Tag Archives: Radio Australia

Senate rejects bill to restore Australia’s shortwave services

Bill to restore shortwave rejected by Senate Committee

A Senate Committee inquiring into the possibility of restoring ABC Shortwave services has rejected proposed legislation to restore the international radio service.

Several members of the committee presented dissenting reports.

The ABC ended its shortwave transmission service in the Northern Territory and to international audiences from 31 January 2017, in line with the national broadcaster’s commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings.

On 16 February 2017, the Senate referred the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017 to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report in May but an extension of time to report was granted, until yesterday, 9 August.

Read more at: https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/bill-restore-shortwave-rejected-senate-committee

UPDATE: Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who also shares an informative link to the Parliament of Australia’s website.

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Shepparton property listing and photos

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rafman, who shares the following info regarding the Shepparton broadcast site “Land Banking Opportunity” posted on Sunday. Rafman writes:

I found an excellent slide show & the the listing at

http://property.cbre.com.au/properties/490-verney-road-shepparton-north-vic-3631/

[T]hey’re marketing it as “agricultural”

Thanks, Rafman. Here’s the current property description from the ad:

490 Verney Road, SHEPPARTON NORTH, VIC, 3631
For Sale
By Expression of Interest

Significant Land Banking Opportunity

CBRE Agribusiness is pleased to present for sale 490 Verney Road, Shepparton North. Strategically positioned in Shepparton’s northern growth area, the property offers a large scale grazing opportunity with land bank potential.

Key features of the offering include:

– Significant and strategic 229* hectare landholding set across five freehold Certificates of Title

– Located moments from the Shepparton Town Centre (5* minutes) and just over two hours from the Melbourne CBD and Melbourneâ??s International (Tullamarine) Airport

– Situated opposite the highly regarded Goulburn Valley Grammar School

– Extensive road frontage of over 3,300* metres including Goulburn Valley Highway (417* metres), Verney Road (1,286* metres) and Grahamvale Road (1,606* metres)

– Access to irrigation with 12ML* high reliability water entitlement

– Two constructed irrigation channels

– Future Urban Development Opportunities (STCA)

– Site adjoins Low Density Residential and General Residential Zoned land to the west

*approximately

One SWLing Post reader, who works in real estate in Australia, explained to me that:

“An Expression of Interest (EOI) sale is a bit like a combination of an auction and private treaty sale. Typically, the property will be on the market for a set amount of time (often 1-2 months). During that time, potential buyers evaluate the opportunity, then submit their confidential bids with any conditions via the agent. When the consideration period ends, the seller reviews the offers and picks the best. EOIs are often used for unique properties like Shepparton.

They’re plugging the agricultural potential with the idea that an investor might “land bank” the purchase…meaning, buy the site, then use it for agriculture (grazing, etc.) until zoning and capital are in place for future urban development. Unless the buyer has very deep pockets and local political pull, it would likely take many years to have things set for residential development. If this were zoned residential already, it would be indicated (IN BOLD!) in the listing. Hi hi!”

Thank you for the clarification. I also understand that the site is still being managed and serviced by BA engineers and technicians.

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Shepparton IHFTS for sale: land banking opportunity

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who shares the photo above and notes:

Better get your cameras & long lenses oiled & hard hats, safety glasses & ear plugs ready. Or see your bank manager about an investment loan. I wonder if Babcock want a site down here?

Certainly not encouraging in terms of any future for this former Radio Australia transmission site. I imagine there would be a substantial up-front cost to simply tear down the existing infrastructure.

Thanks for the tip, Nigel!

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RadioWorld: Despite Fears, ABC Shuts Down Shortwave Broadcasts

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(Source: RadioWorld)

The ABC has turned off its shortwave radio transmitters, leaving Australians in remote areas without easy access to lifeline radio

OTTAWA — On Jan. 31, state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corp. shut down its shortwave radio transmitters; ending both international broadcasts of Radio Australia and the ABC’s domestic service in Australia’s Northern Territory. The transmitters were located at ABC broadcasting facilities at Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Roe Creek (Alice Springs).

According to the ABC news release that announced the shutdown on Dec. 6 — less than two months before it took place — “The move is in line with the national broadcaster’s commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings including DAB+ digital radio, online and mobile services, together with FM services for international audiences.”

[…]The majority of ABC audiences in the Northern Territory currently access ABC services via AM and FM and all ABC radio and digital radio services are available on the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) satellite service.”[…]

Click here to continue reading the full article at RadioWorld.

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Radio New Zealand reports: Vanuatu asks senate for reinstatement of ABC shortwave

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(Source: Radio New Zealand via Nigel Holmes)

The government of Vanuatu sent a formal submission to the Australian Senate asking for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to resume its shortwave service.

[…]In a letter, Vanuatu’s prime minister Charlot Salwai said removing the shortwave service to Vanuatu could cost many lives in the likelihood of a major natural disaster, like cyclone Pam two years ago.

The Daily Post said radio broadcasts to remote parts of the country have been cited as a reason the death toll from the category five storm was relatively low.

After the storm there was practically no domestic communication, with shortwave the only radio means to reach a scattered population.

Mr Salwai said it could be reasonably stated that Australia’s shortwave service helps save Pacific lives and Australian tax dollars.

Click here to read the full article at Radio New Zealand…

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Radio Outbackistan: “the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia”–?

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Cartoonist George Aldridge’s take on Radio Outbackistan. (Photo Source: ABC Rural)

(Source: ABC Rural via London Shortwave)

Could Radio Outbackistan be the next shortwave broadcaster for rural Australia?

In response to the ABC abolishing its HF shortwave radio service, the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) president has turned to humour to propose his own broadcast alternative.

On Friday, in front of hundreds of cattle producers, Tom Stockwell addressed the association’s annual conference on the status of the beef industry, listing challenges, opportunities and grievances.

While the Bureau of Meteorology’s decision to remove the Tennant Creek weather radar and the National Broadband Network’s restrictions on download quotas for remote users were both highlighted, it was the loss of shortwave radio that Mr Stockwell took most issue with.

The NTCA has been heavily critical of the ABC for making the decision, which was made to allow for the reinvestment of funds into digital services.

Inspired by the band Roadtrippers, Mr Stockwell joked about his desire for a new broadcaster called Radio Outbackistan to fill a regional communications void.][…]

Continue reading at ABC Rural online.

Thanks for sharing London Shortwave. That gave me a much needed chuckle!

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How to voice support for the restoration of ABC Shortwave

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who’ve shared a post from Change.org outlining how to voice support for the restoration of ABC’s shortwave service.

No doubt, emails and letters from those living in Australia will have the most impact.

Click here to read the details on Change.org. Committee Secretariat contact information can be found below.

(Source: Australian Government)

The Bill would require the ABC to restore its shortwave transmission services, following the announcement by the ABC in December 2016 that it would end its shortwave transmission service in the Northern Territory and to international audiences from 31 January 2017.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017

On 16 February 2017, the Senate referred the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017 to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2017.

The bill seeks to restore shortwave transmission services to the Northern Territory and international audiences.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary

Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3526
Fax: +61 2 6277 5818
[email protected]