Maldon’s B-double blues
With a friendly community and picture postcard appeal, Maldon may be one of the most liveable towns in Australia. Nothing’s perfect, however, and in Maldon’s case one of the irritants is the constant stream of trucks through the town centre.
We need more cops
Local Member for Condamine Pat Weir believes more staff are needed at the Cambooya and Drayton police stations, an issue that has not been made any easier by the wider staff retention crisis facing the Queensland Police Service.
Big plans mooted for Showground
The Narrandera Show Ground Trust Land Manager has applied for substantial capital to manage a five-year redevelopment plan of the showgrounds and its assets. Mr David Farley said this first started with a topographical and services survey, restoration and remediation surveys on building assets, especially the Industrial Hall Dome building.
Fire officer pulls pin over loss of vehicle
The Group Captain for the Southern Border region of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has resigned after being asked to return his official vehicle. Lankeys Creek volunteer brigade member, John Hawkins, claims that on May 17th he had been told by his RFS manager that his Group vehicle - a 2005 Toyota Landcruiser with 600lts of water (classed as a Cat 9) - was to be taken off him, with no replacement available ... In his resignation letter, Mr Hawkins also took the RFS to task over a number of other issues.
Are we uninsurable?
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite insurance costs have risen, resulting in home and contents insurance being cost prohibitive for some Clarence Valley homeowners with prices ranging from $35.51 to $252.36 per week, while in some parts of the valley some companies refuse to insure homes ... To determine home and contents insurance costs across the region and if we are insurable, the Clarence Valley Independent sought quotes for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single storey home...
Dean addresses CWA on fire ants response
Kimberly Grabham. Dean Whitehead spoke at a recent meeting of Hay CWA in response to the threat of fire ants, and to explain the Fire Ant Eradication Program. Mr Whitehead said the objective in regards to fire ants is eradication, and a stringent process is followed to achieve this goal.
Pig problem escalates: NSW Farmers
Farmers are reporting a fresh surge in feral pig numbers, prompting a call to escalate funding to fight the state’s feral pig problem ... “There’s reports of feral pigs weighing well over 100 kilograms charging through the paddocks, trashing food crops and killing calves and lambs at the drop of a hat”: NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin.
NT in top 3 regions worldwide for critical minerals potential: Lawler, Monaghan
The Northern Territory has 17 of the world’s most in demand critical minerals, including lithium, rare earths, graphite and copper and in independent report ranks the Territory in the top 10 globally for investment attractiveness, and 3rd globally for Mineral Potential behind WA and Nevada in the US ... An outcome evaluation report by Deloitte has shown that the first four years of the Resourcing the Territory initiative – introduced by the Territory Labor Government in 2018 – has helped significantly boost investment in resources exploration in the NT.
Low emissions truck trial has QFES leading the nation: Boyd, de Brenni
Two new prime movers are set to be delivered to QFES as part of an Australian first trial. The Volvo trucks - one running on Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and the other electric – will support operational logistics at Caloundra and Townsville ... the HVO-powered truck comes with the latest 13-litre Euro 6 technology, allowing it to run on either the alternative fuel or regular diesel.
Recovery Pods help flood-affected communities rebuild: Watt, Champion
Recovery Pods have been deployed to help South Australians still recovering from the River Murray floods. To date, six of the self-contained homes have been deployed to help individuals and families who lost their primary place of residence, with more still available.
A reprieve for regional patients: Doctor tax backflip
Regional Victorians can breathe easy after five years of advocacy and the Victorian Liberal-National Opposition’s criticisms embarrassed the State Government into pausing its $10 million doctor tax, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health, Dr Anne Webster, said at the weekend.
CCS in the GAB – Agriculture, rural communities and conservationists say no and now the science does too: QFF
The Queensland Government has rejected the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Glencore's carbon capture and storage (CCS) project confirming the grave concerns raised by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), industry and other representatives. The EIS assessment process has found that the science behind this project is inadequate, and the risk to the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) too great, meaning the precautionary principle must apply.
Funding helps council forge ahead with 1500-blocks at Fairy Hill for flood-free housing
On a bright day, next to the bridge arching across the swollen Richmond River at Woodburn, an announcement was made about funding for affordable flood-free housing. The State Government is giving $245,000 to Richmond Valley Council to scope out what is needed for the 1500-blocks at Fairy Hill to proceed.
Report calls for rebuild of financial services in the bush: Canavan, Colbeck, Rennick, Brockman
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee released a report which recommends investment in the financial services available in rural and regional Australia to make up for the loss of services from bank closures in recent years. There are 596 Australian towns which once had a major bank branch but now do not have a bank branch at all. In most cases, our major banks left these towns with no plan on how financial services would be provided after a bank closure.
Farm crime forum to be held in Locksley: Cleeland
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland will host a farm crime forum in Locksley in June to discuss ongoing safety concerns across the region. Ms Cleeland will be joined by Shadow Minister for Police Brad Battin at the Locksley CFA building on Wednesday, June 12. Together, the pair will also hold general community safety meetings in Benalla, Broadford, and Euroa.
New report reveals significant economic benefit of volunteering to SA: Cook
South Australians’ volunteering efforts reaped a net return on investment of $29.3 billion for the state last year – with every dollar invested through volunteering returning $5.20 to the community ... The critical economic impact was revealed in South Australia’s first State of Volunteering report ...
Robert Borsak expresses deep concern over NPWS responses to aerial shooting program
Robert Borsak, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, today expressed his profound concern over the statements made yesterday by Atticus Fleming, Deputy Secretary of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), regarding the welfare outcomes of the aerial shooting program targeting feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park ... "How can an average of 7.5 shots, up to a maximum of 15 shots, be considered humane?" Mr. Borsak questioned. "The RSPCA has deserted their principles and the people who support them."
Allora to have its first roundabout
Construction at Allora’s first roundabout at the intersection of Forde and Warwick streets is scheduled for the 2025-26 financial year. The installation of the new roundabout was announced by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in September 2022.
Borrooloola local throws hat in the ring for Barkly seat in 2024 NT election
A woman who has thrown her hat into the political ring has vowed to guide a community-led response to deal with crime and social disorder problems that are plaguing Tennant Creek and other communities across the Barkly. Lizzie Hogan from Borroloola has today been formally announced as the Territory Labor Barkly candidate for the 2024 Territory Election ... Speaking exclusively to the Tennant & District Times ...
Backing Victorian business by abolishing stamp duty: Pallas
The commercial and industrial property tax reform will progressively abolish stamp duty and replace it with a more efficient commercial and industrial property tax ... ARR.News asked a question about primary production property, answered by a government spokesperson.
Investment in education
A South Australian education union has slammed the 2024 Federal Budget for failing to deliver the much-needed investment in education. SA Branch of the Australian Education Union says public schools, including the ones in areas like Naracoorte Lucindale District, are not currently funded to the minimum school resourcing standard. “The current resourcing agreement for South Australia is set to expire at the end of this year…”: branch president Jennie-Marie Gorman.
Community views ignored by IPART in approval of rate rise
Former Narrandera Shire councillor and mayor Wesley Hall, who led a community revolt against Narrandera council’s proposal, said IPART’s decision to allow the Narrandera Shire Council’s substantial special rate variation to proceed showed that community views don’t matter. He said the group had put a lot of work into the submissions only to see the community views ignored which was very disappointing.
