Caravan Industry Association of Australia supports movement to address rural road safety
Rural Road Safety Month urges all road users to fix the alarming issue of rural road crashes. September is Rural Road Safety Month and with over 90 per cent of camping trips regional, this is an important message.
Abandoned wind farms going cheap
What would it cost? And what is the carbon footprint of the physical effort to remove the footing of one of the many 200m tall wind turbine towers soon to be seen scattered across the Wheatbelt? ... I wonder how many of the Greenpeace activist types have watched the doco Thrown to the Wind about the whale deaths off the East Coast of the United States?
Maldon Twilight Festival and Night Market 2024
Pam Jewson. Earlier this year, an estimated 1,000 people attended the Maldon Twilight Festival. On the back of the success … the intention is to make this a permanent two-day event on the Maldon calendar … To keep the event viable, we need to think smarter and make the load on the few easier.
Statement from AEMO
In last Tuesday’s edition, the “Buloke Times” published a report from a reader, critical of the visit by Transmission Company Victoria to the area of the VNI West. Subsequently, the “Times” received the following statement from a spokesperson for Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO: “The landholder liaisons were on their way to an appointment with a local landowner, who had spoken with them the previous day and agreed to meet and receive some information on the project ..."
Backing Portland as a renewable fuel manufacturing hub: Shing
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing announced the new study for a renewable fuel manufacturing hub in the portside city ... The feasibility study will be led by Portland H2 – a subsidiary of HAMR Energy - – towards establishing a plant converting plantation forestry residue to green methanol.
Community plan has been bearing fruit
A community plan that was launched seven years ago has chalked up a number of milestones and will continue to bring economic benefits to the region. In a three-part series, we report on the projects that have been delivered and what the future holds.
Pasin ponders phone towers
Member for Barker Tony Pasin would prefer a different funding method than the “all or nothing” approach of Telstra’s Connect Limestone Coast project. The $40 million project involves 27 phone towers scattered across the region, each costing $1.5 million.
Plea for blood
Daily, one in three patients requires blood in Naracoorte, and they need the public’s support to ensure there is enough supply. The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood says the demand for blood in Naracoorte and its surrounding towns was at its highest level...
Regional Victorian Power Alliance visits Murrabit
It was a full house as Victorian and NSW community members gathered in the Murrabit Hall to hear from Vicki Johnson and Gavin Ronan from the Regional Victorian Power Alliance (RVPA). The RVPA was created in May 2023 after communities who had been battling the Western Renewables Link … expanded to include VNI West impacted communities.
Undergrounding report released
As state and federal governments continue their push to renewables, the mad scramble to build 10,000 kilometres of new power lines by 2030 has rural communities across the eastern seaboard not only gravely concerned about the social and environmental impacts, but also methodology. Last week, the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding HumeLink was released...
Drayton shopping centre approved
Toowoomba Regional Council has given its approval to a development application requesting to build a shopping centre on Brisbane Street, Drayton ... The shopping centre is set to include a supermarket, two specialty shops, an alfresco dining area, main entry foyer and 105 car spaces.
East Gippsland Shire Council votes 5-2 in support of timber ban reversal: FWCA
Last night (5 September), in the heartland of the Victorian sustainable native timber sector, East Gippsland Shire Council sat in consideration of a motion supporting the world class Victorian sustainable native timber sector. After hearing an emotional public submission from FWCA Executive Officer Mick Harrington, alongside a desperate plea from local councillor Sonia Buckley for council (who authored the motion), Council voted 5 to 2 in favour of the motion, cementing East Gippsland Shire as another Victorian council calling on the Andrews Labor government to repeal the statewide ban on sustainable native timber harvesting.
Narrandera woman among complainants against birthing care
Women behind a slew of hospital complaints that led to a statewide inquiry into birth trauma say an investigation into their claims "glossed over" their pain. The complaint was filed on behalf of 30 women who say they had traumatic birthing experiences at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.
Experience like no other on new skywalk
The Narrandera Skywalk installation has been successfully completed and is already proving popular with locals and visitors keen to take a look. The design features a fully accessible walkway that extends 15 metres over and above the tranquil waters of Lake Talbot...
Non-GMO food market red tape slashed: DAFF
Meeting the export premium market certification requirements for non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) produce has just been made cheaper, easier, and more efficient for Australian farmers. Continuing its ongoing focus on export reform … DAFF has phased-out the use of manual processing for non-GMO certification to 37 countries...
Australian farm fertiliser outlook: a recovery in demand and application rates: Rabobank
Improved affordability of agricultural fertiliser is set to prompt a recovery in demand and application rates by farmers next season, Rabobank says in a recently-released report. In its Australian Fertiliser Outlook 2024/25, the specialist agribusiness bank says Australian farm fertiliser consumption had declined 20 per cent in 2022...
Schools close, teachers take industrial action
Will Hunter. Educators across Yorke Peninsula called for better pay and conditions as part of industrial action … The strike followed a breakdown in negotiations between the state government and the Australian Education Union ... Educators across the state assembled in key locations to voice their frustrations, with local teachers uniting in Victoria Square, Kadina, to broadcast the AEU’s live stream from Parliament House, Adelaide.
Guards clock on at Wallaroo Hospital
Michelle Daw. Security guards have begun work around the clock at Wallaroo Hospital in a six-month trial to combat violence and aggression against staff ... ANMF SA branch chief executive Professor Elizabeth Dabars said the trial of security guards was a great result.
A long-awaited start for the Baaka Cultural Centre
Bob Constantine. It was wonderful to see the Chairwoman of the Baaka Corporation, Rhonda (Lee) Hynch celebrate the Ground-breaking Ceremony on the site of the future Baaka Cultural Centre. I thought it a memorable occasion for all citizens of Wilcannia ... The Aboriginal owned and operated centre provides the opportunity to revitalise Baakantji culture, create jobs and boost tourism.
Store opens at Wilcannia to offer affordable quality clothing locally
The Wilcannia fashion store Cooee Clothing had its first trading days earlier this month and attracted residents needing a wardrobe refresh ... The recycled clothing store complements another CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Cooee social enterprise. Cooee Cuts is an affordable hair salon that operates one week every month ...
New Lismore private hospital
Clarence Valley residents will benefit from an increased level of health and aged care in the Northern Rivers with the news a new private hospital will be built in the region. The Catholic Diocese of Lismore has announced a new private hospital will be built at Lismore and the existing St Vincents private hospital will be transformed into an aged care facility.
Clarence biodiversity in global spotlight
The globally unique extraordinary biodiversity of the Clarence Valley has been on show for 30 of the world’s top botanists who have sampled the region’s spectacular flora from the headwaters of the Clarence River to Yuraygir National Park. The botanists have descended on the region to attend the International Association for Vegetation Science 65th Annual Symposium...
