SA

The State Government welcomes the passage through the Parliament’s Upper House of a bill to toughen the available penalties for people who intentionally obstruct public places. The Legislative Council passed the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Bill. The bill increases the potential penalty for public obstruction from a $750 fine to a maximum of $50,000 or three months in prison.

Telecommunications company Telstra is seeking ratepayer funding to help build towers in the Limestone Coast region as part of a "big project". In a proposal to the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council, a Telstra SA and Tasmania area general manager Michael Patterson outlined Telstra's proposal for the South-East, asking for a five percent funding investment by the council.

After around 30 flat tyres which were speared by stones, James Road is finally on the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s list of things to do. Almost 13 kms long, 400 metres of James Road was resheeted around three years ago with material including the overburden of a porphyry mine in the Kingston District Council area.

Are you a selfie enthusiast? Then there’s some good news for you, as work has finished on the two selfie walls in the Naracoorte town centre. The selfie-walls project, costing $4,000, aims to further activate the town centre as part of the Naracoorte Town Centre Rejuvenation Plan.

The nation is on track to plant an impressive 23.48 million hectare winter crop this year – up slightly on last year’s crop area – Rabobank says in its newly-released 2023/24 Australian Winter Crop Outlook ... overall harvest totals are forecast to be lower than last season, with expectations of drier growing conditions due to the likely transition to an El Nino climate cycle, the specialist agribusiness bank says.

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Patrick Goldsmith. In a landmark moment for child care services on Yorke Peninsula, the Maitland Family Centre officially opened on Monday, May 22. Following a long push from central and southern Yorke Peninsula families, the new centre, to be joined by a purposebuilt facility at Minlaton in January, was met with strong enrolments and a productive first week.

Peter Argent. West Coast Fever goal attack Sasha Glasgow has written herself into the Suncorp Netball Super League record books. Glasgow, of Moonta Bay, produced a league-best performance against the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday, May 21. After a week off with Covid, Glasgow and goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler created a new record for goals scored by any team in the 97-63 win.

Patrick Goldsmith. Rex Minerals and the state government will work to deliver a long-term plan assisting students from across Yorke Peninsula to enter the resource sector. The resources pathway program will be hosted by Ardrossan Area School from next year, with students invited to attend a career awareness day in June to learn more.

South Australia’s tourism industry is well positioned to target the nation’s $17.4 billion Agricultural Tourism market – leveraging its reputation for premium produce to attract more visitors ... The State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission is launching the South Australian Agritourism Sector Plan 2025 ... A number of demand-driving agritourism experiences already exist in South Australia, including pick-your-own experiences at Beerenberg Farm...

The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to stick to his word - despite intense internal turmoil in his Labor Party - over new public obstruction laws when the legislation is debated in the Upper House on 30 May 2023. Peter Malinauskas is under fire from the Left of his party - and multiple unions who helped him win the election - for throwing his support behind new laws that will penalise people who cause community chaos and risk public safety with disruption.

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Following Rex Airlines’ decision to exit its operations from Whyalla, Qantas has announced additional flights to help address the gap that will be created by Rex’s departure ... “There is still a lot of work to be done to fill the gaps in service, so we are working extensively with the broader airline industry to explore options to help minimise the impact of Rex’s decision”: Mayor Phill Stone.

It was a record year for Naracoorte Horse trials with 244 entries that saw riders from Victoria and Tasmania joining the South Australians. It’s the only event in the world that has run consecutively for 49 years on the same property with the same landowners and is a real favourite with young riders and young horses.

Gwen Colwill. 27 April 1973 a meeting was held in Bordertown chaired by Mr Colin Pitcher where it was decided to form a field Naturalist Group ... Walt was presented with a tree seedling by Gwen Colwill which he planted in the reserve to commemorate our 50 years.

SA Health Minister Chris Picton says the government will be “undertaking a feasibility study and business case” regarding radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast. The $80,000 inquiry comes despite documents revealing the embattled Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) plans to divert $4.3 million away from cancer patients requiring local radiation therapy.

South Australia’s biggest saleyards, the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE), is set to increase the footprint of its undercover cattle section by 40 percent in a multi-million-dollar upgrade. An expanded roof, a revamp of the unloading ramp area and truck wash modifications form part of the improvements that will see around $2 million spent at the facility.

A South Australian bull created a bidding frenzy in the sale barn at the recent 58th Herefords Australia National Sale to sell for the top price of $75,000. Held at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre, the sale was southern Australia’s single biggest multi-vendor British bred offering with 53 vendors from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

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Fin Hansen. Austin McDonald has already built consistent form just a few months into his powerboating career. The 26-year-old adrenaline junkie, who lives in Wallaroo, has joined the Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix circuit for 2023.

Michelle Daw. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation has slammed the state government and Yorke and Northern Local Health Network for its lack of urgency in responding to security concerns at Wallaroo Hospital. The ANMF SA branch is calling for 24/7 restraint-trained guards to be employed at Wallaroo and Port Pirie hospitals, following recent "code black" incidents.