mcgwatch

[mcgwatch]

"You might be wondering how many people are affected when unemployment ticks over by those apparently tiny decimal points. Well, my maths is imperfect but here’s a quick calculation. The Australian workforce was 13,753,200 in January, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. One per cent of those people is 137,532. To deploy a familiar measure, that amounts to a mass of humanity that would exceed the capacity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground by around 38,000 people. An unemployment rate of 3.5 per cent equates to maybe four MCGs’ worth of people.

So in January this year, roughly 27,500 extra people found themselves, by the arcane definitions formally deployed in this county, to be out of work, on top of the various MCG crowds already making do on their savings or the meagre largesse of the state. Or not making do at all, which is an increasing possibility.

The consolation – for families now struggling to make rent, or feed and clothe their children – is that this is all part of the plan. “As economic growth slows, unemployment is expected to increase.”" https://www.themonthly.com.au/the-politics/jonathan-green/2023/02/16/rate-expectations

[mcgwatch]

"New data from the council revealed 80,000 square metres of graffiti had been off cleaned since the start of the year after a blitz began in March.

A rapid response clean team has removed more than 30 per cent of the graffiti from the central city, with North Melbourne and Carlton accounting for about 25 per cent. West Melbourne and Kensington made up 17 per cent of total graffiti jobs.

Cr Reece said the clean-up crews had “done an incredible job” as the CBD welcomed more workers, students, and visitors – with nearly two MCGs worth of graffiti removed in less than four months.

During the blitz, he said nearly 90 per cent of the clean team’s work involved removing graffiti from privately owned buildings and assets.

The council’s graffiti blitz ran from March 6 to June 30 to combat illegal graffiti and tagging, improve public spaces and ensure the city was visually appealing."

[mcgwatch]

"Australian Greens Senator for Queensland, Larissa Waters, will host a public meeting in Gladstone tonight to discuss the future of the Great Barrier Reef, and the tourism and fishing industries that depend on it.

The rash of port developments planned for the coastline could result in 55 Melbourne Cricket Grounds worth of dredging, with some of the dredge spoil dumped in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and more than one ship per hour travelling through the Reef.

The United Nation has has warned that the Reef could soon lose its World Heritage status if these risks are not addressed."

[mcgwatch]

"Three MCGs’ Worth of Green, Open Space Is Coming to Preston

A new amphitheatre, outdoor gym, playgrounds and more – a total of 60,000 square metres – are planned for the suburb as part of the level-crossing removal project.

Four such level-crossing removals are well underway at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road in the northern suburb Preston. Giant concrete pillars made in Kilmore, Melton and Laverton North have arrived and are being installed to make a two-kilometre-long elevated rail line. And this week the Level Crossing Removal Project released designs for the open space that will be created underneath.

It’s big: 60,000 square metres. Or to use the increasingly standard Victorian unit of measurement for land area: about three MCGs big."

[mcgwatch]

"The government is also under fire this morning for approving the destruction of habitat needed by threatened species, according to a report from the Australian Conservation Foundation.

It found three-quarters of the land cleared — about 100,000 Melbourne Cricket Grounds’ worth — was approved for mining developments, Guardian Australia reports.

The most affected animal was the koala, which is already endangered in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, followed by the swift parrot, the greater glider and the spot-tailed quoll. "

[mcgwatch]

"An MCG Worth of Vacancies - The Hospitality Supply & Demand Issue The talent issue is global. Nearly every major hospitality market in the world is experiencing the same issue, so waiting for an influx of foreign workers or some other form of supply is not an option.

​An MCG worth of vacancies

There are now over 95,000 open roles (that we know about) in the national hospitality sector. That is enough people to fill the MCG! And we are still not out of the pandemic.

​The Accommodation sector is still re-opening and conferencing hasn’t hit full swing, so you can imagine the demand that is building for chefs, managers and floor staff!

​To find a way out, I believe we need to shift the paradigm. If it’s a supply and demand issue, let’s shift the focus to improving demand rather than waiting for supply.

