It’s dam important – Cressbrook Dam an utmost priority
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald and Deputy Mayor Cr Rebecca Vonhoff last week stepped up the call for external funding for the $270 million Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project ... Without grant funding, Council’s submission to the State Government said the full cost of the dam wall upgrade will be transferred to ratepayers through increased water charges.
AGL Energy and Someva Renewables announce community funding as part of Pottinger Energy Park near Hay
AGL Energy and Someva Renewables have announced tens of millions in funding for the Hay Shire and Edward River Councils regions if the proposed Pottinger Energy Park proceeds ... The bulk of the funding will be delivered via two voluntary planning agreements between Someva, AGL Energy and the two councils.
Flood-affected land to be regenerated, turned into koala habitat: LVRC
Hundreds of native seedlings are set to be planted on flood-affected land, helping to bolster native habitat and reduce future flood damage. The project area, adjacent to and including Lions Park, Lower Tenthill, consists of two recently acquired lots which were bought back under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back (VHBB) program.
Donald to enhance flood management with Victorian Government funding
Buloke Shire Council is set to bolster its flood management capabilities with the support of Victorian Government funding. The Donald Flood Protection Demountable Levee Project ... will play a pivotal role in safeguarding residents from flooding and optimising the deployment of Council resources during emergency situations.
Shire meets with farmers
Carey Brennan. On Thursday, April 11, approximately 80 farmers filled the Donald Memorial Hall supper room to hear from the Buloke Shire and several speakers, to find out exactly what the Victorian NSW Interconnector (VNI) West Transmission Lines project means for this district.
10 million reasons to love fishing in Victoria
The State Government’s record-breaking fish stocking program has again hit a high-water mark with 10 million fish stocked this year, so more recreational fishers can wet a line close to home across the state. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos, last week stocked more brown trout at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat and announced the major milestone for Victorians.
YP health services risk ‘collapse’ – union
Yorke Peninsula hospitals are on the brink of a collapse of services, according to the nurses and midwives’ union, which is calling on residents to support its statewide campaign to counteract staff shortages in regional hospitals.
State Government exposed by tale of two cities
If it’s good enough for the NSW South Coast then it should be good enough for the NSW North Coast – as City of Coffs Harbour fights to keep the prized public land at the Jetty Foreshores in the hands of the community. Mayor Cr Paul Amos has won support for a Mayoral Minute which detailed inconsistencies in the NSW Government’s approach to public holdings.
Resilient Lismore receives full ‘repair to return’ funding
“After nearly two years of our home repair work being privately funded by local organisations and philanthropists we are very grateful that the NSW Reconstruction Authority is providing this additional funding so that we can continue to help people return to safe and secure homes”: Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird.
Commonwealth backs down on Basin Plan blackmail: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is relieved the Commonwealth Government has finally stopped blackmailing Victoria and agreed to fund environmental projects that will ensure floodplains are watered. VFF President Emma Germano said it’s pleasing to see that Victoria will no longer be short-changed for key Basin Plan projects.
‘We meat again’: unique program helping ‘Gong butchers snag new staff
TAFE NSW Wollongong West will partner with a meat industry peak body to host a unique program this month offering local jobseekers a “taster” of the butchery trade and helping address a worsening skills gap. The three-day Introduction to the Retail Butchery Industry course ...
What phase 2 upgrades to the Two Rocks marina will include
Betheney A’Vard. The Department of Transport provides an update on the upgrades to the Two Rocks marina, including those due to be undertaken in phase two. Reporter Betheney A’Vard spoke to Cameron Smith from the Department of Transport’s maritime section who said the marina mainly catered to the fishing and boat servicing industries but also the charter industry and recreational boating.
Only biological control can eradicate buffel
The green that surrounds you is buffel, as far as the eye can see, a malicious plant predator that has overwhelmed much of The Centre, and is continuing its relentless advance. Renowned Central Australian botanist Peter Latz, who has studied the introduced plant for decades, likens the magnitude of impact on the country of buffel with the megafauna’s extinction.
State Library’s Cameleers exhibition explores forgotten histories: Templeman
A new exhibition at the State Library of Western Australia follows the trail of cameleers who left a significant cultural and economic legacy in Western Australia. Camels and those who cared for them were a familiar sight along the tracks connecting Australia's outback to the coast 150 years ago.
Race based taxation…what’s next?: Bev McArthur
Media reports have revealed that the Allan Labor Government is considering a request to give Aboriginal people land tax exemptions on the basis of their race, as proposed by Aunty Dr Jill Gallagher AO ... Dr Gallagher laid out a list of 10 reforms which she said “must be part of a statewide treaty”... includes exempting Aboriginal people from land tax, stamp duty and council rates, providing Aboriginal people with interest-free loans to purchase homes, completely free university tuition and creating “designated seats” on local councils.
First remote Local Decision Making Agreement in Central Australia to strengthen community development: Uibo
The first remote Local Decision Making Agreement in Central Australia, highlights the Territory Labor Government’s continued support of remote communities in the Ngurratjuta Region west of Alice Springs. Cultural leaders from a cluster of communities and homelands across the Ngurratjuta Region ... signed a Local Decision Making (LDM) Agreement, with Stage 1 focused on pathways for the community led development and economic boost for Papunya, Haasts Bluff and Mt Liebig and surrounding homelands.
Statement from the Minister for Water: Shing
"After years of advocacy with and for the Victorian community, the Commonwealth has finally agreed to fund key Victorian environmental water projects that will secure water for our precious floodplains, even in dry conditions. This is what the Murray Darling Basin Plan was always intended to achieve, and the Commonwealth Government has finally confirmed it agrees with us ...": Harriet Shing.
Peter Malinauskas must explain Treaty and Truth: Speirs, Teague
The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to explain how he plans on delivering his election commitments of Treaty and Truth following the recent state-based Voice to Parliament elections. The Malinauskas Labor Government’s election commitment says: 'SA Labor has already committed to a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart that includes Voice, Treaty and Truth.' The recent SA Voice to Parliament elections saw less than 10 per cent of the eligible population turn out to vote with some of the 46 successful candidates elected with as few as six votes.
Excitement building in Campaspe ahead of legislative Council’s arrival
“The team from Parliament has made several visits to Echuca in preparation for the events that are happening for this special regional sitting of the Legislative Council. Together with the council staff and local contractors, they will be transforming the library into the Upper House chamber for the day": Mayor Rob Amos.
Opposition moves to investigate South Australia’s nuclear potential: Speirs, Patterson
The Opposition has introduced a motion into State Parliament supporting an open-minded, non-ideological investigation into the potential for a civil nuclear industry – including energy generation – in South Australia. Leader of the Opposition David Speirs introduced the motion to explore nuclear energy opportunities in South Australia in Parliament on Wednesday.
Foreign land buyers quietly backing the Live Exports Gone movement
Notice how there is a deathly silence by the big foreign pension and sovereign investment funds on the merits of the Government's planned end to the live export trade. These are the foreign entities that have been quietly buying up millions of acres of Australian farmland.
Stripping right to appeal is an insult to regional communities
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has written to the Victorian government expressing her dismay with its decision to remove the right for third parties to appeal renewable energy planning decisions through VCAT ... In her letter to the Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosia and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, Dr Haines expressed concern that under the current system, there are not enough safeguards to ensure communities are heard and their issues acted upon by developers.
