News

Madison Eastmon. Two Riverland firefighters are preparing to ascend 28 floors of Melbourne's Crown Metropol Hotel next month, with the charity climb to raise funds for crisis support services and cancer research … SA Barmera Country Fire Service (CFS) members Brodie Batty, and Beatrice Walladge, will soon be making the trek to the 12th Annual Firefighter Stair Climb…

Christine Webster. The completion of the $4.6m Waikerie Riverfront Community Hub was celebrated with a Grand Opening at the venue on Saturday, attended by about 100 people. Waikerie Football Club president Brendan Sidhu officially welcomed those who attended the event, including Barker MP Tony Pasin, Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone, and Elizabeth MP Lee Odenwalder...

A descendant of the first settlers at Lowbank, east of Waikerie, has written a book on the history of the former local school, providing an insight into education in the area from 1913 to 1942. The book, titled 'Low Bank School History', was published last month, and is Cheryl Paschke's fifth book about the history of the area.

The NSW department responsible for delivering water to the environment, and setting water allocations, has hit back at Member for Murray Helen Dalton MP's claims that water is being stolen from irrigators. The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said Ms Dalton's claims of water theft are incorrect.

A landmark class action legal battle against the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) commenced last week in the New South Wales Supreme Court. After six long years, the case – alleging water mismanagement by the MDBA and brought by thousands of farmers - is finally getting its day in court.

The Hon. Nick McBride. The recent storms that hit areas of the Limestone Coast have again laid bare the urgent threat of coastal erosion in the region. With every storm, we lose more of our coastline—along with the infrastructure, tourism, and natural environment it supports ... They reflect a growing crisis that short-term fixes like sand replenishment or rock walls can no longer solve.

Of 27 mobile phone towers planned for the South East, Telstra only ever earmarked two for the Naracoorte Lucindale Council area, with parts of districts like Callendale, Spence and others remaining without services. As Telstra, since 2011, is a private company with service obligations to rural and regional people, the council opted following a 6-4 vote - not to put $140,185 of ratepayer funds into the telco giant’s project.

The Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) claims it is strategically shifting away from depending on expensive locum doctors … But shadow minister for Regional Health Penny Pratt has rejected the network’s claims, saying they did not reflect the reality she hears “almost weekly” from rural communities.