Farmer frustration highlighted in inaugural farmer survey: VFF
Huge increases to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, crumbling regional roads, maintaining our biosecurity and forcing renewable energy infrastructure developments on communities topping the list of concerns in the Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) inaugural State of the State: Victorian Farmer Priorities Survey.
Faster internet for regional Victoria: Hutchins
...The broadband towers are the first to be completed as part of Connecting Victoria’s Satellite to Fixed Wireless upgrades and provide the nbn Fixed Wireless service to more than 1700 premises. The new towers are also designed to allow for faster download speeds in future.
Police investigate cattle rustling allegations
Police say they are investigating a report of an alleged cattle theft north-east of Alice Springs. Sources contacting the Alice Springs News say the stock belongs to the Alcoota Aboriginal Cattle Company from the Engawala community who for 30 years have been able to graze and run a cattle enterprise on Alcoota Station.
New koala joey born at Yanchep National Park
Miffy, one of the new koalas homed at Yanchep National Park, has given birth, with footage of the mother and her joey released by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions this week.
Smaller government and no net zero – Real roundtable delivers “frank advice”: Canavan
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan’s REAL productivity roundtable has delivered frank advice to lift Australia’s freefalling productivity rate. Senator Canavan convened the real productivity roundtable ... to discuss the real issues impacting Australians’ standard of living.
Group rejects “poultry corridor”
The Castlemaine–Maryborough Rail Trail (CMRT) committee released a statement on Wednesday 13 August confirming it had lodged a formal objection with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) opposing the planned development of a broiler farm at 705 Baringhup Road, Carisbrook. A case is being heard at VCAT after the property owner applied for a review...
Farmers say “no!”
Hundreds of farmers at Marnoo today are telling the Victorian Labor Government they do not want VNI West, they do not want WRL and they don't want their farmland made into renewable infrastructure," said Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications.
Walsh pleads for DEECA to repeat 2024 Barmah firewood collection
The Nationals Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is appealing to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to repeat its public firewood collection from Barmah Forest in September last year. Mr Walsh said that day saw thousands of tonnes of flood-damaged timber made available to hundreds of locals for heating and, in some cases, cooking.
Community backs hospital protest
"People in our region have stopped calling 000 altogether, instead driving loved ones with seizures, chest pain or trauma to hospital themselves because they simply do not believe an ambulance will get there in time. Directly because of this lack of beds, we have seen elderly patients from Corryong discharged from Albury Wodonga Health in the middle of the night with no transport, no money and no plan": Stan Stavros, Better Border Health.
Wildlife isn’t our biggest killer
You won't hear it. You won't see it. Not until it's too late. Australia's deadliest predator isn't found in the wild. It's on our roads. Speeding is the killer. A confronting new exhibit popped up in central Melbourne last week, the centrepiece of a Transport Accident Commission (TAC) initiative aimed at changing relaxed attitudes to the deadly consequences of speeding.
Floodway upgrade complete on rural road
Upgrades have finished on the Jimna Springs Road Floodway over Umbiram Creek at Southbrook, completed by Toowoomba Regional Council. The upgrade was delivered through Betterment funding as part of the broader 2022 Flood Recovery Program.
Businesses urged to prepare for FOGO waste mandates
The Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) hosted an informative presentation in Lockhart last week, focusing on the impacts of the new FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) waste mandates for businesses.
Driver’s last rodeo – to gaol!
Liverpool City Highway Patrol officers deployed to Murrumbidgee Police District detected a Holden Rodeo exceeding the posted speed limit at Narrandera ...
Chickenpox alert for region
A Chickenpox alert has been issued for the Northern Rivers region after several cases of the viral infection, which can reappear as Shingles, were detected at local hospitals. Chickenpox is a viral illness caused by the herpes zoster virus, and it was very common until routine vaccination began in November 2005.
Community efforts see WA declared free of Queensland fruit fly: Jarvis
Western Australia has successfully eradicated Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) thanks to the dedicated efforts of government, community and industry ... Qfly was detected in the Willagee and Palmyra areas in November 2024, through routine monitoring of traps in WA's early warning surveillance network.
Push for four day working week
The push for a four-day working week will be discussed an Economic Reform Roundtable this week as support from unions to deliver improved productivity under the model grows. The Economic Reform Roundtable to be held from at Parliament House from August 19 to 21.
New hub a community legacy
Christine Webster. The completion of the $4.6m Waikerie Riverfront Community Hub was celebrated with a Grand Opening at the venue on Saturday, attended by about 100 people. Waikerie Football Club president Brendan Sidhu officially welcomed those who attended the event, including Barker MP Tony Pasin, Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone, and Elizabeth MP Lee Odenwalder...
DCCEEW hits back at Dalton’s water theft claims
The NSW department responsible for delivering water to the environment, and setting water allocations, has hit back at Member for Murray Helen Dalton MP's claims that water is being stolen from irrigators. The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said Ms Dalton's claims of water theft are incorrect.
Landmark water mismanagement trial against MDBA underway
A landmark class action legal battle against the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) commenced last week in the New South Wales Supreme Court. After six long years, the case – alleging water mismanagement by the MDBA and brought by thousands of farmers - is finally getting its day in court.
It’s time to act: Protecting our coastline is no longer optional
The Hon. Nick McBride. The recent storms that hit areas of the Limestone Coast have again laid bare the urgent threat of coastal erosion in the region. With every storm, we lose more of our coastline—along with the infrastructure, tourism, and natural environment it supports ... They reflect a growing crisis that short-term fixes like sand replenishment or rock walls can no longer solve.
Mobile tower confusion
Of 27 mobile phone towers planned for the South East, Telstra only ever earmarked two for the Naracoorte Lucindale Council area, with parts of districts like Callendale, Spence and others remaining without services. As Telstra, since 2011, is a private company with service obligations to rural and regional people, the council opted following a 6-4 vote - not to put $140,185 of ratepayer funds into the telco giant’s project.
Expensive locum doctors
The Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) claims it is strategically shifting away from depending on expensive locum doctors … But shadow minister for Regional Health Penny Pratt has rejected the network’s claims, saying they did not reflect the reality she hears “almost weekly” from rural communities.
