Farmers gearing up for fight: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin – who led a successful legal challenge against the federal government and mining giant Glencore in Queensland – said he was “getting the band back together” to fight Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project ... “The people who depend on the Great Artesian Basin for their water are living in fear that this project will go ahead and go wrong, like many of them do, creating tens of thousands of water refugees and forcing farmers to abandon half the continent because it’s been contaminated forever.
Council vote in support of: timber industry employees
A Notice of Motion (NoM) put forward by Clarence Valley Councillor Allison Bryant last week which called for the local government body to formally oppose the Minns Government’s September 7 announcement to end native forest harvesting and establish the Great Koala National Park during the Monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was carried 7-2.
Seaweed industry update with the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently announced the delivery of an $8 million grant program to support industry to scale up production of Asparagopsis, the red seaweed known for its significant methane-reducing qualities when fed to livestock. ARR.News asked Professor Catriona Macleod, ASSA Chair, for an update on the state of industry in Australia.
Food & Fibre Great South Coast annual report underscores robust regional growth and deep community engagement
Food & Fibre Great South Coast (FFGSC) announced the release of its 2024-2025 Annual Report, showcasing a year of unprecedented growth, innovation, and strengthened community bonds across the Great South Coast region. The report highlights FFGSC's unwavering commitment to championing a thriving, resilient, and sustainable food...
Changes desperately needed so we can fish for the future
Michelle Daw. Gulf St Vincent should be used to trial new approaches to managing commercial and recreational fishing, says YP Country Times fishing columnist Greg James. In the wake of new fishing restrictions introduced in response to the algal bloom, Mr James said the crisis presented an opportunity to move beyond bag and boat limits, to help ensure sustainable fish stocks for the future.
Housing, aviation and water security top agenda at Macquarie Street talks: Regional Cities NSW
Regional Cities NSW (RCNSW) has led a delegation to Sydney to progress joint solutions to the most pressing issues facing regional cities across the state. With talks centred on housing, infrastructure, regional aviation and water security, the delegation sought to strengthen its partnership with the Minns Government to ensure regional cities continue to grow and prosper.
Native mammals ‘taking back’ Australia’s desert ecosystems from the cats
The ambitious trial to reintroduce native marsupial species into Sturt National Park is on track, say Wild Deserts conservationists. Western quolls, bilbies and golden bandicoots are slowly taking back a ‘low-cat’ area of the desert – the massive Wild Training Zone of more than 100km2 in Sturt National Park in NSW.
Night time water bombing is one of 76 recommendations from Bushfire Enquiry
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...
Little love on either side for proposed environmental reforms
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.
Fish sustainably and safely this abalone season: Jarvis
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.
With friends like these, Watt’s the problem?
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.
Letter to the Editor – Gippsland Critical Minerals responds to Mine Free Glenaladale
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.
Back to the ‘easy’ option?
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.
Conservation collaboration set to protect Wimmera’s unique wildlife
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...
Cultural knowledge leads the way in restoring the Baaka’s ecological and spiritual health: MDBA
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.
Crocodiles as laying hens are a new economic reality
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.
Major flood resilience works at Mount Sylvia now complete
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.
$8 million seaweed-farming program builds strong foundation for industry: DAFF
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.
Sharing Australia’s fire management expertise with Nepal: DEECA, DFAT
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.
Everything’s coming up roses
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.
Maldon’s magnificent gardens
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.
Only in the Northern Territory – CLP backs responsible pet crocodile ownership: Boothby
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.
