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.
GSC councillors clash over VNI West sellout
The proposed Victorian New South Wales Interconnectors 500kv overhead transmission lines and towers that can reach almost 80 metres in height, is once again under the spotlight. The VNI project will carve a path through farmland and across communities on the journey from Bulgana in Victoria to the substation at Dinawan, near Jerilderie in NSW. Last week, Gannawarra Shire’s Cr Garner Smith put forward a motion that Council oppose the construction of VNI West through Gannawarra...
Balranald: this is our time
Kimberly Grabham. ‘Make Balranald great again’. This was the resounding message and vibe of a recent meeting held at the Discovery Centre Café ... Recently appointed Director of Governance, Business and Community Services, Glenn Carroll said it was time for Balranald to take the reins and benefit from the significant boom the area is having...
Budget 2024: What does it mean for you?
When Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Albanese government’s 2024 budget last week it was touted as a ‘cost-of-living budget’, aimed at relieving the pressure of everyday costs. Member for Farrer and Opposition Party Deputy Leader, Sussan Ley is concerned at the lack of money for the bush. “My key concern is the $315 billion in new spending by Labor risks adding further to inflation and keeping interest rates higher for longer,” Ms Ley told The Riverine Grazier.
Keeping remote Queensland connected: Chisholm
Seven airstrips in Queensland are set to receive funding under Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ... The seven Queensland projects are sharing in $13.4m in new grants awarded under Round 10 to improve the safety and accessibility of airstrips across remote Australia. This includes the Lockhart River and Injune airstrips ... Kowanyama Airport ... Aurukun Aerodrome ... Woorabinda Airstrip ...
Airborne survey the next step in AROWS project: Lawler, Worden
The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) project is continuing to take shape with an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey taking place to help streamline infrastructure design investigations for AROWS. AROWS is a sustainable approach to water security.
AgZero – The Power Shift: WA Farmers
Tickets are officially on sale for The Power Shift: Transitioning Farm Communities to Renewables ... Supported by Western Power and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, AgZero 2030 is bringing together a range of quality speakers to cover all topics of the energy transition and how it impacts farms, agriculture and our communities.
Hydrogen Jobs Plan to power up in the nick of time for energy security: Koutsantonis
The electricity generator being built as part of the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is critical to energy supply in South Australia, a new Australian Energy Market Operator report on energy reliability reveals. The State Government-owned generator being built in Whyalla must connect to the grid as soon as possible to counterbalance the impacts of early closures of privately operated gas-fired generators...
More power pain for SA as major projects delayed: Patterson
South Australians face increased risk of power blackouts over the next decade despite paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world, according to a new report. The Australian Energy Market Operator report shows increased power grid reliability risks across the country over the coming years due to delays in major energy projects such as the SA-NSW interconnector...
Urgent investment needed for electricity reliability: AEMO
AEMO has today published an update to the 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, the 10-year reliability outlook for the National Electricity Market (NEM). The update was triggered due to material changes impacting reliability risks since the 2023 ESOO was published last August, including new commissioning dates for Project EnergyConnect, and mothballed gas and diesel generators in South Australia.
Showground user groups offered same fees for one year as council considers future fees
The Casino Showground and Racecourse has had a massive makeover and was officially opened on April 20 ... The new facility includes a large undercover arena, an outdoor sand arena, turfed areas and covered stables, a new racehorse stable complex to accommodate up to 80 horses, and new car, truck and float parking areas.
Australian farmers unite on new farm access code: TasFarmers
Representatives from Australia’s peak farming bodies have backed the adoption of the Farm Access Code of Conduct this week, marking a significant step forward in ensuring the respectful treatment of farmers across the nation ... "Farmer groups who met … will play a crucial role in working closely with the Australian Government and infrastructure developers to ensure widespread adoption and adherence to the Code”: Ian Sauer President of TasFarmers.
Dirt roads
Serious concerns are being raised about the deteriorating condition of our dirt roads and the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s ability to maintain them. The [Naracoorte Community] News visited some of the dirt roads in Naracoorte to see for itself their deteriorating conditions.
Open day at Warwick’s Leslie Dam
Meet the team from Sunwater, learn about the history of Leslie Dam and how it works and find out how you can prepare for local weather events and stay safe in and on the water. It’s all happening at Leslie Dam on Saturday 8 June from 10am to 2pm.
