News

Fire at Bumbalong Road Contained: Local Heroes Help Avert Disaster

A significant grass fire broke out on Bumbalong Road in Colinton, yesterday afternoon, March 19, 2025. At approximately 3:00 pm, the blaze erupted, rapidly spreading through grasslands and scattered timber, covering a vast area of 247 hectares. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), alongside multiple agencies, effectively contained the fire by 9:30 pm, six and half hours after arrival.

PHOTO: Even in less threatening conditions, African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) can ignite quickly CREDIT: NSW RFS

Inspector Langdon Gould of the Snowy Monaro District RFS remarked, “The fire has been contained. We still have a significant amount of blacking out to do before we can move into controlled status.” At the peak of the fire, 32 firefighting appliances were engaged, including support from Fire Rescue New South Wales, Cooma RFS, as well as strike teams from Lake George RFS, and the Australian Capital Territory RFS.

Two properties were under severe threat from the blaze. Prompt action by local contractors prevented further damage.

Jennings Civil Group, using heavy machinery to create an earth line around the first house, successfully shielded it prior to the arrival of firefighting crews. Inspector Gould noted their crucial contribution during the initial moments of the fire’s outbreak.

“We would like to thank the crew from the Jennings Civil Group who were working on a civil job down the road on the Bumbalong Creek Bridge when they saw the fire and engaged them selves using their grader and bulk water carrier. They went to the house as it was directly under threat,” Inspector Gould said.

PHOTO: African lovegrass is highly flammable and presents a constant threat to land holders, and emergency services CREDIT: NSW RFS

“The second house, came under threat shortly after and RFS crews managed to pull the fire up at the edge of the house.”

The RFS dispatched an extensive range of resources, including graders, dozers, excavators, and bulk water carriers, aided by Helitak 206 from Polo Flat Air Base for aerial support. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, with investigations currently underway.

PHOTO: Helitak 206 just visible through the smoke haze CREDIT: NSW RFS

Fire crew efforts continue with mopping up and blacking out operations, aiming to quench all remaining hot spots. Inspector Gould issued a warning highlighting the fire’s rapid spread in benign weather, emphasising the ongoing fire risk.

Inspector Gould warned, “The way the fire behaved yesterday, running quickly in African lovegrass, is a warning to our community that even though the fire weather yesterday was very benign, this fire spread very rapidly and was difficult to control, even with low wind.”

Crews will now maintain patrols for several days to ensure complete extinction of the fire.

Australia’s Food Market Enters “New Normal” Amid Shifting Consumer Habits: Rabobank Report

Rabobank has released a new report detailing the evolving dynamics in Australia’s food market, signalling a “new normal” following several tumultuous years. The Rabobank report, marking the five-year anniversary of significant market disruptions, suggests that Snowy Mountains residents among Australian consumers, and businesses are adapting to a drastically altered food ecosystem.

PHOTO: Snowy Mountains residents shopping at local supermarkets like Coles Cooma, were among many Australians pushed to change shopping habits.

Michael Harvey, RaboResearch Senior Analyst on consumer foods, highlighted a “convergence of forces,” including the global Covid pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions, as factors contributing to fluctuating commodity prices and significant changes in consumer behaviour. Harvey noted.

PHOTO: Michael Harvey

“As a result, we saw a period of reduced food and ingredient availability, multi-decade high food price inflation and changes in consumer behaviour.”

The report reveals major shifts in purchasing habits, with many Australians opting for home-cooked meals over dining out, influenced by economic pressures. “A recent, prolonged trend has been a shift to in-home meal preparation and entertaining,” explained Harvey. “While tighter household budgets have also influenced consumers’ purchasing decisions inside the grocery channel.”

Snowy Mountains and Australian business alike can anticipate continued preference for private label products, frozen goods, and discounted items as grocery spending tightens. Rabobank forecasts that private labels are regaining popularity, with conditions favouring this trend.

PHOTO: 123 Coffee House, Cooma – Cafes have been among the hardest hit.

In the food service sector, the recovery remains sluggish. Harvey commented, “Cafes, bars and full-service restaurants have been hit the hardest,” while limited-service venues have thrived with increased takeaway and delivery demand.

