Pittwater Online News

Media Release: The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, Minister for Planning - 7 Jul 2015

The NSW Government today released a proposed amendment to the Mining SEPP, which would remove a provision making the significance of the resource the principle consideration under the Mining SEPP when determining mining projects. 

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 is otherwise known as the Mining SEPP. 

Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the draft amendment reflects the legislative requirement for decision makers to consider the likely environmental, social and economic impacts of a mining development. 

“The protection of the environment and the promotion of the social and economic welfare of the community have always been objects of planning legislation,” Mr Stokes said. 

 “The careful deliberation of environmental, economic and social issues is fundamental to good planning. 

“This proposed amendment reflects the importance of balance in assessing the likely impacts of mining developments.”

To view the draft amendment and to make a submission, please visitwww.planning.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition.

A complete review of the Mining SEPP is currently underway and will be subject to public consultation later this year.

Exhibition Concludes 21/07/2015

Direct link at: planspolicies.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.job_id=7151

 SAVE THE LIVERPOOL PLAINS: It's YOUR problem too.

by savetheliverpoolplains

 The Shenhua Watermark Mine Gets Federal Approval

July 9, 2015 - EDO NSW (Environmental Defenders Office NSW)

The Shenhua Watermark mine has received Federal government approval: www.environment.gov.au/…/2011-6201-approval-decision…

This is the same mine that EDO NSW is representing Upper Mooki Landcare Inc in a current challenge to its approval by the NSW Government.

As our Principal Solicitor, Sue Higginson, says "Shenhua needs both state and commonwealth approvals to lawfully mine and work on the site. The state approval is currently under challenge in the court by our client. In these circumstances the usual practice is not to commence any ground works until the outcome of the proceedings/case is known”:

A hearing has been set for 31 August to 3 September in the NSW Land and Environment.

See more at: www.edonsw.org.au/upper_mooki_landcare_group_v_shenhua_and_the_nsw_minister_for_planning

 Have your say on proposed modifications to the Moolarben coal mine

Media Release: Department of Planning and Environment: 8 Jul 2015

Concurrent proposals to modify Stages 1 and 2 of the Moolarben coal mine are on exhibition for community feedback.

The Department of Planning and Environment is keen to hear the community’s views on the two applications, which seek to:

 Increase the size of longwall panels in an already approved mining area and relocate underground mine access arrangements, allowing an additional 3.7 million tonnes of coal to be recovered over the life of the mine

 change the size of one coal stockpile and the location of another coal stockpile

 build mine support infrastructure, including a coal conveyor and ventilation shaft

 increase the approved production and transportation limits.

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Environment said the local community always has an opportunity to share their views.

“Community consultation is an integral part of the planning process and the applicant will have to respond to the feedback we receive and this is taken into consideration when we develop our recommendations,” the spokesperson said.

“It’s easy to participate by going online and we encourage everyone to take a look and have their say.

“The Department is obliged to address all proposals it receives, and consistently applies strict rules in assessing applications.”

To make a submission or view the environmental assessment, visitwww.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au. Submissions can be made from Friday 3 July 2015 until Friday 31 July 2015.

Written submissions can also be made to:

Attn: Planning Services

GPO Box 39

Sydney NSW 2001

The EA is also available to view in person at:

 Department of Planning and Environment, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney

 Mid-Western Regional Council, Administration Centre, 86 Market Street, Mudgee

 Nature Conservation Council, Level 2, 5 Wilson Street, Newtown

Direct link here

  Coal spill into Wollangambe River from Centennial Coal's Clarence Colliery near Lithgow

Published on 4 Jul 2015 by Kate Ausburn

An incident on Thursday 2 July at Centennial Coal’s Clarence Colliery mine site near Lithgow has resulted in water and coal fines entering the Wollangambe River. The EPA is investigating and has described what happened as "a serious environmental incident". This video was filmed on Saturday 4 July.

EPA Investigating incident at Clarence Colliery

Media release: 2 July 2015

An incident today at Centennial Coal’s, Clarence Colliery mine site near Lithgow has resulted in water and coal fines entering the Wollangambe River.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was made aware of the incident this morning and we had an EPA officer on site for most of the day.

EPA South Director, Gary Whytcross, said that while it is not currently known exactly how much of the coal fines material had left the site but that at least 150 metres of the Wollangambe River was showing signs of impact.

“The cause of the incident is still being investigated but the EPA is obviously very concerned about any impacts on the Wollangambe River, which runs into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area approximately 2 kilometres downstream of the mine.

“This is a very sensitive environment.

“A full assessment of environmental impacts is continuing and the EPA is collecting evidence on to determine potential breaches of the environmental legislation,” Mr Whytcross said.

The Clarence Colliery has applied its Emergency Protocol and is currently in shut down.  They are cooperating with all relevant authorities.

EPA continuing investigation into incident at Clarence Colliery

Media release: 3 July 2015

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is continuing its investigations today into a serious environmental incident at the Centennial Coal, Clarence Colliery mine site near Lithgow.

EPA Director South, Gary Whytcross, said the EPA’s focus was on determining the extent of the environmental damage and getting the clean-up underway.

