Rockhampton Airport gives a ‘Bonza’ welcome to the new airline
Rockhampton Regional Council has recently announced an historic partnership with Australian low cost carrier Bonza Airline and has welcomed Bonza’s Chief Commercial Officer to the region to celebrate the milestone ... “The benefits of Bonza offering budget flights to currently unserviced routes, is going to benefit many sectors of our community”: Mayor Tony Williams.
Council supports landowners with their weed control efforts
The South Burnett Regional Council is urging landowners to take advantage of the range of equipment available to assist in their weed control efforts ... Providing weed control equipment to landowners forms part of the South Burnett Regional Council commitment in building a stronger Weed Biosecurity System that protects our agricultural industries, environment and communities.
Cuttlefish Craig up for a national award
An unusual sculpture that pays homage to Whyalla’s giant cuttlefish has been named as one of the best public art experiences in the nation. The ‘Accessible Cuttlefish Throne’ at the Whyalla jetty has been shortlisted for the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards’ Best Landmark Sculpture gong.
Better protection for Victoria’s koalas: D’Ambrosio
The new draft Victorian Koala Management Strategy will guide how koalas in Victoria will be conserved into the future − outlining ongoing actions to ensure their security, sustainability and health. Since the previous 2004 strategy was released, new issues impacting koalas have emerged and others have become more significant, including climate change, genetic diversity and extreme bushfires.
Keith Hospital model unveiled
Gabrielle Duykers. A newly proposed healthcare model for Keith and District Hospital would see it move into the public local health network, but 24/7 care has been excluded from the plan ... As part of the transition, the current Keith and District Hospital Governing Board could potentially morph into a Health Advisory Council (HAC), a consultative body which works with SA Health to provide advice on health service needs and priorities for the community.
TEYS – the canary in the coalmine
Sheryl Lowe. "What followed ‘saddened” me, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride MP said on 5THE FM radio. “I realise there is a lot of fear around covid but Teys employees were refused service at businesses in Naracoorte and there was even a threat of the Woolworths Fuel outlet closing so staff wouldn’t have to serve them. The media continued to connect the outbreak to Teys but, Teys was the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ if you like. They detected covid in Naracoorte but were not responsible for bringing it to Naracoorte. It was already there.”
Mozzie Mob helping Tennant eliminate dengue mosquito
A dengue mosquito elimination program is gaining traction in Tennant Creek, a year since the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, was found in the town. A team of five NT Health staff, known to the locals as the Mozzie Mob, are conducting property inspections to review backyard items that can hold water to treat them for mosquito eggs or larvae.
Tarrengower Prison rehabilitates 500th greyhound
Tarrengower Prison is celebrating the rehabilitation of its 500th foster greyhound, ‘Boston’, who was trained through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), which is designed to give four-legged companions and prisoners a new lease on life.
Lifeguard shortage to impact final weeks of outdoor pool season
“Unfortunately there’s a lack of available trained lifeguards in the region, which is also reflected in the wider aquatic and recreation industry at the moment": Karen Evennett, Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Threatened species strategy action plan – Questions for Minister Ley and the Department’s response
Australian Rural & Regional News sought clarification from Minister Ley on a number of points, including consultation with and the role of farmers and landowners generally, and received a response, required to be attributed to a spokesperson (unnamed) from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Talking Water – Kwatye Angkeme: A campaign to address Alice Springs’ water future
Tracy Jones, Desert Knowledge Australia. A group of local organisations and independent parties have joined forces in Alice Springs, NT, with the support of the Northern Territory Government, to address the town’s water future. The Talking Water Collective delivered a short, intense campaign during October-November 2021 to prompt awareness and build stewardship around the town’s water security, sharing key facts about water resources and consumption, and contributing to the NT's Strategic Water Plan.
Basin brimming with hope
After being nearly empty in early 2020, there’s been a remarkable turnaround in Murray–Darling Basin water storages following widespread rain throughout 2021, resulting in better water availability for towns, industries and the environment, and good cropping prospects in 2022.
Walsh: Andrews Inc must be stopped from destroying regional media
The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains has condemned a move by the Andrews Labor Government to suck a significant slice of revenue out of the pockets of regional newspapers. Mr Walsh said the Nationals strenuously opposed the Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2021, which means more than 400 requirements in Victoria that must be published in print media could potentially be pushed online to a central government website.
153,000 trees planted at Wivenhoe Dam to increase koala habitat and water quality
Koala habitat will be increased and water quality improved with the planting of 153,000 trees along Wivenhoe Dam to rehabilitate former grazing land ... The trees have been planted at seven sites on former grazing land and include eucalypts like Queensland blue gum, ironbarks, bloodwoods and grey gums, as well as rough-barked apple, river she-oak, and black tea-tree.
New zero-emission aircraft fleet to launch in WA
WA companies Aviair and HeliSpirit have partnered with global company Eve Air Mobility, part of the Embraer Group, to bring new zero-emission electric aircraft to WA within the next four years.
RVC meeting: The one where the councillor wore thongs
I plan to attend the Richmond Valley Council meetings every month so you don’t have to ... Mayor Robert Mustow opened the meeting ... IPART sets how much council can increase rates. They recently set the peg at 0.7% which is very low. Mayor Mustow said this move meant metropolitan councils would receive more money because of their population ...
Scaling a silo or going up a hill to get signal. Time to end the connectivity drought in country NSW
The inequalities faced by regional Australians with mobile signal and internet connection need to be fixed. The National Farmers Federation telecommunications committee member and farmer Peter Thompson said far from being a luxury, mobile phone coverage and internet connectivity were essentials in the bush, much like power and water.
Max sniffs out koala habitat
Geoff Helisma. Volunteer environmental organisation, Clarence Valley Environment Centre (CEC – established 1989), has released the results of a survey it commissioned, “to undertake koala scat detection [using a specifically trained] dog … in the Shannondale area, [in order] to assess koala presence/absence after the droughts, fires and floods”.
Evasive action required to limit stable fly
There have been increased reports of stable flies in the Shire of Gingin and other areas due to unseasonably wet conditions over winter and spring that enabled larval developmental sites to stay active for longer. Stable fly is primarily a pest of livestock, especially cattle and horses but it also affects humans, dogs and other animal pets.
Farm Forestry Assist program supporting growth of local softwood plantation timber industry: Kelly
WA Forestry Minister Dave Kelly has launched the Farm Forestry Assist program for 2022, supporting farmers and other landowners wishing to plant pine trees on their land. Established in 2018, successful applicants receive free high-quality radiata pine seedlings from the Forest Products Commission's West Manjimup Nursery to establish 20 to 50 hectare pine plantations on their properties.
New restricted movement zones to combat European house borer
Two localities in the Shire of Gingin have been added to the list of restricted movement zones to contain the spread of European house borer, which is a serious pest of pinewood.
Rio reshuffles positions after major resignation
Weipa will get its own general manager again after the sudden resignation of Michelle Elvy paved the way for Rio Tinto to shuffle the deckchairs on its bauxite business ... Shona Markham will take the reins at Weipa, moving from Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay Aluminium operations in Tasmania.
