The serious business of play
Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) has been keeping play a priority; it has featured as a key agenda item at its recent council meeting and in the recently released budget. It comes as school starts back again, after a holiday period that saw local children and visitors looking for wintry activities in regional small towns.
Governor’s goldfields visit
Ian Riley. The Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, toured the region last week to visit local operations and meet with locals in her role as Head of State, representative of the King ... Her Excellency traversed towns between Harcourt and Woodend, with visits to Buda Homestead in Castlemaine, Josh’s Eggs in Monegeetta and Hanging Rock.
Biosecurity trumps all on beef imports: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers have backed calls for an independent scientific panel to review federal authorities’ decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. NSW Farmers’ President Xavier Martin said there was no room for error when it came to biosecurity and said a review was vital to ensure confidence that US beef imports would comply with Australia’s biosecurity and food safety standards.
Reinstatement of US beef imports into Australia: ALFA
The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) acknowledges the Australian Government’s announcement to reinstate access of beef processed from the United States of America into Australia. This follows conclusion of a science-based risk assessment process undertaken by the Australian Government since 2019 to determine whether beef processed in the USA sourced from cattle from Canada or Mexico can meet Australia’s biosecurity and food safety requirements.
Allora Precinct – almost finished
Workmen have been on the site for the past few months making extensive changes to the library and sports museum at Allora. The changes include relocating the library to the old Senior Citizens Room with entry via the double glass doors down the side of the Museum.
25 years of fish stocking scheme
Queensland’s inland fishing program, the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS), was introduced in 2000 and has since grown from 25 dams to 63 impoundments. To celebrate, the “SIPS 25” fishing competition will be held in the September school holidays at SIPS destinations across the State.
Response to unhelpful comments made by NAAJA’s Acting CEO: Boothby
The comments today from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Acting CEO, Anthony Beven, are not only irresponsible, they are utterly absurd. To suggest that the Commonwealth should pull funding from the NT Police Force until a meeting takes place is reckless and inflammatory. These kinds of outbursts do nothing but create confusion and fear in remote communities who rely on police for safety and protection.
Police operation cracking down on crime
Queensland Police's Operation Marshall kicked off on July 1 and on the Darling Downs, the first two weeks have resulted in 187 charges against 88 juveniles and 35 charges against 15 adults. Across the state, there have been 393 charges laid against 250 offenders, including 76 charges against 48 juveniles.
Council staff down tools
Towong Council workers have launched historic industrial action over what they consider an "unfair" pay offer and rising charges for residents. For the first time in the council's history, its workers have commenced are taking protected industrial action in response to a wage proposal that workers say fails both staff and the local community.
Tea proclaimed a success
Corryong's 150th anniversary celebrations began on Sunday with a well attended Proclamation High Tea with many guests decked out in period dress. Corryong & District Memorial Hall committee member, Sheril Wilson, reports on the event...
New renewables law
Legislation came into effect last week which aims to empower communities on renewable energy projects. The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, introduces significant reforms that strengthen social licence requirements for renewable energy projects and consistent development assessment rules across the state.
Good news for Council’s coffers
Toowoomba Regional Council's financial woes as of late have been softened with the announcement of an interim $4 million surplus for the 2024/25 financial year. At last week's Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillors endorsed the interim full year result which turned a revised $5.7 million budgeted deficit into an interim $4 million surplus.
Keeping SA’s youth crime rate low: Maher
The State Government is moving to strengthen youth bail and sentencing laws, to ensure they effectively deal with serious repeat young offenders. Although ABS data shows SA has the lowest youth offender rate of any state, and behind only the ACT, we know a small number of serious repeat young offenders are responsible for a disproportionate level of offending...
Flyer found in wreckage
The body of a pilot missing after his plane crashed in the Snowy Mountains near Khancoban has been located in the debris. A rescue helicopter located the plane near Khancoban ... after it went missing on a flight from Wangaratta to Moruya with pilot 74-year-old Bega man, David Stephens, on board.
Inquiry hears of litany of fails from water policy
It was Dwight Eisenhower who famously stated, 'Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field'. The same rings true for water reform, and once again, this week the list of systemic failures and a lack of basic understanding of how policy decisions impact communities was on display. A NSW Government public hearing held in Deniliquin this week looked at the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our River) Act 2023 on NSW regional communities.
‘A win for our communities’: Cooke celebrates Cootamundra-Gundagai demerger
After nearly a decade of community advocacy, the NSW Government has confirmed the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council will proceed. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has welcomed the NSW Government's decision to bring an end to almost a decade of uncertainty and community campaigning ... The demerger follows the release of reports from the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission and a Public Inquiry, clearing the way for two independent councils to be re-established.
How did 100 Bendigo Banks close without anyone noticing until now?
Bendigo Bank has hit the headlines for closing 10 branches shortly followed by an announcement it was getting rid of all of its regional agencies but there are another 90-odd Bendigo-branded banks that have been shut over the past five years it has managed to keep quiet. Many of these were community franchises that have been disappearing in the dozens, with both regional and metropolitan areas impacted.
Merv Schneider celebrates 100 years!
Nhill's Mervyn Schneider – fondly known as Merv – marked an extraordinary milestone last week, celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers. A celebration was held at the Nhill Bowling Club on Saturday, with more than 150 people in attendance.
Town Hall meetings to be held
A minimum of two Town Hall meetings a year will be held in the upper and lower Clarence Valley after a motion to introduce the concept was carried in a split vote at the July Council meeting ... Cr Yager said the motion was aimed at holding a forum for open dialogue and community connection.
Community-led campaign marks one year
The Limestone Coast Sustainable Futures Association recently marked its one-year anniversary with a powerful show of community strength at its AGM, reaffirming its leadership in the fight to protect prime agricultural land and groundwater from rare earth mining in the region.
Frustrations aired at algal bloom meeting
Yorke Peninsula businesses are calling for financial support from the state and federal governments, while also encouraging tourists to still visit the region, amid the ongoing harmful algal bloom. This was the sentiment shared by a crowd of almost 100 business owners and members of the public who gathered at a meeting organised by Port Vincent Progress Association on July 15.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, July 2025
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) met on 17 July in Sydney ... covered an extensive agenda heading into a busy period of publishing, end of year reporting and the release of the Basin Plan Evaluation and Sustainable Rivers Audit.
