The cashless society – Part 1
Oscar Tamsen. Australians are losing more than $1 billion a year to debit and credit card scammers and electronic thieves, causing more and more Clarence Valley ratepayers and others to ask why the Federal Government is urging the country towards a cashless society. Research undertaken by the CV Independent has revealed that many Clarence Valley bank card holders cannot understand why this "convenient banking" is being favoured while it continues to be open slather to criminals’ intent on stealing their hard-earned monetary assets.
Community laments lack of consultation
As the mural which adorns the Lawrence water tower continues to attract plenty of admiration, members of the Lawrence Community Fundraising Inc (LCFI) have expressed their disappointment, insisting the idea behind the project originated from a proposal by a resident more than 12 months ago following a consultation hosted by the group to encourage community conversations and invite locals to share their thoughts about additions they wanted in their village.
Labour market tightens
Will Hunter. Unemployment figures for Yorke Peninsula’s local government areas continue to fall and businesses are still grappling with workforce shortages. In a sign of a tightening local labour market, Copper Coast, Barunga West and Yorke Peninsula Council areas all recorded at least a 1.3 per cent decrease in unemployment in the quarter ending March 2023, compared with December 2022.
Protection coasts along
Patrick Goldsmith. Yorke Peninsula Council’s first coastal protection structures and adaptation projects community information session was attended by about 30 people at Warooka ... Further sessions will be held in Coobowie, Pine Point, James Well and Port Clinton as council looks to deal with the looming threat of flooding to coastal towns.
Quilpie liveability and business growth drives land sales
With land sales hitting an all-time high in Quilpie Shire, the vibrant local community is gearing up for a surge of new developments for both residential and industrial properties ... "I’m sure land hasn’t changed hands at such a rapid rate since Opal mining exploded in the region in the early 1900’s,” said Stuart Mackenzie, Mayor of Quilpie Shire Council.
Yanchep and Two Rocks put forward as sites for glamping proposal
There were shocked and angry reactions from the public gallery when the City of Wanneroo approved a glamping tent proposal for the old Quinns Rocks caravan park site last Tuesday evening ... When the Mayor Linda Aitken called for councillors to record their vote the result was tied 7-7 so Mrs Aitken used her casting vote to get the controversial proposal over the line.
New bridges keep on coming
Kyogle Council recently completed the construction of four new bridges – Tierneys Bridge on Duck Creek Rd, Comerfords No 1 on Roseberry Creek Rd, Tims Lane bridge and Old Cob O’ Corn Road bridge ... Next to be completed are new bridges on Williams Rd, Boorabee Creek Rd and Trentys Lane.
Grab a free plant, a free feed and arm yourself to fight those pesky invasives
What do bum-breathing turtles, conservation dogs and giant rat’s tail grasses have in common? It’s all on the schedule as Sunshine Coast Council hosts the Invasive Plants and Animals Workshop event at Obi Obi Hall on September 2 to arm residents with the knowledge to fight invasives on their property.
Biosecurity breakdown – government failing Australians: Canegrowers
Media reports of a new government plan to combat the spread of Red Imported Fire Ants only serve to further highlight the government’s continuing failure to fulfil one of its most basic responsibilities ... CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan has said ... a much smaller treatment area around the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast will be targeted, effectively allowing one of the most dangerous and destructive invasive species in the world to continue spreading north and west unhindered.
The Shire welcomes the Tassal purchase of Cone Bay barramundi farms
The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley is very pleased to hear the news that Tassal seafood producers will purchase Marine Purchase Australia, the company behind Cone Bay barramundi. Shire President Geoff Haerewa said that he was delighted to hear that the business will continue, and possibly even expand, and that 50 jobs will also be saved.
Facebook a ‘war zone’ as toxic school debate rages
Patricia Gill. A Denmark counselling psychologist calls on people to choose their words carefully in the Lions Club and Kwoorabup Nature School dispute ... Community discord has mounted while the Lions Club called an electors’ meeting for Tuesday, August 1, to overturn the Denmark Shire Council’s decision on April 18 to terminate their lease at a Reserve in the Heritage Precinct.
Community unites in the line of fire
Community members gathered ... to share information and discuss what they believe is an unsatisfactory time frame to provide feedback on the 500kV VNI West power line development ... it was the consensus of the meeting that community members were still in a process of discovery and lamented that the power companies probably had 18 months to put together their Draft Corridor Reports, and still missed basic information, such as areas of extensive flooding.
Automatic flood warning system keeps motorists safe: Lismore City Council
The Australian Government has funded the installation of digital advance warning flood signs at three sites in our Local Government Area to improve safety for motorists during future weather events ... The installations include automatic electric warning signs, as well as a separate camera mounted on a high pole at each site where the stream gauge/sensor is located.
Notes from Central Darling Shire Council Meeting, 26 July 2023
The Shires Administrator Bob Stewart reported on a meeting he had with the NSW Minister for Local Government, Hon. Ron Hoenig and the Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson. Bob reported that the Minister is keen to bring the Shire out of Administration however he also understands the challenges faced by Council in a number of areas, including day-today operations and financial sustainability.
Clare Belfrage: In the Glow of Green
The Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre will present a new exhibition titled In the Glow of Green by leading Australian glass artist Clare Belfrage from Friday 4 August 2023. Exclusive to the Tweed Regional Gallery, the exhibition is the outcome of Belfrage having undertaken a two-week residency at the Gallery’s on-site studio, the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio.
Amazing Lawrence water tower mural
A collaboration between renowned street artist Austin ‘Nitsua’ and Lawrence Public School students has produced a spectacular mural on the local water tower that tells the story of the magical eternal flow of the Clarence River winding its way through the valley to the ocean ... “Originally the ideas for the design came from the kids at the school and I incorporated their words into the finished design”: Austin ‘Nitsua’.
Festival to create lots of buzz in Forest Hill
Held as part of the annual Laidley Spring Festival, Bee Happy Day is a free family-friendly event that showcases the magic of bees and the important role they play in our ecosystem ... One of the highlights of the morning will be a special theatrical performance called A Bee Story, featuring artists from Brisbane’s Cluster Arts.
Minister’s visit comes with $100 million announcement for flood resilience projects
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt stood on the banks of the Richmond River on Friday, July 28, to announce $100million for flood resilience projects across five council shires. The funding is the second part of $150 million with $50 million announced in February.
Get in early, Tulip Time tickets are on sale now and stalls for community groups are now available
Thoughts are turning to the return of Spring in Wingecarribee with Tulip Time Tickets now on sale. Entry to the daytime event is free for residents who need only book tickets to see Tulips After Dark.
Listen, CEO told
A Naracoorte-Lucindale counsellor has asked the council and his fellow elected members what they intend to do about the poor management of road maintenance and the underutilization of the road-making machinery in the district. In a question with notice submitted on July 13 to be presented in the council’s meeting this month, Cr Trevor Rayner said, "I get re-elected on the promise of trying to address this issue, but at this stage it has been to no avail".
The housing crisis – time to act
Viv Markham. As Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said, “There is no magic fix.” This week’s article poses the questions: how big is government appetite to fix the homelessness and the housing problem? ... we’re at a housing crossroads, so why not consider other solutions?
Back to nature – this is an ecological park ‘like no other’: Sunshine Coast Council
The vision to create an “ecological wonder” and restore a pasture site to rainforest and wetland ecosystems is now a step closer to reality thanks to Sunshine Coast Council endorsing the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park Master Plan. The plan sets out Council’s vision to restore the 65ha site adjoining Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve on Jinibara country.
