Latest news with #Gundagai
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Cootamundra-Gundagai demerger ignites hope for other NSW councils
A decision to split a merged council has offered hope to other New South Wales shires fighting for the same cause. The Cootamundra and Gundagai councils were forced to merge in 2016 when the state government created 19 new councils from the amalgamation of 44 existing councils. A decade-long campaign to demerge ensued and on Thursday locals got their wish. "It was a great day for local democracy," Demerge NSW Alliance coordinator and Save Bombala president Grantley Ingram said. "The minister has listened to the community of Gundagai and Cootamundra and he's acted on their wishes." The 2016 decision to amalgamate councils was made by the former Coalition government to improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs. But Mr Ingram said that was "nonsense", and "roads, rates and rubbish" were common issues faced by merged councils, as well as the loss of council-run aged care facilities and staff turnover. He said people had wanted out in his town of Bombala, which was forced to merge into the Snowy Monaro Regional Council. "It's just not working," he said. Snowy Valleys Council was also among the 19 newly created councils, combining the Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire councils. Councillor and former Tumut mayor Trina Thomson said both communities had different wants and needs. "It's like trying to run two separate councils under one umbrella," she said. "We believe that going forward, a demerger would enable us to have that independent, unique identity." The sentiment is not shared in the NSW western plains, where Dubbo Regional councillor Matthew Dickerson believes most people have accepted the merger between Dubbo and Wellington shires. "The eggs have been broken, the omelettes have been made," he said. "I think that moment has gone and I don't think there is any appetite for a de-amalgamation. "We're moving on in the world." During Thursday's announcement, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said there was now a legislative pathway for other merged councils to consider splitting. "We will not forcibly merge or demerge councils," he said. "These are decisions for communities, they are not decisions for governments. "[Governments] need to get their nose out of local government and their nose out of local communities that are more than capable of managing their own affairs. "The responsibility on effecting the demerger is in the hands of the democratically elected councillors." Mr Ingram agreed that councils were best to lead the process of demerging, and community consultation was paramount. "While I think it's a disaster, there may be others that quite like our regional council," he said. "We need to assess the wishes of the community."
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Saturday, June 28, 2025
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Newcastle on Saturday. The Daily Telegraph and Racenet form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Newcastle on Saturday. • â– â– â– â– â– NEWCASTLE TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.3: KIKOIRA Very promising Waller colt who is bound for much better things. NEXT BEST Bruce Mackenzie owned galloper who trials like he'll go places. VALUE BET Race 4 No.4: ESCARGOES Solid debut; all the trials before and after point to a handy horse. QUADDIE Race 5: 1,2,4 Race 6: 2,4,7 Race 7: 4,5,6 Race 8: 2,4 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW KEAGAN LATHAM has an unassailable lead in his defence of the Provincial title GUNDAGAI TIPS BEST BET Race 5 No.1: HAMAGUCHI I Am Invincible/Royal Descent gelding who can keep progressing. NEXT BEST Race 6 No.5: DODGE THE DARK Fast horse who should remain prominent from box two. â– â– â– â– â– NEWCASTLE INSIDE MAIL KIKOIRA (3) was a $650,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase by Pierata out of the Reisling Slipper Trial placegetter Vincere Volare. Trained by Chris Waller, like all the 'K' horses of Messrs Morgan and Devine, this 3YO has the talent to take him far beyond provincial racing in time. INVISIBLE MAGIC (8) has placed behind three high quality horses in each of her three runs namely Hopper, Anamoe's half-sister Blue Willow and Sister Daae (in town). BET: KIKOIRA to win. MISTY VEIL (11) was bred by Gerry Harvey and was passed at the Magic Millions with a $125,000 reserve. Fair enough too, you can't take any less for a Wootton Bassett filly from such a prolific black-type family as hers. Ran last in her May 26 trial but went as well as all of those in front of her. NEWY (9) is a million times better than what he showed on debut on the Kensington track on June 11. BET: MISTY VEIL to win. OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (5), as