Alleged thief caught
Local businessman calls for greater police presence. By Nasik Swami: After enduring nearly $15,000 in losses from multiple break-ins and spending around $30,000 on security upgrades, a local businessman is finally feeling a sense of relief. Police have arrested and charged a suspect believed to be responsible for the break-ins at a block of shops in Naracoorte. Didar Ali, the owner of BWD Trading, a multicultural grocery store on McRae Street, expressed his gratitude to South Australia Police...
“High level” engagement
By Nasik Swami: Despite the absence of a survey evaluating the effectiveness of livestreaming Naracoorte Lucindale Council meetings, CEO Trevor Smart describes the initiative as a “high level” of community engagement. The council conducted its first livestream of an ordinary meeting on June 27, 2023, followed by its inaugural livestream of the Strategic Asset and Planning (SAP) committee meeting on September 10, 2024. The livestreaming services cost ratepayers $72,472. To gauge public interest...
Hard Talk, Town after Town
. Consistent failures in housing strategy. By Nasik Swami: Bureaucratic hurdles, red tape, market failures, declining investor confidence, and ineffective policies have all been cited as key factors behind the district’s ongoing housing crisis. In this edition of Hard Talk, The News explores the severe housing shortage affecting regional towns like Naracoorte, Penola, and Bordertown. This persistent shortfall is stalling economic growth, as businesses struggle to expand or maintain operations...
What’s our strategy?
By Nasik Swami: Future developments in the district must be thoughtfully planned with harmony, taste, and understanding, rather than solely focusing on “chasing rate dollars”. This was the key message from mayor Patrick Ross to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council as elected members began discussions on a crucial issue—the draft housing strategy—last week. The district’s draft housing strategy – authored by CEO Trevor Smart and manager planning Paul McRostie – was presented to the council in...
See you at the races!
The 2025 MiniJumbuk Naracoorte Cup will be held on Sunday 16 February, 2025. Naracoorte Racing Club/Photo: Adrian Gale – The Chapel Studio. The picture was taken during the 2024 Naracoorte Cup.
Smart revelation
By Chris Oldfield: THE Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s administration chooses whether or not briefing session items are confidential, it was revealed during council’s January 28 meeting. According to CEO Trevor Smart, the administration does not notify the public when public briefing sessions are being held, and just advises elected members. Including whether items are confidential. He said the public was only notified after the meetings were held. Subsequently, last Tuesday, February 4, The News advised Mr Smart the housing strategy briefing session was not on the council’s website, and asked Mr Smart if it was public, and what time it started. Mr Smart replied – it was open to the public and started at 6pm. But the notice did not appear on the council’s website until after the meeting was held. At the council’s January meeting, the Mayor Patrick Ross explained all briefing sessions were open and public meetings unless they […]
“Listen to the public”
By Nasik Swami: An elected member of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council has criticised the council for disregarding public input gathered during consultation processes. Speaking exclusively to The News, Cr Craig McGuire claimed trust towards the elected body was “at an all-time low” with public consultation and feedback mostly ignored or dismissed if it did not fit the narrative of what parts of the elected council wanted to see. Stating it as his opinion, Cr McGuire said elected members seemed to rely on their own circle of people, rather than what had been provided formally back to the council. “I don’t have too many concerns with our public consultation policy or process. I can’t stress this enough. My actual concern is that the elected council doesn’t appear to want to listen to what the public tells us through our consultation processes,” he said. In simple terms, Cr McGuire said that the […]
$361,550 playground for Leicester Park
By Chris Oldfield: NARACOORTE’S Leicester Park will soon boast a new $361,550 playground. Equipment will include a double bay swing, seesaw, neo spinner, play hut, skateboard rocker, joey trampoline, slide, and even a pretend eco charger. This follows consultation with Naracoorte South Primary School’s Reception and Years 1-2 students by Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s administration. The matter was raised at the council’s January 28 meeting. Director infrastructure and services, Daniel Willsmore, said the council was due to replace playground equipment in Leicester Park during 2025-26 under the endorsed 2025-35 Open Space Asset Management Plan. During the debate elected members learned the $250,000 expenditure at Market Square’s Tier 1 playground replaced 22-year-old equipment. Leicester Park, ranked as a Tier 3 playground, had 16-year-old equipment. Mr Willsmore explained metropolitan councils renewed equipment every 15 years, but they had a higher usage. The $361,550 price tag allowed for cost increases of equipment which Mr […]
Longridge achieves five-star rating
Longridge Aged Care has received an outstanding five-star rating from the National Aged Care Quality Standards, a significant achievement that reflects its commitment to providing exceptional care and support to its residents. The rating, updated in November 2024,...
