Following the significant flooding events in 2011, 2022 and 2024, this updated study aims to reassess and enhance flood mitigation strategies to better protect the community. The updated flood study will also consider the Lake Eppalock technical assessment and the potential benefits for Rochester and surrounding areas.
The information sessions will provide an overview of the study's objectives, methodologies, and desired outcomes. Attendees can ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss their knowledge and experiences of past flood events.
The sessions will be held at the Rochester Flood Recovery Hub, 48 Mackay St, on Tuesday, July 16, from 10.30am to noon, 1pm to 4.30pm or 6pm to 8pm; and on Wednesday, July 17, from 9.30am to noon or 1pm to 4pm.
Call council on 1300 666 535 to book a time or drop in during any of the sessions.
Residents can stay up to date on this project at: https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/rochesterfloodstudy
Nature calls for 2025 calendar photos
Entries for photographs to feature in the 2025 Goulburn Broken Catchment calendar close on August 13.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority project coordinator Janice Mentiplay-Smith said the calendar photo competition was a great way for local people to showcase their photographic skills of plants, animals and the environment.
“The competition has been running for more than 15 years now and entering it has become quite a tradition for keen photographers and nature lovers,” she said.
“The images in this year’s calendar were chosen from more than 300 entries. Each year we produce and distribute the calendars across the region.”
Preference is given to photographs of local plants or animals in their natural state, insects, waterways or other natural features that tell a story about the Goulburn Broken catchment.
Email your images of birds, animals, plants, insects and places in the Goulburn Broken catchment to janicem@gbcma.vic.gov.au
To be eligible, photos must be between 2 MB and 10 MB in landscape format (not portrait) and submitted as a jpeg file attachment (not as a picture inserted into the text of your email). Include a description of the image in the email subject line (for example, ‘white-breasted woodswallow’). No USBs or disks.
AFIA launches hay supply listing
The Australian Fodder Industry Association has launched a webpage listing available sources of fodder, in response to inquiries from those experiencing dry conditions.
“We are aware that those in South Australia, south-west Victoria and south-east NSW have experienced dry autumn and winter conditions thus far,” AFIA CEO Paula Fitzgerald said.
“For now, we believe there is fodder available and the challenge appears to be matching those in need with those who have supply, however, we encourage people to act now to secure supply and consider their stocking levels.
“While AFIA understands the challenges that dry conditions and a lack of feed present, we find it disappointing that we are yet again at this point, a point where fodder is only in the spotlight because of non-ideal conditions. We need to be focused on fodder in the good times, rather than only in dry or crisis times.”
The AFIA hay supply listing can be found at: https://afia.org.au/hay-supply-listing/
NFF welcomes supermarket support
The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the Coalition’s bipartisan support for a mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and significantly increased penalties for breaches by retailers.
NFF president David Jochinke anticipated this as a step forward for better protection of growers, with both major parties on the same page to reform anti-competitive behaviour by supermarkets.
“The NFF has long advocated for these measures, firmly believing they will help correct the power imbalance for farmers,” he said.
“The recent Independent Review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct highlighted the fresh food sector is especially vulnerable to the misuse of market power due to the perishable nature of their products.”
The Coalition has also proposed several new initiatives, including the appointment of a Supermarkets Commissioner and the introduction of divestment powers for Australian supermarkets and hardware stores.
“While the NFF does not have a position on divestiture, we are committed to working with our members to understand the Coalition’s proposal,” Mr Jochinke said.