“This is a serious environmental incident with tonnes of coal fines material estimated to have left the site and entered the surrounding environment.

“The environmental impacts of this incident are the focus of our actions at the moment, with two EPA officers and scientists from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) on site and undertaking various sampling.

“The Wollangambe River is our greatest concern and determining the impacts to the river is a priority,” Mr Whytcross said.

The EPA has instructed Centennial Coal to erect silt fences between the mine site and the Wollangambe River to prevent further impacts.  

Clean up activities are being undertaken by Centennial Coal but are expected to take many weeks given the extent of the incident and the difficult terrain in which the material has been deposited.

“The cause of the incident is still being investigated and the EPA is continuing to collect evidence to determine potential breaches of the environmental legislation,” Mr Whytcross said.

Clean-up progressing after serious environmental incident at Clarence Colliery mine

Media release: 7 July 2015

The NSW Environment Protection Authority is continuing to monitor the clean-up actions and investigate environmental impacts after coal fines, and course reject material left the Centennial Coal, Clarence Colliery mine site and entered the surrounding environment last week.

EPA CEO Barry Buffier and Chief Environmental Regulator Mark Gifford inspected the mine site today with EPA officers including examining impacts to the Wollangambe River.

“This is clearly a major incident and the EPA is mobilising significant resources in response,” Barry Buffier said.

The EPA issued a Clean-up Notice to Centennial Coal on Friday 3 July which outlined strict clean-up requirements including; the installation of silt fences between the mine site and the Wollangambe River to prevent any further impact and the clean-up of the coal fine material that deposited in the Wollangambe River and 50 metres above it.

“EPA inspections today verified that silt fences had been installed and the clean-up is progressing.

“Clean-up activities are expected to continue for some time given the extent of the incident and the difficult terrain in which the material has been deposited.

“Officers from the EPA will be onsite again tomorrow and over the coming weeks to continue to monitor the clean-up.”

Mr Buffier said the EPA is continuing its investigation into the cause of the incident and is receiving expert scientific advice about the environmental impact.

“The EPA will review analysis of water samples which are expected to be received early next week. This will inform further clean-up requirements.

“The EPA’s legal investigation is also continuing.”

 E-waste: What we throw away doesn't go away

July 8, 2015 – Griffith University, South Australia

In the life of almost every household appliance, there comes that moment of out with the old and in with the new.

However, while electrical and electronic equipment have never been more efficient, economical or in demand, consumers' desire to own the best and the latest is contributing to an environmental issue of increasing seriousness and concern.

"E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in developing, emerging and developed regions and it covers all electrical and electronic equipment and parts discarded by consumers," says Dr Sunil Herat, Associate Editor of the journal Waste Management & Research and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

"According to figures published in the Global E-waste Monitor 2014 and compiled by the United Nations University, last year an estimated 41.8 million metric tonnes of e-waste was discarded throughout the world.

"This comprised mostly end-of-life kitchen, laundry and bathroom equipment such as microwave ovens, washing machines and dishwashers, although mobile phones, computers and printers also featured.

"That figure is estimated to rise by almost 20 per cent to 50 million metric tonnes in 2018, which is why waste management practitioners are seeking new technologies and approaches to deal with e-waste."

Dr Herat will discuss e-waste when he addresses the Sixth Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific, organised by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development and to be held in the Maldives from August 16-19.

He says that while the emphasis so far has been on end-of-life IT equipment such as computers and mobile phones, a focus on a broader spectrum of household e-waste is required if its growth is to be slowed.

A recent study commissioned by the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform and conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that Australia generates one of the highest per capita volumes of e-waste in the world. Of 19.71kg per person per year, almost 30 per cent comes from digital and audio-visual items.

The study also showed that growing incorporation of smart technology into common household items is regarded as the main cause of increases in the global e-waste streams from homes.

"This gives rise to important issues such as how we prepare for the growth in household e-wastes; whether existing take-back programs -- which currently exist in only a few countries -- are sufficient to handle new demands; and whether regulations are sufficient to ensure small household e-waste items are not mixed with residual waste contents in traditional household bins," says Dr Herat.

"Furthermore, the sheer range of household electrical and electronics items these days brings with it the use of rare earths and precious metals within circuits and chips, all of which can increase subsequent waste management challenges when items become obsolete and are discarded."

Dr Herat says there are significant benefits from expanding the coverage of e-waste products beyond the traditional computers, mobile phones and televisions. These include more efficient recycling and material recovery processes and the encouraging of private sector investment in recycling and recovery technologies.

"Crucially, e-waste policies must have a consumer focus, particularly regarding small e-waste items," he says.

"In Finland, for example, the government encourages recycling of small household e-waste items by treating them differently from large items. In Japan, consumers do not have to pay the recycling fee for small household items. In the Netherlands, a "pay-as-you-throw" system has seen a significant reduction in small household e-waste items occurring in household waste streams.

"Also, a unit-based recycling target is preferable to a weight-based target because the latter may result in greater incentive to recycle only large household items."

However, the biggest challenge facing e-waste policy makers is in developing countries.

"Most developing countries do not practise waste segregation at the source," says Dr Herat.

