Politics & Council

Work starts on $5.1 million hospital upgrade

WORK will start this month on the $5.1 million upgrade to Inglewood and Districts Health Service’s acute and urgent care wards. CEO Dallas Coghill said the contract had been awarded to Bowden Corporation and the project would be finished within 14...

19 Nov 2024

Social ban gets thumbs down from youngsters

By RUBY HYLAND TO BAN or not to ban? That is the question after Prime Minster Anthony Albanese announced plans to ban all social media for people under 16. While some are enthused about the new law others are left puzzled, wondering how this could...

19 Nov 2024

Parting shots: defeated councillor says represented ‘not just mates’

A DEFEATED Loddon councillor has claimed “independently thinking women” faced conspiracy accusations on council. Wendy Murphy, unsuccessful in gaining a second term as Inglewood Ward member, says she represented all in the ward and Loddon “not...

18 Nov 2024

Crews dig in on new bridge

WORK has started to replaced the Chamberlains Road bridge damaged twice in 18 months by floods. The bridge has been closed since May and Loddon Shire applications to the State Government for flood recovery funds were rejected. Council then decided...

18 Nov 2024

Big spend pledge to deliver new emergency truck

A NEW $450,000 heavy vehicle rescue truck has been promised by the State Government for Wedderburn’s State Emergency Service Unit. The Government on Monday said production of the truck would start next year but there was no confirmed delivery...

Defeated candidates give declaration a miss

OUSTED councillors did not attend Friday’s poll declaration in Wedderburn. Instead, Wendy Murphy and Linda Jungwirth took to social media to make farewell statements and congratulate the victors. Mrs Murphy, said: “The votes didn’t go my way...

New mayor to be chosen on Tuesday

COUNCILLORS will meet for the first time on Tuesday to elect Loddon Shire’s mayor for the next year. The vote will follow the five being sworn in as councillors by chief executive officer Lincoln Fitzgerald. Dan Straub is expected to be...

Term of challenges, new council declared

By CHRIS EARL A NEW team will lead Loddon Shire into what long-time councillor Gavan Holt has said will be an exciting time with challenges and tough decisions to be made. Cr Holt was one of five councillors confirmed at Friday’s election...

Perspective: Nuclear can avoid pain of VNI West

By ANNE WEBSTER FARMERS and communities along the proposed VNI West corridor learned their fate this week as the route for the 240km of Victoria–New South Wales Interconnector West (hence VNI West) through Mallee was finalised to a 70-metre-wide...

13 Nov 2024

Showcase unlocking new land

Loddon Shire’s largest residential land release will be officially launched at the inaugural Loddon Housing and Living Showcase, on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November, 2024. McKean McGregor Real Estate who are representing the land...

12 Nov 2024

Turbine talk blows at wrong time as harvest starts

LAST week’s release the VNI West preferred corridor and jockeying by wind energy companies to put turbines on farm land have hit farmers at their busiest time of the year. With harvest underway across most of the region, Vaughan Toose his focus...

09 Nov 2024

Disgruntled reference group members on verge of walking

COMMUNITY engagement for the VNI West project could face a major setback with a predicted mass walkout of reference group members. The project has faced constant community criticism since the proposed route was abruptly changed more than 18 months...

09 Nov 2024

Crossed wires! Farmer gets mixed messages

TRANSMISSION Company Victoria’s release of its preferred easement for the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line has been branded a shemozle by one farmer. Powlett’s Leigh Parry and wife Helen whose family owns irrigation...

09 Nov 2024

BREAKING NEWS Locals are the real heroes as minister acts on rescue award citation

FORGOTTEN heroes of the dramatic summer storm flood rescue in Wedderburn snubbed in awards by a Federal Government authority will now have their life-saving efforts recognised. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local...

08 Nov 2024