Your Local News 24-02-011

Donations for the NZ Earthquake Appeals can be made through the following locations.  ANZ Bank - Any branch, or online. BSB No. 013 265. Account No. 4768 62394  Red Cross - Online through the Red Cross website.  Commonwealth Bank - Any branch.   Woolworths & Dick Smith - Any stores. Donations can be made at the checkouts at Woolworths.

The Eurobodalla Shire's businesses are being encouraged to support a new drive to create jobs in the region. The Jobs Drive is aiming to create 100 jobs before March 31, and local businesses across the Shire are being called on to support the move. The Jobs Drive starts tomorrow, and Jane Robinson explains more about the aims of the drive. 24/02/2011 5:33

Abalone Arrests

A joint operation between NSW Police and Fisheries Officers has smashed a south coast syndicate believed to be responsible for trafficking more than a million dollars worth of illegal abalone. Police say the syndicate members took hundreds of kilograms of abalone from remote parts of the NSW coastline and sold them to illicit markets. Operation Fusion was set up late last year to investigate the syndicate's operations culminating in the arrest of  a Mogo man was arrested at Batemans Bay and around 122 kilograms of abalone with a market value of $60,000 was seized. Another man from Moruya was arrested a short time later. The two men, aged 54 and 27 have each been charged with three counts of poaching and trafficking in illegal fish species, while the younger man also faces drugs charges. 24/02/2011 5:33

Arts Boost

Arts facilities in the Eurobodalla Shire should eventually receive a boost, following councillors' adoption of a report on arts infrastructure on Tuesday. But it is early stages, as Laurelle Pacey reports.  24/02/2011 5:33

Bingie Fatality

A man has died this morning, following a single vehicle accident on the Bergalia Road near Bingie.  The man was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and was found by another driver at around 3.30 this morning.   Paramedics confirmed the man had died, after the initial discovery by the driver.   Police are continuing investigations into the fatality, with forensics officers understood to be travelling to the scene for testing today.    24/02/2011 05:33

NSW Roads

A billion dollars over FOUR years would help fix rural roads across NEW SOUTH WALES, according to the Farmers Associaiton.  It's calling for whoever wins the state election next month to fix the road network as a priority.  CHARLIE ARMSTRONG from the NSW Farmers Association says neglected roads are driving down the economy. 24/02/2011 06:16

Hosptal Figures

The latest figures have been released this morning for the October quarter of 2010 for hospital emergency departments across the state.  The Batemans Bay Hospital has received good news in relation to elective surgery, with a fall of 6% for non urgent cases in comparison figures from 12 months earlier.  The Bay Hospital has also increased the number of semi urgent patients being seen inside the recommended times, rising by 13% on the figures from 12 months prior.  Bega Hospital hasn't fared as well, with a 10% increase in urgent elective surgery cases, while non urgent cases rose by 32%, with semi urgent falling by 6%.  Their elective surgery timeframes have also fallen from the October quarter of 2009, with all sectors down on the figures from the previous year.   24/02/2011 06:26

Indepandant Youth Allowance

Some relief is in site for those inner regional students across the South Coast struggling to access the Independent Youth Allowance, with the Federal Government announcing one off grants to help locals attend university as Melissa Jones reports. This comes as the Coalitions bill calling to make the criteria fairer for inner regional students, was voted down in parliament earlier this week.    The coalition was hoping to discuss the matter in the House of Representatives - BUT the Independents and the Government sided together to stop debate on the bill - after it was deemed unconstitutional.    The government has now announced a new scheme - where rural and regional students experiencing financial hardship can apply for a one-off grant of up to 3 thousand dollars. Local students commencing a Bachelor Degree this year can apply for the grant by logging onto www.deewr.gov.au/rthf.  24/02/2011 06:58