PODCAST: The blue-green aglae which has been widespread throughout the Gippsland Lakes system over many weeks is slowly subsiding. The recent cold snap is helping disperse the algal bloom with DELWP declaring it's now safe for contact with water. Ross Scott, who lives on the Banksia Peninsula, and witnessed the worst of the algae bloom in Duck Arm, is pleased the blue-green sludge is...

The Yoorrook Justice Commission was in East Gippsland last week to meet and yarn with First Nations Elders in Lakes Entrance and Lake Tyers as part of Australia's first and only formal truth and justice process. Led by chair, Professor Eleanor Bourke, the Commission will investigate historical and ongoing injustices and the continuing impact of trauma experienced by First Nations peoples since...

PODCAST - Bairnsdale will benefit from a Victorian Government blitz on social housing for low income and vulnerable families. Housing Minister, Richard Wynne, was in East Gippsland last week to announce the package. As part of a $5.3 billion investment, the Victorian Government will build 1000 new homes across the state, including 31 new homes in Bairnsdale. He says the new homes will help...

PODCAST - The role of community newspapers in holding local government to account plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency according to the Public Interest Journalism Initiative, also known as PIJI. Chief executive officer, Anna Draffin, says "it is absolutely fundamental to a healthy democracy to have local news and make sure the communities actually understand what's happening in their...

Deakin University academic, Alison McAdam, was in East Gippsland recently to examine the success of the Bairnsdale Advertiser. Ms McAdam is a lecturer in communications with the university's School of Communication and Creative Arts. She is presently undertaking PhD research into local newspapers that are 'bucking the trend of decline by managing to increase or maintain their paying audience'.Ms...