Overall, the report indicates, the Australian consumer food market remains highly attractive for food and beverage companies as well as farm suppliers, with a growing population and a highly-urbanised consumer base.

“As a result, the domestic food market is expanding in volume and value, and food purchasing – including food service dining – which generally outperforms other discretionary spending,” Mr Harvey said, “And this expansion also comes amid potential trade disruptions and access to offshore markets.”

Housing Market Values in the Snowy Mountains Slowing

In the wake of COVID-19, the Australian housing market has experienced considerable fluctuations, with regional areas of New South Wales such as the Snowy Mountains, witnessing significant price growth. According to a recent research article by CoreLogic, the effects of the pandemic on housing values were prominent in regional towns like Cooma and Jindabyne, however experts say this growth has now slowed.

Shannon Fergusson, Principal at McGrath Real Estate in the Snowy Mountains, noted the property market despite seeing remarkable growth, has experienced a pull back in prices recently. “The market certainly levelled off after the peak demand years, especially throughout the latter part of 2024, when buyer activity slowed significantly,” Mr Fergusson noted.

PHOTO: 9 Kiah Avenue, Cooma, recently SOLD for $775,000 after being listed in the $840,000 price range CREDIT: McGrath Real Estate Snowy Mountains.

Despite these fluctuations, there are signs of recovery. The market saw a surge in buyer activity in early 2025, particularly in Cooma, where sales in the McGrath Snowy Mountains office are reported to be strong in the first quarter. Mr Fergusson commented on the growing interest, stating, “We have certainly seen proactive, strong buyer activity returning in January, February, and March this year, most likely due to more buyer confidence surrounding interest rates, and potential investors who left the market in late 2024 returning.”

PHOTO: CoreLogic’s key turning points for national home values since COVID 19 – national home values levelled off in 2025 CREDIT: CoreLogic

Jindabyne saw the most dramatic increase in property values in the region, rising by 67.4 percent since March 2020 according to CoreLogic data, with the median value now levelled off slightly since recent highs and sitting at $1,230,000. Cooma, likewise, reported a 37.4 percent increase since March 2020, with its median house value currently at $530,000.

PHOTO: 9 Kiah Avenue Cooma – An attractive, high end four bedroom home, spent 121 days on the market.

Price changes have been varied across the market with properties priced above $800,000 in Cooma a bit slower to find buyers, whereas those in the $600,000 to $700,000 range have remained robust according to Mr Fergusson.

“At the moment, properties in Cooma for example in the $600,000 to $700,000 thousand range, might have been fetching approximately 30-50 thousand more during the height of the market. Currently though, the affordable properties are finding buyers more easily than the higher end.”

“In Jindabyne I have seen some data that suggests there has been a decrease of property values up to approximately 25 percent.”

Overall, while regional areas like the Snowy Mountains have experienced considerable growth since March 2020, current market dynamics suggest a more stabilised environment moving forward.

Suspicious Fire at Mount Gladstone Cooma: Under Investigation

On Sunday afternoon, a fire determined to be suspicious erupted at Mount Gladstone near Cooma, prompting a swift response from emergency services. According to Inspector Langdon Gould of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Snowy Monaro District (NSWRFS-SMD), the blaze was reported at approximately 3 pm on March 16, 2025. The Cooma Rural Fire Brigade, alongside Fire Rescue New South Wales, promptly attended the scene.

PHOTO: The fire ground was adjacent to the Mount Gladstone mountain bike trails CREDIT: Cooma RFS.

Upon their arrival, crews encountered a fire covering an area of approximately 30 by 20 meters. Despite the windy conditions, the teams effectively contained the fire to a small area, showcasing the critical importance of rapid intervention. Inspector Gould highlighted the urgency of their response: “Crews quickly contained the fire to a small area, their prompt response, in what was windy conditions, highlighted the importance of quick containment.”

“The fire occurred adjacent to the mountain bike tracks and has been determined as suspicious with RFS fire investigation and police attending the scene,” Inspector Gould stated.

PHOTO: Swift work by crews avoided what could have been a catastrophic fire in the prevailing conditions CREDIT: Cooma RFS.

