Construction set to begin for Gallery redevelopment
A sod turning ceremony held on Friday marked the beginning of the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, which will be delivered by local company Fairbrother Construction. The project is expected to create an additional 260 jobs in the local construction sector and an additional 170 jobs in the local economy when the Gallery reopens in 2028.
Largest Country Week tournament brings major economic win for Greater Shepparton
Greater Shepparton City Council is proud to announce the successful delivery of the 2026 Country Week tennis tournament, which saw an estimated $4 million boost to the region’s visitor economy. Council partnered with Tennis Victoria, Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and Mooroopna Lawn Tennis Club to host the event, which is the largest lawn tennis competition in the world.
Araluen Theatre – Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2026
The Ocean Film Festival World Tour presents an extraordinary collection of short films that capture the raw beauty, untamed power, and majesty of our oceans. These carefully curated films showcase stunning cinematography from surface to depths, transporting audiences into underwater realms and atop towering waves.
Ironback Hill Ree Project drilling approvals secured
Magnetite Mines Limited (ASX:MGT) is pleased to advise that all necessary permitting, approvals and heritage clearances have been secured for an initial drilling campaign at the Ironback Hill Rare Earth Element (REE) Project, located near the Razorback Iron Ore Project, in South Australia.
Alice project for US defence firm
An American defence contractor, Lockheed Martin Australia, is seeking planning approval for a "global navigation satellite system reference station" in Ilparpa Road, near the popular claypans. The facility is part of a satellite based system pinpointing locations to the accuracy of as little as 10 centimetres, and while it is described as a civilian asset it clearly can have military applications.
AI. Friend or foe? An insider’s perspective
The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across society in the past few years has both its benefits, and downfalls, which could change the way our communities are today. The Clarence Valley Independent spoke to a Northern River’s based tech expert, who is a husband, father, and computer programmer, about the explosion in society of AI.
Action from the Allora Show
Let's take a stroll around the 148th Allora Show.
Cook Government snubs Wheatbelt Freight Network, risks regional roads and safety: Hunter
The Cook Labor Government has dealt a major blow to regional Western Australia by excluding the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network (WSFN) from its State infrastructure investment shortlist; a decision that now threatens Federal funding and delays to critical regional road upgrades ... “This is one of the most effective and collaborative regional freight programs WA has ever seen and the Cook Government has chosen to walk away from it,” Mr Hunter said.
Donald project reaches agreement with Traditional Owners
Donald Mineral Sands has reached a Journey and Understanding Agreement with the Traditional Owners of the land where it is developing the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project. The agreement is between DMS and Barengi Gadjin Land Council, the Registered Native Title Body Corporate representing the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagulk Peoples ... The Donald Project, near Minyip, in Victoria’s Murray Basin, is a globally significant deposit of critical minerals.
Tough times take a toll on small business
A mainstay of the Corryong CBD will close its doors at the end of the month. Hobie's Sports Store has been an iconic business in the town's main street for 75 years but changes in people's purchasing habits over recent years and the current economic climate has forced the hand of owners Mick and Kerrie Butler ... Ron Hoban purchased the hairdresser and tobacconist shop in the early 1950s, at the height of the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
West Coast fishing ban causes south coast congestion
Warren Blackwood MLA Bevan Eatts has accused the State Government of rushing the demersal fishing ban and causing a sharp rise in boat traffic on the South Coast. He says that boat ramps are overcrowded, tourism infrastructure under strain and there is no support in sight. Since the closure of key recreational and commercial fishing areas, there has been daily congestion at Windy Harbour, Walpole, Peaceful Bay and Denmark.
Health, water security and safer roads topics dominate mayoral summit
Regional local government councils including Narrandera came together again for the eighth annual Cootamundra Mayoral Summit hosted by the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke this week. Ms Cooke said it was clear that health, water security and safer roads remained top priorities right across the electorate
Idyllic day shattered by freak accident
A picturesque barbie boat ride almost turned to tragedy for mother of 3, Leitchville dairy farmer Stephanie Dehne ... Their plan was to boat upstream from Murrabit and enjoy lunch at the Royal Hotel Barham before a lazy afternoon return journey, but things quickly escalated into a life-or-death race against the clock.
The housing crisis: could tiny homes be the solution?
Ivona Rose. Interest in tiny homes is increasing on the Central Coast and across Australia, driven by soaring house prices, lack of housing availability, shifts toward sustainable living, downsizing, dwindling available land, and the growth of short-stay rentals like Airbnb ... Can tiny homes play a meaningful role in affordable housing, and where can people locate them?
The bridge that turned to let the river through: Hay’s swing bridge
There’s a piece of industrial archaeology sitting in the river bend just north of where Hay’s bridge crosses the Murrumbidgee. It looks like debris, like something that should have been cleared away decades ago. But that rusting turntable is actually a remnant of an era when the river was a highway, when paddle steamers were the primary means of moving wool and supplies, and when a bridge had to accommodate both road traffic and river commerce.
Whipcracking entertainment at Kaniva
The sharp crack of a stockwhip echoed across Kaniva Recreation Reserve on Wednesday night as crowds gathered for world-record whipcracker Nathan "Whippy" Griggs. The free event, hosted by West Wimmera Shire Council, included a fast-paced show featuring precision tricks, comedy and demonstrations of different types of whips.
Where’s the childcare centre?
Big promises, no build as Naracoorte waits on old TAFE site project. A grand on-site announcement, artist impressions, and firm timelines promised a solution to Naracoorte’s long-running childcare shortage — but almost two years on, the proposed early learning and childcare centre at the former TAFE site has yet to take physical shape.
First Nations online briefing: CRC TiME
Join us on February 23 for a First Nations online briefing, which is tailored for First Nations people and organisations, as well as people working to support First Nations inclusion in mine closure and post-mine transitions.
Silence is acceptance
Silence in leadership is never neutral — when issues, standards, or confusion go unaddressed, people interpret that quiet as permission.
What does the rail lease actually require?
This is yet another instalment in my running theme: the State rail debacle. A saga of privatisation, monopoly infrastructure, and governments that appear to have misplaced both the keys and the contract. Twenty-five years after Western Australia leased out its freight rail network, one basic question still has no straight answer: what does the Brookfield/Arc lease actually require?
Is the glass ceiling still a thing? Mia Davies (fmr Nats poly) gives us her thoughts and touches on her life in Politics, plus...
A great episode today! All of the usual stuff, your regional news with Fiona L Fox from ARR.News, your weekly farming weather with the BOM, plus former Nats politician Mia Davies drops by and shares some details of her life post being in the media eye everyday, and she gives us her family recipe for Cassata from her family country cookbook.
Extreme weather and strong dollar create mixed new year fortunes for Australian agriculture: Bendigo Bank
Extreme weather, the rising Aussie dollar and fluctuating global demand have driven a complex start to the year for Australian agriculture, Bendigo Bank’s Agribusiness Insights team outline. Key insights from the latest Commodity Update include Pressure on producers as extreme weather impacts livestock, damages infrastructure...
