TransGrid sets up camp
FOR those of you who still think that TransGrid is not coming through our district with its 500KV power line, think again.
TransGrid is just putting the final touches on a 160-bed camp out near Booroorban that is expected to be operational by July.
This 160-bed camp is expected to be operating for only 12 months. TransGrid is coming, and coming faster than anyone expected.
Could have been a good time to buy the Booroorban Pub about 12 months ago.
I have just heard on the grapevine that the proposed 330KV line that was going to duplicate the 220KV line between here and Hay has just been upgraded to a 500KV line. Even TransGrid did not know this last Thursday at our meeting.
So, we may be able to steer this thing straight north to join up with that one. This would save those farmers east of Moulamein having it go through their place.
It could also save millions of dollars. At the moment, we may have directed the 500KV line at least 7km north of Moulamein.
But, I will give TransGrid one thing. These people know how to play the game. Put up all of these bad ideas to get the district up in arms against them. Then come in and go where they were going to go in the first place after the community’s run out of protest ideas.
There are still plenty of protests east of Moulamein as well as between Moulamein and Murrabit. Let’s see what happens next.
Coots not protected in rice crops
I HAVE had a few calls from my hunters about the legality of shooting our never-ending coots that are decimating our rice crops at the moment. Baldy coots or purple-breasted swamp hens are protected everywhere in our great nation, except over a rice field.
I know this sounds like a cockeys’ rule, but we have been told by DPI that we can shoot them.
We have the big guns coming back again this week to hopefully get rid of a few more. Usually, they go when we drain our rice, which is not far away. But sometimes they stay.
The water has been shut off our early rice and, if there is any water left on it next week, it will be drained.
Fish competition
THE Moulamein Football Netball Club is holding its annual fishing competition this weekend.
The Edward River is a bit low at the moment but the Billabong has over 200 megalitres pumping into the Edward at Moulamein to liven the fish up.
One thing you can be guaranteed with our comp is that you will be well fed.
Easter Bowls tournament
THE William Houghton Memorial on Good Friday is a 2-4-2 pairs any-combination event starting at noon and you get smoko.
On Saturday we have the Don Mertz Memorial Three-Bowls Pairs any combination. This rearranged event will start at 9.30am.
You will get lunch and smoko in this event. Depending on numbers, there could be as much as $1800 in prizemoney up for grabs over the weekend.
On Friday night there will be live music, Easter bunny, Easter egg hunt and seafood prizes available in our Friday night meat raffle.
If things go according to plan, there will also be live music on Saturday night.
For more information and to book in, call Kerryn on 0407 800 111 or the bowling club on 5887 5207 for any other information.
River levels
THE Edward River has had a small rise at just below 1.2m and 862ML a day.
The billabong has got an environmental flush coming down it.
This environmental flush is here just in time for the football-netball club fishing competition.
There is over 200ML coming down the billabong.