This incident came on a weekend with a ban already in place on fire permits in the Snowy Monaro District due to extreme heat and high wind ratings. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the blaze.

NSW Police confirmed their involvement, with a spokesperson noting, “I can confirm RFS reported the matter to Police and NSW police are investigating. No structures were damaged, or people injured as a result of the fire.”

Jindabyne Landfill: Commercial waste limits and waste drop-off changes

Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) has advised changes to in-person waste and recycling drop-offs at Jindabyne Landfill come into effect on Friday March 28, 2025.

Commercial customers

  • A load limit of 1m3 applies to commercial waste from Friday 28 March 2025
  • This limit applies only to waste-to-landfill and recycling
  • This limit does not apply to scrap metal, green waste, concrete rubble, oil, or mattresses
  • Loads must be pre-sorted before arriving
  • Loads must be able to be placed into skips by hand
  • Jindabyne Landfill commercial accounts can be used at Cooma Landfill for loads above this limit

Local residents and non-commercial customers

  • Waste and recycling must be pre-sorted before arrival at the landfill
  • Customers must unload by hand into separate skip bins for waste and recycling 
  • Staff will assist patrons with navigating these changes
  • No changes to kerbside bin collection service
  • No changes to disposal of scrap metal, green waste, concrete rubble, oil, mattresses, or recycling
  • Please follow the direction of staff on site

A spokesperson for SMRC said, “Council is putting these urgent changes in place this month due to Jindabyne Landfill approaching its end-of-life storage capacity limit significantly earlier than expected.”

“Plans for the future of the Jindabyne Landfill site, which were released for public comment in February 2025, called for a two-year transition period to move to a new facility and operating model.”

“Due to sharply rising operating costs, higher than expected cost estimates for the new facility, and the rapidly-approaching capacity limit, Council has had no choice but to take action now to ensure local waste and recycling services can continue.”

“Council is working closely with the NSW Environment Protection Authority on the implementation of these interim measures, and the agency is assisting our team in securing a viable long-term solution.”

“Further updates will follow as we navigate this process, and Council apologises for the short notice of these changes.”

Please contact SMRC with any questions by email at [email protected] or phone 1300 345 345.

Eden-Monaro Campaign Sees Liberal Candidate Jo van der Plaat Launch Campaign Bus Amid Tight Federal Election Race

As the Australian federal election approaches, political campaigns intensify, and a recent initiative in the Eden-Monaro region indicates the urgency of the race. On March 5, 2025, the NSW Liberal Party launched a campaign bus to support their candidate, Jo van der Plaat, in her electoral bid, which has now been on the road for nearly two weeks.

The converted school bus is central to Ms van der Plaat’s strategy to engage with residents across the 30,000 square kilometre electorate, spanning from Goulburn to Eden, and west to the Snowy Mountains.

PHOTO: Jo van der Plaat is travelling across Eden-Monaro after bus launch CREDIT: NSW Liberal Party

Jo van der Plaat, a Cooma-based lawyer and mother of two, expressed her commitment to being a dynamic regional voice within a prospective Peter Dutton-led Coalition Government. “I am committed to getting to every pocket of Eden-Monaro to meet local residents and talk about their hopes and concerns,” she stated, emphasising the importance of the campaign bus in reaching more voters.

Ms Van der Plaat critiqued the opposition, noting, “Unlike Labor who are cashed up with unions funding their campaigns, I’ve worked incredibly hard to fundraise every dollar that goes into this campaign.”

PHOTO: Jo van der Plaat’s stop off in Bombala on March 10, 2025.

This development occurs as YouGov’s latest polling reveals a tightening race, with Labor leading the Coalition 51 percent to 49 percent. Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are deadlocked in voter satisfaction, both scoring a net satisfaction of -6. However, Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister, with 45 percent of voters supporting him over 39 percent for Dutton.

Given the close contest and current polling trends, Ms van der Plaat’s mobilisation efforts are timely. The campaign bus serves as a physical symbol of voter engagement. As election day looms, every initiative, could make a difference in the electoral race for Eden-Monaro.