"This means that municipal solid waste can contain up to 3 per cent hazardous wastes, including e-waste. This can increase concentrations of heavy metals in leachate and contribute to environmental pollution.

"Governments can also struggle to collect funds from producers or imports if goods are smuggled in, or if small, shop-assembled products enjoy a large share of the market.

"A further challenge arises from systems that create incentives for collectors and recyclers to seek extra subsidies by exaggerating the amount of e-waste they collect. Competition between the formal and informal recycling sector is another impediment."

Despite such issues, Dr Herat says change is essential and inevitable.

"What is certain is that the e-waste management landscape is about to transform its traditional focus on computers and mobile phones to a broader range of more sophisticated household e-waste items," he says.

"With the exception of a few countries, most of us are about to face the reality of this latest challenge."

The above is reprinted from materials provided by Griffith University.

Top: Dr. Sunil Herat is a senior lecturer in Griffith University's School of Engineering and associate editor of Waste Management & Research. Credit: Griffith University

 WESTERN NSW PARKS NAMED AS LOCATIONS FOR SPECIES RE-WILDING 

Sunday, 5 July 2015: Media Release

The NSW Government has named the three parks in which locally extinct native mammals will be re-introduced inside predator-free enclosures as part of its exciting ‘re-wilding program’. Environment Minister Mark Speakman said the parks are all in western NSW and were chosen for their suitability for a range of species to be reintroduced. 

“Mallee Cliffs National Park in the south-west, Sturt National Park in the far north-west and Pilliga Nature Reserve to the north of Coonabarabran will be the locations for this exciting new program,” Mr Speakman said. 

As announced recently, the NSW Government is partnering with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the Wildlife Restoration and Management Partnership led by the University of NSW to deliver this project. The UNSW led partnership will undertake the project at Sturt National Park while the AWC will work at Mallee Cliffs National Park and Pilliga Nature Reserve. 

“These parks have particularly suitable habitat for the largest range of species to be reintroduced. The final list of species for each park will be confirmed following further discussions, but among the species likely to be included are the Greater Bilby, Brush-tailed Bettong, Burrowing Bettong, Greater Stick-nest Rat, Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby, Numbat, Western Barred Bandicoot and Western Quoll,” Mr Speakman said. 

Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries, in which two of the parks are located, said the reintroduction program is an exciting initiative and I know the communities around the Sturt National Park and Pilliga Nature Reserve are excited about it. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing this roll-out in the parks and I think we’ll see a really good outcome which can be enjoyed by generations to come,” Mr Humphries said.” 

The Mallee Cliffs National Park is located in Murrumbidgee and Local Member Adrian Piccoli said it will be wonderful to see the reintroduction of these small native animals into the Mallee Cliffs National Park where they have not been sighted in many years. “Their reintroduction not only plays a very important part in saving our native species but also towards improving the health of the ecosystem in the Mallee Cliffs National Park,” he said. 

Pest animals will be removed from fenced areas before the mammals are introduced and intensive pest control programs in adjacent park areas will be a key feature. All aspects of the program, including fence locations and construction, are still being finalised through contract negotiations and will be subject to standard environmental impact assessment processes.” 

This initiative will be a significant contribution to the State’s ‘Saving our Species’ program, which aims to secure the maximum number of threatened species in NSW over the next 100 years.

 The oceans can’t take any more: Fundamental change in oceans predicted

July 3, 2015 - Our oceans need an immediate and substantial reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. If that doesn't happen, we could see far-reaching and largely irreversible impacts on marine ecosystems, which would especially be felt in developing countries. That's the conclusion of a new review study published today in the journal Science. In the study, the research team from the Ocean 2015 initiative assesses the latest findings on the risks that climate change poses for our oceans, and demonstrates how fundamentally marine ecosystems are likely to change if human beings continue to produce just as much greenhouse gases as before.

Since the pre-industrial era, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has risen from 278 to 400 ppm (parts per million) -- a 40 percent increase that has produced massive changes in the oceans. "To date, the oceans have essentially been the planet's refrigerator and carbon dioxide storage locker. For instance, since the 1970s they've absorbed roughly 93 percent of the additional heat produced by the greenhouse effect, greatly helping to slow the warming of our planet," explains Prof Hans-Otto Pörtner, co-author of the new Ocean 2015 study and a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research.

But the oceans have also paid a high price: as far down as 700 metres the water temperatures have risen, which has forced some species to migrate up to 400 kilometres closer to Earth's poles within the past decade. Given the increasing acidification in many regions, it's becoming more and more difficult for corals and bivalves to form their calcium carbonate skeletons. In Greenland and the western Arctic, the ice is melting at an alarming rate, contributing to rising sea levels. As a result of these factors, the biological, physical and chemical processes at work in marine ecosystems are changing -- which will have far-reaching consequences for marine life and humans alike.

