The emerging forces shaping Australia’s rural industries: AgriFutures Australia
In the coming decade, Australia’s rural industries will be shaped by significant forces that have the potential to disrupt how we produce, market and consume agricultural goods ... Navigating a Future of Cross-Sectoral Forces reports that now, more than ever, rural industries must prepare to adapt and thrive in the face of an uncertain future...
New app on the horizon – Back Country Bulletin launched at Hatfield Happenings
The Riverine Grazier team chose last week’s Hatfield Happenings event to announce a new digital masthead. The Back Country Bulletin will be available in September ... “Adding a new masthead to our company is one of the biggest expansions in the 151-year history of The Grazier,” manager Krista Schade said.
Liberal Party discuss plan for wine industry support – understand and listen
Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland wineries to expand export opportunities would be an aim if the Liberal Party was successful at the next Federal Election, according to senior local politicians. Barker MP Tony Pasin last week toured Angove Family Winemakers, in Renmark, with federal opposition spokesperson for trade and tourism, Kevin Hogan, and Riverland-based MLC, and opposition spokesperson for regional South Australia, Nicola Centofanti.
Celebrating 30 years in business as a new chapter awaits
For Carmell Sanne, it hasn’t just been about selling quality lingerie, sleepwear, and hosiery throughout the past 30 years, it’s also been about working closely with Clarence Valley women who have undergone lumpectomies, unilateral, and double mastectomies, offering professional advice and guidance as they navigate life post-surgery, and helping them restore their confidence and rediscover their identities.
New contracts for the Whiskey Project Group
Yamba Welding and Engineering continues to go from strength to strength since it was taken over by The Whiskey Project Group in 2021 with the announcement of contracts with the NSW SES and the Royal Australian Navy following their recent success at the Sydney Business Awards. The Whiskey Project Group build high-performance specialised aluminium vessels for Marine Rescue NSW, NSW SES, Australian Border Force, Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police, and their Naiad vessel designs supply the Victorian and Western Australian police forces.
New wind farm in north-west Victoria to power 202,000 homes: Plibersek
The Albanese Government has ticked off a new wind farm in Victoria which will generate enough energy to power 202,000 Victorian homes. The 312 megawatt Wimmera Plains Energy Facility is located 10 kilometres north-east from Horsham and includes up to 52 wind turbines connecting to an existing 220 kilovolt transmission line.
Albanese Government providing more support for Aussie farmers to embrace ag-tech and connectivity solutions: Rowland, Collins
The Albanese Government is increasing help to Australian farmers and primary producers by launching Round Two of its popular On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP) ... The program provides rebates of up to 50 per cent for eligible equipment - worth up to $30,000 - to extend data coverage and allow for greater connection and reliability of machinery and sensor technology.
Lovell calls for review of windfarm setback: Lovell
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has called on the Minister for Planning to review the windfarm setback distance, after concerns were raised by Nanneella community members in a public meeting with a wind energy facility developer. Ms Lovell spoke in parliament last week to ask the Minister to review the distance that wind turbines must be set back from homes to limit the impact of noise, and consider extending it in light of increasing turbine heights.
Creating a national Green Iron industry: Magnetite Mines
Australia must act now if it is to seize the opportunity to play a significant role in decarbonising domestic and global steel production and utilise the nation’s significant international comparative advantage to create a competitive Green Iron industry, Magnetite Mines has asserted in the company’s submission to the Australian Government’s Green Metals Consultation Paper.
New report highlights backpackers vital to regions: NFF, ATEC, BYTAP
As the Federal Government gets to the pointy end of its Regional Migration Review, peak bodies for farmers, backpackers and tourism have released a new report highlighting the economic value of backpackers in the regions. The report by Aither was commissioned by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) and Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC).
Murray’s memories of his days as a builder
Following their August meeting, where memories of previous Olympic Games were shared, Donald Combined Probus Club members welcomed retired local builder, Murray Broughton as their guest speaker. Murray spoke on the changes to the local building industry as he has seen it, over the last 58 years, since becoming an apprentice to J.L. and M. A. Howley, after completing year 10, at the age of 15.
