The Editor
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Tourism set to return to Lismore and its Villages
Lismore City Council and Rous County Council today signed a three-year lease for Rous to rent the Lismore Visitor Information Centre on Molesworth Street. Lismore City Council’s Director of Partnerships, Planning and Engagement Eber Butron said Lismore Council will work with Rous in delivering tourist information, and environmental and cultural services.
Hawke’s backpacker visa changes a cruel blow to farmers battling to find workers
The National Farmers' Federation is angered by a move by Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke that will likely reduce the workforce available to northern and remote farmers. The permanent changes announced by Minister Hawke are effective immediately and have the potential to particularly impact northern Australia cattle station operators, who rely on UK and European backpackers, and the northern horticulture industry.
Up, up and away! Derby to Broome flights to commence in August
The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley is delighted at the announcement today that local flights linking Derby and Broome will be available three times per week by Aviair from 16 August 2021 for a 12-month trial. Shire President Geoff Haerewa has welcomed the news as it has been a long-term priority for the Shire to have affordable and accessible flights from Derby to Perth.
Greater Shepparton welcomes Hockey Victoria for the first regionally hosted Junior State Championships
Greater Shepparton City Council is excited to welcome Hockey Victoria for the prestigious Junior Boys State Championships (JSC). “It is a wonderful opportunity for Greater Shepparton to be able to host a high-profile event in our region and we thank Hockey Victoria for their hard work and dedication to delivering hockey in this very competitive and challenging environment,” Cr Kim O’Keeffe said.
Commodity price boom rubbing off on wool
The commodity price boom – which has seen some agricultural commodities rise to seven-year highs in recent months – has “rubbed off” on the wool market with prices recovering from last year’s lows, albeit not to the same heady highs, according to agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.
Inverell plays a critical role in forestry planting – one million seedlings landed!
The BEST Nursery in Inverell has received around one million radiata pine seedlings from Forestry Corporation of NSW in preparation for a bumper 2021 State forest planting program. The nursery will manage the seedlings on behalf of Forestry Corporation to acclimatise to northern NSW conditions, before they continue their journey to the Walcha region for planting.
Farmers praise important environmental reform in Federal Parliament this week
The National Farmers’ Federation commends the passage of two important pieces of environmental reform this week: the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Bill and the Standards and Assurance Bill. "The Standards and Assurance Bill is the first step towards reform. The Bill will establish a framework to develop national environmental standards consistent with the Samuel review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act," NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.
Record 9.1 million pine seedlings dispatch starts from Blowering Nursery
The first of over 9.1 million pine seedlings have started their journey to State forests across NSW from Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Blowering Nursery, the largest crop in the nursery’s history. Phil Green, Plantation Improvement Manager, said the 9.1 million seedlings will join with a further five million from the Grafton Nursery and contracted supply and will be planted to rebuild fire-affected and previously harvested plantations around Tumut, Bombala, Bathurst, Mossvale, Walcha and Grafton.
Record three million pine seedling replanting program kicks off in Bathurst
Forestry Corporation of NSW has started its record 2021 replanting program, with three million seedlings set to be replanted into 2,800 hectares of Bathurst pine plantations previously harvested or affected by the black summer bushfires. Forestry Corporation’s Silviculture Manager Mike Freeman said this winter’s planting program is an important milestone in the organisation’s bushfire recovery program.
Rural Aid delivers hay to Narromine farmers fighting the mouse plague
Australia’s leading rural charity Rural Aid has today delivered hay to farmers battling the ongoing mouse plague. Two road trains carrying 144 bales of hay arrived in Narromine on Thursday 24 June. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said most farmers receiving the hay had their stockpiles decimated by mice.

