Economy

Bee pollinating and honey-making will remain grounded long after the drought and bushfire crises subside says apiarist Laurie Kershaw. Laurie scrambled to pull thousands of hives from the path of the Currowan blaze on the South Coast. The Kerhsaws are based between Gundaroo and Bungendore. Annually, they contract their bees for almond pollination in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area near Darlington...

Despite suffering "major losses" in their operational township of Cabramurra after the Dunns Road fire passed through it, the Snowy Hydro 2.0 team re-started work this week, saying that the project will be a key part of the region's recovery. A total of 36 houses were destroyed in the 4 January fire, along with several of the unit blocks, the...

As an artist and producer of organic skincare and beeswax products, Greta Sharman appreciates the value of a space dedicated solely to the wares of local artisans. Her Broulee store, Bliss & Trove, has been established in that spirit. Mogo’s Greta – known for the well-loved Bliss honey products, produced by her beekeeper husband Tom – recently opened a Broulee...

A new service to help small and medium-sized food producers in the region become exporters has been launched in Canberra. Not-for-profit Agribusiness Regional Development Association (ARDA) says the Capital Region Export Hub (CREH) aims to boost the export value of businesses in the Capital Region and Southern NSW by $1 billion by 2025. It says the end-to-end service will help small and...

Ever driven through the beautiful Monaro and wished you could slow down and enjoy the scenery? For years, the prospect of cycling or walking the 213 km of un-used railway line from Queanbeyan to Bombala has been entertained, but it was only recently that the Snowy Monaro Regional Council completed a feasibility study into the proposal, bringing it one step closer...

The Veolia Mulwaree Trust has announced the recipients of the 2019 Round 2 Grants and Donations Programmes. Nineteen community groups from across the region with a wide range of projects by providing $306,693 in grant funding in its second funding round of 2019, as well as a further 34 local organisations who have shared in $33,661 through the Veolia Mulwaree...

Local frustration around climate action took the first flush of headlines around the Acting Prime Minister’s visit to the Bega Valley yesterday, masking some worthy local projects that had 'their moment in the sun' all be it flanked by bush fire smoke from afar. Michael McCormack started his day at the Bega Saleyards were he opened new facilities aimed at improving...

Tourism operators on the Sapphire Coast have gathered for the launch of the industry's plan for growth. Over 1 million visitors were drawn to the Bega Valley in the year ending June 2018, spending $499 million. The industry generates 3,500 local jobs and has a multiplier effect in the wider regional economy of 1.9, so for every $1 a tourist...

Increased fire activity on the Clyde Mountain continues to make conditions dangerous, with police saying the Kings Highway will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The Currowan bushfire continues to burn north of the highway and is again at an emergency level as of 12:30 pm on Thursday (19 December). "There is still active fire in the areas around Benandarah,...

Acting Prime Minister, Michael McCormack flew into a loud and passionate climate protest under skies thick with bush fire smoke at Merimbula today. There to open the new terminal building at Merimbula Airport, with Bega Valley Shire Mayor Kristy McBain and State MP Andrew Constance, the Nationals leader was mobbed, heckled and questioned by around 40 protesters. Shortly into his...

Old industrial land in central Bega is being reborn with a dynamic childhood led  by education at the heart of its new future. Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education begun earthworks on the former Spenco site this week. The school announced in term 1 this year that it had purchased a 2.3-acre section of the site on Bega Street from Spotlight...

Two important draft land use strategies are currently on public exhibition; summer reading for residents of Bega Valley Shire Council. Council says, the draft Residential and Commercial Land Strategies works towards the community’s vision outlined in the Bega Valley Shire Community Strategic Plan 2040 and the South East and Tablelands Regional Plan 2036, and once adopted will inform the Bega Valley...

Aboriginal health and well-being services in the region are about to be supercharged with an aged care facility in Bega being re-purposed into an Aboriginal health clinic. The vacant Casuarina facility on Bega Street, Bega, operated by Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care has been sold to Katungul, the region's Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation. “We’re so excited to officially share with the...