SA

Chris Oldfield. SA Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton has thrown his weight behind Naracoorte's doctors and country GPs, calling for the State Government to negotiate contracts with them. Mr Picton has slammed the State Government for wasting taxpayers’ dollars on locums, failing to negotiate and throwing rural doctors and country hospitals into turmoil.

Eliza Berlage and Gabrielle Duykers. More than 30 local producers gathered together last week for the inaugural Limestone Coast Food Forum. Hosted by the Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster, food processors, and retailers met at Lucindale Country Club to hear from 16 guest speakers about opportunities in the local food and beverage industry.

The Farmhand. Winter is here and rainfalls for the past month are at levels at the high end of averages. Even have heard the odd farmer say we had enough for the moment. Feed supplies in the areas north of town are still tight but we can see the spring having a great feed result based on the amounts of moisture already received.

The Manning family has brought to a close 86 years of ownership of Mahanewo, selling the 119,000 hectare station in South Australia’s far north for close to $4.5 million. A farming family from the mid-north of the state bought the prime pastoral country on a walk-in, walk-out basis including 4,596 merino ewes, rams and plant, after two years of looking to diversify into grazing.

“Last week it was revealed in media reports the chair of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists is a significant shareholder in Duxton Water. This is the organisation that gloats about the investment potential of water, with the price naturally increasing as more is taken from farmers. So, we have a situation where the Wentworth Group is calling for more water buybacks, while its chairman is investing successfully in a company that benefits from more buybacks. That is a massive conflict,” Darcy Hare, Deputy Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators.

Eliza Berlage. SA/ Vic Border Districts’ club presidents have implored the State Government to “stop punishing” their community with restrictions ... The restrictions are "disappointing", "mentally draining" and "detrimental" to the morale of clubs and the broader community. "The bubble is absolutely ridiculous. You may as well put the Berlin Wall up at the border."

Chris Oldfield. Millions of dollars of development and jobs are being held up by Naracoorte Lucindale Council, according to several of the district's leading businesses. Alternatively, traditional businesses are being charged up to hundreds of thousands of dollars to expand with council demands for costly stormwater and drainage reports – and works. Most believe the council is deliberately holding up long-term businesses, particularly those servicing agriculture, the rural community and outlying districts. And they believe council is giving preferential treatment to some developments, even using ratepayers’ funds in court action.

Eliza Berlage. The head of the local forestry industry group has added his voice to calls for the South Australian government to establish a dedicated cross-border commissioner. Forestry was missed in the initial list of essential work provided by SA Health, with clarification only received at 11am on the first day of lockdown that it was included as primary industry. Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub chair Ian McDonnell said a commissioner could have ensured more preparedness in these situations, rather than the “scramble” that occurred.

Tatiara District Council has voted to stop providing funding and councillor representation for an organisation that supports the sustainability of Keith’s water supply. Councillor Miles Hannemann made a recommendation that council cease to attend monthly MDA meetings and stop paying the $2,200 annual subscription fee. “They keep saying we’re ‘paying a fee so we might as well be at the table’,” Cr Hanneman said. “I recommend we stop paying money and let them know we’re not coming.”

Chris Oldfield. Hailed as “a win for the people”, deputy premier and local government minister Vickie Chapman has refused the Naracoorte Lucindale Council permission to change the community land status of the Janz St parkland. Without Ms Chapman’s permission for a change of status, the council cannot sell the parkland. Last April a 5-4 vote enabled council to seek ministerial permission and sell the park. Retired senior research scientist Mick Deland – who led a petition against the sale with his son Brian – has praised Ms Chapman, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and their office staff.