Brolgas return to Towong
The last of four largescale artwork pieces was installed at Towong ... as part of Stage 2 of the Great River Road touring route project. The newest sculpture depicts two brolgas in a Brolgas return to Towong courtship dance on the Towong Walking Trail.
Maybe it’s time for a revamp?
No doubt the signwriters at Toowoomba Regional Council are busy people - if you check around the Region you’ll notice there are thousands of signs for which the Council is responsible ... So it’s understandable that not every sign will get immediate attention when it becomes a bit dilapidated. However, this sign at Federation Park, Vale View is probably well overdue for an upgrade.
Summer congestion: Beach parking challenge
Patricia Gill. Parking will be at a premium at Ocean Beach and Prawn Rock Channel with the area expected to be congested with beachgoers over summer. Ocean Beach near the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club is expected to remain closed to the public until October next year as work continues on the refurbished clubrooms … The Ocean Beach car park will remain closed while contractors use the area as a laydown space…
Floodplain flashbacks
A not so well-known bard once remarked that one cannot learn the lessons of the future until you thoroughly know and accept the history of the past. These prophetic words came to mind when I attended a recent meeting in Yamba and most of the people present were relative newcomers to our town. I soon realised they had not experienced the original fears suffered by most local ratepayers over the then first attempts to develop our controversial floodplain areas…
Koala Park panel reps selected: City of Coffs Harbour
City of Coffs Harbour will be represented as the NSW Government moves toward the creation of a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast ... The consultation process - as it works toward the park’s formation - includes establishment of three advisory panels (Aboriginal groups, community and industry) ... Coffs Harbour Council resolved to nominate Cr Jonathan Cassell to the Great Koala National Park Community Advisory Panel. Â
Council election results declared
Results for the 2024 local government election were declared by the election manger for Mount Alexander Shire Kelvin Tory ... at the Council Chamber in Castlemaine. A small gathering of supporters and constituents joined key council officers, as each of the successful candidates gave a short speech.
‘We should never forget’ plea at Remembrance Day
Sean Cunningham. The loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts was commemorated by locals ... during a Remembrance Day service at the Narrandera Memorial Gardens ... On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, people gathered not only in Narrandera, but around the Riverina and Australia-wide, to pause to remember those who have fought and died in conflicts around the globe so we can enjoy the lives we have today.
Gannawarra votes in wardless election
Gannawarra Shire Council residents have spoken, with a new group of councillors being elected in the municipality’s first wardless election. Three of the seven council positions will be made up of fresh faces for the 2024-2028 councillor term. Of the 8,353 residents enrolled to vote, 6,797 formal votes were cast and 233 informal (3.31 per cent). Winning her position with a commanding 1,874 first preference votes (27.57 per cent), Lisa Farrant said she was excited for the term ahead.
Council secures renewable electricity supply power purchase agreement
Narrandera Shire Council has secured a renewable electricity supply agreement with Iberdrola Australia through to the end of 2030 as part of a buyer’s group facilitating a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 13 regional councils in New South Wales. The agreement secures the supply of over 390-gigawatt hours of electricity to 163 large council sites and streetlighting across regional NSW...
We will remember them
Cenotaphs and memorials across the Clarence Valley were decked with wreaths and flowers as the community stopped to remember the end of hostilities of the ‘war to end all wars’ on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Murrumbidgee Council says no action on alleged Gundaline fuel spill
Murrumbidgee Council has released a report following investigations into an alleged fuel spill at Gundaline Station, east of Hay. In the report, Council’s Director of Planning and Infrastructure Garry Stoll advised no action would be taken. Mr Stoll cites the extended time frame of the alleged incident to the report, the anonymous nature of the allegations and the lack of evidence at the site when inspected in May 2024.
Splash, splash!
An ever-popular drawcard for locals and visitors alike, the iconic Naracoorte Swimming Lake will open to the public for the summer season ... According to the council, staff have cleaned the floor of the lake, painted the walls and were on track to paint part of the lake floor and walkway/concourse around the lake prior to the opening.
Letter to the Allora Advertiser Editor
...I accompanied the President and the Secretary of the Allora Sports Museum to an intended meeting with the mayor and councillors of the Southern Downs to discuss ongoing issues that are slowing the progress of the said Museum to a crawl ... The council was represented by two council officers and two councillors. Where were the mayor and the balance of the elected councillors, too busy?
Coro Club announces end of hosting Riverina Field Days
Coro Club at Griffith has announces it will no longer host the Riverina Field Days beyond 2024. This decision follows an extensive review involving the Board of Directors, Coro Club staff and consultation with multiple exhibitors, resulting in the board unanimously voting not to proceed with the event in 2025 or beyond.
Spotlight on Lake Mejum – again!
Sean Cunningham. The Lake Mejum/Coolah water storage proposal is back in the spotlight, following an announcement from Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka. Council is seeking funds to conduct a feasibility study into Lake Mejum/Coolah as an off Murrumbidgee River water storage location. A former Narrandera Mayor and Murrumbidgee Valley Water Users group member, Warwick Heckendorf, was an advocate for the project decades ago, but his opinion has since changed.
Spooktacularly successful Â
Between Halloween events held at Wyreema the weekend before last and at Westbrook on Halloween night, well over a thousand local children participated in community events ... 1,400 kids were counted at one house, including likely a few repeat customers, and overall over 1,000 kids plus parents, meaning upwards of 2,000 people taking part in the festivities.
Tourism group has more irons in the fire
At the 2024 annual general meeting of the Man from Snowy River Tourism Association (MFSRTA), president Ros McKenzie presented her report of its activities over the past 12 months ... "Our projects are funded from profits from the sale of souvenir items at the Corryong Visitor Information Centre and in the last few years we have also been successful with funding from a number of grants. Ongoing projects of the association are..."
Childcare centre operational by 2027
It is the news we have all been waiting for – that next step in the process that cements that Cohuna really is getting a childcare centre – an expected opening date … the State Government announced Cohuna’s childcare centre would be operational for the start of the 2027 school year. The news brought smiles to parents, employers and even people who don’t have children yet who can take comfort that they can continue to work when they do start their family.
Local winners
Barham High School and Tulla Natives are two of 17 winners in the 2024 Campaspe Murray Business Awards ... Owners of Tulla Natives, Marc and Stacey Brooke were awarded the Best Agri Business sponsored by Greenham ... diversified their traditional farming pursuits ...
Council gets tough on contamination
Contamination across the three-bin system continues to be an issue and Hay Shire Council will be forced to take action against repeat offenders. "Council staff are constantly finding waste that should not be in your greenlidded bin," General Manager, David Webb said.
Nearly there
White Cliffs artist Jenny Hayes is getting close to the finish of the mural on the long side wall of the White Cliffs Hotel. Jenny said it took a long while to gather the material for the design, relying on family and local residents memories, old papers and historical documents along with research into the variety of dinosaurs that once inhabited this region.
Culture returning health to Country
Rachel Hagan. After about a 200-year hiatus, the Narungga Nation cultural burning practices have returned to Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula) to help bring back balance to a landscape traditionally shaped by fire. Throughout the year, a series of workshops have brought the burning practice back to Country at Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, Ardrossan grasslands and Minlagawi nature reserve.
