CATEGORY

Land & environment

Queensland backs efforts to fight Lumpy Skin Disease with new vaccines: Furner

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Queensland Government had partnered with Meat and Livestock Australia, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and US based biotechnology company Tiba Biotech to create a world-first synthetic vaccine for LSD.

Good attendance at the screening of “Purli Ngaangkalitji”

The debut of the film was shown at the Community dinner. A Story that was narrated by Murray Butcher which had been passed on by his Nanna, Elsie Jones. Filmed by Aureliano Ramella, a regular visitor to Wilcannia from Switzerland.

Water quality and local environment on the improve following riparian rehabilitation works

North Coast Local Land Services is continuing to make improvements to the water quality and the local environment at the Richmond River following the completion of the latest round of riparian rehabilitation works. The works ... are designed to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the Richmond River from the Emigrant Creek Catchment area.

Softwood plantings

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the agreement with Hancock Victorian Plantations involved planting an extra 16 million trees to create a new forest estate ... The Nationals Leader, Peter Walsh, slammed the policy as a replay of a $110-million investment, the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program, announced in 2020.

NFF calls on Government to listen to farmers on Methane Pledge

The National Farmers’ Federation is urging the Federal Government to continue its constructive consultations with agriculture as part of any Global Methane Pledge. As more than 100 countries around the world, including the EU, the US, and Indonesia pledge a 30 per cent global cut in methane emissions by 2030, the spotlight has fallen on Australia to follow suit ... "For agriculture, the best way to reduce emissions further is to arm us with cost-effective technology solutions – not to pursue punitive taxes or regulate farmers out of existence": NFF's Tony Mahar.

Another step for rare earths

Chris Oldfield. A Koppamurra Landholder Reference Group (KLRG) has been formed by Australian Rare Earths as it takes another step towards developing a mining lease application ... The aim of the landholder reference group is to share information and seek feedback on the Koppamurra project.

PS Oscar W slipping

The Alexandrina Council owned Paddle Steamer, PS Oscar W, is a major drawcard for locals and tourists to our region and will soon feature in its very own short film series following the amazing slipping and maintenance journey of our Friends of the Oscar W volunteer group. The PS Oscar W has just undergone its biennial slipping and maintenance to inspect and restore the historic paddle steamer and is a fantastic example of regenerative heritage in action.

Nuke study call

A former scientist with the State Electricity Commission, the Latrobe Valley’s Ray Burgess, has scathingly attacked AGL’s plan to close Loy Yang A station by 2035, calling it “fairyland thinking” ... Mr Burgess said if a low carbon society was mandated by the voting public, “then we need to seriously be considering a nuclear future, and quickly”.

Dowden explores human element of wild dog management: National Wild Dog Action Plan

Managing wild dogs is not easy work with community engagement simply not about the deployment of tools into the landscape by the people whose assets are threatened by incursions. According to Western Australian landholder Debbie Dowden, it requires human action, which means working within the complex dynamics of human nature.

Snake’s alive – it’s mating time

This amazing photo was taken by Corie Ross of Long Neck Farm in Goomburra. “Two red bellied black snakes fighting for mating rights. A pretty rare sight but we got to enjoy it for nearly 20 minutes.” Corie said.

Warragamba Dam declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure: Perrottet, Roberts, Anderson

A proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), as it is deemed essential to NSW for economic and social reasons. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties and would help future-proof Western Sydney from flood risks.  

Boost for farmers with completion of Murchison cell fence: MacTiernan

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has officially opened an expansive cell fence project in the Murchison, which is protecting 53 pastoral properties in the region from wild dogs ... The cell builds off the State Barrier Fence to encompass more than 6.5 million hectares of pastoral land, extending through the Yalgoo, Mount Magnet, Sandstone, Cue and Meekatharra areas.

Hay there, we’re here to help!

Emma Pritchard. It was a lifeline that stretched more than 8km. 56 trucks transporting over 2000 bales of hay, generously donated by farmers across Victoria, arrived in the Clarence Valley on September 30, bound for local properties owned by hobby farmers and primary producers who are continuing to struggle following months of relentless wet weather which has severely compromised their livelihoods.  

Norco factory will rebuild but on a smaller scale to fit budget

Finally, the announcement many workers in Lismore were hoping for – Norco will rebuild its ice cream factory in South Lismore although it will be smaller. The factory was left wrecked and non-operational after the February 28 floods.

Innovative bush fire tech put to the test: Henskens, Cooke

High-tech sensors which can predict and detect fires and clean energy solutions for bush fire-affected communities are among five innovative ideas being piloted under a landmark NSW Government research and development (R&D) program. Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the Bushfire Technology Pilots Program, a total of $6 million over four years, will support trials of field-ready bush fire technology developed by NSW businesses.

Australian Government delivers increased communications network resilience for SES on Lord Howe Island: Rowland and Plibersek

The community of Lord Howe Island is now better prepared for emergencies and natural disasters following the installation of backup NBN Sky Muster satellite services at the Lord Howe Island State Emergency Service unit ... The satellite will mean that services are more resilient during natural disasters.

Tweed River water quality,  fish health  major concern – Testing shows  detrimental effects of acid sulfate soil runoff

Tweed Shire Council is urging Tweed River floodplain landowners to seek Council assistance in projects that can improve water quality, after recent testing detected acid-affected water in the river and red spot disease in local fish ... Recent testing has indicated acid sulfate soil (ASS)-related runoff from floodplain drains is affecting water quality in the Tweed River, with indications this is severely impacting fish health.

Planting millions more trees for thousands of jobs: Tierney

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney has announced the Labor Government is investing $120 million – the single largest investment in plantation establishment in the state’s history – in an agreement with Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP), planting an extra 16 million trees in a new estate.

Chaotic transition to 100% plantation industry: Nillumbik Friends of the Great Forest

Nillumbik Friends of the Great Forest have followed with interest the developments in the native forest logging industry, in particular the decision by the Andrews government in 2019 to halt native forest logging in 2030. Victoria is well placed to transition to a 100 % plantation industry as we already have considerable areas of plantation ... The industry has every right to be upset with the government for withholding the funding for a fair and just transition ... ARR.News asks NFGF a few questions.

Lord Howe Island Tourism Association News

Pia Funch and Trina Shepherd. Our next busy season has already kicked off with a bang. We have some great opportunities coming up in the next little while, starting with the inaugural LHITA Annual General Meeting ... Sustainable tourism goals can only be achieved through local expertise and collaboration. The AGM provides a great opportunity to share and discuss ideas including sustainable tourism goals for this new season.

Biosecurity update

Following the detection of a rodent on the MV Island Trader on 8th September, the ship was placed into quarantine for 7 days. This unfortunately meant that it missed the tide window and caused a 14-day delay to freight transport at the beginning of the tourist season ... Our newest recruit, Willow, is underway with her training. She visited the children of the LHI Central School ...

A sketchy history of Blackburn Island

When English historian, Derek Neville, was researching letters written by David Blackburn, navigator and ‘master’ of the First Fleet vessel Supply, he was disappointed to discover that the small island in the Lagoon at Lord Howe had lost its original name – ‘Blackburn Isle’. This name had been given to it by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball in March, 1788, when the very first landing was made at Lord Howe.

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