The virtue is theirs. The bill will be yours
Farmers for Climate Action has produced a report ‘Energy Sovereignty for Regional Australia: Protecting Farmers, Powering the Future’ arguing that Australia's transition away from diesel should be accelerated through electrification, subsidies, infrastructure investment and changes to fuel tax arrangements ... When did advocacy become less about persuading people to voluntarily embrace change and more about finding another group to pay for it?
Aerodrome cleared for take-off
Patrick Tucker. After more than a decade of planning, lobbying and volunteer effort, Cohuna’s upgraded aerodrome will officially open on July 7. Driven by community volunteers and later overseen by the Cohuna Lions Club, the project has delivered a longer runway, new lighting, a terminal building and improved facilities for emergency services and visiting aircraft.
Farmers question VicGrid process
Carey Brennan. Tuesday night’s VicGrid Community Reference Group meeting of impacted farmers, council officers and VicGrid employees was disrupted by around 60 farmers and concerned community members at Charlton Park. Claire Flanagan-Smith, of RMG Consulting, chairing the meeting, called a halt to proceedings and refused to let it continue with the farmers present.
Farley questions Defence Minister in parliamentary debut
Newly elected Member for Farrer David Farley used his debut parliamentary question time to quiz Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles about the nation's water. Rather than directing his opening questions to the Environment or Agriculture ministers, Farley targeted the Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Drone brings down powerline
SA Power Networks has issued an urgent warning about the use of agricultural drones around powerlines, after a large drone crashed and dropped a high voltage line to the ground at Wasleys, east of Mallala. The incident is the first of its kind to have occurred in South Australia.
Country Mayors voice concerns over cessation of Inland Rail: CMA
The Board of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has met with Minister Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to discuss the cessation of the Inland Rail project.
Budget ‘comes up short’ for Riverland, says Tim
"Meaningful" support to keep Riverland communities viable was missing from the latest State Budget, according to a senior local politician. Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said last week's State Budget lacked direct support for struggling local primary producers, and funding to improve safety conditions on the Sturt Highway.
$60m announcement
Minister for Climate Change and Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe will be in Hay this morning to announce $60 million in community benefits unlocked by the South West Renewable Energy Zone. The Office of Minister Sharpe said the initial $60 million will soon begin flowing to communities in the South West Renewable Energy Zone to deliver local infrastructure, services and employment opportunities that will support long-term regional prosperity.
Narrandera water: Pressure pays off with deed of release executed for critical design works
The Deed of Agreement concerning Narrandera's future water treatment plant has been executed following sustained pressure from the Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke. The deed was critical in enabling Narrandera Shire Council to progress detailed design and business case work for the project, which aims to deliver clean water to the town.
How much water and power will AI data centres use in Australia? Ironically, we don’t have the data to know
Michael Vardon. Australia’s data centre rush now rivals the mining boom. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman last week said Australia could become a “data centre capital of the world”. This would come at an environmental cost ... Before committing fully, we need granular detail on how much water and energy these centres use.
New water treatment plants taking shape in Wilcannia and Ivanhoe as Central Darling Shire navigates $2 million budget deficit
New water treatment plants are taking shape in both Wilcannia and Ivanhoe as Central Darling Shire Council progresses two of the most significant infrastructure investments in the shire's recent history, while the council navigates a projected $2.068 million operating deficit and works to secure emergency backup water supply for the town.
Power bill fear for single mum
For Naracoorte single mother Michaela Dalton, every power bill brings the same fear - that one day she won't be able to keep the lights on for her daughter. With bills piling up and electricity prices set to rise, the 24-year-old says she feels like she's drowning.
Cutting power bills with $11 billion in renewables: Kilkenny
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has recently approved a further $2.4 billion in projects through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).
Bowen’s battery blather as Coalition reveals rollout cost blowout: Webster
Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has taken Energy Minister Chris Bowen to task for his spin on Mallee battery rollout numbers, as the cost of the Government’s home battery scheme blows out. “I had to call out the Minister’s nonsense claiming Mallee has a home battery rollout ‘6 times Melbourne’ – which is very sneaky semantics...
Native fish habitat trial goes swimmingly: Watt, Moriarty, Jackson
...the trial of the $26.2 m bubble plume project is already making a positive difference by creating warmer temperatures throughout the Severn River’s Pindari Dam storage ... “This project aims to re-establish more natural water temperatures below dams for native fish breeding and growth. The project also ensures that water temperatures from environmental flow releases enhance the health of the river downstream”: Tara Moriarty.
Haines bill will strengthen disaster communications
Warning that repeated communications failures in regional areas are putting lives at risk, Member for Indi, Helen Haines, on Monday introduced legislation to improve the resilience of Australia's telecommunications networks during natural disasters. Dr Haines said North-East Victoria has endured successive catastrophic events in recent years including the Black Summer bushfires, major flooding in 2022 and 2023 and the January 2026 bushfires that devastated parts of Indi.
Federal environmental approval for new solar farm to power 160,000 Queensland homes: Watt
The Albanese Government has given environmental approval to another renewable energy project in Queensland, boosting the state’s energy security. Finalised in just 19 days, Blackbutt’s Tumuruu solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) has also been approved by the South Burnett Regional Council.
Lower default power bills for NSW as renewable plan delivers: Minns, Sharpe
More renewable energy flowing into the system is helping place downward pressure on electricity prices, with the Default Market Offer in NSW set to fall from July. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has determined the cap on default electricity prices for NSW households will drop by between 3.4 and 7.7 per cent from July, reflecting lower wholesale electricity costs as more renewable generation and storage enters the market.
Texas energy giants to fuel Flinders Shire Council’s renewable boom
Flinders Shire Council is taking a leaf out of the Texas playbook to supercharge its economic future, welcoming a high-profile delegation of USA wind energy experts to the region this week as part of a tour of the state. The strategic visit aims to showcase how Flinders Shire is championing a pragmatic, economically driven approach to renewable energy development...
Murray-Darling water allocations: where things stand heading into winter 2026
For irrigators across the Riverina and communities across the Far West, the water picture heading into winter 2026 is one that demands close attention. The key dam levels as of 25 May paint a mixed picture. Burrinjuck Dam, which drives allocations for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and surrounding districts centred on Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera, is at 38 per cent.
Lismore remains committed to rail trail vision
Lismore City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Northern Rivers Rail Trail through Lismore, despite this week’s unsuccessful federal funding outcome. The $42 million application was submitted in 2024, in partnership with Byron Shire Council, to progress the rail trail section from Lismore to Bexhill.
NSW Labor government must stop delaying Narrandera Water Treatment Plant progress
The NSW Labor government has failed to sign the required Deed of Agreement to progress Narrandera's Water Treatment Plant business case, nearly six months after Commonwealth funding was awarded. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the ongoing delay is preventing Narrandera Shire Council from progressing critical work to deliver clean drinking water to the community.