​The pandemic hasn’t impacted supply, but it has definitely reduced demand for work in the sector. I believe this shift in thinking will compel a more proactive response in that we can actively drive demand." https://www.hastingspeople.com.au/blog/2022/06/the-hospitality-supply-and-demand-issue-an-mcg-worth-of-vacancies

[mcgwatch]

"Sensitive bushland to be cleared to make way for road to Andrew Forrest's company's eco-resort road About six MCGs' worth of environmentally sensitive bushland, including parts of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, will be cleared under a plan to build a road which will help mining billionaire Andrew Forrest's private equity company Tattarang to develop a beachfront eco-resort."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-19/road-to-andrew-forrest-backed-resort-through-sensitive-bush/100227352

[mcgwatch]

"Capp’s latest pet project makes some dog owners hot under the collar

Melbourne’s dogs could be getting eight new dog parks, but tensions are mounting over the location of the off-leash areas, with some owners saying the plans have not been properly thought through.

On Tuesday night City of Melbourne councillors will consider designating eight new off-leash areas for dogs, adding 3.5 hectares to the existing 16 hectares of off-leash parkland across the city – equating to nearly 10 MCGs worth of space."

smh.com.au/politics/victoria/capp-s-latest-pet-project-makes-some-dog-owners-hot-under-the-collar-20220607-p5arni.html

[mcgwatch]

"About 100 MCGs worth of spaces across Melbourne could be revitalised under a plan to turn wasteland beneath the city’s roads and rail lines into vibrant hotspots.

Across Melbourne there’s 20 kilometres of undercrofts which could be transformed into cultural and recreational hubs.

Deputy lord mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece, says the space underneath Kings Way will be the first site transformed.

The council aims to complete the design and approval phases and award the tender for the space this financial year.

“If you look at cities like Berlin, even Bombay, there’s been huge amount of effort that’s gone into reimagining these spaces, so getting some landscape architecture in there, putting sport courts in, boulder walls, bike paths, pedestrian areas, so they actually become places where on weekends people come to hang out,” he told Ross and Russel. Source: https://www.3aw.com.au/push-to-transform-20-kilometres-of-derelict-city-space/

[mcgwatch]

18,000 square metres comes in at just under one MCG (20k) of new open space!

“First announced in 2018, NGV Contemporary at 77 Southbank Boulevard will present local and international contemporary art, design and fashion – for both Victorian, interstate and international audiences.

A competition to select an Australian architectural team to design the new gallery is expected to be launched soon.

Premier Daniel Andrews said of the budget measures: ‘We are Australia’s cultural capital. This project will make our number one position permanent.

‘The Melbourne Arts Precinct is a generational project that will bring people to our state and support jobs now and for decades to come. It’s a game changer.’

Phase One of the Arts Precinct’s transformation also includes the creation of a new 18,000 square metre immersive public garden in which NGV Contemporary will be set.

Melbourne architects HASSELL and New York practice SO-IL won the tender to design the new public garden and this work is well underway.”

https://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/news/public-policy/richard-watts/146-billion-allocated-for-arts-precinct-transformation-in-vic-budget-2020-21-261515

[mcgwatch]

“ Council adopts City of Greater Geelong Retail Strategy 2020-2036, finding 418,000sqm of new retail space needed.

Geelong shoppers will need the equivalent of 21 MCGs worth of new retail spaces by 2036 to keep up with demand, a council strategy has revealed. This is where council plan to find the extra space.

Councillors on Tuesday adopted the City of Greater Geelong Retail Strategy 2020-2036, which found an extra 418,000sq m of retail floor space would be needed over the next 16 years to keep up with the city’s growth.”

Props to the original article just running a picture of the MCG rather than Geelong’s vibrant retail precincts: https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/council-adopts-city-of-greater-geelong-retail-strategy-20202036-finding-418000sqm-of-new-retail-space-needed/news-story/a3ff47f2ad98346b32884bbef7b9a4e8 

[mcgwatch]

MCGWatch would like to congratulate Jackson Taylor MP on precise and accurate use of the MCG as a unit or measuring crowds of people. On 7 May 2020 Victoria did in fact achieve ‘an MCG’s worth’ of tests. This doesn’t require Mr Taylor MP to put a figure to the unit, which is where most people trip themselves up. Safe to say all of the contested figures for (at least) capacity attendance at AFL/VFL matches passed in roughly the same period. 

