Peel Business Park transition strategy

Transform Peel Transform Peel is a $49m Royalties for Regions funded program aimed at achieving job creation, sustainable growth and economic development in the Peel Region. The Peel Development Commission and its partners, intend to implement this program over 35 years where projections estimate that 35,000 jobs will be created generating an approximate$16.2b per annum economic output by 2050. Located in the Shires of Murray and Serpentine Jarrahdale, the program comprises three integrated, strategic elements, the Peel Business Park (PBP), the Peel Food Zone (PFZ) and the Peel Integrated Water Initiative. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the lead agency for PFZ subproject which involves the development of a food/ agriculture industry transition program to assist with facilitating decisions by existing WA and Australian food industries and related support industries to relocate to the PBP. The Peel Business Park Located 10 kilometres north-east of Mandurah, the PBP will cater for agri-food and agriprocessing operators, as well as ancillary light, general transport and logistic industries. The overall PBP covers 1,000ha across multiple lot ownerships, however the focus of this study is the planned initial 120ha precinct at Lot 600 Lakes Road Nambeelup, which is under LandCorp ownership. Purpose of this report This report provides a strategy to assist with facilitating decisions by existing WA and Australian food industry businesses and support industries to relocate to the PBP or to the Transform Peel area generally. The findings of this report will be used by DPIRD, LandCorp and the Peel Development Commission. Identification of agri-food businesses under relocation pressure in the Perth and Peel Regions The analysis identified 401 agri-food businesses in the Perth and Peel Regions. The results show that around 51% of businesses are located within industrial zones, with the remaining businesses located in zones which may be less suitable including commercial (26%)1, agricultural/rural (9%), development (7%) or residential (6%) zones. The 31 businesses currently located in development zones may be under the most pressure to relocate before their surrounding area transitions to higher density development (e.g. residential). Many of these businesses are located in urban development zonings around North Coogee, where they currently enjoy strategic proximity to major infrastructure such as the Fremantle Port. The most common businesses identified were classified as gourmet, fresh produce, meat, seafood, food wholesaler, baking, oils, exporter/Importer and packing. Together these businesses represented 77% of all agri-food businesses in the region

Planning for the proposed Peel Food Zone

Transform Peel is a $49m Royalties for Regions funded program. This program is broadly regarded as transformational for the Peel region in terms of job creation, sustainable growth and economic development. The Peel Development Commission and its partners, intend to implement this program over 35 years where projections estimate that 35 000 jobs will be created generating an approximate$16.2b per annum economic output by 2050. Located in the Shires of Murray and Serpentine Jarrahdale, the program comprises three integrated, strategic elements: Peel Food Zone; Peel Business Park; Peel Integrated Water Initiative. The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (now part of Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) is the lead agency for planning the Peel Food Zone (PFZ) subproject. The proposed PFZ is approximately 42 000ha and includes land that is suitable and unsuitable for agricultural development. Land not suited for development included environmental assets (e.g. conservation category wetlands) and urban and rural residences. This study investigated the feasibility of six land use scenarios that each has the potential to become established in the proposed PFZ. These were: dryland pasture and grazing (non-irrigated) soil-based irrigated horticulture (annual) soil-based irrigated horticulture (perennial) soil-based irrigated horticulture (covered) non soil-based irrigated horticulture (protected horticulture) closed loop livestock systems. The suitability of each of these land use scenarios for the PFZ was determined using a range of data sets reflecting the environmental, social, infrastructure and physical values of the region. A multi-criteria assessment of these data generated a series of maps illustrating where in the PFZ each land use scenario was most suited. The factors most influential in determining the areas within the PFZ most suited to each of the considered land use scenarios were urban and rural residential zonings, environmental assets, land capability and infrastructure

Coastal Dune Vulnerability and Adaptation Study - Eel River Shoreline Trends

The study location is in coastal Humboldt County, California, within the Eureka Littoral Cell. It is focused on the shoreline segments encompassing the Eel River Delta, between Table Bluff to the north and the Wildcat Hills to the south. This study has been prepared for Friends of the Dunes as part of the Coastal Dune Vulnerability and Adaptation project,(“Dunes Climate Ready project”) funded by the California Coastal Conservancy (CCC) and led by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This memo serves to document historic changes in shoreline position and beach-dune morphology along the littoral cell

Carnarvon Artesian Desalination Feasibility Study

Study scope The scope of the study is summarised below; Review existing data and previous work, Visit Carnarvon (1 day), inspect water system facilities and convene Stakeholder Workshop No 1 with representatives from Carnarvon Growers Association, Gascoyne Water Co-operative and DAFWA. Agree 3 – 4 possible system configuration options to be investigated. Obtain and examine existing water quality data for artesian bore(s) incorporated within the study. Assess probable long term water quality and pumping heads. Develop preliminary design details for the agreed options in terms of pre-treatment, desalination and other system modifications required (eg bores, pump stations, pipelines, tanks, etc). Develop simple summary plans for each option. Develop capital and operating cost estimates for each option. Develop a cost benefit analysis and possible governance model for each option. Convene Stakeholder Workshop No 2 in Carnarvon and present findings. Obtain feedback including intangible pros and cons associated with each option and residual risks. Agree preferred option. Compile summary report and issue

Revisited and revalorized: Technological and refitting studies at the Middle Stone Age open-air knapping site Jojosi 1 (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).

The Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa is mainly known from rock shelters and caves. How early modern humans interacted with their landscapes remains comparatively understudied. The site of Jojosi 1, situated north of Nquthu in north central KwaZulu-Natal, is set within erosional badlands known locally as ‘dongas’. This locality offers a rare opportunity to study MSA technology and settlement dynamics in an open-air context. G. Botha initially discovered Jojosi 1 in 1991. He brought it to A. Mazel’s attention who excavated the site in the same year, but did not publish the lithic assemblage. Here, we report on the site’s rediscovery coupled with the first lithic analysis and luminescence dating. This work provides insights into the site formation processes of Jojosi 1 and lithic reduction strategies, raw material provisioning, and landscape use. Our techno-typological analysis draws upon Mazel’s collection of 7529 artefacts, combining attribute analysis and refitting studies. The results show the exclusive use of hornfels and its reduction via platform cores and Levallois methods to pro- duce flakes and blades. Retouched tools are scarce and comprise mostly notched or denticulate pieces but lack backed tools, unifacial, and bifacial points. The museum collection features abundant small debitage and a strong component of cortical, initial stage, and core preparation flakes. The 48 refitted artefacts and ample small debitage in a spatially constricted band suggest high assemblage integrity with minimal post-depositional disturbance. Infrared stimulated luminescence dating of coarse grain feldspars brackets the archaeological occurrence to ~139–106 ka. Comparisons with contemporary lithic assem- blages link the assemblage to the early MSA in southern Africa. We interpret Jojosi 1 as a knapping event aimed at blank production and exploitation of local high-quality hornfels. With little evidence for other behaviours, the site likely reflects a short-term knapping workshop on a source of abundant hornfels slabs. Our ongoing excavations in the Jojosi Dongas will be able to test this hypothesis and will work to characterise the technological adaptations and settlement dynamics of the MSA hunter-gatherers in this area

Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan for Transportation Infrastructure and Other Critical Resources in the Eureka Slough Hydrographic Area, Humboldt Bay

This plan (study) presents a framework for developing sea level rise adaptation strategies within the highly vulnerable Eureka Slough hydrographic area of Humboldt Bay. The purpose of the study was to work with public agencies, landowners, scientists, and stakeholders to better understand the specific flood risks to the transportation infrastructure and other critical resources within the study area and to identify viable adaptation measures in the near-term planning horizon (now through mid-century) for the most at-risk locations. A primary focus of the study was to develop a scenario-based planning approach for understanding the range of possible impacts and consequences resulting from tidal and fluvial flood hazards under current conditions and with future sea level rise. This approach included detailed hydraulic analysis and an evaluation of the anticipated response of the coastal landscape to various flooding events. The plan is intended to help advance the collective understanding of flood risks and improve the readiness for implementing effective sea level rise adaptation projects. This plan is a technical resource for ongoing planning and adaptation efforts but is not a decision document and does not represent a commitment to implement the project concepts discussed in the plan

The Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) Reversal Trial: effect on final height of discontinuation versus continuation of growth hormone treatment in pubertal children with isolated GHD—a non-inferiority Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)

Background: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the commonest endocrine cause of short stature and may occur in isolation (I-GHD) or combined with other pituitary hormone deficiencies. Around 500 children are diagnosed with GHD every year in the UK, of whom 75% have I-GHD. Growth hormone (GH) therapy improves growth in children with GHD, with the goal of achieving a normal final height (FH). GH therapy is given as daily injections until adult FH is reached. However, in many children with I-GHD their condition reverses, with a normal peak GH detected in 64–82% when re-tested at FH. Therefore, at some point between diagnosis and FH, I-GHD must have reversed, possibly due to increase in sex hormones during puberty. Despite increasing evidence for frequent I-GHD reversal, daily GH injections are traditionally continued until FH is achieved. // Methods/design: Evidence suggests that I-GHD children who re-test normal in early puberty reach a FH comparable to that of children without GHD. The GHD Reversal study will include 138 children from routine endocrine clinics in twelve UK and five Austrian centres with I-GHD (original peak GH < 6.7 mcg/L) whose deficiency has reversed on early re-testing. Children will be randomised to either continue or discontinue GH therapy. This phase III, international, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial (including an internal pilot study) will assess whether children with early I-GHD reversal who stop GH therapy achieve non-inferior near FH SDS (primary outcome; inferiority margin 0.55 SD), target height (TH) minus near FH, HRQoL, bone health index and lipid profiles (secondary outcomes) than those continuing GH. In addition, the study will assess cost-effectiveness of GH discontinuation in the early retesting scenario. // Discussion: If this study shows that a significant proportion of children with presumed I-GHD reversal generate enough GH naturally in puberty to achieve a near FH within the target range, then this new care pathway would rapidly improve national/international practice. An assumed 50% reversal rate would provide potential UK health service cost savings of £1.8–4.6 million (€2.05–5.24 million)/year in drug costs alone. This new care pathway would also prevent children from having unnecessary daily GH injections and consequent exposure to potential adverse effects. // Trial registration: EudraCT number: 2020-001006-3

District 1 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Pilot Studies: FHWA Climate Resilience Pilot Final Report

This report presents the results of a Climate Resilience Pilot Project conducted by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 1 and sponsored in part by the Federal Highway Administration. The objective of the study was to identify and classify the potential vulnerabilities of state owned transportation assets to climate change throughout District 1, which encompasses the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Lake in north western California; and to identify and evaluate a range of adaption options to address the identified vulnerabilities at four prototype locations. The study involved the creation of a process for evaluating the vulnerability of Caltrans transportation assets in District 1 due to various climate change factors and development of a tool to assess adaptation strategies for vulnerable assets