Business

Winanjjikari Music Centre held a networking event on Monday evening at the Centre to give those people interested in local music a chance to have a chat and find out all the latest on the local music scene. With people from Music NT, APRA AMCOS and 8CCC Community Radio in attendance as well as local musos, there was plenty of interesting talk going on regarding the future of performing in the Barkly.  

A number of local residents have expressed their concern regarding an application for a new mining exploration licence. One resident told the Times, “I am concerned about the size of the exploration licence that has been applied for, especially in relation to the historic and scientific significant mining landscape that may be damaged.

Julie Hough. "In 1968 I commenced work with The Age newspaper and stayed for 10 years before the introduction of the digital platform. This transitional period saw around 500 staff retrenched and the end of my time as a linotype mechanic": Laurie Shanks.

Maldon will host the inaugural Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas this July. As part of the town’s annual Maldon in Winter series, the new festival celebrates the dark side of the goldfields with performances, tours, themed food experiences, conversations on dark topics and a range of strange and unforgettable happenings sure to surprise, delight, incite and excite you.

The Laundy Hotel Group has acquired the Mercure Centro Hotel in Port Macquarie as tourism makes a comeback ... “Whilst not housed in the same equity structure as our other beachside accommodation assets in Noosa, Manly and Terrigal; this coastal property intersects perfectly with our national investment objectives, and adds deftly to the growing portfolio,” said new owner, publican Stu Laundy.

Committee Chair, Dr Anne Webster MP said, ‘Regional newspapers in Australia represent a large and diverse industry, which has experienced significant challenges over the past decade. With the transition to digital news and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, assessing the health of our regional newspapers is more important than ever before.’

A report from the Inquiry into Australia’s regional newspapers released earlier today has made 12 recommendations including that the Australian Government ensure a percentage of government print advertising is placed in regional newspapers.

Patricia Gill. Sumer Addy started her job as chief executive at the Denmark Chamber of Commerce in 2020 in what she describes as a baptism of fire. ... Sumer leaves the Chamber at the end of April to take up a consultancy job with the economic and community development partner consultancy, Rural and Regional Economic Solutions.

Jo and Don Hearn from Restdown Winery and Jungle Lane Beef Co and their business were recently recognised as part of Tourism Australia’s new international marketing campaign on sustainable tourism, and Tourism NSW has also included them in the top 10 things to do along the Murray River, alongside the iconic Mungo National Park.

A former Narrandera resident who now lives in the tourist town of Noosa wants to alert Narrandera residents to a project she believes will have a negative impact on tourism in Narrandera– the proposed skywalk which will extend over and above Lake Talbot .... The preliminary design for the skywalk at Lake Talbot has been completed by Teleo Design and put out for public feedback by the Narrandera Shire Council by April 15 with intentions to start building it in July this year and complete the project by December.

For two years, the Casino Truck Show was cancelled because of covid restrictions and the gathering of crowds. But the trucks are back this year. The event will be held on  Saturday, August 6, coordinated by Richmond Valley Council with support from the North Coast Petroleum  Casino Truck Show Organising Committee.

Empty shells of houses. Rubbish piled up outside homes. Waterlogged Woodburn is drying out. In week three since the floods, the sound of dozers and trucks echoes though the empty streets removing the rubbish piles, one at a time. There was one place where there were a lot of people – a queue of them. The Woodburn Wurlitzer Bakery opened today, March 21.

Two new marine parks have been established at Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, home to life found nowhere else on earth. Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the spectacular seascapes cover 744,000 square kilometres, an area greater in size than the Great Barrier Reef.

Described as a palace for the cats and dogs of Weipa, this multi-million dollar vet clinic and animal welfare centre was meant to be a game-changer for Cape York. However, it sits unfinished and unoccupied. Matt Nicholls looks at what the problem is and what the future looks like for this purpose-built facility

Mark Knowles. Emerging silica sands explorer Diatreme Resources believes it has struck gold near Cooktown after announcing significant growth to its project’s resources. Last week, the ASX-listed company said its Si2 North Project resource had recorded a significant increase of around 134 per cent to 124 million tonnes (Mt).

Today across Australia, over 30 media outlets will stop publishing news for 24 hours in a collective freeze to fight for the future of Australian news media. The news freeze will let the world know that small and medium news publishers are #WaitingOnZuck to pay for journalism and content that appears on the Facebook platform.

International Day of Forests 2022 – “Forests and sustainable production and consumption” ... “Forests are one of Australia’s greatest natural assets, and Australia has the first-class forest management skills, experience and people needed to manage our forests. However, as a nation, we must do more. We need to manage this precious resource actively and adaptively across all land tenures including National Parks, State forests and private land to achieve best outcomes now, and into the future" : Bob Gordon Forestry Australia President.

Calling all foodies and culinary experts! From July 29 to August 7, local restaurants, farms, tourism and event operators will throw open their doors as part of The Curated Plate culinary festival, and offer the best of the Sunshine Coast’s local food and beverage experiences across a 10-day period.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling for urgent action from the Federal Government to strengthen Australia’s fuel security in response to global volatility and uncertainty.