NT

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If the Northern Territory wants to achieve a 50% renewable energy target by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, as it says it does, it seems we will need to make a choice between two types of mineral extraction: Good Mining and Bad Mining. “Good Mines” would get out of the ground the dozen-plus materials needed to make batteries and solar panels, known as critical minerals, needed for clean energy technologies, including copper, nickel, manganese, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum and zinc.

NT Mining Minister Nicole Manison was addressing more than 300 industry people attending the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) in Alice Springs ... She said the NT has 15 of the critical minerals the world needs, “and we have lots of copper as well, and 13 prospective critical minerals” ... Minister Manison said the government will change the royalty system to ad valorem, including petroleum.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month with this year’s themes being Drawing Connections and Prevention Demands Equity. On Wednesday the Barkly Sexual Assault Referral Centre team held a Community BBQ in Peko Park to raise awareness in the community that sexual violence is not okay and that there is support available for those that are affected by it.

Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin met with his Territory counterparts this week at the Local Government Association NT’s (LGANT) annual conference in Alice Springs. The two-day Sustainable Councils conference was held in Alice Springs and was attended by mayors, presidents, councillors, CEOs and delegates from all 17 local government areas in the Territory.

The Tennant Creek Watch House will undergo a $11.5 million redevelopment as part of the Territory Labor Government’s investment to improve police resources in Budget 2023. The Territory Government committed $3.4 million to redevelop the Watch House in 2019 as part of the Barkly Regional Deal, however it was subsequently deemed that a full replacement of the facility was required.

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The biennial Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, organised by NT Farmers Association, is now in its 5th year. The conference was established to promote the development of agriculture across northern Australia and to raise the profile of northern region at a national level. 

The Voice is not on the agenda of two of the three local governments in the Central Australian bush, and it is understood that this is also the case with the MacDonnell Regional Council ... Adrian Dixon, President of the Central Desert Regional Council, said the Voice had not been spoken about in the council and there had been no consultation about the Voice ... And Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin says: “We don’t need a Voice, we want an Ear first.”

Catherine Grimley. On Wednesday night as he was playing a game of eight ball at the Memo Club, local identity Greg "Wheelie" Jordan received an alert on his home security app that there were unwanted visitors in his yard ... his modified car was stolen and home ransacked ... upset and angry he is victim a second time ... feels he has no option but to give up his beloved eight ball and become a prisoner in his own home until he is able to sell up and leave town.

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Pam Dillon. A team of 15 boys from four different schools across the Barkly ventured up to Darwin to compete in the 12 Years and Under School of Sport Education NT Australian Football Championships. Team officials Tyler Horwood and Lachlan Dunemann coached and managed the boys through the three-day championships.

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Dave Oakes. What’s the difference between Rap and Hip Hop? An unlikely place to find this out was the Yipirinya School yesterday afternoon, scene of a Heavy Metal concert for the young ... The youth concert organised by the town council was a focus on the possibilities in life as opposed to anti social behaviour.

From 3 April 2023, all interstate and international visitors will need to purchase a Parks Pass to visit most Territory parks and reserves ... “Territorians do not need to purchase a Parks Pass. This only applies to interstate and international visitors”: Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Sally Egan.

Declaring buffel grass a weed, as it is in South Australia, will be considered by a technical working group assessing the impacts of, and approaches to, the introduced plant that is causing extensive damage to native flora and providing fuel for massive bushfires ... We have asked when, and how much money the government has set aside for the campaign against what is widely already recognised as a weed, even if not declared.

The Tennant Creek Fishing Club’s annual Family Fun Fishing Day made a comeback at Lake Mary Ann last weekend. The weather co-operated wonderfully, with little wind, warm and sunny as around ninety people came out to the lake to discover the joys of fishing.

There was a good turnout for the Country Women’s Association (CWA) AGM last Saturday with new members being welcomed and the return of a familiar face in the form of Bonnie Thompson who has returned to Tennant Creek ... With a new committee in place, craft mornings have resumed on Sunday mornings from 10am until noon at the CWA Hall on Noble Street.

Most people in town would be familiar with the huge personality and smiling face that is Amy James and see her frequently at events like Do it for Dolly, RU OK, and Women’s Health Week events ... Amy’s contributions have earned her a nomination for the NT Young Achiever Awards in the Somerville Community Service Award People’s Choice category...