Craig Henderson is the new VFF Grains Council president.
Rushworth bridge works start
Crews have begun dismantling the existing bridge at Girgarre-Rushworth Rd between Stanhope and Rushworth across the Waranga Western Channel and will build a new and stronger bridge in its place.
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The existing bridge was built in 1977 and had a load limit of 42.5 tonnes due to its declining condition.
The Victorian Government is investing $4.9 million for the new bridge, which will enable all heavy vehicles more than 42.5 tonnes to return to the section of Girgarre-Rushworth Rd.
Crews will also construct abutments to support the new bridge, install safety barriers on the approach to prevent run-off-road collisions and construct new road pavement.
Girgarre-Rushworth Rd will be closed at the Waranga Western Channel during construction with detours in place.
Heavy vehicles should use the two existing detour options via approved heavy vehicle routes through Corop and Colbinabbin or Murchison and Tatura.
Work on the new bridge is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
Australia set to pass 100k EV milestone
New research by the Electric Vehicle Council has revealed Australia is on track to soon pass the milestone of 100,000 electric vehicles, with more than 83,000 EVs estimated to be on roads now.
The new research, contained in the Australian Electric Vehicle Industry Recap 2022, also found that of the 83,000, 79 per cent were battery electric vehicles versus 21 per cent plug-in hybrids.
Only 44,000 EVs were in circulation at the beginning of 2022.
The new report also noted the number of EVs purchased had increased by 86 per cent in the past year, with 3.8 per cent of all new cars purchased being electric.
The number of public chargers had increased from 3413 in 2021 to 4943 in 2022, the report found. Fast chargers were up from 231 to 365.
VFF Grains Council has new president
Fifth generation cropping farmer from the Northern Wimmera/Southern Mallee region, Craig Henderson, is the new VFF Grains Council president.
Minyip mixed cropper Ryan Milgate will be the vice-president.
Both were elected unopposed.
“I congratulate both Craig and Ryan and look forward to working with them and the wider VFF team to help deliver for grain farmers throughout Victoria over the coming years,” VFF acting returning officer Brendan Tatham said
“The VFF acknowledges outgoing VFF Grains Council president and Rutherglen farmer Ashley Fraser for his dedication and passion in the role that he has held since 2019.”
Other councillors (all returned uncontested) were:
Charlton: Jason Mellings;
Bendigo: Russell Hocking;
Southern: Anthony Mulcahy; and
West Wimmera: Ashleigh Brooks.
Grants to float your boat
Up to $3 million in grants is available for recreational boaters to improve facilities and access to the water.
The Structural Maintenance Grants and the Dredging and Access Grants programs are both funded through reinvesting boaters’ registration and licence fees as part of the Victorian Government’s Better Boating Fund.
Up to $2 million will be made available for ramp managers to repair or replace pontoons, resurface ramps or upgrade gangways through Structural Maintenance Grants. The maximum grant amount available is $300,000.
Up to $1 million is on offer through the Dredging and Access Grants to allow ramp and waterway managers to plan and undertake dredging works with a maximum grant amount of $150,000.
The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is now available to anyone who lives, works or spends time outdoors that places them at risk of mosquito bites in the Greater Shepparton area.
Japanese encephalitis is a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain. It is caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus which is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes.
Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to prevent Japanese encephalitis and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Greater Shepparton City Council has plenty of single dose Japanese encephalitis vaccines available for residents.
The vaccines are being administered at Riverlinks Studio, 70 Welsford St, Shepparton (the old SAM entrance).
For further information about the vaccine, phone council’s environmental health department on 5832 9700.
GOTAFE secures funds
GOTAFE board chair Candy Broad with Angela McAliece (Uniting Housing), Claire Anderson (NESAY), State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes, Taylar Lines (Shepparton Youth Foyer resident), Chloe Bergi (Shepparton Youth Foyer resident), Leah Waring (NESAY) and GOTAFE chief executive officer Travis Heeney during the announcement of funding for an Education First Youth Foyer at Wangaratta.
GOTAFE has successfully secured $13.4 million of funding to construct an Education First Youth Foyer in Wangaratta.
The Education First Youth Foyer will combine affordable medium-term accommodation with education and training, empowering young people at risk of homelessness to complete their studies and successfully transition from school into work.
The Education First Youth Foyer will be located opposite the Wangaratta GOTAFE campus.
The Education First Youth Foyer will be managed under a formal joint working arrangement between GOTAFE, NESAY, Uniting Housing and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
GOTAFE has operated the Education First Youth Foyer in Shepparton for more than five years and in that time, more than 200 young people have been supported to complete their studies.
Construction is likely to start at the end of the year and was funded through the Victorian Government's $50 million Youth Housing Capital Grants program.
