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Media Release

Have your say on proposed rail trail

Mount Alexander Shire Council is partnering with Central Goldfields Shire Council and community group Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. to determine the feasibility of a shared rail trail between Castlemaine and Maryborough. The proposed trail is 55km long and passes through the communities of Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort and Carisbrook.

Limited tickets remain for River reflections – Narrabri: MDBA

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority's annual water conference River reflections is on in Narrabri on 14–15 June, and the final program is now  available. The 2-day forum is a showcase of the communities, industries and ideas in water management and will include an address by MDBA Chair Sir Angus Houston.

Give a sheet ® for the planet with this one simple action

Single, doubles or queens – it’s time to dig deep into the depths of your linen cupboard to give those old sheets a second chance at life. To celebrate World Environment Day, Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Council have teamed up with BlockTexx and St Vincent de Paul Society to hold a community textile recycling event, ‘Give a Sheet ® for the Planet’.

Livelihoods destroyed at the hands of the Victorian Premier: Wellington Shire Council

"In three years, we haven’t seen any evidence or sign that the Premier ever had plans to deliver on his promises to support the native timber industry with new pine plantations or any form of alternative supply. Now the livelihoods of hundreds of locals are shattered in an instant without a single word from the Premier or his government": Cr Ian Bye, Wellington Shire Council Mayor

A budget for the ages – Grim, dark and deceptive: Bev McArthur

On 23 May 2023, the Premier Daniel Andrews said: “We’re doing everything we promised Victorians we’d do – and we’re not wasting a moment getting on with it”. What he perhaps should have said was: “We promised some things – we even promised to govern for all Victorians – but we will deliver only some things, dump plenty of others, and govern for a few.” For me there’s only one headline from this budget: Victoria is broke.

Regional Victoria to suffer under state’s debt: VFF

Victoria’s State Budget reveals that regional Victorians and farmers are being unfairly forced to pay the price of the Andrews Government’s infrastructure cost blowouts and years of fiscal mismanagement in Melbourne. VFF President Emma Germano said regional Victorian’s were being made to pay as a consequence of the government’s decisions.

More jobs than people in regions – New report by Regional Australia Institute reveals demand highest for doctors and nurses

Regional job advertisements grew three times faster than in metropolitan Australia at the end of 2022, with demand for doctors and nurses skyrocketing, according to new research by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) ... “Medical Practitioner and Nurse vacancies in regions represented almost half the total national vacancies for this occupation grouping, despite regional Australia representing only one third of the population”: Liz Ritchie, RAI CEO.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales extends safety and security with SmartConnect from Motorola Solutions

New service extends the reach and capability of resilient, secure communication. Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) has deployed SmartConnect, a new service from Motorola Solutions, to securely extend the coverage and capacity of its mission-critical radio communications.

The facts on regional road programs: King

The Albanese Government’s review of the Infrastructure Investment Program will consider how the Commonwealth can further support local councils through much needed road funding programs such as Roads to Recovery Program and Black Spot Program. We know how important these programs are to local communities, especially in our regions, and the Government is committed to ensuring these programs continue to deliver for communities in the best way possible over the long term.

Queensland cane crush fires up: Canegrowers

The 2023 sugarcane crush is officially underway, with harvesters roaring into life across the Atherton Tablelands this week as growers, harvesting crews and mill workers start the race to get Queensland’s 30 million tonnes of cane cut and crushed by the end of November ... Latest estimates put the crop at 30.55 million tonnes of cane, producing between 4 and 4.5 million tonnes of sugar, the majority of which will be exported to overseas markets in Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.

Forestry sector dismayed by decision to end native Victorian forestry: Forestry Australia

"There are very few production systems on the globe that offer stronger sustainability credentials than well managed native forests. In fact, we know that well managed native forests can actually provide superior biodiversity, fire and climate outcomes. Simply excluding harvesting from native forests does not guarantee biological diversity, particularly from the broader threats of wildfires, invasive species, and climate change. Closing the native forest timber industry in Victoria will constrain the silvicultural and management options for State forests": Dr Michelle Freeman, President of Forestry Australia.

