Area Of Perth Research Articles

Cleotychini planthoppers from Perth region in Western Australia: The new genus Femotyche gen. nov., and more… (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae)

The new genus Femotyche gen. nov. is described to accommodate two new species from Western Australia: Femotyche kerryae sp. nov. from Perth area and Femotyche hortorum sp. nov. from York. Illustrations of male and female type specimens and a distribution map are provided. The male terminalia as well as the female terminalia, habitat, host plant and live specimens of the new species are illustrated when available. The tribe Cleotychini now contains two genera, the genus Cleotyche Emeljanov, 1997 with two subgenera and five species and the genus Femotyche gen. nov. with two species. Data are provided on an additional, undescribed genus from the same geographic area, recorded from two species known only from photographs.

A study on the ground loss and foundation coupling loss for railway vibration prediction in greater Perth area of Western Australia

Railway noise and vibration have emerged as significant concerns affecting the well-being of residents living in proximity to railway tracks and the structural integrity of nearby infrastructure. As such, accurate and reliable predictions of railway vibration levels are necessary in order to properly assess the risks and develop effective mitigations. The propagation of railway vibration from the source to the receiving point involves a complex process, wherein ground loss and foundation coupling loss play crucial roles. Therefore, comprehensive capture of these factors is necessary for improving the accuracy of railway vibration prediction. This paper presents a study focused on the measurements of ground damping loss and foundation coupling loss in great Perth area of Western Australia. The measurements have been undertaken in generally sandy soil conditions. The foundation coupling loss was primarily measured at single-storey residential dwellings. The collected field data were subsequently analyzed to identify the characteristics of ground loss and foundation coupling loss. The study revealed that ground loss and foundation coupling loss exhibited variability dependent on the specific location, ground conditions, and structural characteristics of the dwellings. These measured results can serve as input for modeling efforts, thereby enabling more accurate prediction of railway vibration levels. Furthermore, the study provides valuable insights into the characterization of vibration propagation in sandy soils.

WA’S FIRST LARGE SCALE BENEFICIAL USE BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT: LESSONS LEARNED

Port Beach, a popular beach in the metro area of Perth, Western Australia, is the result of 130 years of development of Fremantle Port. During many stages of development, dredged material has been disposed of at Port Beach which has resulted in a source of sand as well as undesirable material on the beach as well and in the nearshore environment. Erosion of this beach became noticeable in the 1990s and a major storm in 2003 resulted in damage to infrastructure. In 2018 Port Beach was designated the highest erosion risk beach in the Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia by DoT and the Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage (DPLH). In 2017, the City of Fremantle completed a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) for the Port, Leighton and Mosman Beaches in partnership with the Town of Mosman Park. Through this process, Port Beach was identified as being at extreme risk from erosion in the short term to 2030, and it was recommended that the City implement either (i) a seawall and nourishment or (ii) dune stabilisation, revegetation, and nourishment. In the longer term to 2050 onward, protection or retreat was recommended.

Monitoring spatial patterns of urban vegetation: A comparison of contemporary high-resolution datasets

Fine spatial resolution urban vegetation datasets are crucial for monitoring change in green space and guiding planning and policy initiatives to promote liveable and sustainable cities. Previous studies have demonstrated that finer spatial resolution products are more suited to monitoring urban vegetation than coarse spatial resolution datasets. However, there are differences in the generation of fine spatial resolution datasets that could affect how urban vegetation is represented. To explore how sensitive monitoring and analysis tasks are to the choice of vegetation dataset, a series of comparative analyses were undertaken using three fine spatial resolution datasets in Perth, Western Australia. A technique for quantitative comparison of spatial pattens was used to compare vegetation datasets. There were large areas of Perth where spatial patterns of vegetation were substantially different across datasets. The level of differences in spatial patterns between datasets varied with geographic context such as land use. Elements of a spatial pattern related to grass and tree composition were similar across datasets but there were differences in how shrubs and the configuration of vegetation features were captured. There were differences in the temporal change detection of vegetation patterns across datasets. Spatial patterns of vegetation and land cover generated using the three datasets were used as predictor variables of surface temperatures in machine learning workflows. In some cases, the models learned dataset specific relationships between elements of a vegetation pattern and surface temperature outcomes. In a final modelling analysis, spatial patterns of vegetation were considered as an outcome responding to a disturbance event, a change in dwelling density. The size of the effect of dwelling density change on vegetation patterns varied across vegetation datasets.

The emergence of e-cigarette retail shops in a regulated tobacco control environment.

