Peninsula Community Access Edition 233
News Phone 4344 1844 Fax 4344 1944
8 February 2010
Best year yet for college Year 12 Brisbane Water Secondary College Year 12 students achieved the best results ever for the college in the Higher School Certificate last November, according to collage principal Mr Steve Harris.
Last year’s Brisbane Water Secondary College HSC students celebrate their outstanding results
“Fifty of our students have now received first round university offers which is above state and regional averages,” Mr Harris said. “In coming weeks, additional offers will be made to students in the round two university offers. “In excess of 30 per cent of our students will commence university studies. Mr Harris said teaching staff at the college were also extremely pleased at results achieved by Year 10 students in the School Certificate. “Our Year 10 students also excelled in the School Certificate achieving 195 Band 5 and 6 results. “The Year 12 results included 20 Band 6 results (final score 90 and above) and 95 Band 5 marks (final score between 80 and 90). “The most pleasing aspect was the incredibly large number of students who achieved an
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank in excess of 80. Mr Harris said the highest achieving student from the class, Emily Rainer, scored an ATAR score of 96.55 who was recognised as Dux of the College late last year. “Indeed five of our students achieved ATAR’s above 90 which reflects the calibre of the cohort and the quality of teaching and learning provided in our area from preschool through to Year 12,” Mr Harris said. “We were also delighted that very few of our students achieved in the bottom two bands. “Out of the entire cohort of students who studied Biology, Chemistry, Community and Family Studies, Dance, Drama, English Advanced, English as a Second Language, Information Processing Technology, Legal Studies, Music, Society & Culture, Visual Arts, Construction, Business Services, and Hospitality, not a single student achieved a Band 1 or 2. “In other words, every single student in these subjects achieved a result of 60 or above.” Maani Truu, 5 Feb 2010 See Student Profiles P19
Insurance offer reveals flood risk A move by a major insurance company to offer flood cover automatically with its home insurance has revealed that the Peninsula may now be considered an area at high risk of flooding, following climate change studies. NRMA Insurance stated: “Ninetyeight per cent of our customers will receive flood cover automatically with a minimal increase.” However, local residents have reported premium increases of 50 per cent in areas of the Peninsula which do not normally flood. Major insurance company NRMA said it had taken information from a range of sources to work out where flooding was likely, including flood mapping from local councils, State Government terrain data, independent flood experts as well as the industry flood database. It is understood that this includes mapping undertaken by the council in preparation of its policy on sea level rise due to climate change. NRMA stated: “For the two per cent of customers who live in higher risk areas, their premiums
will reflect the increased likelihood and severity of flood in these areas. “Customers in high risk areas have choice. “If they don’t want to pay for the extra cover then we will give them the ability to remove flood insurance to reduce their premium and still have exactly the same cover they do today. “We have used a rigorous assessment process, but accept that it may not be 100 per cent perfect in all instances, so customers charged a flood premium can challenge us and we will work with them on reviewing their premium. “We are trying to make this process easy for customers and what they need to do will vary depending on their circumstances.” According to the Insurance Council of Australia, a National Flood Information Database has been developed and used by insurers to determine the flood risk of individual properties based on flood maps given to them by local councils and state governments
THIS ISSUE contains 45 articles
across the country. The information is used by insurers as one of many factors to inform premium calculations. The national database contains 11.3 million property addresses, overlayed with the known flood risk according to local government and government agency flood mapping. The vast majority of properties in Australia have little or no flood risk, according to information contained on the insurance council’s website. “Around 2.8 per cent of properties have moderate to extreme risks of flooding,” the website stated.” A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Australia said the database was continually being updated with historical data from local and state governments since it first began in 2006. “The purpose of the NFID is to provide to members of the Insurance Council flood mapping data that is used by insurers for underwriting flood insurance products,” the spokesperson said. “It has made flood insurance products available to consumers
who didn’t have access to this product previously. “The National Flood Information Database is being frequently updated as flood mapping is released or existing flood mapping is improved by governments. “The database was first released in November 2008 and since June 2009 has been progressively updated three times.” It is expected that with the release of new and updated information to the database, house insurance policy holders will start to see cost changes in their premiums as policies are due for renewal over the coming months. Media statement, 4 Feb 2010 Sarah Wise, NRMA Media statement, 5 Feb 2010 Sandra Van Dijk, Insurance Council of Australia Website, 5 Feb 2010 Insurance Council of Australia [The editor of Peninsula News is employed by a locallyowned insurance agency, which offers home insurance among its products.]
Skipper charged A 39-year-old man is expected to appear in Woy Woy Local Court next month after he was arrested and charged with high range drink driving of an unregistered boat on January 30. Officers from the Brisbane Water Target Action Group were conducting an operation with Waterways officials when they stopped the occupants of a boat at Booker Bay. A male Russian National was subjected to a breath test and allegedly supplied a positive result, according to police. Website, 31 Jan 2010 NSW Police media
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