The Mount Barker Courier

Farmers say drought Trumps tariffs

The family behind a cattle farm at Kersbook says they’re not worried about new US tariffs on Australian beef because “10% is less than current market fluctuations”. Last week, US president Donald Trump announced a sweeping range of tariffs on...

Click here

Scott Murphy

Controversial petrol station plan goes to trial

A trial has begun in the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court over the Adelaide Hills Council assessment panel’s (CAP) decision to reject a controversial 24/7 service station at Heathfield. PC Infrastructure, which develops OTR...

Click here

Not-for-profit organisation calls for drought support

A not-for-profit organisation that provides horse riding lessons for people with disabilities is struggling to provide enough hay for its horses as drought continue to impact the region. Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Oakbank is in need...

Click here

More drought funding released

The State Government has announced $55m of new funding for drought-affected farmers, after State Opposition calls for a formal State Emergency were rejected. The new funding was announced on Tuesday, informed by roundtable discussions with producers...

Click here

Mt Barker homes out of reach

Housing at Mt Barker is unaffordable, as wage growth over nearly two decades failed to keep up with the pace of home value increases, a Property Council of Australia (PCA) report has found. PCA’s report, entitled Beyond Reach: The key worker...

Click here

‘Silent’ protest against tree removal

Residents descended on Keith Stephenson Park on Sunday, to protest the potential removal of dozens of trees to make way for the State Government’s $40m roundabout upgrade at Mt Barker. Led by the Mt Barker and District Residents Association, the...

Click here

Coalition raises Labor’s bypass pledge

A Coalition Federal Government would fund 80% of a freight bypass around the Hills – upping Labor’s 50% funding promise – also vowing that works would begin this year. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton this week promised $840m for the project, if...

Click here

News

View all

Farmers say drought Trumps tariffs

Click here

Scott Murphy

Controversial petrol station plan goes to trial

Click here

Not-for-profit organisation calls for drought support

Click here

More drought funding released

Click here

Council & Politics

View all

Council and Politics

Bid to protect Hills farming land fails

Click here

Coalition raises Labor’s bypass pledge

Click here

Council and Politics

Controversy over pontoon plan

Plans to install a new pontoon for the lake at Woorabinda Bushland Reserves have been blasted by a local volunteer conservation group, which says it will encourage activities that impact wildlife. The Friends of Woorabinda Bushland Reserves wrote to...

Click here

Police

View all

Police

High steaks offender

There was a “high steaks pursuit” at Dawesley last week, after a cow was spotted with a bucket on its head. In a social media post last week, SA Police said a patrol responded to reports of a “cow acting suspiciously” alongside Old Princes...

Click here

Elisa Rose

Fire sparks complacency warning

The CFS is warning residents not to be complacent in the wake of a fire that burned through 3ha of scrub at Birdwood last week. The blaze was sparked by a fallen powerline at about 2.20am on Wednesday, March 19, at a rural property near the...

Click here

Police

Fire damages century-old barn

A century-old barn at Nairne has been “significantly damaged” after catching fire last weekend. At about 9.50pm on March 1, five CFS trucks with about 25 firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire at Jeffery Street. On arrival...

Click here

05 Mar 2025

Not-guilty plea in Littlehampton axe case

A former Hills woman who is charged with attempting to kill her ex-husband in a Littlehampton garage has pleaded not guilty. Lisa Lines and co-accused Zacharia Bruckner both pleaded not guilty this week to one count each of attempted murder, one...

Click here

05 Mar 2025

Community

View all

CFS on the lookout for fire spotters

The Country Fire Service (CFS) is on the lookout for volunteers with a good head for heights to help them spot smoke and fire across the Hills. Almost every Fire Danger Season since the mid-1990s, the Mt Lofty Fire Tower at Cleland National Park has...

Click here

Scott Murphy

Community

Lions offer free skin checks

Local residents can access free skin cancer screening at Macclesfield on April 12 and 13. The mobile skin cancer screening unit from the Lions Medical Research Foundation will be at Davenport Square from 9am until 3pm on both days, providing an...

Click here

Community

Don’t call the midwife: local midwife dances into retirement

After nearly five decades of service as a nurse and midwife, Hahndorf resident Jenny Lamb is line-dancing her way into retirement. Ms Lamb was born and raised on the Eyre Peninsula and, following a boarding school education, began training as...

Click here

Community

Don steps away after nearly four decades of service

After more than 37 years of dedication to the Lobethal Centennial Hall, Don Herrmann will be stepping away from his role as committee president. Mr Herrmann first joined the committee 37 years ago as a local CFS representative, eventually becoming...

Click here

19 Mar 2025

Sport

View all

Swimming Sensation

A Local up-and-coming Adelaide Hills swimming superstar dominated the South Australian Age Long Course Swimming champions held on March 6 to 10 at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Echunga resident Max Milton won a remarkable nine medals from 10...

Click here

Hills Football League season commences

Hills Football League (HFL) fixtures will commence the 2025 program this Friday evening in what appears to be another season of intrigue and interest. As the HFL competition marks 58 years since its introduction in 1967, it will be a case of rival...

Click here

Mavericks win David vs Goliath battle

In a night that had Mavs fans on the edge of their seats, the Eastern Mavericks men and women confronted the formidable Forestville Eagles in what proved to be a pair of blockbuster NBL1 Central Conference clashes last Saturday. In what is likely to...

Click here

Four in a row for Hahndorf

Hahndorf have secured a fourth consecutive Hills Softball Association A-grade premiership following last weekend’s round of 2024-25 grand finals. Meeting the Strathalbyn Panthers for a third successive title match last Friday night, the Magpies...

Click here

Stirling and Lobethal cricket premiers

Stirling Cricket Club topped of its 150 year celebrations in style with a dominant display in last Saturday’s Hills Cricket Association (HCA) A-grade grand final against Scott Creek Ironbank. In a grand final to remember , Lobethal reigned...

Click here

Tennis Grand Finals

Uraidla claimed the Hills premier tennis crown after a 28-year drought last Saturday. After back-to-back Division 2 Hills Tennis Association championships, Uraidla’s strengthened squad topped the Division 1 ladder after the minor rounds. Their...

Click here

Cricket grand finals decided

Scott Creek Ironbank and Lobethal have secured spots in their respective cricket grand finals, with minor premiers Langhorne Creek and Mt Lofty losing their Preliminary Final encounters. It has been a case of minor premiers not getting the job done...

Click here

Hawks swoop in

The Adelaide Hills Hawks secured all nine premiership points on offer for the day against Mt Barker United at the Hawks Nest in Woodside and kept a clean sheet in all three matches. On a day that honoured the development work of John van der Veeken...

Click here

Editorial

View all

Editorial

Bypass bartering

This week’s announcement that an elected Coalition Government would commit to funding 80% – or $840m – of a freight bypass around the Hills is welcome news. Also welcomed is the State Liberal Opposition’s announcement that it would cover the...

Click here

Editorial

Devil in the detail

The Federal Government’s half-a-billion-dollar commitment for a greater Adelaide freight bypass is a welcome investment. But as the Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, and SA Road Transport Association executive officer Steve Shearer point out...

Click here

Editorial

Financial stress

The Alexandrina Council’s decision to reduce its average annual rate increases and overhaul its long term financial plan will be welcome news for many residents, as cost of living pressures continue to cause financial strain. The council’s long...

Click here