Service station deal sealed
Sheryl Lowe. Millicent will benefit from an estimated nine million dollar investment by the K & S Corporation following their purchase of the previously Council owned Adelaide Road Service Station, according to information received by The News. The investment will provide a refurbished site on Adelaide Road and a new facility on Billy Goat Corner.
Time to have your say – pool closure
Kristin Nicholson. Community discussion has centred on the concern for the safety of the town’s youth who will seek out local alternative swimming locations such as creeks and channels, lack of leisure opportunities (including the water slide), lack of, or reduction of, swimming lessons and other organised aquatic-based lessons, and the cost of travelling to other towns or shires to access aquatic facilities.
Tamborine Mountain was awarded top honours at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) 2022 Top Tourism Town Awards
The Awards recognise towns whose tourism operators, businesses and community groups work together to encourage tourism and offer outstanding experiences for visitors. Public voters from across Australia and beyond selected Tamborine Mountain as a favourite destination for weddings, honeymoons, special events and extra long weekend adventures.
HMAS Stalwart III to open to Geraldton community
Members of the public will have an opportunity to look inside the Royal Australian Navy’s newest ship HMAS Stalwart III when it arrives in Geraldton later this month. It is the first time the ship will visit its Ceremonial Homeport and a number of free events are happening over the weekend to celebrate including a Public Personal Training Session, Freedom of Entry March and Ship Open Day.
Full steam ahead for Fixing Country Bridges projects
Council has received funding for the demolition and replacement of a total of 31 timber bridges with the construction of stronger, safer and more durable concrete bridges as part of the Fixing Country Bridges Program administered by Transport for NSW. Tenders for 16 of these bridge projects have been endorsed by Clarence Valley Council this year total $19.35m.
Festival of Small Halls
Clarence Valley Council's Resilient Clarence project proudly sponsored the Festival of Small Halls at the Wooloweyah Hall on the 26 May and the Dundurrabin Community Centre on the 27 May as part of the Woodfordia Inc Resilience Tour 2022. Using storytelling and music to connect people, the Resilience Tour is travelling to small halls in bushfire impacted communities.
To raise or not to raise and wait? Voluntary house raising scheme will take some time
It will take until the end of next year before the details of the voluntary house raising scheme are sorted. This isn’t what homeowners want to hear. They want to make a decision now. Do they use flood recovery grants or home insurance payouts to raise their house? If they do, they won’t be refunded when the house raising scheme details are confirmed.
Cuttlefest kick-off
The cuttlefish have arrived, which means it’s time to celebrate with Cuttlefest 2022! Cuttlefest is a three month festival of events and activations happening in and around Whyalla to celebrate the annual congregation of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish.
Construction set to start on first flood-free industrial land swap
The Tweed’s first flood-free industrial land swap project is one step closer to fruition with construction works planned to begin at South Murwillumbah in August. The innovative plan will see eligible business landowners swap their flood prone land with Council owned, flood free land at Industry Central, located in Lundberg Drive, South Murwillumbah.
Pig off
Kendall Jennings. District residents met on a chilly Wednesday evening at the Koroop Hall to raise concerns for the Gannawarra Shire Council Planning Application P21147 to use and develop land for a rotational outdoor pig farm. The farm, located at 127 and 191 Orrs Road and 1399 Cohuna-Koondrook Road, Gannawarra, will have up to 5,000 pigs.
Calls for council grants overhaul
Local Government NSW believes it is time to clean up council grant funding to make it predictable, transparent, fair and ethical. The peak body was responding to a NSW Parliamentary inquiry which found the State Government operated a “brazen pork barrel scheme” and played party politics with $252 million of taxpayers’ money.
ICA to visit Lockyer Valley
Lockyer Valley Regional Council is urging flood impacted residents to connect with the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) when they visit the region later this month. Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan recognised the often daunting task that can be navigating insurance claims.
Council pulls no punches in flood inquiry submission
The need for a new model for emergency management was clear after the floods in late February-March. And Richmond Valley Council hasn’t pulled any punches in its 18-page submission to the NSW Flood Inquiry. Richmond Valley has endured eight natural disasters in three years including fire, flood and drought.
REX-IT from Grafton
Emma Pritchard. Regional Express (REX) has announced the withdrawal of services from several regional centres, including Grafton, with flights to cease from June 30 ... Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Clarence Valley Council (CVC) Mayor Ian Tiley have called on the Labor Government to extend the RANS program which has enabled REX to continue operating within the local area.
Four galaxies just got closer with observatory funding
The observatory at Mallanganee Lookout will be built out of metal and concrete and will be semi-enclosed, providing the perfect vantage to the views across the Richmond Ranges to the Border Ranges and Wollumbin during the day and the stars overhead at night ... will be positioned on the precise latitude where the centre of the Milky Way crosses directly overhead every day.
I’ll be happy to sit down and listen
The new CEO of Cook Shire will stand out in a crowd and says ratepayers should feel comfortable approaching him about council matters if they feel the urge to do so. The seven-foot Brian Joiner will leave his position as the CEO of the Shire of Menzies in Western Australia and make the move to Cooktown in August.
Why a university hub will be brilliant for Cooktown
Duncan Taylor can’t wait for the Cooktown university hub to open and for local people to realise its potential ... Mr Taylor said there were many challenges that regional Australians faced that were different to their city counterparts and having a university hub in Cooktown would help the local community.
Quilpie Shire’s spectacular Baldy Top lookout turns purple to honour the Queen’s jubilee
On the night of Thursday June 2, Quilpie Shire lit the way for Outback Queensland by staging special Platinum Jubilee celebrations for HRH Queen Elizabeth II at the spectacular Baldy Top lookout. The red earth of the renowned tourist destination turned purple as special purple coloured lights and fireworks were lit, along with several huge bonfires. More than 250 locals and tourists alike gathered to pay respect to the Queen for her Jubilee.
Roads, pools, housing – Tatiara seeks feedback on budget
Chris Oldfield. Almost $4 million on road construction, $70,000 on swimming pools, $268,000 on buildings and $1.4 million on industrial estates these are a few of the projects listed in the Tatiara District Council’s 2022 23 draft budget and business plan... Other spending includes $675,000 on worker accommodation which is jointly funded with the Federal Government.
Final tally: $1m blow out for new library
Chris Oldfield. The modern new Naracoorte library has a final cost to ratepayers of more than $3 million... During Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s May 24 meeting CEO Trevor Smart unveiled the $2.44 million end cost of consultants, construction, fixtures, fittings, furniture, art, signs and landscaping for the new library.
West Yamba masterplan petition
Rodney Stevens. Residents of the 2464 postcode have sent a strong message to council through a petition calling for a moratorium on land filling and further developments until a West Yamba Masterplan is developed. Launched by environmental watchdog Valley Watch, the petition, which has garnered more than 1550 signatures from Yamba, Wooloweyah and Angourie, was presented to Clarence Valley Council Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy at Sunday's Yamba Markets.
Moyne sends strong message about unauthorised native vegetation clearing
Mayor of the Moyne Shire, Cr Ian Smith said Council took the land owner to VCAT to enforce the legislation with regard to illegal clearing, which was conducted to make way for a proposed house site with a sea view. “The area affected is of a significant size and the property borders the heritage listed Great Ocean Road, Bay of Martyrs lookout and Coastal Park. Sadly, the property is also listed as containing the Port Campbell Guinea Flower, a plant endemic only in this area,” Cr Smith said.
