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The rainwater tanks keep on rolling faster and faster.

A bulk order of 63 rain water tanks has been installed at Federation Square, improving the environmental credentials of Melbourne’s major meeting place. Original plans for tanks to be included at the Square were abandoned in 2002 to save $350,000 in construction costs. The decision was typical of attitudes at the time, with the Southern Cross Station redevelopment across town also overlooking water storage. Years of severe drought have changed attitudes. Federation Square’s 63 new water tank — which complement the nine installed last year — are in a service trench underneath the Alfred Deakin building, near Flinders Street. Federation Square chief executive Kate Brennan said the tanks had the capacity to hold 100,000 litres. The water collected will flush toilets and the water tanks would help reduce water use by more than 12 million litres each year. Melbourne’s water authorities are keen to encourage increased water harvesting into tanks, but insist it is not a viable way to solve Melbourne’s overall water supply difficulties.

State definitely takes over Prague cathedral from church

Cardinal Miloslav Vlk challenged the handing of the cathedral to the Presidential Office last week, arguing that the documents were not signed. The Presidential Office expects to meet church representatives next week to discuss issues concerning the joint administration of the cathedral. In late March the Prague Castle Administration and the Metropolitan Chapter agreed on a joint regime of running the cathedral. The church vs state dispute over the ownership of the cathedral, expropriated by the communist regime in the 1950s, has lasted for 14 years. This February the Supreme Court abrogated the previous lower level court verdicts that adjudged the cathedral to the Church. The district court’s next meeting over the case is scheduled for May 3. St Vitus Cathedral is both the symbol of Czech statehood and the church of the Prague Catholic Archdiocese.

http://www.prague-czech-republic-accommodation.com/article-266016-en.html

Australia

The Commonwealth of Australia is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world’s smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania and a number of other islands in the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The neighbouring countries are Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east.
The Australian mainland has been inhabited for more than 42,000 years by Indigenous Australians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and by European explorers and merchants starting in the 17th century, the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation as part of the colony of New South Wales on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established during the 19th century.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth Realm. The capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory. The population is 21 million, and is concentrated in the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.