Politics

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll confirmed the Labor Government has entered a new $11.5 million three-year agreement to fund the historic service, guaranteeing a future for the Overland train, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887. This Government investment will ensure the twice weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong will continue to run for the next three years.

Viv Markham. There’s a serious problem in the community at the moment, and that problem is housing ... Those even further down on their luck are camping out in tents, caravans and cars - out in the bush and on the outskirts of our towns ... And what is being done to help those doing it tough?

Jewellers, buyers, wholesalers, miners, rock hounds, lapidary enthusiasts and tourists are invited to experience the best Lightning Ridge has to offer with this culmination of information, spectacular jewellery, collectables, great deals and fantastic networking opportunities. The LR Opal & GemFestival boasts over 150 stalls with a huge range of products including gemstones, tools, lapidary supplies and lifestyle products.

The Australian rock legends will take the stage for Passion of the Pilbara alongside a great line-up of events including the Culinary Showcase hosted by MasterChef’s Andrea Puglisi. Passion of the Pilbara (POP) is returning to Onslow on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August with Jebediah, events and activities, live entertainment, food trucks and more for all ages to enjoy.  

The much-anticipated official opening of the new Towong Bridge to traffic on Tuesday was celebrated by communities on both sides of the Murray River, with the first cars officially driving over it soon afterwards.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has released the planned location of the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, which will direct traffic away from the New England Highway through Toowoomba.

The Friends of Jondaryan Woolshed Inc. are holding a reunion for all who have been involved in "the Jondaryan Woolshed Project" since its inception in 1973, including volunteers, staff, committee members, directors, stall holders, event organisers and other supporters.

It was a packed house at the Moulamein Recreation Reserve as community members from across the region gathered for the landholder information session on the proposed 500 kilovolt double circuit transmission line ... It was fantastic to see a town hall meeting ... the ultimate ‘pub test’.

South Australia is leading the nation in removing feral deer, with the 10-year South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program aiming to eradicate the pest from the state by 2032 ... There were an estimated 40,000 feral deer estimated in South Australia in 2022, and since the program’s commencement in May 2022, over 8,000 feral deer have been removed.

With significant planning work and extensive market soundings completed, it is now certain that the cost of hosting the Regional Victorian Commonwealth Games will exceed $6 billion – more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring our state. In the face of these numbers, the Victorian Government has made the decision not to proceed with hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

Transitioning agriculture to low-emission vehicles will take time and requires a coordinated, strategic and responsive approach, with collaboration across the supply chain, GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said. The comments follow discussions on Transport of the Future at the Innovation Generation event in Adelaide, with presentations from John Deere, Viva Energy and Aclimate Partners.

Angry Angourie locals have taken it upon themselves to clean up kilos and kilos of debris from the 15-metre steel ketch Chinook that ran aground on Saturday July 8, on rocks near Spooky Beach, after the boat’s owner abandoned the vessel ... Angourie local Kim said as the yacht was left scattering debris for six days in the ocean and surrounds.

Yamba residents will continue to endure wait times of up to a month to see a doctor with the news the development of a medical centre, pharmacy and four units on Coldstream Street is in limbo, with no anticipated start date. A Development Application DA to build the medical centre, chemist and four residential units in the Yamba CBD was lodged by Brisbane based Go Ahead Enterprises Pty Ltd with Clarence Valley Council CVC in March 2021 and was approved by council in August 2021.

South-west Victorian dairy farmers have learnt about the potential benefits of virtual fencing to manage herd grazing and movement, during a New Zealand study tour. Farm consultants Angus Drummond and Fiona Smith organised and led the tour of the SW Farm Business Discussion Group (SW FBDG) to Christchurch, New Zealand.

A southern Yorke Peninsula mothers’ group has had to buy its own scales to weigh newborn babies because of what members say is a lack of local services provided by Child and Family Health Services ... "The wait time for a face-to-face appointment was three months. We have had babies up to 7 months old coming to the group who had only been seen by a CaFHS nurse once as a newborn": Katie Hughes, facilitator of Yorketown's new Mama Meet Up group.

The ambitious design for the Mallanganee Lookout has been shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival in the Future Projects category ... The description on the festival website says “Mallanganee Lookout is an iconic destination – a place that has the centre of the galaxy crossing overhead”.

Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council says its ratepayers are not getting value for money from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board levy ... " ... no Landscape SA staff members are stationed within the Barunga West local government area. Moreover, the council receives infrequent visits from officers and there is minimal engagement regarding the board’s activities or support for the Barunga West region": Maree Wauhope, council CEO.

Part of the Gingin Brook will be assessed under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 by the Aboriginal cultural material committee when it meets on August 25. The Gingin Brook is accorded cultural importance and significance due to a creative dreaming narrative, according to consultation information available on the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website.