Peter Bannan

A THREE-lot subdivision on the edge of Koondrook has been backed by Gannawarra Shire Council despite concerns about traffic and the condition of View Street. The council approved a planning application for the re-subdivision of 10 Dalton Street, changing five existing parcels into three larger lots. The proposal will create two low-density residential lots of […]

NINE north-west Victorian councils have secured a $1.3 million State Government funding package to help communities prepare for a wave of renewable energy, mining and major infrastructure development. The funding followed months of joint advocacy by the Northwest Nine council alliance, which had pushed for greater government support as billions of dollars of new projects [...]

THE Victorian Farmers Federation has challenged an estimate that VNI West would cause $2.77 million in lost agricultural production during construction, arguing the figure failed to capture the project’s long-term impact on farms. The figure was contained in the Environment Effects Statement for the proposed 240km double-circuit transmission line from Bulgana to the Murray River […]

THE Victorian Farmers Federation has demanded the Federal Government rule out further water buybacks after a new assessment identified a 265-gigalitre shortfall in Murray-Darling Basin environmental projects. The call followed the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) draft assessment of projects under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM), raising fears more water could be taken out […]

A PARTNERSHIP putting First Nations knowledge at the heart of waterway management has earned national recognition. North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge and Practice in Waterway Management Award at the 2026 River Basin Management Society Awards last week. The award recognised its collaboration with Barapa Barapa and […]

MURRAY Plains voters will have the chance to put three state election candidates under the spotlight at a public forum in Kerang on Thursday. The Central Murray Environmental Floodplains Group will host the forum at The Glasshouse on 15 October, from 7pm to 9pm, ahead of next month’s Victorian election. Three candidates have confirmed their […]

RATEPAYERS across southern NSW could face higher council bills next financial year, with increases of up to 5.3 per cent permitted under new limits set by the state’s pricing regulator. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has announced the 2027-28 rate pegs for all 128 NSW councils, with core increases ranging from 3.7 per […]

FEDERAL Water Minister Murray Watt has refused to rule out further water buybacks as the Federal Government considers how to address a 265-gigalitre shortfall under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Speaking at a press conference in Leeton, Senator Watt confirmed no decision had been made on how to recover the shortfall, with discussions to continue over […]

A NEW advisory panel could help Murray River Council turn surplus water into a valuable revenue stream while safeguarding supplies for residents and public spaces. Mayor John Harvie proposed establishing the panel amid ongoing debate over how the council managed its water holdings, including when to transfer, retain or sell excess allocations. The panel would [...]

GANNAWARRA’S next generation will be given a stronger voice in shaping their future under a new four-year strategy aimed at tackling some of the shire’s biggest challenges. Gannawarra Shire Council adopted its GROW Gannawarra Children and Youth Strategy 2026-2030 at its October ordinary meeting, setting out 23 actions to improve the wellbeing and opportunities of […]