Kiosk insights reveal peak visitor boost
Fresh data from the Lake Tyrrell digital kiosk, installed in early June, reveals active visitor engagement throughout June 2025 – a time that traditionally sees a lull in regional tourism ... With around 260 interactions recorded and up to 68 unique users per week, the kiosk’s analytics offer a clear indicator that Sea Lake’s investment in art, storytelling and nighttime experiences is paying off.
Rock up to Pickleball
Following the success of an introductory Rock Up to Pickleball session at St Arnaud, the latest sporting craze is set to continue. Northern Grampians Shire Council’s Thrive 50+ Healthy Ageing Hubs team will host ongoing pickleball sessions at St Arnaud Sports Stadium on Wednesdays at 10 a.m..
New mural transforms amenities block
Bob Dooley. Nimbin is truly blessed to have always had beautiful art around the village. Thanks to Julie De Lorenzo for her latest piece on the newly-built amenities block which adjoins Peace Park, the swimming pool, the skateboard park and the Aquarius Walking Track.
Lessons learnt from the genesis of multiple occupancy
Rob Doolan. In the beginning of the 1980s, I had escaped the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen regime and moved to the Northern Rivers desiring some rural land to build my home and live differently. In 1983 we were building the first roads on the property at Whian Whian where we planned to have a small Multiple Occupancy (MO).
Mass exodus from council
Alex Nelson. The standout features of this year’s local government elections for Alice Springs are the imminent near wholesale replacement of all council members and the high number of candidates running for councillor. With 25 candidates, it overtakes the 1988 campaign with 24 nominations for alderman as the second-highest on record.
Constant problem of broken footbridge to be solved by suspension bridge
If you have tried to cross the Richmond River using the Casino footbridge lately, you’ll see it is impassable. Richmond Valley Council said the footbridge has been underwater every week or two for the last six months since ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
Mining madness: What to say to companies wanting to explore your land for critical minerals
“Don’t talk to mining companies one-on-one. Don’t sign anything without a lawyer — not even an access agreement to your land.” This advice to landholders came from solicitor Belinda Rayment from the Environmental Defenders Office who was at a community meeting at Drake Hall on July 28 talking about mineral mining exploration licences.
Buloke shares flood protection funding
Communities across Victoria will be better protected from future flood impacts ... This includes the installation of moveable flood barriers, connecting gaps in existing levee systems, improving flood risk mapping and updating flood studies to reflect current conditions.
Mayor defends controversial levy
The much maligned Public Transport Levy, which sees Toowoomba Region residents fork out money regardless of where they live in the region, has been defended by Mayor Geoff McDonald. Mayor McDonald said Council was aware that many residents, particularly in rural and regional townships, had provided feedback on the value of the levy…
NSW Country Mayors take funding concerns to Canberra
A delegation from the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) had an intensive series of meetings with Australian Government and Opposition representatives in Canberra last week, with a focus on improving awareness of the financial plight of rural, regional and remote Councils and the dire need to improve Federal Financial Assistance Grants to support sky-rocketing operating costs.
Step up to save mountain plant
A community-based project to re-establish a critically endangered plant in the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park (BPMNP) is gaining momentum in the Upper Murray. Mountain Banksia (B. canei) became locally extinct in the park following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
‘We”ve had enough of being ignored’
The Towong Shire Council is expecting a large turnout for the community rally in Corryong this Sunday calling for a new single-site regional hospital on a greenfield site in Albury Wodonga. Sunday's protest is the latest step in a protracted campaign that has snowballed since the NSW and Victorian governments announced a joint $558 million funding commitment to redevelop the existing Albury Base hospital.
Time to reopen the Northern Rail Line — and councils must lead the way: Siri Gamage
Dr Siri Gamage. It’s been over three decades since trains last ran north of Armidale toward the Queensland border. But the question is no longer why the Northern Railway Line should be reopened—it’s why not, and when ... Reactivating the disused railway line could deliver enormous benefits for both NSW and Queensland. The infrastructure may be old, but the opportunity is very current ... There are five compelling reasons to revive this corridor ...
Council invests in sustainable future
A major upgrade at the Grafton Regional Landfill is helping Clarence Valley Council (CVC) reduce their carbon footprint while delivering sustainable results for the environment and economic benefits for the local community. Aimed at capturing harmful methane (CH4) gas emissions which are byproducts of the decomposing waste buried underground, 12 vertical gas extraction wells which extend 40m below the surface ...
Meet the new post office building owners
Listen out for the chime of the town clock in the coming months. A new era, including a fixed timepiece, is to come for local iconic building, Hay Post Office. Catherine and Trent Cox (pictured) have bought the heritage-listed building and significant historical landmark.
Massive wind farm gets green light despite local opposition
A 1,300-megawatt wind farm between Hay and Deniliquin has been approved by planning authorities, promising to power more than half a million homes ... The Pottinger Wind Farm, stretching across farmland 60 kilometres south of Hay, will be one of Australia's largest wind energy projects when completed. But the decision hasn't come without controversy – more than 50 public objections forced the project to independent assessment rather than departmental approval.
Tree policy becomes a tree trap
Land clearing was effectively banned back in 1983—but apparently no one told the Shire of Northam. Their newly released draft Tree Retention Policy (LPP27) reads as if state and federal restrictions don’t exist. It’s packed with all the right buzzwords—biodiversity, canopy cover, climate resilience—but beneath the green gloss is a bureaucratic trap.
The road to the Bentley Art Prize was well travelled at its 40th show
At the 40th Bentley Art Prize presentations were made at Bentley Community Hall ... Reg and Phyllis Hartley started the Bentley Art Prize in 1985 and ran it until 2005, when Helen Trustum took over.
Transmission meetings disappoint Council
Buloke Shire Council ... Council accepted the invitation in good faith, based on TCV’s indication that an important update on the project would be shared. However, during the meeting, Council was advised that no announcement would, in fact, be made. Instead, the meeting was re-framed by TCV as an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with Council and improve consultation processes. Council expressed its disappointment ... Council was not informed of this amendment during Minister D’Ambrosio’s visit, despite its relevance and impact on affected landowners, some of which were present and engaged in the discussion held.
Councils become ‘critical frontline actors’ in crisis response
A joint emergency response by five local councils during one of the most severe weather events in Victorian history has redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives, a new study has found.
Better big bank abandons communities, again
Just two years after local towns of Barham and Cohuna had their Bendigo Bank agencies ripped from their clutches the Better Big Bank is at it again. In 2024 the Bendigo Bank reported a net profit, after tax for 2024, of a meagre $545.0 million, up 9.7 per cent.
Council responds to pay dispute
Towong Shire Council has expressed disappointment that some of its outdoor staff have chosen to engage in industrial action regarding the current Enterprise Agreement (EA) negotiations. In response to last week's industrial action, council said in a statement that it had made a two-stage pay offer to staff which would see them on average get a 4.23 per cent increase on current hourly rates and applicable allowances.
