Hay at the forefront of evolutionary pool safety
Hay Shire Council has embraced evolutionary AI to take the new John Houston Memorial Pool to the next level of drowning prevention with advanced pool safety.
Festival application refusal
The Buloke Shire Council has advised the organisers of the 2025 Esoteric Music Festival to cancel the event due to Council officers recommending the refusal of a planning permit based on significant health and safety concerns. With the Festival’s previous five-year planning permit expiring after the event last year, an application for a new ten-year permit was submitted in September 2024, with approval required to enable this year’s event to be held in Donald from 6 to 11 March 2025.
Marina ahoy
Joanna Tucker. Berth owners at the Copper Cove Marina, Wallaroo, have agreed to fund major mooring upgrades, totalling $800,000. Voting at a general meeting of berth owners and residents on February 19 was almost unanimous to privately fund the project.
After eight years, opera returns to Art Deco civic hall
It’s been a long time coming – the last time there was opera at the Casino Civic Hall was in 2017. The upgraded civic hall will again host a night of country music and opera in May.
Retrofits take over from buybacks as flood authority gets cash ready for homeowners
On February 28, 2022, Mal Lanyon was in the State Emergency Operations Centre in Sydney, watching the flood disaster unfold ... Three years on from those days when relentless rain filled our rivers and overflowed into our homes, Mr Lanyon is chief executive of the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
Joining forces to save tourism industry
The town’s focus in 2025 will be on a fight for survival of the travel industry and the nearly 400 members of Tourism Central Australia will need to join forces. That was the unanimous view of the 150 people who attended the organisation’s AGM yesterday evening.
Levy raises questions
A State Government levy to raise funds for emergency services has caused some concerns, with suggestions that there was not enough consultation and that the levy is an expanded tax. The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) was announced in December by the Victorian Government as a replacement for the Fire Services Property Levy and will be collected from Tuesday 1 July.
Councillors, staff not protected
Elected members and council staff do not have parliamentary privilege like state and federal politicians do. They can be sued for defamation, slander, and libel as a result of what is said during any of their meetings, especially those which are open to the public and livestreamed. At Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s January 28 meeting, CEO Trevor Smart explained his previous advice around livestreaming and tort law.
Basin water conference comes to lower Murray in 2025: MDBA, Murray Bridge Council
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will hold its fifth annual water conference 29 and 30 July in the city of Murray Bridge in regional South Australia. MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said it was the first time River Reflections would be held in this part of the southern Basin where community interests and water management challenges differed to those further upstream.
Changes to TRC’s Animal Management Centre
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is removing the after-hours, drop-off box facility at Toowoomba’s Anzac Avenue Animal Management Centre effective from tomorrow, Friday, February 28. Residents are instead being called upon to help with looking after animals and finding their owners.
Council GM awarded pay rise
Emma Pritchard and Rodney Stevens. Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black has been awarded a 2.5 percent pay rise after Councillors voted on the recommendation to increase her remuneration during one of the most drama filled Council meetings in years ... Data obtained from the NSW Office of Local Government shows between July 2023 and June 2024, Ms Black was paid $363,866.
‘Desperation’ over doctor shortage
Christine Webster. The Australia-wide problem of being unable to attract enough doctors to rural areas is impacting heavily on the Waikerie Medical Centre and local community ... Dr Wanguhu said young doctors often preferred to take up posts at medical centres in Barmera, Berri and Renmark where they were not required to work in an emergency hospital.
Cape Elizabeth ‘single biggest driving force’
Sarah Herrmann. Damage at Cape Elizabeth was the single biggest driving force behind a proposed coastal access strategy for Yorke Peninsula, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board general manager Tony Fox says.
Coastal plan out now
Sarah Herrmann. Community consultation is now open on the draft Yorke Peninsula Coastal Access Strategy 2025-2035, with members of the public invited to share their feedback via a survey ... Consultation sessions have already been held with local landholders and progress associations, 4WD representatives and the tourism sector.
Facelift for Bute beauty
Michelle Daw. Much-needed repairs have been completed to the acclaimed artwork on a silo at Bute. Artist Adam Poole-Mottishaw and his assistant, Shane Cook, repaired sections including the face, hair and hands of the young girl depicted on February 18 and 19.
“Labor’s state tax disguised as a local charge” – the ESVF is the latest blow to rural communities: McArthur
The Labor Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy will increase the financial strain on ratepayers during a cost-of-living crisis, particularly in rural and regional communities. The new tax is set to be collected by local councils on 1 July 2025.
Biodiversity Trail final installations complete
The final art installations for the Men’s Sheds Biodiversity Trail have now been installed in Nandaly, Watchem, and Nullawil, completing this unique community-led project in ten towns across Buloke Shire. Featuring handcrafted avian and insect homes, the trail has been a collaborative effort between the Men’s Sheds in Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof and Sea Lake, local artists and community members, Landcare and Buloke Shire Council.
Fruit and veg in regional Victoria are not dearer!
A new study analysing fruit and vegetable prices in regional Victoria shows that locally grown produce doesn’t necessarily cost more than fruit and veg. grown outside of the region. Health experts say the findings are good news for household budgets, local communities, local farmers and retailers, as well as the environment.
SDRC tackles farm plastic waste
Southern Downs Regional Council is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future with the launch of a $350k waste recovery pilot program designed to manage excess agricultural plastic waste currently landfilled, stockpiled or buried on farms across the region.
Five metre lizard sculpture plus new entrance sign – what’s your thoughts?
Sean Cunningham. Anyone want a five-metre lizard (Eastern Bearded Dragon) sculpture in town and a new entrance sign which could cost $300,000? This was the hot topic of conversation during Narrandera Shire Council’s meeting on Tuesday.
New strategy combatting battery fires
A $2 million program is supporting councils to expand collection points for problem batteries like those found in vapes and e-scooters. The new LNP Government has announced a three-point plan to tackle battery safety risks sparked by a spike in dangerous fires.
Community enthusiasm makes a splash as 50m pool opens in Grafton
As she positioned herself on the starting block, adjusted her goggles, and concentrated on her breathing while focusing on the water in front of her, it was a moment 16-year-old Andrea Thomson was determined to savour ... Andrea was one of the first swimmers to dive into the 50m Grafton Olympic Pool at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre during its public opening on February 15.
