Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, 11 May 2023
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority met on 10 May 2023 in person on Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) and via videoconference ... Key water management activities in the River Murray System were discussed, including airspace management at Hume Dam, as well as the prospect of an El Niño weather pattern developing later in the year.
Reef island purchases protect critical koala, turtle habitat: Scanlon
Leases on two Great Barrier Reef islands have been purchased by the Palaszczuk Government with the move protecting key habitat for a range of species including koalas and flatback turtles. Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced that the government had purchased the lease for St Bees Island, 35km north-east of Mackay and the lease for the Long Island Broad Sound in the Southern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
New fee system to help protect Aboriginal cultural heritage: Buti
At the lowest scale, a fixed fee of $250 will apply for a company or organisation with less than $10 million in global revenue, up to a fee of $1.39 million for a company or organisation with a global revenue of $5 billion or more that enters an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan over 20 years. Where there is no risk of impact to Aboriginal cultural heritage, no approval is required and there is no fee payable.
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.
Scrapping dam will hold back food production: NSW Farmers
Farmers say scrapping Dungowan Dam is a short-sighted move that will limit future food production. State Water Minister Rose Jackson announced Dungowan Dam would not proceed in the wake of the federal budget, saying it would save taxpayers $632 million.
‘New water plan is a disgrace’: Les Turner
Les Turner, CLC CEO. The twice-rejected Western Davenport water allocation plan unmasks the Northern Territory government’s disregard for Aboriginal rights and sites and lacks social licence ... Alekarenge community leader Graham Beasley says: “That’s our country. We should be involved. What’s going to happen to our sacred trees?”
High-flying couple welcomes new skyhome
This was a renovation rescue like no other – a new skyhome for a high-flying Sunshine Coast couple. Sunshine Coast Council has just completed a lofty project to ensure a better future for a beloved pair of ospreys – and their future offspring.
Dismal dollars in Budget for rural roads: NFF
Three peak bodies representing famers and transporters have raised concerns about the lack of sufficient additional funding in the Federal Budget to address the perilous state of flood impacted rural roads. In the lead up to the Budget, GrainGrowers, National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) called for an emergency funding package of nearly $5.5 billion, a call the Government answered with just $250 million in new funding.
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.
Research hopes to establish better Ryegrass management
Researchers have made a scientific breakthrough which could significantly advance understanding herbicide resistance in Ryegrass, with the new information set to help combat the weed for Australian grain growers.
Caring for the land – sustainable agriculture: YCDC Landcare Group
An attractive, coloured brochure has recently been released by the Yellow Creek-Dairy Creek Landcare Group, Victoria ... Cindy McLeish MP, State Member for Eildon, attended the launch of the brochure CARING FOR THE LAND – Sustainable Agriculture, and spoke of its relevance to the beauty of our country which we must endeavour to maintain.
In the zone
Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council plans to create 230 residential allotments between Fisherman Bay and Port Broughton to meet demand and ease the local housing shortage. Council received approval from Minister for Planning Nick Champion to start the process to rezone 26 hectares of farming land from rural to residential on Friday, May 5.
Lovell seeks Andrews Government commitment on levee bank maintenance in Northern Victoria: Lovell
The Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has sought details from the Andrews Labor Government regarding the management and maintenance of levee banks throughout Victoria, including in her electorate of Northern Victoria Region.
New flower species named to honour nearly 30 years of conservation work: DBCA
A gorgeous new flower has been named in honour of DBCA Midwest Flora Conservation Officer Alanna Chant. The striking red bloom occurs only in a handful of areas in WA’s Midwest (Mullewa, Morawa, Canna).
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.
High waterways gives students great paddling experiences
Pam Dillon. Students from Canteen Creek ventured onto the waterways of Policeman’s Waterhole this week. The students have been kayaking the waterhole with the Barkly Region Sports Education Coordinator since 2015 and this year, was the furthest they have paddled on it.
Volunteers needed for 2023 Annual Cocky Count
Skye McPherson. The South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Recovery Team and BirdLife Australia is looking forward to the regional Annual Cocky Count in 2023 and is seeking the help of volunteers. This year the Annual Cocky Count will be held on Saturday 6 May, with volunteers searching in stringybark sites across the Red-tails’ range in south-eastern South Australia and south-western Victoria.
Just add water, again
While Victoria wrestles with the federal government over the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Sustainable Diversion Limit project, the delivery of held environmental water ramps up to flood Gunbower Forest again. Described as the ‘Special Sauce’ by North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), held environmental water will be used to irrigate the forest following two flooding events in 2022, an irrigation event and the following wide-scale major flooding. It’s not tree or canopy health that is driving the NCCMA’s call for water this time around but food for water birds.
Launch of frog ‘hotels’ in Olney State Forest: FCNSW
Olney State Forest is now home to a series of frog ‘hotels’ designed to support threatened frog species, thanks to a partnership between Forestry Corporation of NSW and the University of Newcastle.
Allora’s own pictorial bird guidebook
On Sunday 23rd April, the Allora Landcare Group (ALG) officially launched the second edition of their book ‘A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of Allora Mountain Flora and Fauna Reserve’ ... Frank Coman, a CSIRO scientist based in Brisbane was the photographer for the book ... He spoke about the new bird species on the Reserve he keeps finding, and including these resulted in the new edition enlarging to accommodate them. The number is now well over 100.
Northern Rivers flood rebuild $7.9 billion and rising
The cost to rebuild and repair more than 2500 projects of flood ravaged public infrastructure on the Northern Rivers following the devastating 2022 floods is estimated at $7.9 billion and is predicted to increase ... NRRC head David Witherdin said the increase in costs was expected as the corporation identified more projects.
Land staying in state hands
Patrick Goldsmith. Five troublesome parcels of unalienated Crown Land within the Yorke Peninsula Council area will stay in the care and control of the state government after discussions regarding the environmental impacts of increased visitation numbers ... Unalienated Crown Land is public land which is owned and managed by the state government, giving council no authority over the activity which takes place on it.
