Queensland communities welcome first PNG aged care workers to Australia: Conroy, Wells
The first group of workers from Papua New Guinea to be employed in Australia’s aged care sector under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme has arrived in regional Queensland. The eight workers from PNG provinces including Western Highlands, New Ireland and Morobe will be employed by Southern Cross Care at aged care facilities at Chinchilla, Murgon and Taroom in Southeast Queensland, where local aged care staff have been hard to find.
NLC to borrow $1.52 million
A loan for $1,522,500 million at around 5.29 per cent for the next five years will be taken out by Naracoorte Lucindale Council on June 15. The borrowed funds will be used to help upgrade SA’s biggest saleyards, Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE). Turning 50 this year at its current site and considered a jewel in the council's crown, the “user pays” facility is self-funded by the district’s biggest ratepayers, its primary producers.
Recovery delays cause concern
A number of Cudgewa North residents, concerned about the delays in rehabilitating the Bluff Falls tourism area following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, claim that Parks Victoria is not doing enough to get the recovery project underway. They say that there has been a lack of communication about the works.
4% increase for ratepayers
Urban residential ratepayers will have an annual increase in their rates of close to $130, or 4 per cent, after Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) adopted its 2023-24 Budget last week. Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said Council’s $651 million financial plan would maintain and upgrade existing services and facilities while planning for a brighter future for current and successive generations.
Artfully done – Wool Bay’s tank officially opened
Yorke Peninsula Council’s latest addition to the Southern Yorke Peninsula Water Tower/Tank Mural Trail was officially unveiled at Wool Bay ... Painted and designed by Sam Brooks and Harley Hall, with the assistance of Mark Harding, Rachelle Plazeriano and Gary Nowlan, the art – which adorns a tank and shed on Green Flat Road – follows the story of Wool Bay from Narungga First Nations to European settlement.
Nhill icon’s honoured
Nhill had the honour of having two locals bestowed with an Order of Australia medal (OAM) in the King’s birthday honours announced on Monday. Hindmarsh Shire Councillor Rob Gersch for his service to local government and to the community and Kevin Bye for his service to lawn bowls and the community.
Draft regional plan proposes restructure to deliver better services to the bush
Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin is encouraging regional residents to have their say on the Barkly Regional Council’s Draft Regional Plan 2023-2024. The Plan is open now for consultation until close of business on Monday 19 June.
Country mayors body defends regional councillors
Mayors and Councillors from across regional NSW have been accused of being incompetent and not worthy of the money they are paid to serve their communities in a recent speech delivered by new Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig during question time in State Parliament last week ... "My annual stipend for working an average of 50-60 hours per week is $37,000. Minister Hoenig is paid $315,000 per annum and he has the hide to deny Mayors a fair and reasonable stipend when our Queensland counterparts are paid $108,000. He's unworthy of his very privileged position and will damage this government and relations between Local Government and the Ministers. What a shame": Mayor of Narromine Shire Council, Cr Craig Davies.
Mitigate, prepare and plan – bushfire season is coming
Bushfire season is approaching! The Rockhampton Region is at its highest risk from July to February. Chair of the LDMG and Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the region is at a higher risk for the 2023-24 season in comparison to previous fire seasons.
Shire of Broome and Nyamba Buru Yawuru sign historic Memorandum of Understanding
Reconciliation Week 2023 was a special one for Broome with the Shire and Nyamba Buru Yawuru signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday, June 1 at the Jiljirrgun Town Beach Night Market. The MoU ... recognises how a productive relationship would have mutual benefits for both parties and would promote the delivery of shared values for future generations.
‘The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria’ – How the 2026 Commonwealth Games can benefit all of regional Victoria
Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) launches ‘The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria’, a document outlining the group’s priorities to ensure a lasting legacy is created for the whole of regional Victoria as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games ... The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria examines six key areas with recommendations that will ensure a lasting legacy for every regional city beyond the event period and across the whole state, not just for the five cities hosting events...
Pest animal control to help threatened species in the Tweed
Pest animal control works will commence across Tweed coastal areas from 6 June 2023 after a successful program in previous years. Recent camera monitoring has recorded pest animal activity in the coastal bushland areas at Fingal Head, Kingscliff, Hastings Point and Pottsville. Species recorded on the cameras have included foxes and European hares...
Final clean sweep planned for ‘Rum Jungle’
The four-year long community led rehabilitation of ‘Rum Jungle’ is nearing completion with a final clean-up and Boxthorn Blitz workshop taking place next weekend. To celebrate the successful initiative, members of the community who come out one last time will be treated to morning tea, giveaways and a couple of numbers from Geraldton’s Sea Shanty group aptly called Rum Jungle.
Fairy Hill identified for housing opportunity
Richmond Valley Council has welcomed the release of the draft Resilient Lands Strategy by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. The strategy has identified Fairy Hill as a flood-safe housing opportunity.
Seen deer in a headlight? We want to know about it!
A new survey has just been launched to gather community support to better understand the prevalence, impacts and perception of feral deer in the Northern Rivers. Tweed Shire Council, in partnership with Kyogle and Byron Shire councils, has launched a survey to understand the community’s perception of feral deer, the impacts of feral deer, the presence or absence of feral deer in the Northern Rivers and the need to control them.
Rockhampton to host Queensland Country Rugby Union Championships
Queensland Country Rugby Union have announced that the 2023 Queensland Country Rugby Union Championships will be hosted at Victoria Park in Rockhampton, proudly sponsored by Rockhampton Regional Council. The event is expected to attract between 700-800 players and their families at the end of June this year and will be held in Rockhampton again in 2024.
Gannawarra Shire Council supports VNI West option 5A route
Gannawarra Shire Council has welcomed a proposed realignment of the VNI West route, which would involve constructing new high capacity electricity transmission lines that will pass through the Gannawarra ... “Council, along with the Murray River Group of Councils, has been advocating for VNI West to pass through the Gannawarra, and we have been promoting the benefits of these works to our residents for the past six years,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.
Lights upgrade nearly done
A final seal was laid on Lights Road last week signalling the end of the $700,000 road upgrade which is expected to be finished at the end of this month ... Local contractors and the Shire have faced weather delays, but the project is set to be delivered within budget and with minimal environmental impact on the community.
Telstra’s “big project” rejected
Telecommunications company Telstra is seeking ratepayer funding to help build towers in the Limestone Coast region as part of a "big project". In a proposal to the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council, a Telstra SA and Tasmania area general manager Michael Patterson outlined Telstra's proposal for the South-East, asking for a five percent funding investment by the council.
30 flat tyres along one road
After around 30 flat tyres which were speared by stones, James Road is finally on the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s list of things to do. Almost 13 kms long, 400 metres of James Road was resheeted around three years ago with material including the overburden of a porphyry mine in the Kingston District Council area.
Help reduce the global decline of Shearwaters by ‘Moving a Mutto’
Suzie Christensen, LHIB. It’s that time of year when young Shearwater birds emerge from their burrows on LHI ... Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardeena carneipes) and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardeena pacificus) breeding grounds are intersected by the Island roads, increasing the risk of juveniles being run over by cars and bikes.
New Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) provider for Hindmarsh
Recipients of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) in Hindmarsh Shire will continue to be able to access their services from 1 July 2023 after the Commonwealth offered the contract to West Wimmera Health Service. The announcement comes after the decision from Hindmarsh Shire Council to cease providing the CHSP service after 30 June, and West Wimmera Health Service receiving a funding offer from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to take over the service delivery for the whole shire.
