Farmers take water battle to Supreme Court
After years of simmering frustration, irrigators across the NSW Central Murray and Goulburn-Murray regions are finally getting their day in court. A landmark class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and the Commonwealth Government is set to begin in the Supreme Court of NSW on August 11. The legal battle represents 28,000 group members, and seeks at least $750 million in damages.
Roadside tree hazard
After surviving a head-on collision on the Riddoch Hwy, Maaoupe farmer Neil Engler wants to know why the Transport Department plants its trees so close to our main roads and highways. “It’s dangerous for everyone, not just me,” he said after arriving home from hospital 24 hours after the accident.
Muchea Livestock Centre wins national industry award: Jarvis
Muchea Livestock Centre (MLC) has been recognised at the 2025 National Saleyard Conference, winning the 2025 Industry Advocate Award by Saleyards Australia. The Western Australian Government owned and operated saleyard received the prestigious award for its outstanding leadership and quiet advocacy for the saleyards sector.
Energy Minister must reconsider Central North REZ says Lovell
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has called on the Minister for Energy and Resources to reconsider the size and location of the Central North Renewable Energy Zone. Following the recent release of the draft Victorian Transmission Plan for public consultation, numerous objections have been raised by community members and local government...
New national park to protect Sydney’s largest koala population: Sharpe, Scully
Warranmadhaa (Georges River Koala National Park), located between Long Point and Appin, covers 962 hectares. Work is already underway to grow the park with more land transfers planned into the National Park system which will protect up to 1,830 hectares of habitat.
Kealy calls for investigation into land tax assessments
Several flawed land tax assessments across the Wimmera and south-west have prompted The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, to call for an investigation. Ms Kealy said dozens of residents had contacted her office in the past few months regarding errors in their land tax assessments, including incorrect land classifications and relevant exemptions not being applied for primary production land and not-for-profit uses.
Surfing WA to expand its surfers rescue 365 program
The Spot and Capricorn beach north of Yanchep Lagoon have BEN signs but not shark monitoring network receivers so funding to support Surfing WA shark hazard mitigation initiatives will no doubt be welcomed ... Surfing WA chief executive officer Mark Lane said the funding was a major step forward for ocean safety in WA.
400 new flood-free housing lots part of Resilient Homes target for 4300 homes
Many are waiting to see the housing options that come out of the $100million Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Program. The NSW Reconstruction Authority made an announcement ... about the purchase of 72ha of flood-free land from Southern Cross University. It means 400 new housing lots in Lismore.
Premier makes a splash
Sarah Herrmann. Grants of up to $100,000 will be available to fisheries and aquaculture businesses significantly affected by the harmful algae bloom, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced during his visit to Yorke Peninsula yesterday, July 28.
Mayor Paterson’s secret second job
Retiring Mayor Matt Paterson is coy about his second job, in addition to his $116,000 a year gig heading up the council. It’s conveniently just across the road from the civic centre, at the office of Amentum, a Pine Gap defence contractor. We texted him on December 16: “Do you work for Amentum? Just checking a rumour.” No answer. Last week we asked him again...
Katamatite welcomes new live-in police officer – son of Bill Ryall
So, after more than a year without a resident police officer, Katamatite's single-member station is about to spring back to life. Detective Senior Constable Charles Ryall is trading his role with Cobram's Crime Investigation Unit for something entirely different – becoming Katamatite's first live-in police officer in about 12 months.
Energy transition must not trample farmers’ rights: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has reacted with concern following recent comments from Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, warning that the State Government’s energy transition risks alienating the very communities it needs most.
Territory Energy Link: Why Tennant Creek’s central role is non-negotiable
The Barkly Regional Council today issued a strong call to action, urging the Northern Territory Government, Infrastructure Australia, and all stakeholders to reinstate Tennant Creek as a core component of the Territory Energy Link (TEL) corridor. The Council asserts that bypassing Tennant Creek risks squandering decades of strategic planning and undermining critical regional development.
Duxton Vineyards is growing more than grapes, it’s growing hope for an endangered Aussie parrot
Among the red gums lining the Murray River, the endangered Regent Parrot is fighting to hang on. With its bright yellow plumage and unmistakable flight, it’s one of Australia’s lesser-known but most threatened species ... Duxton Vineyards, one of Australia’s largest vineyard holders, is working with the NSW Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) program to restore critical habitat for the Regent Parrot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