Sports funding
By Nasik Swami: Sporting clubs and community groups in the South East play a vital role in fostering social connections and promoting an active lifestyle. They serve as a cornerstone for bringing people together and strengthening local communities. Are government...
Mining battle
By Nasik Swami: Proposed mining for rare earths elements in the Limestone Coast is facing opposition from local producers and residents. Many sections of the community are concerned about how mining would impact production in one of the state’s key agricultural...
House raids, guns, and drugs
By Nasik Swami: Two major house raids were carried out by the South Australia Police (SAPOL) in the district in the last two weeks, where multiple firearms, ammunition, a pistol crossbow, and a cannabis plant were discovered. In the first raid, a 75-year-old...
Naracoorte man arrested, guns and drugs seized
Police arrested a 57-year-old Naracoorte man yesterday after finding firearms and drugs at an Avenue Range property in the South East. Following an investigation, South Australia Police (SAPOL) attended the property at 10.30am to conduct a search. “Police searched a shipping container, locating multiple firearms, ammunition, a pistol crossbow, and cannabis plant,” SAPOL said in a statement. “A 57-year-old man from Naracoorte was charged with possess a prescribed firearm, possess a firearm without a licence, possess ammunition without a license, contravene the Firearms Code of Practice, possess a prohibited weapon, and refusing to answer questions under the Firearms Act.” The man was arrested and bailed to appear in the Naracoorte Magistrates Court on April 2, 2025. SAPOL is asking anyone with information about illegal firearms, or the possession, sale, or distribution of illicit substances, to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or phone 1800 333 000—your details will remain anonymous.
Naracoorte house raided, firearms discovered
By Nasik Swami: A 75-year-old Naracoorte man has been arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences. The News can confirm that the South Australia Police (SAPOL) with the assistance from Victoria Police (VICPOL) and Army representatives were called to a property in Naracoorte on Wednesday, January 7, this week where the address was searched. A SAPOL spokesperson told this newspaper that the search located a number of firearms. “A 75 -year-old Naracoorte man was arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Our Australia Day award winners
By Naracoorte Lucindale Council: The Naracoorte Lucindale Council is proud to announce its 2025 Australia Day award winners. The award winners are: Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – David Steadman for his outstanding contribution to the Naracoorte Community. David goes above and beyond through his role as a community pharmacist and is a current and long-standing member of many boards including the Naracoorte Area Health Advisory Council, the Longridge Aged Care Board and Naracoorte SA 4WD Club. Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – Christopher Mailley for his outstanding contribution to the entire Upper South East community, particularly through his role in the development of the Upper South East Domestic Abuse Program (USEDAP). Lucindale Citizen of the Year – Vivienne Hocking for her outstanding contribution to the Lucindale community through her long-term involvement with the Naracoorte & Districts Suicide Prevention Network, Lucindale Netball Club, Lucindale Country Club and the […]
Hard Talk – Loss of essential services
By Nasik Swami: Many essential service providers, including the government, are “abandoning” rural towns like Naracoorte in South Australia. Many regional towns in the South East are losing—or have already lost—essential services such as banking, postal, Medicare, Centrelink, resident health specialists, TAFE and other tertiary education providers, telecommunications, along with many others. And now, it’s the face-to-face police services. Many providers are operating on reduced hours or have gone completely online. With connectivity and reliable internet service being a big challenge both in regional towns and throughout rural areas, many people, including seniors and those without reliable phone and internet, have no alternative to face-to-face service. As a result, many of our citizens are being referred to metropolitan centres to access these critical services requiring round trips of two to eight hours of travel. But what is the reason for this “pandemic”? Why are our regional towns becoming unattractive, and […]
Naracoorte house raided, firearms discovered
By Nasik Swami: A 75-year-old Naracoorte man has been arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences. The News can confirm that the South Australia Police (SAPOL) with the assistance from Victoria Police (VICPOL) and Army representatives were called to a...
Our Australia Day award winners
By Naracoorte Lucindale Council: The Naracoorte Lucindale Council is proud to announce its 2025 Australia Day award winners. The award winners are: Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – David Steadman for his outstanding contribution to the Naracoorte Community....
Hard Talk – Loss of essential services
By Nasik Swami: Many essential service providers, including the government, are “abandoning” rural towns like Naracoorte in South Australia. Many regional towns in the South East are losing—or have already lost—essential services such as banking, postal, Medicare,...
Sunrise musical hit
In a Galilee far, far away…. The Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte held its 2024 Christmas musical at the Town Hall last week. The musical, an interplanetary exploration to discover the Glory of God throughout the universe, and beyond, focused on showcasing the true meaning of Christmas.
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