Emergency works get started at Foul Bay
Rachel Hagan. Yorke Peninsula Council is about to undertake almost $100,000 worth of emergency works to address erosion at Mud Alley in Foul Bay. Over the past 40 years, coastal erosion has gradually worn away the beachfront, leaving properties vulnerable to flooding during severe weather events.
Consolidation a key driver of change in Australia’s wood processing sector: ABARES
The ABARES National Wood Processing Survey 2021–22 shows that in 2021-22 there were a total of 252 mills operating. This is a fall of 47 mills since 2016-17, continuing a downward trend in the number of sawmills operating over the past 30 years.
Support to get renewables right: NSW Farmers Association
The state’s peak farm body has welcomed news that independent advice and dispute resolution services will soon be available to farming families directly impacted by the state’s renewable energy transition ... NSW Farmers Energy Transition Taskforce Chair Reg Kidd said the support had come at a critical time for regional NSW as renewable energy projects continued to be approved at a rapid pace.
Ombudsman to provide advice and dispute resolution for community members hosting renewable energy: Sharpe
For the first time, the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW will provide impartial information and an external dispute resolution service to landholders and community members impacted by new major renewable energy transmission infrastructure and renewable energy infrastructure projects ... The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW will provide a ‘no wrong door’ referral service for residents ...
Food security at risk – Farmers push for sustainable wildlife management in Tasmania: TasFarmers
Tasmanian farmers continue to take wildlife management seriously as new data released by Primary Industries and Water Minister Jane Howlett reveals that 1,373 Property Protection Permits were issued in the 2023-24 financial year. TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said farmers support the government's approach to addressing surging wildlife populations, including deer and wallabies…
Generators arrive to remote towns in Far West
Emily McInerney. It was announced at midday Saturday ... that power has been restored, via generator, to customers living in rural areas outside of Broken Hill, after Essential Energy completed aerial inspections of the power network and confirmed it was safe to re-energise. More than 12,000 customers were impacted by unplanned outages following a storm that moved through the area on Wednesday night, bringing down transmission towers and causing damage to the electricity network.
Transforming public housing in Alice Springs: TFHC
The Northern Territory Government is transferring management of 100 public housing properties in Alice Springs to the community housing sector to help create better outcomes for social housing tenants. From today, the homes will be transferred to Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA), an experienced housing organisation which currently manages over 400 properties across the Alice Springs region.
Albury to Illabo to enter construction phase: Inland Rail
The Albury to Illabo (A2I) section of Inland Rail will enter the construction phase after the project received NSW Government planning approval on Friday. The approval from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is a significant milestone, and opens the way for construction to begin in 2025.
More public housing in regional SA: Champion, Hughes
...dozens of new public homes completed, contracted, and under construction in regional communities. Visiting Whyalla for today’s State Cabinet meeting, Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion has released the latest data on public housing builds and projects in regional centres.
Central Darling Shire Council seeking community views for flood planning
Community views are being sought for the Central Darling Shire Flood Risk Management Study and Plan. Central Darling Shire Council has engaged consultants to undertake the Central Darling Shire Flood Risk Management Study and Plan which will focus on the townships of Wilcannia, Menindee, Ivanhoe, Tilpa and Sunset Strip.
Labor wastes six months on red imported fire ant Senate inquiry recommendations: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor has wasted six months on its Senate inquiry into Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘don’t let this come back to bite us’. Mr Littleproud said Labor has been too slow to act on key Senate inquiry recommendations, allowing the red imported fire ant biosecurity zone to progressively increase in size.
Have your say Central Darling Shire on bush fire risk management plan
Fire agencies and land managers are developing a Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for the BFMC areas listed. The Central Darling Shire community is invited to participate in this process by having a say on how bush fire risk is managed.
Report on how insurers responded to flood claims is disappointing, MP says
Federal MP Kevin Hogan is disappointed the inquiry into how insurers dealt with flood claims has resulted in more red tape. The Federal Government has released its final report and recommendations for the inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major flood claims.
Ireland calls for upgrade
The low-level classification of a road servicing traffic between Bordertown, Lucindale and Kingston will be compared with similar roads by Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s administration. This follows Cr Peter Ireland’s call for the classification of several roads, including Dickensons Rd, to be reviewed and upgraded in the council's Road and Stormwater Infrastructure Management Plan. The plan includes a road hierarchy, and the matter was raised at the council's September 10 Strategic Asset and Planning (SAP) meeting.
Will Tatiara support LCLGA?
The Tatiara District Council’s support for the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) hangs in the balance. In a motion without notice at the Council’s September meeting, Cr Lynton Mackenzie said the council should convey to the association’s board that the elected members of the Council "have lost their belief in the ability of the LCLGA to viably deliver economically quantifiable outcomes for the Limestone Coast region and, more significantly, the Tatiara District Council".
Lowering the age, ram raid and ‘posting and boasting’ laws pass: Finocchiaro, Maley
The CLP Government’s legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10, and introduce new ram raid, and posting and boasting laws, have been passed in Parliament ... The CLP Government said ignoring 10 and 11-year-olds who commit serious crimes was not the answer to turning around their lives, or protecting the wider community. Since 1 July, there have been more than 104 instances involving youths, aged 10 and 11, in the commission of offences in the Territory.
Buloke shares accommodation funds
The State Government is supporting regional businesses to attract and retain staff with new homes for thousands of regional Victorian workers and their families. Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan and Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney recently announced the first round of the $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund...
The race to meeting renewable energy targets should not come at any cost: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging the Victorian Government to safeguard the state’s most strategically significant agricultural land from renewable energy development. VFF President Emma Germano said the transition to renewable energy can’t come at the cost of losing the state’s most valuable farmland.
Local business: Collaboration is key
The Village Business Expo took place … with a great atmosphere and great attitudes abounding at the Maldon Golf Club. Collaboration was the word of the day, with Rebecca Barnett of Maldon Bakery declaring: "if you don’t have money, you need to have friends" … Expo organiser Luz Restrepo reinforced the idea of working together.
Albanese Government’s draft water agreement declared ‘Detrimental to the conduct of water management in Australia’ by the Productivity Commission: National Irrigators’ Council
The independent advisory body with statutory authority to review Australia’s national water reform has published scathing feedback on the Federal Governments proposed National Water Agreement, calling the approach “detrimental to the conduct of water management in Australia”. The Productivity Commission … said “…the consequences of a shift in this direction should be considered deeply by all governments and their communities.
Government seeking feedback on renewables
Amidst changes to regulations and community engagement requirements, the Queensland Government is seeking feedback on its approach to renewable energy projects. Queensland is now over half way to the 2030 renewable energy target, with renewables generating over 27 per cent of Queensland’s energy needs.
Weir launches re-election campaign
Ahead of the state election on 26 October, the campaign for incumbent Member for Condamine Pat Weir was officially launched at Toowoomba Showgrounds last week. With various polls indicating the Liberal National Party (LNP) headed by David Crisafulli has all but won the election, Mr Weir remains cautiously optimistic … Presiding over the occasion was the President of Liberal National Party of Queensland Lawrence Springborg.