In their new study, the research team from the Ocean 2015 initiative employs two emissions scenarios (Scenario 1: Achieving the 2-degree goal / Scenario 2: Business as usual) to compile the main findings of the IPCC's 5th Assessment Report and the latest professional literature, and to assess those findings with regard to the risks for our oceans. "If we can successfully limit the rise in air temperature to two degrees Celsius through the year 2100, the risks, especially for warm-water corals and bivalves in low to middle latitudes, will become critical. However, the remaining risks will remain fairly moderate," explains lead author Jean-Pierre Gattuso. But a rapid and comprehensive reduction of carbon dioxide emissions would be needed in order to achieve this ideal option, he adds.

If instead carbon dioxide emissions remain at their current level of 36 billion tonnes per year (the 2013 level), the situation will escalate dramatically. "If we just go on with business as usual, by the end of this century the changes will hit nearly every ecosystem in the oceans and cause irreparable harm for marine life," claims Pörtner. This would in turn have massive impacts on all areas in which human beings use the oceans -- whether in capture fisheries, tourism or in coastal protection.

Further, the researchers point out that with every further increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, the available options for protecting, adapting and regenerating the oceans dwindle. As the authors summarise in the closing words of their study: "The ocean provides compelling arguments for rapid reductions in CO2 emissions and eventually atmospheric CO2 drawdown. Hence, any new global climate agreement that does not minimize the impacts on the ocean will be inadequate."

The researchers' statement above all addresses those individuals who will attend the international climate conference COP21 in Paris this December. Their study offers four key takeaway messages for the negotiators and decision-makers who will convene there:

1. The oceans greatly influence the climate system and provide important services for humans.

2. The impacts of anthropogenic climate change on key marine and coastal species can already be seen today. Many of these plant and animal species will face significant risks in the decades to come, even if we succeed in capping carbon dioxide emissions.

3. We urgently need an immediate and substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in order to avoid widespread and above all irrevocable harm to ocean ecosystems and the services they provide.

4. Fourth, as atmospheric CO2 increases, the available protection, adaptation and repair options for the ocean become fewer and less effective, and with them the odds that marine life forms can successfully adapt to these rapid changes.

The Ocean 2015 initiative was launched to provide extensive information on the future of the oceans as a resource for decision-makers participating in the COP21 conference. The international research team is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center of the International Atomic Energy Agency; the BNP Paribas Foundation and the Monégasque Association for Ocean Acidification.

Over the past several years, publications by researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, have greatly contributed to our current state of knowledge. One of the chief questions their efforts addresses is: "How will climate change affect ecosystems in the polar regions?."

J.-P. Gattuso, A. Magnan, R. Billé, W. W. L. Cheung, E. L. Howes, F. Joos, D. Allemand, L. Bopp, S. R. Cooley, C. M. Eakin, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, R. P. Kelly, H.-O. Pörtner, A. D. Rogers, J. M. Baxter, D. Laffoley, D. Osborn, A. Rankovic, J. Rochette, U. R. Sumaila, S. Treyer, C. Turley. Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO2 emissions scenarios. Science, 2015 DOI:10.1126/science.aac4722

 NSW Govt.Office - HAVE YOUR SAY

Design of the Gas Community Benefits Fund

What is the Community Benefits Fund for Gas?

The Government has announced the establishment of the Gas Community Benefits Fund to benefit communities in which gas producers operate.

The Government doesn't have a fixed or pre–determined model (design) which it has committed to, in the development of the fund.

Seeking the view of the public and stakeholders will be critical to maximising the value of the fund for communities in NSW.

Have Your Say

NSW Trade and Investment, Resources and Energy is responsible for the establishment of the fund and has developed a discussion paper to facilitate the establishment of the Fund. 

You are invited to submit your view on the Gas Community Benefits Fund in writing by 5:00pm, 17 July 2015 via email tocbfund@trade.nsw.gov.au or mail to:

Gas Community Benefits Fund, Strategy, Policy & Coordination,Division of Resources & Energy, Level 48, MLC Centre / 19 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Please note: in the discussion paper, questions are presented to provide feedback. The questions are a guide, and are not intended to restrict comments on any other issues that you consider relevant to the design of the Fund.

Email: Date: May. 21 - Jul. 17, 2015

Time: 9:00am — 5:00pm

More Information: cbfund@trade.nsw.gov.au   (02) 9338 6935 

Agency Website  Consultation Website 

Snake Rock Aboriginal area draft plan

Draft plan of management for the Snake Rock Aboriginal area

What is the draft plan of management for?

The draft plan is on public exhibition until 25th September 2015, it provides members of the community with the opportunity to have a say on the future management direction/s for the Aboriginal area.

Have your say

Anyone can make a comment of the draft plan by sending a written submission by email to: msw.planning@environment.nsw.gov.auor online at NSW Office of Environment and Heritage's website or by post to:

The Planner - NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service

PO Box 144, Sutherland NSW 1499

Formal Submission

Date: Jun. 12 - Sep. 25, 2015: Time: 9:00am — 5:00pm

Submission address

The Planner NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service PO Box 144 Sutherland NSW 1499

More Information:  NSW NP&WS Planning Team  (02) 6841 0921 

 Agency Website  Consultation Website

July 7, 2015 - Aspirin may inhibit the growth of mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly asbestos-related cancer, University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers have found.

The finding could eventually give doctors and patients a potential new tool to fight against this devastating disease, which kills about 3,200 people a year nationwide, and advance knowledge of how to fight other cancers.

