CATEGORY

Infrastructure

Water pipeline a positive for local towns

Secure supply of quality water is an important piece of infrastructure for any town and Cambooya, Greenmount and Nobby are set to benefit from construction of the Toowoomba to Warwick Water pipeline due for completion in 2027.

‘Forgotten’ rail line to be raised with Federal Government

Narrandera Shire Council will discuss with the Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley MP and the Federal Government the possibility to reinstate the Narrandera to Tocumwal Rail Line as a supplementary line to the planned Wagga Inland Rail Route. Cr Jenny Clarke said a previous Council had lobbied vigorously for the Narrandera to Tocumwal line to be reinstated, but unfortunately all the progress achieved had been basically forgotten by the current Council.

Know the risks

Many portable devices today are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These types of batteries pose a higher risk of fire than others. Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they are lightweight and long lasting compared to other rechargeable batteries.

Minister opens three community sport and recreation projects

West Wimmera Shire Council is pleased to announce the official opening of three significant community projects, marked by a visit from Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora. The openings were celebrated over two days, highlighting the completion of new recreation- al facilities that were all jointly funded by the State Government, Council and community groups.

We will miss you ferry much

For close to 130 years, it united rural communities on either side of the Clarence River. It provided a safe, time-saving, and cost-effective connection for countless residents, tourists, local businesses, employees, and industries, emergency services, and primary producers, who are now forced to travel almost 80km every time they need to cross the wide, open waterway.

“It’s just not good enough” – Telstra outage wipes out all three local councils

Stephanie Thompson. Telstra is “sincerely sorry” for the impact of a cloud service crash last week that continues to “cripple” all three local councils. The outage is continuing to impact Loxton Waikerie, Berri Barmera and Renmark Paringa councils, rendering them unable to complete almost all core functions.

All go for art gallery

NT company Sitzler has been awarded the tender to construct the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Site preparation and first stage construction works are set to rollout in the coming weeks, according to a government media release.

Living Lab Northern Rivers looks ahead with  exciting future scenarios for Lismore

A revitalised floodplain that includes cultural land management, recreational trails, gardens and markets; commercial flood resilient retrofits in the Lismore CBD; new urban villages created above the floodplain; and a naturalised Brown’s Creek forming the spine of a new greenway connecting the CBD and urban villages.  These are just some of the innovative ideas that Living Lab Northern Rivers presented to the local community...

Australia’s first crowdfunded solar farm powers up at Grong Grong

The Grong Grong solar farm powered up last week and is now operational, providing proof that community-owned renewables projects can get off the ground. The 1.5 megawatt (MW) project was officially launched a month ago, a celebration of a four year endeavour by Komo Energy to build the country’s first crowdfunded solar farm.

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.

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