ROUTE CHANGE

COMMUNITIES and landowners have just five weeks to comment on plans to build overhead power transmission lines through the Loddon.

Australian Energy Market Regulator has ditched running the 500 kiloVolt Victoria-New South Wales interconnector from Bendigo through Prairie to Kerang.

The new option for “land of interest” running from near Wedderburn, skirting the banks of Lake Boort and through to Durham Ox, Gladfield and Pyramid Hill has been criticised for a lack of local consultation.

“The only consultation with (Loddon Shire) council was for the Prairie route,” said Mayor Dan Straub.

Prairie West’s Donald McGauchie has labelled the new option a recipe for disaster.

“It’s very curious at this late stage to throw in other ideas ... and no details,” Mr McGauchie said.

“I am astonished any government would consider a new op-

By CHRIS EARL

tion so late in the process and expect people to respond.

“You can’t consult without detail and if the is detail is there and hasn’t been released, that’s even worse.”

Cr Straub and Mc McGauchie have called for local face-toface consultation, doubting six weeks will be sufficient time.

AEMO last Thursday named its new preferred route, days after the State Government orders were issued to have planning and design work fasttracked.

And on Friday, Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said there would be “landholder payments for communities that host crucial electricity transmission infrastructure, ensuring benefits from the renewables revolution are shared equitably ... first payments under the new arrangements will go to landholders who host transmission easements along the selected VNI West and Western Renewables Link transmission corridors.”

Antiques - Onsite: 1823 WEDDEBURN- SERPENTINE RD, POWLETT PLAINS

MACHINERY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT including “Volvo” F7 Twin Steer bogie drive truck with 24’ tray with under body hoist, “John Deer” 7520 Tractor 2793 hours, “New Holland” TR88 header with 25 ft front 1744 hours, “Vennings” Grouper bin.

FIELD BINS & AUGERS including 28T “Sherwell” field bin with Auger, “Sher- well” field bin with Auger (320 bag) PTO drive.

ANTIQUE MACHINERY including “Furphys” farm water cart, 1937 “Sunshine” AL Harvester, “Avery” scales,Blacksmith Bellow and 1935 timber wool table, PHOTOS: www.fpnevins.com.au

IT’S the time of year for dreaming. Summer sporting combinations are playing off ultimate for glory in cricket, tennis and bowls. And Bradley of Boort has some, partially, good advice for the field combatants with his latest sign on the Treemendous Tree. The bottom line, however, was certainly not being followed by the Dingee bowlers in their preliminary final encounter on Monday. Not only did they rise early, the Dingee crew was straight into action for the roll-up practice a good half-hour before official game time ... no sleeping in for the keen crew.

WE have had it straight from the horse’s mouth that the Good Doctor and his wife struck success again last week at Bridgewater twilight bowls. Yes, two prizes snapped up in the raffle - this time a hotel voucher and more wine - to add to their booty a couple of weeks ago. While they are very good in the raffles, no verifiable reports have been have been received of their results in the competition proper.

WITH raffle form like this, we doubt whether the Good Doc will get an invite to head Calivil way. We asked one of that club’s leading players for his final-eve dinner of choice to max the chances of success and put the team in good stead. “A nice juicy

ONE of the great administrative burdens running sporting teams always comes with headaches at finals time. Yes, making sure you’ve enough players qualified for the big action. One club boss quipped at the weekend: “We’re smarter than your average team ... we make sure our list is double the number needed. Can’t take any chances,” were his words, or similar any way.

AND sport fans also have their rituals and superstitions. A UK survey into 2000 people, who watch sport, revealed that 25 per cent will carry out unusual rituals ahead of a game to help improve their luck for a good result. Of these, when watching at home, 23 per cent must sit in the same part of the sofa for any game, while 24 per cent will kiss the badge of their beloved club or nation. And to avoid cursing their favourite team, 22 per cent will refuse to watch a match with specific people they deem “unlucky”.

WHEN it comes to watching live sport, 22 per cent will sit in the same “lucky” seat in the stadium, and the same percentage won’t wash a “lucky” item of clothing. Another 18 per cent will call on a higher power and say a prayer if they feel their team or favourite athlete needs a boost.

AWHOPPING 91 per cent genuinely believe the outcome of an event has been impacted by

Big team spruces up cemetery

MORE than 20 people attended the first of two working bees at Inglewood cemetery on Sunday. Cemetery trust secretary Kim Doherty said there had been a great turnout from the community.

Shovels and brooms, whippersnippers and bobcats set about reducing grass and hazards around historic graves and in the lawn section.

Fallen branches were removed and “a good start made on tidying up the cemetery”, Kim said.

The volunteers spent more than three hours on the job on Sunday.

Many will return for a second working bee this Sunday morning and Kim hopes to see new faces lending a hand as trust volunteers and the community continue the cleanup.

Staff shortage stifles ‘unsightly’ action

LODDON Shire Council was unable to resolve issues with 52 unsightly properties in the December quarter because of a continuing staff shortage.

A report to Tuesday’s council meeting showed no change in the number and location of unsightly properties in the shire. All 52 properties had been iden- tified in the previous quarter. “Identified unsightly properties are assessed and prioritised for compliance action. Staffing vacancies within the unsightly properties area has limited the ability for significant progress to be made in this area,” said local laws and planning compliance officer David Price.