Outrage at South Australia’s use of Murray River water
Farming and community groups across the NSW Murray region have come together to express outrage at a revelation that water will be piped from the Murray River to supply a new hydrogen plant in Whyalla. At a time when South Australia keeps screaming that it needs more water for its environment, the groups say this week’s announcement reinforces that its priority appears to be getting as much cheap upstream water as possible, regardless of the national consequences.
Staff and service losses ahead for pharmacies and clients
Australian pharmacies pleas to scrap the 60-day dispensing policy have fallen on deaf ears with the proposal confirmed in the recent budget release. The 60 day dispensing reform will mean that patients will be able to claim double the amount of medication with one script at no extra cost.
Narrandera Fisheries Centre breaks Murray Cod record
A record 1.28 million Murray Cod have been produced and stocked in the Narrandera Fisheries Centre during the past year. Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, said a record number of fingerlings had now been released at more than 50 sites across the State, including Blowering, Burrendong and Copeton dams, as part of the NSW Government’s Native Fish Stocking Program.
Not easy under Albanese for Australian farmers
The Nationals leader and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the first 12 months of an Albanese Labor government had been tough for Australian agriculture, with the full effect to be felt in the coming few years ... Mr Littleproud said farmers and processors were making investment decisions not to plant and not to invest, because the government could not provide them confidence of a stable workforce, which was driving down supply and consumer prices up.
Anderson ramps up push to bring local control back to TAFE
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson is continuing his push for greater local control and decision making in TAFE campuses across the New England Northwest. Mr Anderson said the community and local teachers had raised concerns with the lack of local control and the local decision-making process in our region, with local businesses expressing frustration with the disconnect between class offerings and the needs of the business community.
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.
Students join UNESCO in global eDNA research
On 14th of February 2023, 20 students aged 8 to 11 years old from Lord Howe Island became marine scientists for the day. In doing so, they joined UNESCO’s global environmental DNA research initiative that is being rolled out across 25 marine World Heritage sites to better understand ocean biodiversity and the impacts of climate change.
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.
Victorian timber industry felled early: The Riverina State
David Landini. The closure of the Victorian native timber harvesting industry has not occurred due to legal threats; it has occurred due to the Green orientation of the Victorian urban population and this population’s insurmountable political power ... There are more Green voters in Victoria, mostly in the urban areas, than the total number of voters in the 10 marked electorates.
Introducing new council worker, Layla
Layla is not your average Border Collie/Moodle cross. As a trained Positive Response Assistance dog, she offers unwavering support and grounding to her owner and Council librarian, Caitlin. These dogs assist people whose lives are often severely compromised by anxiety and fear.
CVC councillors don’t want to decide pay rises
Clarence Valley Council will put forward a motion at the annual Local Government NSW conference requesting that councillors shouldn’t have to vote annually to determine their own pay rises ... Cr Bill Day put forward a motion to the Local Government NSW conference in November 2023 requesting that councillors shouldn’t be determining their own remuneration, which doesn’t happen at other levels of government.
Councillors divided over post flood motion
A motion to address community and business concerns following the 2021 and 2022 floods that devastated the region has divided councillors at the May 23 Clarence Valley Council meeting. The motion was moved by Cr Novak and seconded by Cr Alison Whaites before Climate Change Committee CCC chair Cr Greg Clancy asked Cr Novak how many meetings of the committee she had attended.
Award winner planning additional success
In receiving the 2023 Dr Helen Proudfoot Women in Planning Award which recognises her outstanding contributions which have enhanced and improved agricultural planning policies ... DPI employee Tamara Prentice remains dedicated in her commitment to ensuring agricultural land maintains a pivotal role in the increasingly competitive rural landscape, and is motivated by her love of the natural environment.
Rex Minerals identifies new resource
Patrick Goldsmith. Rex Minerals and the state government will work to deliver a long-term plan assisting students from across Yorke Peninsula to enter the resource sector. The resources pathway program will be hosted by Ardrossan Area School from next year, with students invited to attend a career awareness day in June to learn more.
Multi-billion-dollar potential in tourism and agriculture ‘merger’: Bettison
South Australia’s tourism industry is well positioned to target the nation’s $17.4 billion Agricultural Tourism market – leveraging its reputation for premium produce to attract more visitors ... The State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission is launching the South Australian Agritourism Sector Plan 2025 ... A number of demand-driving agritourism experiences already exist in South Australia, including pick-your-own experiences at Beerenberg Farm...
Peter Malinauskas must keep his word and back new laws: Speirs, Teague
The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to stick to his word - despite intense internal turmoil in his Labor Party - over new public obstruction laws when the legislation is debated in the Upper House on 30 May 2023. Peter Malinauskas is under fire from the Left of his party - and multiple unions who helped him win the election - for throwing his support behind new laws that will penalise people who cause community chaos and risk public safety with disruption.
Council appalled as transmission line steamrolls over community concerns
Northern Grampians Shire Council is appalled that widespread community opposition has had no material impact on Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) final recommended alignment for the controversial VNI West power transmission project ... “Landowners need clear and concise answers to the questions they have asked and not simply to refer them to some other arrangement as a reference to how it might work here": Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin.
Failed power plan forced onto farming communities: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has slammed the Andrews Government’s decision to steamroll ahead with transmission developments in Western Victoria following the announcement of a new corridor for the proposed VNI-West project. VFF President Emma Germano said Victoria’s Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio is using extreme powers to come over the top of farming communities and force transmission towers to be built on their land.
New Roma LifeFlight chopper base officially opens: Chisholm
LifeFlight Australia’s highly anticipated, brand new Roma helicopter base has officially opened its doors, with a formal ceremony on 30 May 2023, to mark the momentous occasion ... “For people in real need in isolated circumstances – there is no sight better than the vision of a LifeFlight rescue helicopter coming into view during an emergency”: Australian Country Choice CEO Anthony Lee.
POTBots to film the marine environment
The DPIRD researchers are working with commercial rock lobster and crab fishers to deploy and retrieve high tech cameras that film the marine environment and fish on their way down to the seabed as well as record the water temperature on the ocean floor ... DPIRD said by the middle of this year, more than 30 of the so-called POTBots will be deployed off Western Australia...
Raising cyber safety awareness across regional NSW: Dib
From the historic streets of Bathurst to the outback city of Broken Hill, people across regional NSW will be empowered with knowledge about how to keep their identity secure as ID Support NSW visits eight regional communities from 30 May until 28 June. Following a successful roadshow along the Northern NSW coast last year which saw more than 400 people attend, ID Support NSW is engaging more communities to help improve their identity, privacy, and cyber security awareness.
Qantas steps up to fill gap
Following Rex Airlines’ decision to exit its operations from Whyalla, Qantas has announced additional flights to help address the gap that will be created by Rex’s departure ... “There is still a lot of work to be done to fill the gaps in service, so we are working extensively with the broader airline industry to explore options to help minimise the impact of Rex’s decision”: Mayor Phill Stone.
