Festivals a casualty of Covid
Covid-19 restrictions in 2021 led to the cancellation of four Narrandera Shire flagship events which traditionally draw large crowds and boost the local economy ... Narrandera Shire’s Covid casualties were the Narrandera Show, the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan, Narrandera’s popular 50s and 60s rock n’ roll festival Rockin’ on East and Narrandera Garden Club’s Camellia Show, most of which were cancelled for the second consecutive year ... The Good Old Days Festival drew a record crowd of 7500 in 2019 and has grown into the Narrandera Shire’s biggest event valued at $1.8 million to the regional economy.
Segregation week
Any person who is over 16 years of age and who is not fully vaccinated with the provisionally approved COVID-19 vaccine has been excluded from many NSW businesses this week. Despite our regional areas having limited to no COVID-19 cases and willing uptakes exceeding 80% in LGAs like Murray River Council, the state government pushed forward to rip the last shreds of medical sovereignty from people living in our supposed democracy. The mandates have turned friends into enforcers and loyal customers into the unclean, and in turn, the unwelcome.
MDBA loses appeal on limiting class action liability
A judgement handed down on Tuesday in the NSW Court of Appeal has left the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) without its defence of claiming it is a ‘public or other authority’ to limit liability in the class action brought over alleged negligent water management.
NSW Hydrogen Strategy to drive investment, create jobs and power prosperity
NSW is set to attract more than $80 billion of investment, drive deep decarbonisation and establish itself as an energy and economic superpower with the launch of the NSW Hydrogen Strategy ... Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said hydrogen was a huge opportunity for regional NSW. “We know that regional economies are diversifying, and the NSW government’s Hydrogen Strategy is bringing that to life,” Mr Toole said.
Mackay biorefinery pilot plant ready for take-off
Mercurius has finalised commissioning and is about to commence operations at their pilot plant that will use their patented REACH(TM) technology to produce valuable renewable chemicals, diesel and jet fuel from sugarcane waste. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mackay, which is in the heart of sugarcane country, was the perfect place for this trial to take place.
Nutritional quality of habitat key to koala numbers in state forests
Research released into koala response to forestry has found that the nutritional quality of trees is critical for koala survival and selective harvesting did not have an adverse impact upon koala numbers on surveyed NSW north coast state forests ... These findings have emerged from a three-year research program independently overseen by the NSW Natural Resources Commission.
Publicly-owned generator joins Gladstone hydrogen consortium
Publicly-owned renewable energy generator CleanCo has signed an agreement to join Sumitomo Corporation and its partners on the development of a hydrogen industry in Gladstone.
Powering up new jobs in our forestry transition: Vic Govt
Victoria Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has announced that Spiegel Energy in partnership with Radial Timber and the Yarram Community Energy Group have received $2 million from the Victorian Government through its Forestry Plan to establish a renewable energy park at the Radial Timber mill. The energy park is expected to create five full-time roles and turn Radial Timber into a fully closed loop site. It will turn waste from the mill’s operations into energy and heat, creating new revenue streams with excess energy running into the local electricity grid.
New rate peg methodology includes population growth
Geoff Helisma. NSW Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock has “endorsed the new rate peg methodology and has asked IPART to give effect to it in setting the rate peg from the 2022-23 financial year” ... Clarence Valley Council’s (CVC) general manager, Ashley Lindsay, said he didn’t foresee any “significant increase in its revenue”, because of the changes.
Fighting on our own
Deaths and high hospitalisation rates from COVID-19 will be the harsh reality for Cape residents if the state and federal governments do not act immediately to improve vaccination rates. The numbers in some communities are frighteningly low.
Yet the state and federal leaders have been absent ... The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service has tried its best to service the vast region in a timely manner, however they are working in a flawed system. Some communities – Coen, for example – have only been able to access the vaccine on a handful of days this year.
