Headline: 55.8 per cent in favour
385 people respond to the Naracoorte Regional Sports Centre proposal survey. Many people in the district believe a sports centre will be an asset for the community and are in favour of the council’s plans to progress the Naracoorte Regional Sports Centre project.
Darling Downs Independents: A new voice?
With the local government elections looming On Our Selection News presents a media release from a community group called Darling Downs Independents in the interests of political fairness for candidates ... Darling Downs Independents is a dynamic community group dedicated to championing independent candidates for all levels of government in the Darling Downs region, including council, state, and federal elections.
Bishop’s Lodge Historic House – a facelift for a grand old dame
The grand old dame of South Hay, Bishop’s Lodge Historic House, is receiving a face-lift ... Work carried out over the past weeks include repairs to cracked plaster in the dining and drawing rooms and chapel, render to large parts of walls and general paintwork on windows.
Lockyer Valley Art Gallery to welcome ‘Paint the Town’ exhibition
Lockyer Valley audiences will be treated to an award-winning selection of regional Queensland talent with the showing of Paint the Town at the Lockyer Valley Art Gallery ... An initiative of Flying Arts Alliance, Paint the Town is the touring exhibition of the 2021 Queensland Regional Art Awards and showcases the works of 28 talented emerging and established artists from across regional Queensland.
The nappy and incontinence aid collection service turning waste into products: Greater Shepparton City Council
Greater Shepparton City Council has entered into a contract with Kelland Environmental Technology Pty Ltd, trading as DiaperRecycle, to process and recycle collected disposable nappy and incontinence product waste from Greater Shepparton residents ... "The service is processing an estimated 1,500 kg of waste per week, diverting this waste from landfill”: Liam Moller, GSCC.
Barunga West Council retains Acknowledgement of Country
Michelle Daw. Nharranga Aboriginal Progress Association has welcomed the decision by Barunga West Council elected members to retain the Acknowledgement of Country. In a five to three majority, councillors voted against a motion by Cr David Eason to remove the Acknowledgement from all council meetings and events. NAPA chairperson Michael Wanganeen said he is pleased the motion was defeated.
Rate rage
Patrick Goldsmith. More than 60 Yorke Peninsula primary producers concerned about next financial year’s rating model spilled out of the public gallery and into the foyer at a Yorke Peninsula Council workshop ... The attendees were mobilised by a Facebook post ... as explained at the workshop, council has no plans to double the rates paid by primary producers.
CBD regeneration: don’t mention crime
Public safety was mentioned frequently during the public consultation about “regenerating” the Alice Springs town centre but the resulting report provides little of value. In the Town Council’s latest Mall initiative the final presentation, now up for public comment, does not contain the words CPTED, vandalism, anti-social nor crime.
Democracy demands open doors – Council shuts out residents
Three Kyogle councillors had messages and calls from a combined 24 people who had been denied the chance to speak at the council meeting. Public access ... was not so public with only one resident getting up to speak for five minutes about the size of the red rubbish bins.
Claims cost NLC $18,000
Two Native Title Claims covering the entire South East region by various people of Aboriginal heritage, have so far cost the Naracoorte Lucindale Council $18,838.65. If successful, it is unknown what impact the claims will have on Crown land, be it privately or publicly owned ... The matter was raised in a series of "questions on notice" by Cr Cameron Grundy at Naracoorte Lucindale’s November, 2023 meeting.
Bakery closure
After serving the community for more than three generations, Naracoorte’s very popular Morris Bakery has shut its doors after losing about $300,000 in alleged theft. The bakery closed its doors on February 5, leaving the community devastated, with many lamenting the loss of a good old business.
Time to step up
Burgeoning leaders across our district have been embracing their new roles as school captains, house captains, student council representatives and year six leaders this year. This has certainly been the case at Wyreema State School, where last Friday, the school came together as a school community and celebrated the leaders for 2024.
2024 Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council
Hindmarsh Shire Council announced the 2024 Youth Councillors with a certificate presentation on Friday 9 February 2024 at the Dimboola Library. The Youth Council leadership and team-building weekend retreat with Bonnie from Youth Leadership Academy Australia got underway after the certificate presentation.
No new paramedics for Clarence
Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson will continue to advocate for more paramedics for the Clarence despite NSW Ambulance informing him that we will receive no additional local paramedics in the latest rollout. Last month the Minns NSW Government announced regional areas in NSW will get 500 new paramedics under a plan to strengthen the NSW Ambulance workforce...
Pier pressure fishing for a jetty solution
Patrick Goldsmith. Yorke Peninsula Council deputy mayor Richard Carruthers has joined the increasingly loud chorus calling for the state government to take greater action on much-needed regional jetty maintenance. Mr Carruthers, of Ardrossan, said he has been approached by roughly 50 locals concerned about the future of the jetty within the past few months.
Council ‘in tatters’ with probing questions about GM sacking on meeting agenda
This month’s Kyogle Council meeting is likely to be a fiery one given the agenda. After the sudden sacking of Graham Kennett as general manager in December, the agenda for this month’s council meeting ... is filled with questions and motions about the sacking of the GM and the appointment of a new one.
Australia Day winners celebrated at small council presentation
After the big washout of festivities on Australia Day, Barkly Regional Council rescheduled the awards ceremony for last Friday at the Council Chambers. A good number of community members turned out to support the winners of the various categories. However, several of the winners were unable to attend due to other commitments, including Citizen of the Year Alba Brockie.
Unique feature for Bordertown lake
A new ticketing system for users worth $10,690 has been installed at the Recreational Lake in Bordertown, boasting a “very unique” feature. The new feature is you don’t have to pay if you don’t want to. And the Tatiara District Council says they have put up a new signage at the Recreational Lake that says the amount of $10 charged for the use of the facility was a rate, not a donation.
Strategy champions new opportunities
Launched in February 2023, ‘Innovation Upper Murray’ is an exciting new project for the region, that locals can join now ... it aims to help the Upper Murray community and businesses identify opportunities for innovation, economic diversification and undertake long-term planning. The involvement of government and research bodies in the process, to support the successful adoption of initiatives, makes it a (place-based) method called Smart Specialisation Strategy (or ‘S3’).
Grafton Gaol sale – freehold title for Ngerrie Land Council
The Grafton Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council is set to take over about half of the historic Grafton Gaol site after a landmark agreement with the NSW Government ... “This site will be used to serve the wider community and provide much-needed job and training opportunities for local Aboriginal people and the broader Clarence Valley community”: Grafton Ngerrie LALC Chairperson Roslyn Kennedy.
Out at sea over jetty funding push
Patrick Goldsmith. South Australians are emphatically urging the state government to take more responsibility for much-needed jetty maintenance, the Local Government Association’s recently released Value of Jetties report shows. An LGA survey of more than 2400 people found 80 per cent believe the government should take financial responsibility for jetty maintenance.
New data reveals why SA jetties are worth saving: LGASA
New research shows the South Australian economy could lose over $103 million every year if jetties along our coastlines ceased to exist, supporting calls for the State Government to increase funding for repairs and maintenance. Released by the Local Government Association, the Value of Jetties report for the first time places a dollar figure on just how much jetties are worth to SA communities and the economy.
