Naracoorte – a great place to stay
Chris Oldfield. A desire by parents to get children out of the house, away from screens and in touch with nature is turning the Naracoorte district into a school holiday destination ... “The idea of being able to get out, get the children out of the house and do all the things that we have in the local area that has a nature base, feet on the ground experience, is exceedingly popular.”: Naracoorte Holiday Park Edwards Group regional manager Alison Baker
Australian and Indonesian livestock sectors work together to limit disease spread: MLA
The Australian livestock industry will work with Indonesian feedlots to help protect their facilities from disease incursions and subsequent trade disruption via a biosecurity support project jointly funded by the Australian Government and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) ... MLA responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
FMD fragments detected shows system working, but highlights need to continue to strengthen system: Simson, NFF
The DAFF statement regarding the interception of items containing fragments of Foot and Mouth Disease brings home the urgent need to ramp up the resourcing of Australia's biosecurity systems and implement 100% screening of passengers returning from high-risk areas ... Fiona Simson responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
Apiarists on edge as mite threatens
Parts of New South Wales are in the grip of a Varroa mite infestation, the most serious pest for honey bees ... Narrandera apiarist and owner of King Bee Honey, along with his wife Wendy, David Mumford, is one of the region's beekeepers to be affected. The Riverina region has fared well so far compared to other areas which have had hives eradicated.
Lithium-ion battery fires spark winter home safety plea: Stephen Dawson
Emergency Services are urging Western Australians to take precautions this winter and reduce the risk of life-threatening fires started by battery-powered devices ... Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said many of these incidents were preventable, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was reporting an increasing number of destructive fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Laura unveils her statuette
After a two year wait the Laura Geitz Statuette was finally unveiled on Saturday with the help of Tracy Dobie who was Mayor in 2020. A gust of wind arrived just as the unveiling was about to happen, hence the fun photo. The super coach and local Allora hero Wayne Bennett sat by in his comfortable arm chair.
EPA prosecutes Forestry Corporation again
Geoff Helisma. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is prosecuting Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW), for the second time this year, for allegedly felling giant and hollow-bearing tees in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest, at the headwaters of the Nymboida River. The EPA alleges that the actions of FCNSW – a NSW Government-owned corporation – resulted in a “failure to retain local wildlife habitat”.
New Sea Swift boss to continue focus on first-class delivery and regional community development
Sea Swift is delighted to announce that Dwayne Freeman has been appointed as the new CEO of Northern Australia’s largest shipping company ... “Over the coming months I’m looking forward to getting to know the Sea Swift team, our customers, and building high-quality relationships with all levels of government, industry, and the community.” Mr Freeman ... will be primarily based in the company's Cairns office.
Farmers call for riverside camping halt over biosecurity fears: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to Victorian Minister Lily D ‘Ambrosio, Minister for Environment and Climate Action calling for an immediate suspension of the rules that allow camping on riverside farmland due to the biosecurity risks posed by both Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). VFF President Emma Germano said both LSD and FMD pose a very real risk to the agriculture industry and the Victorian Government must take swift action to prevent disaster.
East Weipa nearly ready to be returned to owners
Rio Tinto Weipa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four Traditional Owner groups which details an agreed consultation process around closure planning for the East Weipa bauxite mine. The MoU was jointly developed over a period of seven months between Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto and lays a path regarding the eventual return of their lands after mining at East Weipa stops.
The 2022 Woolworths State Junior Surfing titles conclude in style along the Batavia Coast
Five new state junior surfing champions have been crowned in Geraldton over the weekend, as the final event of the 2022 Woolworths State Junior Surfing Titles presented by SunSmart, wrapped up yesterday in clean and contestable wavs at Back Beach.
Rail’s historic return to growing Bendigo communities: Allan
The first train arrived at Huntly Station on Saturday morning after a 68-year absence, while trains returned to Raywood on Sunday morning for the first time in more than 40 years.
Bright future ahead for Australia’s young foresters: Forestry Australia
Forestry Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of two new co-chairs to lead its Future Foresters Initiative (FFI) Committee. Alannah Rowe and David Faluyi will head up the committee made up of young forestry professionals and forest science students which aims to support career growth and foster the next generation of forestry leaders.
Don’t believe the hype: not every fresh fruit and vegetable price should be going up
Jane Richter. The early onset of cold weather in Queensland coupled with great rains in the last 12 months means there is a bumper crop of newly maturing ginger being harvested right now. And shoppers should get the benefit ... if only the retail giants would pass on the huge cost cuts that they have been enjoying for at least the last month ... The wholesale market sale price in Sydney recently dropped to below $7 per kilo for fabulous fresh large-sized mature ginger, and yet the product is still being sold at $45 or more per kilo by the major retail chains.
Maldon in Winter – that’s a wrap
The town came alive during this year's Maldon in Winter Festival. Over the course of 17 days, locals and tourists delighted in art, music, poetry, plays and performances ... EDGE Galleries opening of 'Shroud' by sculptor, photographer, filmmaker and installation artist, Gary Deirmendjian was well-attended. Visitors were treated to a thought-provoking performance by gallery owner Simon Dow as part of the exhibition.
DEC bid to save hallowed ground
Patricia Gill. The Denmark Environment Centre is lobbying to block the building of a network of nine mountain bike trails in 68ha of Mt Hallowell’s lower south eastern slopes ... Speaking on behalf of DEC, Murdoch University sustainability lecturer Nicole Hodgson says the high physical impact of building mountain bike trails is not compatible with sustaining the conservation and cultural values of a precious Class A Reserve.
Grong Grong solar farm crowd-funds $750,000
It took just eight days for a community solar farm project planned at Grong Grong to reach its $750,000 crowd-funding target ... Under the scheme, the investors who signed up in the crowd-funding campaign join other seed investors in owning 90 per cent of the shares in what is the first crowd-equity-funded and owned solar farm.
Doctor shortages impact South East clinics
Sheryl Lowe. South East medical clinics have been affected by doctor shortages resulting in cuts to services and bulk billing. Clinic spokespersons say the Medicare rebate has not kept up with rising costs. Attracting doctors to the South East has been a topic of conversation for many years with one clinic manager saying a 12-month remote rural stint should be built into the training model.
Low unemployment not all good news
Narrandera Shire, along with Hay, have recorded the highest unemployment rates in the Riverina, according to the latest unemployment data released by the National Skills Commission, whilst neighbouring Lockhart has recorded one of the lowest ... Regional Development Australia Riverina chief executive officer and Director of Regional Development Rachel Whiting says it's no cause to celebrate because the Riverina has more jobs than people to fill them.
PS Emmylou wins award
Kendall Jennings. Barham-built PS Emmylou has been awarded the Tripadvisor ‘2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Award’ ... “Our PS Emmylou overnight cruises have been very popular with domestic visitors over the past 12 months, with many visitors having never considered an Australian river cruise before": Director of Murray River Paddlesteamers, Craig Burgess.
‘Constellation’ set to illuminate Port Pirie
A trail of Stories in Light in Regional South Australia Port Pirie City Park Projection will illuminate with a special feature each night throughout August, as one of the five featured Stories in Light sites on the CONSTELLATION Trail around regional South Australia. The connected trail uses larger than life moving images to explore future themes of science in collaboration with talented artists, animators and innovators across all five regions simultaneously.
Open trade key for food security: ABARES
Trade policy and reducing agricultural support have a strong role to play in guaranteeing international food security, according to the latest Insights report from ABARES ... “Trade plays an important role in helping improve the distribution of food and its affordability. Open trade helps move food to where it’s needed and can promote higher incomes, creating better access to food" : Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville.
