Sunday, May 19, 2024

CATEGORY

Land & environment

Our Q&A

The lack of a TAFE, children with special needs, the health bureaucracy, E-tag regulations, arts, rare earth mining, radiation therapy and plastics were among 16 questions asked at last week’s Country Cabinet forum in Naracoorte. During a two-day whirlwind visit SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, his ministers and all department chiefs collectively met with hundreds of people as they travelled to various special spots within our region.

Snake season

Be on the lookout for hungry and angry venomous snakes. That’s the message from a local snake catcher as the weather starts to warm up in the South East. David Miles says not only has the snake season landed early, but the reptiles are also hungry in warm spring weather, posing danger to people and dogs ... The Australian Reptile Park has also issued an “urgent warning” for people to be on the lookout for venomous snakes, saying a rise in temperatures, coupled with winter rainfall, was the perfect environment for venomous snakes to become more active.

CarbonNet pipeline stakeholder consultation

The landmark federal-state CarbonNet project, which aims to take carbon dioxide emissions from the Latrobe Valley and sequester them under Bass Strait, has got the go ahead for a vital part of the project – the plan to build a pipeline that will carry liquefied CO2 to the coast. The 100 kilometre-pipeline – 80km buried onshore and a further 20km offshore – will take liquefied CO2 to a carbon capture and storage hub at Golden Beach, creating a connection for multiple carbon capture projects.

Research breakthrough in genetic biocontrol striving to transform pest management: Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

A potential new non-lethal and ethical approach to control invasive mammal pests was showcased at a briefing held at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide ... Hosted by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and the University of Adelaide, the briefing introduced guests to a world-first breakthrough in gene drive technology.

A decade of rainbows – Rainbow Lorikeet tops the 10th Annual Aussie Bird Count: BirdLife Australia

BirdLife Australia, leaders for bird conservation in Australia, reveal the preliminary results for the Aussie Bird Count. With more than 420,000 counted, the colourful Rainbow Lorikeet once again comes out on top, beating the Noisy Miner with nearly 220,000 and the iconic Australian Magpie with around 154,000 counted.

Awards recognise water innovation

North East Water’s work has been recognised with a major award and a high commendation ... North East Water’s complex $6.5 million Beechworth project involved drilling through granite bedrock to construct a one-kilometre pipeline in Beechworth Historic Park, making it one of the longest single shot boring operations attempted through granite in Victoria.

Ferrero shuts down hazelnut project

The Ferrero Group is selling its $70 million hazelnut development near Narrandera amid claims that the region’s climate played a key factor in its decision. The move to not proceed with its NSW project is considered a major blow to the establishment of a commercial-scale hazelnut growing industry in Australia.

New arrival at Altina

Two black-and-white ruffed lemurs have been paired together at the Altina Wildlife Park near Darlington Point. The species is critically endangered due to poaching and deforestation and one is from England and will provide genetic diversity to the Australian lemur population.

Current conditions driving demand for hay

Australian farmers are requesting donated hay at a phenomenal rate as drought and bushfire conditions bite ... Queensland cattle producer Betty Johnson, of Biggenden, this month received hay from Rural Aid ... “We’ve had no rain at all since about January which means that I’ve been feeding stock for ages. If you’re feeding stock, it costs money.”

Getting the Murray–Darling Basin Plan back on track: Productivity Commission

Improved accountability would boost progress on the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, according to the Productivity Commission. The interim report of the 2023 Murray–Darling Basin Plan implementation review finds the Australian Government’s recently proposed extension of the Basin Plan timeframes is necessary but won’t be enough. “In the five years since the last Commission review, very little progress has been made on water recovery, or on supply and constraints-easing measures,” Associate Commissioner Chris Guest said.

Basin Plan buybacks a death knell for the bush: VFF

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Productivity Commission’s Murray-Darling Basin Plan Implementation Review backing of more water buybacks would irreversibly damage Basin farming communities and tears up a decade-long agreement to collaboratively manage the river system.

