Land & environment

Night time waterbombing was one of the recommendations from the NSW Bushfire Inquiry. Recently, the RFS owned CH47D Chinook helicopter was deployed to a major bushfire near Lithgow. The State Government has now responded to all 76 recommendations to transform the state’s ability to prepare, respond and recover...

Paws for Wildlife is among those with concerns the adoption of the federal government’s proposed environmental reforms will result in weaker laws than the existing legislation. Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt is keen to pass the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 before the end of the year.

The designated fishing sessions for the 2025-2026 Roe's abalone season have been released, with recreational fishers reminded to fish safely and sustainably this summer. The highly popular one-hour fishing sessions are scheduled to occur over four Saturday mornings between 7am and 8am, dependant on conditions, between Busselton Jetty and Greenough River Mouth.

Death didn't ride in on a pale horse in the dead of night; he stood at a pulpit in Adelaide and proudly announced to his fanatical legions of followers the further destruction of rural Australian communities and the rivers they rely on ... In announcing the purchase of a further 130GL from the Southern Basin, Watt, along with his predecessors, has missed the obvious fact that this water cannot be delivered down to the Lower Murray.

Mick Harrington, East Gippsland Community and Stakeholder Lead, Gippsland Critical Minerals. The 2021 Fingerboards proposal did not receive approval, and that was the right decision for that project at that time. Now led by Gippsland Critical Minerals, new leadership has taken the time to learn from the past and rebuild the project from the ground up ... This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build good jobs, back local business and care for the land we share. Let’s grab it with both hands and make it ours.

Hugh Schuitemaker. A senior Riverland irrigation sector figure, and local politicians, say a decision to buyback more water volumes for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is relying on the "easy" and "lazy" option. Federal Minister for Water Murray Watt, at last week's Basin Leaders Summit, held in Adelaide, announced buybacks for an added 130GL of water to go toward Murray-Darling Basin Plan targets.

Threatened wildlife like the critically endangered South-east Red-tailed Black-cockatoo have a bright future thanks to a renewed conservation partnership with Bank Australia in the Wimmera. Conservation organisation Trust for Nature is partnering with Bank Australia to manage the bank's 2,117 hectare conservation reserve...

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has welcomed new research that combines Indigenous knowledge and ecological science to protect and restore the Darling (Baaka) River. The study, led by the Wilcannia Barkandji community, highlights the enduring Cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance of Barkandji stone fish traps along the Baaka near Wilcannia.

Australia's wild crocodile population has become part of the country's livestock industry. Continued development of the industry requires raising crocodile eggs on farms, rather than collecting wild crocodile eggs in the jungle. This is driving the development of crocodile farms in Queensland and Western Australia.

Extensive flood resilience works to protect communities in Mount Sylvia and Woodbine from future flood damage are now complete. The $1.8 million rehabilitation project, led by Resilient Rivers SEQ, involved major creek bank stabilisation and revegetation works at three priority sites along Blackfellow Creek, and was officially unveiled today.

An $8 million grant program has supported industry to scale up production of the methane-inhibiting seaweed, Asparagopsis. Methane from livestock digestion accounts for about 71 per cent of Australia’s agricultural emissions and 13 per cent of Australia’s total emissions, according to the latest National Inventory Report.

For the first time, a contingent of Nepali fire and forest management professionals have visited Victoria to learn from our fire experience. The visitors were hosted in Victoria by the Australian Himalayan Foundation through the Australia Awards Fellowships program.

Joy Leneaux-Gale has the best rose garden in Maldon* and has been enjoying the full flush of colour over the past few weeks. She’s very humble when talking about it but she created it from scratch.

Gardeners are an optimistic bunch, aren’t they, dealing with unpredictable weather, temperamental plants and invaders of all sorts (weeds, insects, nosy photographers from the local newspaper). They know that with a bit of patience and perseverance, they will be rewarded with pleasant aromas and delightful displays of colour.

While the Victorian Government is moving to ban pet crocodiles, the Finocchiaro CLP Government is backing them - with 63 Territorians already licensed to keep 123 crocs, it's proof our unique Territory lifestyle is alive and thriving. Now, the CLP Government is inviting Territorians to have their say on new safety and welfare guidelines to make owning a pet croc simpler and safer than ever.

Young people living in the Murray–Darling Basin are calling for a stronger voice in shaping responses to environmental change. A Murray–Darling Water and Environment Research Program (MD–WERP) study led by Griffith University has found that young people aged 16–25 are increasingly concerned about the impact of a changing climate on their futures...

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food, Lachlan Hunter MP, says the Cook Labor Government has shown extraordinary negligence on biosecurity, sitting on an independent review of the State’s laws for nearly two years before quietly tabling a watered-down response in Parliament with zero public announcement.

Greater Shepparton City Council is deeply concerned regarding yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Government to expand water buybacks under the updated Restoring Our Rivers Framework. This decision risks significant impacts on agriculture, horticulture, and the broader regional economy.

Mat Dalby. "if one person takes one lesson from any of this and adds to their own preparedness, then the effort is worth it." Shire of Denmark Bushfire Ready lead facilitator Murray Brooker asks everyone to 'be prepared and not regretful after the fact'.

Community members are being reminded about the danger of bats after a boy was scratched by a flying fox near Crows Nest while attempting to rescue it. William, aged 14, was scratched by the flying fox while attempting to free it from a barbed wire fence on the family's property near Crows Nest, on 10 October.

Terry Collins. The NSW Government has come in for strong criticism for allowing just three days extra for public comment on its controversial Draft Central Coast Strategic Conservation Plan ... "The Plan proposes 14,000 new residential lots; it outlines how our unique biodiversity will be managed for the next 30 years and it describes how the NSW Government will deliver its housing targets by unlocking new lands for development": Acting Mayor John Mouland.

Almost 400 people filed through the impressive displays and stalls at the Mid Murray Industry Expo. 32 site holders showcased a range of services, products and expertise available in the local community. From forestry, to milled timber products, veterinary services, fires and ambulance services, real estate, garden supplies, plumbing, education, and so much more.