WATER-saving tips for dairy farms will be on show next week at Grassmere.
The Future Ready Dairy Systems session funded by Dairy Australia, Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Climate Change Research Program will provide farmers with ways to save on water, energy and costs.
The visit session to Liam Ryan's property will see a system that recycles water and chemicals for the plant wash, which saves water. The farm also has an automated rotary dairy, circular holding yard, an automatic backing gate and flood wash.
The initiatives have meant more cows can be milked every hour and have reduced clean-up time.
The $aving Energy & Water on Your Dairy Farm will be on Thursday from 11.30am.
To book, call 5592 2199.
Show floods in
A PLAY to mark Swan Hill's fight against rising floodwaters last year will tour the region.
The Great Flood, written by Swan Hill teacher Andrew Kelly, will visit Robinvale on February 11 and Manangatang on February 12.
Mr Kelly said Swan Hill Theatre Group premiered the play, about two couples, emergency services, a radio announcer and the mayor, last November.
"Every character in the play is someone people all over Australia can identify with," he said.
Swan Hill Rural City Council flood recovery officer Rachel King said the show would be a chance to relax and have a light- hearted reflection.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and $25 for families.
Blue-green algae warning for lakes
PEOPLE are being advised to avoid contact with the water in Kialla Lakes because of a blue-green algae bloom.
Greater Shepparton City Council has warned people not to drink the water and to keep pets away.
Warning signs had been installed at the lakes and the water would be monitored, the council said.
Water samples were being taken fortnightly and preventative measures had been put in place at the lakes, it added.
"Warning signs will be removed once the algae levels return to a safe level," the council said.
Workers win holiday pay order
FOUR service industry workers in Ararat have been back-paid $15,600.
The workers, employed by the same business, lodged complaints with the Fair Work Ombudsman after they were underpaid annual leave entitlements on termination last year.
The largest underpayment was $5000.
The Fair Work Ombudsman recovered $7.573 million in back pay for 3556 underpaid workers in Victoria last year.
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson said the business had corrected its error and there was no need for further action.
Sport exchange up and running
PLANS for a sport exchange program between Latrobe City and Japan and China are under way.
Latrobe City Mayor Ed Vermeulen said the exchange program, which included a junior judo team visiting Takasago, Japan, in March and a swimming team travelling to Taizhou in China, would give young people from Latrobe a chance to develop sporting and personal skills.
"The sporting component is only one element to the program and participants will come away with a deeper appreciation of culture and respect," Cr Vermeulen said.
