South West Craft Beer Festival, 5 March 2022
Beer lovers will rejoice at the incredible range of 175+ brews to try from 25 craft breweries and cideries such as Rocky Ridge, Colonial, Eagle Bay, Boston and Brewhouse Margaret River, including some crazy, delicious, mind boggling special and new release brews showcased by each brewer at their bar.
Proposed expansion of marine park north of Two Rocks
A proposal to expand the Marmion marine park will if adopted result in the marine park’s boundary starting north of Two Rocks, according to information released by the Parks and Wildlife Service. At present the Marmion marine park, which occupies about 9500ha, is situated between Trigg Island and Burns Rocks.
Tick of approval for Urannah Dam bilateral approval
Urannah Dam is a step closer to reality, with the Australian and Queensland governments signing a bilateral agreement to progress the project ... “The proposed dam and hydro-electric scheme are located in the Broken River Valley (within the Burdekin Basin) approximately 86 km southeast of Collinsville and 80 km west of Mackay in Central Queensland” : Qld Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher.
Expo Dubai serves up global food and beverage opportunities
NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said a Memorandum of Understanding signed this week between the NSW Government and the United Arab Emirates Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group (UAE FBMG) provides NSW businesses with a strategic advantage in the supply of ingredients, new innovations and agritech solutions as UAE takes steps to progress its food security agenda.
Govt spent $6.2m on locum GPs, not locals
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government’s Limestone Coast Local Health Network spent $6.2 million on locum doctors in 2020-21. And it has now hired an international locum agency to fill Naracoorte hospital’s emergency roster with medical officers, not locals ... Crippled by the escalating rural doctor crisis, for 27 days during 2020-21 the government left the Naracoorte Hospital without an on-call doctor or locum.
Trainees for Naracoorte and Millicent
Chris Oldfield. Naracoorte and Millicent have welcomed three new paramedic trainees to their dedicated SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) teams. Jasmine White has joined Naracoorte, while Ben Merchant and Amy-Lee Hay have teamed up with Millicent's SAAS.
Gust takes on Upper House
Gabrielle Duykers. An Apsley farmer and community advocate is running as a candidate for the state Legislative Council in the upcoming election. Paula Gust has joined the Advance SA Party in the hopes of securing a seat in the Upper House at the State Election on March 19.
Rabobank commentary: Implications of Russia Ukraine conflict for Australian wheat
The Russia Ukraine conflict will have large ramifications for global and Australian grains and oilseeds markets, and particularly wheat, according to agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. The loss of access to all Black Sea wheat exports has not occurred in more than 100 years.
Government agrees to Maldon Hospital amalgamation
The Victorian Government has approved the proposal put forward by the Maldon Hospital and Castlemaine Health boards to come together as one organisation ... The new health service will officially commence on 1 March 2022. The integration follows more than 42 years of strong collaboration and partnership between the two health services.
Wanneroo rejects cuts for growers as solution to looming water crisis
The City of Wanneroo is calling on the McGowan Government to build a new desalination plant in Alkimos by 2028 saying the Water Corporation’s reliance on the Gnangara Mound to supply water for Perth and Peel is unsustainable. The city’s call, which also includes a request for a wastewater recycling plant, is in response to the government’s release of the draft Gnangara groundwater allocation plan (GGAP).
Observatory offers tourism and education opportunities
Charles Sturt, in collaboration with Lockhart Shire Council and The Rock Progress Association, officially opened The Rock Regional Observatory on Friday. The observatory will be used for educational astronomical observation and research activities for residents and visitors.
Welcome debate on problematic farm regulations
CANEGROWERS has welcomed the opportunity for the significant issues and concerns that surround the reef regulations imposed on farmers to be aired in the Queensland Parliament.
NSW Government rules out commercial offshore exploration and mining
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Resources Paul Toole has announced the NSW Government will not support commercial applications for offshore mineral, coal or petroleum exploration or mining, in or adjacent to, NSW coastal waters.
A closer look at the upper Darling River region: Pitt, Toole, Coulton
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt has announced that new light will be shed on the potential for additional groundwater resources in the upper Darling River region ... Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with the NSW Government, will commence an airborne electromagnetic survey across this section of north-west NSW to better understand the location of groundwater resources and their movement beneath the floodplain and its surrounds.
Cost of Shannon Creek gabion dam repairs triple
Geoff Helisma. The cost of vital repairs to the rock gabion dam at the foot of the Shannon Creek Dam spillway has blown out from the awarded $1.145 million (ex GST) contract to a “foreshadowed variation” budget of “between $3.16 million and $4.13 million”.
Sneaky plan to hand out Floodplain Harvesting Licences could be illegal and expose Govt to billions in compensation: Faehrmann
Moves by Water Minister Kevin Anderson to pave the way for the handing out of licences for floodplain harvesting as early as this week are likely in breach of the Commonwealth Water Act and could set up a future government to have to fork out billions of dollars in compensation, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and water spokesperson and chair of the recent NSW Upper House Committee into Floodplain Harvesting.
Union call to scrap Ag Visa ‘shortsighted’: NSW Farmers
The state’s peak agricultural body has criticised union calls to scrap the Ag Visa, saying it will only lead to further disruption in food supply chains. The Australian Workers Union waded into the political chaos this week claiming the Ag Visa had failed to attract workers to farms, ignoring the impact of COVID on international travel.
Cairns MIST facility shaping the future of energy in Queensland
Cairns is now home to one of the most sophisticated energy R&D hubs in Australia with the arrival of Ergon Energy’s Microgrid and Isolated Systems Test (MIST) Facility.
Collaboration required to reduce arson attacks
“In the Cape, unplanned fire is a very complicated business. We have huge amounts of biomass material unlike many other regions and we have a tight window to control burns before they reach critical habitat and threatened species": Sally Gray, Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary.
TSRA gives up control of Native Title in the Strait
Traditional Owners and Prescribed Body Corporates will take control in delivering all Native Title services in the Torres Strait from July 1 when Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council (GBK) is recognised as the Native Title service provider. The Torres Strait Regional Authority will cease being the Native Title Representative Body and stop providing Native Title services on June 30. Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said it was the right time to transfer Native Title services.
$86 million on offer to grow Australia’s plantation estate in Cowper: Conaghan
“This is the largest direct investment of any Australian Government in plantation establishment for more than 30 years. We want to partner with NSW to grow this renewable, sustainable industry so that it can continue to create jobs in Cowper and deliver quality, Australian-made products to markets": Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan
Have your say on domestic organics regulation
Public consultation is now open on Australia’s domestic organic regulatory framework, including how to support industry growth and build consumer confidence ... “This is a growing part of the agriculture sector and we are keen to seek a wide range of views": DAWE
