Naracoorte, April 25, 2026

New Naracoorte
Website

Welcome to our new website, where we’ll keep serving independent news to Naracoorte and the surrounding communities, but also offering new opportunities to get involved.

Latest news
and articles

Ambitious spending

Ambitious spending

By Nasik Swami Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross has defended the council’s ambitious spending on livestreaming council meetings to the public. The council has spent $72,472 for the supply and installation of the live streaming and recording systems in the current council chambers. The previous council had included $40,000 in its budget to enable meetings to be livestreamed, but that never happened. Based on recommendations purely from the council’s IT team, the new council added $32,472, bringing the total spend to $72,472 on the purchase of the livestreaming equipment. In a public letter, former mayor Bill Pomery questioned the council’s spending of ratepayer funds on live streaming the meetings. He asked, “Does the livestreaming merit such a large amount of rate payer money when the meetings were open to the public and media coverage was excellent?” In response, Mr Ross said he wouldn’t be able to tell whether this was a […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

NLC ready to support businesses

By Nasik Swami The Naracoorte-Lucindale Council will do what it can within all townships of the district to provide an environment where business can thrive. That’s the assurance from mayor Patrick Ross to all businesses in the district, which are still recovering from COVID-19 and now feeling the pinch of inflationary pressures. While many businesses in the district failed to remain open after the pandemic, Mr Ross says small businesses in town were “very risky”. “Small business is very risky, and there are many failures for many different reasons, which only a very close look at the business in detail may provide,” he said. Mr Ross said the council’s responsibility was to ensure it provided fit-for-purpose roads and paving as well as maintaining a commercial precinct where businesses could hopefully thrive. “Council also has representation on the Naracoorte Business Organisation (Association), where needs and wants can be discussed and debated […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Inflation hurting

By Nasik Swami Inflation is hurting, and small businesses in the region are doing it tough. That’s the word from Member of Parliament Tony Pasin, who says the increasing costs of doing business in regional towns are forcing the closure of many small businesses. “More than 150,000 Australian small businesses will see their electricity bills increase by up to $1,310 a year,” Mr Pasin claimed. He said fuel prices were 9.5 percent higher this month than they were in April 2022. “Interest rates are impacting businesses as well as households. Households are having to exercise restraint. “All these increased costs are squeezing small businesses profits while they are still recovering from losses incurred during the pandemic.” He said many businesses could not absorb the increased costs anymore. “The Labor government had an opportunity in last month’s budget to deliver for our small businesses, and they didn’t. “Instead, they delivered a […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Need for specialist teachers

By Nasik Swami Many country schools are facing huge challenges in attracting and retaining specialist teachers, says South Australian shadow minister for education John Gardner. Mr Gardner said the specialist subjects included math, design and technologies, and certain language subjects. “As we came out of the COVID pandemic, the former Liberal government introduced a Country Education Strategy, which included a range of funded measures particularly designed to increase the flow of graduate teachers successfully settling into country communities, to help them stay longer and hopefully make their homes in new towns,” he said. “It remains to be seen whether the new government’s policy mix will prioritise this area successfully.”  To help retain students in country public schools, Mr Gardner has called on the Education Department to ensure that schools provide young people with every opportunity to engage with local businesses and training providers to pursue traineeships and apprenticeships as they […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Membership campaign for your newspaper

By Michael Waite, Founder & Volunteer, michael@naracoortenews.com, (08) 8121 4141 I am excited to launch our 3rd annual campaign to support journalism and to keep our newspaper local, sustainable and ours! On behalf of the awesome team, this month we are excited to share our gratefulness to everyone who has supported us to reach: – 2 million words of local stories published about our communities – $97,200 of donations to local services, arts and sports groups; and – 155 editions focused on core community topics. You will see next to this story a form for The News Membership; we would love so much for you, your family, friends, and colleagues to support The News through a membership. Please email us at news@naracoortenews.com with your information if you are able to join, or please mail in your form or do not hesitate to contact Kim Batchelor (our Sales Manager), Trish Morton, […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

SA grain growers to shape research investment

By Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) This month, SA grain growers in the south-east of the state are invited to help direct how their levies should be invested in research, development and extension (RD&E) for the grains industry.  Australian grain growers pay levies on 25 grain crops to support industry-relevant RD&E. The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is tasked with investing these funds on behalf of the industry. GRDC’s National Grower Network (NGN) brings together growers and grains industry stakeholders to directly engage with GRDC to help develop locally relevant RD&E investments. Four National Grower Network forums will be held across SA in June: Coonalpyn (June 26), Naracoorte (June 27), Loxton (June 28), and Bowhill (June 29). Speakers and details of the upcoming NGN forums include: Coonalpyn (SA), June 26, 5.00-8.00pm, Coonalpyn Hotel, 43-45 Poyntz Terrace. Featuring Sam Trengove (Trengove Consulting) on powdery mildew resistance development, the impact […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Caravan parks improving

