How the Bendigo showgrounds project became a sports rort (without the sport)
Through the Bendigo Showgrounds Master Plan, the biggest and most active user group that sits hand-in-glove with the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society’s primary reason for existence has been absolutely and unceremoniously shafted.
Play, ride, explore: Wingello’s Forest Recreational Park reopens
Get ready for adventure, the brand-new Wingello Forest Recreational Adventure Park is officially open, and it’s better than ever ... Located in the heart of Wingello State Forest, the park was designed by Nicholas Bray Landscapes to offer a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience.
Rainbow Walk questions answered
Diana Roberts. The concept for walking paths around Nimbin was originally envisaged as a three-stage project in 2007. Stage one connected Cullen Street to Alternative Way and Cecil Street. The exact route for this stage was defined in 2013, after extensive consultations with the community and affected private landholders.
Central Darling Shire on alert as floodwaters approach
Residents in Wilcannia, Tilpa, and Menindee are being urged to prepare for potential flooding as floodwaters from upstream Queensland make their way downstream.
Music, trucks, fish, beef – Six big events coming to Richmond Valley
The busy time for events in Richmond Valley is May–August. Mark these events in your calendar because you won’t want to miss them.
Aboriginal land council: It’s their way or the highway
Transparency is a very one-sided proposition for the Central Land Council (CLC): It wants the news media to publish its positions but it won't give answers to questions the media put to them. That's certainly the experience of the Alice Springs News with this secretive organisation which, like other Aboriginal land councils and land trusts, are not subject to freedom of information requests.
Partnership to give battlers a chance
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has recently awarded two waste facility operational services contracts to locally-based not-for-profit organisation Ability Enterprises, which will give residents a second chance through employment at Council.
Big plans for rodeo grounds
Grong Grong Horse Sports Pty Ltd has put a proposal to the Narrandera Shire Council for a five year lease of the old Grong Grong Rodeo Grounds. The committee considers it a great space with so much room for growth and opportunity for the town of Grong Grong.
Country Mayors call out failure to address funding shortfalls
Mayor Rick Firman OAM, Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA) has bemoaned the major parties’ lack of commitment to Local Government and their failure to address funding shortfalls that were clearly identified in the Interim Report into Local Government Sustainability.
Plan confirms sports funding not being use for sports pavilion
State Government Sports infrastructure funding is being used to build a shed that was always intended to house produce stall holders and retail market activities at the Bendigo showgrounds, a planning document from 2019 has confirmed. The market shed is being built instead of a proposed multi-purpose sports pavilion that was to include changerooms, a function room, umpire rooms, toilets and kiosk on the opposite side of the arena in the equestrian precinct.
Cane Harvest Festival reignites
The hottest place in the Clarence Valley on Saturday will be Maclean as the community comes together to celebrate the reignited Cane Harvest Festival. Harking back to yesteryear, the streets of Maclean will come alive on April 12 with activities, exhibitions, music, and people for the first time in more than 25 years.
What a day for changing the game
Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland sporting volunteers had the chance to learn new skills and hear from an Olympic gold medallist in Renmark. More than 100 local sporting enthusiasts and local government representatives attended last Saturday’s Gamechanger event, held at St Francis of Assisi College, in Renmark.
Community podcasting
A small group of enthusiastic participants from Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof, and Birchip recently came together to trial podcasting and broadcasting equipment in a hands-on, skills-sharing session designed to support future community storytelling and fundraising.
100 years! What a day for Maldon Croquet
It has been through the hoops, weathered every challenge that the century could roll at it and come out the other side to celebrate its one hundredth birthday; congratulations to Maldon Croquet Club!
Many voices at community forum
A community forum at Baringhup Hall on Wednesday 26 March attracted close to 50 attendees, many with comments and questions about the State Government's proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF). Arranged and hosted by local campaigner Brian Fitzgerald, the forum featured representatives from local and state government plus the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Libs in election mode
Dangerous potholed roads, a crippling drought, the high cost of living, failing and unreliable mobile phone coverage, burgeoning government bureaucracy – as May 3 looms, they are just a few of the concerns people want addressed by the next federal government. The nation is in election mode and Liberal senators Alex Antic and Leah Blyth have been weaving their way throughout the Limestone Coast…
Labor blames Liberals
The Albanese government considers the cost of living, access to secure and well-paid jobs, and infrastructure as the most pressing issues for voters in regional towns like Naracoorte. As Australia goes to polls on May 3, a lot is at stake for all political parties. Acknowledging that “people are doing it tough,” the current federal government of four years blames the current challenges to a previous decade of “Liberal neglect.”
Street works impact bakery
The small profits achieved by the Upper Murray Community Bakery in January and February have been offset by a decrease in custom caused by the streetscape project. "The bakery is currently operating at deficit of approximately $4000 per week, which is completely unsustainable,"...
Mayor tells of family tragedy
Towong mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead, was front and centre when 500 people gathered at Albury's QEII Square on Saturday to rally for a new single site, greenfield hospital on the border ... Speaking at the rally, Cr Whitehead said that "a broken system" had contributed to his father's death ...
Sculpture launch precedes lunch
Khancoban came alive on Saturday with the highly anticipated Khancoban Long Lunch event and the opening of the local leg of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail and Snowy Hydro monument. Held at the town's community hall, the event was an afternoon filled with fine food, live music and a warm community atmosphere.
Land valuations rise across region
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has allayed fears of a large increase in their Council rates following the release of land valuations last week. The Valuer-General has issued new land valuations to the Toowoomba Region, which has an overall median increase of 31 per cent since the last revaluation issued in 2022.
No compensation for holiday van owners
Clarence Valley Council Mayor, Ray Smith is confident Council is acting in accordance with legislation concerning the impending eviction of 136 Holiday Caravan owners at four Council managed caravan parks. Letters were sent in early March to Holiday Caravan owners at Iluka Riverside Holiday Park, Brooms Head Holiday Park…