The study published in Cell Death and Disease showed that aspirin slows down the growth of mesothelioma by blocking the carcinogenic effects of the inflammatory molecule, High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1). Researchers believe the molecule directly promotes mesothelioma growth.

"HMGB1 is an inflammatory molecule that plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of malignant mesothelioma. Inhibiting HMGB1 dramatically reduced malignant mesothelioma growth in mice and significantly improved survival of treated animals," said Dr. Haining Yang, PhD, an associate professor in the Thoracic Oncology Program at the UH Cancer Center.

Aspirin is mostly used as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which is absorbed by the stomach and upper intestine. Working with collaborators, Dr. Yang and Dr. Michele Carbone, MD, PhD, director of the UH Cancer Center's Thoracic Oncology Program, found that at least some of the so far unknown anti-tumor activity of aspirin is through preventing HMBG1 activity.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and often deadly cancer that can result from exposure to asbestos and asbestos-like fibers such as erionite. The prolonged presence of asbestos fibers lodged in the organ lining initiates a vicious cycle of chronic cell death and chronic inflammation that, over a period of many years, can lead to mesothelioma.

The researchers theorized that people at high risk of developing mesothelioma could take aspirin as a way to prevent or delay the growth of the cancer, and thus increase their chances of survival. Such individuals would include people occupationally exposed to asbestos, or people who live in areas high in naturally occurring asbestos-like fibers. They also encourage future studies to uncover the precise mechanism by which aspirin blocks HMGB1.

H Yang, L Pellegrini, A Napolitano, C Giorgi, S Jube, A Preti, C J Jennings, F De Marchis, E G Flores, D Larson, I Pagano, M Tanji, A Powers, S Kanodia, G Gaudino, S Pastorino, H I Pass, P Pinton, M E Bianchi, M Carbone. Aspirin delays mesothelioma growth by inhibiting HMGB1-mediated tumor progression. Cell Death and Disease, 2015; 6 (6): e1786 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.153

 Physical disability rugby league: not just for the love of the game

6 July 2015

The University of Sydney is 'teaming up' with the NSW Physical Disability Rugby League to conduct a landmark study assessing the physical and psychological benefits for people with physical disabilities participating in team sports.

Physical disability rugby league is a novel combination of touch and tackle football designed to allow men and women with a range of physical disabilities from different age groups to participate.

Lead researcher Dr Ché Fornusek, who has also played in the league since 2012, said he's seen a definite increase in players' skills and confidence but is interested to know the impact it has on health.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we find the athletes competing in the physical disability rugby league are running almost as much as the guys in the NRL, and that's got to be good for them," said Dr Fornusek from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

"Historically there have been a lot of barriers to people with disability participating in sport, but it's vital we encourage more involvement as inactive lifestyles can really exacerbate health problems for people living with disability.

"This research will provide the evidence we need to show that team sports are not just fun and safe for people with disability, but are also having positive impacts on physical and mental health."

During the pilot study, the athletes will undergo sports performance testing similar to that used in the National Rugby League including in-game monitoring using heart-rate monitors, GPS and accelerometers. The psychological and social benefits of involvement will be accessed via questionnaires.

Dr Fornusek said the involvement of people with a disability in sport has come a long way in the last twenty years but there is still work to be done.

"We are much better at involving people with disability in mainstream sporting competitions at the younger levels, but at about fifteen years-of-age kids with disabilities start to dropout as the sport becomes more competitive.

"It's unfortunate to see that players with a disability are also often sidelined to non-crucial roles in the team.

"The NSW Physical Disability Rugby League gives both adults and children with disabilities the opportunity to learn and stay involved in a game they love."

Former Chairman and Associate Founder George Tonna said rugby league is one of the most popular sports in NSW, so kids and adults with disability want the opportunity to play the game just like their peers.

"Life is about opportunities and learning for them, and it's amazing what confidence they gain when given the opportunity to play for their club or their heritage as part of the Combined Indigenous Nations team," said Mr Tonna.

"We are really excited to be involved with the University of Sydney and look forward to this research promoting our sport."

President of Sydney University Rugby League Football Club, Chris Kintis said the University's club has long been committed to fostering an all-inclusive and collegiate sporting environment and he's keen to see the disability league become more involved.

"I think our teams can learn a lot from each other, and opportunities to train together and contribute to projects such as this are important in promoting greater participation in rugby league," he said.

Joint Training Session:

Tuesday 7 July, 6:30pm - Oval 2, University of Sydney

Players from the NSW Disability Rugby League will be training with the Sydney University Rugby League Football Club in preparation for the disability leagues' game day on Sunday 12 July when the NSW All Stars Team will take on the Combined Indigenous Nations at 10am at Redfern Oval.

 Drinking alcohol while pregnant is common in UK, Ireland, and Australasia

Evident across all social strata but expectant moms significantly more likely to drink if they smoke

July 7, 2015 - Drinking alcohol while pregnant is common, ranging from 20% to 80% among those questioned in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, reveals a study of almost 18,000 women published in the online journal BMJ Open.

