Survey finds 150 ancient tingles lost in December fire
More than 150 ancient tingle trees in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park have fallen after a prescribed burn on December 18 last year. This is the finding of a local researcher, ANU environmental science student Uralla Luscombe-Pedro, who surveyed the area burned next to the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk.
Leeton celebrates completion of first stage of Roxy Theatre with spectacular Gala Concert
The excitement was palpable at the re-opening of the iconic Roxy Community Theatre on Saturday night as the community was welcomed back officially into Leeton's 'Palace of Dreams'.
Record youth and Indigenous jail populations
Record numbers of youths and Indigenous young people are currently incarcerated in NSW jails with the population of inmates on remand due to the current crime wave surging by more than 20 per cent … the percentage of Indigenous inmates currently incarcerated was between 45 and 50 per cent, while 55 per cent of the jail’s inmates were on remand.
Residents urged to stay up to date with weather warnings: Williamson
Residents in the Richmond and Clarence valleys are being urged by State Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson to stay informed about the latest weather forecasts as the region braces for potential severe weather in the coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Flood Watch for all coastal rivers in the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast, including those in the Richmond and Clarence valleys.
NT industry delegation to strengthen US Defence partnerships: Finocchiaro
The Finocchiaro CLP Government will lead a high-powered industry delegation to the Indo-Pacific in March to strengthen defence partnerships and expand economic opportunities for the Northern Territory. This week-long strategic mission, led by DefenceNT, will deepen relationships with US defence and defence contractors while securing new opportunities for the Territory’s industry.
TasFarmers welcomes calicivirus release to combat rabbit plague
Tasmania's peak body for primary producers, Tasfarmers is welcoming news the calicivirus is being released into populations of wild rabbits across the state to control their overpopulation.
Retrofits take over from buybacks as flood authority gets cash ready for homeowners
On February 28, 2022, Mal Lanyon was in the State Emergency Operations Centre in Sydney, watching the flood disaster unfold ... Three years on from those days when relentless rain filled our rivers and overflowed into our homes, Mr Lanyon is chief executive of the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
Joining forces to save tourism industry
The town’s focus in 2025 will be on a fight for survival of the travel industry and the nearly 400 members of Tourism Central Australia will need to join forces. That was the unanimous view of the 150 people who attended the organisation’s AGM yesterday evening.
New local health service networks
The Victorian Government has announced 12 Local Health Service Networks. These have been designed following consultation and feedback from health services, and in response to the Government’s plan to improve access, equity and care closer to home. The Board acknowledged correspondence from the Minister for Health, placing EWHS within the Grampians Local Health Service Network.
Levy raises questions
A State Government levy to raise funds for emergency services has caused some concerns, with suggestions that there was not enough consultation and that the levy is an expanded tax. The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) was announced in December by the Victorian Government as a replacement for the Fire Services Property Levy and will be collected from Tuesday 1 July.
Councillors, staff not protected
Elected members and council staff do not have parliamentary privilege like state and federal politicians do. They can be sued for defamation, slander, and libel as a result of what is said during any of their meetings, especially those which are open to the public and livestreamed. At Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s January 28 meeting, CEO Trevor Smart explained his previous advice around livestreaming and tort law.
Alleged thief caught – Local businessman calls for greater police presence
After enduring nearly $15,000 in losses from multiple break-ins and spending around $30,000 on security upgrades, a local businessman is finally feeling a sense of relief. Police have arrested and charged a suspect believed to be responsible for the break-ins at a block of shops in Naracoorte.
Basin water conference comes to lower Murray in 2025: MDBA, Murray Bridge Council
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will hold its fifth annual water conference 29 and 30 July in the city of Murray Bridge in regional South Australia. MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said it was the first time River Reflections would be held in this part of the southern Basin where community interests and water management challenges differed to those further upstream.
It’s just not good enough! Mayor makes call to action
The current proposal for the new Albury Wodonga regional hospital is simply inadequate, according to Towong Shire mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead. "The redevelopment proposed will barely meet current demand let alone the future demands for a region of 300,000 people," he said. ... "We are demanding the healthcare service and facilities our community deserves," Cr Whitehead said.
170 GL in unnecessary water recovery to win city votes
In a clearly political move to win city votes at the expense of regional Australia, the Commonwealth yesterday kicked off a second buyback tender in the southern Murray-Darling Basin in 2024-25. NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller said with an impending election, "this announcement is clearly intended to try to win city votes while throwing regional communities, farmers and even the environment under the bus.
“Trust is gone”: Highway works anger Indigenous community
Works on a stretch of the Sturt Highway west of Hay are under threat as claims that Aboriginal sites have been destroyed have been levelled at Transport for NSW. “We aren’t going to let it rest,” Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council (Hay LALC) CEO Ian Woods said. “We’ll take it all the way to the Environment Court if we have to.”
Will the Health District split deliver for smaller communities?
A worker inside Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has responded to Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s calls to split the district in two. Ms Dalton raised the issue in NSW parliament recently, proposing a new Western health district for the townships of Deniliquin, Jerilderie, Berrigan, Finley, Leeton, Griffith, Hay, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Balranald, Barham, Moulamein and Tocumwal.
“Enhancements” will lead to less ambulances being available
There are times when paramedics from Yamba Ambulance Station are called away from the Lower Clarence, that they are told they are the only ambulance available between Ballina and Coffs Harbour.
Jails full… but 400 beds vacant at Clarence
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has spoken out about the number of inmates languishing in police cells due to jails being full – and the CV Independent can reveal there is a 400-bed facility locally that hasn’t been open since 2022 as it isn’t fit for purpose.
Farmers concerned over dingo protection changes in North-West Victoria
Mallee farmers are voicing frustration over changes to dingo management laws, fearing increased threats to their livestock as wild dogs seek water and food amid dry conditions ... On the other side of the debate, scientists and conservationists highlight the importance of protecting the Big Desert dingo population, known as Wilkerr to the Wotjobaluk First Nations People.
Riverlanders work to restore local turtle populations
Madison Eastmond ... being carried out in the Hills and Fleurieu, Limestone Coast and Northern, and Yorke as a multi-region intuitive, the TURTLE Project is a collaborative effort of landscape boards, First Nations, citizen scientists, NGOs, councils and landholders to gather information to guide the protection of freshwater turtles across South Australia.
Fire Services Levy hike to hurt farmers: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says proposed hikes to the proposed Fire Services Levy could see some farmers forced to pay up to 400 per cent on top of the current levy.
