Celebrating 100 years on the railway
The Retired Railway Employees Association celebrated 100 years last week, with a visit to Maldon on the Victorian Goldfields Railway ... The group meets monthly and has regular social outings, but this year it was considered appropriate to celebrate the past 100 years by travelling on a steam train.
Power station reboot
Glencore is preparing to revive the Mica Creek Power Station after Stanwell handed back the keys to the dormant facility. North West Weekly can reveal the state government body struck a deal with the mining giant last month. However, Stanwell says it has simply returned a Mount Isa Mines asset back to Glencore.
ABC’s Basin Plan reporting slammed
An advocacy group has slammed what it calls “inaccurate and harmful” reporting of an issue that is crucial to rural communities and the national prosperity. Speak Up Campaign chair, Shelley Scoullar, said rural Australians are ‘fed up’ with unacceptable media standards and the lack of effort to ensure crucial issues are reported accurately and with balance. Mrs Scoullar said the latest example was from the ABC’s national environment and science reporter, Michael Slezak, and his reporting of Australia’s State of the Environment document, in which he used selective information that presented a false picture of Murray-Darling Basin Plan progress in broadcasts and online, including ABC National News.
Global headwinds put pressure on local agri sector
Many Australian farmers are still battling to get grain crops planted due to wet conditions, while the global wheat outlook price remains elevated and buyers will be hoping prices will ease as the northern hemisphere supply comes to market.
Regional Victoria continues to outperform metro market
Outer Melbourne has joined regional Victoria in seeing record-breaking prices as city slickers opt for tree- and sea-changes in the wake of pandemic lockdowns, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV).
Treasurer raises foreign investment fees
The federal government will add $455 million to its coffers after Treasurer Jim Chalmers moved swiftly to double foreign investment application fees. Labor’s election promise will become reality from this Friday. Foreign purchasers buying a residential property worth $1 million will be slugged an application fee of $13,200, up from $6,600. The same will apply to foreign buyers acquiring agricultural assets worth $2 million, and commercial assets worth $50 million ... “Australia welcomes foreign investment that is in Australia’s interests,” Chalmers said.
Saucy, country curds on whey to Sydney
A taste of Bonalbo is on its way to a prestigious food show in the city. Simon and Emma Powick’s tomato relish won first prize at the Bonalbo Show and their lemon curd came second. They make and sell onion marmalade and beetroot relish as well.
Set sail to paradise
Samuel Davis. A bold new plan to ferry tourists from Cooktown to the tropical paradise of Lizard Island has been revealed by the Cook Shire mayor. Around 90 kilometres adrift from Cooktown, Lizard Island has returned to its former glory almost a decade on from the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Ita.
An ‘avo-lanche’ of avocados – Australia needs to consume and export more avocados as production continues to soar: Rabobank
Australia will need to both consume and export more avocados as the nation’s growers navigate a period of soaring production growth over the coming five years, specialist agribusiness bank Rabobank says in a new report. This year alone, ‘per capita (person) supply’ of avocados is estimated to be up 26 per cent on the previous 12 months to 4.8 kilogram – equating to 22 avocados per Australian.
Swing into Spring this September at the Laidley Spring Festival
After taking a Covid-forced hiatus for the past two years, the Laidley Spring Festival is back for 2022, with a raft of new and exciting events set to make their Festival debut. The theme for the 2022 Laidley Spring Festival is ‘Swing into Spring’ and Lockyer Valley Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan said Council, and the community, were excited to welcome the event back come September.
The Birdsville Races, 140 year anniversary, 2-3 September 2022
The countdown to the historic 140th anniversary edition of the Birdsville Races is on, with just over five weeks until the ‘Melbourne Cup of the outback’ reignites the tiny desert town on the edge of the Simpson Desert with thousands of revellers for an outback party and race carnival like no other ... From the Birdsville Cup’s’ first ever female winners and ambassadors to race-stopping outback deluges, horse flus, Prime Minister visits and a global pandemic – here are some memorable moments from 140 years of the Birdsville Races.
