Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
24 POSTS
MRSG explains ‘a better way’ to Senate Basin Plan hearing
“There are alternative investment options that deliver far greater and more sustainable environmental outcomes than the original architects of the Basin Plan’s approach of ‘just add water’. Sadly, politics doesn’t allow common sense to prevail. MRSG has also identified a range of project options that could achieve environmental outcomes while at the same time protecting staple food production, jobs, rural communities, economic activity and export earnings”: Louise Burge, Murray Regional Strategy Group.
Take buybacks off the table – MRSG
A leading community and farming representative group in the NSW Murray is calling on the Albanese Government to "take water buybacks off the table". It comes after Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced buybacks would be used to recover water, including an additional 450 gigalitres which was not part of original Murray-Darling Basin Plan recovery targets ... MRSG chair, Geoff Moar, described news of the buybacks as a "dagger in the heart" of rural communities, especially after constant government promises that they would only be considered if there were no negative social and economic consequences.
Introducing the River Country Biolink
As farming communities face growing pressure to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) demands in supply chains, a new perspective emerges. Could all the natural and man-made advantages of our productive inland river delta attract not just income, but a large premium in the emerging environmental goods and services markets? This biodiverse hotspot, acting as a significant carbon sink through on-farm wetlands and an advanced gravity-fed irrigation system, might just be Australia’s prime site for carbon and biodiversity investment.
Listen to people who have ‘lived experience’ – SRI
“We know the devastation of flooding caused by holding too much water in dams. We know that due to constraints issues it is pointless recovering the massive water volumes that are being planned, because it is impossible to deliver them downstream ... governments must listen to people who are ‘on the ground’ and have a different understanding of Basin Plan implementation to those who live in cities and base their assessments on computer modelling”: Jan Beer.
Achilles won’t stop Walsh
Peter Walsh has just missed his first day of work as a state politician since he was elected to the seat of Swan Hill 21 years ago (before winning Murray Plains in 2014). It has taken a lot to stop him from maintaining his perfect parliamentary record – such as a ruptured Achilles tendon...
Upstream pain begins
Sophie Baldwin. They often say things change with time but when it comes to water and the basin plan, it doesn’t seem to make much difference, especially for the Upper Goulburn River Catchment Association (UGRCA). The UGRCA has been concerned about the impacts of flooding on their properties and their towns ever since the MDBA floated their Constraints Management Strategy ... Landowner John Baynes's property is now so sodden, he has lost twenty-four 300-year-old river red gums, which have fallen over in his paddocks.
King’s Birthday Honours for Noel’s lifetime dedication
When we say Noel Graham has dedicated a lifetime to the rice and general agricultural industry, we mean it. He almost had no choice given his family history, but luckily, Noel is just as passionate about agriculture and rice as his forebears ... Concurrently, Noel also held roles within SunRice and Murray Irrigation.
cluBarham bowls coup
cluBarham has been announced as the home of the Over 60s State Championships and Women’s Country Carnival for the next three years. Play will take place on the club’s state-of-the-art facility opened in September 2022, including two synthetic 9 rink greens, one of which is undercover.
Outrage at South Australia’s use of Murray River water
Farming and community groups across the NSW Murray region have come together to express outrage at a revelation that water will be piped from the Murray River to supply a new hydrogen plant in Whyalla. At a time when South Australia keeps screaming that it needs more water for its environment, the groups say this week’s announcement reinforces that its priority appears to be getting as much cheap upstream water as possible, regardless of the national consequences.
Ain’t nothing down about Hux
Alesha Millard. If you’ve been fortunate enough to meet six-year-old Huxley Hall, then you’d agree he probably had you won over within the first 5 seconds from his sweet, cuddly and perpetually grinning smile ... It was a whirlwind first few weeks adapting to life with a beautiful newborn, pending heart surgery and learning all about Down syndrome and how life was going to change.