E-cigarettes are of growing concern. We aimed to determine the location and characteristics of retail shops selling e-cigarette products in Perth, Western Australia. Two phase study: (i) identifying all e-cigarette retailers in the Greater Capital City Statistical Area of Perth; (ii) audit at the point-of-sale to assess products, promotions and shop characteristics (n=41). Ninety-eight retailers selling e-cigarette products were identified: 43 tobacconists (44%), 21 vape shops (21% - up from one shop in 2017), 14 supermarkets (14%), 12 service stations (12%) and 8 smoke shops (8%). The most common e-cigarette product was non-nicotine e-liquid, available at 38 (93%) stores audited. Most stores sold parts of e-cigarette devices (n=25, 61%). Front counter displays were the most frequent form of promotion (n=40, 98%). Vape shops differed from other retailers, having bar-style layouts (n=15, 71%), lounge areas (n=7, 33%) and free e-liquid samples (n=17, 89%). The availability of e-cigarette products from retail shops and particularly vape shops is increasing. E-cigarette retailers are using traditional promotional techniques including point-of-sale displays to market their products, while vape shops are extending their appeal through bar style, lounge layouts and free trials. Understanding the e-cigarette retail store environment is essential for identifying emergent trends, potential regulations and future research. SO WHAT?: The e-cigarette retail market in the Perth is growing, shops using traditional and new promotional techniques to market e-cigarette products. Our findings identify a need for public health surveillance, regulations and legislation.

The attributes of social resilience: understanding refugeesʼ housing choices

The current literature on migrantsʼ housing experience in Australia and internationally often uses spatial and economic conditions of disadvantage and adverse personal circumstances to frame the description of migrantsʼ resettlement. Even when using positive frameworks, such as inclusion and integration, the focus is on the lack of resources and support. This article uses the conceptual lens of resilience as an alternative framework for describing migrantsʼ resettlement experience. Using the case study of the Sudanese refugees living in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia, this article describes the settlement process from the migrantsʼ perspective, discussing the link between settlement processes and the housing choices of migrants with a refugee background, using the concept of resilience. In particular, the article focuses on the external triggers that ignite, support and strengthen the different components of the migrantsʼ resilience. These triggers are defined as ‘attributes of resilienceʼ. The study identified four attributes of social resilience applicable and relevant to the housing choices and settlement patterns of the Sudanese refugee migrants settled in Perth. These are: knowledge, skills and learning; community networks; people–place connections; and community infrastructures. The article illustrates how the attributes assisted these migrants in developing tools and mechanisms to build new opportunities and negotiate and access suitable housing opportunities. The findings presented in this article stress the need, within the resettlement experience, to consider housing issues outside the simple provision of affordable and appropriate dwellings, including recognising the relationship between social and spatial domains.

Association between Nightlife Goers' Likelihood of an Alcohol Use Disorder and Their Preferred Bar's Closing Time: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study in Perth, Australia.

Introduction and aims: Associations between longer-term alcohol-related conditions and licensed outlet trading hours are not well understood. We investigated the association between nightlife-goers’ likelihood of an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and their preference for bars with special permits to remain open ‘late’ (i.e., spent more time there compared to any other venue) until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. (Friday; Saturday) or midnight (Sunday) compared to bars with ‘standard’ closing times of midnight (Friday; Saturday) or 10 p.m. (Sunday). Design and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in four major nightlife areas of Perth, Australia, in 2015–2016. We conducted weekend street intercept surveys outside bars between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. and screened participants who reported alcohol use prior to the survey and spent more time in a bar than any other venue type (n = 667) regarding their past year drinking pattern using AUDIT-C (n = 459). We used gender-specific logistic regression models to estimate associations between AUDIT-C categories (1–4, low risk; 5–7, hazardous; 8–12, active AUD) and preference for bars with different closing times (late vs. standard). Results: A large proportion of participants were hazardous drinkers or had active AUD (83% males; 65% females), and over half preferred a late to a standard closing bar. We found evidence of a positive association between preference for late closing bars and hazardous drinking females (OR = 3.48; 95% CI 1.47–8.23; p = 0.01), but not for females with active AUD, male hazardous drinkers, nor males with active AUD. Discussion and conclusions: Our study adds new evidence on associations between likelihood of AUD among nightlife-goers and trading hours. With increasing international relaxation of trading hours, evidence that late closing bars may be preferred by hazardous drinking females will be of concern to policymakers wanting to curb alcohol-related harms in the community.

