JOURNALIST Sandra Godwin looks back at the events and issues from June in The Guardian’s Year in Review series.
Friday, June 17
· No electorate, including Mallee, should rule out the possibility of hosting nuclear facilities, said Member for Mallee Anne Webster. She said anyone who was serious about a greener future should consider nuclear energy and she would push for a national forum on the topic.
· River Road could become a recognised zone for boutique lifestyle properties in future, but not under current planning conditions, Swan Hill Rural City councillors heard. They refused a permit for a two-lot subdivision because it was in the farming zone and identified as being subject to flooding.
Tuesday, June 21
· Swan Hill Rural City Council voted to ask authorities to release extra water for the environment as soon as possible and for as long as safely possible. Cr Nicole McKay said extra flows would benefit the environment, tourism, recreation and irrigators.
· Communities were fractured by border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Victoria’s cross border commissioner Luke Wilson. As an advocate, Mr Wilson helped expand the border bubble to local government areas rather than distances or postcodes but “it was still confusing and messy”.
