Over the fence - review of the week to 7 Jan 2006

With the first week of 2007 already behind us we find that Albury/Wodonga had its dryest year on record, Wangaratta had its second dryest year ever whilst Lake Hume was at its lowest level since 1968.

Commercially, the drought may help the wine industry recovery with fewer grapes to be harvested this year but the industry will have to bear the brunt of any rise in the value of the Australian dollar.

However, the cattle markets at Wodonga and Wangaratta got off to a profitable start to the new year with interstate buyers swooping on the available quality cattle.

The bushfire aftermath unfolded with the government urging people to visit the North East and the RCoW running a marketing campaign to get visitors back into the King Valley. The state government has started to throw some money at fire affected businesses whilst the Cheshunt community held a self-help public meeting and other communities have been raising funds for local CFA brigades.

The bushfires have affected town water supplies and money has been raised for injured wildlife. DPI and other agencies have also been active in assessing the bushfire impact of farming livestock. The bushfirea have also been the final straw in closing the debt ridden Mt Buffalo Chalet.

Lobby group Regional Cities Victoria will be headed for the first time by a Wangaratta mayor after Cr Don Joyce was selected to be chairman for the new year.

Don is still confident of receiving the $4.5m arts funding in the New Year to build the proposed Perorming Arts Centre. However, the demolition of the Town Hall remains an issue for council to resolve.

On the sporting front, Oxley rodeo star Brad Pierce has returned to Western Texas College after sweeping through a host of North East rodeos this summer whilst the O'Connor family from Greta has made the annual trek to the Tamworth Country Music Festival to compete at the Australian Whipcracking Championships.