Miles doing what matters: Greater Glider Forest Park protected area for Queensland: Linard, Saunders
Environment Minister Leanne Linard has announced 54,000 hectares of greater glider habitat in South East Queensland state forest will be transitioned to a new natural capital tenure ... Of the 54,000 hectares, 7,500 hectares are set to be placed into Natural Capital Reserve as a potential strategic advance offset for the critical Borumba Pumped Hydro project.
Te Mania Angus spring bulls arrive on the Hay Plains
Hay Plains Livestock is excited to announce a new partnership with Te Mania Angus, a leading name in Australian Angus genetics. This collaboration has begun with the arrival of 20 Te Mania Angus spring bulls in Hay. These bulls are known for their excellent carcass traits, ease of calving, impressive marbling...
Ground broken on first renewable project in Hay
Clean Peak Energy has officially commenced construction of its Hay Solar Farm, adjacent to Hay Cemetery, east of Hay township. The advancement of the project was marked with an on-site sod turning, which brought together Clean Peak Energy executives and staff, Hay Shire Council and host landholders.
Boats grounded on the Riverland
Sebastian Calderon. Houseboats traveling along a section of the Murray River are facing challenges, due to low water levels, forcing operators to limit mobility through the Riverland. Changes in the river’s water flow following environmental conditions have recently seen a group of boats unable to travel between towns like Renmark and Berri.
Call to action against gold and copper mining in Clarence River catchment
Corazon Mining has begun exploratory drilling at the May Queen target on Mount Gilmore for gold and copper in the Clarence River catchment northwest of Grafton and the Clarence Catchment Alliance are calling on locals to get involved to stop a mining licence being granted.
Locals revive health care
Michelle Daw. The Ardrossan community is taking health care into its own hands by helping secure more services after the local private hospital closed earlier this year. A new International Medical Graduate, Dr Sajini Abeysekera, has arrived from Sri Lanka with the support of the Ardrossan Community Op Shop and started taking patients at Medical HQ Ardrossan...
Oasis in Grey’s childcare desert
Rachel Hagan. Minlaton's time to celebrate arrived with the official opening of the long-awaited Minlaton Family Centre ...The ribbon was cut by Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey, and the three women who started it all: Katie Hughes, Anna Phasey and Amy Honner ... The centre has created 120 childcare places in the region, which is an incredible increase from a few years earlier when there were only 14.
ABARES report highlights Australia’s growing production value
Australian agriculture is set to benefit this financial year, as the gross value of agricultural production is forecast to increase by 4 per cent. ​The ABARES Agricultural Commodities and Crop Reports show a significant growth in the sector, from $82.5 billion in 2023-24 to $86.2 billion in 2024-25.
“People’s Cup” meets the people
The “People’s Cup” arrived in Wycheproof on Friday morning in a High Rail V-Line vehicle on the infamous railway tracks that bisect the main street, and it spent the day touring around town with VRC officials and local racing legends. Wycheproof was the 25th stop, of the 39 destinations across six countries that have hosted the prestigious tour in 2024, showcasing the global appeal of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Cairns Central fashionably tops carnival-style with walk down memory lane
In celebration of spring racing and securing naming rights for next month’s Cairns Amateurs Carnival’s two-day Fashions on the Field contest, Cairns Central has unveiled a retrospective exhibition showcasing the elegance and creativity of past winners and their stunning outfits … Cairns Central will inspire racegoers to dress for the springtime occasion with its abundance of new season, head-to-toe, race-ready looks …
Fill up your senses at new dress shop in the centre of town
Walking through the doorway of Casino’s newest dress shop is an assault on the senses – in a good way. As you walk in, there is the soft wafting scent of the candles on sale, the cool refreshing air and the colours – oh my, patterns of colours on the clothes hanging on the walls like material artworks.
Sparks from the Past, Part 15 B: Waterfront wars
Chris Murray. The loss of Qantas Catalina VH-EAX at Lord Howe Island – Sabotage or misadventure? ... Hudson Fysh – Qantas: “On the 23rd June, 1949, our Catalina and one of Trans Oceanic Airways were riding at their moorings on the lagoon when in a ‘blow’ our flying boat broke her moorings and went ashore."
The Fruity Farmer: Custard apples
"Custard apples come lumpy, Quite seedy and bumpy, When added to fruit salad, They rhyme like a ballad." In case anyone hasn’t noticed we are well into custard apple season until probably October when the Qld fruit fly will start to get active with the warmer weather and sting the fruit.
‘Legally binding’ ANZ Suncorp deal faces first test
ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott made frequent mentions of “reputational risk” while giving evidence to the house standing committee investigating the big four banks in Canberra on Friday ... it is surprising that when asked about regional bank closures by commitee chairman Daniel Mulino he chose to withhold information about two branches in regional Australia that ANZ plans to close later this year.
TIO mum on massive premium hike
Territory Insurance Office “We’re for Territorians” hiked the premium of a long-time customer in the Alice Springs rural residential area by about 40 per cent, from $2382 to $3206, a difference of $824. That’s even taking into account a no claim bonus of 30 per cent.
“Hold onto your hats, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is galloping into Mt Wycheproof” – “A gracious Gai”
Even the best in the business can have a slip of the tongue… proving legends aren’t immune to pronouncing a town’s tricky name. The locals were left amused, but not offended, when Gai Waterhouse presented a brief video to promote the next stop on the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.
Health services to be investigated
The delivery of regional health services across the entire Limestone Coast Local Health Network will be investigated. The government has allocated $1million for this,” Health Minister Chris Picton revealed during his recent visit to the Naracoorte Hospital. “On top of this $8million investment (for the Naracoorte Hospital), a further $1million has been allocated to investigate regional service delivery across the entire Limestone Coast Local Health Network,” Mr Picton said.
Who was consulted?
Nasik Swami and Chris Oldfield. Health Minister Chris Picton claims the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) has implemented several changes to improve the care being provided to the people of Lucindale, following input from the community. But the Lucindale community disagrees with the minister and after being excluded from several meetings, says it still has not been consulted. Many residents report nursing services still have not returned to previous reliable or adequate capacity.
Flying foxes among us
Around 5,000 or so grey-headed flying foxes, often called fruit bats, currently have two main camps - one near Naracoorte and the other around Mount Burr. The flying foxes can carry the deadly Lyssavirus and Hendra virus - anyone scratched or bitten must seek urgent medical attention. Even dead bats are considered too dangerous to touch…
Allora has another tiny home
A delightful tiny (or as the grandkids say "small" home) has been moved to 9 Norman Street. Arriving on the back of a truck in May this year owners of the tiny home, Allyn and June Jones, have settled in nicely to their new abode.
Celebrating Coonawarra’s world-class wine at regional festival: Bettison
The Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations’ program launched today at the National Wine Centre. From 1-20 October, festivalgoers will enjoy a range of degustation dinners, masterclasses, tastings, winery tours, and more. Festival highlights include the Coonawarra Golf Day, Pizza and Tunes at Raidis Estate, the International Cabernet Masterclass, as well as the longstanding Combined Wineries Cabernet Decade[nce] Tasting hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons Association.
Australia’s milk production continues recovery, as modest global supply growth forecast for year ahead: Rabobank
Australia’s milk production continues to recover, as global supply is forecast to grow at a modest rate in the coming year, Rabobank says in its newly-released Global Dairy Quarterly. In the Q3 report, titled Market Narratives are Shifting, the global agribusiness bank says positive – though modest – milk supply growth is expected from the world’s major dairy-exporting regions through the remainder of 2024 and in 2025.
