IN BRIEF – August 1, 2019

Deakin team investigates impact of microplastics
NEW research from Deakin University has found plastic in waste streams is breaking down into tiny particles and causing potentially catastrophic consequences for aquatic systems and human health. Co-Led by Dr Ludovic Dumée and a team at Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) in conjunction with Surrey University in the UK, the project investigated nano and microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes. Dr Dumée said relatively inadequate analytical techniques made it difficult to detect their presence in treatment systems, and advanced characterization systems were being trialled at Deakin.

Anglesea borefield
THE second of Barwon Water’s Anglesea Borefield community consultations will take place this weekend. The local urban water corporation is consulting the community about using the Anglesea borefield to supplement the region’s summer water supplies. The borefield will be activated if water storage levels do not rise to a sufficient level to meet demand over the 2019/2020 summer period. Saturday’s session is at Anglesea Senior Citizens Club, 1 Macmillan Street, Anglesea between 10am-1pm. A third community consultation will be held Tuesday August 20, 4pm–7pm at the same location.

Art of the Minds makes semi-finals of awards
ART of The Minds of Torquay has reached the semi-finals of the Regional Development Victoria Leadership and Innovation Award in the Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards. The next round of judging to determine the finalists will take place on August 14. For more information, head to awardsaustralia.com/vicraca.