Now to get him using #MCGWatch alongside #SpringSt ; )

“The MCG could be filled with Victorians who have now gone and got themselves tested, over 100,000 in a little over a week, that's a phenomenal effort! Now for the final push. If you have symptoms – however mild – please get tested. #springst “

https://twitter.com/JacksonTaylorMP/status/1258204967824838657

[mcgwatch]

“Over the past 10 days, 106,000 Victorians have gone and got tested for coronavirus.  Or to use our state’s correct unit of measurement - one MCG’s worth.

It’ll mean we have data and options when it comes to potential next steps.” Ed - MCGWatch notes that the generally accepted current peak capacity of the MCG is 10,024. The all-time record is an unsubstantiated estimate of Pastor Bill Graham’s 1959 crowd, somewhere between 120,000 and 150,000 people. Regardless of its precise size, it would go on to change Australian political history. The highest verified total was for an AFL match, the 1970 Carlton/Collingwood grand final, at 121,696.

[mcgwatch]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-20/fact-check-five-mcgs-of-native-forests-logged-in-victoria/10780846***MCGWatch GOLD STAR*** A fact check that provides a deep dive into using MCGs as measurement! This is the best!

“Environmentalists frequently talk about logging in terms of how many "football fields" or "soccer pitches" are felled.

But in the lead up to last year's Victorian state election, the Greens released a policy paper that measured logging in a slightly different way: MCGs."Five MCG's worth of native forest are being logged in Victoria every day," the paper claimed.

It is unclear exactly what the party meant though: was it referring to the size of the MCG's playing field, the area of the stadium or its volume? The size of the MCG has very different dimensions depending on how define it.

“The playing field of the MCG is significantly different in size to those of other venues used for cricket or Australian football (AFL).

The area of the playing field is approximately two hectares, a spokesperson for the MCG said.A more specific measurement can be found on the website of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

The AFL side compiled a list of playing field dimensions of grounds used in the competition.It puts the size of the MCG's playing field at 20,233 square metres: that equates to 2.0233 hectares.

That makes it easily the biggest playing field in the AFL: the next biggest oval on the list — Tasmania's sparsely used York Park — is less than 18,700 square metres.The SCG, Gabba and Adelaide Oval — which are all used for both cricket and AFL — are each around 16,000 to 17,000 square meters.At 15,354 square metres, the playing field of Geelong's home ground is about three-quarters the size of the MCG.“

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-20/fact-check-five-mcgs-of-native-forests-logged-in-victoria/10780846

[mcgwatch]

“10 Gigawatts is a bloody big number. And that’s how much solar power is now sitting on Australian rooftops. Converting sunlight into electricity without even moving so much as a piston.

To put it another way, 10,000,000,000 Watts. Yep ten billion Watts. It’s almost unfathomable. 

Remember the old 60W light globes. It’s enough to power 166 million of them.Still too big a number to comprehend?

Hmmm, let’s try another more familiar comparison. The 6 light towers at the MCG together consume about 1800kW.Which means there’s enough solar power on Australian roofs to fill 5,500 MCGs with light.

https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/what-does-10gw-of-rooftop-solar-power-look-like/

[mcgwatch]

“Construction is set to begin on two new train stations in Melbourne’s north, designed by Wood Marsh, as the Victorian government awards contracts for their delivery. The new Coburg and Moreland railway stations will accompany the elevation of a stretch of the Upfield line between Bell and Moreland streets. Both stations will be more accessible and be accompanied by a new plaza. The project will, the government said in a statement, “create almost two MCGs worth of open space.

”The existing station buildings will be retained, refurbished and integrated into the new stations. The stations were built in the 19th century in the late Victorian Gothic style and are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as part of a cluster of similar buildings on the Upfield railway line, for both their architectural and historical significance.”

[mcgwatch]

“By 2036, another 500,000 people will be moving in and around the City of Melbourne each day.

The strategy to be considered by councillors aims to upgrade public space and amenity around major public transport hubs, increase space and accessibility for pedestrians and boost bicycle safety with dedicated bike lanes.

By 2030, the plan to be considered by Councillors aims to:

- Repurpose the equivalent of more than six MCGs worth of public road space and parking spaces to create more space for pedestrians, cyclists, greening, trading and other important uses

- Reduce through traffic in the busiest parts of the central city

- Convert central city ‘Little Streets’ into pedestrian priority shared zones with lower speed limits for cars to better support our thriving retail economy and café culture.”

https://infrastructuremagazine.com.au/2019/10/14/melbourne-to-vote-on-ten-year-transport-strategy/