New Housing Supply, Population Growth and Access to Social Infrastructure

This research tests the usefulness of new datasets to inform the forward planning of social and community infrastructure in rapidly growing areas of Australian cities. It focusses on greenfield areas of Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to demonstrate data sources and methods that can be replicated in other locations.

The Perth Field, Blocks 14/25a, 15/21c, 15/21e, UK North Sea

Abstract The Perth Field was discovered in 1983 and appraised from 1992 to 1997, but has remained undeveloped due to the lack of a suitable export solution for the sour fluids. The field is a combined structural–stratigraphic trap on the southern edge of the Tartan Ridge in the Outer Moray Firth. An oil column of >1000 ft is developed in the turbiditic Upper Jurassic Claymore Sandstone Member which is mostly 500–800 ft thick in the proven appraised Core Perth area. Reference case oil in place within Core Perth is estimated at 197 MMbbl. An undrilled northern terrace may contain a similar amount of oil, with an additional 40 MMbbl estimated to be in place in a separate, proven northeastern fault panel. Potential development by subsea tieback to the Scott platform became an option in 2017. P50 reserves for 15 years’ production from Core Perth (five producers and two water injectors) are estimated at 47.3 MMbbl (24% recovery factor). The preferred concept is for oil and gas to be processed on a new self-contained sour module located on a standalone structure at Scott with oil exported in the Forties Pipeline System. Sour gas would be incinerated in a dedicated flare with recovered hydrocarbon gas exported to Scott.

The evolution of local food environments within established neighbourhoods and new developments in Perth, Western Australia.

Temporal changes in the location of food outlets can result in disparities in the availability and access of food across geographic areas, contributing to health inequalities. This study used mixed linear models to investigate how the location of food outlets around the home evolved over time with respect to area-level socio-economic status (SES) and urban design within established neighbourhoods and new residential developments. Food outlet data (supermarket/greengrocers, convenience stores, café restaurants and takeaway/fast food) were sourced from commercial database listings (SENSIS Pty. Ltd.) in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2011. Using 2468 addresses from the RESIDential Environments Project (RESIDE), in Perth, Western Australia (WA), a count of each food outlet type and percentage of healthy food outlets within a 1.6 km road network buffer around the home, along with the road network distance to nearest food outlet were generated relative to each address at each time point. Proximity to and count of all food outlets increased over time in both new developments and established neighbourhoods. However, unhealthy food outlets were always in greater numbers and proximity to the home. The percentage of healthy food outlets was significantly greater in established neighbourhoods compared to new developments at all four time points. There were significantly more food outlets, and within closer proximity to the home, in established neighbourhoods compared to new developments at each time point. In established neighbourhoods, there were more convenience stores, takeaway/fast food and café restaurants, a lower percentage of healthy food outlets, and closer proximity to convenience stores in lower compared to high SES areas. In new developments there were significantly less supermarket/greengrocers, a lower percentage of healthy food outlets and greater proximity to takeaway/fast food and café restaurants in low compared to high SES areas. New developments designed according to the WA government's "Liveable Neighbourhoods Community Design Guidelines" policy had significantly more of all food outlets compared to other new developments. As such, people living in new developments, and low SES areas of Perth, may be disadvantaged with poorer access to healthy food outlets and greater exposure to unhealthy food outlets. Future urban planning and policy should focus on providing incentives that support the early development of supermarkets and healthy food outlets within new developments and low SES areas of Perth.

Mothers' Understanding of Infant Feeding Guidelines and Their Associated Practices: A Qualitative Analysis.

There is limited evidence to describe Australian mothers’ understanding of the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines (AIFG). A qualitative inductive methodological approach was used in this study to explore experiences with the introduction of solid food. Seven focus groups with 42 mothers of children aged 4–18 months were conducted in disadvantaged areas in Perth, Australia. The mean age of infants was 9.6 months and mean age of introduction of solid food was 4.3 months (range 1.2 to 7.5 months). Almost half of the mothers in this study were aware of the AIFG however, only half again could correctly identify the recommended age for introducing solid food. Four themes and nine subthemes emerged from the analysis. Themes were (1) Every child is different (judging signs of readiness); (2) Everyone gives you advice (juggling conflicting advice); (3) Go with your gut—(being a “good” mother); and (4) It’s not a sin to start them too early or too late (—guidelines are advice and not requirements). The findings indicated that in spite of continued promotion of the AIFG over the past ten years achieving the around six months guideline is challenging. Professionals must address barriers and support enablers to achieving infant feeding recommendations in the design education materials and programs.

