Land & environment

Did you know that at least 100 different species of birds have been identified within the Allora Mountain Flora and Fauna Reserve? The Allora Landcare Group … is pleased to invite members of the community to join a bird watching morning on Sunday the 18th of May, commencing at 8am.

Peter Christen. If you've ever wandered through Panacea Estate and seen a flock of sheep wandering between the vine rows, you might have wondered: What are they doing here? The answer is simple and surprisingly effective. They're helping us make better wine.

Despite strong opposition from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and farmers from all corners of Victoria, the Allan Labor Government’s proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund has today passed a vote in Parliament. The VFF is deeply disappointed by this outcome and remains gravely concerned about the impact this levy will have on farmers...

Not all white-tailed black cockatoos are the same. The region is a breeding stronghold for both white-tailed black cockatoo species, especially Baudin's black cockatoo, which is a forest-dwelling species that nests high in karri and marri trees.

New documents released by Toowoomba Regional Council have revealed more details on how the Greenmount Water Treatment Plant will look and how it will function. Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has submitted a material change of use development application to itself in anticipation of the plant's construction, expected to start this year and be completed by early 2027.

Floodway replacement and improvement works have been finished on Westbrook-Wyreema Road over Westbrook Creek. The $1.3 million project was the third to be delivered by Toowoomba Regional Council under the Betterment Program as part of the wider 2022 Flood Recovery Program.

“This is a heartbreaking announcement for 300 workers, their families, and the wider community. It’s also a clear signal that our food manufacturing industry on which our region relies, is under increasing strain — from rising input costs to workforce challenges and from uncertainty driven by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan”: Chair of the Murray River Group of Councils, Cr. Dan Straub.

Get ready to dive into the excitement – the Australian Giant Cuttlefish will arrive soon in the coastal waters near Stony Point, marking the start of Whyalla’s much-loved Cuttlefest 2025 celebrations! Running from June through July, the season features an exciting line-up of family-friendly, adventurous, and creative events taking place across the city.

The Clarence Catchment Alliance CCA, local environmental groups and residents are calling for immediate action as mining exploration for antimony and tungsten escalates across the Wild Cattle Creek area near Dorrigo; a sensitive part of the drinking water catchment relied on by more than 80,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.

Sarah Martin. A project documenting Barkandji knowledge of the Baaka river and floodplains has been ongoing for about 6 months. It has included a large oral history project which collected knowledge from Barkandji and kin about fish traps, fishing, the floodplains, and how they have changed so much over the last few decades.

...Lots of SES boats, big trucks and volunteers in town ... Water is heading our way but many local people are commenting that the response is over the top ... The river is expected to peak at 9.6 metres in the next week or so.

A non-toxic, environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and pests in horticultural crops that has already proved successful in the United States and Europe will now be tested in Australia through a $4.74 million project led by La Trobe University. 

Sarah Herrmann. Oyster farms in Stansbury have been forced to close while authorities investigate whether food safety is at risk from brevetoxins produced by the microalgae Karenia. At least six farms were closed from Monday, May 5, as a precaution under the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Seafood) Regulations 2017.

Star of the South is confident of lodging the environmental approval applications this year for its proposed windfarm offshore from Gippsland. This follows the state government releasing the latest guidelines to implement the offshore wind projects.

The Australian beef industry can play a positive role in the climate solution provided policy settings recognise the science of the biogenic carbon cycle, according to a leading international air quality specialist. Professor Frank Mitloehner, of UC Davis in the US, told [Cattle Australia forum] ... that while livestock do have an impact on our climate, the contribution of animal agriculture is often exaggerated at the expense of farmers and viable solutions.

Roughly two thirds of voters in those 39  seats in the House of Representatives defined as "rural" by the AEC gave their first preference vote to right of centre parties in the 2025 federal election ... No matter how many votes are cast and no matter how many seats are won in rural areas in favour of a particular side of politics it will not matter a fig if the majority of voters in the city and provincial electorates cast their votes in favour of the opposite side of politics.

Hundreds gathered at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens on May 4, to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Each year, CFA holds a memorial service to remember those firefighters who gave their lives to protect others and to honour the personal sacrifices and commitment our firefighters make each and every day.

If you’re headed to the Grampians, finding your way to iconic walks from the Halls Gap township is now even easier. Budja Budja is the latest trailhead that has recently opened in the heart of town, linking it to the world-class Grampians Peaks Trail and other popular walking tracks in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

Sean Cunningham. The Gillenbah Rural Fire Service recently celebrated a major win as five new recruits officially joined the ranks after successfully completing their final Bush Fire Fighting assessments ... Training, which is conducted over a couple of months, covered all the basics from how to draught water from a dam or the town's reticulated supply (main water lines), to pump operation and crew protection under extreme fire conditions.

The Hon. Susan Close, Deputy Premier of SA, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (SA). Almost 725 hectares – the equivalent of 450 Adelaide Ovals – are being added to three popular SA’s parks, providing more access and better protection to our state’s natural attractions ... Murray River National Park and Maize Lagoon Conservation Park in the Riverland, as well as Sceale Bay Conservation Park on Eyre Peninsula, will be expanded.