Flood

Despite recent flood and rain damage in the eastern states, the ABARES Agricultural Commodities: December Quarter is forecasting a history-making agricultural gross production value of $78 billion – $5.4 billion more than predicted just a few months ago. The value of agricultural exports is forecast to hit a record $61 billion.

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, is reaching out to farmers who’ve been affected by recent rain and flood events ... “Some of our farmers have told us this season’s crop was the best they’d ever had in the ground. But just days out from harvest, the rain dealt their crops a fatal blow. They’ve had to watch their year’s income get washed away, or ‘sprung and shot’ growth before they could get in with the harvester”: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.

It rained all night. And continues today. BOM rain monitor Lyn Walters reported 95mm of rain fell in the last 24 hours to 9am this morning at Green Pigeon in Kyogle LGA. The Bureau of Meteorology has kept the minor flood warning in place for Richmond and Wilsons rivers. The constant rain is causing issues.

Farmers and rural communities across the state are bracing for an enormous cleanup effort as floodwaters subside, with concerns about the condition of local roads once the water retreats. After weeks of heavy rain during harvest season, many roads across regional NSW have developed deep potholes and ruts that are proving problematic for motorists, farmers and truckies alike.

Wanneroo councillors have given their approval for the city to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Wanneroo Trotting and Training Club for a temporary animal relocation area during emergencies such as bushfires. During the 2019 Yanchep bushfire some Seatrees and Breakwater residents with horses, sheep and alpacas had to leave them behind when they evacuated.

NSW Farmers is calling for natural disaster declarations to allow relief funds to flow as torrential rains continue to soak vast parts of the state, causing widespread flood damage. State and federal leaders had pledged to make disaster assistance available to affected communities after flooding in the Lachlan Valley last week, but since then farming regions right across the state had been inundated, with predictions of further flooding in already-drenched areas.

On the back of strong cattle and grain prices, the NAB Rural Commodities Index is now almost 20% higher than the same time in 2020, according to the bank’s November Rural Commodities Wrap. With a La Nina event now officially underway, the prospect of a wet summer for eastern and northern Australia could see grass fever push record cattle prices even higher, while grain prices are also rising.

An in-depth review of an excellent, timely and well-written book. Sold Down The River is really a text book on water trading for the uninitiated which sums up the tragedy of the Murray-Darling created by successive governments of all persuasions. Highly recommended.

$5 million will be available between three leading Northern Australian universities for research into water security in Northern Australia. The money from the Federal Government, through the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), is for Charles Darwin University (CDU), CQUniversity Australia (CQU) and James Cook University (JCU).

Geoff Wakeman is not against the principles of environmental watering. He does, however, have a huge problem with the way it is being used in the Gunbower Forest/National Park, particularly around Cohuna ... As a geologist, his interest was piqued when he came across some commentary surrounding the Barmah Choke, which prompted him to take a closer look at what was happening out in the Gunbower Forest. It was then he became alarmed.

In many ways this captivating book describes the relationship between the author, Lachlan Hughson, and his much loved Australian Outback. In travels rivalling those of Odysseus in extent, the author takes us across the vast expanse of the ancient Australian continent, mixing geological insights, historical background, and personal experiences with vivid descriptions of nature in all its forms.

The Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG), which represents eight organisations across the NSW Murray, is conducting a monitoring program to clearly communicate the risks and benefits of water delivery through our region ... In order to help stop repeating the meaningless destruction that we have witnessed on the Murray, MRSG has developed the NSW Murray Valley Adaptive Road Map, which aims to deliver solutions to existing problems with water flows and management.

A strengthening Bureau of Meteorology forecast of between 50 and 100mm of rain starting mid–next week has prompted the Murray–Darling Basin Authority to increase releases from Hume Dam to create more airspace. Releases will be stepped up today ahead of what is expected to be a sustained wet–weather event spanning several days from next Wednesday.

A flood is coming. The forecast flow downstream of Yarrawonga is estimated to reach 50–60,000 megalitres per day (split between Tuppal and Bullatale Creeks and the Murray River) and the Goulburn has had minor flooding, with flows of 21,000 megalitres a day ... Our food producers now face what is an allocation drought during a flood event.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has started releasing a small volume of water from Hume Dam to maintain airspace for the inflows expected from rain forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology over the coming months.

With the increasing risk of natural disasters and extreme weather events, it’s critical that Australian production nurseries are forward planning and implementing risk mitigation strategies that reduce the impact they have on the business and its operations. Operating for over 26 years, Mt Nathan Nursery, located on the Coomera River in the Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland, is one nursery that made the decision to implement risk mitigation strategies to minimise future stock losses and damage in the event of a natural disaster.

New planning controls for flood-prone land will begin to come into effect from 14 July 2021 to better protect life and property in the event of extreme flooding in the Tweed.

Emergency management teams are often required to work under considerable pressure and heavy workloads, during times of stress and fatigue. Researchers have developed two new tools that help support and enhance individual and team capabilities during emergencies.

Geoff Helisma. Damming the Clarence River has long been a controversial subject – and the draft regional water strategy for the north coast rules it out (for now) – but one Clarence Valley man hasn’t given up on the idea, although he’s not talking about diverting the river westwards. Lawrence resident John Ibbotson has spent considerable time and money developing his idea for a dam located downstream from where the Clarence and Mann rivers converge, despite the North Coast Regional Water Strategy discussing dam proposals under the heading “options not progressed”.