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St. Arnaud, Charlton, Wedderburn & Surrounding Districts
Est. 1864
18 Napier Street, St. Arnaud. 3478. - Advertising & Editorial Material - Ph.: (03) 5495 1055; Fax.: (03) 5495 1937. Email: ncn@iinet.net.au Published weekly. Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. VAC 4217.
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 4th 2025.
Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.
(Incl. GST)
Shires stand up against the Emergency Services Levy THE Northern Grampians Shire Council at this week’s meeting (Monday June 2nd) under urgent business voiced their concern with the Emergency Services Levy (ESL). There were all round calls to ‘scrap the unjust ESL. It was unanimously decided to write to the Premier to voice council’s concern that this tax unfairly targets those in regional areas. The motion also included that any levy should be collected by the State Revenue Office (SRO) and not the council. Concern was held that although the farmers had gained a 12 months reprieve that this does not solve the problem, and that business owners and residents will still be paying the new tax. These communities Cr Murray Emerson stated were already hit with cost of living increases and other stresses. Cr Hide stated that there was a lack of consultation by state government and that the new tax will be imposed without consultation. Cr Hyslop was astounded that the bill passed to law after all the advocacy that was made. Mayor Hyslop on Friday of last week had the support of 8 other mayors and with this support requested a meeting with the Premier, but had not had a reply. She was also disappointed that labor MPs can’t cross the floor and expressed their concerns and that they therefore cannot represent the views of their communities. “Where is all this going to end? “My community does not want ESL to go through, but it has.
“We have been told to collect it”. Mayor Hyslop was concerned about what will happen if people did not pay that component of their rates and what the Northern Grampians Shire will do if that possibility eventuates. “It is just an extra pressure on council and councillors” she said.
Loddon shire calls for Governor’s support A recent motion by the Loddon Shire Council states that ‘as the Bill is awaiting Royal Assent, we call on Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC Governor of Victoria to exercise her reserve powers and not sign this bill (ESVFL) into Law’. Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said the motion was the obvious next step after Councillors attended a rally against the levy in Melbourne last week. “That rally was attended by 10,000 people including many residents from Loddon Shire,” Cr Straub said. “Those residents are not only landowners who will have to pay this unjust and unfair levy but also emergency services volunteers themselves. “For them to leave their farms at this busy time of year at short notice to make their voices heard shows the level of concern in our communities, and that level is unprecedented. “Council has actively been lobbying against this levy since we were made aware of it, and we will continue to do so.”
PHOTO: Facebook/Wallaloo and Gre Gre District VNI west ANTI-TRANSMISSION LINES group.
Northern Grampians to register opposition to VNI west powerlines COUNCILLOR Murray Emerson put forward a motion at this week’s June meeting of the council, to write to the State Premier, Jacinta Allan, to voice their disapproval at the VNI West project. Cr Emerson said in his opening statement on his motion that he was unable to decide what the benefit to shire is of renewable energy. He said basically he supports renewable energy, but not at the expense of prime farming land. Cr Emerson continued that the idea of renewable energy on prime farming land
goes against the Paris Agreement, of which Australia is a signatory. The Paris Agreement states that the time frame for the level of commitment to renewable energy should be “within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic devel-
Vinelander passes through on another tour to the Mallee WITH meals and afternoon and morning teas as well as ‘air breaks’ at Donald the Vinelander ploughed through from Maryborough at the weekend and returned this week on Monday. The Vinelander is the tourist train that will not stop at St. Arnaud despite the best efforts of those souls at the Raillery Hub. We can but wave from the platform as the tourist dollars pass us by.
opment to proceed in a sustainable manner’. Northern Grampians does not believe that this is being followed, as the Wimmera is the food bowl of Victoria. It is fundamental to the Paris Agreement that it should be recognised as a priority safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. Cr Jack Black added his support to the motion saying that no one likes bullies. “Don’t let greed override laughter”, he said. Cr Karen Probst also supporting the motion
said that the VNI project is the wrong project for this area and cited that food security and mental health of our farmers was paramount. Cr Emerson was pleased that the other councillors supported his motion. “We must deal with issues such as an alternative energy in the coming years, but people in Northern Grampians can be assured that we will always vote for the best outcomes for them”.
Inside today Police report - page 3.
Readers please note: Due to King’s Birthday Weekend, next week’s edition of the North Central News will be available Thursday 12th June 2025. Above: The Vinelander passed through the St. Arnaud Rail Station on Friday morning.
PHOTO: R. Proctor.