State invited to co-invest in SA tourism with Tumby Bay jetty refurbishment
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has been presented with a ground-breaking opportunity for the State to work with the District Council of Tumby Bay on significantly refurbishing the Tumby Bay Jetty to benefit cruise ship tourism on Eyre Peninsula, as well as tourism and the community at large.
Beekeeping allowed to continue in Queensland national parks for now
The Queensland Government has approved the preparation of legislative amendments to grant a 20-year extension to allow beekeeping to continue in national parks until 2044 ... The decision will formally extend beekeeping permits for a further 20 years in certain national parks that were created as part of the SEQ Forest Agreement in 1999.
Strategy to increase angling participation in Tasmania
Tasmania’s lakes and waterways are enjoyed by thousands of recreational anglers and their families and friends and the Tasmanian Government wants to encourage more Tasmanians to take up angling. The Government has released its Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania's Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28 on national Gone Fishing Day.
New era for Kimberley beef processing welcomed
The McGowan Government has welcomed the announcement of a new co-operative of northern pastoralists to own and operate northern Western Australia's only abattoir. The Kimberley Meat Co-operative (KMC) will acquire the beef processing facility 100km east of Broome, operating the facility on a contract based with its members and processing at least 40,000 head of cattle per year.
SA harvest tipped to reach record $2.8 billion value
The SA State Government’s latest Crop and Pasture Report indicates South Australian grain production is set for 7.98 million tonnes, close to the 10-year average of 8 million tonnes. SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said South Australian farmers may be able to capitalise on unfavourable conditions in other world grain producing countries.
Regional quarantine facility well under way at Wellcamp
Queensland’s first dedicated regional quarantine facility is moving ahead quickly with the first concrete poured at the Wellcamp site today ... “Construction is moving ahead swiftly and Wagner Corporation has confirmed we are on-track for the first stage of the quarantine facility to be delivered for use by the end of 2021": Steven Miles.
BHP opens iron ore mine of the future
Premier Mark McGowan congratulated BHP on the official opening of its South Flank iron ore mine. The mine adds to BHP's existing mine operations in the Pilbara to create one of the largest operating iron ore hubs in the world, expected to produce 145 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
Sick hospital system fails to prepare
With all symptoms indicating that the Queensland Health System is sick and struggling, the question for the Queensland Premier and Health Minister is ‘what have you done to prepare for the inevitable arrival of COVID-19 in our community?’ Hospitals are full despite the lack of COVID-19 cases, nurses face being sacked if they don’t get vaccinated and preparation measures appear to be minimal. Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen put questions to both Mackay and Townsville Hospital and Health Services in August on preparation measures.
City modelling used for regional roadmap
The Premier’s roadmap for regional Victoria to exit COVID-19 restrictions has more holes in it than the state’s country roads. Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has questioned the Health and Education Ministers in State Parliament about what modelling was used by the Premier to create the regional exit plan
Community led monitoring
The Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG), which represents eight organisations across the NSW Murray, is conducting a monitoring program to clearly communicate the risks and benefits of water delivery through our region ... In order to help stop repeating the meaningless destruction that we have witnessed on the Murray, MRSG has developed the NSW Murray Valley Adaptive Road Map, which aims to deliver solutions to existing problems with water flows and management.
Petition against mandatory vaccination
Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, this week has released a petition calling for the reversal of the vaccine mandate. “Mr Andrews has crossed an important line. Where the Victorian government should be encouraging vaccinations, he has begun coercing the public with an economic exclusion notice. “The premier needs to explain how this mandate is proportionate to the risk of COVID-19, especially given the pace of the voluntary roll-out in Victoria. One of the founding principles of our democracy is the freedom to choose. Although, some laws limit our right to choose, this is done based on risk, necessity and proportionality."
Tania Maxwell votes to support timber industry
Tania Maxwell MP has opposed legislation that would adversely affect the timber industry in Northern Victoria. The Forests Legislation Amendment (Compliance and Enforcement) Bill 2019 will increase opportunities for prosecution against VicForests contractors in a move Ms Maxwell said was unnecessary and excessive.