his name suggests, is a Bruce Mackenzie-owned filly. Mr Mackenzie pretty much has an Oakfield for every planet in our solar system and so far, most of them have shown something. As for Oakfield Neptune, her latest trial really was out of this world impressive. Hard to miss, easy to like. KEINBAH'S GIFT (3) is a local filly with plenty of trial experience, her fifth and last one was her best one. BET: OAKFIELD NEPTUNE to win. ESCARGOES (4) is a Mulberry/Brad Widdup horse, they being the new Everest slot-holders just announced. This colt was sold for $280,000 at Easter, looks-wise he's a real mix of his father Capitalist and dam-sire Sebring (both Slipper winners). This is a great pedigree. Warning up late over 1100m on debut at Gosford. Speaking of pedigrees. BARKING MAD (3) is by Wootton Bassett and the second foal of Invincibella. Triallng well. LOVING (1) is the only winner in the race. BET: ESCARGOES to win, exacta 4 to beat 3. INNCOURT (1) was $4.40 into $2.40 when he made his Australian debut over 1200m at Wyong on June 8. It was an absolutely brilliant ride by Ashley Morgan who got the timing precise. You could see straight away that he would be better on a bigger track and here we are at Newcastle with an extra 200m added on – that's a plus too. CRIMSON MISS (4) came to Australia from NZ with an Ellerslie second on debut on December 12. Won by a nose at Kembla on May 31 at 1300m – 1400m is better. BET: INNCOURT to win. CROP DUSTER (2) is housed at Scone but has been to Newcastle nine times. No wonder he keeps coming back, he has won four times here and was second once. His record at the Newcastle 1400m is even better, three starts for two wins. Huge run at the midweeks last start. Ditto that last bit for HOW MUCH BETTER (4) who came from last to be beaten a length and a half by his stablemate on the Kensington track last time. BET: CROP DUSTER to win, quinella 2,4, Daily Double 1st Leg 2, 2nd Leg 4. PRINCESS CRUISER (4) was foaled on November 9, 2020, which hands the sad honour and distinction of being the very last foal born by the great Choisir. How appropriate then that she was bought at the HTBA Yearling sale by Paul Perry. Just one other breeding note, her grandam is the Golden Slipper winner, Calaway Gal. Good race mare and trialled like a bomb. SUPERHERO (6) is just so consistent and is getting so close to winning again. BET: PRINCESS CRUISER to win, quinella 4,6, box trifecta 3, 4, 5, 6. MAGICON (4) was foaled at Kooringal Stud at Wagga, is housed at Wyong with Tracey Bartley, but has a real affinity with Newcastle. It's here that the son of Champagne Stakes/VRC Derby winner Prized Icon has raced five times for a win and a second. That win as it happens was over this same distance and he won very easily too. WHETU (2) is a fit and very consistent son of Dundeel. Can't see him not running well in this line-up. SCHOLL DEEP (5) will likely be very prominent in the run. SKIING (9) and STYLEBENDER (10) have claims.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Dust devil trashes stall at Muttama market in NSW
A "crazy" weather event at a southern New South Wales market has shocked onlookers and almost blown away a stall gazebo. Seriya Blackmore was selling baby clothing at a market at Muttama, north of Gundagai, on Sunday when a dust devil struck the stall. "It was crazy, it came all of a sudden and everyone was doing the best they could to hold their tents," she told ABC Riverina Breakfast. "It wasn't even that windy." A video of the incident shows a whirly wind forming among market stalls, before it picks up Ms Blackmore's gazebo. "There's a man, if you can see the video, he's grabbed it just in time and he's held on for his life," she said. Ms Blackmore said the event "happened within a few seconds" before bystanders helped put the stall back together. She was not aware of any injuries as a result. "Four other men came over and they fixed it and put it back up and all the ladies were helping me clean the clothes off and dust all the dust off," she said. "Lots of people came over and still bought some things and were saying they were sorry and glad that I set back up." Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology said dust devils were caused by hot air rising from the ground. "It creates unstable conditions which eventually forms a vortex, this rapidly rotates and starts stretching upwards, intensifying this circulation," she said. Ms Bradbury said dust devils would eventually dissipate once they come in contact with cooler air. "It'll move into the shade, or it'll move into a pocket of cooler air and instead of drawing in the warm air, it draws in the cool air and that helps it topple over," she said. "Usually they dissipate less then a minute or so after forming. "They can last longer ... but that's quite unusual."
