How feasible is nuclear power for Australia?
Nuclear remains a topical and contentious issue for Australia, with Labor firmly opposed to this form of energy while the Coalition wants to build nuclear power stations on the sites of existing coal fire stations. Alan Finkel, former Chief Scientist of Australia believes it is worth removing the legislated ban on nuclear power. “Nuclear power is a credible source of abundant zero-emissions electricity, but it would take 20 years to commence operations from a standing start in Australia,” Dr Finkel said.
Addressing the Sturt Highway road toll
A Sturt Highway Taskforce has been formed in response to the rising road toll on the Sturt Highway. The initiation came from Murrumbidgee Council, with the first meeting held earlier this month.
Geelong’s regional airport under threat: McArthur
Concerned residents protesting a controversial new windfarm recently met at Lethbridge Airport to oppose a proposal which will see sixty 270 metre high wind towers of skyscraper proportions placed in an area northwest of Geelong. Local residents, farmers and the communities of Bannockburn, Lethbridge, Teesdale, Meredith and Shelford are being left in the dark as to the exact location and impact of this vast renewables project.
New Tom Price Hospital campaign launched by Shire of Ashburton – Council and residents fed up with broken promises
“Bandages won’t fix broken promises”, is a grassroots campaign led by the Shire of Ashburton, following community demand to get the Minister for Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson, to follow through on her election promise to build the new Tom Price Hospital. The Tom Price community was promised a new hospital on 26 February 2021 as part of the 2021 State Election.
Push to streamline EV charging zones
Cracking down on people parking in designated electric vehicle charging station spaces is one focus of a range of new road rule changes. Two new offences have been brought in to stop non-electric cars from parking in EV parking areas, and stop EVs parking in a charging area when not being charged.
“Farmers grow food – not power lines”
Jenny Pollard. The message was clear as farmers from around the Charlton district greeted representatives from the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) with farm machinery bearing signs of dissatisfaction, as last Wednesday’s meeting about the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) at the Charlton Shire Hall opened to the public.
In-depth discussions with TCV”ˆspecialists: Communities “drop-in”
More than 120 landholders and community members “dropped in” to Transmission Company Victoria’s (TCV) community information sessions last week for one-on-one discussions on all aspects of the VNI West project. Held in Kerang, Charlton and Stawell, the informal five-hour sessions were a direct response to community feedback...
Build it and they will come – World class equestrian centre opens
Fourteen million dollars later, Casino has a world class equestrian centre with an undercover arena and shaded seating for 2500 people to watch events at the Casino Showground. At the official opening ... the speeches took place on the arena floor as horses and riders wound their way around the huge space.
Power pole may be linked to transmission tower incident
A forward command vehicle will be near the intersection of Wandoo and Neaves roads in Pinjar this morning as police seek information about a transmission tower that was tampered with in April last year, which may be linked to another incident in the same location at the time.
Coal cancellation
A drive to establish new industry and jobs using Latrobe Valley's brown coal in non-energy ways is effectively dead after the state government stopped funding research into the work, a decision denounced as "folly" and "ideological madness" by local leaders. Australian Carbon Innovation at Federation University, which since 2011 has been researching the non-energy use of brown coal that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, will close on June 30 after the government pulled the plug on funding.
It’s dam important – Cressbrook Dam an utmost priority
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Cr Rebecca Vonhoff last week stepped up the call for external funding for the $270 million Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project ... Without grant funding, Council’s submission to the State Government said the full cost of the dam wall upgrade will be transferred to ratepayers through increased water charges.
People power wins
The company which had been looking into the possible creation of a wind farm in the Goomburra district, east of Allora, has abandoned further action on the matter. Wind Prospect Pty Ltd’s Regional Development Manager, Michael Sale, told The Clifton Courier this week of the decision.
Telstra’s 5G and 4G upgrades promise enhanced connectivity for Nhill
Telstra has announced significant upgrades to its mobile base station in Nhill, which will bring enhanced 4G services and introduce 5G coverage to the community. However, these improvements come with a temporary inconvenience—scheduled outages are expected from April 15 to April 19, during which there will be no 3G/4G coverage available from the site.
Shire meets with farmers
Carey Brennan. On Thursday, April 11, approximately 80 farmers filled the Donald Memorial Hall supper room to hear from the Buloke Shire and several speakers, to find out exactly what the Victorian NSW Interconnector (VNI) West Transmission Lines project means for this district.
State Government exposed by tale of two cities
If it’s good enough for the NSW South Coast then it should be good enough for the NSW North Coast – as City of Coffs Harbour fights to keep the prized public land at the Jetty Foreshores in the hands of the community. Mayor Cr Paul Amos has won support for a Mayoral Minute which detailed inconsistencies in the NSW Government’s approach to public holdings.
Opposition moves to investigate South Australia’s nuclear potential: Speirs, Patterson
The Opposition has introduced a motion into State Parliament supporting an open-minded, non-ideological investigation into the potential for a civil nuclear industry – including energy generation – in South Australia. Leader of the Opposition David Speirs introduced the motion to explore nuclear energy opportunities in South Australia in Parliament on Wednesday.
Stripping right to appeal is an insult to regional communities
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has written to the Victorian government expressing her dismay with its decision to remove the right for third parties to appeal renewable energy planning decisions through VCAT ... In her letter to the Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosia and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, Dr Haines expressed concern that under the current system, there are not enough safeguards to ensure communities are heard and their issues acted upon by developers.
Bridges still an area to cross in the upcoming budget: GrainGrowers
Bridges remain an issue for the federal government to cross in the upcoming budget, with GrainGrowers calling for additional urgent targeted funding to address current safety and efficiency issues. The call follows the recent announcement by the federal government of $45 million for regional safety upgrades.
Fairer fares deliver huge savings in first year: Williams
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams was in Geelong today, to mark one year of making regional public transport more affordable by capping the daily regional fare at the same price as the daily metropolitan fare. Passengers have been showing their enthusiasm for cheaper regional travel, with more than 22 million trips taken since the fare cap commenced.
Minister’s response on Shepparton Bypass provides no hope: Lovell
During a recent sitting of parliament Wendy Lovell, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, highlighted the Labor government’s continuing failure to act on the Shepparton Bypass. Following the release of the Shepparton South East Precinct Structure Plan, Ms Lovell urged the State Government to commit to funding at least Stage 1 of the Shepparton Bypass in the 24/25 Budget.
Labor breaks regional Victorian rail commitments: Cleeland
Regional communities continue to pay the price of Labor’s mismanagement as key rail upgrades for lines across regional Victoria remain undelivered. Train lines in Shepparton, Warrnambool, and Gippsland were promised upgrades by the end of 2023, but the Allan Labor Government’s mismanagement of Victoria’s infrastructure pipeline has seen all three projects suffer delays and result in cost blowouts.
Gemfields television towers decommissioned from 30 November 2024
As notified last November, despite an upgrade of television towers in the Gemfields at a significant cost – council has been advised by specialists that a lack of repeater bases, weather events, and interference from newly built structures are preventing consistent signals from reaching residents. The television towers in the Gemfields will be decommissioned from November 30, 2024.
