Latest news with #Camperdown
ABC News
a day ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Kangaroo control streamlined for Victorian farmers facing drought
Victorian farmers will be able to control kangaroos on their properties more quickly as part of further state drought support. Premier Jacinta Allan told the Victorian Country Hour on Friday the kangaroo control permit process would be reduced to less than a week. "We know that kangaroos are coming in and putting some extra pressure on pastures," she said. "The aspiration is to change [permit approvals] to less than one week. "We'll be looking at offering some rebates to help manage this." Farmers have voiced frustration about a slowdown in kangaroo management under the Allan government. The premier said kangaroos were having a negative impact and more control assistance was needed. "We've got to do it humanely, we've got to look at how it can be done through non-lethal control mechanisms, but it's got to be done," Ms Allan said. The Victorian government's drought task force met for the first time in Camperdown in the state's south-west last week. A second meeting was held in Shepparton, in northern Victoria, on Friday. Despite welcome rain across the state last weekend, conditions for many farmers have remained dire. The government has also announced a temporary drought freight transport network expansion in Victoria's south west. "This is getting the bigger trucks closer to the farm gate, increasing the tonnage of those trucks that can use the local road network," Ms Allan said. She said some restrictions would be relaxed as a temporary but necessary measure. "It's just another way we can defray time and cost and pressure on our farmers," she said. Biosecurity measures around fodder coming from interstate will also be streamlined. The Victorian Farmers Federation has been contacted for comment.
The Courier
2 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Dundee golfers could launch bid to reopen Caird Park courses
A group of Dundee golfers could launch a bid to reopen the Caird Park golf courses under a community ownership model. Friends of Cairdy and the Golf Course, made up of players and campaigners who want to see the courses reopened, is exploring the idea of taking the facilities over from the council. If the proposals went through and were financially viable, the courses could then be run as a not-for-profit set-up. The courses were shut down in April in a cost-cutting move by Leisure and Culture Dundee (LCD), ratified by Dundee City Council. The move was designed to save more than £400,000 a year from the LCD budget. The Courier revealed in December how a golf firm had drawn up 'exciting' plans to save the courses. However, these proposals have gone quiet, and the courses are currently being left to overgrow. Paul Johnson is a member of the campaign group and one of those pushing for golf's return to Caird Park. He told The Courier: 'We are confident we can sustain it because there were at least 1,000 season ticket holders when the courses closed. 'We would have at least 20 volunteers, and we would employ greenkeepers who were made unemployed. 'I believe there is still machinery there which can be used. 'Season ticket holders will sustain it, and once we get people playing golf on it again, it will generate money.' However, the group says it needs a breakdown of the finances associated with running the courses to assess whether a community takeover would be viable. Paul said: 'We put a Freedom of Information request into the council at least six months ago asking for the figures, but we've been told they can't give the information and they're holding us up. 'We need the council to give us that information.' Paul says the group wants to bring golf back to Caird Park by April next year. A meeting is being held among members on Thursday afternoon to discuss the proposals. They are also considering whether they could apply for any grants or funding that would help kick-start the takeover. Paul added: 'We just want it to be affordable because it's disgusting how they've treated working-class people. 'Closing the course has caused so much grief. 'I don't want it to become another Camperdown fiasco. 'It should remain a green belt for playing golf on.' In December last year, council leader Mark Flynn told The Courier he would be willing to listen to any proposals to keep golf at Caird Park. He said: 'If anyone is interested in doing something with the council and working with Caird Park to see what can be done in the future, my door is always open.' A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: 'Submissions from interested parties are currently being appraised regarding alternative leisure development of areas within the park and any recommendations would be considered at a future committee.'
