Hay sits out the calm before the renewable energy storm
SW-REZ is in the calm before the REZ Access Rights announcement-storm in the coming months. Proposed large-scale windfarms such as Pottinger, Engie and Bullawah are all waiting in the wings for the all-important announcement to be made ... further proposals are coming forward, with renewable energy development company RES announcing a $40 million commitment to local community development as part of its plan to construct the Argoon Wind Farm.
Wow for the wharf
Hugh Schuitemaker. A significant milestone in Renmark’s recovery from the 2022/23 flood event has been marked with the opening of the town’s new wharf. A large crowd of local residents, plus local and state government representatives, gathered at the Renmark riverfront last Wednesday to mark the opening of the town’s redeveloped wharf.
Lismore lays the foundation for a world-class skatepark
An important milestone in constructing Lismore’s new $3.9 million Lismore Skatepark was reached this week, with the pouring of 2400m2 of concrete set to begin ... The facility includes both ‘street’ and ‘park’ (bowl) sections and a covered mini ramp, which is eagerly anticipated by the local skater community.
Sunshine Coast selected for new subsea cable landing point
In a major win for connectivity and economic growth, Sunshine Coast Council will partner with Google, NEXTDC and others on Australia Connect, an initiative to further the reach, reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Australia Connect will deliver new subsea cable systems and build on the Pacific Connect initiative.
New faces join Buloke Council
Buloke Shire Council has officially re-elected Cr. Alan Getley as Mayor, and Cr. Graeme Milne as Deputy Mayor, during the Special Council Meeting ... in Wycheproof. The meeting also confirmed the Council’s delegate appointments and set the schedule for the year ahead.
Festive fun for 2024 Gin Gin Christmas Parade
The Gin Gin Christmas Parade is back again on Sunday 22 December with the whole community invited to get into the festive spirit. Gin Gin Rural Fire Brigade’s Jack Daw gives an overview of the event: The event started in 2023 as a way to bring the community and the local emergency services closer together, and to spread some holiday joy.
Council to fix Shuards Lane
After 10 years of neglect and six years of wrangling, the current Naracoorte Lucindale Council has voted 7-2 in favour of fixing and reinstating a 636m portion of the 1.866km Shuards Lane. At least five ratepayers no longer have all-weather access to their properties … there is no all-weather access for an ambulance or veterinarian if needed, nor a truck to move or sell livestock.
Deep dive into romance of surf culture on Mid North Coast
An immersive exhibition which plumbs the depths of the rich surfing culture on the Mid North Coast will open to fanfare at Coffs Harbour tomorrow.  Swell Chasers: Surf Stories from the Mid North Coast  sprawls across three galleries at the City of Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) from 23 November to 2 February. Â
Rail sale: Council and VicTrack respond
A property leased by the Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) is being sold by the Victorian Government, raising questions about zoning and community consultation around the sale of a heritage asset that has been a green buffer around Maldon Station since the gold rush era. The Tarrangower Times ... requested information from Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) to ask about the zoning for 14 Reef Street, which was understood to have been changed to make way for the sale ...
Two-in-five city dwellers looking to make a regional move: RAI
New research commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) shows the number of city-dwellers looking to relocate to the regions has doubled over the past 18 months, demonstrating an urgent need for solutions to regional pressure points. The results of a nationwide survey shows 40 per cent of capital city residents are considering a move to regional Australia – up from 20 per cent in May 2023.
Holiday levy from January: Stress for BnBs
The Victorian State Parliament has passed the contentious ‘AirBnB Tax’ law to impose a 7.5 per cent levy on short-stay accommodation platforms ... Michele Waddington, owner of Fairbank House holiday home rental, believes the levy will have an impact on local accommodation providers and beyond: "The legislation, which taken with other recent taxes, has significantly impacted Maldon’s economic recovery."
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.
