Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin

Legal action taken by MLDRIN, a Confederation of First Nations from the southern half of the Murray-Darling Basin, has led to the Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek conceding she made a mistake in accrediting the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan.

Addressing NSW Parliament on Thursday the independent member said MLHD has "failed communities." ... "For too long, MLHD has failed our communities- and has not followed through on a number of issues such as the two orthopaedic surgeons that were promised in 2021.

First Nations environmental lobbying group Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) is in the Federal Court today to challenge the decision by Minister Plibersek to accredit the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan (WRP) ... “We repeatedly advised the MDBA that the Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan should not be recommended for accreditation," Brendan Kennedy, Chair, MLDRIN, Tati Tati Nation member, said.

A new report from Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with the Geological Survey of New South Wales, has found elevated levels of natural hydrogen and helium in locations throughout New South Wales.

The rumbles began with a 2.6-magnitude quake, which struck just before midnight on Friday January 3. This was followed by a followed by a larger 4.1-magnitude quake at 2.50pm on Saturday afternoon and a 3.3-magnitude tremor at 5.30am Sunday morning.

The man who pled guilty to transporting homemade pipe bombs along the Sturt Highway will serve his sentence in the community. Thirty-three-year-old Timacoy Jason Williams remained in custody after pleading guilty to all charges at his October 4 appearance at Griffith Local Court and was sentenced on November 20 by Magistrate Wright.

Australian rapper Briggs (Adam Briggs) posted a message to fans on Sunday evening, of a racial slur that occurred in Balranald ... On his social media platforms, Briggs posted a story, describing an incident that occurred at an unnamed motel in the town.

The Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash has won gold at the 2024 NSW Tourism Awards in the festivals and events category. "This is a fantastic achievement and recognition for a festival which only commenced in 2022, having been created from scratch on the red dirt of the Mundi Mundi Plains 40km outside Broken Hill," Outback Music Festival Group founder and MD Greg Donovan said.

The Rural Applied Drug and Alcohol Research group (RADAR) will tackle the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in Western NSW, which is higher than most other parts of NSW ... Core priorities of RADAR include addressing the specific, geographical issues those afflicted by substance misuse in western NSW often experience.

Australia  Post has lodged a draft notification with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), proposing an increase to the Basic Postage Rate (BPR) of $0.20 for small letters, from $1.50 to $1.70, and to the prices for ordinary large letters, delivered at the regular timetable – to take effect from July  2025.