New air service to Brisbane
Wagga Wagga will have regular airline services flying direct to a third Australian capital city from early next year. Riverina travellers will have direct flights to Queensland when QantasLink starts flying between Wagga Wagga and Brisbane from 28 March, 2022.
Land purchased for $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant in Gladstone
A $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant is a step closer for Gladstone with Alpha HPA purchasing a 9.2 hectare site in the Queensland Government’s State Development Area.
Lord Howe Island’s Sydney air services extended for another three years
Air services critical to the Lord Howe Island community are set to continue, with the NSW Government extending the existing QantasLink licence for another three years from 2022. Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the air service is vital for keeping the Island’s 350 residents connected to Sydney and to support the tourism industry.
Vaccination certificates
The streets of Maldon are bustling once more as visitors from Melbourne are free to travel the state. While cafes and retail stores happily welcome the increase in trade they now have the unenviable task of checking each customer's vaccination status. The Tarrangower Times interviewed local business owners and employees, many of whom have found the government mandates to be unclear, and at times difficult to implement.
Cup weekend
There have been two fashion parades, one at Panacea Estate, with items from Trés Doux Trés Beau, featuring beautiful clothing from the Duchess of Walmer. The other involved Beaton’s Stores and Poppy’s of Maldon displaying their gorgeous clothing at the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation as part of the ‘Paint the Town Pink’ fundraiser.
Chinchilla journalist celebrated for storytelling excellence
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh has congratulated Chinchilla journalist Harry Clarke for taking out a prestigious award at the 2021 Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Annual Conference. Mr Clarke, founder and editor of the online news publication Country Caller, took out the coveted Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism.
Another day, another Greens stunt: Tas Gov
Predictable calls by radical environmentalists, such as the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF), to shut down Tasmania’s sustainable native forestry overlook the fact that sustainable forestry management plays an important part in the solution to climate change. Tasmania’s forestry sector has been globally recognised as being one of the best managed and most environmentally and sustainable forest estates in the world.
Sweetman Renewables closes on landmark deals
Emerging green energy powerhouse Sweetman Renewables Ltd has announced an expansion of its three business divisions after the recent closure of multiple deals, putting it centre stage of the green energy revolution. After a successful pre-IPO raising, the NSW company is expanding its three business divisions of hydrogen production, biomass supply and high-quality timber products.
Father and son splash big money for Central Coast pub
Prominent publican Arthur Laundy and his son Stuart have paid $38 million for the large-scale Bayview Hotel on the Brisbane Waters harbourfront on the Central Coast, marking their first acquisition together.
Investors continue regional pub crawl
The freehold interest in the Barham Hotel in regional New South Wales has sold off-market, as the country's pub market refuses to fall out of investor favour.
Every man and his dog sells
The freehold and business of Every Man and His Dog Vineyard in the Tasmania tourist hot spot of Richmond, outside of Hobart, has been sold.
Visit: Revamped decor will make pub and village a destination
Lisa Stewart stood on the burnt ground among the charred trees at Rappville and looked across the railway line to the grand 1911 hotel. She was drawn to buy it, she said, although at the time she didn’t know why the pull was so strong. That was 18 months ago and with partner Colin Foyster, they have transformed the pub.
Power: Neighbours see red over greener energy
The proposal for a battery at McKees Hill has neighbour against neighbour. This week 20 residents met on the rise of Auckram Rd outside the new site proposed for the Lismore Battery Energy Storage System (Lismore BESS) to discuss what action they would take to oppose the project.
Native foods business blossoming in the Mallee
The Victoria Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Belar Nursery and Bioculture Resources Centre to announce the Labor Government’s $2 million Djakitjuk Djanga Program in partnership with the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations ... The Djakitjuk Djanga Program has supported 13 Aboriginal native plant businesses to overcome key resource-related barriers towards the commercial production of native foods and botanicals.
More housing for seasonal workers in Mildura
The Andrews Labor Government is securing more accommodation for seasonal workers in Mildura, with the completion of a new facility to help tackle workforce shortages in the Mallee. Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas has opened the newly refurbished Ramsay Court Worker Accommodation facility in Mildura.
Australia’s first CCS hub to be operational by 2024
The Morrison Government welcomes the final investment decision taken by joint venture partners Santos and Beach Energy to establish Australia’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub at Moomba, South Australia. The $220 million Moomba CCS hub is the first project of its kind to be registered under the Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
As the world moves on methane, Morrison’s misinformation and farm fear mongering holds Australia back: The Greens
Continuing to run a protection racket for coal and gas projects and their methane emissions, Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce and Labor have collaborated to frame methane emission reduction as an attack on agriculture, despite the numbers indicating we could meet the 30% reduction by acting on coal and gas emissions by 2030 and without touching a single cow. Further, the final wording of the pledge does not even require each country to cut by 30%: The Greens
Locals tour Rare Earth program
Chris Oldfield. “If they can extract rare earths from the South East in a way that doesn’t have a negative impact on the productivity of the land, and the environment, then we can be proud to be part of the bigger picture for the zero carbon targets that are being set by governments all round the world.” Frances farmer Wayne Hawkins's comments come in the wake of a recent site visit for Frances residents regarding a Kopamurra project by mining company, Australian Rare Earths.
International rural women local celebrations
Sheryl Lowe. International Rural Woman’s Day was celebrated on October 15th by women around the Limestone Coast. Rural and regional women and men from a variety of business backgrounds gathered in the Barrel Room of Hollick Estate to connect, share stories and collaborate in their businesses.
Jacaranda President resigns
Emma Pritchard. While she stands proudly amongst the blossoming purple trees in Grafton’s See Park, the cost of keeping Jacaranda Jill safe from vandals while on public display has led to the resignation of Jacaranda Festival President Nicholas Buckler. Mr Buckler confirmed his resignation via email late last week, citing issues regarding finances spent on 24-hour security for the 6m tall kewpie doll.
Headline act blossoms at the Saraton Theatre
Emma Pritchard. From the moment they walked onto the stage at the Saraton Theatre on October 31, the audience applauded and cheered loudly as they watched two of the most iconic musicians in the country deliver a beautiful acoustic performance. When he told the crowd he “brought a friend along” to his hometown, Troy Cassar-Daley shot Ian Moss a cheeky grin as their fingers glided skilfully over their guitar strings.
New registration laws for short-term rental accommodation in NSW
From 1 November 2021, owners of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) will be required to register their properties with the NSW Government and will no longer require Council planning approval.

