Council reaffirms support for HESC
Latrobe City Council has reaffirmed its strong support for the Japanese hydrogen HESC project, stressing the vital role it can play in the Latrobe Valley’s economic future, after a visit to the proponent’s industry hub in Japan. “The visit was successful in reinforcing the support from Latrobe City to be a hub for hydrogen manufacturing and the HESC project... "
Moving ANZAC Day service
A moving Anzac Day dawn service was held in Naracoorte to remember fallen soldiers and service people on April 26. Mayor Patrick Ross described the service as "amazing”.
Council upset at weeds management funding change
Council continues to fight over changes to weeds management funding. Coolamon Shire Council will express its disappointment and concern in representations to NSW Farmers regarding the Department of Regional NSW recent changes to the funding model for weeds management. Coolamon Council received a response to the correspondence sent by the three councils of Coolamon, Junee and Temora in regard to the changes.
Major improvements to start in Hay’s main street next week
Improvements are on the way for the main street of Hay. Work is set to start next week on improvements to the main street to provide a stronger road and a smoother and safer journey for up to 5000 vehicles that drive through the town each day. Hay Shire Council General Manager, David Webb welcomed the announcement made on Monday afternoon.
Phytophthora detection dog trials
Suzie Christensen. LHI has been the latest site to host field trials for a novel detection method, Phytophthora-sniffing dogs. Staff from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s Plant Clinic, and Tate Animal Enterprises, visited the Island ... to conduct searches in the PPP and settlement area using Alice, a Springer Spaniel, trained to detect the soil-borne disease.
Councillor and lawyer proud to be regional voice on Local Land Services board
Appointments to the boards of regional Local Land Services are made by the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty. There are 11 LLS regional boards and 24 appointments were recently made – two of those are for the North Coast board. Kyogle’s Danielle Mulholland is one of them ...
Now boarding from Bendigo Airport’s new terminal: Allan, King, Tierney, Edwards, Chesters, Metcalf
Bendigo Airport's new terminal and business park officially opens today, providing an economic boost to the region ... The terminal-which is approximately four times larger than the previous building-includes new check-in facilities and departure lounge, upgraded restrooms, provision for future security screening, and an indoor arrival area and baggage collection.
Wrong and rushed
Wrong, rushed, and transactional. That’s how councillors Abigail Goodman and Damien Ross of the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council described the council’s recent decision to drop the prayer and replace the Acknowledgement of Country with a shorter and more “inclusive” two-line statement. During the council’s March meeting, a motion for a revised code of practice for council and committee meeting procedures, which includes the new welcome statement, was put up for endorsement.
Phones ring in new beginning
Phone lines to the Lucindale Health Centre have been reconnected during times local nurses are rostered on duty. From Reedy Creek, Keilira and Woolumbool to Spence, Callendale, Furner, Biscuit Flat, Greenways and everywhere in between - the Lucindale community can once again ring the local health centre they built themselves.
Goldenfields Water updates member councils on latest projects
Goldenfields Water County Council hosted General Managers and Mayors from their seven constituent councils to discuss each of their priority areas and to present an update on the recent, current and future projects being undertaken by Goldenfields Water. As a county council, Goldenfields Water is a unique organisation made up of seven LGA’s including Bland Shire, Temora Shire, Coolamon Shire, Junee Shire, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Narrandera Shire and Hilltops Council.
Council’s rainbow flag seeks feedback
Northern District Community Health is leading a charge to have a rainbow flag flown on Gannawarra Shire Council’s buildings annually. The shire attempted to pass the change without community consultation at last week's council meeting by including it in the proposed Council Policy No. 148—Flags Review.
Youth week skates in
Murray River Council has supported skate clinics in Barham and Mathoura to celebrate Youth Week. The workshops were run by The Totem Collective, which was formed in 2010 and has worked to bring about positive change in the lives of young people through skating, creating and empowering.
Addressing the Sturt Highway road toll
A Sturt Highway Taskforce has been formed in response to the rising road toll on the Sturt Highway. The initiation came from Murrumbidgee Council, with the first meeting held earlier this month.
No money left in Council’s charity bucket
Two requests for financial assistance by waiving fees and charges have met with a firm no from Council, and community and sporting organisations and groups can expect this to continue, at least for the current financial year. Council’s budget allocation for assistance of $13,000 has already been fully expended after it was increased in February. “We do not have any money left in the budget,” General Manager, David Webb said.
Flood meeting gets flood education
It was standing room only at Yamba Golf and Country Club on Sunday as more than 250 Clarence Valley residents proactively engaged in a flood awareness and resilience meeting, leaving with vital knowledge to help them survive and conquer the next stormwater and Clarence River flood event.
New Tom Price Hospital campaign launched by Shire of Ashburton – Council and residents fed up with broken promises
“Bandages won’t fix broken promises”, is a grassroots campaign led by the Shire of Ashburton, following community demand to get the Minister for Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson, to follow through on her election promise to build the new Tom Price Hospital. The Tom Price community was promised a new hospital on 26 February 2021 as part of the 2021 State Election.
Push to streamline EV charging zones
Cracking down on people parking in designated electric vehicle charging station spaces is one focus of a range of new road rule changes. Two new offences have been brought in to stop non-electric cars from parking in EV parking areas, and stop EVs parking in a charging area when not being charged.
Interim report of inquiry into 2022 flood event highlights need for more support and quicker response
Greater Shepparton City Council says the interim report into the 2022 flood event in Victoria, tabled at the regional sitting of the Victorian Parliament in Echuca last week, highlights the need for a more efficient support system for community members and a faster transition to recovery following a major emergency.
Build it and they will come – World class equestrian centre opens
Fourteen million dollars later, Casino has a world class equestrian centre with an undercover arena and shaded seating for 2500 people to watch events at the Casino Showground. At the official opening ... the speeches took place on the arena floor as horses and riders wound their way around the huge space.
Minister awaits report
As The [Naracoorte Community] News deadline loomed last week, the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) was still working on reconnecting telephone services to the Lucindale Health Centre. And Health Minister Chris Picton expects to hear from a working group regarding nursing services at Lucindale “by the end of this month”.
It’s dam important – Cressbrook Dam an utmost priority
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Cr Rebecca Vonhoff last week stepped up the call for external funding for the $270 million Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project ... Without grant funding, Council’s submission to the State Government said the full cost of the dam wall upgrade will be transferred to ratepayers through increased water charges.
Flight reductions under watch
Narrandera and Leeton Shire Councils will be keeping their eyes open and continuing dialogue with Regional Express executives in relation to flight reductions and timing of flight schedules being resumed at the Narrandera Airport. An overview of the continued Regional Express flight reductions through until at least the end of October 2024 was considered by the joint airport management committee.

