Project snapshot – Impact on honey bee biosecurity of reduced access to public lands: AgriFutures
This project assessed the impact on honey bee biosecurity of reduced access to public land floral resources as a result of the 2019-20 Australian bushfire crisis. It investigated current biosecurity programs and practices, gaps in biosecurity coverage, beekeeper use of public lands and biosecurity risk as a result of changes in the beekeeper’s enterprise, and delivered recommendations relating to policy change, technology investment and research and development.
Council collaborates to benefit community
The Lockyer Valley knows only too well just what the impact of a severe weather event can look like – physically, mentally and emotionally. Following two severe flood events in 2022 alone, after bushfires and years of drought, Lockyer Valley Regional Council has forged important new partnerships to bring tangible benefits to the community.
Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Conference, May 24th – 26th 2023
Managing fire together: Applying science, skills, and stories. The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is excited to announce details of the 13th Biennial Bushfire Conference. The conference is unique in its focus on community participation in fire management...
CFA wants you to “give us a hand”
CFA is asking regional Victorians to “Give Us a Hand” in an effort to recruit new volunteers to join its 52,000 community-minded members in protecting lives and property across the state. The call out is part of a new volunteer recruitment campaign, which aims to encourage selfless Victorians to take up a firefighting, or support role with their local CFA brigade.
Region rises from the ashes
A hidden waterfall nestled in the heart of the Upper Murray that emerged from the ashes following the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires is just one of several recovery projects now coming to fruition. The region was devastated by the bushfires and the pandemic lockdowns caused significant delays to the recovery process but replacement housing as well as a host of new projects are well underway or have been completed. One of the gems brought to light after the fires is Thowgla Falls, which is located on Marginal Road in the Thowgla Valley.
Proof that species are declining in our forests set up to protect them: Robert Onfray
Robert Onfray. As we celebrate World Endangered Species Day on 19 May, I thought it timely this month to look closely at how species are faring in Australia, particularly in reserves authorities have established to protect them ... We don’t hear about this aspect of monitoring in our reserves because the government, bureaucrats and environmental activists don’t want the public to know just how poorly managed our reserves are.
Haines updated on community projects
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, visited the Upper Murray last week, receiving progress reports on bushfire recovery projects including the new battery and solar energy system at Corryong Health, the Playles Hill Park project and the Tintaldra Recreation Reserve upgrade ... "It will address the reliability, vulnerability and variability of the region’s electricity supply, which in the 2019-2020 bushfires meant power-outages lasted for weeks in Corryong and district including loss of communications": Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines.
To whom it may concern:
The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission investigated the Black Saturday fires ... found that the blaze was caused by the negligence of SP AusNet and their assets managers Utility Services Group in the duty of safely maintaining the infrastructure under their control ... Keep this deplorable behaviour and lack of honesty front of mind when considering AEMO and SP AusNet’s bungled attempt to rush through a flawed and less-than-optimal solution to the VNI West project.
First trainload of timber arrives to support snowy region mills: FCNSW
The rail transport initiative will see Forestry Corporation of NSW deliver around 270,000 tonnes of sawlog timber to Tumut and Tumbarumba processors over the next three years. This timber was initially set for export, however the impact of the Black Summer bushfires and local timber shortage have meant Australian timber mills have been given priority.
Out of control burns spark enquiry calls: Robbie Katter
Katter’s Australian Party leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter is calling on the state government to lodge an enquiry into their aggressive reach to obtain more land for under resourced national parks. This comes following a blaze that became out of control on White Mountains National Park in recent days, destroying valuable pastures on adjoining stations ... “These national parks are quite literally out of control."
Eyes in the skies – what it’s like to be a spotter pilot
Helping spot fires is the job of dreams for Parks and Wildlife Service Senior Spotter Pilot Bronwen Prinsloo. This Manjimup-based pilot loves taking to the skies to spot and report on fires, monitor prescribed burns and do her bit to help keep our communities safe.
Review – Our Dangerous Friend
At the heart of "Our Dangerous Friend" is author David Jefford Ward’s belief that traditional Noongar knowledge should be a respected source of bushfire philosophy, ecology and management in south west Australia. In fact Ward, who started as a workman in the then Forests Department, places more value on Noongar bushfire knowledge than some refereed scientific papers.
UWA forum to focus on prescribed burning
A fire and air forum will be held at the University of WA in Perth on May 5 to explore community concern regarding the impacts of broad-scale prescribed burning in South West forests ... Speakers will include those with expertise in landscape flammability, biodiversity, ecology, air pollution, health impacts and the latest in peer-reviewed research.
Responding to the Productivity Commission’s “Advancing Prosperity” report – Further opportunities in relation to natural disaster management: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell assesses the Productivity Commission's limited recommendations regarding natural disaster management in its latest report, "Advancing Prosperity", and concludes that the PC and governments have missed key opportunities to better nail natural disaster management across Australia.
Local fire prevention workshops using traditional First Nations land management technique
In the Clarence Valley, where the Black Summer fires destroyed 168 homes three years ago, locals are getting ready for the important task of preparing for fire ... To do that, they are turning towards First Nations knowledge and practices, including the traditional land management technique of cool burning. Mick explains that cool burning, also called mosaic burning, involves burning a very small area at a low intensity.
Government moves on buffel grass – at last
Declaring buffel grass a weed, as it is in South Australia, will be considered by a technical working group assessing the impacts of, and approaches to, the introduced plant that is causing extensive damage to native flora and providing fuel for massive bushfires ... We have asked when, and how much money the government has set aside for the campaign against what is widely already recognised as a weed, even if not declared.
All fired up after 43 years
After a 43-year hiatus, the 209 team of the Leitchville Fire Brigade has fired up again. Sporting shirts in the original team colours, the team entered its first competition after just six weeks of training.
Taking action on buffel: Moss
The Northern Territory Government has announced the establishment of a technical working group to assess the impacts of, and approaches to buffel grass management in Central Australia, which will include consideration of declaring buffel grass a weed under the Weeds Management Act 2001. While buffel grass has provided valuable fodder as well as dust suppression and erosion control in desert areas since the 1960s, there is increasing concern about its role in heightening wildfire intensity, and associated impacts on biodiversity.
Science debunks McGowan’s forestry populism: Gavin Butcher
Gavin Butcher. Analysis of publicly available data by respected scientist Dr Lachie McCaw has shown that claims by Premier McGowan and his coterie of Forestry Ministers, Jarvis and Kelly, to be without substance. The WA government had stated that one of the reasons the timber industry had been axed was because the trees are no longer growing. Dr McCaw has used published data on the long-term forest monitoring plots called ForestCheck to demonstrate that the harvested forest is growing and the uncut forest is in decline.
Singapore and WA strengthen emergency services partnership: Dawson
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has strengthened ties with its Singaporean counterparts, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will extend a long-standing relationship beyond two decades ... DFES and SCDF have shared a fruitful interagency relationship since 2005, swapping firefighting tactics and techniques, exchanging staff for personal and professional development and collaborating on research programs.
Forest decline, koala plagues and megafires
Vic Jurskis's clear account of the history of the cycle of plagues and crashes of koalas in Australia's eastern states and the circumstances of those plagues and crashes makes one question whether the time frame for assessing the status of koalas should be 200 years, not 20, and whether the public perception about this much-loved animal is fully informed.
Park burns as war on buffel grass hots up
While the Centre is facing what experts say is likely to be the biggest bushfire season in recorded history, the question is not what the NT Government is doing about it, but what it is not. The first blaze is already under way, in the Ormiston Gorge area of the West MacDonnells.
