“I am desperate to get to court”
Facing aggravated assault charges he has denied, member for MacKillop Nick McBride says he is "chafing at the bit, desperate," and "can't wait to get to the court" to tell his side of the story. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The [Naracoorte] News, Mr McBride asked voters for a "leap of faith," urging the electorate to uphold the Australian Constitution and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
A plea for Christmas
This Christmas, Naracoorte father and leukemia survivor Remo Herron has one heartfelt wish: that people give a gift that truly matters — a gift that helps save lives and keeps families together when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
Battery plan backlash
Council raises alarm, TagEnergy defends Naracoorte mega-battery proposal. A Portugal-based energy company’s plan to build a 600-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) on 11 hectares of prime agricultural land west of Naracoorte has ignited fierce community debate, with questions mounting over land use, safety, transparency, and the long-term implications for the region.
Farmers sound alarm
“The mental health toll on farmers is becoming impossible to ignore our community is carrying the stress, uncertainty, and frustrations of a system that refuses to hear them.” Those are the words of Limestone Coast Sustainable Futures Association (LCSFA) chairman Todd Woodard, who has issued a blistering condemnation of the state government’s proposed Mining Act reforms — warning the legislation further eroded farmers’ rights and silenced regional voices already pushed to breaking point.
Where do we go? 24-hour stations off the table
The state government has no plans to restore 24-hour police station operations in Naracoorte or other Limestone Coast towns, despite growing frustration from regional communities over slow response times and reduced police visibility. Police minister Blair Boyer told The [Naracoorte] News that reopening stations around the clock would “mean someone has to be at the station at all times in case someone attends,” arguing the current model kept officers on the road rather than behind a counter.
Karate judge puts Naracoorte on the world stage
Naracoorte’s Peter Anderson is set to represent Australia — and his hometown Naracoorte — on one of the biggest martial arts stages in the world. In a remarkable achievement, Peter has been selected as a judge for the prestigious IKO Matsushima World Karate Championships in Maebashi, Japan, this November.
Rare earths mining: local voices join panel
Eight community representatives have been appointed to sit on the newly formed Community Consultation Committee (CCC) for Australian Rare Earths’ (AR3) controversial Koppamurra Project, a move the company says will strengthen local input. According to AR3, this is the beginning of formal consultation on the proposed rare earths mine as the exploration company moves towards a mining licence application.
Dialysis in draft: State plan flags mid-term service priority for Naracoorte
The long-awaited prospect of renal dialysis services at Naracoorte Hospital has been formally recognised in the state government’s Draft Clinical Services Plan for the Limestone Coast ... Mr McBride emphasised that renal dialysis for Naracoorte had been a long-standing request from constituents who faced the burden of travelling to Mount Gambier or Adelaide for treatment.
Naracoorte on the rise
That’s the message from Spendmapp by Geografia, which has singled out the Naracoorte Lucindale Council for its economic momentum and community-first approach ... The latest data shows local spending is climbing, visitor dollars are growing, online shopping is rising, and even ‘escape spend’ is up — a sign of household confidence and prosperity circulating across the Limestone Coast.
Homelessness, housing storm
The Limestone Coast is facing a worsening homelessness crisis, with Naracoorte among the towns where families, young people, and older residents are being pushed to the brink by rising housing costs and limited rental availability ... The [Naracoorte] News caught up with ac.care’s Homelessness and Community Services senior manager, Trish Spark, to discuss the issue...