ABC News
06-06-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Victorian premier heads up drought taskforce amid crippling dry weather
The Victorian government's newly minted drought response taskforce met on Friday for the first time, in the midst of mounting desperation from farmers struggling in the big dry. Premier Jacinta Allan chaired the meeting at Camperdown in the state's south-west, ahead of a series of events this month. Ms Allan also visited a farm in the nearby town of Derrinallum to inspect conditions for herself. The trip was tightly controlled and the meeting time and location were not made public. The state government has expanded its support for farmers who are struggling with drought conditions, with three announcements made since September. Farmers will also be relieved of paying an increased Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy, with the rate to be frozen at the current amount for the next financial year. About 15 CFA trucks drove up and down Camperdown's streets ahead of the premier's visit, occasionally turning on their sirens in protest. Following the meeting, Ms Allan told reporters the levy was among the issues raised at the meeting and she ruled out scrapping it. "More and more is being asked of our emergency services with more frequent and fierce flood and fire events," she said. Ms Allan said drought conditions would be monitored to inform future decisions about when the rate freeze would be lifted. Farmers have criticised the support provided by the government so far, and called for subsidies for livestock feed and fodder transport. Ms Allan said these options were on the long list of options the taskforce would return to at next week's meeting. Victorian Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is a taskforce member. He told Statewide Drive on ABC Radio that the drought was impacting entire communities. "There needs to be something good to come out of this [taskforce] ... it can't be a talkfest," he said. "The premier heard that loud and clear. "People don't want platitudes, people want real support and help to get through this." Mr Walsh said there were fears for the future of farming as younger farmers battled in the drought. He did not believe the drizzling rain falling on Friday in the south-west region would break the drought. "It would be a start, but this grass is not going to grow very fast from now on," Mr Walsh said. Rural Councils Victoria deputy chair Kate Makin, who is also mayor of Corangamite Shire, said many ideas had been discussed, but she would not be drawn on specific proposals. "I'm thankful that they're listening and we've all got a seat at the table so our views are heard," she said. Taskforce members include government ministers, local government representatives, banks and the Victorian Farmers Federation. United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said there needed to be other expertise, such as an agronomist and nutritionist, on the roundtable to offer practical advice on tackling the drought. "Those roles are an absolute no-brainer," he said. Mr Free said there should be farmers from across the region involved in the taskforce to offer a perspective from the ground. Speaking on ABC Radio Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the federal government was providing more than $1 billion of support for farmers, including funding for Victorian farmers for financial counselling and concessional loans. "We know people are doing it tough and it's been for a long period of time," Mr Albanese said.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- News.com.au
Future Queen of Norway Princess Ingrid Alexandra set to relocate to Australia
A glamorous, young royal is set to call Australia home for the next three years. The future Queen of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will relocate to Sydney in August to study at the University of Sydney. 'Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra will begin her studies at the University of Sydney in August, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts program,' it was announced in a press release shared by The Royal House of Norway on the weekend. 'She has chosen a three-year degree with a focus on international relations and political economy.' According to the press release, Princess Ingrid will study full-time and live on campus at the Camperdown/Darlington student residences. 'Her Royal Highness looks forward to dedicating herself to her studies in the years to come,' the statement concluded. The 21-year-old is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and is one of the grandchildren of King Harald V. She is second in line to the Norwegian throne after her 51-year-old father. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit share another child together, Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Crown Princess Mette-Marit also has a son from her previous marriage, Marius Borg Hoiby, 28. Princess Ingrid's move Down Under comes after her stepbrother Marius was arrested multiple times in the past year following a string of allegations for various crimes, including rape and violating a restraining order by allegedly contacting his ex. He has denied all the allegations. Scandal hit the family again in February this year when the 28-year-old was accused of abusing a TV presenter at a basement party at their family's Skaugum Castle residence back in 2018. It was reported that Marius's stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, and his two step-siblings, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre Magnus, slept upstairs during the time. Marius has yet to publicly comment on these claims. Princess Ingrid is not the first royal to have relocated to Australia to broaden their studies in the last couple of years. In 2023, the nephew of Queen Mary of Denmark, Count Nikolai of Monpezat, called our shores home for one semester while he studied at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). The 23-year-old – who is sixth in line to the Danish throne – and his glamorous Danish girlfriend, Benedikte Thoustru, were working on their master's degree at the Copenhagen Business School at the time and UTS is an exchange partner for its study abroad program. The royal couple were seen on many occasions out and about near the UTS campus in Ultimo, often grabbing coffee with friends in the neighbourhood. Sydney is a place his uncle, King Frederik of Denmark, holds dear as it was where he met his wife, now-Queen Mary, who was known as Mary Donaldson at the time.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dundee submit fresh junction plan for new stadium
Dundee have submitted fresh plans for a new junction allowing access to the club's proposed new stadium at Camperdown as they continue to seek council approval. (The Courier), externalRead Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.
