Ian Crouch and his team have won the CBAA Award for Outstanding Presenter News & Current Affairs.
This award recognises outstanding news and current affairs presentation in delivering well-researched, relevant and engaging content.
The award is supported by Deutsche Welle.
Muswellbrook Fights For Earthquake Disaster Relief
The story covers the more than 3 month period from when the initial 4.7 magnitide quake hit Muswellbrook on 23rd August 2024, the subsequent cluster of aftershocks, and the struggle faced by the local council and the community in having the incident declared a natural disaster so financial relief and support could be provided. The story also covered concerns raised about the impact of future seismic activity on the Federal Opposition’s plans to locate a nuclear power station at the former Liddell Power Station site. There were also concerns about a possible link between the seismic events and coal mining.
Newcastle and the Hunter Valley are no strangers to earthquake. The 1989 Newcastle quake registered 5.6 on the Richter scale resulting in 13 deaths. Geoscience Australia told us the injury and damage toll from the Muswellbrook quake would most likely have been greater if it wasn’t for the much smaller density of the population and buildings compared to the Newcastle event years before. We also canvassed the views and input from the local state and federal members of parliament, the shire mayor, local residents, environment groups, nuclear advocates and the Insurance Council of Australia.
The earthquake story prompted community concern about the threat of potentially locating a nuclear power station in the middle of a known earthquake zone. We also brought a unique local flavour to the story thanks to our exclusive interviews with locals as well as our detemination to follow through and see the community receive the support they so desperately needed.
Extensive research was undertaken on the recent history of earthquakes in the Hunter Valley, the scientific phenomena of cluster quakes, and the criteria used in disaster declarations. We canvassed expert opinion to help develop the story and provide the listener with a balanced view of the issues.