By West Wimmera Shire Council Edenhope Lakeside Tourist Park $1.4 million project continues with the frames and trusses for the brand-new amenities block are now completed, marking a significant milestone in the park’s development. The block will look out to Lake Wallace and include a veranda on the front. Kaniva Poolside Caravan Park visitors are now enjoying brand new amenities and grounds, thanks to a $593,000 upgrade. The park has undergone a significant transformation with the construction of a brand-new amenities block, that includes male and female toilets, accessible toilets and showers, laundry facilities, a baby-changing station, and a contemporary camp kitchen.

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Mt Gambier sale yards investment

By Tony Pasin MP (source: Tony Pasin MP office / Hansard) The Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Transformation Project is a vital project for the Limestone Coast. The formal concept design will feature soft-fall matting, holding pen reconfigurations, cattle yard roofing, sprinkler systems and rainwater harvesting. The upgrade is described as a once-in-a-generation project essential for our region’s agricultural sector. In the 2020-21 financial year the saleyards grossed a whopping $157 million in sales, transacting 86,000 head of sheep and 65,000 head of cattle. It’s an extremely important infrastructure investment needed for the Limestone Coast’s economy. Its current infrastructure is ageing. The District Council of Grant, who own this important asset, gained bipartisan support for their planned upgrades to the facility prior to the state election last year. Both the Labor and Liberal parties pledged funding to support this vital project. Obviously, with the Labor Party being successful in winning […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Naracoorte Market Report 13/06/2023

By Tim Delaney, MLA Cattle: LWB 19 – LWY 199 – LWC 52 – OAY 0 Cattle numbers decreased to 270 after which was 109 head less on last week. Quality was mixed for the regular group of buyers with not all operating fully during the market. The offering did suit the feeders, processors and restockers as they were all active in places. Grown heifers averaged from unchanged to 6c/kg dearer, cows were firm and the bulls sold unchanged although reaching a top price of 240c/kg. Prices did fluctuate for the younger cattle depending on the quality with some sales 5c to 7c/kg either side of firm. Well presented yearling steers and heifers reached the market top of 370c/kg as the plainer younger cattle again sold cheaper. The yarding consisted of 19 bulls, 199 trade run and 52 cows. Young steer vealers sold from 324c to 331c and the heifer […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Ambitious spending

Sale-o no more

By Kristin Murdock The Millicent Saleyards will close at the end of the month after declining sales over a number of years. Reports say competition from online and other nearby saleyards are behind the closure. Wattle Range Council voted at a recent meeting to end cattle sales at the facility by June 30 after a motion to recommence spending to improve safety standards at the facility, expected to cost about $1 million, was defeated. Public consultation surveys were considered and showed 52 per cent of 257 respondents wanted the saleyards to stay open. Earlier this year, only 73 cattle were auctioned at one sale at Millicent and in total, fewer than 4,500 head of cattle had gone through the saleyards in the past 12 months. The upgrading of larger saleyards such as Naracoorte and Mount Gambier, as well as increasing online sales were also a factor. Previously, council had received […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more
Please help us

Please help us

By Chris Oldfield LAUGHTER rings out from a work shed behind various display buildings at the back of The Sheep’s Back museum in Naracoorte. The joyous sounds and banter belong to Naracoorte identities Graham Brammer and Lester Key. As a tractor roars closer to the workshop, soon they are joined by fellow volunteer Ellis Roberts. The popular trio help form part of a small and dedicated group who make up the Naracoorte National Trust. Together trust members have helped create Naracoorte’s most visited site within the town, boasting 7922 visitors during 2021-22. The personal rewards are huge for volunteers Graham, Lester and Ellis. Each can identify both his own input and the work of others, including highly respected Judy Murdoch, during a tour of museum buildings, exhibits and displays. But they need help. Showcasing Naracoorte’s history in one of the rooms of a former school building at the site is […]

To access this post, you must purchase MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, THE LAST ISSUE or ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

read more

BE PART OF
THE COMMUNITY!

Help us continue to grow and improve by supporting our community. You can help us make an impact by sharing our content, becoming a sponsor or distributor, or donating to our causes.

Discover how to help us!