Prized rural property up for sale
Sean Cunningham. A prized parcel of cropping land in the heart of one of Australia's most productive farming regions remains up for sale after a planned auction was shelved last week. The auction for Grong Grong property, East Midgeon, was originally scheduled to be held at Narrandera Ex-Servicemen's Club last week.
Rare extension made to restrictions
The Fire Danger Period (FDP) will be extended in parts of Victoria including Towong Shire for the first time since 2019, as unseasonably dry conditions continue to elevate fire risk. A lack of rainfall has left vegetation in the state's South West and parts of the North East susceptible to fire ignition, with some areas as dry as they were during the devastating 1982/83 fire season.
Western Victoria’s largest natural disaster followed by significant levy increase
On 19 March 2025, over 120 concerned community members attended a public meeting at the Winiam Hall. Several motions were moved during this meeting, leading to the formation of the West Wimmera Action Group Inc. to address local concerns regarding the discussed issues.
How Australia’s climate-related financial disclosures could impact agriculture – industry report: Rabobank
Most farmers are unlikely to face onerous requirements – particularly in the short-term – as a result of mandatory climate-related reporting recently introduced for large Australian companies, according to new research by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.
Sharks in the shallows
Sarah Herrmann. Shark sightings close to the shores of numerous South Australian beaches have prompted the SA Government to extend aerial shark patrols — but Yorke Peninsula is not included ... Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA told the YP Country Times on April 24 it was aware of community concerns about sightings across the state, including on YP.
Calling all cocky counters
BirdLife Australia. BirdLife Australia, in partnership with the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Recovery Team, is calling for volunteers to join the annual count of the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo on Saturday, May 3 ... Volunteers will be assigned one of approximately 60 survey sites in the cockatoo’s range ...
Prescribed burns a health risk to skinks in Mt Lofty Ranges: UniSA
Prescribed burning in the Mount Lofty Ranges to reduce bushfire risks may be threatening the survival and biodiversity of skinks and other reptiles. That’s the finding from a new University of South Australia (UniSA) study that analysed the health of more than 1750 reptiles from eight species over a two-year period.
Candidate profiles
Ten candidates for the seats of Mallee and Farrer respond to questions on a range of key issues including cost of living, national energy security and affordability, housing, water buyback and human rights violations of the Government's Covid-19 response.
An overload of cute at Darling Downs Zoo
The Darling Downs Zoo located at Pilton has been attracting attention from all over thanks to its bilby breeding program and the birth of a Capybara. Easter is of course the time for the bilby, Australia's version of the Easter Bunny, to shine.
$210m spent on water buybacks – local entitlements sold to meet MDB targets
The Australian Government has released figures pertaining to more than $89 million water purchasing contracts for the period March 1 to April 14. Total purchases over the past six weeks total $210 million. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Austender website lists only contract values awarded.
‘You’re asking people to leave their homes’
Leadership during a bushfire is a complicated and multifaceted undertaking, something that CFA Goroke Group Officer Justin Batson came to understand firsthand this fire season. Not only are you preoccupied with ensuring resources are where they need to be, trucks in position, crews supported and plans in place, you're also carrying the weight of decisions that can affect an entire community.
No heads up: Locals say toxic microalgae advice was too slow
Sarah Herrmann. Southern Yorke Peninsula residents have criticised the speed at which advice was provided to the public about the toxic microalgae bloom, which has been detected at Edithburgh and Coobowie, and caused dead marine life to wash up on numerous other SYP beaches.
River Murray Communities Water Transition Program
Nicola Centofanti. While many irrigators have been removing patches of wine grapes and converting to other crops, there are still many grape growers feeling the impact of ongoing low prices. With consumption of commercial wine falling globally and the large volume of wine retained in storage, there is little cause for optimism in the immediate future.
Not enough boots on the ground to deal with tropical soda apple north of Kyogle, advocacy group says
Prue Weir spoke about the issue of tropical soda apple at the Kyogle Council meeting on Monday, April 14. Ms Weir is a part of a group of residents formed in late 2023 to raise awareness of the insidious weed ... “It is an environmental disaster,” Ms Weir said.
Plumber presents plan for levee to reduce backwater flooding in Coraki
Ian Brown is a plumber who has lived in Coraki for 55 years. He presented his flood levee proposal at the Richmond Valley Council meeting on Tuesday, April 15. He reckons his proposal will reduce the backwater from floods at Coraki.
Easter bilby news
The Australian alternative Easter emblem, the bilby, is iconic but at risk. Bilbies once occupied much of arid and semi-arid Australia but have disappeared from about three quarters of their historic range.
Funding deed for feasibility study finalised
As communicated with shareholders in June 2024, Murray Irrigation (MIL) and our fellow southern irrigation infrastructure operators (IIOs), Coleambally Irrigation Cooperative Limited (CICL) and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited (MI), applied for funding under the Australian Government’s Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program for a feasibility study to explore what is required to bolster the efficiency and resilience of our irrigation networks in an era of water recovery.
Watch out for deer on the move
With the arrival of deer breeding season, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions is reminding communities of the heightened risk of feral deer on the road as well as increased activity and damage across Australia's landscapes including in suburban streets.
Bore no more soon in Vale View
An additional 100 homes in the Vale View area of the Toowoomba Region will soon be connected to the Bulk Water Supply network, meaning the existing bore will no longer be needed.
Centrespot Flowers to become Bidgee Blooms
Hay is set to welcome a new chapter for its local flower shop as Centrespot Flowers prepares to become Bidgee Blooms this August. Marg Bisset, who has been at the helm for 20 years, is gladly handing over the reins of the business to Emma Laracy ... Being a florist is what Emma calls the 'ultimate girl dream'.
Invasive weed found at the Wilcannia Cemetery
Spiny Burrgrass. It's gnarly and sounds like it would win a fight against the cats eye burr. It's not from round here but it will grow well in the type of conditions we have. We must be careful not to help it spread.
Straight to the top
Hugh Schuitemaker. Assurance Riverland irrigators will receive 100 per cent water allocations will provide business certainty amid pressure from low rainfall across the state, says a senior local industry figure ... "It's very positive news for the Riverland that SA Murray Class 3 irrigation allocation is 100 per cent for the coming water year": Renmark Irrigation Trust CEO Rosalie Auricht.
