Property

The failure to properly consult with regional communities affected by large-scale renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure risks delaying or de- railing the transition to a decarbonised energy grid, according to Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines. In a submission to the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s Community Engagement Review, Dr Haines has called for regional communities to be meaningfully involved in the planning of renewable energy projects and receive structural benefit and regional development from these projects.

Member for Northern Victoria Region Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has introduced her first bill of the parliamentary year, aimed at protecting Victoria’s prime agricultural land from large-scale solar farm development. Mrs Tyrrell introduced The Planning and Environment Amendment (Soil Protection) (Solar Power Generation Facilities) Bill 2023 in State Parliament last week to protect precious agricultural land and water catchment areas from large scale solar farms.

Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council is looking to recoup up to $305,000 a year in expenses and lost income associated with council land and buildings ... The audit covered council land use and unmade road reserves for cropping, grant payments and public liability as well as personal accident insurance premiums for progress associations and groups. Payment of water and power bills and building insurance for buildings not owned or used by council, council mowing the ovals at the Bute and Port Broughton sports clubs, and council’s community grants program were also audited.

Patrick Goldsmith. Opposition to a proposed seawall at Coobowie is growing louder, with more than 60 people gathering at a town hall meeting on Sunday, October 1. The event was organised by the newly formed Friends of Coobowie Foreshore and attendees heard from ecologist and marine biologist John Douglas and aired their own grievances with the Yorke Peninsula Council proposal.

Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross is ready to engage with the Country Cabinet when it holds its seventh meeting in Naracoorte next month. And Mr Ross says at the top of his list of things to be discussed with the Premier and his ministers will be the “region’s desperate need for an extra 1,000 homes”.

The Palaszczuk Government is refurbishing a vacant motor inn to help young people at risk of homelessness. Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced the motel will be transformed into temporary supported accommodation to provide an additional 19 semi-self-contained rooms for young people aged between 16 to 24 years.

Touted as the biggest thing since irrigation by Gannawarra Shire Council mayor, Charlie Gillingham, the VNI West project is set to stamp its 70-metre-high 500KV power lines across the landscape and skyline. One of the project’s biggest advocates has been Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) itself with a transmission company spokesperson confirming the only reason the project is “this far west” has been the Council’s push for a terminal station to sprout an explosion in wind and solar farm.

The first tenants will soon move into new social housing homes in Caboolture, with construction recently completed on 10 units. Previously the site of two homes, construction crews have built ten, one- and two-bedroom homes for singles, couples and families.

West Wimmera Shire Council is calling on individuals, investors and businesses to help address housing shortages in the region. Council has been working in close collaboration with Wimmera Southern Mallee Development for several years to explore ways to attract investment in the shire’s housing sector.

Member of Barker Tony Pasin has warned that the Labor government’s Aboriginal Heritage Reforms could undermine private property rights in the region. Mr Pasin claimed the reforms would force property owners to undergo expensive mandatory cultural surveys for basic activities such as mending fences or planting trees.