Councillors forego superannuation payments
Geoff Helisma. All of Clarence Valley’s councillors have told the Clarence Valley Independent that they have declined the opportunity to receive superannuation payments. In March 2021, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) was “celebrating the proposed introduction of superannuation for mayors and councillors from [July] 2022 as a major step forward”.
Drones and dogs team up in Sunshine Coast koala conservation project
For the past three days, a high-tech team from Sunshine Coast Council, University of the Sunshine Coast and the Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens have worked together to uncover how many koalas live in the reserve and how healthy they are.
Plans to establish a local university hub gain support
Plans for a Regional University Centre in Port Lincoln are gaining momentum, with the City of Port Lincoln supporting a proposal for a local university hub. Offering a range of tertiary education options, a university hub would fill a gap in the local and regional education market, providing options for residents to study locally.
Hit the critter trail these school holidays
The April school holidays are almost here, and with it brings the return of the Critter Trail on Chapman: an interactive experience for young detectives. Coordinated by the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (GRAG), the Critter Trail is a series of art pieces along the CBD portion of Chapman Road depicting critters that have ‘borrowed’ art from the City’s Collection.
Skywalk plan ‘up in the air’
Narrandera Shire Council's plans to construct a skywalk at Lake Talbot may literally be ‘up in the air’ following Tuesday night’s public meeting at which some members of the community voiced their disapproval of the project ... “We’ll take what has happened at this meeting on board and it will give us something to think about": Mayor Kschenka.
New bat influx in Casino. Plus feedback wanted on Kyogle flying fox plan
A second influx of little red flying foxes has arrived in McAuliffe Park in Casino. Little reds are highly nomadic and will move on again before too long but with a lot of habitat destroyed by recent floodwater, the flying foxes may make their way into residents’ yards.
State revises rate peg decision
Geoff Helisma. An initiative to incorporate population growth as a primary factor when deciding the annual rate peg for NSW councils has been rejected before its implementation. In early 2021, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) began a review that would include population growth in its calculation of the rate peg, and, upon its adoption, set the rate peg at 0.7 per cent for 2022-23 financial year ... attendees at the Local Government NSW Special Conference disagreed with the IPART, the OLG and the former minister.
CAPS is back on track
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch believes he will be able to soon cut the ribbon to open the CAPS animal welfare facility after discussions about the centre were fast-tracked. Last week’s Cape York Weekly was the most read edition since publishing began and the front page story about the future of the $2 million facility generated plenty of discussion in the community.
Elvis is open: Bendigo Art Gallery
Elvis: Direct from Graceland opening weekend was a huge success ... Due to your support this was our most successful opening weekend of all time.
Illegal dumping on cane farms must stop
Peak sugarcane organisation CANEGROWERS is seeking urgent discussions with local government amid an escalation of people using Queensland farms as dumping grounds ... ARR.News asked some further questions of CANEGROWERS on this costly problem.
Edenhope childcare in high demand
Gabrielle Duykers. A new childcare program in Edenhope is one step closer to commencing after an expression of interest process showed significant demand for the service. Over the past few weeks families took advantage of an opportunity to indicate their interest in enrolling their children in a pilot childcare program facilitated by West Wimmera Shire Council.
Call to reject skywalk
A former Narrandera resident who now lives in the tourist town of Noosa wants to alert Narrandera residents to a project she believes will have a negative impact on tourism in Narrandera– the proposed skywalk which will extend over and above Lake Talbot .... The preliminary design for the skywalk at Lake Talbot has been completed by Teleo Design and put out for public feedback by the Narrandera Shire Council by April 15 with intentions to start building it in July this year and complete the project by December.
Council seeks rate variation rise
The Narrandera Shire Council will lodge a special variation application under Section 508(2) with the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal for a permanent rate increase of two per cent in the 2022-23 financial year. If granted it will yield additional income of $67,600 in 2022-23 and, assuming a future peg of 2.5%, $757,000 over the ten years of the LTFP.
Buy back of houses in flood risk zones
Houses identified as being at risk in the Kyogle Flood Study are purchased at market value in a voluntary House Buy Back Scheme. Kyogle Council contacts all identified property owners each year and asks them if they would be interested in selling their properties. Only identified properties are eligible for the grant.
White elephant – $2 million animal centre empty
Described as a palace for the cats and dogs of Weipa, this multi-million dollar vet clinic and animal welfare centre was meant to be a game-changer for Cape York. However, it sits unfinished and unoccupied. Matt Nicholls looks at what the problem is and what the future looks like for this purpose-built facility
Cook MP impressed on trip north
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said a trip to Cooktown and Hope Vale had highlighted some of the positive contributions made by councils and community groups in the region ... “Given the vast size of my electorate, it is always fabulous catching up with locals in Cooktown and Hope Vale to see and hear first-hand the progress of state-funded projects, programs and matters where I can assist,” she said.
The Curated Plate: Serving up a new and improved bite-sized festival in 2022
Calling all foodies and culinary experts! From July 29 to August 7, local restaurants, farms, tourism and event operators will throw open their doors as part of The Curated Plate culinary festival, and offer the best of the Sunshine Coast’s local food and beverage experiences across a 10-day period.
NT Govt and Julalikari agree to work together for a stronger future for the Barkly
Chief Minister Michael Gunner, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Selena Uibo, Linda Turner and David Curtis Jnr from Julalikari and Byron Matthews from the National Indigenous Australians Agency signed a Local Decision Making Agreement in Tennant Creek following a Community Cabinet meeting in town on Wednesday.
Tantanoola gymnasium relocation plan
Sheryl Lowe. The small regional community of Tantanoola in the South East of South Australia has big plans to move their almost one-million-dollar school gymnasium a few hundred metres across a couple of country roads to the town’s sporting complex. We have the skills in our community to do this, Tantanoola local Mr. Peter Altschwager told The News, we just need permission ... Local students were educated at the once vibrant school for 139 years but with recent declining numbers, the Education Minister John Gardner decided to close the school in 2020.
“Satellite city of Narrandera”
A contingent of around 30 local residents travelled by coach, sponsored by TAFE CLC at Narrandera, to the Avonlie Solar Farm at Sandigo last Thursday to be part of what is claimed to be the beginning of the largest project the town has ever seen ... Managing Director (CEO) of the company behind the project in Australia Ross Rolfe said the Iberdrola was the third largest producer of wind and solar power in the world.
Kyogle mayor: Who gets to choose, people or councillors?
Shemozzle. That was the Kyogle Council meeting on Monday, March 14. Shemozzle is a Yiddish word for a confused situation or a mess. And what a mess it was, in the discussion around having a referendum to ask residents whether they want the mayor elected directly by the people.
Park Ave DA deferred ‘for one reason’
Geoff Helisma. The Northern Region Planning Panel (NRPP) has deferred its decision to approve (or not) a 136 multi-dwelling proposal in Yamba, pending the development of a draft flood evacuation plan ... As well as calling for an evacuation plan, councillors Tiley and Clancy were concerned that managing stormwater during an extreme weather event, such as the recent Yamba flooding, would be more than the design could handle.
