NLC rules out $35m sports hub
A $35million sporting hub reliant on ratepayer cash has been officially ruled out by the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council. The council decided in its March meeting to handball the “project lead” back to the sporting clubs involved.
New pump track among busy works program for Council
Narrandera Shire Council’s brand new pump track in Marie Bashir Park is now open and ready for riders of all ages and skill levels. The pump track features smooth, flowing berms and rollers, varied terrain for beginners to advanced riders, a bike-friendly surface that’s easy on tyres as well as nearby parking and amenities.
Council delegate pushes worth of keeping eye on highway progress
Narrandera Shire Council delegate Cr Peter Dawson believes that the council must continue its representation on the Newell Highway Taskforce or the northern end of the highway will continue to be upgraded and very little done at the southern end. However he said it was evident that most of the works along the Newell Highway were being carried out in the northern section and very little in the Southern.
Don’t forget rural roads: NSW Farmers Association
Farmers are urging federal and state governments to drastically increase funding for rural road infrastructure as vital roads remain damaged, restricted or even closed three years on from the first major flooding events in the Northern Rivers. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said federal and state roads and bridges were crumbling across NSW, and locals no longer believed repair was on the horizon.
$2.3m flood resilience works to begin at Wheatvale
Major works are underway on Connells Bridge Road with upcoming works to commence on Wheatvale Plains Road ... Southern Downs Council’s Chief Executive Officer Dave Burges said "Both Connells Bridge Road and Wheatvale Plains Road are susceptible to prolonged closures during floods and they sustained major damage in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 events which left the roads closed for multiple weeks.
Power goes out with Easter
Sarah Herrmann. Moonta was hit by a particularly unfortunate power outage on Easter Monday ... while a large part of northern Yorke Peninsula was also off the grid ... with small hospitality businesses taking a hit ... Pasky Grab & Go Deli owner Sheree Moroney said the outage created ‘absolute chaos’ for her business.
Wilcannia Weir – the residents are weary
After limited local advertising, a meeting took place last Wednesday at the Hall. Forty people attended ... Representatives from Water Infrastructure once again asked residents to listen to them and they would explain why the town was not getting the weir shown in the previous plan, that was the result of several years community consultation.
IPART inquiry into dam safety levy
Clarence Valley Council will make a submission to a NSW Government inquiry looking to impose a levy on councils with dams calling for the idea to be scrapped, as it is another means of shifting costs onto councils ... Mayor Peter Johnstone said a previous attempt by the NSW Government to impose a levy on councils with dams failed.
Millions for local jetties
Patrick Goldsmith. Six Yorke Peninsula jetties ear-marked for repairs have been allocated a combined $4.18 million — the most of any region in the state — from the South Australian Government’s Jetties Renewal Program ... Within YPC’s pool of jetties, 85 per cent of piles in the Edithburgh jetty and 62 per cent in Ardrossan jetty are rated as having less than 25 per cent life left, while the Port Vincent Fisherman’s jetty collapsed into the water last year. YPC mayor Darren Braund reiterated how important jetties are to the appeal of the region.
School holidays see the start of the 2024 Great Dunny Hunt: Continence Foundation of Australia
Calling all Australians to add new details on public toilets to the National Public Toilet Map. The much-loved Great Dunny Hunt is back and better than ever with the Continence Foundation of Australia calling all Australians to update the National Public Toilet Map website or app with new public toilet facility details they discover while out and about these school holidays.
Some practical tips for being prepared
At recent Birchip and Wycheproof Probus Club meetings, an intriguing question from the Buloke Shire Council’s Community Recovery Team kicked off an essential conversation: “If you had to leave your home in a hurry, what would you take?” This question opened up a broader discussion on emergency preparedness, emphasising the need to know what to pack and where to find reliable information.
Weir wants facilities upgrade
Member for Condamine Pat Weir has used a speech in Parliament to call for more investment to improve sporting facilities in the Toowoomba Region ... "The Toowoomba region was hopeful of a significant economic opportunity for its growing community with the announcement of the Olympic Games, especially given its close proximity to Brisbane and ongoing advocacy for a passenger rail connection to the south-east corner," he told Parliament.
Community update on Newstead solar farm
The Newstead Community Energy Project (aka solar farm) will be commissioned during the second half of 2024 (date TBC). The inverter, solar panels and most of the tracking system have been installed.
Farmers attack energy fast-track
The state government’s new policy to fast-track renewable energy projects by accelerating planning approvals has been strongly attacked by Victoria’s peak farming body and one of the state’s leading planning experts. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) said the policy was a slap in the face after years of sham consultation with farming communities, while the RMIT Emeritus Professor of Environment and Planning, Michael Buxton, said it would lead to “terrible decisions”, with wind and solar farms being “placed in the wrong location".
VicGrid study area released
VicGrid has released its study area for the new transmission infrastructure through South Gippsland that will transport energy from offshore wind into the Latrobe Valley (LV) electricity grid. The study area starts about six kilometres from the coast near Giffard and travels north-west past Stradbroke West, to Willung, across to Flynns Creek and on to the Loy Yang power station.
Interstate farmers unite in the face of transmission lines
Victorian and Tasmanian farmer peak bodies have produced a policy for developers who want to build infrastructure, such as transmission lines for renewable energy, across their farmland. They warned that since the year 2000, Australia’s available arable land had been reduced by 15 per cent, much of it lost to infrastructure development and urban sprawl. The policy has been released as Gippsland farmers face plans for pipelines and transmission lines across their land as part of the state government’s energy policy, which aims to link offshore wind farms to the Latrobe Valley energy network.
“Delay 3G shutdown” after inquiry established: Roberts
The Senate has voted in favour of a One Nation motion establishing an inquiry into the looming 3G mobile network shutdown. One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts said telecommunications companies must delay the 3G shutdown until the inquiry concludes:...
Regional leaders ready to embrace net zero – but information void still a major hurdle: RAI
“The net zero transition will deliver a fundamental change to the way regional economies operate. Our research has found there is a deep thirst for information specific to how a low-carbon future will play out in a regional context”: Regional Australia Institute CEO, Liz Ritchie.
Smiles in the miles as Casino to Bentley Rail Trail opens
It’s been 10 years in the making – the rail trail is complete and you can ride, walk, take a trishaw, take the dog or run the Casino to Bentley Rail Trail. It is more than 13 km tracking through farmland with cows grazing against a backdrop of soft, green hills.
Toowoomba stadium upgrade quashed
Toowoomba’s 2032 Olympics future is in question following Monday’s announcement by Premier Steven Miles that plans to upgrade Toowoomba Sports Ground (Clive Berghofer Stadium) will not proceed. Premier Miles made the announcement on Monday, following the release of the 60-day Sport Venue Review of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venue infrastructure completed by an independent panel led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.
Haines pushes priority budget projects
Independent Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has made the case for significant investment in projects that benefit communities in the electorate in her submission to the federal government ahead of the May budget. The key themes of Dr Haines’ Indi Budget Submission reflect the widespread concerns of the electorate right now including increasing regional housing supply, providing cost-of-living relief and improving health outcomes.
Experts query wind plans costs and timing
The state government is accelerating planning approvals for renewable projects as several energy experts have predicted that Victoria's wind energy will be more expensive and will take longer to meet targets than the government has estimated. The Premier, Jacinta Allan, last week announced renewable projects will be eligible for an accelerated planning pathway under the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).