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sapphire Coast preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday May 4, 2025
A grey horse carrying the pink colours of racing and breeding industry's great all-rounder Shelley Hancox is the best of the Joseph/Jones troupe heading to the Sapphire Coast on Sunday. That's according to Paul Jones who is as eager as he is optimistic about the Hancox Racing filly Christmas Star repeating her utterly emphatic Gundagai win in the Gallagher Insurance Brokers Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1200m). A daughter of Vinery Stud resident sire Star Turn, Christmas Star joined approximately 70 per cent of her Star Turn siblings who have won a race when she roared away for her first one at start nine. 'We all went broke backing her,'' Jones quipped. 'That said, if you look at this preparation, she was a little bit unlucky at the 1000m first-up at Orange. 'A horse ran out in front of her halfway up the straight and she just lost her momentum for two strides and then she picked up and really flattened out. 'She would have been at Wagga (on Friday) if she drew a bit better but with the better gate down there at the Sapphire Coast, and probably against a lesser opposition, she's nearly our best on the day,'' Jones said. The Joseph/Joseph camp have found the perfect time and place for the well-bred Inchyra to make what will effectively be her 'hometown' debut in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1007m). Not only does the filly boast the Group 1 ATC Coolmore Classic winner Alverta as a relative, she is bred on the same Brutal/Flying Spur cross that delivered the untapped reigning Champagne Stakes winner, Nepotism. 'She trialled really well,'' Jones said. 'She's had knee chips removed from both knees and has taken a little bit of time to get to the track even though she is only three. 'She is bred to get over further but she is surprising us with her gate speed. I think she is going to be hard to beat.' Jones, meanwhile, is forecasting a performance more in tune with Wauchope 's true talent when she aims to turn a disappointing debut into a podium finish when she steps out in the Kalaru Industrial Estate Maiden Handicap (1209m). The filly – a close relation to the AJC Derby winner Naturalism – was well below her best, finishing last of the six in an April 4 Maiden at the Sapphire Coast but could improve sharply with the addition of blinkers. 'She is a horse with ability,'' Jones said. 'We had her going to Nowra a couple of weeks ago but we just wanted to give her another couple of gallops (in blinkers). 'She's worked with some Class 1 horses and she's holding her own against them.'' The camp's fourth and final runner on Sunday's card is Princess Halo who goes around in the Merimbula RSL Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1007m. Born and raised at historic Wagga nursery, Kooringal Stud, the daughter of Asgarda's sire The Brothers War, boasts a tidy record of four wins and four placings from her 19 starts. 'She's had a couple of goes down there at the Sapphire Coast for some good results,'' Jones said. 'And she really appreciates wet tracks.' â– â– â– â– â– SAPPHIRE COAST TIPS BEST BET Race 6 No.8: GIZA Had two runs for Godolphon, sold, and since turned in three 'rippers' for the new management. NEXT BEST Race 5 No.4: CHRISTMAS STAR Got the confidence sky-high after a big win at Gundagai second-up. VALUE BET Race 4 No.7: NAGADEC Lightly-raced, very reliable mare whose only win was here. QUADDIE RACE 4: 5,7 RACE 5: 3,4 RACE 6: 8,12 RACE 7: 4,5,6,14 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW JESS TAYLOR has a 17 per cent win and 44 place, strike rate at the Sapphire Coast â– â– â– â– â– SAPPHIRE COAST INSIDE MAIL WAUCHOPE (7), the distant but