Lettuce solution for Queensland
Coles has worked with its fresh produce growers to provide a temporary solution for customers wanting to buy iceberg lettuces, after floods and cold weather have impacted the supermarket giant’s supply.
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South-East Queensland customers have been offered two smaller lettuces for $6.50, the same price they would currently pay for one at Coles.
While these lettuces haven’t fully grown due to the extremely cold weather, Coles promises they are still delicious and in fantastic condition.
The initiative allows growers in the Lockyer Valley to utilise some of the iceberg lettuce crops that have been impacted on by the recent wet weather and will improve availability for customers.
Fishing fun for the holidays
Almost 9000 catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked into 20 lakes across north-east Victoria in time for the school holidays.
The stocked rainbow trout have been grown by the Victorian Fisheries Authority at the Snobs Creek hatchery near Eildon.
A daily bag limit of five trout applies in lakes, of which only two trout can exceed 35 centimetres.
A total of 35,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked into more than 70 waterways statewide.
For the full list of waterways stocked for these school holidays, visit: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/holidaytrout
Firewood collection ends
As of June 30, Victorians cannot collect firewood from public land.
Forest Fire Management Victoria’s Aaron Kennedy said firewood could only be taken from designated collection areas in state forests or parks from March 1 to June 30 and from September 1 to November 30.
“There are on-the-spot fines of $727 for illegal firewood collection behaviour, and if an offence goes to court the person may be liable for fines up to $9087, one-year-imprisonment, or both,” Mr Kennedy said.
Financial help is available for people on low incomes who purchase firewood or wish to transition to other energy sources.
For more information, visit: ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/energy-concession-and-support
Calling all livestock farmers
The VFF’s Stock Sense Project is seeking expressions of interest from Victorian livestock producers to join the Stock Sense Network Group to help increase engagement in animal health, welfare and biosecurity.
Ten Stock Sense Network Groups will be established and will provide feedback on animal health and welfare and biosecurity issues specific to each region as well as the broader Victorian livestock industry.
The opportunity is open to all Victorian livestock farmers and anyone interested can register at: stocksense.vff.org.au
NAIDOC Week activities at Yea
This year’s NAIDOC Week program at the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre will look at the importance of cultural heritage planning.
Taungurung Land & Waters Council’s Francisco Almeida will discuss what is involved in a cultural heritage plan, when is one required and how to identify and protect cultural artefacts found on Country.
Celebrated Taungurung artist and educator Cassie Leatham will hold two workshops on Saturday, July 9, using traditional weaving techniques and natural materials.
Places are limited for these two workshops and costs ($10 child/concession and $15 adult) include all materials.
The final session of the week will be presented by Taungurung Land & Waters Council’s chief executive officer Matthew Burns who will lead a discussion on Treaty and the next phase of the Treaty journey.
For details of the full program of events and to book your tickets, visit www.ywatercentre.com.au or call 5797 2663.
New pumpers for Alpine brigades
Three new specialised firefighting vehicles have been delivered to Alpine brigades in time for the 2022 snow season.
The tracked pumpers have been specifically designed to operate in snow and other challenging elements that are unique to Alpine environments.
The three new Prinoth Panther T6 vehicles have replaced an older model of tracked pumper at Mt Hotham-Dinner Plain, Falls Creek and Mt Buller fire brigades.
“Water can freeze and damage the piping inside firefighting vehicles in such extreme temperatures, so these tracked pumpers have the ability to drain all the water from the internal plumbing system,” CFA acting chief officer Garry Cook said.
“They are also operated with a steering wheel rather than joystick to ensure ease of use, and have lower storage containers to ensure ease of access, as well as improved ergonomics.
“People often associate the mountains with bushfires in summer, but the risk for Alpine resorts like Mt Hotham is substantially higher during the winter.
“Chimney fires, house fires and motor vehicle accidents are among the many incidents our Alpine brigades turn out to.”
Hume Fwy intersection upgrade
The Hume Fwy intersection at Avenel (Jones St and Tarcombe Rd) will undergo a series of upgrades, including improved line marking and signage, to make it easier for motorists travelling through the busy intersection.
Minor vegetation removal and road surface improvements will also be carried out along the road as well as the introduction of a safer speed limit to reduce the crash risk.
This section of the Hume Fwy is used by more than 12,000 vehicles each day, including about 3700 trucks.
In a further boost to safety, a safer speed limit of 80km/h will be introduced to a small section (1.2km) of the Hume Freeway at the intersection.
New buses for regional routes
The Victorian Government has finalised new 10-year contracts worth $2.3 billion to improve the state’s regional bus network.
A total of 177 bus contracts with 58 operators will come into effect from July 1.
Seven hybrid buses and 56 new low-floor, step-free diesel buses will be introduced across the smaller regional routes by the end of the year, replaced more than half of the ageing fleets on these routes.
These buses will service towns like Echuca and Hamilton, doing school bus services, and running major public transport lines between regional cities such as Ballarat and Geelong.