Battery plan backlash
Council raises alarm, TagEnergy defends Naracoorte mega-battery proposal. A Portugal-based energy company’s plan to build a 600-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) on 11 hectares of prime agricultural land west of Naracoorte has ignited fierce community debate, with questions mounting over land use, safety, transparency, and the long-term implications for the region.
Energy Estate Digital announces Tasmanian data centre hubs and digital infrastructure plans: Energy Estate
Energy Estate Digital is developing state of the art subsea data cable networks between Australia and New Zealand and key global hubs including California, Japan and India. These new networks are designed to support the growth of the AI economy and connect global hubs with new regions with access to the abundant land, energy and water resources.
The Glasshouse officially opened
The Gannawarra’s newest community meeting and digital connectivity space is officially open for business. More than 100 people gathered at Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library this morning for the official opening of The Glasshouse.
Tech giants driving rise in digital platform complaints: TIO
A new report by Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) reveals more than 1,500 people have come to the organisation since 2023 with complaints about social media and other digital platforms. The report, Digital platforms complaints insights, shows 71 per cent per cent of disputes are with the major tech companies Google, Microsoft, Apple, Hubbl, and Meta.
Snowy locks in long term contracts
Snowy Hydro continues to strengthen its critical role underpinning reliability while enabling Australia's renewable energy transition with the signing of major energy contracts with Aula Energy and TagEnergy, securing new capacity in wind generation and grid-scale battery storage. The long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Aula Energy will see Snowy Hydro procure 120MW of renewable energy from the Carmody's Hill Wind Farm in South Australia.
Anger at boiling point over fuel station approval
A rescission motion has been submitted within 24 hours of one of the most contentious meetings of Hay Shire Council last Thursday when a Development Application (DA) for an unmanned fuel station was approved. Mayor, Carol Oataway exercised her right to cast an additional vote when the decision was tied at three all, and thereby approved the application. This caused the well-packed gallery to erupt in disgust, disappointment and disbelieve.
Cook Government must provide answers on asbestos risk in regional wind farms: Love
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has called out the Cook Labor Government for its failure to provide clear answers or decisive action following revelations that asbestos has been discovered in the lift brake pads of wind turbines imported into Australia from China.
Destruction of nature for transmission infrastructure proves biodiversity offsets are nature negative: Higginson
Labor Premier Chris Minns and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe are facing criticism from multiple sides of politics over their handling of the Central West Orana REZ following revelations that scores of native vegetation had been cleared to make way for a renewable energy project. An estimated 670 trees have been cleared, including critically endangered hollow bearing trees which make up habitat for koalas, glossy black cockatoos, little eagles, squirrel gliders and eastern pygmy possums.
Regional patients left behind by Metro Tunnel connections: Cleeland
The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for designing the Metro Tunnel around Melbourne priorities while leaving regional Victorians to battle difficult, impractical connections.
Farmers unite to protect a family legacy
In the David vs Goliath battle of farmers and industrial renewables, Colin Fenton didn't mince his words in a showdown with a Transmission Company Victoria attempting to gain access to the family's 102-year family farming legacy at Dingwell. "We've been through wars, floods and fire, by hell we're a bloody resilient group," stated Colin, who, in his 80s, stood firm with his wife Mary and a group of supporters, who had rushed to their side for one of two attempted property entries this week.
New blueprint to scale resilient food infrastructure across Australia: Food Connect Foundation
A new report from the Food Connect Foundation reveals how community-owned food infrastructure can build resilience into Australia’s food system at a time of rising climate, health and supply chain pressures. Co-authors Rose and Pekin, alongside social impact expert Elise Parups, will discuss the report and potential impact in a national launch webinar at 11:30am AEST, Thursday 27 November.
Road speed limit cut quietly shelved after rural backlash, Coalition advocacy: Webster
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says Friday afternoon’s quiet shelving of Labor’s proposed default speed limit reduction is a victory for Coalition advocacy and common sense.
Housing, aviation and water security top agenda at Macquarie Street talks: Regional Cities NSW
Regional Cities NSW (RCNSW) has led a delegation to Sydney to progress joint solutions to the most pressing issues facing regional cities across the state. With talks centred on housing, infrastructure, regional aviation and water security, the delegation sought to strengthen its partnership with the Minns Government to ensure regional cities continue to grow and prosper.
Labor greenlights Perth rubbish dump in York betraying the Wheatbelt: Hunter
Member for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter MP, has slammed the Cook Labor Government for signing off on the controversial Perth waste dump planned for York. He says this is one of the most blatant betrayals of a regional community in recent memory. “After years of sustained community backlash, countless submissions, rallies, petitions and meetings, Labor has arrogantly pushed ahead with turning York into a dumping ground for Perth’s rubbish,” Mr Hunter said.
Western Queensland councils oppose proposed reduction to default rural speed limits: WQAC
The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) has called on the Australian Government to reject proposals to reduce the default speed limit on unsigned roads outside of built-up areas, warning that such a change would impose unnecessary costs, undermine regional productivity and fail to address the real causes of road trauma in rural and remote Queensland.
The results are in – Mallee’s Biggest Survey results published: Webster
Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has released the views of over 5,300 Mallee voters showing strong opposition to Labor’s energy policies and highlighting that her advocacy is consistently in harmony with what Mallee voters believe ... Mallee’s Biggest Survey was circulated within Mallee to every letterbox and online in the wake of the May election and took months to receive, manually process and analyse over 5,300 responses.
Lake’s new steps
This summer, everyone — young, old or less mobile — will have a chance to enjoy the sparkling waters of Naracoorte Swimming Lake, thanks to a community-driven project that has transformed accessibility at one of the town’s most beloved landmarks.
Farmers launch petition to protect irreplaceable farmland: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling on Victorians to pledge their support to grow and protect the State’s prime farmland by signing a new petition as part of the new ‘Help protect Victorian farmland’ campaign. VFF President Brett Hosking said Victoria’s farmland represents a huge asset that needs protecting.
Major flood resilience works at Mount Sylvia now complete
Extensive flood resilience works to protect communities in Mount Sylvia and Woodbine from future flood damage are now complete. The $1.8 million rehabilitation project, led by Resilient Rivers SEQ, involved major creek bank stabilisation and revegetation works at three priority sites along Blackfellow Creek, and was officially unveiled today.
DA process has left community behind, youth worker says as councillors vote on rec centre
It was always going to be a difficult decision. Councillors had to vote for or against the current development application for the Kyogle Memorial Rec Centre. Sounds simple — it was anything but. Approving the current DA meant the Youthie building would be demolished to make way for the new rec centre. Not approving it puts the $4.5million government funding in peril.
Three-day submission extension “an insult”
Terry Collins. The NSW Government has come in for strong criticism for allowing just three days extra for public comment on its controversial Draft Central Coast Strategic Conservation Plan ... "The Plan proposes 14,000 new residential lots; it outlines how our unique biodiversity will be managed for the next 30 years and it describes how the NSW Government will deliver its housing targets by unlocking new lands for development": Acting Mayor John Mouland.
Victoria should pilot a recycled drinking water facility and plan now to expand desalination capacity: Infrastructure Victoria
The Victorian Government should pilot a recycled drinking water facility as a pathway to boost water security and improve consumer understanding, the state’s independent infrastructure advisor finds. Manufactured water created from recycled wastewater can help meet growing demand for water and offset the impacts of climate change.