Women across all social strata drank during pregnancy, the findings showed. But expectant mums were significantly more likely to be drinkers if they were also smokers.

The researchers base their findings on an analysis of data from three studies: The Growing up in Ireland (GUI) study; the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study; and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).

The studies variously assessed the amount and type of alcohol drunk before and during pregnancy and involved 17,244 women who delivered live babies in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

The researchers mined the content to gauge the prevalence of, and the factors associated with, drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Their analysis indicated a high prevalence of drinking, including binge drinking, among mums to be. The prevalence of drinking alcohol ranged from 20% to 80% in Ireland, and from 40% to 80% in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ireland emerged as the country with the highest rates of drinking, both before (90%) and during (82%) pregnancy, and of binge drinking, before (59%) and during (45%) pregnancy, based on estimates from the SCOPE study. But the exact prevalence could be far lower than that as estimates of drinking during pregnancy from the PRAMS and GUI studies were substantially lower (20-46%), with only 3% of women reporting binge drinking in PRAMS, caution the researchers.

The amount of alcohol drunk varied across the three studies. Between 15% and 70% of the women said that they had drunk 1-2 units a week during the first three months (trimester) of their pregnancy. But the number of reported units dropped substantially in all countries between the first and second trimester, as did binge drinking.

The findings indicated that the prevalence of drinking while pregnant was generally evident across all social strata, but several factors were associated with a heightened or lowered risk of alcohol consumption.

Compared with white women, those of other ethnicities were less likely to drink alcohol while pregnant, while younger women (30-39) were also less likely to do so than older women.

A higher level of education, having other children, and being overweight/obese were also associated with a lower risk of drinking while pregnant.

But the strongest and most consistent predictor of a heightened risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy across all three studies was smoking. Smokers were 17-50% more likely to drink while pregnant.

The researchers point out that most clinical and government guidelines advise women to stop drinking during pregnancy.

But they write: "Alcohol use during pregnancy is highly prevalent, and evidence from this cross-cohort and cross-country comparison shows that gestational alcohol exposure may occur in over 75% of pregnancies in the UK and Ireland."

However, most of these women consumed alcohol at very low levels and the number of pregnant women who drank heavily in the three studies was small, they say.Nevertheless, given that the risks of light drinking are not fully known, the most sensible option is not to drink alcohol during pregnancy, they add.

"Since most women who consume alcohol do so at lower levels where the offspring growth and development effects are less well understood [than at higher levels], the widespread consumption of even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy is a significant public health concern," they conclude.

Louise C Kenny et al. Prevalence and predictors of alcohol use during pregnancy: findings from international multicentre cohort studies. BMJ Open, July 2015 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006323

 Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke, new study finds

July 7, 2015 - A stroke happens in an instant. And many who survive one report that their brain never works like it once did. But new research shows that these problems with memory and thinking ability keep getting worse for years afterward -- and happen faster than normal brain aging.

Stroke survivors also had a faster rate of developing cognitive impairment over the years after stroke compared to their pre-stroke rate. The study results are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.

"We found that stroke is associated with cognitive decline over the long-term," says lead author Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. "That is, survivors had accelerated and persistent declines in memory and thinking ability during the years after stroke -- even after accounting for their cognitive changes before and early after the event."

Levine and her U-M colleagues used data from 23,572 Americans aged 45 years or older from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Participants had no history of cognitive impairment when they entered the large population-based study in the mid-2000s. They had tests of their memory and thinking ability at the beginning of the study and at regular intervals during follow-up. They were monitored twice per year for acute stroke events; suspected strokes were confirmed by study physicians using medical records.

Over the next six to 10 years, 515 of them had a stroke, and researchers compared their test results with those from the 23,057 who remained stroke-free.

Because they had information on how stroke survivors' memory and thinking ability changed over time before the stroke, Levine and her colleagues could separate the declines in brain function associated with aging from declines in brain function associated with stroke.

In their study, stroke was associated with declines in global cognition, new learning, and verbal memory early after stroke as well as accelerated and persistent declines in global cognition and thinking ability over the years after the event.

"Stroke is common, costly, and disabling, and cognitive decline is a major cause of disability in stroke survivors," says Levine, who holds faculty appointments in internal medicine and neurology at U-M. "Yet cognitive decline after stroke has not received enough attention. We hope these findings will shine a spotlight on stroke survivors' long-term cognitive needs."

The findings suggest a need for better long-term follow-up care for the nation's 7 million stroke survivors, including therapy to retain or even regain cognitive ability.

"Our results suggest that stroke survivors warrant monitoring for mounting cognitive impairment over the years after the event," says Levine. "Health systems and payers will need to develop cost-effective systems of care that will best manage the long-term needs and cognitive problems of this growing and vulnerable stroke survivor population."

Levine and her colleagues also suggest that their results mean long-term cognitive ability could be a new marker for measuring the effects of therapies to treat the initial effects of stroke.

Levine and her colleagues note that research is needed to determine whether the acute and also accelerated long-term cognitive declines after stroke are the result of incomplete rehabilitation from the initial stroke, subsequent brain injury due to uncontrolled risk factors, behavioral changes, or other mechanisms.

