No package plus buybacks = wasteland
The spectre of water buybacks, plus the absence of a targeted support package for Riverland grape growers, risk turning local communities into "economic wastelands", a local MP has warned. Liberal Barker MP Tony Pasin has labelled a $3.5 million federal funding package as "too little, too late" and accused both Labor governments of ignoring the crisis confronting inland wine regions like the Riverland.
Industry support ‘a drop in the ocean’?
Hugh Schuitemaker. Further federal government support measures will be needed to overcome current local wine industry challenges, according to two senior Riverland politicians. The Federal Government last week announced a $3.5m Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package, aimed at assisting the wine industry to respond to the oversupply of red wine.
Gold Starrs for Riverland winery
While the Riverland wine industry is battling through some of its darkest days, a local vineyard has offered a glimmer of light with a prestigious award win. Starrs Reach Vineyard, based at New Residence, won Innovative Vineyard of the Year at the Young Gun of Wine Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards last week, returning the trophy back to the Riverland after Ricca Terra won it in 2020.
“It’s just not good enough” – Telstra outage wipes out all three local councils
Stephanie Thompson. Telstra is “sincerely sorry” for the impact of a cloud service crash last week that continues to “cripple” all three local councils. The outage is continuing to impact Loxton Waikerie, Berri Barmera and Renmark Paringa councils, rendering them unable to complete almost all core functions.
A woolly good weekend in Barmera
The Barmera Sheep Dog Trials concluded on Sunday, with “particularly good crowds” over the weekend. Around 40 dogs competed over the five days, with 440 sheep coming from around the Riverland ... Highlights over the five days included the iconic ‘Running of the Sheep’ event down Barwell Avenue
Riverland hosts paddling marathon
Marathon paddlers from around the nation converged on the Murray River last weekend for South Australia’s premier long-distance event, the Riverland Paddling Marathon (RPM). Run by the Marathon Canoe over the June long weekend each year, the RPM has become a staple of the marathon calendar since its inception in 1988.
Rain brings hope to farmers
Christine Webster. Lowbank farmer David Schmidt is feeling more optimistic about the grain growing season after the end of a dry spell spanning more than four months. Some rain finally arrived in the region on Thursday and more showers fell on Friday ... “You would not classify it as an official break in the season,” Mr Schmidt said.
Valuation negation – 5.68% rise as council combats skyrocketing home prices
An average residential rate increase of 5.68 per cent – or $82 – is likely across the Berri Barmera district for 2024/25, after the local council cut its rate in the dollar to combat skyrocketing valuations ... Residential valuations alone –made by the Adelaide-based Valuer General – across Berri Barmera will rise by a whopping 15.28 per cent, or almost $186 million, in 2024/25. “With the State Government’s capital valuation growth so high, council has resolved to reduce the rate in the dollar across all property types,” Berri Barmera chief executive officer Tim Pfeiffer told The Murray Pioneer.
