THE iconic Moulamein Wharf is in danger of collapse by the look of it.
I ducked under it the other day to get a closer view of what was going wrong with it.
All I could think of was that I should not be under there.
Whoever fixed it last time forgot to bolt it to the bank.
Our wharf is doing its best to fall into the river.
I would advise everyone not to walk onto it, and definitely do not go under it.
I would not advise you to fish in front of it, and if you are boating past, take a wide berth as it could collapse at any time.
Unfortunately, emergency heritage funding would be pretty hard to get as the wharf is not heritage listed.
It could cost up to $100,000 to renovate.
Murray River Council has a bit of a dilemma: take $100,000 out of its working funds to fix it when we are already having trouble getting the roads back to drivable condition, or apply for funding and hope it does not fall onto anyone while we are waiting for the funding to be allocated.
Or, just pull it down and put in something modern like a pontoon when funding becomes available.
I think we all would like to keep our wharf.
It is an icon of Moulamein and one of the few historic items that is still here.
I think Helen Dalton’s mob read my notes.
No doubt someone has been in touch with her by now.
I do not know if Sussan Ley can do anything from a federal level, but something has to happen fast or our Moulamein Wharf will become cod snags with maybe a fisherman under it.
I think there are only a couple of wharfs left on the rivers in NSW.
We have to find some heritage funding fast.
Can someone start up a Facebook site and get some opinions if we want to keep our Moulamein Wharf?
I think I know what the answer will be.
Weather according to Jack
WHEN things get dry, I should stop asking Jack his opinion on the weather.
I asked him on the weekend for an update.
“Do you remember 1982,” he asked.
“Yep”, I said, as that was around when I started farming on my own.
“Well, that is my prediction,” he said.
“Another ’82”.
This is just Jack’s hobby
Do not run your business by The Weather According To Jack.
I might just buy him a fishing rod for his birthday to give him a new hobby.
Hay sheep sale
WE HAD to go to Wagga to pick up the rug-rats last Friday.
It was not much further through Hay.
Good time to check out the sheep prices as Hay sale is the indicator for the district.
We did not get there for the tops of the sale but they were still good sheep.
The bids were $60 and got up to $70.
Yep, I thought: after they stop bidding they will put the 100 in front like they normally do.
Nope, no 100s in front today: $60 to $80 for maiden ewes with their life still ahead of them.
One fella got more than $400 for his top ewes last year; $166 this year.
It was good while it lasted.
I have never heard so much talk about a drought before we have had a drought.
If you’ve ever wanted to get into sheep, now is a good time if you have a bit of feed.
That fella who paid more than $400 for those ewes last year will be licking his wounds for the next couple of years.
River levels
THE Edward River has steadied at just over two metres and just over 2000 megalitres a day.
Yabbies are still going in the local rivers if you would like a feed.
Just remember, opera house nets are now banned; only drop nets are allowed.
I saw someone the other day who had cut the top out of their opera house net to make it into a drop net.
This should be legal but who knows with the fisheries?
Ring up and ask before you try it.
