Articles by Coco Veldkamp

Technology

Victoria's Tree of the Year threatened by the Western Renewables Link

An Algerian oak that has been growing north of Ballarat for 130 years has been crowned the National Trust's Victorian Tree of the Year. Residents in and around the small town of Kingston hope the move will be enough to save the tree from being chopped down to make way for high-voltage renewable energy transmission lines. The tree, which stands 16 metres tall with a canopy stretching 31 metres wide, has become a symbol of community resistance against AusNet's proposed Western Renewables Link (WRL) project. The tree was added to the National Trust's significant tree register a few years ago, in part for its unmodified state. It holds a special place in the community's heart, standing in Kingston's only piece of public land, a nature reserve proclaimed in the 1960s that runs alongside Birches Creek, which is home to native animals including platypuses and endangered growling grass frogs. Campaign for the tree Kingston resident Jeremy Harper, who has lived in the area for nearly 50 years, led the campaign to save the tree. For generations, his family has spent time beneath its branches, camping and relaxing, or swimming and fishing in the nearby creek. Mr Harper organised rallies, signs and a petition to save it. But entering it in the National Trust's Victorian Tree of the Year competition may have been his most effective move. The tree was declared the winner on Tuesday after securing more than 40 per cent of the public vote. "I was over the moon — it's a great honour for Kingston," Mr Harper said. 'A very large bill' Residents Jenny Blackett-Smith and Paul McGoldrick's home of 40 years borders the reserve where the Algerian oak grows. They said the WRL project would have a devastating impact on residents and wildlife. "The power lines would go over the Algerian oak … and over the bridge there and that's within 300 metres of our home," Ms Blackett-Smith said. "It's towering over the top — we will see the towers [from] our living room, bedroom, the kitchen, the dining area. "It will dominate our view." Ms Blackett-Smith said people in the community were losing sleep over the transmission lines. "Nor should these power lines go through really sensitive areas like this. "People are not sleeping at night, worrying about devaluation, worrying about the loss of some of their farming land. "It's been really hard." Animal concerns Mr McGoldrick said the area's biodiversity, which could be lost if the transmission tower went ahead, was part of what made the reserve special. "We can get up in the evening and walk down to the creek and within about five [or] ten minutes you'll see platypus swimming around the water holes, which is fantastic," he said. Ms Blackett-Smith said the reserve around the tree was a haven for native wildlife. "We hear growling grass frogs," she said. "We see wallabies bounding away, possums, wombats, echidnas. "There's amazing bird life and they also nest in the trees here, which are in danger of being cut down." No legal protection While residents hope being named Tree of the Year will help save the oak, winning the title or being registered as a significant tree with the National Trust does not offer any legal protection. National Trust executive manager Justin Buckley said the Algerian oak's crowning signalled a growing public desire to preserve trees of cultural and environmental significance. "It's a timely reminder that our planning system must evolve to reflect these values and offer stronger protection for irreplaceable natural heritage," Mr Buckley said. A WRL spokesperson said an independent process was assessing the project's environmental impacts. "The Western Renewables Link project understands the tree is important to the community," a spokesperson said. "We are investigating the matter and we will respond to the submissions on the Algerian oak tree as part of the environment effects statement inquiry and advisory committee process for the project as soon as we can." The timetable for the panel process means AusNet is expected to discuss the Algerian oak prior to the Christmas break. Mr Harper said he hoped the tree's win would be enough to save it from AusNet's axe. "If a tree becomes Victoria's Crown tree, what authority is going to cut it down?" he said.

Technology

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell granted access to Adolf Hitler manifesto

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell's application to adjourn an upcoming court matter has been rejected by a Victorian court, but he will be given access to Adolf Hitler's manifesto as he prepares his case. Mr Sewell is charged with one count of behaving in an offensive manner in a public area, after allegedly leading about 30 people shouting white supremacist slogans through Eureka Stockade Memorial Park in 2023. He previously indicated he would plead not guilty to the charge, with a contested hearing on the matter due to start on Monday. The 32-year-old, who is currently in custody, appeared via video link at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday. He told the court he sought to adjourn Monday's hearing to a later date to allow him time to seek legal advice and representation, after previously stating he would represent himself. He also argued he had not had sufficient access to evidence to prepare his case. Mr Sewell told the court that his copy of Mein Kampf — a political manifesto written by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler — had been confiscated, but that he required it as part of his preparations for the contested hearing. The court heard Mr Sewell was given access to the book on Tuesday, but said it was confiscated from him when he was transferred to a Melbourne prison on Thursday. The court heard Mr Sewell had not had access to a CD-compatible laptop, which he would need to prepare his case. Magistrate Ronald Saines said he would direct the Deputy Commission of Corrections to allow Mr Sewell access to a CD-compatible laptop and his copy of Mein Kampf until the completion of his hearing. Mr Sewell also said his partner had read his emails, as he was unable to, and received notice of further charges against him relating to his appearances at rallies occurring after the march in Ballarat in 2023. The adjournment application was refused, and the case will proceed as scheduled on Monday. Magistrate Saines said Mr Sewell could not ask for an adjournment based on seeking legal representation three days prior to the hearing after repeatedly telling the court he would self-represent. He advised that if Mr Sewell wanted legal representation, this could still be organised before Monday's hearing. Magistrate Saines said the case had been with the court system for a long time and would go ahead on Monday as planned.