Deborah A. Levine, Andrzej T. Galecki, Kenneth M. Langa, Frederick W. Unverzagt, Mohammed U. Kabeto, Bruno Giordani, Virginia G. Wadley.Trajectory of Cognitive Decline After Incident Stroke. JAMA, 2015; 314 (1): 41 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.6968

 Association between genetic condition, hormonal factors, and risk of endometrial cancer

July 7, 2015 - For women with Lynch syndrome, an association was found between the risk of endometrial cancer and the age of first menstrual cycle, having given birth, and hormonal contraceptive use, according to a study in the July 7 issue of JAMA. Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that increases the risk for various cancers.

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer in developed countries. Between 2 percent and 5 percent of all endometrial cancer cases are associated with a hereditary susceptibility to cancer, mainly Lynch syndrome, which is caused by a germline mutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Depending on the mutated gene, cumulative risk of developing endometrial cancer by age 70 years for women is thought to be between 15 percent and 30 percent. Apart from hysterectomy, there is no consensus recommendation for reducing endometrial cancer risk for women with an MMR gene mutation. Studies in the general population have shown that hormonal factors are associated with endometrial cancer risk, according to background information in the article.

For Lynch syndrome, the association between hormonal factors and endometrial cancer risk has not been clear. Aung Ko Win, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues conducted a study that included 1,128 women with an MMR gene mutation identified from the Colon Cancer Family Registry. Participants were recruited between 1997 and 2012 from centers across the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Endometrial cancer was diagnosed in 133 women. The researchers found that later age at menarche (first menstrual cycle, age 13 or older), parity (has had one or more live births), and hormonal contraceptive use (for one year or longer) were associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer. There was no statistically significant association between endometrial cancer and age at first and last live birth, age at menopause, and postmenopausal hormone use.

"In this study, an inverse association was observed between the risk of endometrial cancer for women with an MMR gene mutation and later age of menarche, increased parity, and use of hormonal contraceptives. The directions of the observed associations are similar to those that have been reported for the general population, suggesting a possible protective effect of these factors," the authors write.

"If replicated, these findings suggest that women with an MMR gene mutation may be counseled like the general population in regard to hormonal influences on endometrial cancer risk."

Seyedeh Ghazaleh Dashti, Rowena Chau, Driss Ait Ouakrim, Daniel D. Buchanan, Mark Clendenning, Joanne P. Young, Ingrid M. Winship, Julie Arnold, Dennis J. Ahnen, Robert W. Haile, Graham Casey, Steven Gallinger, Stephen N. Thibodeau, Noralane M. Lindor, Loïc Le Marchand, Polly A. Newcomb, John D. Potter, John A. Baron, John L. Hopper, Mark A. Jenkins, Aung Ko Win. Female Hormonal Factors and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer in Lynch Syndrome. JAMA, 2015; 314 (1): 61 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.6789

 Fundamental beliefs about atherosclerosis overturned:  Complications of artery-hardening condition are number one killer worldwide

July 6, 2015 - Doctors' efforts to battle the dangerous atherosclerotic plaques that build up in our arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes are built on several false beliefs about the fundamental composition and formation of the plaques, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine shows. These new discoveries will force researchers to reassess their approaches to developing treatments and discard some of their basic assumptions about atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries.

"The leading cause of death worldwide is complications of atherosclerosis, and the most common end-stage disease is when an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures. If this occurs in one of your large coronary arteries, it's a catastrophic event," said Gary K. Owens, PhD, of UVA's Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center. "Once a plaque ruptures, it can induce formation of a large clot that can block blood flow to the downstream regions. This is what causes most heart attacks. The clot can also dislodge and cause a stroke if it lodges in a blood vessel in the brain. As such, understanding what controls the stability of plaques is extremely important. "

Until now, doctors have believed that smooth muscle cells -- the cells that help blood vessels contract and dilate -- were the good guys in the body's battle against atherosclerotic plaque. They were thought to migrate from their normal location in the blood vessel wall into the developing atherosclerotic plaque, where they would attempt to wall off the accumulating fats, dying cells and other nasty components of the plaque. The dogma has been that the more smooth muscle cells in that wall -- particularly in the innermost layer referred to as the "fibrous cap" -- the more stable the plaque is and the less danger it poses.

UVA's research reveals those notions are woefully incomplete at best. Scientists have grossly misjudged the number of smooth muscle cells inside the plaques, the work shows, suggesting the cells are not just involved in forming a barrier so much as contributing to the plaque itself. "We suspected there was a small number of smooth muscle cells we were failing to identify using the typical immunostaining detection methods. It wasn't a small number. It was 82 percent," Owens said. "Eighty-two percent of the smooth muscle cells within advanced atherosclerotic lesions cannot be identified using the typical methodology since the lesion cells down-regulate smooth muscle cell markers. As such, we have grossly underestimated how many smooth muscle cells are in the lesion."

