Jumping for joy – Progress associations to the rescue of pontoons
Rachel Hagan. An icon of Port Vincent is staying afloat, after insurance costs threatened to dismantle the town’s summer fun. Small towns across the state have been forced to remove their pontoons because insurance companies are unwilling to provide cover for public liability.
Conflict over camping ban
Rachel Hagan. Local residents are up in arms after the dunes at trending Yorke Peninsula camp spot, Wauraltee Beach, were left covered in rubbish and human waste ... NSW resident Stephanie Ramirez, who was visiting Yorke Peninsula for the first time, said she saw Wauraltee Beach on social media, and her family decided they had to stop on their way to Esperance, especially before camping was banned.
Battery like a charger on a huge scale
The 150 megawatt battery installed by Engie at the old Hazelwood power station site has just had its first birthday – and the company is very happy with its ability to produce electricity when needed and its financial performance.
Wallaroo artist shines in Mallee
Joanna Tucker. Self-taught Wallaroo artist Debbie Seater has her art projected on the iconic Karoonda Silos in the Murray Mallee for all of January. Her eleven artworks have been created in multiple mediums —which is not uncommon for Ms Seater.
NSW Independent Forestry Panel process
In August 2024, the NSW Government announced the appointment of an expert panel to lead consultation on a Forestry Industry Action Plan. The final report of the Independent Forestry Panel has been provided to the NSW Government. Whether the report will be made publicly available and the shape of the future Forestry Industry Action Plan is a matter for the Government.
Foreign owned and controlled TransGrid is disconnected from regional Australia
The ever-increasing number of stories of the difficulties faced by landowners when dealing with transmission network builder, TransGrid, points to an organisation with no knowledge of, and no interest in learning about, the land, and the peoples living on that land, through which they are building those networks.
Time to trial fire vehicles: NSW Farmers Association
Farmers are urged to take part in a trial of Farm Fire Units in NSW as unprecedented bushfires continue to burn in the United States. Under a NSW Government trial in place until 31 March, private farm vehicles used for firefighting purposes known as Farm Fire Units – or Farm Fire Fighting Vehicles (FFFVs) – can be used unregistered under certain conditions.
How much gas talk is hot air?
Take out the hype and Beetaloo gas is a pretty thin project. The sub-basin, 900 km north of Alice Springs, is “estimated” to contain 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. The NT Government refers to this estimate as being “by industry”.
New bollards protect supermarket window from cars, but not vandals
Shoppers going to Aldi supermarket in Casino will have noticed changes at the front of the shop. New bollards are in place to prevent cars going through the window. As unlikely as that may sound, this happened in January 2023 when an 88 year old man’s car crashed into the glass frontage.
Refreshed 2025
Maldon’s historic postbox has had a lick of lovely fresh paint and it seems like the perfect symbol of renewal to say: Happy New Year! But the inspiring story of how the pillar box came to be painted by Mick Slocum OAM also speaks of regeneration and rejuvenation at any time and any age.
Shields awarded life membership
The Kerang Turf Club held its AutoPro Summer Races on the last Saturday of 2024. The eight-race card attracted trainers from across the state. However, the day's highlight was not the races but the awarding of a Kerang Turf Club Life Membership to Alan Shields.
The beautiful spots of our region
Are you looking for something to do over the summer break? If you haven’t been already, Lake Cooby, half an hour north of Toowoomba at Meringandan, is a beautiful spot for fishing, boating, bush walking and having a picnic or barbecue.
Six figure win at pub
A punter at Get Chopped Pub Greenmount is over $300,000 richer following a massive win on New Year’s Day. It took until the following day for a Toowoomba woman to realise she had scored a Keno Classic prize worth $308,777 in draw 272 at the Greenmount establishment.
Alex back on his feet
Serena Kirby. Denmark GP Alex Sleeman is learning to walk again after sustaining serious spinal injuries from a tractor accident on his property last September ... “I plan to do everything I used to do but I’ll just do it a bit differently and good luck to anyone that tells me I can’t do something.”
Experienced pilot killed in Palmers Island plane crash
Family and friends are mourning the loss of an experienced pilot and real estate agent whose son was seriously injured when their light aircraft crashed after take-off from McIntyres Airfield at Palmers Island. It is understood Coffs Harbour real estate agent James ‘Jim’ Auld, 67, and his son Robert, aged 32, took off from South Grafton airport … on Sunday, December 29.
Justification and priority assessment determines Kaniva lake not feasible
West Wimmera Shire Council has concluded that construction of a man-made lake in Kaniva is not feasible at this time, following a thorough investigation and cost analysis. Council investigated constructing a 200m by 400m lake at the Kaniva Racecourse Reserve after receiving the idea from the community.
Nhill Boxing Day races
Nhill & District Racing Club President, Bruce Beacom was pleased with the community support of the DMD Nhill Cup. While our preference was to race on Boxing Day, we understood that the extreme weather forecast coupled with the fire rating made it not possible to race on Boxing Day and at the end of the day participant, patron and equine welfare is paramount to the club and racing industry.
Wiregrass mural launch
Over fifty people gathered on Friday to celebrate the pop-up launch of the Wiregrass mural at the Kaniva Post Office. The mural depicts townsfolk queuing at the Post Office—a scene that celebrates the spirit of rural life when such places were essential for keeping communities connected.
Power restored after Cowalla bushfire while crews replacing poles
Western Power says power has been restored to all 150 customers affected by the bushfire in Cowalla, Wanerie and Karakin. Twenty power poles were destroyed by the bushfire, which was reported at 12.03pm on Tuesday, December 31.
Saving Alice in 2025: it starts today
My journalistic work in the Territory began early on Christmas Day 1974, looking down from the aircraft of Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns onto the Northern Territory capital that had been all but annihilated by Cyclone Tracy.
Up and away — kites take to the skies
The age-old appeal of flying a kite provided plenty of fun for young and old at Ardrossan recently when the Adelaide Kite Flying Association put on a display on the clifftop near the town’s foreshore. The event was held by Ardrossan Progress Association in conjunction with the local Christmas street party on December 20.
New junior doctors begin their internship on Yorke Peninsula
Joanna Tucker. The first cohort of interns for the new Rural Doctor Program has been welcomed to the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network at Wallaroo Hospital. The RDP is designed to support and encourage junior doctors to pursue generalist training pathways and medical careers within Yorke Peninsula.
