Business

Serena Kirby. Denmark's community windfarm is the first and only community-owned wind farm in WA and it recently celebrated 10 years of operation. Conditions on the day were appropriate for the showcasing of the wind farm as the high winds meant the turbines were working at a 100 per cent output.

The members and volunteers at the DownsSteam tourist railway and museum in Toowoomba have a big day planned for Easter Saturday with extra attractions to enhance the experience.

The Bendigo Bank has announced that it will terminate 16 agencies as the bank seeks to build on last year’s measly profits of $488,000,000 ... Customer advocacy, satisfaction and community prosperity seem to be far from the driving force behind the decision that will see the closure of Barham, Cohuna and Pyramid Hill Bendigo Bank agencies on Friday, July 28, 2023.  

Corryong local, Vicki Kane, has created a YouTube channel titled ‘Hidden History of the Upper Murray’ which delves into past incidents and events in the region ... "With an increase of tourism due to Easter visitors and The Man from Snowy River Festival I wanted to create some clips that told more about the Upper Murray," Vicki said. "We have such a rich history. It took resilience and community spirit to survive in this remote area."

The North East is Australia’s most active community energy region and Corryong is at the forefront of new technology. Indigo Power is driving a number of new initiatives including building community energy hubs in towns across the North East and Southern NSW.

Roxy Theatre project developers the Lloyd Group entered voluntary administration on Friday. Leeton Shire Council was telephonically advised at 11.30am that day that the Lloyd Group had gone into voluntary administration at 7am that morning. The Group has 59 state and local government projects under construction in Victoria and NSW.

Aleph Farms, the first company to grow cultivated steaks directly from non-modified cow cells, announced that it has joined the  United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. As a Participant in the UN Global Compact, Aleph Farms will publish an annual Communication on Progress (COP) to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible business action in support of broader societal goals.

John Williams. The Nhill Free Press predicted in 1922 that one day all homes would have a wireless set. But would Nhill ever have its own wireless station? ... What you might call Nhill’s first local radio station was 3HS which was based in Horsham and began broadcasting in 1933 ... 3YB toured the country towns in mobile studios that included an A-model Ford and a railway carriage.

It may be under new ownership, and be operating under a new name, but for staff at the former J Notaras and Sons Sawmill, now known as Marshall Notaras Timbers, it’s business as usual ... “All together, all our group here (current employees), we’ve got 519 combined years of service, and that’s pretty good for one business over the years": Donna Layton.

An Australian-first program designed to restore critical environmental water flows to the Murray-Darling Basin, while meeting the ongoing needs of local irrigators and growers, has been proposed as an “immediate, affordable and genuine” solution to the nation’s Basin Plan – avoiding the need for short-term, unpopular water buybacks as announced by the Federal Government.

There’s always something happening at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre ... Last Tuesday, members of the Rolls Royce and Bentley Car Club called in on their way home from a rally in Hahndorf. They spent several hours hearing the stories of the men and women who trained at the Nhill RAAF Base during the ‘40s ... Another mid-week Melbourne visitor was Tania Jacobs, who has been working with the NAHC Board to help with tourism ideas.

Holidaymakers hunting for accommodation over the Easter long weekend and school holidays are urged to book in Lismore and Nimbin for their stay ... “We have a great range of accommodation available around Lismore and Nimbin over the Easter holiday period, ranging from country cottages right through to motel rooms and camping grounds”: Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg.

Greater Shepparton City Council is excited to welcome back the Illuminate festival to the shores of Victoria Park Lake next month. The event creates a full sensory experience, incorporating lights, music and food in a way that celebrates the region and builds Greater Shepparton’s brand as regional Victoria’s abundant, dynamic, cultural capital.

A dedicated push to draw children and young people to enter the Kangaroo Island Easter Art Exhibition has been a huge success, with six times more entrants compared to the 2021 event ... Young entrant, Isla Smith, was asked what inspired her work. "“I did a water colour of Pennington Bay which is one of my favourite beaches. I love the rockpools there,” Isla said.

Are you looking for a novel idea this Easter? How about hunting for a literary gem among more than 200,000 offerings at Lifeline Bookfest Sunshine Coast at Nambour Showgrounds. Division 10 Councillor David Law said a massive range of bargain books would be on sale at the four-day event from Friday, April 7, to Monday, April 10, being held from 9am to 4pm each day.  

As the Fair Work Commission considers submissions for the annual Wage Review, farmers are calling for a cautious approach that considers the unrelenting economic challenges facing the industry. National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar said workers were entitled to the right to earn a fair and liveable wage, but a balance must be struck when considering farm businesses’ limited ability to pass on the cost of a wage increase.

Lord Howe Island Board first detected Myrtle Rust recently was on the Island 3rd February 2023 ... On Monday 13th March, the Board held a meeting to discuss the situation and a decision was made to close the Permanent Park Preserve to try stop further spread of the disease ... This sudden decision to close the PPP, which comprises over 70 per cent of the Island, was unprecedented in the history of the Island and took everyone by surprise.

Queensland is set to soar as Australia’s SAF capital, with plans revealed for a biorefinery that will help power the nation’s aviation market with green jet fuel. Jet Zero Australia has started a feasibility study for the facility, which could produce more than 100 million litres of SAF a year for use in domestic flights, including by the Qantas Group.

LHIB. The southern walking tracks in the Permanent Park Preserve (PPP) were re-opened on March 31st, after a brief closure in response to the escalating risk of Myrtle rust to the critically endangered ecosystems within that section of the PPP. The entire PPP is now open in full to managed visitation.

South Korea’s flag carrier and largest airline, Korean Air, is taking South Australia’s premium wines to the air – now serving local drops on its flights. The deal secured by South Australia’s Department for Trade and Investment will see Dandelion Vineyards and Murdoch Hill Wines join Henschke as premium South Australia wine offerings on Korean Air flights.

From 3 April 2023, all interstate and international visitors will need to purchase a Parks Pass to visit most Territory parks and reserves ... “Territorians do not need to purchase a Parks Pass. This only applies to interstate and international visitors”: Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Sally Egan.