Tasmania’s peak farming body welcomes watershed moment: TFGA

Tasmania's peak farming body welcomes the introduction to the Tasmanian Parliament today of the Water Miscellaneous Amendments (Delegation and Industrial Water Supply) Bill 2023. Proposed changes to legislation will mark a significant milestone in Tasmania's water management by enabling water utilities such as Tasmanian Irrigation to supply industrial users for green hydrogen production.

Goomburra fires

As at Tuesday 31 October the Goomburra Fires are under control after many days of fire fighting and back burning. Each day about half a dozen units are attending the fires which are still burning in the hills.

How did the turtle cross the road? Community asked to assist to help protect reptilian friends: Landscape SA

As spring turtle nesting season begins, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board is asking drivers to play a crucial role in helping to protect the region’s vulnerable freshwater turtles. Turtle fatalities as a result of traffic accidents are a significant contributor to the steep decline in freshwater turtle numbers in the Murraylands and Riverland.

Calls for council slashing at Nymboida

A Nymboida resident who was in the middle of the Glen’s Creek Road firestorm last Wednesday says calls for council to slash about 80 acres of land adjoining his and two other properties have resulted in a limited response that placed lives in jeopardy … “Council would be having a go at anyone else whose property is putting people at risk, but council can get away with it because they’re council…it’s not good enough.”

Project to improve biodiversity at Niigi Niigi – Sealy Lookout: Forestry Corporation of NSW

A partnership of key local agencies will rejuvenate the bush to improve biodiversity at one of Coffs Harbour’s most visited natural assets. Forestry Corporation has partnered with Envite Environment and the Gumbaynggirr Ranger team of the Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) to undertake weed management and staged bush revegetation work within the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve.

Tasmanian Farmers reject new fire levy options as totally unfair and unacceptable: TFGA

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) says it cannot support the government's proposed Tasmanian Fire and Emergency Services fire levy funding models in their present form ... TFGA President, Ian Sauer said, “While we support the move toward a fairer, more efficient funding system with a single source of funding, in some instances we’re seeing farmers' contributions increase under one proposed model by a staggering 1000 per cent, and under the other model by at least 230 per cent in contributions, which is  unacceptable and certainly not equitable.”

Flood Corporation withered – now we hope FloodCorp3 will provide serious relief

It is the end of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. From Tuesday, October 31, the NRRC will be dissolved and its assets, rights and liabilities transferred to the NSW Reconstruction Authority. This is hardly a surprise...

As buybacks remove houses, the town shrinks and there’s nowhere else to go

Woodburn needs better solutions for its flood recovery, councillor Robert Hayes said. At Richmond Valley Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 17, Mr Hayes asked the council to write to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the NSW Reconstruction Authority to express concern about the potential impacts of large-scale housing buybacks on the future of Woodburn.

Tender awarded for Mount Morgan Pipeline

The next major step in delivering a long-term permanent water supply to Mount Morgan has been taken with Council announcing Haslin Constructions Pty Ltd as the successful tenderer for the construction works ... “As part of the tender, they also are committed to sourcing labour and materials for this project locally as much as possible which is another big win for our community”: Mayor of Rockhampton Region Tony Williams.

NSW Farmers joins campaign against anti-farming policies: NSW Farmers Association

NSW Farmers has thrown its support behind an unprecedented national campaign against anti-farming policies. Liverpool Plains farmer and NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the Australian agriculture industry was united in its stand to call on Federal parliamentarians to stand up against policies which threaten to slash billions from farm production.

Tasmanian Farmers join national chorus to campaign against anti-farming policies: TFGA

Tasmanian Farmers have backed a national advocacy campaign in the fight against anti-farming policies that impact our farmers. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA) President Ian Sauer said the farmers across Australia have united in a call for federal politicians to say no to government policy which is putting billions in farm production at risk.

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