Watch this space to Keep the Sheep: John Hassell
John Hassell. On 16 July members of the ‘Keep the Sheep’ group of industry peak bodies fighting to retain the live sheep trade signed off on a letter to the WA Minister for Agriculture, Jackie Jarvis, in response to the Albanese government's disgraceful vote to put live exports to the sword. Now I won’t print the whole letter, but it is worth knowing what WAFarmers, the Pastoralists and Graziers, WA Shearers, Livestock Transporters, Stud Marino Breeders and the Live Exporters Assn are asking in the letter, so I'll quote the key bits ...
Tourism cruises in
Sarah Herrmann. More regular cruise ships are set to return to Yorke Peninsula waters this year, with hopes high that passenger numbers can eventually reach those of pre-pandemic levels. Travellers from three Coral Adventurer ships, which carry a maximum of 120 passengers each, are expected to be "tendered in" to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park as part of a "wild islands of South Australia" itinerary — meaning the ships anchor offshore and passengers are brought in on smaller boats.
For foreign wind and solar operators: $200 million annual windfall
"Today I read a report that struggling Victorian families are forking out an estimated $200 million per annum to foreign wind-turbine operators, largely collected through charges on household bills. That $200 million price tag will be even higher if Victorian and Federal Labor succeed in their scheme to turn Mallee into a spider’s web of transmission lines, wind turbines and blanket solar panels": Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster.
Albanese Government strengthens aviation competition at Sydney Airport: King
The Albanese Government will strengthen competitive settings through an open approach to market for the Sydney Airport Slot Manager, as part of overarching reforms to the slot system at Sydney Airport. The competitive tender to be released today (Monday 5 August) will require prospective slot managers to demonstrate how they will deliver on the Government reforms announced earlier this year, following recommendations from the Harris Review and the ACCC.
The need for aged housing in Gingin remains
With a prediction more than 1000 older residents will need suitable accommodation by 2027 some might want the Shire of Gingin to rethink its priorities. In the past six months the shire has controversially spent more than $700,000 for land on Dewar Rd for a future recreational use while the amount of housing available for seniors remains at the same level it was in 2015.
Duopolies draining the bush: NSW Farmers Association
Farmers have renewed calls for meaningful competition reform as experts warn the aviation sector faces similar problems to the supermarket sector ... While Rex’s regional routes were still in operation, NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the similarities between aviation and supermarket concentration were too big to ignore.
Nurses rally for better pay and conditions to stop the exodus to Queensland
Cars didn’t stop tooting as they drove slowly by the nurses, midwives and other hospital staff protesting outside Lismore Base Hospital ... The rally was to highlight the need for a 15 per cent pay increase nurses say they deserve and for better conditions.
Critical infrastructure at risk after battery ignites truck load
A dangerous incident at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility last week has reignited the importance of proper battery disposal. While loading household recyclables on a truck bound for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), a lithium-ion battery ignited within the load.
BeeHero launches Pollination Insight Platform 2.0 for data-driven pollination predictions and improved in-field monitoring across the globe
BeeHero's updated sensing solution, already in use worldwide, enables first-of-its-kind, high resolution heat mapping of bee activity, and features improved sensing and pollinator monitoring capabilities that enable predictive models for pollination success. ARR.News found out more about PIP 2.0 from Yuval Regev, Co-founder and CTO of BeeHero.
Better to be safe than sorry committee calls for 3G shutdown delay: Canavan, Rennick
The Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee ... called for a delay in the shutdown of Telstra and Optus’ 3G networks until more is done to work out how many devices could be impacted by the shutdown (including non-phone devices). The committee has heard from a variety of different stakeholders about the impact the shutdown will have on devices that hadn’t been considered when the decision was made, including medical devices, emergency phones in elevators, and even surveying equipment.
Sparks from the Past, Part 15 A: Waterfront wars begin
Chris Murray. Growing up on Lord Howe during the halcyon days of the flying boats, the Lord Howe waterfront seemed like a sea of tranquillity: cheerful crowds congregated at the jetty to greet and farewell passengers; flower leis were romantically cast into the lagoon by departing passengers; Hawaiian music was piped in the vicinity of the jetty; and it all happened against the backdrop of Lord Howe’s opalescent lagoon and towering southern mountains… surely the picture-perfect setting?
