Wyreema skyline changing
Sitting high above the town, Wyreema’s elevated reservoir will soon be removed from its perch as it is no longer needed. The Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) reservoir, located at the Council compound on Newman Road, will be demolished beginning in July.
Community-first: a gust of fresh air
The process of community consultation undertaken in a Tasmanian renewable energy zone has been praised for its commitment to listening to the community. The lack of community consultation was a big sticking point for residents of the East Greenmount/Ramsay area when they heard, through neighbours, that there were plans to construct a wind farm in their neighbourhood.
Baaka Cultural Centre progressing well
Central Darling Shire Council has received a project update on the Baaka Cultural Centre. The development of the $9.5 million Baaka Cultural Centre at Wilcannia is a regionally significant project. It is being funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
Council welcomes $10 million funding for water treatment plants
In July last year the construction of much-needed new water treatment plants for Ivanhoe and Wilcannia was put in doubt because of a funding shortfall. Today NSW Senator Deb O'Neill visited Wilcannia to announce $10 million in additional funding for water treatment plants at White Cliffs, Wilcannia and Ivanhoe and new potable water rearticulation scheme at White Cliffs.
Heated pool gets the nod
It was D-Day for Hay’s proposed hydrotherapy pool last Tuesday, the culmination of a 30-year effort by the Hay community. The pendulum was swinging between the need for a heated pool and Council’s deliberation on replacing the ageing John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool.
No more band-aids for pool
There will be no further band-aid remedies for Hay’s 60-year-old John Houston Memorial Pool. Hay is to get a new swimming pool after Council made the difficult decision last week to borrow up to $4million.
Rail trail proposal remains on track
It’s full steam ahead for Tallowood Ventures Limited (TVL) after the not-for-profit organisation announced their 2023 proposal to develop a 35km section of the currently inactive Glenreagh to Dorrigo Branch Line and transform it into a rail trail is one step closer following recent community efforts to clear vegetation along large areas of the rail corridor.
Edithburgh’s exciting new development
Willliam McShane. Edithburgh’s new $1.8 million sports and community centre was unveiled on Sunday, June 2. The project, funded by the Australian Government, was one of four initiatives on Yorke Peninsula to help the region’s recovery after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires at Edithburgh, Yorketown, Price and Port Vincent.
James Lister speaks out: wind farms blow the seeds of community division
James Lister MP. Recent talk of more wind farm developments in our electorate of Southern Downs has stirred up all kinds of anger and ill feeling in the community. The fundamental problem is the exclusion of local input from state government level decisions over where wind and solar farms should be.
Maldon’s B-double blues
With a friendly community and picture postcard appeal, Maldon may be one of the most liveable towns in Australia. Nothing’s perfect, however, and in Maldon’s case one of the irritants is the constant stream of trucks through the town centre.
New learning centre for Naracoorte
If all goes according to plan, Naracoorte will have a new early learning and childcare centre by mid-to-late 2025. Work on the $2million facility located at the unused former TAFE building is set to commence this September.
New signage to track Nornalup rail history
Serena Kirby. The Denmark Historical Society is in the process of erecting information signage along the Denmark - Nornalup Rail Trail. The 38 signs provide historical background about the origins, significance and role that the old Elleker-Denmark-Nornalup railway line played in opening up the surrounding areas for grazing and settlement.
Big plans mooted for Showground
The Narrandera Show Ground Trust Land Manager has applied for substantial capital to manage a five-year redevelopment plan of the showgrounds and its assets. Mr David Farley said this first started with a topographical and services survey, restoration and remediation surveys on building assets, especially the Industrial Hall Dome building.
Volunteers track local success with tourist trains
As they stood in the shadow of the heritage 1960s 621/721 class rail motor at Grafton City Station, volunteers from the Rail Motor Society reflected with heartfelt pride and passion on the unequivocal diligence and resoluteness of their ongoing work which enabled local railway enthusiasts to experience the sensation of travelling in historic style over the weekend.
Forestry awards investigation permits for renewable energy opportunities: FCNSW
Forestry Corporation has today reached an important milestone to explore the potential for windfarms within public pine plantations to contribute to the NSW transition to renewable energy … Neoen, Iberdrola Australia, TagEnergy and Mainstream Renewables Power and Someva Renewables joint venture have been awarded permits to investigate wind farm opportunities in some pine plantations…
Allora to have its first roundabout
Construction at Allora’s first roundabout at the intersection of Forde and Warwick streets is scheduled for the 2025-26 financial year. The installation of the new roundabout was announced by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in September 2022.
The Moorlort Plains chicken wars continue
Remember the protracted battle regarding the plans to build broiler farms on the Moolort Plains, west of Baringhup, in the Shire of Mount Alexander? After court hearings and the extraordinary step of building two houses out near the proposed site for the proposed broiler sheds, that battle was won by local residents.
CSIRO releases 2023-24 GenCost report
Shaped by the highest volume of feedback since its inception in 2018, the 2023-24 annual GenCost report has been released ... GenCost is a leading economic report by CSIRO ... in collaboration with AEMO on the cost of building future electricity generation, storage and hydrogen production in Australia. The latest report introduces a range of changes in response to stakeholder feedback, most significantly, the inclusion of large-scale nuclear for the first time.
Pride of Toowoomba hits the rails
After many years of planning by DownsSteam, the engine "Pride of Toowoomba" made its first official trip to and from Wyreema on Saturday morning. After waiting for many years, steam train fans were not going to miss out on the chance to ride the rails aboard carriages hauled by the refurbished "Pride of Toowoomba" ...
Warrego Highway funding criticised
Member for Groom Garth Hamilton has taken aim at the Federal Labor Government over the budget allocation for the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and Ipswich ... "All of this $177 million commitment has been allocated to the 35 kilometre section in the government-held electoral division of Blair (which is in Ipswich). This has shamefully ignored that the Warrego Highway is a critical freight route in Southern Queensland that moves product from paddock to port."
Community stonewalled over hospitals
Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, says the Victorian government’s ongoing refusal to provide vital planning papers for hospitals in Wodonga and Albury is either contempt or incompetence. "Last Wednesday marked 10 weeks since the request for the documents was passed unanimously in the upper house of the Victorian Parliament," Mr Tilley said.
Heavy vehicle detour finished
Towong Shire Council has announced that work on the Corryong Heavy Vehicle Bypass along the Stock Route has wrapped up, with the project now completed. The works included realignment of the Briggs Gap Road/Stock Route Intersection and two main corners along the Stock Route, installation of new drainage and culverts and pavement construction.
