Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio announced last week that eligible households can receive up to $140 off the cost of a new induction cooktop or freestanding induction stove if they choose to replace their gas cooktop.
The discounts for cooktops will be available through VEU accredited providers either at the point of sale at participating retailers or through a cash back later.
Households that replace a gas ducted heating system with an electric one can receive a discount of up to $3,600 on the system and save around $600 every year on their energy bills. An electric heat pump hot water system can save households $250 per year compared with a gas unit.
Converting an existing home from gas to all-electric will save the average family $1,700 per year and if they add rooftop solar, they could save $2,700 per year.
For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-energy-upgrades/products/induction-cooktop-discounts.
Whooping cough outbreak worst on record
Australia is in the grip of the largest whooping cough epidemic since the introduction of vaccines to protect against the bacteria, according to national notifiable disease data.
41,013 cases of the highly infectious and potentially deadly lung disease have already been recorded in Australia this year .This is more than the previous record set in 2011 when 38,748 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) were confirmed for the full year. 1
Approximately 130 confirmed cases of whooping cough have been recorded each day on average in 2024, with more than 45,000 cases of the respiratory infection expected by the end of the year. 1
Find out more about Whooping Cough at: www.ifa.org.au/WhoopingCoughDay
Birds on Farms Project transforms Corowa paddock
Corowa District Landcare is proud to be part of the Southern NSW Birds on Farms Project: Saving the Nectar Sippers (Phase 2), a collaborative effort with Bird Life Australia and West Hume Landcare.
Running until August 2026, this project aims to promote private land management strategies to help conserve and enhance woodland bird populations in the South West Slopes of southern NSW.
One of the most exciting outcomes of this project so far has been the transformation of a key site near Corowa. A 12 hectare paddock, set aside by the landholder, was fenced off in November 2023 to exclude livestock.
In just one year, the change has been remarkable.
Monitoring shows a noticeable increase in native plant species and a decrease in introduced species, showcasing how strategic restoration efforts can quickly improve biodiversity.
$10 million in grants on offer for NSW Crown reserves
The NSW Government has opened applications for $10 million in community grants to help maintain and improve Crown land reserves, building better communities across the state.
This year’s CRIF general grants are targeting well-patronised reserves with projects that have high community impact. The program will offer minimum grants of $100,000 for projects and maximum grants of $1 million.
Crown reserves provide land for recreational areas and infrastructure like sports-fields, local parks, walking tracks and campgrounds. They also provide land for community organisations and facilities such as public halls, showgrounds, racecourses, scout halls, and surf lifesaving clubs.
Eligible applicants include Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations, and user groups that are licensed to use Crown reserves across NSW, including showgrounds on Crown land.
Grants will be made available to maintain and upgrade reserves and the facilities on them. Funding will also be available to manage feral pests and noxious weeds on reserves to keep them in good shape for community use and to protect native plants and animals.