Anthropozoonotic significance, risk factors and spatial distribution of Giardia spp. infections in quenda (Isoodon obesulus) in the greater Perth region, Western Australia.

Giardia spp. infections in wildlife populations have been linked to anthropogenic sources of infection and public health risk in a diversity of wildlife species and ecological locations worldwide. Quenda (Isoodon obesulus) remain in many urbanised areas of Perth, Western Australia, and can be gregarious in their interactions with humans and domestic animals. In a previous study, a high prevalence of Giardia spp. infection was identified amongst quenda trapped in urbanised environments and bushland in Perth, Western Australia. This study aimed to expand on that finding, by: identifying and estimating the prevalence of particular species of Giardia infecting quenda, and thus clarifying their anthropozoonotic/public health significance; identifying risk factors for Giardia spp. infection; and investigating putative associations between infection and indicators of ill health. Giardia spp. infections in Perth quenda are overwhelmingly of the host-adapted, non-zoonotic Giardia peramelis (apparent prevalence 22.2%; 95% CI 17.7–27.4%), indicating that quenda are not a substantial veterinary public health risk regarding this parasite genus. However, one case each of Giardia duodenalis and Giardia canis genotype D were identified in quenda trapped in urbanised environments (apparent prevalences 0.4%; 95% CI 0.1–1.9%). In quenda, Giardia spp. infection is associated with Cryptosporidium infection and flea infection intensity, which may reflect host population density, or regarding Cryptosporidium spp., similar transmission pathways or synergistic interactions between these taxa within the host. Giardia spp. infection is not associated with the measured indicators of ill health in Perth quenda, but this finding is representative of Giardia peramelis only, given the apparent rarity of other Giardia sp. infections in this study.

The volume and type of unhealthy bus shelter advertising around schools in Perth, Western Australia: Results from an explorative study.

Exposure to advertising for unhealthy food, alcohol and gambling has been shown to influence children and adolescents' behaviours and attitudes. This exploratory study aimed to assess the volume and type of unhealthy bus shelter advertisements near schools in five local government areas in Perth, Western Australia and to monitor whether the volume of unhealthy advertisements varied seasonally. The 29 local governments in the Perth metropolitan region were contacted seeking information regarding the locations of bus shelters featuring advertisements in their local government area. Five local governments provided sufficient information for an audit of the bus shelter advertisements in their area to be conducted. Every bus shelter within 500m of a school was photographed and the type of advertisement recorded. The advertisements in the food, non-alcoholic beverage, alcohol, or gambling categories were then classified as being healthy, moderate, or unhealthy. This process was carried out in June, September, December 2016, and March 2017 to ascertain whether the type of advertisements displayed changed depending on the season. Of the 293 advertisements recorded over the four audits, 31% featured unhealthy products, 3% moderate, and <1% healthy. Only two of the 293 advertisements were classified as being healthy. Seasonal variation in the volume of unhealthy advertisements was not identified. SO WHAT?: Western Australian school students are regularly exposed to unhealthy bus shelter advertisements. Stricter regulation of outdoor advertising is needed to ensure that young people are protected from the influence of unhealthy industries.

Predictors of illegal dumping at charitable collection points

Cleaning and disposal of illegal dumping at charitable collection points costs charities and diverts funds from their charitable programs. However, there is no published literature that attempts to better understand this problem. The current study assesses site-specific characteristics, community level indicators and sociodemographic factors as predictors of both charity stores and collection bin dumping in the metropolitan area of Perth, Australia. Multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of dumping at stores were predicted by being open on Sundays, the presence of gates/fencing, bringing bins in at night, greater 5-year mobility and lower levels of education and occupation in the area. The analysis also suggests that preventative measures have not necessarily been effective at reducing the amount of illegal dumping at stores. For charity bins, significant predictors of higher levels of dumping included private land ownership, if the site is shared with bins from another charity, the number of bins at the site, the number of days serviced per week, if the bin/s are located at a park/reserve and greater 5-year mobility. These results indicate that there is a combination of site-specific characteristics and community level indicators that play a role in illegal dumping at charitable collection points and indicate the type of interventions which may be successful in reducing illegal dumping. These may include improved maintenance, better placement of bins and signage and collaborations with real estate agents.

