Regional cities bearing the brunt of the fuel crisis – Minns Government last Budget must act: RCNSW
Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) says the Minns Government’s final Budget before the election is a defining moment to address the growing inequity facing regional communities, inequity now being accelerated by the growing national fuel crisis ... RCNSW’s 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission highlights a widening gap between rapid regional population growth and the infrastructure needed to support it.
Fast-tracked freight reform to reduce fuel costs: Malinauskas, Szakacs
The Malinauskas Labor Government is fast-tracking new heavy freight reforms to lift productivity and drive down costs, including by delivering a reduction in fuel usage of up to 18 per cent. The reforms will take effect immediately and will see 100 new network maps introduced across state roads in South Australia, unlocking access to more efficient truck and trailer configurations and providing increased operational flexibility.
Infrastructure cost kills plan for new shop at Wyreema
The cost of creating a new roundabout adjacent to a proposed new commercial development near the Karara Gardens housing estate at Wyreema has caused the developer to withdraw from the project. An application lodged in 2024 proposed the construction of a shop and food and drink outlet ... Mr David Meara told the Toowoomba Regional Council that the project would be commercially unviable because of the cost of installing the new roundabout. The cost of the roadwork was estimated to be $800,000.
Call for release of first wrong-way fatality investigation results
The Opposition is calling for the Cook Government to release the results of the investigation in response to the wrong-way collision near the Mitchell Fwy and Romeo Rd off-ramp in October last year as well as any action taken. A second wrong-way collision on February 8, not far away from where the first head-on happened, resulted in the deaths of two people.
Cook Government snubs Wheatbelt Freight Network, risks regional roads and safety: Hunter
The Cook Labor Government has dealt a major blow to regional Western Australia by excluding the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network (WSFN) from its State infrastructure investment shortlist; a decision that now threatens Federal funding and delays to critical regional road upgrades ... “This is one of the most effective and collaborative regional freight programs WA has ever seen and the Cook Government has chosen to walk away from it,” Mr Hunter said.
Health, water security and safer roads topics dominate mayoral summit
Regional local government councils including Narrandera came together again for the eighth annual Cootamundra Mayoral Summit hosted by the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke this week. Ms Cooke said it was clear that health, water security and safer roads remained top priorities right across the electorate
Trees still pose a risk to travellers
The Murray Valley Highway was re-opened to the public on Monday following the completion of post fire repairs and hazardous tree works in the aftermath of the Walwa-Mt Lawson blaze. However, motorists are being urged to use caution when travelling on the road and to adhere to changed traffic conditions including speed restrictions ... Incident Controller, Tim Gazzard, said fire-affected trees continue to pose an ongoing risk to the community well after a fire has passed.
Labor for MacKillop’s future?
As MacKillop heads toward the March 2026 state election, voters are being challenged to weigh experience, independence, and influence. Labor candidate Mark Braes makes his case in an exclusive Q&A with The [Naracoorte] News, pitching decades in law, local government, and mayoral leadership—alongside the leverage of being part of a governing SA Labor Party.
Hole lot of drama on Armidale Road
Several vehicles have had tyres damaged, and rims broken as they’ve travelled along a notoriously dangerous 22km section of Armidale Road between Coutts Crossing and Nymboida in recent months, with one social media user likening it to the Mariana Trench. With countless potholes, some measuring 16cm deep and 40cm wide, creating a hazardous obstacle course on the bitumen, many locals and business representatives ... have shared various warnings online...
Fire fuel load reaching critical levels: TasFarmers
Farmers across the north of the state are increasingly worried by the huge fuel load on the roadside, especially in the Meander Valley, Northern Midlands and Latrobe Municipalities and on roads controlled by the state government. “The risk of a catastrophic fire caused by too much long grass and weeds on the edges of the roads is increasing by the day,” said TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman.
Regional shires suffer while city projects have unlimited funding says Narrandera mayor
Narrandera mayor Neville Kschenka has returned from a visit to the site of the Western Sydney International Airport convinced that while regional shires struggle to receive funding for important road infrastructure to provide access to markets and ports, city projects appear to have almost unlimited funding ... "Premier Chris Minns spoke about affordable housing, but the conversation was mainly centred around Sydney and suburbs. He did not take any questions on the day," Cr Kschenka said.
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.
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.
The Swan River mahogany paves an empire
Deep in the forests of Western Australia, jarrah has left a remarkable legacy. In the late 1800s, this mighty hardwood—then called Swan River mahogany—revolutionised city life. The noise on London's streets changed from the familiar harsh clang of hooves on cobblestones to the softer clippity-clop of horses trotting over wooden blocks. Those blocks were made from jarrah, and soon that timber paved an empire.
Major road safety boost – Transforming hundreds of kilometres of regional roads and extending their life by decades: Aitchison
...Forming part of the government’s focus to improve the safety, resilience and reliability of NSW roads, Transport for NSW is now undertaking a 10-month spray sealing program. The initiative is targeting more than 20 state road corridors from Broken Hill to Byron Bay and as far south as Eden.
Paralysed by neglect: the road council won’t fix until 2029
When does the cost of human life and injury tip the scales and become the first priority? John Hanckel used to start his mornings with a jog, breathing in the fresh country air around Hay ... All of that changed on one terrible day in October 2008...
New community group launch a triumph
There was a full house at the launch of Mount Alexander Wildlife Watch incorporated Sunday 31 August. Local Councillors Rosalie Hastwell, Lucas Maddock and Deputy Mayor Toby Heydon turned up in support of the group's inaugural event – a key note talk by Prof. Darryl Jones of Griffith University on the subject of wildlife crossings.
Blown tyres and scam
Have you ever driven the stretch between Naracoorte and Bordertown and feared the next bump might leave you with a blown tyre or bent rim? If so, you’re not alone. Locals say the road has become notorious for sudden drop-offs, crumbling shoulders, and dangerous edges—some as deep as 15 centimetres—that have left motorists with costly repair bills and a lingering sense of frustration.
Wildlife isn’t our biggest killer
You won't hear it. You won't see it. Not until it's too late. Australia's deadliest predator isn't found in the wild. It's on our roads. Speeding is the killer. A confronting new exhibit popped up in central Melbourne last week, the centrepiece of a Transport Accident Commission (TAC) initiative aimed at changing relaxed attitudes to the deadly consequences of speeding.
Floodway upgrade complete on rural road
Upgrades have finished on the Jimna Springs Road Floodway over Umbiram Creek at Southbrook, completed by Toowoomba Regional Council. The upgrade was delivered through Betterment funding as part of the broader 2022 Flood Recovery Program.
Police driving home road user awareness
The Queensland Police Service is reminding road users of their shared responsibility in helping to reduce the number of lives lost on local roads as part of this year's Queensland Road Safety Week. This year has been one of the worst in living memory for the local area, with crashes at Greenmount, Cambooya, Vale View and Wyreema tragically claiming lives.