Adventure Expert Tackles New Snowies Alpine Walk

The newly unveiled Snowies Alpine Walk in Kosciuszko National Park, has captured the attention of hiking enthusiasts worldwide, with adventurer Kevin Moss from Victoria taking a recent exploratory trek along the stunning route. Launched in December last year, the Snowies Alpine Walk according to Kevin offers breathtaking vistas akin to “Tasmania’s iconic Overland Track and Frenchmans Cap.”

PHOTO: Day 1 – from Guthega up to a camp above Club Lake Creek CREDIT: Kevin Moss

Kevin Moss, who documents his expeditions on his YouTube channel “Goin’ Feral”, praised the spectacular scenery and the inclusive infrastructure, saying, “The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has invested significantly in the development of this track, making it accessible to hikers of average fitness or ability level with its boardwalks and suspension bridges.”

“The Snowies Alpine Walk takes those people to areas quite spectacular, amongst the highest country.”

PHOTO: Day 2 – Main Range above Club Lake Creek down to Thredbo.

While Moss lauded the scenic beauty, he noted some areas for potential improvement. The walk, from his observation is designed as an “inn to inn” style route similar to European paths, and at this stage lacked open private sector services in the summer.

Kevin noted that although the Kosciuszko Hotel might be open, other amenities such as in Perisher were largely closed. “I couldn’t see anything open,” he said. This gap in services, while not an issue for him, necessitates a higher level of self-sufficiency among hikers wishing to camp, despite the area’s fragile and risky high-altitude environment.

PHOTO: Day 3 – Thredbo Valley Track down towards Bullocks Flat.

“The issue with this I think is its going to be very popular because the track scenery is stunning, so there’s going to be a force people like myself wanting to camp up there. I don’t think at this stage they’ve designed it as a camping walk, so there’s no official camping spots or anything like that,” Kevin said.

PHOTO: Day 4 – Re-joined the ‘official’ walk at Bullocks Flat for the walk back to Guthega.

Potential environmental concerns also arose, with Mr Moss suggesting the formalisation of camping spots to minimise impact and address necessary amenities like toilets, especially as visitor numbers grow around the lakes and rivers.

Additionally, Kevin highlighted the walk’s current design as a one-way path, which could complicate logistics for some hikers. To counter this, he crafted a circuitous route beginning at Guthega, looping through Thredbo and beyond, allowing himself to enjoy a continuous journey.

PHOTO: Day 5 – Complete the circuit and drop back down to Guthega.

For those intrigued by Kevin’s unique way of tackling the walk, his hike will be documented in a series of new videos on his YouTube channel “Goin’ Feral”. Kevin advised the videos will be uploaded from the beginning of this week.

www.youtube.com/@goinferal5815

Snowy Region Visitor Centre, in Jindabyne, is a great place for visitors to get information, brochures, maps and park entry passes before heading into Kosciuszko National Park.

For extra safety hikers can fill in a trip intention form and hire a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for free at Snowy Region Visitor Centre.

Eden-Monaro Teachers Rally to Protect School Funding

Local educators and members of the NSW Teachers Federation, led by President Henry Rajendra, gathered at Queanbeyan West Public School today March 17, 2025, to protest against potential cuts to a $4.8 billion education funding agreement. This agreement, recently signed between state and federal governments, aims to fully fund New South Wales (NSW) public schools for the first time, increasing the federal contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) from 20 percent to 25 percent.

PHOTO: The NSW Teachers Federation launched today their federal election campaign, asking voters not to risk Dutton CREDIT: NSW Teachers Federation

The rally in Eden-Monaro forms part of a larger campaign seeking to safeguard this historic funding arrangement amidst fears of a change in government. Teachers express particular concern over a potential Dutton-led administration, referencing Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume’s scepticism towards the agreement and recalling past education funding cuts under the Coalition in 2013.

In Eden-Monaro, 63 public schools educating over 15,165 students stand to benefit, addressing existing inequities where public schools operate with fewer resources compared to private institutions. Presently, a significant proportion of private schools receive more government funding per student than their public counterparts.

Henry Rajendra, President of the NSW Teachers Federation emphasised the importance of this funding stating, “This historic agreement will increase funding to NSW public schools from the current 91 percent of what they need to 100 percent,” he said. “Once implemented, this additional funding is equivalent to a 20 percent increase in teachers for our public schools.”

