We need ‘critical minerals’
If the Northern Territory wants to achieve a 50% renewable energy target by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, as it says it does, it seems we will need to make a choice between two types of mineral extraction: Good Mining and Bad Mining. “Good Mines” would get out of the ground the dozen-plus materials needed to make batteries and solar panels, known as critical minerals, needed for clean energy technologies, including copper, nickel, manganese, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum and zinc.
WA’s resources sector has record-busting year: Johnston
Western Australia's resources industry achieved record sales of $246 billion in 2022 and delivered more jobs than ever before, underlining our State's role as the driving force behind the national economy. Resources sales for 2022 were up an impressive $15 billion from 2021 based on the latest annual data released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).
Hydrogen for transport a lost cause: AEVA
The Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) has criticised the inclusion of ‘hydrogen highways’ in the National Electric Vehicle Strategy as outdated and inefficient ... The President of AEVA, Dr Chris Jones, said that the recent emergence of rapid battery-swapping services, combined with the conversion of heavy trucks from diesel to electric power, have eliminated any potential benefit for hydrogen in the long-distance freight sector.
Buloke Times editorial: Banking closures
The situation about bank closures is clouded. Over a year ago, the “Times” published its last editorial on rural banking. At that time, a study was to be made by a Rural Banking Taskforce, giving the final result in April 2022 ... Since the Taskforce investigation produced its pre-election final report on September 20, 2022, more than 80 regional banks have closed or have closure notices issued.
As AEMO’s transmission blunder boils over … the placards say it all!
Janine Batters. Over 300 community members with placards - on foot, in trucks and tractors - put their message in simple terms for the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) at St. Arnaud on Monday, regarding their views on the VNI West Transmission Project. The protest blocked Napier Street for over an hour to send the message home to AEMO, after feeling any previous attempts had landed on deaf ears. The protest took place before a planned community consultation meeting regarding the project.
Cairn Curran Sailing Club receives Bendigo Bank grant
Cairn Curran Sailing Club is delighted to receive funding from Bendigo Bank for shade cloth ... Club members had been hoping to provide access to shade on the deck for many years and were thrilled when Bendigo Bank generously provided a grant of $12,000 towards the cost of the purchase and installation of the much-needed shade cloth.
NT the place to be for mining: Minister at Alice conference
NT Mining Minister Nicole Manison was addressing more than 300 industry people attending the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) in Alice Springs ... She said the NT has 15 of the critical minerals the world needs, “and we have lots of copper as well, and 13 prospective critical minerals” ... Minister Manison said the government will change the royalty system to ad valorem, including petroleum.
Author stops in at Narrandera
Well known author Maya Linnell visited Narrandera Library last week and called in to Mon Repos store to visit the owners Scott and Rebecca Rowlings. The reason she visited Rebecca and her husband Scott was because of Rebecca’s review of Paperbark Hill for Australian Rural and Regional News - Rebecca is a book reviewer for the online news site.
Shire CEO reveals new game plan
Patricia Gill. Denmark Shire chief executive David Schober will ofï¬cially end his tenure on July 11 to return to a lifelong passion, coaching basketball. Former professional basketball coach David will take a ‘dream job’ at the Denmark Senior High School vacated by dual Olympian Paul Rogers.
Global orange juice prices to remain higher for longer on the back of tight world supply: Rabobank
For now, the orange juice market is staying tight for at least another season, unless there is a significant supply-side surprise for the 2023/24 harvest in Brazil or a much sharper contraction in global demand in 2H 2023. According to a recent Rabobank report, record-high orange juice (OJ) prices in 2023 are a consequence of a very tight market, with smaller-than-expected production and low inventories.
Farmer voice in path to net zero: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomes the Net Zero Australia study report, which recognises the need for a fair transition to a carbon neutral future – and not at the expense of agriculture ... The report outlines exclusion areas to reduce the likelihood of solar and wind developments on productive farmland, while water reliant industries like hydrogen will use desalinised water rather than tapping into Australia’s limited fresh water supplies.
Son of a gun salutes
After completing his apprenticeship in the junior ranks by winning two titles in 2028 an 2019, Tooma-based horseman Travis Bandy has taken out the senior Stockman’s Challenge at this year’s Man From Snowy River Bush Festival. Travis is following in his father Scott’s footsteps, a five-time victor of the prestigious event.
Stage filled with rhythm and rhyme
Georgina Swan. As stockwhips woke the echoes, they gathered at Banjo’s Block to celebrate the tradition that gave rise to the Man From Snowy River festival - bush poetry and music. For the audience, it was a chance to pay homage to Banjo Paterson’s iconic poem, to hear favourite classic verses and to discover new poets and works...
Mayor: new airline big boost to tourism
According to Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio, this week’s arrival of Bonza Airline’s inaugural Melbourne to Toowoomba flight is a massive boost for regional tourism and business operators, event organisers and travellers.
Mulesing merino lambs on downward trend
Kristin Murdock. The AWI Merino Husbandry Practices Survey contacted 1203 Merino producers from the MLA member database to ask about specific Merino management practices. Results recently released showed a downward trend in mulesing. Ewe lambs mulesed fell from 63 per cent in 2019 to 52 per cent in 2021. Mulesing in male lambs showed a similar decline from 54 per cent to 44 per cent.
Community rallies as ‘better bank’ cashes out
More than 250 people gathered like David taking on the might of Goliath ... Event organiser, Andrew Gibbs, gave a passionate speech to the crowd as he expressed the disgust and injustice of the decision by the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to close 16 agencies, including Pyramid Hill, Cohuna and Barham.
Australia’s largest wind farm is coming to Victoria: D’Ambrosio
Australia‘s largest wind farm will soon be under construction in the Golden Plains Shire just 60 kilometres north-west of Geelong ... Once complete the wind farm will generate 9 per cent of Victoria’s total electricity demand, enough clean energy to power more than 765,000 homes, equivalent to every home in regional Victoria.
First trainload of timber arrives to support snowy region mills: FCNSW
The rail transport initiative will see Forestry Corporation of NSW deliver around 270,000 tonnes of sawlog timber to Tumut and Tumbarumba processors over the next three years. This timber was initially set for export, however the impact of the Black Summer bushfires and local timber shortage have meant Australian timber mills have been given priority.
Early childcare workforce set to increase as enrolments rise: Boyer
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s return of early childhood courses to TAFE has seen an almost doubling of uptake in just 12 months ... Enrolments in Semester 1 for 2023 for both courses are currently at 456 – almost double the same time last year with 276 enrolments.
Community in full fling for 118th Maclean Highland Gathering
An estimated record number of spectators tartaned up and headed to the riverside community of Maclean on April 7 and 8 to experience a jubilant, colourful, and cultural celebration of all things Scottish during the 118th Maclean Highland Gathering. Amidst the dominant humming of bagpipes, Chief Peter Smith from the Lower Clarence Scottish Association declared the crowd was the largest he had seen in more than 20 years...
Nhill Silo Heritage Project reveals top maintenance priorities
Embracing a huge restoration project means there’s always something new to keep you out of trouble. In the case of Nhill Silo, large-scale maintenance works are now underway.
The Gather Round
Over the weekend Kaniva and Nhill saw an influx of traffic due to the AFL Gather Round which was held in Adelaide from Thursday to Sunday ... Kaniva’s Little Guys Pizza owner Nakita Jewell said, "We were really busy and had a few repeat customers on the way back, which is a good sign." Nhill’s Wimmera Bakery Manager Teresa Ross said, "Both last Friday and Monday have been so busy, which is awesome. We have sold out of everything on both days. It’s great for the little business that has struggled to stay open over covid."
