Choke hold
Even with more than 100,000 megalitres a day crossing the South Australian border, SA Water closed the barrages due to seawater flowing into the freshwater estuary. SA Water satellite imagery also shows the current flooding is still not moving down the Coorong. The real risk of constraints relaxation may be felt closer to home. The modification of the Barmah Choke has been seen as the crown jewel for accessing held environmental water. The choke protects Echuca-Moama and Koondrook-Barham from large Murray floods from Hume Dam, currently on display with the flows heading north down the Edward-Wakool system ... Community concerns over constraints relaxation flooding farmers and potentially impacting townships has been labelled as scaremongering by MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville.
‘Pressure and punitive action’ used in regard to RFS assets
Coolamon Shire Council General Manager Tony Donoghue said arguments still continued in regard to who should include Rural Fire Service assets in their financial statements. “The information provided by the Minister for Local Government does not change Council’s opinion that these assets should not be included as part of Council’s financial statements...": Coolamon Shire Council General Manager Tony Donoghue
Nurses take campaign to the streets
The Narrandera Branch of NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Union members took to the streets as part of strike action last Wednesday (November 23). About 15 Narrandera NSWNMA Union Members and numerous community representatives showed their support during a march in East Street ... Taking a stance, the members highlighted their plight of fighting for safer staffing levels by means of more acceptable nurse-to-patient ratios.
Labor are taxing our flood grants
Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Kevin Hogan said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed grants given to businesses and farmers will be taxed ... “In his answer he said they will be taxed. This is huge blow to our small businesses and farmers”: Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Kevin Hogan
Iluka Ambulance Station officially opened
Emma Pritchard. Following a hard-fought campaign which stretched across five-and-a-half years and included a petition with over 11000 signatures, overwhelming community support, and plenty of lobbying by Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, members of the Iluka Ambulance Action Group and Iluka Bowling Club proudly stood alongside Clarence Valley residents and visiting dignitaries on November 26 to celebrate a significant milestone.
Southern Downs flood repair program
The Southern Downs Regional Council has been working on flood disaster recovery since March 2020. In addition to the normal Council works budget, more than $16 million has been spent on the flood repair program to date and a large portion of the works now expected to reach completion by June 2024.
What you should know about your local rural pathology service
When I came to rural NSW pathology in the 1990's, there were approximately six rural cytology positions employed in the government pathology laboratories in the state and a single rural cytology position employed by the private sector. So the number of trained cytology positions was never large and very much fewer in rural areas. However, as of 2016-17 they are non-existent in any rural NSW pathology setting, private or public sector. Similarly, numbers are greatly reduced for most of the other specialist pathology positions, especially pathologists themselves.
South Australian Wooden Boat Festival, Alexandrina Cove, April 2023
The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival (SAWBF) will be sailing into new territory for the April 2023 Festival, with Coorong Quays hosting the two-day event at the Alexandrina Cove Lifestyle Village, Hindmarsh Island. This biennial occasion will showcase the finest wooden boats from our region and beyond.
Biggest country roads survey to be finished by end of the year
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation and Transport for NSW with seven Northern Rivers councils are undertaking a whole of network road condition assessment across all sealed roads in the Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Tweed LGAs.
Drones bolster war on weeds in state’s central west: Toole, Saunders
Drones to detect and spray weeds will soon be deployed out to councils across the Central West as the NSW Government ramps up its war on weeds after months of wet weather ... “Through this program, Local Land Services will roll out drones to councils across the Central West and set them up to help map weed infestations – and ultimately deploy larger drones to spray invasive plants from the air": Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole.
The Gannawarra’s flood response, recovery continues
Gannawarra Shire Council continues to support its communities impacted by the October 2022 floods, with residents continuing to reach out for support as the recovery process begins for some areas of the municipality. With the flood emergency about to enter an eighth week, Council is working with government agencies and other support services to assist residents impacted by this major flood event.
