50 years ago, August 1975
The Victorian Parliamentary Public Works Committee will inquire on plans to spend $40 million on a 10-year Murray Valley drainage program.
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The plan, recommended by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, covers areas based in Shepparton, Kerang and Sunraysia districts.
The Shepparton area includes Echuca, Lockington and Rochester districts.
The commission has proposed the 10-year program to drain 860,000 hectares of irrigation land in northern Victoria.
The Member for Rodney, Mr Eddie Hann, said the commission’s plans were aimed at eliminating salinity and drainage problems in irrigation areas.
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Modern-day gypsies or wandering nomads – however you describe the lifestyle of Maureen and Barry Wright, it certainly departs from the normal.
‘’We have not lived in a house since Maureen and I got married,’’ Barry said.
‘’You could say we get itchy feet,’’ Maureen said, scrambling out of their canoe.
We sat talking on the banks of the Murray, where they had spent 14 months during 1973-74 cruising on the Murray.
Barry is a trained wool classer, but his beard and knowledge of the river make him seem more like a river boat captain.
Maureen is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree.
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Echuca South put the flag favouritism back into the melting pot when it had a 19-point victory over the season’s top side, Mathoura, in the Echuca Football League second semi-final yesterday.
South thoroughly deserved its win as it was the much superior team — it controlled the air, backed up better and always appeared to have a loose man ready to take a pass.
Yesterday’s gate takings amounted to $970. This sum, on top of the amount of $844 received for the first semi-final, is a fitting testimony to the high regard in which the local league is held.
In this respect, it is disappointing to again have to report that trouble was experienced with the hot water service in the visitors’ room.
25 years ago, August 2000
A new $3.2 million Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE Echuca campus is to be built on the existing site at the corner of Hare and Darling streets.
BRIT chief executive Ron Smith received formal notification on Friday.
The announcement ends protracted negotiations between BRIT and Campaspe Shire on the suitability of the current site for the new campus.
Campaspe Shire had opposed developing the site for the campus because it believed the educational institution would break up the spread of retail businesses at the southern end of Hare St.
A national retail chain last week withdraw a proposal for a join venture with BRIT at the site, meaning BRIT will develop the site on its own.
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The developer of a proposed Wharparilla Drive subdivision will seek compensation if the western option for the second Echuca-Moama bridge goes ahead.
Frank Miller plans to subdivide a parcel of his land east of Wharparilla Drive and adjoining the Murray Valley Hwy into 62 lots, but will lose a number of blocks to the western bridge option.
He said he would definitely seek compensation if the western option proposed by VicRoads and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority was successful.
Both Campaspe and Murray shires are openly endorsing the western option for the second bridge.
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Fundraising is under way for the Lockington Pre-School ‘wheeled toy path’.
The path will consist of a bike trail and secret garden.
The ambitious project was first tabled 10 years ago but it wasn’t until 1999 that the pre-school committee began planning and sought approval from the Department of Human Services.
This year’s advisory committee finalised the plans and started the search for sponsorship.
10 years ago, August 2015
VicRoads has released its final environmental reports for Echuca-Moama’s proposed second Murray River crossing. Finally.
The community had been waiting since March this year for the documents — the Environmental Effects Statement and the Review of Environmental Factors — to be released.
Now the day has finally arrived, the twins towns have edged closer to having the bridge built.
Costings, design and other planning issues will still need to be considered before building can start on the project.
But Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said having the reports released was still an important step.
‘‘It will be on exhibition for 30 days and once that’s through then we can get on with the job of putting pressure on the state government to allocate time frames,’’ he said.
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Six minutes after opening its doors on Tuesday, Echuca hospital’s new emergency department admitted its first patient.
Echuca Regional Health emergency department unit manager Craig Frew said 45 patients presented at the new ED after it opened at 9am Tuesday, while 46 were seen on Wednesday.
‘‘We had no major hiccups. It all flowed pretty smoothly.’’
Patients presented for a range of health-related concerns, including chest pains, respiratory conditions, back pain and flu-like conditions.
The new ED includes fully self-contained resuscitation bays and 15 cubicles, including a paediatric area, isolation room, mental health room, two fast-track rooms and two treatment rooms.
‘‘We have used the fast-track rooms and the paediatric area,’’ Mr Frew said.
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Echuca Simplot workers decided to lift their strike for better wages and conditions yesterday. But the fight is not over.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union food and confectionery regional secretary Tom Hale said workers had planned to stop work during entitled breaks indefinitely.
After a meeting with management, however, workers decided to lift it.
‘‘We haven’t reached an agreement but we have progressed,’’ Mr Hale said.
‘‘The EBA (enterprise bargaining agreement) is still being negotiated.
‘‘We have called it off at this stage but if we don’t get the conditions we want they will be going back on.’’