Land & environment

The 2025 Donald Show opened in fine style on Friday night, drawing an eager crowd for music, food, and the official start to one of Victoria’s favourite country gatherings. Outside, the showgrounds buzzed early as families wandered between food stalls and rides ... Among the many features proving popular on the lawns at Donald’s two-day show, particularly with children, were Professor Wallace’s Puppets (in the background of this photograph), and “Fair Dinkum Fauna Wildlife and Education Displays”.

Businesses and families financially impacted by the harmful algal bloom have been left wanting by the State Government’s most recent announcement on how it plans to keep our beaches open during summer ... “While our lifesavers do an outstanding job keeping our beaches safe, algae doesn’t swim between the flags,” Mr Tarzia said.

Balranald Shire Mayor Louie Zaffina is actively balancing regional advocacy with local infrastructure progress. The Mayor recently toured the regional meeting circuit to tackle challenging policy issues while simultaneously overseeing significant developments across the Shire. ... The Bidgee Haven Retirement Hostel received a new wheelchair-enabled van ....

As a critic of the climate catastrophists—and someone who prefers a long-term, science-based view of climate change—I thought I’d share a basic understanding of the science and terminology behind the BoM forecasts we rely on ... Every time a farmer glances at the Bureau’s forecast, the same terms pop up: Indian Ocean Dipole, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode, cold fronts from the Great Southern, tropical moisture feeds, and the Leeuwin Current ...

The minister was impressed by the view of Toonumbar Dam at Bells Bay Campground. When Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig visited Kyogle on Thursday, October 9, Kyogle Council staff took Mr Hoenig to Bells Bay Campground. “It’s magnificent,” he said. “It’s like a loch in Scotland” ... “It’s a state asset,” he said. Unfortunately Mr Hoenig’s department does not deal with WaterNSW and its drive to dispose of the assets around Toonumbar Dam.

As October arrives, so too does the first flush of mauve from Australia’s beloved jacaranda trees. I trace the jacaranda’s journey from the dry slopes of the Andes to its spectacular springtime display in towns like Grafton, where more than 1,700 trees transform the streets into rivers of purple. With the bloom set to reach its dazzling peak in just a fortnight, it’s the perfect moment to celebrate this fleeting spring spectacle.

An independent, NSW Government-commissioned study released in September 2025 has confirmed there is no evidence that selective timber harvesting harms koala populations in NSW’s North Coast forests. 

Sarah Herrmann. Garfish, whiting and calamari stock assessment began in Gulf St Vincent last week, with the opposition calling the government's timing "sluggish". The state government announced a "rapid assessment of fish stocks and fisheries" on July 22 to measure the impact of the algal bloom, but more than two months later, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Nicola Centofanti said there had been little evidence of a rapid response.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Last week's Riverland visit by the State Opposition Leader has highlighted Labor's indifference towards the region, Tim Whetstone says. Alternative premier Vincent Tarzia made his first trip to the Riverland since taking over from disgraced former Liberal leader David Speirs in August 2024, and Mr. Whetstone said the continued absence of Peter Malinauskas – who last visited during the flood, in November 2022 – says plenty about the two parties.

The Charlton Courthouse Gallery was abuzz with visitors on Sunday, October 5, for the opening of Birds in Focus, the latest exhibition by local farmer and keen photographer, Stuart Giles ... When asked if there was one bird he found especially elusive, Stuart pointed to the Red-capped Robin.

Planting is underway across most of Australia’s cotton growing regions with some crops already out of the ground in warmer climates while some growers in southern regions are awaiting warmer weather before starting their 2025/26 season. 

The ink is barely dry on Canberra’s new 2035 carbon targets, and the climate catastrophists are already eyeing 2050, the holy grail when net zero will finally be achieved. Out in the Wheatbelt, most farmers shrug. Another distant date, another government promise, most have tuned out with the view that what I can’t see does not hurt me — a bit like the GRDC levy that nicks 1 per cent of farm-gate revenue. But let’s be clear ...

From 29 August 2025, the NSW Government will commence negotiations with landowners to secure flood easements along the Murrumbidgee River, between Darlington Point and Balranald, under its Reconnecting River Country Program ... “If landowners fail to negotiate an easement interest, their land could be compulsorily acquired": Bobbie Pannowitz.

More than 3000 people may have had their personal information comprised in a data breach of applications made to the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program. The breach happened when a former contractor of the NSW Reconstruction Authority uploaded data containing personal information to an unsecured AI tool which was not authorised by the department.

This week's unseasonably hot weather and fast-moving fires in neighbouring council areas are a timely reminder to Scenic Rim residents to prepare their properties and develop a Bushfire Survival Plan. 

As part of efforts to prepare the Gannawarra for the fire season, Gannawarra Shire Council’s annual fire hazard property inspections have started. Council’s Local Laws team are travelling throughout the municipality, identifying properties which need to be cleared of fire risks and issuing Fire Prevention Notices to landowners, instructing them to carry out works to reduce fire risks.

The Minns Labor Government aims to release a further 42 homes for sale across the Northern Rivers by Christmas, following an overwhelming community response to the first four home relocation auctions. To date, 83 flood-affected properties, bought by the Government through the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, have been offered for sale to be relocated to flood-free land by the new owner. 

TFTU says the Labor Government is short-changing its own people and not being accountable to workers. The Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union (TFTU) has condemned the NSW Government’s handling of the Great Koala National Park decision, saying workers are being offered redundancy support packages five times worse than their Victorian counterparts.

As Australian agriculture considers its role in helping meet newly announced national emissions targets, the National Carbon Farming Conference & Expo in Albury this November will give producers the tools to turn policy into profitable, practical action on their farms.

...Crocodiles aren’t just an iconic part of the Northern Territory - they’re powering our economy too. A new report estimates the industry will contribute $151 million in 2025, supporting more than 300 jobs. The Economic Value of the Northern Territory’s Crocodile Industry ... outlines three growth scenarios that could see the industry’s contribution rise to between $176 million and $243 million by 2035.

You are invited to livestream this year’s Disaster Challenge Final from Hobart! The three finalist teams are perfecting their pitches and Natural Hazards Research Australia would love you to join us to hear how these could revolutionise infrastructure to strengthen disaster resilience. Are you based in Hobart? Join us at the RACV Hobart Hotel...