Letter to the Alice Springs News Editor – Still no NT Government action on buffel
Alex Vaughan. Why is Central Australia almost the only region nationally at an increased wildfire risk across autumn? The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services unequivocally links this risk to buffel grass invasion and buffel grass regrowth and curing, enabling fire conditions to overcome the longstanding norm for fire regimes across arid and semi-arid lands where “wildfire frequency is typically once a decade”.
Councillors to decide wording of referendum question on electing a mayor
Do you want to vote for the mayor? Would it be better if there were only two wards rather than three in Kyogle LGA? Residents will be able to give their views on these questions at a referendum at the council elections in September.
Amid widespread transmission line confusion … “VNI”ˆWest must return to the drawing board”
“Victorian Labor’s attempt to again reboot consultation on transmission lines is an admission consultation has failed abysmally on VNI-West,” Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, says. The State Government has introduced a Bill to establish VicGrid, claiming the new brand will “modernise the way new energy infrastructure is planned and developed in Victoria while giving communities a voice in the process”.
Our needs and wants
The “needs and wants” of the district were discussed with the Governor of South Australia during her recent Vice Regal Tour ... Governor Frances Adamson held informal discussions with Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross, deputy mayor Monique Crossling, and CEO Trevor Smart in Naracoorte ... The itinerary finished at the Naracoorte Library ...
Government tells sick and elderly to drive 80km
Without consulting three rural communities, the SA Government has abruptly slashed nursing services to people with cancer, heart conditions and multiple sclerosis. Sick, infirm, and elderly people at Lucindale, Tintinara and Coonalpyn have been told to go to larger towns...
One man, a tinnie and the mighty Murray
There’s a magic that comes from the tranquil flowing waters of the mighty Murray. As the river snakes from the mountains across the floodplains and finishes in the estuary, Dennis Miles of Yarrawonga has been observing the beauty, the challenges and the love expressed by people on the river.
VNI West under scrutiny again
The political dream of net zero requires a complete reversal of Australia’s power grid ... The process for delivering the new power line capacity has been debated, with prominent energy experts calling for the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Victorian Government to scrap plans to build the controversial VNI West transmission line and Western Renewables Link (WRL).
Second bridge study traffic data flawed
Patricia Gill. A Shire of Denmark-commissioned trafï¬c and evacuation management study used flawed data to determine that a second bridge was not necessary to evacuate the town in an emergency. The Shire’s 2011 Local Planning Strategy had demonstrated the need for the second bridge but the matter was dropped in 2018 after the Shire commissioned consultants GHD to report on the matter. In 2019 the Shire gave away $4.291 million in Royalties for Regions to build a second bridge and got back $2.5 million to upgrade Greens Pool.
Bankwest branch closures: Love
Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Nationals WA Shane Love ... noted Bankwest’s announcement of a transition to a wholly online servicing model and closure of their branch network across the State. Bankwest, which is owned by CBA (Commonwealth Bank of Australia), has stated 15 regional branches of Bankwest will be converted to CBA branches.
Council calls out NSW Government cost shifting
Clarence Valley Council will call on the Minns NSW Government to implement regulatory reform and budgetary funding provisions to address $1.36 billion of cost-shifting the state government expected councils to fund in the 2021-2022 financial year, a figure that is increasing yearly ... Based on the 2021 Census population figures for the Clarence Valley Local Government Area LGA of 54,115, this equates to $24,929,157.05 cost-shifted onto Clarence Valley Council CVC ratepayers in the 2021-2022 financial year.
Mill jobs likely to be lost amid transition
More jobs are likely to be lost at the Maryvale Paper Mill, where more than 300 workers have already been made redundant as the parent company Opal continues a major shutdown to transition to a packaging paper manufacturer. White paper production - the well-known Reflex copy paper brand - ceased before Christmas, 2023. "This unfortunate situation has led to more than 300 redundancies to-date at Opal," a company spokeswoman said.
Plans for Delburn
The Delburn Wind Farm developer, Osmi Australia, has allayed speculation that the project would be affected by the federal government's rejection on environmental grounds of the Port of Hastings as a construction site ... Delburn involves the construction of 33 wind turbines each about 250 metres in height on plantation forest land owned by HVP Plantations ... recently deployed new fire detection technology that it said was a first for Australia and the wind farm industry.
Dalton fishes for river quality
Member for Murray Helen Dalton says carp are a threat to the Murray Darling Basin that has been ignored by the NSW Government ... “This week's release of the government's Alternatives to Buybacks Plan completely ignores one of the greatest environmental threats to our river systems - invasive and destructive Carp,” Mrs Dalton said.
Pharmacy trial surpasses 12,000 consultations: Park
The NSW Government’s pharmacy trial has this month surpassed 12,000 total consultations, relieving pressure on GPs and making it easier for people to access basic medications. The trial allows trained community pharmacists to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) and provide treatment medicines if needed, as well as resupply the oral contraceptive pill (the pill).
Rushworth Rail Trail now heritage listed
Campaspe Shire Council and Heritage Victoria have been working on the new Rail Trail project in Rushworth. After detailed historical and site investigations, Heritage Victoria have placed the former Rushworth Railway Station on the Victorian Heritage Inventory (number H7924-0100).
$600K patch up
Michelle Daw. Three damaged sections of the Upper Yorke Road between Bute and Port Broughton will be patched, thanks to a $600,000 commitment by the state government ... Announcement of the patching works follows years of lobbying by council and Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis ... “I don’t mean to be ungrateful but it’s not enough to do a proper job,” Mr Ellis said.
Prosperity in the Spencer Gulf
Patrick Goldsmith. Premier Peter Malinauskas has earmarked Upper Spencer Gulf as the future of the state’s potential prosperity. Speaking at a public forum in Port Pirie on Tuesday, February 27, Mr Malinauskas outlined his government’s plan to invest in green energy, including making the most of abundant solar, wind, copper and magnetite iron ore resources.
Microgrid research will benefit renewable energy needs of country Australia: Charles Sturt University
A Charles Sturt University team is researching the deployment of microgrid projects that aim to meet the energy needs of regional communities in Australia ... The team’s research explores a range of topics relating to microgrid business models, ownership structure and project financing.
Local council electoral review outcome: Buloke’s “extreme disappointment”
Buloke Shire Council has moved to write to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon. Melissa Horne, expressing its extreme disappointment in the outcome of a recent Local Council Electoral Structure Review ... In its final report handed down in February 2024, and with all recommendations accepted by the Minister, the panel recommended that Buloke Shire Council adopt a multi-councillor ward structure, with a total of 6 councillors, 3 wards and 2 councillors per ward, a reduction of 1 councillor.
Millie the BreastScreenNT bus begins Territory tour: Uibo
Over one thousand women in remote communities visited ‘Millie’ the bus last year to be screened for breast cancer, assisting women across the Territory to access early detection. Of the 6,000 Territorian women who were screened in 2023, Millie changed the lives of 49 women who were found to have breast cancer.
When can we go back to our school? Families frustrated at education department stuff-up
For some, this second anniversary since the devastating 2022 floods is a time to reflect on how far they have come. For students and families of Broadwater Public School it is a reminder of how little has been done.
Local women collaborate to deliver inclusive IWD events
A dedicated committee of women have been working hard to deliver two fabulous International Women’s Day (IWD) events for Tennant Creek next week. Under the leadership of Barkly Regional Council and Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge, a diverse committee of women, along with the generous support of the Northern Territory Government’s Office of Gender Equity and Diversity and a multitude of local organisations, have come together to bring these events to life.
