The Editor

The Mary Valley wetlands will undergo a new round of monitoring as an ongoing record of how the area is faring following works carried out on Country ... This month, Cape York project officer Ben Ansell visited one of the wetland sites with Traditional Owner Ashley Lyall to determine the percentage of feral cattle footprints, pig damage and live vegetation cover in the area.

Drones to detect and spray weeds will soon be deployed out to councils across the Central West as the NSW Government ramps up its war on weeds after months of wet weather ... “Through this program, Local Land Services will roll out drones to councils across the Central West and set them up to help map weed infestations – and ultimately deploy larger drones to spray invasive plants from the air": Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole.

Gannawarra Shire Council continues to support its communities impacted by the October 2022 floods, with residents continuing to reach out for support as the recovery process begins for some areas of the municipality. With the flood emergency about to enter an eighth week, Council is working with government agencies and other support services to assist residents impacted by this major flood event.

Premium South Australian wine continues to gain recognition in key Asia-Pacific markets after the latest group of international wine ambassadors was assembled in Hong Kong. Eight of Hong Kong’s leading wine importers have been hand-picked to raise the profile of South Australia’s best wines in their own regions and boost trade demand with our state.

The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged the concessions granted which will see the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill pass the Parliament this week, but warns that the consequences for the food supply chain remain largely unknown. NFF President Fiona Simson said it was disappointing to see a government so disinterested in the genuinely held concerns of employers.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has opened 83km of upgraded Inland Rail track between Moree and Narrabri, with the first grain train set to run in the coming days. With trains now running on this section of track for the first time in seven months, ARTC is urging people travelling on roads between Narrabri and Moree to take extra care near the rail line and at all level crossings.

Having read the latest comment by Philip Zylstra in the ARR.News journal I was tempted to dismiss it as negligible, and move on. Then I realised that he had denigrated my colleagues, dismissing them as an emotional "lobby group”, and I realised that he must not be allowed to have the last word. To the extent that we are pushing for Australian governments to adopt a bushfire policy and management practices that minimise bushfire damage to the Australian people, to community assets and the environment, then yes, we are lobbyists. But we do so unemotionally, from the basis of science and experience.

Many of our local traders are open for business as usual and we encourage you to shop local ... Kerbside household flood waste collections have been running in Rochester for around five weeks.

Sue Higginson responds to ARR.News questioning of the premise for the Green's introduced Forestry Amendment (Koala Habitats) Bill 2022 ... "All levels of Government agree that our Koalas have declined significantly in recent decades and that they are facing extinction in coming decades if threats to their survival are not stopped ... The legitimacy of the Law article is broadly contested": Sue Higginson, NSW Greens MP.

A dedicated and permanent First Nations gallery, Djaa Djuwima, has officially opened at the Bendigo Visitor Centre with its first exhibition. Gurangarr Dja Dja Wurrung Djayi (you are on/in Dja Dja Wurrung Country) brings together stunning works from 20 First Nations artists and celebrates their connections to Country.