Concerns remain despite IR Bill concessions: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged the concessions granted which will see the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill pass the Parliament this week, but warns that the consequences for the food supply chain remain largely unknown. NFF President Fiona Simson said it was disappointing to see a government so disinterested in the genuinely held concerns of employers.
ARTC Inland Rail opens track between Narrabri and Moree: King
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has opened 83km of upgraded Inland Rail track between Moree and Narrabri, with the first grain train set to run in the coming days. With trains now running on this section of track for the first time in seven months, ARTC is urging people travelling on roads between Narrabri and Moree to take extra care near the rail line and at all level crossings.
Mayor proud of new road
Lockhart River mayor Wayne Butcher has praised his council’s team after it successfully built and sealed a new road using a local workforce. “For the first time in history, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council has built a road from scratch to bitumen,” he said.
The Zylstra theory: a final comment: Roger Underwood
Having read the latest comment by Philip Zylstra in the ARR.News journal I was tempted to dismiss it as negligible, and move on. Then I realised that he had denigrated my colleagues, dismissing them as an emotional "lobby group”, and I realised that he must not be allowed to have the last word. To the extent that we are pushing for Australian governments to adopt a bushfire policy and management practices that minimise bushfire damage to the Australian people, to community assets and the environment, then yes, we are lobbyists. But we do so unemotionally, from the basis of science and experience.
Blowing in the wind in your window
If you love the view from the top of your farm looking out over the surrounding countryside, then let’s hope you are not near the coast or major power lines or in a windy part of Western Australia because the state and federal governments and the men and women with white shoes are quietly pouring over maps looking for sites that will become tomorrow’s wind farms.
Flood situation update: Campaspe Shire Council
Many of our local traders are open for business as usual and we encourage you to shop local ... Kerbside household flood waste collections have been running in Rochester for around five weeks.
NSW koalas and industrial logging of the public forest estate: Sue Higginson
Sue Higginson responds to ARR.News questioning of the premise for the Green's introduced Forestry Amendment (Koala Habitats) Bill 2022 ... "All levels of Government agree that our Koalas have declined significantly in recent decades and that they are facing extinction in coming decades if threats to their survival are not stopped ... The legitimacy of the Law article is broadly contested": Sue Higginson, NSW Greens MP.
First Nations gallery open for business
A dedicated and permanent First Nations gallery, Djaa Djuwima, has officially opened at the Bendigo Visitor Centre with its first exhibition. Gurangarr Dja Dja Wurrung Djayi (you are on/in Dja Dja Wurrung Country) brings together stunning works from 20 First Nations artists and celebrates their connections to Country.
Winds of change blowing as Water Corporation powers towards net zero future: McGowan, Kelly
The McGowan Government is taking the next significant step towards achieving its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions after announcing Water Corporation has secured the development rights of what will be one of Western Australia's largest renewable wind energy projects ... In a move that will significantly reduce its emissions, Water Corporation today announced it had secured development rights for the Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage 2 from WA-owned Moonies Hill Energy.
Queensland wind farm precinct to dwarf all others: Palaszczuk, Miles, Dick, Brenni
Queensland will be home to one of the largest onshore wind projects in the world, after global energy giant ACCIONA Energia, announced the development of a new $2 billion wind project. The new 1,000MW Herries Range Wind Farm will be built within the MacIntyre Wind Precinct, west of Warwick, bringing the precinct value to $4 billion, and the total amount of renewable energy to 2,000 MW – enough to power 1.4 million Queensland homes.
Banking taskforce report opens the gate for mass closures
The number of banks closed in regional Australia in the six weeks since the Albanese Government quietly released the Coalition’s Regional Banking Taskforce final report is comparable to a dam opening its spillways. The blame for the acceleration – at least 71 branches across all states and territories – can be laid squarely at the feet of the two opposition MPs who led the inquiry, Michael Sukker and Perin Davey, and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, who released the report.