Across Australia, public schools have been combating resource gaps, particularly affecting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including a higher representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

This funding agreement aligns with broader initiatives under the Federal Government, including Fee-Free TAFE and significant investment in vocational training, aimed at transforming educational outcomes.

Fire at Nimmitabel Caravan Park

A tragic fire incident occurred at the Nimmitabel Caravan Park last week, impacting a much loved resident, and prompting a swift response from local emergency services. On Wednesday, March 12, at approximately 8:49 am, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Snowy Monaro District (NSWRFS-SMD) received an alert regarding a fire in the park. Rural Fire Service (RFS) teams from Nimmitabel and Cooma, along with Fire Rescue New South Wales, promptly responded to the scene.

NSWRFS-SMD Inspector Langdon Gould said, “Upon arrival first responding crews found a structure alight within the caravan park. Crews then set about distinguishing fire, and were able to confirm that there was no persons inside.”

The crews worked diligently to extinguish the flames after confirming that no individuals were trapped inside the building. The owner of the affected property sustained a minor injury to his hand and was attended to by the NSW Ambulance Service who arrived on site at 9am. “The individual did not require transportation” to the hospital, according to a spokesperson for the New South Wales Ambulance Service.

Firefighting crews remained at the location for several hours, conducting comprehensive salvage operations following the containment of the fire, the cause of the fire is still unknown.

PHOTO: Snowy Mountains community gathers around Warren at the Multicultural Festival in Cooma, Sunday March 16.

Warren Catton who already lives with disability, was the resident of the building which caught fire and lost nearly everything he owned, so on Sunday March 16, the Snowy Mountains community gathered around him in a show of support, with many in attendance assuring the community that efforts have been made to ensure Warren has a safe place to be for the time being.

Tight Season Finish Leaves MDCA Finals Series Wide Open

In a thrilling conclusion to the Monaro District Cricket Association (MDCA) Senior Men’s One Day competition regular season, round 12 delivered nail-biting finishes and standout performances, leaving the finals series wide open for any of the top four sides to claim the premiership. The weekend’s matches were crucial in determining the final ladder positions, and cricket fans were treated to one of the tightest games in years.

PHOTO: Coffey’s Jumesh John and his off-spin fooled Dalgety’s ever reliable Nolan Holland.

At Rotary Oval Cooma, Dalgety Cricket Club faced off against Coffey’s Cricket Club in a match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Coffey’s, having won the toss, opted to bowl first. Dalgety posted a respectable 8/177, courtesy of reliable contributions from John Standford (34), Kale Ross (20), and Owen Freebody (24) but it was Coffey’s Jumesh John who stole the show with his impressive 5/25, turning the game in his team’s favour.

Coffey’s chased down the target in a tense finish, ending on 9/181 with John once again delivering at a critical moment, belting the 4 runs required for victory in the very last over.

PHOTO: Coffey’s Jumesh John lifting the match tying boundary.

Meanwhile, Jindabyne hosted the Berridale Whitetails in another close contest. The Whitetails, batting first, reached 145 thanks to captain Russell Haylock’s (42) steady anchoring at the crease. Despite early setbacks, Jindabyne’s Dave Tickell guided his team to victory with a solid half-century, supported by crucial knocks from teammates James Joyce, Simon Partell, and youngster Mason Marks.

In the final match of the round, Cooma Titans visited Rhythm Cricket Club. The Titans set a challenging total of 9/240, highlighted by Hassan Nawaz’s 80-run masterclass. Despite a valiant 59 from Nemasha Ambagahawatte, Rhythm fell short at 7/145 after 40 overs.

With the regular season now concluded, Coffey’s sits atop the ladder on 38 points and will face fourth-placed Berridale in a semi-final. Second-placed Jindabyne will host the Titans at JJ Connors Oval. Just missing out, Dalgety finished with 27 points, rounding off an exciting and unpredictable season. The stage is set for an exhilarating finals series, where any team could emerge as the champions.

Photo: Dalgety bow out of the premiership chase, but are certainly building a strong team featuring future senior talent.