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By Nasik Swami: The emergency department at Naracoorte Hospital is being fixed to make it “fit for purpose”. Health Minister Chris Picton says the community deserves to have a hospital they are proud of and can provide a high quality of care. Mr Picton was part of a delegation from the Health Ministry that visited the hospital on August 7 to see the progress of $8million upgrade work supported by the government. “The current upgrades will deliver a better standard of care, closer to home, while the review of regional service delivery will evaluate how best to meet the community’s health needs into the future.” According to the minister, the upgrade would deliver much-needed new clinical and patient spaces for the community, including significant improvements in accident and emergency. The tender for works to the emergency department closed earlier this month, while some projects as part of the upgrade to […]

By Nasik Swami: Already fed up with mobile connectivity issues? Wait, there’s more coming your way, as all of Australia’s 3G networks go off in the coming months. Once the 3G mobile network is switched off, people will be left without means of communication in some regional areas, and the devices they rely on will be rendered useless. Many stakeholders in regional South Australia are calling the switch off unfair, putting unnecessary stress and pressure on those who use 3G-compatible handsets, and a government supporting mobile operators over its people. The big question being asked by the stakeholders is: how will network users on 3G devices be able to make Triple Zero emergency calls, and why are people being forced to upgrade their devices to a 4G- compatible one over a commercial decision? What happens to network users in Naracoorte and surrounding towns, where 4G connectivity is not so good […]

By Nasik Swami: The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”. The design and planning of the new Mount Gambier Cancer Care Centre have been on hold while the feasibility study into radiation therapy services was undertaken. The feasibility study has recommended changes to how cancer care is delivered in the region. The Limestone Coast Local Health Network Governing Board announced that it would pursue changes to the cancer treatment regimen, reduced requirements for travel, and the establishment of dedicated local cancer leadership, as well as advocate for adequate compensation for travel. LCLHN governing board chair, Dr Andrew Saies, welcomed the report’s findings and thanked everyone […]

By Chris Oldfield: NARACOORTE based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital. According to the LCLHN’s meeting minutes, it decided to do that in February 2022, before it hired Health Q to do a feasibility study. “This is a decision that treats us in regional South Australia as second-class citizens, especially those with cancer,” Mr Haynes said. “The former Coalition Federal Government put $4.3 million into a radiation therapy service for the South East. “The Malinauskas Government can’t even put $1.3 million towards running it. “But it can spend $42 million on a football oval at Lyndoch. Where is the sense in that? “Other […]

By Chris Oldfield: LOCAL police are seeking further information regarding several incidents throughout Naracoorte Lucindale and Tatiara districts. Naracoorte Sergeant Simon Haebich said he was particularly concerned about a break-in at Keith last month. During the night or early morning of July 14-15, while occupants slept an offender entered through an unlocked door and stole car keys. The offender then used them to steal the car parked outside in the driveway.   “A short time later that vehicle was captured on CCTV at a business premises on Bordertown’s Western Services Road where it rammed a cyclone gate, and then drove off,” Sgt Haebich said. “It is also suspected of being involved in some other `unlawfully on premises’ matters in the Bordertown light industrial area that morning. “Entry was gained in some business premises but there were no actual thefts.  “Nobody has been apprehended yet. The big thing for us is security […]

By Nasik Swami: It was a lucky escape for a truck driver in Frances, outside of Naracoorte. This after the truck he was driving, loaded with hay, caught fire on July 25. According to the Country Fire Service (CFS) 17 firefighters on four CFS trucks had to attend the tray-top truck fire.  “The truck was driving along Frances Road at just before 5pm, when its load of hay burst into flames, CFS confirmed.  “The driver pulled over, and a nearby farmer who witnessed the incident drove his tractor over and helped by unloading the burning hay, which prevented further damages to the $500,000 rig.” CFS crews worked hard to extinguish the fire, however, the 30 large hay bales and parts of the tray top were destroyed.   According to CFS, total loss is estimated to be at $130,000. Investigations into the incident continue.

