Buloke calls for better lines of consultation on VNI West Project
Buloke Shire Council has publicly expressed its concern about the consultation processes in relation to the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) Project and called for the project to be suspended.
Barkly on top of NT Budget: Paech
Nyinkka Nyunyu is set for a $7 million upgrade, announced in this week’s Territory Budget ... Speaking to the Tennant & District Times, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech said works include a new artist studio, upgraded gallery, performance and storage spaces and immersive audio visual displays and experiences that share history, stories, arts and culture.
Scrapping dam will hold back food production: NSW Farmers
Farmers say scrapping Dungowan Dam is a short-sighted move that will limit future food production. State Water Minister Rose Jackson announced Dungowan Dam would not proceed in the wake of the federal budget, saying it would save taxpayers $632 million.
Turf Club secret: What`s in that box?
The Alice Springs Turf Club is hosting Chinese satellite navigation equipment with potential military use and apparently without the knowledge of the Federal Government. This is alleged by a source, formerly linked to the company that supplied it, speaking with the Alice Springs News on the condition of not being named.
Dismal dollars in Budget for rural roads: NFF
Three peak bodies representing famers and transporters have raised concerns about the lack of sufficient additional funding in the Federal Budget to address the perilous state of flood impacted rural roads. In the lead up to the Budget, GrainGrowers, National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) called for an emergency funding package of nearly $5.5 billion, a call the Government answered with just $250 million in new funding.
Fix disability access to shops
A local disability advocate has called on some businesses in Naracoorte to fix access to their shops for people with mobility disabilities. Julie Brodie of the Naracoorte Counselling Association says the area of contention for people with mobility disabilities is by far the lack of access to certain shops in Naracoorte.
Local producers excited as micro abattoir draws closer
Eight years after its inception and almost 12 months after construction began, the Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative’s micro abattoir is reaching the final stages of licensing approval. The project will enable producers to have full control of the supply chain to ensure the ethical treatment of their animals and to value add their produce.
New youth detention centre to be built at Woodford: Linard
The first of two new youth detention centres for Queensland will be built at the Woodford Correctional Precinct north west of Brisbane ... The Palaszczuk Government has also committed to building a new youth detention centre near Cairns.
Construction of new cabins underway
West Wimmera Shire Council is pleased to announce that construction has commenced on the new cabins for the Kaniva Caravan Park. The new cabins are part of the 'Cabins Across the Wimmera Mallee: Strengthening the Visitor Economy' initiative, a collaboration between Council, the Wimmera Development Association, and Hindmarsh, Buloke, and Yarriambiack shires.
Budget 2023-24: Supporting a strong, secure and sustainable regional Australia: King
Developing the Regional Investment Framework - outlined in the 2023-24 Budget - puts regions and the people who live in them, at the heart of decision making. The Framework will establish a new regional development forum for Australian Government agencies, with regular engagement to better inform Commonwealth decisions ... The Framework identifies four key priority areas to support regional development – investing in services, people, places and industry.
Federal budget “falls short” for farmers and regional NSW: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers’ Association is disappointed the federal government has missed key opportunities in the federal budget to strengthen Australian agriculture and rural communities. President of NSW Farmers Xavier Martin said the federal budget has “fallen short” of expectations, particularly around the significant biosecurity threats Australian farmers face.
‘Cost of living’ budget does little to stem rising food prices as farmers taxed more: NFF
Tonight’s ‘cost of living’ budget is a missed opportunity to address food price inflation, according to Australia’s peak farm body. National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, said the budget does nothing to get to the heart of rampant food price inflation – which NFF polling shows is weighing on the minds of 8 in 10 Australians.
Budget a mixed result for grains industry: GrainGrowers
The federal budget has delivered a mixed result for rural Australia, with GrainGrowers expressing disappointment and calling for additional work in a number of areas ... While welcoming the steadfast commitment to maintaining Fuel Tax Credits and the extra attention to childcare, GrainGrowers said the government had missed a range of valuable investment opportunities for grain growers.
2023-24 Federal Budget: What it means for agriculture and regional Australia: NAB
NAB’s team of leading economists has broken down the 2023-2024 Federal Budget, looking at what it means for agriculture and regional Australia. The centrepiece of this year’s Budget for the agricultural sector is $1 billion over the forward estimates (and $268 million annually ongoing) and for a strengthened biosecurity system.
In the zone
Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council plans to create 230 residential allotments between Fisherman Bay and Port Broughton to meet demand and ease the local housing shortage. Council received approval from Minister for Planning Nick Champion to start the process to rezone 26 hectares of farming land from rural to residential on Friday, May 5.
Lingiari MP visits Barkly schools
Five Barkly schools have been successful in a share of the $32 million grants to upgrade infrastructure and equipment. Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour was in Tennant Creek yesterday and visited Tennant Creek High School which will receive $25,000 to repair and maintain its facilities and refurbish classrooms.
Overhead transmission lines debate rolls on
Jenny Pollard. Avenues of engagement, updates on consultations and community intervention were amongst the themes addressed by the speakers at last Monday’s community meeting held at the Charlton Park function room ... Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, made good on her offer to bring Leader of the Federal National Party, David Littleproud, to the region following the strong activism at the St. Arnaud forum held in mid-April.
Northern Rivers flood rebuild $7.9 billion and rising
The cost to rebuild and repair more than 2500 projects of flood ravaged public infrastructure on the Northern Rivers following the devastating 2022 floods is estimated at $7.9 billion and is predicted to increase ... NRRC head David Witherdin said the increase in costs was expected as the corporation identified more projects.
Towards a national approach to cities and regions: King, Collins, O’Neil
National Cabinet agreed to begin work on a more coordinated approach to Australia’s cities and regions. The range of reforms agreed on 28 April 2023 will see governments work together to better plan for housing, services and infrastructure ... A shared vision to ensure growth in cities is sustainable via the National Urban Policy.
Government must take control of electricity planning infrastructure: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has called on the Victorian Government to step in and take over planning of the state’s transmission network following the consultation on the proposed VNI West project. VFF President Emma Germano said the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) had failed to take the impact on agricultural production into account in planning for transmission on behalf of the Victorian Government, and that the government needs to take back control.
Rolleston Airstrip set for takeoff
As part of the Australia Government Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, council has engaged a contractor to undertake the design and construction of pavement rehabilitation works on the Rolleston Aerodrome Landing Area runway. The design phase is expected to commence in early June and conclude in mid-June 2023 with the construction phase to commence between July and September 2023.
Powerlink aggravating anxiety: Property Rights Australia
Powerlink Queensland’s continued roll out of power transmission projects is having significant mental health impacts on Queensland landowners. "On Wednesday 26 April landowners were contacted by Powerlink representatives advising of an imminent announcement of the final Woolooga West high voltage powerline corridor": Interim Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) Jim Willmott.