Suddenly, the role of smooth muscle cells is much more complex, much less black-and-white. Are they good or bad? Should treatments try to encourage more? It's no longer that simple, and the problem is made all the more complicated by the fact that some smooth muscle cells were being misidentified as immune cells called macrophages, while some macrophage-derived cells were masquerading as smooth muscle cells. It's very confusing, even for scientists, and it has led to what Owens called "complete ambiguity as to which cell is which within the lesion." (The research also shows other subsets of smooth muscle cells were transitioning to cells resembling stem cells and myofibroblasts.)

Researcher Laura S. Shankman, a PhD student in the Owens lab, was able to overcome the limitations of the traditional methodology for detecting smooth muscle cells in the plaque. Her approach was to genetically tag smooth muscle cells early in their development, so she could follow them and their descendants even if they changed their stripes. "This allowed us to mark smooth muscle cells when we were confident that they were actually smooth muscle cells," she said. "Then we let the atherosclerosis develop and progress [in mice] in order to see where those cells were later in disease."

Further, Shankman identified a key gene, Klf4, that appears to regulate these transitions of smooth muscle cells. Remarkably, when she genetically knocked out Klf4 selectively in smooth muscle cells, the atherosclerotic plaques shrank dramatically and exhibited features indicating they were more stable -- the ideal therapeutic goal for treating the disease in people. Of major interest, loss of Klf4 in smooth muscle cells did not reduce the number of these cells in lesions but resulted in them undergoing transitions in their functional properties that appear to be beneficial in disease pathogenesis. That is, it switched them from being "bad" guys to "good" guys.

Taken together, Shankman's findings raise many critical questions about previous studies built on techniques that failed to assess the composition of the lesions accurately. Moreover, her studies are the first to indicate that therapies targeted at controlling the properties of smooth muscle cells within lesions may be highly effective in treating a disease that is the leading cause of death worldwide.

The discoveries have been outlined in a paper published online by the journal Nature Medicine.

Laura S Shankman, Delphine Gomez, Olga A Cherepanova, Morgan Salmon, Gabriel F Alencar, Ryan M Haskins, Pamela Swiatlowska, Alexandra A C Newman, Elizabeth S Greene, Adam C Straub, Brant Isakson, Gwendalyn J Randolph, Gary K Owens. KLF4-dependent phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells has a key role in atherosclerotic plaque pathogenesis. Nature Medicine, 2015; 21 (6): 628 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3866

 Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed

July 7, 2015 - T cells from patients with melanoma can trigger a protective immune response against the disease according to a new study out of University Hospitals Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Published in the July/August issue of Journal of Immunotherapy, these new findings demonstrate that T cells derived from lymph nodes of patients with melanoma can be expanded in number and activated in the laboratory for intravenous administration in the treatment of patients. Led by Julian Kim, MD, Chief Medical Officer at UH Seidman Cancer Center, the research team has developed a novel technique to generate large numbers of activated T cells which can be transferred back into the same patient to stimulate the immune system to attack the cancer.

"This study is unique in that the source of T cells for therapy is derived from the lymph node, which is the natural site of the immune response against pathogens as well as cancer," says Dr. Kim who is also Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Charles Hubay Chair at UH Case Medical Center. "These encouraging results provide the rationale to start testing the transfer of activated T cells in a human clinical trial."

In his research laboratory at the School of Medicine, Dr. Kim and his team developed a new method to grow and activate immune cells in a two-week culture. Immune cells are extracted from lymph nodes which have been exposed to growing melanoma in the patient's body. Rather than trying to activate the T cells while in the body, the lymph nodes are surgically removed so that the activation process and growth of the T cells can be tightly regulated in a laboratory. This novel approach to cancer treatment, termed adoptive immunotherapy, is only offered at a few institutions worldwide.

These promising findings have led to the recent launch of a new Phase I human clinical trial at UH Seidman Cancer Center in patients with advanced melanoma. The research leading to the clinical trial was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. The new Phase I clinical trial is being supported by University Hospitals as well as a significant philanthropic effort including the Immunogene Therapy Fund, Paula and Ronald Raymond Fund and the Kathryn and Paula Miller Family Fund.

"The infusion of activated T cells has demonstrated promising results and is an area of great potential for the treatment of patients with cancer," said Dr. Kim. "We are really excited that our method of activating and expanding T cells is practical and may be ideal for widespread use. Our goal is to eventually combine these T cells with other immune therapies which will result in cures. These types of clinical trials place the UH Seidman Cancer Center at the forefront of immune therapy of cancer."

Additionally, the research team has been researching the possibility of using lymph nodes from patients with pancreatic cancer to develop T cell therapy. Their goal is to expand the program and eventually study other tumor types including lung, colorectal and breast cancers.

Mei Zhang, Hallie Graor, Anthony Visioni, Madeleine Strohl, Lu Yan, Kevin Caja, Julian A. Kim. T Cells Derived From Human Melanoma Draining Lymph Nodes Mediate Melanoma-specific Antitumor Responses In Vitro and In Vivo in Human Melanoma Xenograft Model. Journal of Immunotherapy, 2015; 38 (6): 229 DOI:10.1097/CJI.000000000000007

 Bouddi Peninsula: A Time Tour, Complete Film

Published on 20 Jun 2012

A film of local history produced by David and Helen Dufty assisted by a Gosford City Council Cultural Grant (2010)

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