Local News
Fire ant funding could help turn the tide
Fire ant funding could help turn the tide
CANEGROWERS has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an additional $268 million for the control and eradication of Imported Red Fire Ants, with CEO Dan Galligan calling the funding essential to halting the spread of one of the world’s most devastating pests.
“We have repeatedly called on the government to ensure the national eradication program receives proper funding and leadership,” Mr Galligan said.
“We have met directly with government ministers and top biosecurity officials at state and national level and shared our concerns about the program and what failure to stop the spread of fire ants could mean, not only for agriculture, but for the Australian way of life.
“Growers in the Rocky Point district have been on the frontline of this battle for two decades, but the truth is, we were losing. Hopefully, this injection of funding from the Federal Government can help turn the tide and we can start winning the war on fire ants.
“I’d like to thank the Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and Treasurer Jim Chalmers for listening to the concerns of CANEGROWERS and The National Invasive Species Council and making the decision to fund the program.”
State and Territory governments met in Perth earlier this year where they agreed to a new strategy of containment and eradication.
However, the new plan immediately came under fire, with reports that a lack of funding and resources would make the strategy virtually impossible to implement.
“It’s a huge relief that the government has decided to fund the first four years of the strategy,” Mr Galligan said. “This is a long-term campaign, and we need to throw everything we have at it to eradicate fire ants once and for all.”
With funding committed, Mr Galligan is calling on the government to consult with cane growers in the Rocky Point region to ensure they are implementing the most effective strategy.
“There is no point in wasting this money pursuing approaches that haven’t worked in the past. Growers in the district have seen firsthand what has worked and what hasn’t. The government should use that knowledge to ensure taxpayer money is being used as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
For more rural news, click here.
City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project
By Tim Howard
A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.
The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project
The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.
The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.
The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project
The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.
Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.
In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.
The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community
It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.
Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.
The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.
After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.
In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.
During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.
Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.
Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.
But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.
It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.
The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.
Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.
For more local Grafton news, click here.
Fire fighters save neighbouring buildings
By Tim Howard
Fire fighters attending a fire which gutted a medical imaging clinic in Maclean were able to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.
About 8am last Thursday a fire broke out at the premises of Clarence Valley Imaging in River St, Maclean.
The building, between the Maclean Ambulance Station and Clarence Valley Council building was alight by the time fire fighters began to arrive.
Firefighters battle a blaze which gutted the Clarence Valley Imaging building in River St, Maclean, on Thursday morning.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the Clarence Valley Imaging building which was totally destroyed.
Fire and Rescue Maclean were the first crew on the scene, along with NSW Ambulance, located next door.
Maclean SES took on traffic control and crews from Fire and Rescue Yamba, Grafton and South Grafton plus Rural Fire Service crews and Yamba SES were called in to assist.
River St between Taloumbi St and Wharf St was closed while crews worked on the blaze.
Neighbouring businesses and houses were evacuated as a precaution, but crews were able to contain the blaze to the medical imaging building.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but investigators will comb the fire site for clues to the source of the blaze.
Water sprays onto what’s left of the Clarence Valley Imaging building in River St, which a destroyed by fire on Thursday.
Emergency service crews in attendance were:
- NSW RFS – Gulmarrad Brigade
- NSW RFS – Clarence Valley District
- Ashby Rural Fire Service
- NSW RFS – Wooloweyah
- brooms head RFS
- Fire and Rescue NSW Station 372 Maclean
- Fire and Rescue NSW Station 510 Yamba
- Fire and Rescue NSW Station 306 Grafton
- Fire and Rescue NSW South Grafton 307
- NSW SES Maclean Unit
- NSW SES Yamba Unit
For more Yamba news, click here.
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