Economy

Think Eurobodalla Shire Council can engage better with the community on planning matters? Council's draft Community Engagement Framework and Participation Plan is now on public exhibition. Council began research on developing a community engagement framework in April 2015, with the aim of identifying how Council’s current practices could be improved. Council’s Audit Committee recommended Council seek independent advice and undertake an analysis to determine...

Bega Valley locals and Bega Valley Shire council are stepping up to find a solution for one of Australia’s trickiest waste issues, the use of plastic nappies and incontinence products, of which an estimated 800 million are put into landfill each year. Fifty families have been issued a complimentary supply of Tasmanian-based compostable nappy manufacturer Eenee's products and for part...

The Bega Valley now has a fulltime, dedicated parking inspector, following a trial that issued $76,000 in fines. Councillors have unanimously endorsed the new position pointing to positive feedback from local businesses. "Shop keepers speak glowingly about turn over being up," Cr Russell Fitzpatrick said at this weeks Council meeting. "One shop keeper I spoke to said he'd had a...

The number of overseas and domestic visitors to the ACT continues to grow, with the ACT Government touting the year ending June 2019 as the most successful for tourism on record. Tourism Research Australia Visitor Survey data released on Wednesday shows 2.90 million Australian overnight visitors, 2.31 million Australian day-trippers, and 266,278 international visitors came to the capital in the...

Having earlier accepted the term 'climate emergency' in the wording around the Shire's soon to be exhibited Climate Resilience Strategy, a rescission motion from Cr Robyn Bain brought the matter back to the chamber for discussion at Bega Valley Shire Council today. "Life is about language," Cr Bain told the overflowing room of onlookers. In Cr Bain's view the term 'climate...

Currently living in Wollongong, Aly Khalifa is an innovator of global stature focused on social impact and sustainability. Aly is driven by harvesting plastic waste from our oceans and turning it into useful products as part of a circular economy. His training as both a designer and mechanical engineer, coupled with deep international manufacturing experience, has enabled him and his...

The 600 people who filled the lawn in front of the Eurobodalla Shire Council during the Global Climate Strike on September 20 wanted action on climate change at all levels of government. “They are determined, passionate and clear about what needs to be done to avert a climate catastrophe," says Allan Rees from Eurobodalla 350.org “It was bigger than any...

Following a $6,000 on the spot fine for a Eurobodalla developer, Council is urging residents to err on the side of caution when it comes to development consent. The recent fine was associated with unauthorised earthworks, with Councl concerned by a spate of illegal development involving tiny houses, demountables, cabins, and shipping containers in the past year. “Residents should remember that...

Bega Valley Shire Council has rejected claims of "double dipping" on pools funding made by a former Mayor and General Manager at a recent public meeting. Council is in the midst of testing the communities response to a 'Special Rate Variation' (SRV) to pay for  the maintenance of the Shire's six public swimming pools as well as fund new and upgraded...

With the backdrop of ongoing drought, this long weekend marks the official opening of the New South Wales trout season. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Fisheries Manager Cameron Westaway says that in spite of the very dry conditions, there are still many popular fishing spots and waterways in good condition closer to the Great Divide in the northern...

Merimbula’s new Visitor Information Centre is expected to be open within the next few weeks in a move that has been described as game-changing by the local industry. This holiday season is the 37th for the service and while the funny shaped building on the foreshore of Merimbula Lake is somewhat of a local icon, "it’s time for a new...

Snowy 2.0 has taken another step towards being a reality with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment calling for community feedback on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Main Works. Executive Director of Resource Assessments, David Kitto, says “If approved, the Snowy 2.0 Main Works would involve the construction of an underground power station with a generating capacity...

Farmers have taken to looking after their own in the face of a Federal Government slap down for South East NSW. "I am extremely disappointed," says Ashleigh Rood, from the Far South Coast Dairy Development Group. "I am absolutely gutted we didn't get looked at." Ms Rood is reflecting on the Morrison Government's $100 million drought support package announced at...