The Editor
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ANU southern forest timber report deeply flawed: South East Timber Association
An independent review of an Australian National University (ANU) report advocating for the closure of native forest harvesting in southern NSW, has confirmed the report is deeply flawed ... SETA secretary, Peter Rutherford stated “the flaws identified in the report totally undermine the alleged economic benefits of closing the native forest industry in southern NSW. Rather than a net present value (NPV) of $61.96 million over 30 years, closure of the industry would result in a negative NPV of -$252.43 million.”
River levees to be reinforced to protect community
Mildura Rural City Council. Work is about to start on a major project to reinforce or establish levees along a three-kilometre stretch of riverfront ... Working under the direction of lead agency the Victorian State Emergency Service, Council will reinforce or add to existing earthen levees along a 1.5-kilometre stretch of riverfront near Flora Avenue and Ranfurly Way to protect against predicted peak flood levels.
Dirt-cheap solar evaporation could provide soil pollution solution: UniSA
A team led by University of South Australia researchers has pioneered a new soil remediation technique that is significantly faster, simpler, safer, and more cost-effective than currently available method … a new remediation technique that uses a super-efficient solar evaporation surface to draw water from the soil through a sponge-like filter that traps contaminants, mimicking the process of transpiration that occurs in natural plants, but at a greatly accelerated rate.
Koala update: Brad Law
Australian Rural & Regional News sought an update on koala monitoring from NSW DPI Principal Research Scientist, Dr Brad Law ... Key points from DPI Forest Science research include: New acoustic survey methods have demonstrated koalas occur more commonly throughout the north-east hinterland forests than previously appreciated ... Annual monitoring of koala occurrence in hinterland forests since 2015 has found a stable trend over time at a regional level. Trend data are generally not available from other regions ... A parallel study found that regulated timber harvesting had no significant impact on koala density ...
Maranoa mining projects at risk: Littleproud
The Nationals Leader and Maranoa MP David Littleproud said revelations Labor would call in 18 resource projects – two of which were in Maranoa - for further environmental assessments would cost jobs for no further environmental gain. He said the mining industry was now facing another tough hurdle, at a time when Labor was also threatening resource companies with more intervention.
‘Benefits are huge’: Have your say on future citizen scientist programs
The Sunshine Coast citizen science program is growing, and council is calling on our community for their ideas. Citizen science is when people volunteer their time to partner with researchers to increase scientific knowledge and collect data about their natural environment.
Secret water buyback deal slammed: NSW Farmers
The state’s peak farming group has slammed secret water buyback plans that will hurt rural communities in NSW. On Friday afternoon The Land revealed state water ministers had agreed to almost 50 gigalitres of water buybacks at last month’s Ministerial Council meeting, with most of that water coming from NSW.
Guava Root-Knot Nematode detected in the Top End: NT Gov’t
A highly pathogenic and aggressive round worm which affects the crop yield of several vegetables, fruit and agricultural fibres has been detected in the Top End. Meloidogyne enterolobii, known as Guava Root-Knot Nematode, has been detected in four premises in Middle Point, Jingili, Palmerston and Malak.
Australia’s first renewable hydrogen microgrid powers up WA: Johnston, MacTiernan
Australia's first remote renewable hydrogen microgrid has launched in Denham in Western Australia's Gascoyne region ... Once fully operational in early 2023, the plant is expected to be able to power the average demands of 100 households or 20 per cent of Denham's residents and businesses.
Electric vehicles travel to the moon and back on NSW charging network: Kean, Farraway
The NSW Government and NRMA charging network has enabled more than 13 million zero emission kilometres – or the distance to the moon and back more than 30 times – of electric vehicle (EV) travel across the state. The impressive milestone was reached as the network continues to expand, with new chargers along the Mitchell Highway at Nyngan and Bourke and out to Brewarrina along the Kamilaroi Highway.
