Tourism

Nillumbik Friends of the Great Forest have followed with interest the developments in the native forest logging industry, in particular the decision by the Andrews government in 2019 to halt native forest logging in 2030. Victoria is well placed to transition to a 100 % plantation industry as we already have considerable areas of plantation ... The industry has every right to be upset with the government for withholding the funding for a fair and just transition ... ARR.News asks NFGF a few questions.

After a two-year hiatus the national economy benefited from a $100 million injection from the biggest and most successful Henty Machinery Field Days on record ... Held on September 20-22, the 59th annual field days featured 14km of outdoor shop fronts from over 800 exhibitors on over 1200 sites.

Rodney Stevens. Booming boat sales and above 90 per cent occupancy has Yamba Marina looking to expand its berths from 95 to 145, enhancing the Clarence River’s reputation as a premier boating destination. Yamba Marina owners Peter Sutton and Kay Cottee said they are looking towards their biggest expansion since they took over the marina.

Samuel Davis. A man who has experienced one too many encounters with crocs in Cape York has blasted the publisher of a “dangerous” video that shows the apex predator being fed out of the side of a boat. In a 12-second clip posted to Facebook, a saltwater croc snatches a fish tossed at its snout by fishermen as the vessel nears a muddy mangrove.

A mural depicting the history of fishing on the Fraser Coast has been painted on the side wall of the Urangan Fisheries cold store which faces Fishermans Park ... “It links the Butchulla and European history of fishing in the region,” Councillor Zane O’Keefe said ... Watch the video.

Emmanuelle Dubuc. Mirawara is a not-for-profit, social enterprise located within the goldfields of Central Victoria in Box-Ironbark country. We are a bunch of passionate outdoor and environmental educators who want to promote connections and the creation of stories/culture between young people and nature through outdoor education activities such as rock-climbing, bushwalking, canoeing, bush skills, nature studies and much more.

The Central Goldfields are renowned for their diversity of spring Indigenous wildflowers, with the disturbance from historic mining creating a mostly open forest floor that allows for a diversity of smaller plants that can be easily viewed. Peter Haack, horticulturalist and Landscape Architect, will take you on a gentle wander through the Maldon Historic Reserve.

Overcast skies and cold dismal weather did not deter the public from celebrating Narrandera’s free-ranging koalas at the inaugural Koala Festival on Saturday. The indoor/outdoor event was held at the Narrandera Showground with families arriving en mass to participate in the festivities, all of which were free, courtesy of a NSW Government grant. Almost 1000 festival-goers attended the event.

Like a shining beacon of fun and entertainment, the new cluBarham bowling facility lit up the night sky at the official opening on Friday, September 16. Members, invited guests and bowling dignitaries made up the 170 strong crowd in attendance ... What unfolded was a team of local trades and services that shared a common goal of building a facility that can attract regional, state and even national competition.

The flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping as we experience a green (and rather wet) start to spring here in the Central Downs. With the end of September fast approaching, if you are yet to do so there is still time to see the colourful flower arrays in Laurel Bank Park, Queens Park and elsewhere in the city.

Outback road condition information will be even easier to access for travellers on SA unsealed tracks thanks to new QR code signage being installed at key locations across northern South Australia. The large QR codes are being installed on existing road condition signs, within mobile phone range, across the state’s unsealed road network to provide direct access to the Outback Roads Warnings webpage.

Emma Pritchard. The Maclean business community would like to extend an invitation to Clarence Valley residents and tourists in the region, “come and visit us on Sunday!” Known for its proud Scottish heritage, riverside views and rural charm, the township of Maclean is looking to add another attractive feature to its resume as an idyllic Sunday shopping destination.

In October 2021 Maclean Business Chamber approached Mark Stephenson from Big River Ski Club to start the conversation around bringing the Bridge-to-Bridge Ski Race back to the lower river and the traditional full course, turning at Harwood Bridge ... “The Race is a big-ticket event in the Clarence Valley with competitors and spectators coming from far and wide, to take part, or be a part of the spectacular event": President of the Chamber, Christine Tyler.

Rex Mansfield, a roving painter is in town working on some much needed repainting of the town’s old business fronts and iconic installations. He has started in Ray Hunter Park where he is putting the finishing touches to the “Barkindji Fish”, the original creation of the late Karen Riley. The Barrow & Co steam engine has been finished.

... the 2022 Canola Trail experience - a self-drive immersive experience filled with good food, exciting experiences, and incredible views ... The 2022 Canola Trail flowering season was launched at a media brunch held at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory on Saturday.

Narrandera's treetop residents will take centre stage at the inaugural Koala Festival at the Narrandera Showground on Saturday ... It is being held to promote Narrandera’s free-ranging koala colony ... the colony is Narrandera’s tourism trump card and one of the shire’s greatest natural assets.

Phillip Island’s bold vision to become Victoria’s first fully sustainable tourist hot spot in Australia is one step closer, with plans approved for a revolutionary community energy storage system. The Phillip Island Community Energy Storage System (PICESS) will offer greater reliability in electricity supply for the Island, especially during peak holiday periods and could potentially slash power bills, with residents able to use the grid to store their power.

Bendigo’s stunning tulip displays will take centre stage in a new annual Bloom spring program that brings together 60 exciting events, experiences and attractions, including new night time activations in the city centre. A sea of 53,000 tulips will bloom from mid-September at the Conservatory Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens, Civic Gardens and along Pall Mall.

Kristin Murdock. While foot and mouth disease (FMD) remains active in Indonesia, officials there say they hope to bring the outbreak under control by the end of the year thanks to a rollout of vaccinations. The country’s FMD Task Force spokesperson, Professor Wiku Adisasmito, said there had been more than 450,000 cases of FMD confirmed or suspected across 22 of the country’s 37 provinces.

The bakery, established in 1854, is one of the oldest brick buildings in town, with a rare wood-fired scotch oven. The concerns of some, recently posted on the Maldon Noticeboard Facebook site that the bakery was to be repurposed as a cafe, have now been allayed by new owner Rebecca Barnett. ... Rebecca will be restoring the original wood-fired scotch oven with the help of locals with extensive experience in working with scotch ovens.

Dunolly will come alive next month as the Gold Rush Festival makes its exciting return on the 22nd and 23rd of October. Events will get underway at the Dunolly Music Festival at the Dunolly Golf Club from 4pm to 10pm where Bebop-alula, Grim Fawkner, Chenai Boucher, Devils Brew and The Groove Dudes, will take to the stage.