Parasitic infections of brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula in urbanised environments and bushland in the greater Perth region, Western Australia

Brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula remain in many areas of Perth, Western Australia, despite urbanisation. However, there are no data available regarding parasitic infections in this species in this locale, despite the relevance to wildlife health, and to public health when considering anthropozoonoses (infections that can spread from humans to animals, and vice versa). Further, though urbanisation is speculated to entail changes to wildlife infection epidemiology, there are few data investigating this hypothesis in marsupial populations in urbanised environments in Australia. This study aimed to measure T. gondii seroprevalence, gastrointestinal parasite prevalences, and macroscopic ectoparasite prevalences and intensities, in brushtail possums in the greater Perth region. It also aimed to compare infection prevalences between brushtail possum trapped in urbanised environments and bushland. As part of a cross‐sectional study, 18 brushtail possums were trapped and sampled in bushland, 15 possums were trapped and sampled in urbanised environments, and 23 possum carcasses were obtained from a wildlife hospital, in the greater Perth region. This study provides parasite prevalence data, new host records for the ectoparasites Pygiopsylla tunneyi and Liponyssoides sp., and a new location record for the ectoparasite Haemaphysalis bremneri. Urbanised environments were inversely associated with prevalence of tick (Family Ixodidae) infections, and more specifically Amblyomma spp. infections. This study found no evidence that the Perth brushtail possum population is a substantial reservoir of anthropozoonotic parasites, though larger studies are required to confirm these findings.

Consumption plans for the rest of the night among Australian nightlife patrons

Curtis, A., Coomber, K., Droste, N., Hyder, S., Mayshak, R., Lam, T., Gilmore, W., Chikritzhs, T., &amp; Miller, P. (2017). Consumption plans for the rest of the night among Australian nightlife patrons. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 6(1), 19-25. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.243Aims: This study investigates associations between blood alcohol content (BAC), gender, location, time of night, and intention to consume more alcohol, energy drinks, and illicit drugs following a street intercept interview.Design: Interviews were conducted from December 2011 to July 2012.Setting: Interviews were conducted in nightlife areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Wollongong, and Geelong, between 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.Participants: Data from 4,203 participants are utilized in the current paper.Measures: Participants were asked demographic questions, as well as questions about their intentions for the rest of the night (further alcohol, drug, and energy drink use), and completed a breathalyzer test.Findings: Over 70% of the nightlife patrons intended to consume more alcohol, and this was more likely for males, regional patrons, and those with a BAC of over 0.08 g/100 ml. Overall, intention to use drugs was consistent across BAC, location, and time of night, though males were significantly more likely than females to intend to consume drugs.Conclusions: Given the risky behaviors of the most intoxicated group out drinking late at night, interventions that target latenight drinking, high levels of intoxication, and high-risk drinkers are indicated.

Urban environments alter parasite fauna, weight and reproductive activity in the quenda (Isoodon obesulus)

Some wildlife species are capable of surviving in urbanised environments. However, the implications of urbanisation on wildlife health, and public health regarding zoonoses, are often unknown. Quenda (syn. southern brown bandicoots, Isoodon obesulus) survive in many areas of Perth, Australia, despite urbanisation. This study investigated differences in gastrointestinal and macroscopic ecto-parasitic infections, morphometrics and reproductive status between bushland and urban dwelling quenda. 287 quenda in the greater Perth region were captured and sampled for faeces (to detect gastrointestinal parasites), blood (to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibodies), ectoparasites, and morphometrics. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic and linear regression. Most parasitic infections identified in quenda were of native parasite taxa that are either not known to, or considered highly unlikely to, infect humans or domestic animals. However, stickfast fleas (Echidnophaga spp.) were present at low prevalences and intensities, and Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Amblyomma spp. infections require further investigation to clarify their anthropozoonotic significance. Quenda captured in urbanised environments had differing odds of or intensity of certain parasitic infections, compared to those in bushland – likely attributable to quenda population density, and in some cases the availability of other host species or anthropogenic sources of infection. Urbanised environments were associated with an increase in net weight of adult male quenda by 189.0g (95% CI 68.6–309.5g; p=0.002; adjusted R2=0.06) and adult female quenda by 140.1g (95% CI 3.9–276.3g; p=0.044; adjusted R2=0.07), with study findings suggesting a tendency towards obesity in urbanised environments. Adult female quenda in bushland had increased odds of an active pouch (adjusted OR=4.89, 95% CI 1.7–14.5), suggesting decreased reproductive activity in quenda from urbanised environments. These results highlight the subtle, yet extensive impacts that urbanised environments may have on wildlife ecology, even for those species which apparently adjust well to urbanisation.

"Looking over the Backyard Fence": Householders and Mosquito Control.

