Council

If you’re experiencing difficulties paying your council rates, the Tatiara District Council says help is available for you. Council chief executive officer Anne Champness said financial hardships and unemployment have topped the council’s list of reasons for rate arrears and nonpayment of rates. “We are very aware of the extra burden council rates can mean for those residents or businesses that are struggling financially,”

Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross is ready to engage with the Country Cabinet when it holds its seventh meeting in Naracoorte next month. And Mr Ross says at the top of his list of things to be discussed with the Premier and his ministers will be the “region’s desperate need for an extra 1,000 homes”.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has welcomed news that the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) would soon provide an improved radar service to residents of the region ... "In today’s world where disaster preparedness is paramount, our residents need the tools and resources to make informed choices when weather warnings are issued and this additional weather radar service that the BOM will provide is certainly welcome news," Mayor McDonald said.

The Denmark Shire Council has given the green light to the building of a $5 million health retreat at The Dam on Raintree Estate 10km west of Denmark. Billed as Australia’s first cannabis health retreat the development includes a reception, lodge, six two-bedroom chalets and six off-grid eco-huts.

General Manager George Cowan highlighted issues around the council’s financial position at last week’s Council meeting and sought a resolution to proceed to community consultation on a potential application for a proposed permanent Special Variation (SV) ... representing a cumulative Special Variation of 48.1 per cent over two years. "Some of the causes of this position have been building progressively over a long period and some are much more recent ..."

A report presented to the Narrandera Shire Council last week provided a detailed analysis of Council’s current and long-term financial position and outlined drivers for those outcomes. It was tabled together with the recommendation for a rate variation application that will now go to the ratepayers of the shire for consideration. The report identified implications for service levels and impact on residents.

Touted as the biggest thing since irrigation by Gannawarra Shire Council mayor, Charlie Gillingham, the VNI West project is set to stamp its 70-metre-high 500KV power lines across the landscape and skyline. One of the project’s biggest advocates has been Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) itself with a transmission company spokesperson confirming the only reason the project is “this far west” has been the Council’s push for a terminal station to sprout an explosion in wind and solar farm.

West Wimmera Shire Council is calling on individuals, investors and businesses to help address housing shortages in the region. Council has been working in close collaboration with Wimmera Southern Mallee Development for several years to explore ways to attract investment in the shire’s housing sector.

Buloke Shire Council has confirmed that its transition out of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) has progressed with the announcement of four well known service providers being appointed by the Commonwealth Government to deliver contracted independent support services for the Buloke Local Government Area.