By Chris Oldfield: SA LIBERAL leader David Speirs has cancelled plans to return to Scotland for another family wedding. But speculation continues as the State Government urges a leadership challenge. In a statement issued at deadline for press last week, a spokesperson for the Leader of the Opposition said the Liberal Party was “incredibly united” under his leadership. The comments came in the wake of claims Mr Speirs had issued an ultimatum to his colleagues, urging them to mount a challenge to his leadership. Mr Speirs had returned to Scotland for a cousin’s wedding when the State Budget was released, and was hoping to return for another family wedding soon.  But that meant possibly missing the first week of Parliament on top of missing the release of the Budget.  As a result, disgruntled Liberals had leaked to several media outlets, including The News. Labor then seized on comments Mr Speirs […]

By Nasik Swami: The need for public transportation services in Naracoorte and other surrounding towns is increasing. Many people who do not have access to their own vehicles and prefer public transportation to travel and connect to the high value markets of the South East, Adelaide, and Victoria are finding it difficult. Unfortunately, for a growing town like Naracoorte, we do not have public transportation to service the area and help people connect to their destinations. In Naracoorte, we have a private company that provides coach services (not daily) to Adelaide at a cost of $78.60 one way. The cost of travelling from Naracoorte to Bordertown is $23.90 one way, and to Mt Gambier, it is $29.30. Apart from this, commuters have to travel to Bordertown or Mount Gambier for their other connections. Also, many travellers have to find their own way to Naracoorte after getting off in Mount Gambier […]

By Nasik Swami: A Federal Government inquiry has been launched into the sustainability of our local councils. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure, and Transport’s (the RDIT Committee) is at the forefront of the inquiry. The RDIT Committee will inquire into and report on local government matters, with a particular focus on: The financial sustainability and funding of local government. The changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations of local government. Any structural impediments to security for local government workers and infrastructure and service delivery. Trends in the attraction and retention of a skilled workforce in the local government sector, including impacts of labour hire practices. The role of the Australian Government in addressing issues raised in relation to the above. Speaking to The News, Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross welcomed the inquiry, calling it timely and a great move to address the challenges faced by the […]

By Nasik Swami: A war of words has broken out between Health Minister Chris Picton and Member of Barker Tony Pasin over the release of a feasibility study on delivering radiation treatment services for the region. Mr Pasin claimed the local health bureaucracy, the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), has “snubbed” the release of the report, hiding it from the public and the volunteers of the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group. He claimed the feasibility study report was being withheld from the group—the very people who have been the driving force behind the government’s commitment to undertake the study. However, the Health Minister says, “Tony Pasin certainly has a short memory”. “The Member for Barker must have forgotten he was part of the former Federal Liberal Government that rejected a proposal to establish radiation therapy in the Limestone Coast in May 2021,” Mr Picton said while responding to […]

To celebrate NAIDOC Week last week, Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s Arts & Cultural Facilitator and Naracoorte Library + Town Hall held a number of activities. About 14 people participated in basket weaving & Nunga Screen. Many more engaged in NAIDOC Week colouring and the Indigenous exhibition on display at the Wonambi Gallery. Pic: NLC Facebook page.

By Nasik Swami: The avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have caused some gaps on supermarket shelves, prompting temporary buying limits. Naracoorte’s two main supermarkets, Woolworths and Foodland, have so far escaped from this, with their suppliers in South Australia not being affected. The supermarkets have confirmed their supply of chicken and eggs to customers remain normal and safe. Responding to questions from this newspaper, Naracoorte Foodland said they had an impact on their egg supply but were able to source them from their other suppliers. “That has enabled us to get some regularity back in supply,” Naracoorte Foodland said. “We know one of our main suppliers who supply our Foodland eggs has been the most impacted, but they have been dealing with other issues before.” The supermarket chain said at the moment, supply of eggs was not so much of an issue for South Australia. “We are just monitoring. We […]