Reef island purchases protect critical koala, turtle habitat: Scanlon
Leases on two Great Barrier Reef islands have been purchased by the Palaszczuk Government with the move protecting key habitat for a range of species including koalas and flatback turtles. Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced that the government had purchased the lease for St Bees Island, 35km north-east of Mackay and the lease for the Long Island Broad Sound in the Southern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
New fee system to help protect Aboriginal cultural heritage: Buti
At the lowest scale, a fixed fee of $250 will apply for a company or organisation with less than $10 million in global revenue, up to a fee of $1.39 million for a company or organisation with a global revenue of $5 billion or more that enters an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan over 20 years. Where there is no risk of impact to Aboriginal cultural heritage, no approval is required and there is no fee payable.
Barkly on top of NT Budget: Paech
Nyinkka Nyunyu is set for a $7 million upgrade, announced in this week’s Territory Budget ... Speaking to the Tennant & District Times, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech said works include a new artist studio, upgraded gallery, performance and storage spaces and immersive audio visual displays and experiences that share history, stories, arts and culture.
Scrapping dam will hold back food production: NSW Farmers
Farmers say scrapping Dungowan Dam is a short-sighted move that will limit future food production. State Water Minister Rose Jackson announced Dungowan Dam would not proceed in the wake of the federal budget, saying it would save taxpayers $632 million.
‘New water plan is a disgrace’: Les Turner
Les Turner, CLC CEO. The twice-rejected Western Davenport water allocation plan unmasks the Northern Territory government’s disregard for Aboriginal rights and sites and lacks social licence ... Alekarenge community leader Graham Beasley says: “That’s our country. We should be involved. What’s going to happen to our sacred trees?”
Core Lithium goes from strength to strength in the Territory: Manison
In another boost for the economy and local jobs, the Northern Territory Government has given mining approval to Core Lithium for its BP33 underground mine – the second proposed mine at the Finniss Lithium Operation near Darwin. BP33 is located 33km west of Berry Springs and 5km from the Grants open pit, processing of ore mined at BP33 will occur at the nearby Grants Lithium Project.
Fix disability access to shops
A local disability advocate has called on some businesses in Naracoorte to fix access to their shops for people with mobility disabilities. Julie Brodie of the Naracoorte Counselling Association says the area of contention for people with mobility disabilities is by far the lack of access to certain shops in Naracoorte.
New youth detention centre to be built at Woodford: Linard
The first of two new youth detention centres for Queensland will be built at the Woodford Correctional Precinct north west of Brisbane ... The Palaszczuk Government has also committed to building a new youth detention centre near Cairns.
NT Health Public health alert: Murray Valley encephalitis
NT Health is urging Territorians and visitors to the Northern Territory (NT) to protect themselves and children from mosquito bites following a recent death from Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) in the Big Rivers region. This follows another MVE death recorded in February in a person in the Top End region.
Regional Western Australian abandoned by Labor again: Davies
Shadow Electoral Affairs Minister Hon. Mia Davies MLA said the Labor Party’s submission on adjusting the State’s electoral boundaries confirms Labor’s contempt for regional WA. "In two short years the McGowan Labor Government has abolished regional representation in the Upper House and are now arguing to cut another country seat and create a new one in the metropolitan area": Shadow Electoral Affairs Minister Hon. Mia Davies.
KAP flags stepping stones to statehood: Katter
The complete decentralisation of State Government departments to cities like Townsville and Cairns, or a North Queensland Parliamentary Council that would allow NQ-based MPs only to vote on issues and projects in the region, have been floated as “self-governance” options by Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MPs. The KAP MPs, in Cairns this week for the Queensland Parliament’s once-a-term regional sitting, said steps towards self-governance were reasonable as the region continues its quest towards statehood.
Third White Spot detection as fishermen face a 2-year control order
White Spot virus has been detected in a third Palmers Island prawn farm leaving around 50 prawn trawler owners staring down the barrel of a two-year extension on the control order preventing them from removing any green prawns from the Clarence River. For an industry already on its knees after no income for the past 16 weeks due to the current control order, this third detection on April 21 on a prawn farm on North Bank Road spells further problems.
Homeless shelter nears for Copper Coast
Fin Hansen. People sleeping rough could soon have access to a temporary homeless shelter on the Copper Coast. Salvation Army Copper Coast Corps has expressed its desire to open a shelter during SA Housing Authority’s Code Red or Blue extreme weather responses.
Lovell seeks Andrews Government commitment on levee bank maintenance in Northern Victoria: Lovell
The Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has sought details from the Andrews Labor Government regarding the management and maintenance of levee banks throughout Victoria, including in her electorate of Northern Victoria Region.
New flower species named to honour nearly 30 years of conservation work: DBCA
A gorgeous new flower has been named in honour of DBCA Midwest Flora Conservation Officer Alanna Chant. The striking red bloom occurs only in a handful of areas in WA’s Midwest (Mullewa, Morawa, Canna).
Change in emergency services funding will hit councils hard
Local councils are reeling after learning the NSW Government will not subsidise the increase in the Emergency Services Levy this year. Local Government NSW president Darriea Turley said the levy is a cost imposed on councils and the insurance industry to fund the emergency services budget in NSW such as the Rural Fire Service.
Spotlight on Far North as Cairns hosts Parliament: Palaszczuk
Far North Queensland Regional Parliament will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May ... “Regional sittings of Parliament are an important opportunity for locals – including our school students - to not only see democracy in action first hand, but to also hear all of the key issues for their area debated": Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of Queensland.
Proof that species are declining in our forests set up to protect them: Robert Onfray
Robert Onfray. As we celebrate World Endangered Species Day on 19 May, I thought it timely this month to look closely at how species are faring in Australia, particularly in reserves authorities have established to protect them ... We don’t hear about this aspect of monitoring in our reserves because the government, bureaucrats and environmental activists don’t want the public to know just how poorly managed our reserves are.
Overhead transmission lines debate rolls on
Jenny Pollard. Avenues of engagement, updates on consultations and community intervention were amongst the themes addressed by the speakers at last Monday’s community meeting held at the Charlton Park function room ... Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, made good on her offer to bring Leader of the Federal National Party, David Littleproud, to the region following the strong activism at the St. Arnaud forum held in mid-April.
New program helping Victorian student teachers go rural: Hutchins
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins has launched the Teach Rural pilot program, which will support up to 200 student teachers - or pre-service teachers (PSTs) - to undertake placements at government schools across rural and regional Victoria in 2023 and 2024 ... Country Education Partnership ... will deliver the Teach Rural pilot program.
20,000 South Easterners force state inquiry
Naracoorte's Lachlan Haynes and his radiation treatment working party will be at Parliament House [on Thursday 4 May 2023] where their petition of 20,0000 signatures will spark a State Legislative Review Committee inquiry. The petition calls for radiation treatment services to be available in the South East, and 20,000 people signed in less than three months ... Cancer patients, at their own cost, then must travel to Adelaide or interstate and live there for the duration of their radiation therapy which is usually 15 minutes a day for two to three months.
Closing down
The timber mill at Corryong will close by September, once the existing log stock is milled. It will be the end of an era for Walkers Sawmill after 87 years of operation under three generations of the family. Current owner, Graham Walker, was in Corryong on Friday to announce the closure of the mill to its 21 employees.
