Waiting for daycare
Many parents returning to work post-Covid-19 or wanting to do extra hours because of the cost-of-living pressures are desperate for childcare centres in the district. But we have a big problem.
Tentative pipeline route released
In preparation for the final route of the Toowoomba to Warwick (T2W) Pipeline being confirmed, Seqwater has released a detailed map of where the pipeline is planned to be constructed.
New greens get thumbs up
The official launch of the Corryong Golf Club’s new synthetic greens on the weekend attracted players from throughout the region and drew many favourable comments about the new surface ... After the 2019-20 bushfires and the onset of the pandemic a few months later the course was essentially out of action for two years.
Primary school science room ‘one of the best’
The Denmark Primary School’s science room has been renovated to become one of the best in WA. The State Government-funded upgrade reflects a commitment to enhancing science education in public schools in the previously big and well-equipped science room.
Farmers fear more red tape on the way, with NSW Government launching new water review: NSW Farmers Association
The state’s largest farming organisation is warning government against introducing more red tape for farmers with a new review into stock and domestic water rights getting underway.
Australia’s largest weir since World War 2 now complete: Dick, Butcher
Construction on Australia’s newest major water infrastructure asset is now complete. The $568.9 million Rookwood Weir, west of Rockhampton, will yield 86,000 megalitres each year to boost economic growth, agricultural production and industry in Central Queensland.
Yamba CAN take council to NCAT
Concerned about the number of staff vacancies impacting the effectiveness of council operations, the Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc has taken Clarence Valley Council to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal NCAT ... Yamba CAN Inc’s solicitor alleged there are high staff vacancy rates and turnover at Clarence Valley Council...
Live X, government, courts and the activists
Here we go again, yet another example of a live export case in the courts that has fallen over because the emotional rhetoric does not match up to the facts.This is what happens when animal activists and activist ministers come together and attempt to use the legal system to end a legitimate trade.
Spray drift: not on our watch
Michelle Daw. Prompted by its investigation into 26 reports of off-target impacts of the herbicide Overwatch on Yorke Peninsula, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia says it will crackdown on non-compliant use of agricultural chemicals ... PIRSA has referred the reports to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority but has not yet received feedback. Manufactured by FMC Australia, Overwatch is a pre-emergent herbicide which is applied during seeding time in April/May to control annual ryegrass and some broadleaf weeds in broadacre crops.
Accelerating delivery of new social housing: Street
“The projects will deliver remote Aboriginal housing and medium-density development in well located areas experiencing high demand ... The new homes built under the Social Housing Accelerator program will complement the Tasmanian Government’s planned target of 10,000 more social and affordable homes by 2032": Minister for Housing and Construction, Nic Street.
Wurrumiyanga remote power project underway: Manison
A renewables future is one step closer for the Tiwi Islands, with construction underway at the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project. Wurrumiyanga is home to over 2000 people, and soon it will be powered by 50 per cent renewable energy.
The Cobb Highway
All NSW State Highways are now sealed, the Mount Manara stretch of the Ivanhoe-Wilcannia section of the Cobb Highway having the honour of being the last section, and it may be that NSW is the first state to have all highways sealed. Hon. Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, in a refreshing move away from the usual speech, began by acknowledging the work of previous governments and all those involved in the long campaign ...
Risky start to bushfire season
Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said Labor’s fuel reduction program had become a monumental failure, with regional Victoria being left to face a long, hot, dry summer with significant vegetation growth and fuel loads on roadsides and public lands right across the state. Ms Kealy said her office continued to receive complaints from residents calling for extensive slashing of roadsides and public areas prior to summer.
Fixing GP crisis
Why is our general practitioner system broken, and how do we fix it? Rural communities in the South East continue to face GP shortages, and the closure of many small-town medical clinics because of our failure to attract and retain specialist doctors is putting rural patients at risk.
Minister visits Tim Hughes room
Visiting a room in honour of Tim Hughes MBE at the Lucindale Museum was a highlight for senior government minister Kyam Maher during the recent SA Country Cabinet visit.
Behind the eyes of a carer
Resthaven Manager Service Development, Tam Henwood, is passionate about the Staying at Home in Regional South Australia Program. As the primary carer of her mother, Tam’s involvement with the initiative is not exclusive to the office, having participated in a retreat earlier this year with her mother who lives with dementia.
Opposition Leader and Barkly MLA listen to the locals
Locals across the Barkly had the chance to meet with the CLP Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro together with Member for Barkly Steve Edgington over the last week. Ms Finocchiaro said the visit highlighted just how much locals were suffering from the promises continuously made to them by Labor but never followed through.
FOI provided no real information on native forestry
Page after page of blacked-out documents and no real information - that was the result of Wellington Shire Council's attempts over almost four years to find out why state government decided to close the native forest industry ... "After almost four years, interventions by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) and considerable investment, a heavily redacted document was finally received": Cr Ian Bye, Wellington Shire Mayor.
Ombudsman urges councils to consider the human story
This story of a 72-year-old widow, who has spent the last six years entangled in a bureaucratic nightmare with two local councils – Mitchell Shire Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council – serves as a reminder to all councils of why the most basic hallmarks of good complaint handling are important, says Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass.
Firebugs, lightning burn 15,000 square kilometres
There were a number of deliberate ignitions, mainly on roadsides, however over the past week the majority of fires are the result of lightning strikes, according to Chief Fire Control Officer Tony Fuller. “On Friday we had at least 14 new fires as a result of lightning,” he says.
Queenslanders left confused by health department statistics
The Queensland Government has recently released positive statistical information on Health Department outcomes on the Darling Downs, while this week the Opposition’s M.P. and Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Ros Bates has released statistical data showing negative Health Services outcomes for the twelve months to the end of June across the state.
Sawmill closure hits hard
Walkers’ timber mill in Corryong powered down for the last time on Monday, putting 24 employees out of work and severely impacting the local economy ... It is the end of an era for the mill after 87 years of operation under three generations of the family.