Native forestry announcement a massive blow for regional Victorian families: FWCA

Today’s announcement to bring forward the end of native forestry by six years is a devastating blow for thousands of regional Victorian families. It is estimated that native forestry provides 5000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs providing the lifeblood for regional communities such as Orbost, which stands to lose 37 per cent of its workers.

Delivering certainty for timber workers: Andrews

The Victorian Government is stepping in to deliver certainty for timber workers, sawmill operators and their communities, with an expanded transition support package as part of the Victorian Budget 2023/24. This package removes the uncertainty that has been caused by ongoing court and litigation process and increasingly severe bushfires, with an additional $200 million in support for workers and their families to transition away from native timber logging earlier than planned – by 1 January 2024.

Significant milestone reached for Tjiwarl native title holders: McGowan, Buti

The McGowan Government and the Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation have reached a historic settlement for three native title compensation claims located in the northern Goldfields region.  Settlement negotiations took place through a Federal Court mediation process and have resulted in the finalisation of the Tjiwarl Palyakuwa (Agreement), an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

River Murray under threat by Labor’s $600m hydrogen plant that won’t lower energy bills: Patterson, Girolamo

Peter Malinauskas’ experimental hydrogen plant could raid precious water resources from the River Murray to operate, it has been revealed, alongside confirmation SA households won’t see a cent of energy bill relief despite $600 million taxpayer investment ... “We are the driest state in the driest continent in the world, and Peter Malinauskas doesn’t know where he is sourcing the huge amounts of water needed to run this experimental hydrogen plant that does nothing to reduce the cost of SA electricity bills": Shadow Minister for Energy and Net Zero, Stephen Patterson.

WA to build a strong carbon farming future: Jarvis

The McGowan Government has become a Carbon Industry Code of Conduct partner, enhancing the State's reputation in the emerging carbon market. Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis announced the Western Australian Government has become a Code Partner at the Carbon Farming Industry Forum in Cairns on 22 May 2023.

Indigenous film fest is back

The Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival is back in 2023 to celebrate National Reconciliation Week ... Festival screenings include High Ground, DJAKAMIRR, Storm Boy, Carriberrie, Night Cries, Gurrumul, The Lake of Scars, Fighting Giants, The Drovers Wife, Emily in Japan and The Last Daughter.

The Wolfe Brothers to headline the Day at the Dam Music Festival

Council is thrilled to announce that the Wolfe Brothers will be the headlining act ... This exciting event will provide a platform for local service providers, disaster recovery and employment agencies to showcase their products and share resources to the attendees, through trade displays and a mini job fair.

Outback tourism on track to grow: Hinchliffe, Healy

Two 52-year-old Queensland-built, 2000 class ‘Silver Bullet’ railmotors are part of 29 new Outback Queensland visitor experiences for 2023. Longreach-based Outback Rail Adventures’ facilities including workshop and storage area and rail sidings were officially opened by Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy.

Henry Rollins Good to See You

Araluen Arts Centre. On the  Good To See You  tour Henry Rollins will faithfully recount the events of his life in the brief pre-Covid period since the last tour and when things got even stranger over the last several months. It's been an interesting time to say the least and he's got some great stories to tell.

Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery to launch ‘The Gentle Arts’ exhibition

Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery is thrilled to present the Port Pire Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia Inc. in The Gentle Arts ... The Gentle Arts is an embroidery exhibition that celebrates the historical significance, technical mastery and cultural narratives embedded within embroidery.

Vintage 1912 McDonald ‘EB’ oil tractor highlights transformative change in agricultural industry: National Museum of Australia

The significant transformation of Australia’s agricultural industry is represented by the extraordinary McDonald ‘Imperial’ oil ‘EB’ tractor, which is going on display in the Museum’s Gandel Atrium ... “The McDonald ‘EB’ oil tractor represents a theme of Australian innovation in a revolutionary era for engineering. This acquisition represents our agricultural history, and we are thrilled to share it with Australia": Dr Mathew Trinca, National Museum Director.

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