Business

On a visit to the Torres Strait, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner announced the composition of the new 10-person Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group to provide advice on fisheries issues in the region.

The state government has been accused of using a landmark Victorian climate report, which was written without any input from forestry researchers or the forest industry, to prematurely close the native forestry industry. These forestry groups resent the lack of consultation and have attacked the intellectual content of the report ... The report was written without any contribution from leading forestry experts – Forestry Australia, which represents forest scientists, forest managers and timber growers; Forest & Wood Products Australia, the sector’s chief research and marketing arm; the Victorian Forest Products Association; and leading forestry academics.

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll confirmed the Labor Government has entered a new $11.5 million three-year agreement to fund the historic service, guaranteeing a future for the Overland train, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887. This Government investment will ensure the twice weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong will continue to run for the next three years.

There was tension at the Blue Hills Quarry community consultation meeting last Tuesday as workers, locals, farmers, neighbours and consulting experts thrashed out a path to progress while navigating considerable concerns. One woman introduced herself as a concerned local who lives on the Baringhup Maldon Main Rd and is worried about truck traffic.

Jewellers, buyers, wholesalers, miners, rock hounds, lapidary enthusiasts and tourists are invited to experience the best Lightning Ridge has to offer with this culmination of information, spectacular jewellery, collectables, great deals and fantastic networking opportunities. The LR Opal & GemFestival boasts over 150 stalls with a huge range of products including gemstones, tools, lapidary supplies and lifestyle products.

Denmark Senior High School students have woven rugs from discarded fabrics to be stitched together in a vast dot replica painting to fill mining craters in the Goldfields. Denmark woman Vivienne Robertson created the Reclaim the Void project in collaboration with Ngalia cultural custodian Kado Muir.

CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) wheat prices soared eight per cent overnight, after Ukrainian ports were hit by Russian missiles and Russia’s Ministry of Defence warned that all vessels travelling to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo. This was the highest trading level of CBOT wheat since a spike in mid-June and previously in February this year, Rabobank senior grains analyst Dennis Voznesenski said.

The Friends of Jondaryan Woolshed Inc. are holding a reunion for all who have been involved in "the Jondaryan Woolshed Project" since its inception in 1973, including volunteers, staff, committee members, directors, stall holders, event organisers and other supporters.

It was a packed house at the Moulamein Recreation Reserve as community members from across the region gathered for the landholder information session on the proposed 500 kilovolt double circuit transmission line ... It was fantastic to see a town hall meeting ... the ultimate ‘pub test’.

During Jumpers & Jazz in July – Allora is turning on its own display and everyone is welcome to join in the fun ... The Allora Museum will take you back in time with a beautiful collection of bridal wear from 1890’s to 1960’s ... Allora Arts & Craft Ladies ... Look around Allora - take the fascinating Town Tour ...

With significant planning work and extensive market soundings completed, it is now certain that the cost of hosting the Regional Victorian Commonwealth Games will exceed $6 billion – more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring our state. In the face of these numbers, the Victorian Government has made the decision not to proceed with hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

Megan has been appointed the new Principal of the Allora P-10 State School after the retirement of Shaun Kanowski at the end of last term. Megan Rauchle took over the reins of Allora P-10 State School at the start of this term. She is a passionate teacher and believes in an all inclusive school where students, staff and teachers are successful and reach their capability.

Transitioning agriculture to low-emission vehicles will take time and requires a coordinated, strategic and responsive approach, with collaboration across the supply chain, GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said. The comments follow discussions on Transport of the Future at the Innovation Generation event in Adelaide, with presentations from John Deere, Viva Energy and Aclimate Partners.

Angry Angourie locals have taken it upon themselves to clean up kilos and kilos of debris from the 15-metre steel ketch Chinook that ran aground on Saturday July 8, on rocks near Spooky Beach, after the boat’s owner abandoned the vessel ... Angourie local Kim said as the yacht was left scattering debris for six days in the ocean and surrounds.

Yamba residents will continue to endure wait times of up to a month to see a doctor with the news the development of a medical centre, pharmacy and four units on Coldstream Street is in limbo, with no anticipated start date. A Development Application DA to build the medical centre, chemist and four residential units in the Yamba CBD was lodged by Brisbane based Go Ahead Enterprises Pty Ltd with Clarence Valley Council CVC in March 2021 and was approved by council in August 2021.

Global grain prices will continue to be volatile until the market is able to decipher the end impact of Russia withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to Rabobank senior grains analyst Dennis Voznesenski. The deal – which has allowed wartime Ukraine grain exports across the Black Sea – expired overnight Australia time after Russia confirmed it would not agree to its renewal.

Students from Boort District School, Charlton College, Donald High School, East Loddon P-12 College, Pyramid Hill College, St. Arnaud Secondary College, Wedderburn College and Wycheproof P-12 College attended the North Central Trade Training Centre (NCTTC) in Charlton to sample the VET subjects available to study in 2024.

The ambitious design for the Mallanganee Lookout has been shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival in the Future Projects category ... The description on the festival website says “Mallanganee Lookout is an iconic destination – a place that has the centre of the galaxy crossing overhead”.