Mandatory state government charge to be collected by councils
"... the 3 per cent rates increase to Hindmarsh is approximately $250,000 (which will cover our insurance premium increases and not a lot more), while the ESVF will generate for the state government between $2m to $3m additional from Hindmarsh alone. Multiply these figures by 38 rural councils across the state and the sum becomes $76-118 million!!!": Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ron Ismay.
Council chasing water
Funding is being sought for Council to undertake test bores to identify a suitable ground water source for Hay. Council currently draws water from the Murrumbidgee River, but fears there could be a major risk on the water supply should the river water become unavailable or unsuitable.
Back from the brink: Lord Howe woodhen population surges
Lord Howe Island's native woodhen has made a remarkable recovery, with the latest survey revealing a population of at least 1,638 birds on the Island. This is a significant turnaround for the Lord Howe woodhen, which was reduced to just nine breeding pairs in the 1970s.
Biodiversity versus Great Koala Park: a bit of  fairdinkum science: Vic Jurskis
According to Forestry Australia’s Dr Freeman, National Parks don’t guarantee biodiversity ... The Endangered listing of koalas north of the Victorian border and the idea of a Great Koala National Park are farcical. The koala is an irruptive species. High numbers indicate an irruption, not a stable population.
Riverland councils left high and dry as federal funding falls short – What about us?
“We’re paying more for everything we do, whether it’s fixing roads, managing waste, or maintaining community facilities. But unlike households, local government has to contend with the cost shifting of services from other levels of government, with no extra funding to support them": Renmark Paringa Mayor Peter Hunter ... Mid Murray Council also strongly advocating for more federal support ... The South Australian Local Government Association has also called on the Federal Government to provide appropriate funding for local governments.
Riverland’s constant summer heat produces early mango crop
Christine Webster. David Arnold, director of the long-established family fruit business that has been operating since 1915, said due to the long spell of hot weather, the harvest came early in the second week of February, and was over by the end of the month.
Lessons from the LA fires: a forensic dissection with Dr Faraz Hedayati, 16 April 2025
Join this special April Hazardous Webinar to learn about early post-disaster field observations of the devasting Los Angeles (LA) fires with on-the-ground researcher Dr Faraz Hedayati (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety).
VFF demands Fire Service Levy halt and Inquiry referralÂ
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling on the Victorian Parliament to take immediate action and refer the deeply flawed Fire Services Levy Bill to a parliamentary inquiry, as it faces debate in the Upper House this week. VFF President Brett Hosking said the Bill must be referred to a parliamentary inquiry to ensure the community has a voice in the process.
Nilgen bushfire burns about 5300ha
Eighty firefighters were this afternoon patrolling the Nilgen bushfire area and mopping up after the fire was downgraded from emergency to watch and act yesterday at 6.09pm. The most recent alert issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) ... the Nilgen bushfire had been further downgraded to a bushfire advice as the fire was now contained and controlled.
ZNE-Ag CRC launches project to focus on low-cost methane measurement from livestock
Australian farmers are set to benefit from groundbreaking technologies that will enable cost effective methane measurement in livestock. Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC) ... launched the first project in its research portfolio.
Research outputs – Talk about logging but don’t talk about national parks: SETA
Peter Rutherford, SETA. It is difficult to know how to respond to Professor Lindenmayer’s most recent comments, when he continues to focus on areas subject to timber harvesting and appears to ignore the fact that 855,310 hectares of the iconic Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area was burnt by bushfires in 2019-20. This is over 16 per cent of the total area burnt in NSW in 2019-20.
David Lindenmayer fails to engage with real-world fire dynamics: Robert Onfray
Rather than engaging with the complexities of fire dynamics, Professor Lindenmayer relies on statistical modelling that confuses correlation with causation, ignores field-based studies that contradict his claims, and overgeneralises the impact of logging without considering key variables such as fuel management and fire suppression efforts.
Clean up contractors collect dead fish from Richmond River
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are working with local councils to respond to the fish kills in Richmond and Clarence waterways after ex-cyclone Alfred.
Biosecurity should concern everyone
At a meeting held at All Saints Anglican Church Hall in Clifton last Wednesday, attendees from across the Darling Downs heard why biosecurity is so important. The Condamine Catchment Management Association (CCMA) held a general meeting, which included guest speaker Craig Hunter, a Senior Biosecurity Officer for Biosecurity Queensland.
Duck season exemption for Cairn Curran: no response
Requests for a list of 25 Victorian waterways, including Cairn Curran Reservoir, to be named as exempt from duck hunting have gone unanswered by the State Government as hunters in camouflage gear appeared at the popular recreation site over the weekend.
BlazeAid sets up camp in Nhill
BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires, cyclones, droughts and floods. Working alongside the rural families, our volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
Budget is vanilla ice cream for the bush: GrainGrowers
The budget delivered ... is like a single, small scoop of vanilla ice cream for the bush – predictable and lacking the flavour to truly satisfy regional Australia, industry body GrainGrowers said ... it had missed the opportunity to deliver on a range of regional investment opportunities that would strengthen grain-growing regions and bridge the gap between urban centres and the bush.
Farmers set their sights on federal election after underwhelming budget: NFF
...Federal Budget underscores just how critical the upcoming election will be to deliver the key investments needed to secure and grow Australian agriculture in an increasingly uncertain environment. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said this was a chance for the Federal Government to back Australian agriculture and give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm.
Culgoa turns challenge into strength: Stronger together
This tight-knit town of 86 residents is deeply committed to supporting one another, with nearly half the community recently coming together at the community hall to strengthen connections, share perspectives, and build a Community Emergency Management Plan to face challenges with confidence.
Burning off the answer to intensity
A major study after the devastating 2019/20 wildfires in Victoria and New South Wales found that prescribed burning dramatically reduced the intensity of the fires, according to a bushfire expert. Dr Tony Bartlett, a winner of the Australian Fire Service Medal (ATSM), said after 2019/20, a major study was undertaken to test the effectiveness of prescribed (fuel reduction) burning at a landscape scale in terms of reducing the severity of the wildfire in a wide range of forest ecosystems.
Regional shark mitigation project
Rachel Hagan. Community consultation on the Yorke Peninsula for the Regional Shark Mitigation Project has begun, with Surf Life Saving South Australia visiting southern YP.
Shark net removal: SLSNSW
The NSW Government changes to the Shark Management Program include the removal of shark nets on beaches from 31 March 2025. The timing of the removal of nets to avoid the peak of turtle migration has been communicated to Surf Life Saving Clubs ... SLSNSW provides drone surveillance services at 50 sites across the NSW coastline during key times of the year.
