Land & environment

Groundbreaking research funded by the NSW Government has today revealed feral pig control programs can save landholders up to $100 per hectare, Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall has announced ... “Feral pigs are one of the most wide-spread pests which cause significant economic losses to primary production and other agricultural enterprises in many parts of the State and also damage environmental and cultural sites."

The current erosion has been spiralling out of control ever since the Australian Federal Government developed a plan to ironically ‘save the Murray’. Under the current Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) management, over 300km of the Murray’s natural constraints have been severely eroded taking with it trees, habitats, infrastructure, and any last remaining hope that the MDBA actually care for the country and her communities.

The 2020-21 brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) season is wrapping up and Australia’s measures have again remained strong against this serious pest ... BMSB is a serious threat for Australia’s agriculture industries and environment, because of the damage it can do to vegetable crops and fruit and ornamental trees.

Geoff Helisma. Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC) has voted to “support Clarence Valley Council (CVC) in seeking a moratorium on future mining and mining exploration in the Clarence Valley catchment”. Mayor Carol Sparks tabled a mayoral minute at the May 27 GISC meeting, outlining her motivation to table the minute.

As a cold front moves across NSW, bringing with it rain and below average temperatures, Local Land Services is urging livestock producers to prepare for the conditions.

Forestry Corporation had targeted its plantation forests for harvesting over the last 12 months to help keep up with strong demands in the building industry, setting the scene for the record 2021 planting season, said Roading and Plantations Manager, Craig Busby ... The IPCC recognises that sustainably managed production forests that maintain carbon in growing trees while producing an annual yield of timber deliver a large, sustained climate change mitigation benefit.

Environment Minister, Matt Kean has today announced the second largest land acquisition for national parks in the last 10 years with the purchase of the neighbouring Langidoon and Metford stations, 65km east of Broken Hill. The plan for the two properties, totaling 60,468 hectares, is to create a new outback reserve conserving significant biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage in the region ... The purchase follows on from the recent creation of another outback reserve - Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park which was the largest purchase of private land for the national parks estate.

Doonan Creek Environment Reserve in Peregian Springs is now the largest reserve in Sunshine Coast Council’s conservation estate thanks to the acquisition of an additional property. The latest purchase adds 94 hectares to the existing reserve and brings it to an impressive 474 hectares in total.

A helicopter survey along the east coast of Cape York has revealed the extent of plastic pollution in the region. Commissioned by the Tangaroa Blue Foundation as part of the ReefClean program, the survey identified 2882 plastic floats, 211 ghost nets, 147 long line beacons and 234 fish attracting devices among thousands of items of plastic pollution.

Woolworths Group is buying into wind in its first renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) as the group moves towards 100% green electricity by 2025. The PPA of a newly built NSW wind farm will add 195,000 Megawatt hours of green electricity into the state’s energy grid every year and will power around 30% of Woolworth’s energy needs in the state.

CMEFG. Over the last two weeks Central Murray Environmental Floodplains Group has engaged on-ground managers of federal and state government departments responsible for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, federal and state environmental water and its delivery, and the North Central Catchment Management Authority ... Passionate community angst was voiced continually throughout the day about present management of the forest contra to what has been publicly written and posted by government departmental staff.

The Murrumbidgee valley’s multi-million dollar winter cereal crop has dodged a bullet with minimal mouse damage and recent rain lifting grower’s spirits ... The promising cropping outlook and buoyant land values have resulted in three blue-ribbon corporate holdings in the region hitting the market in the same week.

This year's theme for World Environmental Day 2021 is "Ecosystem Restoration" in line with commencement of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Knox Park is a hosting venue on June 6 from 10am- 3pm.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the Scenic Rim One Million Trees Program was established in 2013 with the goal to plant one million trees across the region by 2025. "The program provides native trees to Scenic Rim residents, community groups, rural landholders and schools and aims to address issues of biodiversity loss by encouraging sustainable land practices, the restoration of waterways and beautification of the region,' he said.

South Burnett Regional Council Mayor Brett Otto revealed he is getting desperate for a permanent water solution for Kingaroy, saying he has called on the state government to help make a case for federal funding ... “We all need to get on the same page with this issue or we will end up trucking water and that is not sustainable for us or for the Queensland Taxpayer,” he said.

The response to the rodent incursion, which was first initiated on 15 April 2021, continues. The Lord Howe Island Board (LHIB) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) field crews are working together with rodent control experts undertaking rodent baiting and monitoring in and around the settlement area and on the fringes of the Permanent Park Preserve. The team currently working on the rodent response includes specialists from Lord Howe Island, mainland NSW, Tasmania and New Zealand ... Our Lord Howe Island based dog handlers and detection dogs have been joined by additional dogs from Port Macquarie and Tasmania.

The McCullochs anemonefish (Amphiprion mccullochi) is an endemic species which only occurs in waters around Lord Howe Island, Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef. The Lord Howe Island lagoon supports the world’s largest population - approximately 75% of all McCullochs anemonefish – and is therefore a critical area for monitoring this species.

NFF CEO Tony Mahar has called the Australia Institute's latest report a PR stunt and questioned the think tank’s motives in continually ignoring agriculture's achievements in stemming the impacts of climate change. "In fact, Australian farmers are leading the world in reducing emissions, all while continuing to increase productivity."