A call for new members from local Aboriginal Alliance
The Barkly Aboriginal Alliance, a self-governing body which gives a voice to all Indigenous people in the Barkly, is looking for new members to join them. The Alliance seeks to create a better future for all communities in the region with their vision being that "Homelands and Communities in the Barkly are self-determining and thriving".
Council’s community managers in town for training conference
Barkly Regional Council’s community area managers were in Tennant Creek this week for a two-day training and information conference. Council Area and Department Managers from Ali Curung, Alpurrurulam, Alparra and Elliott met with Tennant Creek managers, department heads and new and existing staff to talk about what’s happening in their communities and receive updates what’s happening at the Tennant Creek head office.
Electoral structure review underway
The electoral structure review for Mount Alexander Council began this week, with preliminary submissions opening on Wednesday 8 February. At present, the Shire is divided into five wards with a total of seven councillors. One ward (Castlemaine) is represented by three councillors while the other four wards (Calder, Coliban, Loddon River and Tarrengower) have one councillor each.
Art Trail for Murray River Council
The River Country Art Trail will receive a boost of over $1,747,431 from Round Two of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund ... Under the project, the River Country Art Trail aims to build an outdoor gallery on silos and water towers, creating a trail across Murray River Council towns, linking them in a unique, high impact visitor experience across the area.
Deniliquin farmer continues fight
Deniliquin farmer Anthony Roelink is continuing his fight to highlight what he believes is poor management of our river systems. He says a failure by authorities to heed the advice of local residents exacerbated the 2022 flood situation along the Murray River.
Take a fresh look at our future
An innovative project will be launched next week to identify economic opportunities for development in the Upper Murray. Led by Dr Juliette Milbank, ‘The Future of the Upper Murray’ will cover an area on both sides of the Murray River ... It seeks to develop strategic and innovative long-term projects that take advantage of local regional strengths.
Minister briefed on local environmental concerns
Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby attended a series of meetings in Denmark last month. With Warren Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie, Mr Whitby visited local peat swamps, met with Green Skills Inc., and with several stakeholders to discuss the latest forest management plan.
Junee losing Commonwealth Bank, who will be next?
Junee Shire Council is fighting back against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) decision to close the last remaining financial institution in its town. CBA, who announced a $9.2 billion net profit last year, is pushing ahead with plans to permanently shut its Junee bank branch and ATM in March, despite pleas from residents who now face an hour-long round trip to Wagga for transactions and loan services.
Senate to hold first regional banking inquiry in 19 years
A motion to hold Australia’s first parliamentary inquiry into regional bank closures in 19 years has passed through the Federal Senate this afternoon. The new inquiry will look at the economic and welfare impacts of branch closures in regional Australia, as well as the process banks are following to close branches and reasons being given.
Water restrictions set to continue in Clarence Valley
Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black has revealed she is unsure how long Level 4 (Severe) water restrictions introduced last week for the whole Clarence Valley water supply system due to a prolonged dirty water event following recent rainfall in the Nymboida River will remain in place but said council should have “a better idea later this week.” The restrictions were issued by council on January 30 to avoid the need to call a Boil Water Alert.
CVC worst council in NSW for complaints
Clarence Valley Council has earned the unenviable title of the most complained about council per 100,000 residents out of 128 councils in NSW. NSW Ombudsman Paul Miller recently released his annual report for 2021/2022 which showed despite Clarence Valley Council receiving the ninth highest number of complaints out of the state’s 128 councils, it ranked first in the number of complaints per 100,000 population.
Major boost to NT Health workforce with more on the way: Fyles
Across the Northern Territory, 250 junior doctors will commence at NT Health hospitals this year, including at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital, Katherine Hospital, Gove District Hospital, Alice Springs Hospital and Tennant Creek Hospital. The cohort will be made up of both Resident Medical Officers, junior doctors who have obtained full registration after completing least one year of clinical experience, and interns, those who are undertaking their first year of clinical practice after completing their medical degree.
New exhibition showcasing vintage fashion
Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery is excited to present an exhibition of local and regional South Australian significance: Tina Hooft: A Country Women's Wardrobe II. Featuring vintage clothing and accessories from bygone eras, this exhibition draws on the considerable collection of Dutch-born, Merriton-based collector Tina Hooft, who has been collecting vintage garments, accessories and more for over 20 years.
Flood observers sought: Gannawarra Shire Council
Residents who would like to provide local knowledge and support planning for future flood events are encouraged to consider becoming a volunteer flood observer. Gannawarra Shire Council, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and the North Central Catchment Management Authority are seeking new flood observers, especially from residents in the Pyramid and Wandella Creek areas.
Families face another cost of living threat under Labor
Member for Maranoa and Nationals leader David Littleproud is backing calls for Labor to rule out scrapping the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) scheme. Mr Littleproud said dumping the FTC scheme was another cost of living threat under Labor and would hurt families and businesses.
Powerlink playing with our property rights: Property Rights Australia
“Landowners are suffering an avalanche of new projects championed by the State Government owned corporation Powerlink Queensland. Powerlink has over 20 active connection projects attached to renewable energy developments spread from Cairns, Central Queensland right through to the Gold Coast,” Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) Rob Atkinson said.
$5 million to improve Northern Rivers drainage systems: Watt, Toole, Saunders
“This program will provide an injection of funds to improve priority drainage channels, reducing the immediate risks to agricultural assets and surrounding communities in future flood events. The funding will focus on the cleaning and treatment of sediment in drains to assist in the movement of water through these river systems": Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt.
Gunnedah Shire Council awarded funding for Blackjack Creek flood mitigation study: Anderson
A revised study identifying the risk of flooding on a 2.5-kilometre section between South Street and McCalls Road in Gunnedah has been commissioned with $60,000 in funding from the NSW Government’s 2022/23 NSW Floodplain Management Program ... The new study comes after significant changes were made to the area including the construction of a Blackjack Creek Riparian Corridor and the construction of the second Gunnedah overpass.
Bursaries bringing international students back to WA’s regions: Templeman, McGurk
Central Regional TAFE has welcomed the first group of international students to Geraldton following their success in the inaugural round of the McGowan Government's regional bursaries for TAFE international students ... Interest in the program has been strong with a total of 22 international students already receiving bursaries to study at TAFE campuses in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Broome in Semester 1, 2023.
Five policy interventions that would support local and regional news
Claire Stuchbery. If Government is serious about supporting media diversity and public interest journalism to address the news deserts that have emerged across Australia, it needs to clear a path for locally produced news to build sustainability.
Fuel tax threatens to leave farmers running on empty: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says proposed changes to the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme as flagged by the Grattan Institute would further increase the already sky-high cost of living pressures on consumers and further financially strain farmers ... “It’s essentially a tax on food at the worst possible time and an unnecessary cost farmers can’t burden”: VFF President Emma Germano.
Tickets go on sale for Total Solar Eclipse prime viewing location: Cook
Three thousand general admission tickets are now on sale for the prime viewing location of the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse. The viewing site will be one of the best places on Earth to experience the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse when it is plunged into darkness on 20 April.
