Branching out – Part three of forestry conversations
This week, we look to views from the community. Thank you to those who were prepared to share their thoughts and continue the dialogue ... “My main concern was the mess on the floor and the impacts on the camping spots" ... “I still question that overarching authority from the EPA as to how the forests are managed. Are they being over-managed?" ... “I see lots of benefits in a working forest for the forest itself"
Gliders back in court: Kinglake Friends of the Forest
VicForests has been given a green light to log areas of Greater Glider habitat in Victoria’s Central Highlands, the Supreme Court has ruled ... Three parcels of forest known to be home to the endangered glider will be opened for logging despite VicForests confirming that they have not surveyed the areas ... ARR.News asked some questions of Kinglake Friends of the Forest.
Feedback wanted on flying foxes at Allora
Last week’s meeting of The Southern Downs Regional Council was told that Black, Little Red and Grey-headed Flying-Foxes are native species that are seasonal visitors to the Southern Downs. The animals typically arrive in the Southern Downs in spring, occupying three roost sites until the onset of cooler weather in late autumn/early winter.
Rare smoky mice return home: Griffin
Critically endangered smoky mice have been released back into the wild in South East Forest National Park, in a world first for the species ... “To the untrained eye, these tiny mice might look quite common, but there are fewer than 100 smoky mice left in the South East Forest, which is one of only two known populations in NSW,”: Minister for Environment James Griffin
Failure of peer review: Jack Bradshaw
Frank Batini’s article (The role of academics in influencing the perceived threat from climate change) highlights how data can be misused to achieve an end. The ‘peer review’ process is intended to ensure that scientific findings are credible and justifiable. But with the frenzy to publish for academic standing and the proliferation of journals wanting to accommodate them, the peer review process often fails under the pressure ...ARR.News asked a few questions of Jack.
Barmah-Millewa future flow options prepared for feasibility study: MDBA
Six potential options that could address the declining regulated flow through the Barmah–Millewa reach of the Murray River have been detailed in a report released by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) ... Capacity through the Barmah–Millewa reach has been reduced from 11,300 megalitres per day in the 1980s to 9,200 megalitres per day today.
Rail trails bill passes Parliament: NSW Gov’t
The Transport Administration Amendment (Rail Trails) Bill 2022 alters the Transport Administration Act 1988 to provide a streamlined process that may enable regional rail trails where and when the community wants them. Minister for Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Bill unlocks opportunities for communities and fixes outdated and onerous legislation that required a change to the Act for each rail trail.
Preparedness must start now ahead of future flooding disasters
Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said it was crucial government, associated agencies and the community learn from the findings of a major flood inquiry and focus on ways to improve our response to disasters in the future.
Crews detect water leaks by listening
Hard-to-detect leaks will be found without excavation works or loss of water supply ... expert technicians will be hunting for water leaks throughout more than 600km of the Tweed’s water supply pipes ... Aqua Analytics will use advanced acoustic technology to pinpoint leaking water in about 85% of the supply network pipes ...
Boosting Victoria’s biosecurity response: Tierney
New portable sample testing and mobile incident centres are among a suite of work that the Andrews Labor Government is delivering to bolster the state’s response to any emergency animal disease outbreak.
Outback Queensland is the backbone of Australia’s energy: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has applauded Senex Energy’s decision to invest $1 billion into its Atlas Roma North natural gas developments in the Surat Basin and raise its natural gas production. Mr Littleproud said the decision by one of the industry leaders in natural gas to invest more in the Maranoa region highlights the crucial role outback Queensland plays in powering Australia and making energy more affordable across the nation.
Senex to invest more than A$1 billion to boost domestic natural gas supply
Senex is set to invest more than A$1 billion in a major expansion of its Atlas and Roma North natural gas developments in Queensland’s Surat Basin to help secure Australia’s energy future. After years of exploration and studies, Senex is ready to increase its natural gas production to 60 petajoules (PJ) per year with work planned to begin in coming weeks.
Salt caverns and minerals across Australia unlock our nation’s hydrogen industry: King
“Geoscience Australia has uncovered potential for the development of multiple caverns underground in salt deposits across the Canning Basin in Western Australia, the Adavale Basin in Queensland and the offshore Polda Basin in South Australia ... Chalice Mining, through their Julimar project, have uncovered a massive supply of palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and gold ... ": Minister King.
Dangerous levels of lead in wild ducks
It took a recent Freedom of Information request for documents to be released from the EPA stating that dangerous lead levels in wild ducks have been found in tests at four of 23 Victorian shooting waterways across Victoria. The documents were obtained by a not-for-profit group called Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting.
Bee prepared this swarm season
As the weather warms up and plants start to bloom for Spring, bee populations will start to increase again. Apiarist Alicia Vohland, owner of Windy Acres Farm between Westbrook and Wyreema, said swarming is the natural process of honey bee colonies expanding to form new colonies.
Naracoorte Creek in the news
Sheryl Lowe. Passionate about nature and the natural flow of waterways, local retired farmer Mr Peter "Huck” Shepherd presented his findings about the potential flooding of the Naracoorte Creek and the possible damage to buildings, businesses and homes in the lower lying areas of the town, to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council meeting ... “If I were to give a rating on the creek’s wellbeing and capacity to handle a decent flood and observing the mess it is in and the lack of maintenance since the 2000 report, out of a ten rating I would give it a minus 5,” he told council.
Book review – Great Properties of Country Victoria
The book demonstrates, through both the truly beautiful photography of Kimbal Baker and the meticulous detail regarding agricultural practices and the history of the establishments provided by Richard Allen, that properties are far more than houses. They are the land and the farming businesses which sustain the families, which the houses protect, and who, in turn, create, manage and develop the farming businesses which sustain the land and the houses. Each supporting and nurturing the other.
Branching out – Part two of forestry conversations
With more than 110,000 hectares of red gum forests now put into National Parks, red gum reserves or Indigenous protected areas across the state, open dialogue can ensure active management remains to manage the aggressive regeneration of these red gum forests and balance the social, economic, cultural and ecological aspects.
NSW Flood Inquiry final report – Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals reaction
"Local response plans cannot be effectively formulated bureaucratically and remotely from the disaster epicentres. For this reason, the BCCM has strongly advocated the establishment of a National Co-operative Disaster Recovery Centre of Excellence, with Lismore the stand-out candidate for its location" : Melina Morrison, CEO, BCCM.
Leadership vacuum left people struggling – flood report
The report on the floods is in and it is a riveting and sobering read. With 21 findings and 37 recommendations, the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee has tackled the government’s response to the floods, the operations of the SES and the difficulties of getting grants from Resilience NSW.
Can community gardens increase our food security?
Bernice Shepherd. Community gardens and city farms have been around for a long time, but they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Australia ... We are lucky to have several gardens in our area and I visited three of them; one well established, one partway there, and another in the beginning phases.
Inaugural National Biosecurity Strategy released: Watt
Minister Watt said the National Biosecurity Strategy would provide clear direction to ensure our system remains fit to meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond ... “This strategy has been under development for more than a year and I’m really pleased that a new spirit of cooperation between Federal, State and Territory Agriculture Ministers has seen the strategy finalised and released so soon after the change of government, " Minister Watt said.
