Country vet shortage a growing concern: NSW Farmers
It’s getting harder and harder to find large animal veterinarians, farmers say, amid calls for increased training and targeted skilled migration. Shane Kilby, a cattle producer from Dubbo, will take the issue to the NSW Farmers Annual Conference next week.
Make up your mind CBA, you can’t have it both ways
The Commonwealth Bank is at it again. While to be congratulated on its decision to put a three-year moratorium on regional branch closures in place, it has dragged its co-publisher of the quarterly Regional Movers Index report into an embarrassing situation again by refusing to count their top destinations for regional migration as … regional.
25 years of Shakka the Shark
The Port Pirie Visitor Information Centre is celebrating 25 years since Shakka the Shark became a local tourist attraction and icon with an event this Wednesday and complimentary entry throughout the school holidays. Shakka is a 5.5 metre Great White Shark which tragically became entangled in snapper lines and drowned in Germein Bay on 12 July, 1998.
Misleading tactics used by transmission companies to dupe farmers: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has expressed concerns about misleading information being provided to farmers who may be impacted by the proposed VNI-West transmission project. VFF President Emma Germano said the Australian Energy Market Operator (which is planning the project on behalf of the Victorian Government) had released information to landholders designed to pressure them into signing away access to their land.
A mixologist walked into a bar in Maldon”¦
If you didn’t know that gin was distilled from vodka or whisky from beer, you’re not alone. So, when award-winning mixologist Gorge Camorra came to Maldon last weekend to discuss all things spirits, the people came to listen. And it’s not too late! He’ll do it all again this weekend.
Hybrid vehicle
I thought [Naracoorte Community] News readers might get a kick out of this 1930's version of a 'Hybrid vehicle' from the Sheeps Back Museum photo collection. I found it while searching the museums 3500 photo collection in preparation for a new exhibit on 'working horses'.
Scrapping of perverse rainfall regulation welcomed, means more trees planted – more carbon stored: VFPA
VFPA welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement to reverse the highly contested rainfall regulation, known as ‘water rule’, under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) ... The announcement means the Australian Government will permanently remove this perverse rule from the Carbon Farming Initiative Regulation from 1 June 2024.
$550,000 machine saving more lives
Patients arriving at Naracoorte Hospital from vehicle crashes, farm accidents and sports injuries will no longer be always sent away for further high tech, detailed computer tomography scans ... A scanner installed 7.5 years ago – which saved hundreds of lives – has now been replaced with a $550,000 new, faster, high-tech one. And not one cent of government funding was involved.
Transmission community engagement review welcomed by GrainGrowers
The decision by the Federal Government to establish a Community Engagement Review to maximise engagement around electricity transmission and renewable energy developments has been welcomed by GrainGrowers as a positive step forward ... Mr Turton said the GrainGrowers National Policy Group had recently considered the issue of agricultural land use and had called for meaningful engagements with landholders and communities about proposed development sites.
High Voltage Transmission Lines-VNI West Kerang Meeting
The Kerang Memorial Hall was a flurry of activity at Tuesday’s VNI West Information Sessions ... From landholder engagement to environmental concerns, aboriginal cultural heritage, and even local, George Warne, was there as Transmission Company Victoria’s (TCV) agricultural advisor.
Residents unite against wind farm
A group of very concerned East Greenmount residents is banding together in an effort to put a halt to plans to construct a series of wind turbines along the escarpment at Ramsay and East Greenmount. The group of residents, who do not wish to be named, met with local Member for Condamine and Shadow Energy Minister Pat Weir on Monday to discuss what the best options moving forward are to have the project stopped.
Regional electric vehicle charging network gateway opens in the Barossa: Koutsantonis
Rapid electric vehicle charging options are opening across the state, with multiple DC rapid-charging sites launching on 4 July 2023 ... The South Australian Government and the RAA is switching on the first of 54 DC rapid and ultra-rapid charging stations in the Statewide EV Charging Network, in Nuriootpa.
Eyeing a future where fruit pickers are trained by virtual reality: Hort Innovation
Training fruit pickers using virtual reality equipment, employing robots to move fruit containers and wearing exoskeletons to support physical labour are all possibilities being considered by Australian berry growers to boost labour efficiency. Delivered through Hort Innovation and led by The Growth Drivers in consultation with berry growers, the research aimed to identify practical technology-based solutions to address one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
Trades claim they are owed $1 million on Uniting Yamba project
Trades contracted to work on the 50 apartment Uniting Yamba Road development say they are collectively owed about $1 million by embattled builder GCB Constructions. East Coast Access owner Nikole Hambly said last week they began pulling down scaffolding on the job site as they hadn’t been paid anything by GCB Constructions this year since January.
No logging on public land motion deferred
Clarence Valley Council has deferred a motion calling for native forest logging on public land to be phased out until its October meeting to allow a report to be prepared and feedback to be sought from industry groups ... The motion was brought to council after it had been discussed several times by the Biodiversity Advisory Committee and Eurobodalla Shire Council, Bellingen Shire Council and Mid Coast Council have recently adopted resolutions calling for the phasing out of logging on public land.
QEnergy no longer operating
Local businesses that have been using QEnergy may have received notification from Origin in the mail. This is not a scam. QEnergy has been shut down and Origin is one of the providers who have been selected by the Australian Energy Regulator to take over the accounts.
End of an era for local Kaniva Bus Service
After 33 years in business, the family-owned and operated business Kaniva Bus Service owned by Steve and Annie Austin, has been sold to Wimmera Roadways. Kaniva Bus Service was originally begun by Norm Austin, Jack and Sandy Goldsworthy in 1953 whilst they were running Kaniva Motors.
Call to delay 60-day dispensing
Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula pharmacists and the pharmacy industry peak group are concerned about the impact of 60-day dispensing on their future. This comes as medical leaders have thrown their support behind the initiative.
Australian agriculture mid year outlook 2023 – Seasonal, trade conditions, economic headwinds to shape outlook for 2H 2023: Rural Bank
Rural Bank’s Australian Agriculture Mid-Year Outlook 2023 report finds that favourable seasonal conditions and strong production over the first half of 2023 ensured strong winter crop establishment and pasture growth, particularly on the east coast, but despite a positive start to the year, softening commodity prices are now impacting Australian farmers following several seasons of strong prices.
NAB caught out in data lie over branch closures
The National Australia Bank (NAB) has been pulling a swifty on customers that have lost branches since September last year, using incomplete visitation data to justify the decisions ... The deception was revealed when the use of the phrase “over the counter interactions” on NAB’s West Lakes “branch closure fact sheet” was questioned, with information sought on what activities were being counted as foot traffic.
Expert comment – “How do we stop declining school attendance in remote Australia?”: MCERA
Recent research reveals that school attendance in our First Nations communities is declining despite the continuation of the remote schools attendance strategy ... MCERA has reached out to First Nations education experts to invite solutions towards a responsive education system that strengthens First Nations culture and student engagement in remote Australia.
South Australia locks in international wine event: Bettison, Scriven, Champion
South Australia has secured the hosting privileges to an international wine event which attracts major purchasers from across the globe, in a coup for the State. Adelaide will host the November 2026 International Masters of Wine Symposium, bringing together around 500 delegates from premier wine importing nations around the world.