(1) Background: Vector-borne diseases are a significant public health problem in Western Australia. Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of a number of pathogens and may pose a serious nuisance problem. Prevention efforts in the State are multi-faceted and include physical, chemical, and cultural control methods for restricting mosquito breeding. This is less complex where breeding areas are located within public open spaces. In Australia’s developed urban areas, breeding sites are, however, frequently located within private residential landholdings, where the scope of public health officials to act is constrained by law and practicality. Consequently, mosquito prevention in these locations is predominantly the responsibility of the residents. This research addressed a gap, both in understanding the degree to which “backyard” mosquito breeding has the potential to contribute to local mosquito problems, and in assessing what residents “think and do” about mosquito control within their home environment. (2) Methods: The study was conducted in the Town of Bassendean, a metropolitan Local Government Area of Perth, Western Australia, in close proximity to two natural, productive mosquito breeding sites, namely Ashfield Flats and Bindaring Park. A total of 150 householders were randomly surveyed during the summer of 2015–2016, to gauge residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) Survey) in regards to mosquitoes, their breeding and ecology, and avoidance or minimization strategies. The survey comprised nine questions covering residents’ knowledge (3 questions), attitudes (3 questions), and practices (3 questions), as well as additional questions regarding the basic demographics of the resident. Larvae were collected from backyard containers and reared to adults for species identification. A series of Encephalitis Vector Surveillance carbon dioxide (EVS CO2) traps were also deployed, to assess adult mosquito density and species composition. (3) Results: Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse), a known container-inhabiting species, accounted for just over 50% of all mosquitoes identified. Most residents were aware of mosquito-borne disease and its risk in their local area. While the majority (79%) of the sample correctly identified Ross River virus as the most common infection in WA, a significant gap in the general knowledge of residents in regards to mosquito biology and breeding habits, was noted. Furthermore, only 50% of residents reported using personal protective measures to reduce mosquito bites and only one in six residents undertook physical or chemical mosquito control around their home. Additionally, 60% of respondents believed that mosquito control was “a job for the council and the state government”, rather than for individual householders. (4) Conclusions: A significant gap in the knowledge of residents in the study area existed in regards to the general knowledge of mosquitoes and their breeding habits; types of treatments that could be employed within the home; and the residents’ responsibility for the management of mosquito breeding on their private property. A public education campaign has been deployed to educate the residents.

High prevalence of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in public space lawns in Western Australia

Clostridium difficile is a well-established hospital pathogen. Recently, it has been detected increasingly in patients without hospital contact. Given this rise in community associated infections with C. difficile, we hypothesized that the environment could play an important role in transmission of spores outside the hospital. Lawn samples (311) collected in public spaces in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia, from February to June 2016 were cultured for C. difficile. C. difficile was isolated from the samples by direct and enrichment culture, and characterized by standard molecular methods using toxin gene PCR and ribotyping. The overall prevalence of C. difficile was 59%, new lawn (≤4 months old) was twice as likely as old lawn (>4 months old) to test positive (OR = 2.3; 95%CI 1.16–4.57, p = 0.015) and 35 C. difficile ribotypes were identified with toxigenic ribotype 014/020 (39%) predominating. The highest viable count from lawn soil samples was 1200 CFU/g. These results show that lawns in Perth, Western Australia, harbor toxigenic C. difficile, an important finding. The source of lawn contamination is likely related to modern practice of producing “roll-out” lawn. Further work should focus on identifying specific management practices that lead to C. difficile contamination of lawn to inform prevention and control measures.

Assessing the accessibility of activity centres and their prioritisation: a case study for Perth Metropolitan Area

The primary objective of this study was to ascertain, through analysis of accessibility and development potential, which activity centres should be prioritised to support decentralisation of jobs, encourage better integration of transport and land use and ultimately aid the evaluation of a more compact, consolidation and connected city. In doing so, this study evaluated and compared the existing accessibility of different geographic units across the city, including the 34 activity centres identified by the Government of Australia, by the two most frequently use transport modes, namely – public transport and car. The analysis of this study has two parts. Firstly, an isochrone-based measure of accessibility was used for an accessibility modelling across the Perth Metropolitan Area in Western Australia. Secondly, using six node-place based indicators, this paper also endeavoured to prioritise the geographic units that are already better served by public transport, as indicated by the accessibility analysis. Multi-criteria weighed scoring method was applied to calculate a score out of 100 for each of the geographic units. The results of this analysis could help to identify activity centre(s) and other areas in Perth, if any, with higher potentials of being a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) supportive activity centre.