Water fight risks real damage: NSW Farmers
"There are real opportunities to deliver environmental outcomes to the river system without reducing production. I would call on both sides to put aside the political point scoring around who's tougher on water, and instead build upon the opportunities in the basin plan that have been hard fought but are still yet incomplete": Richard Bootle, NSW Farmers Water Taskforce Chair.
Australian producers are still worried about water – interview with Andrew Coppin, CEO, Farmbot
According to a recent survey by Farmbot of farmers across Australia, their two primary concerns are poor phone reception and a need to manually check water points ... ARR.News asks a few questions of Andrew Coppin, founder and CEO of Farmbot, provider of remote water monitoring solutions.
Cape York showcased at Gateway
Fast becoming a Cape York icon, Lakeland’s Gateway to the Cape was officially opened on Friday ... Now complete, it boasts comprehensive visitor information, as well as a sculpture park that showcases each community in the region.
Local fare scheme extended until 2028
Cape York residents can breathe a sigh of relief after the cheap flights scheme was sewn up, with some positive changes ... One-way fares will be allowed, while the eligibility criteria has been changed for all communities – except Weipa.
Iconic Calypso ® mango exports to China increase
Exports of Queensland-bred Calypso ® mangoes to China have increased this season despite the many recent challenges faced by growers, including unpredictable weather events and freight disruptions.
The global wine industry must reassess supply chain assumptions and strategies: Rabobank
The global wine sector is facing significant disruptions in different links of the supply chain. The common assumption was that these issues were transitory. Now there are increasing signs that some of these changes are structural and could even get worse, requiring more strategic responses.
Forecast of low prices, more certainty for southern Basin irrigators
Water allocation prices in the southern Murray–Darling Basin are likely to remain low for a third consecutive year, according to the latest ABARES Water Market Outlook.
Maldon Easter Fair
A feeling of excitement and magic fills the air in Maldon each Easter, transporting residents and visitors back to childhood. Is the cause the twinkling lights atop Mount Tarrengower Tower, which local children believe to be the Easter Bunny’s home? Or simply the excitement and joy of children, who wait in anticipation for the arrival of the fluffy, bouncing creature bringing a delivery of chocolate eggs? Either way, the Maldon Easter Fair is an event not to be missed.
Caffeine-infused chocolate to create a sweet buzz
Castlemaine local, Stefan Dannhausen, is set to become the Goldfields region’s answer to the Easter Bunny, having launched his new owner-managed business, Dimpex Import and Wholesale. Interested in starting out on his own but initially unsure what type of business he wanted to run, Stefan drew on fond memories of enjoying SCHO-KA-KOLA with his family as a child to come up with a business idea that allowed him to explore his German heritage.
Contemporary chinoiserie exhibition
Local artists Sally Anderson and Kerry Punton are displaying their beautiful works of art at Harcourt General Store. The theme, contemporary chinoiserie, examines the 17th and 18th-century western style of interior design that represents fanciful European Interpretations of Chinese styles.
Murphy family offloads Singleton pub
The Imperial Hotel in Singleton has sold to a private hotel investor for circa $18.5 million, as market demand for regional NSW pubs pushes on. Sitting around 70km out from Newcastle, in the Upper Hunter region of NSW, the large format Imperial Hotel occupies a ~3,00sqm land parcel, boasts a 31m Hotel Licence, 23 GMES and brings in an average weekly revenue of $105,000.
Wheatbelt farmers diversify with carbon farming
INPEX, ANZ and Qantas have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the possibility of carbon farming and renewable biofuels projects in WA’s Wheatbelt. The Western Australian government is currently backing several carbon farming and regenerative agriculture projects across the state, with the hopes of helping the agriculture sector adapt farming systems to an environment facing the climate crisis, while boosting the future viability of such businesses.
Stories to tell of ways with water
Alison Bennett Taylor. Waterways producer/director Nari Lees says everyone has a story to tell about their connection to Denmark’s waterways – the river, the inlet and the sea. She hopes to capture as many of them on film as she can during the still days of autumn. Waterways, Love Stories of Place, will share stories of connection to place through an interactive walk featuring QR codes that link directly to the recordings.
Public meetings called to address mining threat
Two public meetings will be held on April 12 and April 19 to discuss the implications of a mining exploration licence application ... Bart Lebbing said the Denmark shire relied on primary production, nature-based tourism, education, art and craft enterprises, viticulture and the service industry. “Mineral exploration and mining do not value-add to these sectors, but compromise their viability,” he said.
Budget promises millions for MIA
The current Federal Government has pumped more than $300 million into the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area with $46.4million for Narrandera alone on extra programs and projects and according to Member for Farrer Sussan Ley last week’s budget shows there is more to come. “As well as the promised cost-of-living measures and fuel excise cut, there’s the NBN wireless towers speed and capacity upgrade – with more money also committed to add new mobile phone coverage and cut some increasing congestion on local phone towers,” she said.
Kerang retailers looking forward to holidays
Ali Bohn. Kerang retailers eagerly await the arrival of tourists at Easter and school holidays which is always the busiest time of year for visitors. Both retail and hospitality have taken a beating these last couple of years as we know, but that has been felt even harder in the country. However, if there is one thing they have learned through the experience it is resilience, and during these holidays, they are excited about the events attracting people back to the area.
History made as direct flights between Busselton and Melbourne take off
Jetstar has commenced the first-ever commercial air service between Melbourne and Busselton, opening a new gateway into Western Australia that is set to boost the local tourism industry by allowing interstate visitors to fly directly to the South-West.
BHP signs Letter of Intent for Australia-East Asia iron ore Green Corridor
A consortium, led by the Global Maritime Forum and consisting of BHP, Rio Tinto, Oldendorff Carriers and Star Bulk Carriers Corp., have today signed a letter of intent (LOI) to assess the development of an iron ore Green Corridor between Australia and East Asia.
Hit the critter trail these school holidays
The April school holidays are almost here, and with it brings the return of the Critter Trail on Chapman: an interactive experience for young detectives. Coordinated by the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (GRAG), the Critter Trail is a series of art pieces along the CBD portion of Chapman Road depicting critters that have ‘borrowed’ art from the City’s Collection.
Rio Tinto team preparing to hit the road
Rio Tinto’s Indigenous Employment and Development team are gearing up for another jam-packed year of programs, activities and events across Cape York ... Weipa operations general manager Shona Markham said she was impressed by what the team offered.
Man fined $15k for felling trees
A man as been fined $15,000 by the Cooktown Magistrates Court over the felling of 113 old-growth trees in the Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. In 2020, a timber export company entered into an agreement to log Cooktown Ironwood trees (erythrophleum chlorostachys) on two Cape York stations that border the national park.
Historic trade deal with India: PM
Australia signs an historic trade agreement with India, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, that will further strengthen our relationship while making Australian exports to India cheaper and creating huge new opportunities for workers and businesses.
