”

The experts said carbohydrate counters were particularly helpful when patients were away from home, spending time at friends’ houses or eating out.

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PANMURE recruit James Keane is facing a delayed start to the season for his new club after being reported by two umpires in a practice match last weekend.

The ruckman was reported for striking South Colac’s Justin Mooney in the final quarter of a match at Joiner Reserve, Elliminyt. Colac and District Football Netball League operations manager Michael Limb said that under Victorian Country Football League rules, the matter had to be dealt with by the host club’s league.

He said that while set penalties were available in the CDFNL, “it was decided it should go to the tribunal”.

Limb said it was rare for players to be reported in practice matches.

“To be honest I can’t remember any and I’ve been here eight years,” Limb said.

Keane’s case is expected to be heard next Tuesday night in Colac, just four days before Panmure’s opening round showdown with Dennington.

“Because it is the host league and the umpires involved are from Colac, they try and avoid too many people travelling,” Limb said of the arrangements.

Warrnambool and District Football Netball League president Justin Balmer said his competition did not get involved in the matter because the match was played at Colac.

It is understood Keane had been impressive in the match.

Keane was a dominant big man for Warrnambool and District Football Netball League runner-up Old Collegians last season but a six-week suspension and arm injury mid-season derailed his 2011 campaign, which ended with him missing selection for key matches, including the grand final.

Keane is one of many recruits Panmure wants to unveil in next week’s season-opener, including coach Simon O’Keefe, his midfielder brother Adam — both from Koroit — assistant coach Shaun Griffin (South Warrnambool), key forward Xavier McKinnon and returning full-forward Chris Bant, both from Terang Mortlake.

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WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club’s (WSC) junior competitors have stolen the spotlight from the club’s seasoned swimmers.

Just days after WSC’s more senior members wrapped up an exceptional national titles campaign in Adelaide, the club’s juniors sparkled at a competition in Melbourne.

The club had 34 youngsters qualify for the 2012 Victorian Country All Junior Competition, which is a sprint program for swimmers aged six to 14.

Competitors had to perform well at regional level to earn a spot on the blocks in the finals at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last weekend.

WSC president Peter Logan was pleased with Warrnambool’s representation at the All Juniors.

“Certainly it’s the most we’ve had in the last five or six years but it was more the impact that those 34 had over the weekend,” he said.

“It was very impressive and we weren’t expecting them to do so well.

“In the space of a month, they had gone through regional qualifiers and some of them had improved out of sight, especially when you’re talking over 50 metres.”

Overall, it was the club’s best result in seven years with 34 contesting semi-finals and 13 making it through to finals. Those 13 brought home two gold, five silver and two bronze medals.

Laura Riordan, 12, won gold in the 50-metre breaststroke after cutting her personal best by almost six seconds in the past month.

Blake Turner, also 12, won three silver medals in the 50-metre butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke while 14-year-old Kirra Umbers won gold in the butterfly. Sean Darcy, 13, picked up silver in the 50-metre backstroke and bronze in the 50-metre butterfly. Tayte Lang, 12, won silver in the 50-metre backstroke and 14-year-old Grace Tanner won bronze in the 50-metre breaststroke.

Alex Jones, Thomas Buckley, Jason Pritchard, Billy McPhee, Lainey Miller, Georgina Vallence and Emily Bartlett all qualified for finals.

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2009 Great Eastern Steeplechase winner Pentacolo, pictured here with Brad McLean on board, will start in today’s $30,000 hurdle at Sandown for Ciaron MaherWINSLOW trainer Ciaron Maher today ramps up preparations for next month’s Oakbank Easter carnival when the Victorian jumps racing season opens at Sandown.

He opens his 2012 campaign with comeback jumper Art Success in the $30,000 steeplechase (3300m) and former Great Eastern Steeplechase winner Pentacolo in the $30,000 hurdle (3300m).

The return of Art Success to the track is a victory in patience for Maher.

The 10-year-old won the 2010 Yalumba Hurdle at Oakbank and suffered a tendon injury while preparing for a return to the famous course in the Adelaide Hills last year.

Today will be Art Success’ first jumps race in a year.

Maher said Art Success’ last run on the flat when he was fifth in a 3000-metre race at Moonee Valley earlier this month had been his best since returning from injury.

He trialled at Sandown last week and “was quite good”, Maher said.

“That was his first step over them and he seemed to take to them pretty well.”

Maher said after the gelding suffered the injury, he had left Art Success to enjoy the spelling paddock.

“I think the break has done him good,” he said.

“He wasn’t the easiest horse to ride but he seems to have settled down a bit.”

Maher said he was aiming Art Success at both the Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) on Easter Saturday at Oakbank and the longer Greater Eastern Steeplechase (4950m) two days later.

His preferences for firmer tracks meant he had already had three runs on the flat and two trials over obstacles this preparation.

The country’s leading jumps jockey Steven Pateman will ride the veteran today in what is shaping as a wide-open race.

The 11-runner field includes quality jumpers like the Darren Weir-trained Pay The Aces, the Eric Musgrove-prepared Rabbuka and Gravitas, trained by Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston. Warrnambool jumper Megapixel from the Bill and Symon Wilde stables is also expected to put in a good performance after an impressive 50-length trial win at Warrnambool on March 13.

Maher is also charting a course towards the Oakbank double for 2009 Great Eastern winner Pentacolo.

“Pentacolo gets back in his races and rolls home. It’s just a run for him leading into Oakbank,” he said of today’s hurdle start.

The seven-runner hurdle field is full of class with the Eric Musgrove-trained Our Aristocrat a likely favourite.

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