The township of Mallacoota was the poster image of last summer’s Australian bushfires. Images of tourists and local residents trapped in the town and taking refuge on the beach, as the fireball coated the seaside resort in an eerie orange glow, went viral. Almost 12 months on and many residents are still waiting to rebuild after the Black Summer fires.While the process has been slow going with...

The Gippsland Lakes Paddle Challenge will return in 2021. A signature event for East Gippsland and Victoria’s premier paddle event was cancelled this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however planning has begun for its return next year. The inaugural event in 2011 had 30 starters. It has since grown to become the largest multi craft paddling event in Victoria with more than 150 paddlers competing...

East Gippsland Shire councillors unanimously opposed the proposal for the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project at their first ordinary council meeting last Tuesday.The decision has been met with mixed reactions with Mine Free Glenaladale members “elated”, while the proponent’s chief executive officer, Jozsef Patarica, of Kalbar Operations, said the company was “disappointed with council’s...

Mountain bikes from across Victoria will converge on Omeo this weekend for the inaugural Cattlemen 100 MTB.As of yesterday there were 105 registered riders ready to compete in a grueling test at an elevation of 12,000 feet, or 3650 metres.The race spans 12 hours and is a total of 105 miles, or 175 kilometres. Event manager, Elise Pendergast,said it was great to be able to bring people to the...

Water ownership in a river system will be made available to Traditional Owners in East Gippsland for the first time in the state’s history.In a step towards recognising Traditional Owners’ deep connection to water, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) will receive two gigalitres of unallocated water in the Mitchell River.Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, confirmed...