Infrastructure

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.

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.

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.

Water quality in a Central Australian community has improved following the installation of a water treatment plant ... With a capacity of 360 kilolitres per day, the plant uses proven ion-exchange technology to treat the drinking water and reduce naturally occurring uranium to well below Australian Drinking Water Guideline (ADWG) Levels.

Northern Grampians Shire Council has issued a harsh rebuke of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), citing its abject failure to answer local landowners' questions about controversial power transmission infrastructure. Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin said there was absolutely no justification whatsoever that the legitimate concerns of landowners remained unanswered at this stage of the project. “We are talking about one of the biggest rural energy infrastructure projects built in the past 60 years, and the government’s planner can’t confirm how it will operate on the easement,” Cr Erwin said.

When it comes to the North Parklands, Naracoorte Lucindale Council ought to be “on the front foot”, according to Cr Damien Ross ... But Mayor Ross seemed suspicious it could be “government speak” for councils and their ratepayers to carry some financial burden and responsibility.

Which projects will benefit communities outside Tennant Creek? A number of initiatives are designed to benefit communities outside of Tennant Creek including the Student Boarding Facility which will see a 40-bed boarding school built next to the Tennant Creek High School ... The Alliance has positions on the Governance Table and contributes to decision-making about the implementation of the Deal initiatives.

Northern Grampians Shire Council has called on governments and energy agencies to respond directly to the concerns of farmers and local landowners before it develops new power transmission infrastructure ... "At the forum most of these questions were left unanswered. Rather than decide and defend, the government needs to ensure that meaningful consultation and direct negotiation is offered": Cr Kevin Erwin.

More needs to be done to incentivize the aged care industry in the Limestone Coast region and make it more appealing, says Shadow Minister for Ageing Penny Pratt. Ms Pratt says as the population in the regional towns continues to grow, with that must come an expansion of services, including aged care ... “More and more people want to age well at home or be assured that their quality of life will be enhanced in aged care facilities”: Shadow Minister for Ageing Penny Pratt.

Stewart's Range farmer Heather Heggie is concerned about the rapid spread of weeds throughout the Naracoorte Lucindale Council district ... “My question is in the absence of an engineer, what is the criteria for managing unsealed roads and the potential for weed spread?: Stewart's Range farmer Heather Heggie.