direct relative of Naturalism, wouldn't be the first horse that improves sharply on an underwhelming debut. She was last of six here on April 4 on a Heavy 9 but she's got blinkers first time, has the race experience now, and she had trialled well before that run. COLD MIST (4) wasn't as bad as it reads in his two career starts. Only guessing but, reckon the 1200m tempo will suit him better than those 1000m scampers he's been in until now. BET: WAUCHOPE, COLD MIST each-way. CAPITAL HEART (4) has only managed one win in 21 starts but he has placed eight times, four of those are seconds. One of those seconds was on a heavy track but, like a lot of Capitalist offspring, he's better on top of the ground. That said, his form reads 'strong' and 'deep' in patches. FIRE AND GEMSTONE's (9) numbers tell the story, eight runs here for five placings, three of them seconds, two of his three wins are at this trip and he's placed twice on heavy. BET: CAPITAL HEART to win; quinella 4, 9. GLOBAL DEEL (1) is trained by Theresa Bateup who has led in 82 winners, at 16.7 per cent, and 141 placegetters here at the Sapphire Coast. This son of Dundeel has placed at two of his five starts since joining her stable, one of them was here. Blinkers first time, this is well within his capabilities. CONQUER THE DREAM (6) will, one can assume, take a bit of racecraft and experience etc, out of her debut from Moruya on April 19. In good hands and you'd like to think she'd get to a mile, so 1410m this suits. BET: GLOBAL DEEL to win, CONQUER THE DREAM each-way; quinella 1, 6, box trifecta 1, 4, 6, 10. NAGADEC (7) was born and bred at Moruya Stud, just like Takeover Target, et al. This mare was retained by Tony and (son) Dr Nick Hartnell and handed to Mark Gee who has guided her to one win, two seconds, and a third in her seven starts. Significant to note that her win was in a 1400m maiden here on a Soft 7. Go well. Nagadec ran second last start at Moruya, splitting GREATESTOFEASE (6) and FLASHY ICON (5), both of whom front up again on Sunday. Good race for ZARIZ NO WATER (10) to break the drought. BET: NAGADEC to win. CHRISTMAS STAR (4) was building an unwanted reputation as a costly conveyance with five thirds from her first eights starts prior to her booming win at Gundagai on April 6. One shouldn't be too hard on her for her prior defeats given she was going around in some pretty strong maidens. Can go on with it now perhaps. TOMMY FLYER (3) ran them off their legs to win at Queanbeyan last start. This is harder of course but he was placed here on a Heavy 9 just before that win. MISSILE MAIDEN's (2) record at this track is two wins and a second from four visits. BET: CHRISTMAS STAR to win; Daily Double 1st Leg 4; 2nd Leg 6. GIZA (8) had two lacklustre runs in the Godolphin blue and was subsequently sold for $8500 online. She's now had three more runs, all of them for Tom Wilson, and each and every one has been a ripper. How good does a fifth to Urafikli and Me Me look now?! Just so long as the 1000m isn't too short for her. DE RAZILLY (12) is a 2YO filly by Tassort out of a Manhattan Rain mare trained by Nick Olive and off an April 26 trial in Canberra where she finished a distant, but unhurried, second in the 900m Open Heat. BET: GIZA to win, exacta 8 to beat 12. SOHO SUSHI (6) has finished on the podium 10 times in 19 starts. Granted only two of them were wins but she runs well no matter what the standard of opposition, bearing in mind she was only beaten four lengths in a Highway before that last start third in a 66 at Wagga. With all that said, this is a 58 on the weekend. MISS SCOOP (5) is a major player (if she comes). Take out PRINCESS HALO's (4) last run (there were some excuses) and her form reads exceedingly well to medal this time. Throw One In is absolutely flying!
