Wool, wine, dairy, red meat and more from one of Australia’s biggest farming regions
- CFA Chief Officer Steven Warrington on disaster management and 2016/17 fire season | AUDIO - CFA Chief Officer Steven Warrington discusses his community-centred approach to emergency management, and Victoria’s upcoming fire season, at a special lunch at Laharum, near Horsham, on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. Steven was appointed CFA Chief Officer on June 30 after a 35-year career in emergency management that started as a volunteer firefighter.
- ‘The Dressmaker’ author Rosalie Ham | AUDIO - How to tell stories that will be heard with The Dressmaker’s Rosalie Ham Positive stories about rural and regional communities can change outdated perceptions of ‘the bush’. They are needed to encourage population growth and investment necessary to secure the future of rural towns, and help larger communities thrive. However, gaining exposure in the cities … Continue reading "‘The Dressmaker’ author Rosalie Ham | AUDIO"
- AFI director Mick Keogh, Tanya Pittard from Grain Producers Australia, and Tania Chapman from Voice of Horticulture | AUDIO - A landmark discussion paper authored by the Australian Farm Institute says plant biosecurity RD&E that underpins Australian agriculture and its access to international markets must be prioritised and is best served by the establishment of a new research corporation. Watch or listen to the author of the Paper, AFI director Mick Keogh, join with Tanya … Continue reading "AFI director Mick Keogh, Tanya Pittard from Grain Producers Australia, and Tania Chapman from Voice of Horticulture | AUDIO"
- A helping hand - The Hamilton Spectator – April 05, 2016 FARMERS from the Western District have come together to donate straw to bushfire and drought- affected farming families so they can get back on their feet. Instead of burning off excess straw as they prepare paddocks for the upcoming season, farmers around Harrow and Telangatuk East have donated it … Continue reading "A helping hand"
- Majority on board - The Hamilton Spectator – October 29, 2015 A MAJORITY of candidates for the South-West Coast state by-election have voiced their support for rail projects, including freight and passenger improvements, but the Coalition frontrunners have placed a greater focus on roads. Most candidates said they would push for the State Government to honour its commitment to have the $416 million Murray Basin Rail Project completed by 2018, … Continue reading "Majority on board"
- Glenelg River to stop flowing this summer - The Hamilton Spectator – October 15, 2015 THE Glenelg River’s upper sections are “quite likely” to stop flowing this summer and create impacts for the environment, agriculture and recreation users. Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority chief executive Kevin Wood blamed “record low” rainfall for the likely river flow stoppage and said his organisation had reserves of water to help with its environmental responsibilities. “We have … Continue reading "Glenelg River to stop flowing this summer"
- Gas hearing in Hamilton - The Hamilton Spectator – September 26, 2015 A WIDE range of individuals and organisations provided testimony to a Hamilton hearing of Victoria’s parliamentary unconventional gas inquiry on Wednesday. The individual speakers were local members of a variety of anti-gas groups or alliances, though they had varied opinions on whether the industry should be subject to an ongoing moratorium, a permanent ban, or rigorous regulation that favoured … Continue reading "Gas hearing in Hamilton"
- Farmers voice concern over proposed oil shale project - The Hamilton Spectator – September 24, 2015 SOUTH-West Victorian farmers have expressed concern about a proposed oil shale drilling project between Casterton and the South Australian border. They say that their focus is on what will happen to food production over the next century, rather than the economic benefits over the lifespan of an unconventional oil or gas field, which … Continue reading "Farmers voice concern over proposed oil shale project"
- Both sides of debate welcome EPA report - September 15, 2015 BOTH sides of the debate over Iluka’s mineral sands waste disposal at Douglas have welcomed a report from a community conference run by Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority. An independent facilitator ran the ‘Section 20B’ conference in Balmoral late last month to hear community concerns about the proposal to continue dumping millions of tonnes of mine waste at Iluka’s former mine site. The waste, which includes low level radioactive … Continue reading "Both sides of debate welcome EPA report"
- Two per cent wool levy recommendation - September 3, 2015 AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation, which funds research and marketing on behalf of woolgrowers, has recommended that members vote in ‘WoolPoll’ for a two per cent levy for the next three years. However, some Western District woolgrowers want the AWI to reduce its funding for marketing activities or change its approach to promoting Australian wool around the world. A two per cent levy brought in about $43 million … Continue reading "Two per cent wool levy recommendation"
- Comment: Global market is big influence on local gas policy - REX MARTINICH Comment Rising unemployment and declining manufacturing will collide with farmer-driven campaign against unconventional gas, but international markets will play the role of umpire. The Victorian Liberal National Coalition has announced it will support an “extension of Victoria’s (current) onshore gas moratorium until 30 June 2020”. It should be noted that the next Victorian … Continue reading "Comment: Global market is big influence on local gas policy"
- Potential $6 Billion Oil Deposit in SW Vic - The Hamilton Spectator – September 22, 2015 SOUTH-WEST Victoria is potentially sitting on a $6 billion oil and gas deposit with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, according to Melbourne-based industrial engineering and mining company Mecrus Resources. Mecrus has told Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into a potential onshore unconventional gas inquiry, via a written submission, … Continue reading "Potential $6 Billion Oil Deposit in SW Vic"
- Liberals preselect Britnell for South-West Coast - REX MARTINICH The Hamilton Spectator – 22 September, 2015 SOUTH-WEST Coast’s state by-election Liberal candidate will be Woolsthorpe farmer Roma Britnell after she won support from a majority of local party members at a preselection vote on Sunday. Ms Britnell told The Spectator that she was “honoured to have been nominated to represent the … Continue reading "Liberals preselect Britnell for South-West Coast"
- Western Victoria’s aquifers and surface water face a “low” risk from fracking - REX MARTINICH The Hamilton Spectator – August 08, 2015 WESTERN Victoria’s aquifers and surface water face a “low” risk from onshore unconventional gas fracking, according to a State Government report that has been harshly criticised by The Greens. The report explored “hypothetical onshore natural gas development scenarios”, including a wide band of shale gas … Continue reading "Western Victoria’s aquifers and surface water face a “low” risk from fracking"