Transformational Cohuna Waterfront Project completed
Residents and visitors are benefiting from the transformational Cohuna Waterfront Project, with the last section of this important project recently completed. Gannawarra Shire Council oversaw $3.4 million worth of works across a two-year period, focusing on Apex Park, Garden Park and King George Street.
FMD timebomb ticking but Labor’s nowhere to be seen: Nicola Centofanti
The SA Opposition is calling for additional biosecurity officers to be stationed at Adelaide Airport as fears grow over foot and mouth disease (FMD) potentially getting into South Australia which would have devastating consequences for the economy, jobs and cost of living. An urgent biosecurity staffing boost would allow for the luggage of every traveller from Indonesia to be individually inspected, creating an extra ring of protection for SA’s livestock industry while Labor governments sluggishly roll out disinfectant mats.
SA’s largest ticketed regional sporting event returns
The Repco Supercars championship returns to The Bend (July 29 – 31) with event organisers promising the biggest weekend of racing and entertainment yet in the OTR Supersprint’s five-year history. The jam-packed, three-day event is South Australia’s largest ticketed regional sporting event with all ticket holders getting paddock access to enjoy the once in a lifetime experience.
What did the Winemaker drink OS?
Just back from three weeks overseas ... I thought I would write a few lines about booze overseas: quality, range and distribution ... Our first stop was the US ... We used to drink wine on our visits to the US ... Spent the first day in London walking the “Monopoly board”, stopping for a reviver or two in beautiful pubs.
The Surf Gallery
Wayne Winchester’s love of surfing began in his early teens and he’d live for the weekends when he could head to the coast to spend hours in the surf. He never dreamed that his hobby would lead to a lifetime career and the creation of a world class surfboard gallery. “I started fashioning my own boards when I was a teenager and I then started making them professionally in the mid 1970s,” Wayne says. “It was an exciting time as I shaped all sorts of boards just to see how they performed.”
Australia’s forest scientists call for active and adaptive forest management in wake of RFA review: Forestry Australia
Following the release, the Victorian Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) - Major Event Review of the 2019- 2020 bushfires, the peak national organisation representing over 1,000 forest scientists and professionals have called for active and adaptive forest management to be implemented as a matter of urgency. President of Forestry Australia, Bob Gordon said the organisation has been calling on all governments to prioritise and invest in a year-round active and adaptive management approach to forest management, regardless of tenure.
Westbrook Telecom Tower approved
A Telstra telecommunications facility will be constructed on Keding Road at Westbrook following approval by Toowoomba Regional Council, providing improved reception, 4G and 5G services ... The application was submitted by Ventia Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Amplitel Pty Ltd.
A short history of the Boranup Forest: Robert Onfray
As you drive on the Caves Road between Margaret River and Augusta, you will pass a magnificent forest of tall karri trees called the Boranup Forest. It is an extraordinary place – the furthest west that karri grows.
Desert Harmony Festival to showcase best of the Barkly’s creative talents
Showcasing the best of the Barkly’s creative talents and providing memorable and exciting experiences for all ages, the Barkly Regional Arts (BRA) 33rd Desert Harmony Festival is set to be as fun and engaging as ever ... BRA will light up for an evening of poetry, music, circus and dance featuring acts by Kasey Chambers, Olive Knight and many more artists.
Krogh crowned Cups King
A bold move by jockey Quayde Krogh paid dividends when Kiptanui stunned favourite Ready To Humble in Sunday’s $40,000 Narrandera Cup over a mile. Trained by Mathew Dale, Kiptanui ($12) started from barrier 10 and was forced to sweep around the field early to take up the running, after Nick Olive’s Ready to Humble ($1.75) had bounded out of the gates and struck the early lead.
Rail Trail back in the news
Sheryl Lowe. The Penola/Coonawarra Rail Trail was discussed at length at the July Council meeting with elected members faced with choosing between two options for the future of the project. A further almost half a million dollars to complete the planned route or reduce the length of the trail to cut costs was discussed in a 15 minute break from official proceedings.
