Land & environment

A Charles Sturt University academic has led multiple research projects that have produced new artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that will save lives, homes and livelihoods by reducing bushfires. The research was conducted between 2018 and 2022 and can assist in fire management and reduction, including disaster management for a range of natural disasters and events related to climate change.

Josephine Hyes. Denmark choreographer Annette Carmichael is casting movement across 1000km, releasing an epic of hope, in her latest grand-scale community dance performance ... The odyssey begins in Margaret River and journeys to Northcliffe, Porongurup, Fitzgerald Biosphere and Kalgoorlie.

Concerned with the amount of litter adorning roadsides, a couple of locals have taken it upon themselves to help clear the rubbish and take pride in their surroundings ... Using drone footage, Esther Hume and Geoff Eldridge created a short video of their escapades which was uploaded to social media.

The 2023 River Daze festival thrilled attendees with talented musicians, great food and reasonable prices. “It’s such an intimate setting to have over 1,000 people in here, the river in the background and a family friendly atmosphere,” said Paul, who had travelled from Melbourne for the event.

Community members, farmers, industry representatives and journalists have been locked out of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Bridging the Gap water buyback consultation meetings in Deniliquin ... The Federal Government and their bureaucracy’s contempt for southern NSW and northern Victoria communities has no sign of slowing down, even a meeting over a community good, like water, is essentially invite only.

Hiromi Hotel: Rainbow  by acclaimed Japanese Australian artist Hiromi Tango is a sensory art installation that takes inspiration from 'the rainbow’, drawing on the colours and symbology of this natural wonder. The rainbow is a recurring theme in Tango’s work, however, it has particular significance for Lismore.

Nicola Harvey is an experienced media executive, producer and writer working across digital, audio, print and live events. She’s also the author of 'Farm: the making of a climate activist' ... Speaking from her farm in New Zealand, Nicola talked to Australian Rural and Regional News contributor Serena Kirby about the writing process and the incredible amount of work that went into writing her book. She also offered some wise words to other first-time authors.

There’s an outbreak of a famous book in Woodburn. Samuel Allis who opened Hemlocks Books and Coffee three weeks ago has been recommending one of his favourites to customers.

What a night. The Woodburn Memorial Hall was packed with more than 300 people who had come to the official launch of the short film  Tinnie Heroes. At the end of the film, there was a standing ovation ... " although it was an emotional experience ... it actually felt uplifting and inspirational to listen to the stories of the amazing tinnie heroes who risked their own lives in order to save others": Jim Lagerstedt.

Three years after being established, a thriving native garden at SA Water’s Kadina Depot is demonstrating the success of growing water efficient, locally-sourced plants, with the idea easily able to be replicated in Yorke Peninsula backyards ... SA Water’s Vegetation Services Specialist Shaun Kennedy said he’s thrilled to see the garden continuing to flourish and attract an interesting array of birds and insects, including native bees, which are taking advantage of newly-installed ‘bee hotels’.

Our region is a hotspot for weeds. Our weather supports the growth and spread of all types of weeds, but some weeds are a biosecurity concern ... Rous County Council is the local weed biosecurity control authority.

Farm cash income for all broadacre farms is projected to decrease nationally by around 7 per cent to average $327,000 per farm in 2022–23 but remain 46% above the 10-year average ... “However, farm incomes are projected to fall slightly in 2022–23 because of lower prices for most commodities and input costs remaining high after significant increases in 2021–22": Head of Farm Performance at ABARES, Peter Gooday.

The southern Murray–Darling Basin tracked some of its highest rainfall and inflow totals on record in the tail end of 2022, according to the MDBA's update to the 2022-23 Annual Operating Outlook. The update details how the Murray–Darling Basin Authority may run the River Murray under a range of possible climate and rainfall scenarios, to help water users and river managers with future planning.

New research is exploring the vital role that bushfire maps play in informing how people respond to fire threats, with input from residents of southern Canberra, the southern ACT and the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales impacted by any bushfire over the last four years needed ... The study by Natural Hazards Research Australia and RMIT University will help improve the design of maps used by fire agencies including the ACT Rural Fire Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service, that show a bushfire’s location and potential spread.

After years of careful planning, interrupted by bushfire, floods and a global pandemic, the Bago State Forest Nature-Based Tourism Enhancement program was launched with reveal of its long-awaited Masterplan ... the Masterplan aims to deliver growth in the local and regional tourism economy through improved forest-based visitor experiences incorporating art, health and wellness, and environmental projects.

More and more people are rediscovering South Australia’s natural beauty with visits to some national parks skyrocketing 35 per cent over the past year. Naracoorte Caves saw a 35 per cent increase in visitors in the past 12 months while Seal Bay had a 33 per cent increase over the same period as tourists and locals head back out to explore our unique national parks.

Forestry Corporation ecologists have spent the week walking through Bondo State Forest near Tumut calling ‘hey frog’ – The most effective survey technique for detecting the critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog. Amazingly, yelling 'Hey Frog' elicits a response from the frogs, which call out in response.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has fined 14 furniture importers over $186,000 last week because they didn’t act to minimise the risk of importing illegally harvested timber. Head of Compliance and Enforcement at the department, Peter Timson said Australia has strict requirements for importing timber and it is essential to hold importers to account.

A savage bushfire season is imminent after huge La Niña rains, but "arrangements for the mitigation, management and suppression of bushfires" are inadequate. "There is a loss of fire management knowledge, networks and depth of experience which underpin the success of fire programs," says the NT Government’s Alice Springs Regional Bushfire Management Plan 2022/23.

Land dwellers may have asked what the hovering helicopters were doing flying above Maldon ... Powercor has been conducting inspections for its vegetation and tree-cutting program ... The work is necessary in order to prevent power outages and fires.

Community water and sewer systems across north-east Victoria are now more resilient to the growing impacts of climate change and natural disasters ... John Day, General Manager Environment, Systems and Operations, said ‘behind the meter’ power systems will help keep water and sewer infrastructure operating in emergency situations.