Mortlake Energy Hub to power South West Victoria: D’Ambrosio
Renewable energy developer BrightNight now has the green light to begin construction on the $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub in the state’s southwest. The project will combine a 360-megawatt solar energy facility with a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system capable of powering 140,000 homes and cutting emissions by 41.4 million tonnes annually.
Len Fox painting award
A large crowd gathered at the Castlemaine Art Museum last Friday night when Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards announced the winner of the Len Fox painting award. This is an acquisitive prize that is awarded every two years to commemorate the life and work of E. Phillips Fox ... The 2024 Len Fox award winner is Nellie Napa Coulthard for her painting titled Tjuntala Ngurangka - Country with Wattle, which celebrates the beauty of the artist’s country.
Board receives no complaints
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board says it has not received any feedback that low-flying helicopters have impacted spring lambing or calving. The board also says it has not received any complaints its letters to farmers from its lawyer are threatening.
Spotlight on SA’s largest yards
Around 82,500 cattle and 480,000 sheep grossed $149.9 million last financial year at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange, South Australia’s largest saleyard facility. Currently valued at more than $13.3 million by Naracoorte Lucindale Council it is also considered one of Australia’s premier saleyards, helping to underpin Naracoorte’s economy.
Ergon service fee increase explained
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni has explained why Ergon customers have been handed a 13.4 per cent service fee increase on their latest power bill. Mr de Brenni’s explanation was in response to a Question on Notice in parliament asked by local Member for Condamine Pat Weir, who wanted to know why the service fee increased from $1.09521 on 30 June 2024 to $1.2424 on 28 July 2024 …
Funds should be earmarked for rural councils
Two regional Victorian councils have given evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry about the challenges faced by local governments including maintaining services from a small ratepayer base and attracting workforce. The Rural City of Wangaratta and Murrindindi Shire Council addressed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport in Wallan last Thursday.
Regional crime inquiry coming to Kempsey: Kemp
After sustained calls from the community, the regional crime inquiry is finally set to take place in Kempsey this month. Michael Kemp, Member for Oxley, has been pushing for this critical inquiry, driven by the alarming surge in violent crime that has left families, businesses, and the entire community in fear. “This inquiry is long overdue, I’m relieved that Oxley will finally get the attention it deserves."
Barmah firewood collection
Peter Walsh MP. All roads led to Barmah at the weekend as hundreds of people scrambled for access to hundreds of tonnes of flood-damaged fallen trees rescued for use as firewood. Coming out of the Barmah Forest, the wood was originally pushed into 70 large piles and was going to be burnt by Parks Victoria staff.
Electricity charges
Suzie Christensen. Operationally, based on those averages, electricity generation and supply for the Island is 43 per cent more expensive than prior to the solar installation, even with the grant from [the Australian Renewable Energy Agency] ARENA. The Board’s electricity charges have only increased 10 per cent from 2021 to 2024 in that time.
Gone: Riverland Wine pair resign amidst wine crisis
Two leading figures at Riverland Wine – which was criticised by several members earlier in 2024, amid a disastrous year for many growers – resigned last week. Executive officer Lyndall Rowe and grower engagement officer Charles Matheson ended their paid roles with the advocacy body last Thursday. Representing over 900 local growers and around 30 wineries, Riverland Wine had been accused of a lack of action during the current industry crisis...
Murrindindi Shire Council letter to Mary-Anne Thomas MP regarding the withdrawal of patient transport services
Council wrote to Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health, Health Infrastructure and Ambulance Services, seeking urgent clarification regarding community concerns about the withdrawal of transport services for patients requiring dialysis, cancer treatment and other critical care. This follows feedback that transport to Seymour, for dialysis treatment – a lifeline for patients-, is being discontinued as of 30 September 2024.
Western Australia hosts first Chinese wine mission since tariffs lift: Punch
Regional Development Minister Don Punch has welcomed the first inbound Chinese wine trade mission to Western Australia since the lifting of wine tariffs earlier this year, with delegates set to tour the Great Southern and Margaret River wine regions this week ... WA will host 11 premium wine buyers from 10 Chinese companies from 29 September to 6 October 2024, with a focus on premium wines, and specific interest in wines of WA provenance.
Dirt roads disappoint
Joanna Tucker. The Dirt Road Maintenance Group (DRMG) has expressed bitter disappointment over the condition of Copper Coast’s dirt roads, which they say pose serious safety risks for drivers. With an expected early start to harvest later this month, about 50 farmers and representatives of local agricultural support businesses gathered near Kadina last week to discuss their next steps.
Helen’s water victory
Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, says a new Water Register she has convinced the NSW Government to introduce will help stop money laundering as well as the secret purchase of Australian water by foreign governments. She introduced the bill to parliament late last year, with the aim to force NSW politicians to declare their water interests on our conflict-of-interest form.
End of free housing at temporary pod villages in Coraki and Evans Head
For two years, people have been living free of charge in temporary housing villages known as pods. The 11 housing pod villages including ones at Coraki and Evans Head were set up after the 2022 flood disaster in response to the housing crisis.
Radiotherapy group lodges complaint
A complaint has been lodged against the Adelaide-based chairman of Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), Dr Andrew Saies, over his alleged conduct towards SE cancer patients. Among claims against Dr Saies are allegations he comes from a position of privilege by suggesting financial issues confronting SE cancer patients travelling to Adelaide and unable to work for many weeks or months could easily be nullified if they took out income insurance.
Bowls season opens
With a fresh coat of paint, the Maldon Bowls Club was looking spick and span last Sunday to celebrate the opening of the Pennant season. Bendigo West Member Maree Edwards was invited to send down the first ball, the Castlemaine Bowls Club was invited to enjoy a day of friendly competition and everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Fire trails examined from the air ahead of bushfire season
The NSW Government is getting on the front foot ahead of bushfire season with helicopter inspections underway on fire trails across the state to prioritise maintenance work ... Helicopter-based inspections are considered more efficient than ground patrols by vehicles, particularly in remote and less-accessible areas, and reduce check times from months to weeks.
New youth mental health service
Serena Kirby. An increase in children experiencing mental health crises and presenting at the region’s emergency departments has led to a new crisis response service. Run by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the acute care response team will be based in Albany but will cover Denmark and the Great Southern.
Denmark’s new drop: Hard water still healthy
Patricia Gill. Denmark residents are dissatisï¬ed with the taste and staining caused by higher levels than usual of calcium in the town water. Since mid July 2500 homes and businesses in the town started receiving their water via the Albany to Denmark pipeline. The Water Corporation expects to mix water from Quickup Dam soon with that from a $25 million pipeline built in 2021 in response to declining and unreliable rainfall. Despite the rains, dam levels throughout the region are much the same as last year.
How South32 is worshipping false gods
... it’s disturbing to read in a recently released EPA document that South32 propose to follow Woodside's example and ‘sterilise’ over 4,000 hectares of freehold land—good farmland—as a means of appeasing the environmental gods ... This is the same mad formula Woodside is following: take freehold cleared farmland and ease their guilt by planting trees that will never be harvested, with the land lost to agricultural production, including tree farming, forever.
Taskforce Guardian charges 22 in Darling Downs deployment
Taskforce Guardian alongside Toowoomba police have charged 22 young people with 78 offences and diverted 11 young people from the youth justice system, during the ninth deployment to the Darling Downs. Between September 9 and 16, Taskforce Guardian partnered with local police to conduct high-visibility police patrols, finalise open investigations, target active serious offending and engage at-risk or offending young people and their caregivers with support services and agencies.
