Land & environment

Farmers rely on good weather to grow crops and sustain livestock, so when the Bureau of Meteorology issues an El Niño warning, it’s a bitter pill to swallow given that so many farmers and rural communities across Australia are still reeling from recent floods. Now, researchers at the UniSA are hoping to connect with farmers who have been affected by the 2022-23 floods to better understand their first-hand experiences and how they would like to be supported to regain optimal wellbeing.

A DA for a 36-lot subdivision at Orion Drive, Yamba, over an area that is predominantly water, has been deferred for one month by Clarence Valley Council to allow consultation with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation ... this was the second time the DA had been on public exhibition ... the initial DA was lodged in September 2020.

Nhill Lake is looking fantastic at the moment. This photo was taken by I See You Photography on the weekend, the lake is looking amazing thanks to a lot of work by the Nhill Lake Committee and volunteers. President of the Nhill Lake Committee Stuart Bone said, "The blueness of the Lake is ‘enviro dye’ to cut the UV rays getting to the weeds." ... Don’t forget there are a number of fish at a catchable size that were stocked in the lake late last month.

The 2022 official audit of VicForests has found an average 96 per cent compliance with the state's forestry environmental standards ... This audit was conducted according to four themes: environmental values in State forests, conservation of biodiversity, operational planning and record keeping, and coupe infrastructure for timber harvesting operations.

The $2m project being carried out in Grandchester and Flinders Peak will include activities like planting koala-friendly trees, removing weeds that prevent koalas moving between existing koala habitat and are a fire risk, reducing livestock grazing on habitat to facilitate natural regeneration, and protecting existing koala habitat through fire management. The project will be delivered by Healthy Land and Water, and will support landholders to better protect koalas on their land. 

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed a one year extension to the Wild Dog Management Plan after calling for its renewal in recent weeks ... “It just made sense to extend the highly successful Wild Dog Management Plan”: VFF Livestock Group Vice-President and Tallangatta farmer Peter Star.

Evans Head locals have captured pictures of the dramatic fiery sky as flames light up the darkness. This evidence of 554 hectares of national park burning south of Evans Head is worrying. Fortunately, the fire continues to travel south which is good news for the seaside town.

Richmond Valley Council has refused the development application at 59 Rileys Hill Road, Broadwater ... “This development is not in the public interest and is not suitable for development due to flood risk”: Jemma Donnelly. During the floods in February–March last year, the site was underwater.

A volunteer firefighter, who attended both the 2019 Yanchep and 2021 Red Gully bushfires, has returned from fighting wildfires in Canada. Gingin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service captain Nikki Woods said fighting wildfires in Alberta, Canada was completely different to fighting bushfires back home.

Suzie Christensen. The Checkpoint program conducted in July 2023 has found no sign of rats or mice on Lord Howe Island for over two years, signalling a significant milestone in the Rodent Eradication Project ... More than 950 detection device checks were undertaken using 140 tracking tunnels, 32 trail cameras, and 300 wax tags and chew cards, along with sweeps with detection dogs.

In an impressive feat, Roper Gulf Regional Council has successfully lead a ground breaking feral pig management and removal program in the communities of Numbulwar and Ngukurr last month. This initiative underscores the solid commitment to the health and well-being of all residents, particularly in addressing the significant health risks associated with feral pigs, including the threat of Japanese encephalitis.

Senior Director of River Management Joe Davis said the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) had instructed WaterNSW to hold releases from Weir 32 at the current rate of 1,000 megalitres per day while the effects of the forecast rainfall on system flows could be determined. “Managing river flows and storages in the Basin is complex and requires us to work adaptively to account for changing demands and conditions,” Mr Davis said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that an El Nino is underway for most of regional and rural Australia, which will lead to a warmer and drier Spring and Summer, increasing the risk of extreme temperature shifts. This will test all of us, as drought, bushfires, and sustained hot weather will impact many communities. Importantly this will also be a leadership moment of truth for parents, employers, and community groups.

The fact that an El Nino has finally been declared might seem a distant problem to many horse people. While the natural weather pattern originating in the Pacific Ocean does not necessarily lead to drought, parts of the country such as Gippsland and in NSW near Dubbo have been experiencing very dry conditions for some time.

Pam Dillon. Girls from the Elliott school Stronger Sisters program recently held their annual canoe camp at Longreach Waterhole ... all the girls became involved in a cleanup and cleared two garbage bags of cans and plastic bottles and a bag of general rubbish.

The start date for this year’s Victorian fire season has been set by fire authorities, following a hotter and drier start to spring and warmer conditions ahead ... The CFA will be introducing further FDPs for Victorian municipalities in the coming months, based on assessments of the amount of rain, grassland curing rate and local conditions.

Level 2 water restrictions will be introduced in Nimbin, effective from Thursday, 28 September 2023. Lismore City Council Acting Manager Water and Wastewater William Lee said the restrictions were necessary as the water level in Mulgum Creek continued to fall.