2024 Churchill Fellowship recipient: Dean Gilligan
Churchill Fellow Dean Gilligan discusses with ARR.News the conservation of Edgbaston Springs in the Great Artesian Basin, key threats to springs ecosystems, such as invasive pest fish, and how he hopes his research in Ash Meadows in the USA and Cuarto Cienegas in Mexico will inform the management of Australia's endangered springs ecosystems.
Massive Murray Paddle concludes
The 55th Massive Murray Paddle finished on Friday in Koondrook having started four days earlier in Yarrawonga on Monday, November 18. Top athletes from all over Australia, New Zealand and the USA competed, along with at risk Indigenous youth paddling in teams following the Dungalayin Mileka Team model.
On-farm information series highlights grower passion for responsible land stewardship: GrainGrowers
The passion of grain growers for the responsible stewardship of the land is a clear message farmers are sharing with Australian consumers in a new information series for the community. The information series promoted by GrainGrowers highlights a modern, high-technology approach that allows growers to maximise available growing conditions, delivering high-quality, safe food to consumers while protecting the land.
The Queen’s Loxton arrival
Sebastian Calderon. Loxton has become the Murray River Queen's (MRQ) new home after the boat’s successful voyage from Renmark ... The Paringa Bridge crossing was one of the highlights during her trip, as cars and people gathered to see the bridge go up and give way to Donna Neale and her team steaming the MRQ.
Hay sits out the calm before the renewable energy storm
SW-REZ is in the calm before the REZ Access Rights announcement-storm in the coming months. Proposed large-scale windfarms such as Pottinger, Engie and Bullawah are all waiting in the wings for the all-important announcement to be made ... further proposals are coming forward, with renewable energy development company RES announcing a $40 million commitment to local community development as part of its plan to construct the Argoon Wind Farm.
Wow for the wharf
Hugh Schuitemaker. A significant milestone in Renmark’s recovery from the 2022/23 flood event has been marked with the opening of the town’s new wharf. A large crowd of local residents, plus local and state government representatives, gathered at the Renmark riverfront last Wednesday to mark the opening of the town’s redeveloped wharf.
Peppered in Nhill
John Williams. Growing up in Nhill I found the peppercorn tree a handy supply of ammunition for my bicycle pump. Those little pink peppercorns could really sting when fired from a "weaponised" hand pump. Back in the 50’s there was a multitude of pepper trees in Nhill as the town in the early days had its flat barren landscape beautified with pepper trees and sugar gums which provided excellent shade, shelter and aesthetic relief from the wide open spaces.
Support our Aussie farmers this Christmas: Rural Aid
Rural Aid is calling on Australians to provide a much-needed hand up for our struggling farmers this Christmas. Farmers across South Australia, Victoria, and the southern parts of New South Wales are currently enduring a devastating drought and need our help – so too families in Southwest WA who are recovering from their driest start to cropping season on record.
Moving buybacks to drier, higher ground
Once people start moving onto the Summerland Estate at Fairy Hill, near Casino, how many will want to relocate their home? ... The first four relocated homes from the 2022 floods will be moved to Mount Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah. It is part of the largest assisted relocation program in Australian history.
Specific ‘forever chemical’ found at unexpected levels in firefighting foam: UNSW Sydney
A new study has revealed there may be a significant underestimation of a specific type of PFAS ‘forever chemical’ in the environment. Researchers from UNSW Sydney found that branched perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was more prevalent than expected in firefighting foam.
Consumers urged to choose quality batteries this sale season after record number of fires: Sharpe, Dib, Chanthivong
The NSW Government is warning consumers about the potential dangers of buying poor quality lithium-ion battery powered products as gifts this holiday season, which may pose a fire risk. The warning comes amid fears that substandard lithium-ion battery powered devices may flood the market during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other pre-Christmas sales ahead of new regulations coming into effect next year.
Riverina landholders hear legal perspective on river flows and easements
Helen Castles. Landholders are voicing their concerns about proposed environmental easements on properties along the Murrumbidgee River under the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Rivers and Landholder Negotiation Scheme (LNS). The draft LNS Regulation and negotiation guidelines outline the approach the NSW Government will take when negotiating voluntary agreements with landholders affected by future environmental water deliveries at higher flow levels, or under different regimes, than current operating practice.
Fire training boosted on land and in the air
The CFA is enhancing its driver training capability across Victoria thanks to 10 new driver training trucks along with additional driving educators. Deputy Chief Officer Operational Doctrine and Training, Rohan Luke, said the new custom designed driver training trucks will be delivered to CFA training grounds across the state ... The CFA has also created a world-first mixed reality fire aviation simulator ...
Fire money funnelled to the city
Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, has called for greater parity in funding the state’s fire services from the fire service property levy. Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas, released data in response to Mr Tilley’s Question on Notice in early September and said the revenue was going to Victorian firefighting. However, Mr Tilley claims that a review of the State Budget shows the bulk of the money goes to paid firefighters in Melbourne.
NSW Water Minister abandons state’s farmers
It’s not only media requests that get dodged by NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, but the plight of NSW family farmers is just as inconsequential. Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has called on NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson to stand down unless she can fix the water crisis facing rural NSW. “The role of Water Minister is one of the few ministerial positions where, if you get it wrong, people’s lives can be ruined immediately,” Helen said.
Scale of big renewables laid bare
The Federal Government’s push to go ‘green’ appears to be spiralling out of control, with new costs estimated that the transition will take $1.3 to $1.5 trillion … What do we get for our money? Cheap, reliable, centralised power generation, with technology that will last for more than half a century? Or expensive, decentralised, precious metal intensive, unreliable, short-lived technology that will carve across some of Australia’s most precious landscape?
Old practices rekindled in new firefighting partnership: Forestry Corporation of NSW
The Western Bundjalung community’s Ngullingah Jugun Aboriginal Corporation is working with Forestry Corporation to bring together knowledge of cultural burning with government bushfire management. A fire training course has been held in Jubullum Village, near Tabulam … the fire training will improve both the community and government response to wildfires.
Final Western Riverina Seed Workshop near Tabbita
The last workshop in Murrumbidgee Landcare’s Western Riverina Seed Workshop Series ... brought together a group of dedicated landholders, conservationists, and seed enthusiasts to deepen their knowledge of native species seed ...
Floodplain flashbacks
A not so well-known bard once remarked that one cannot learn the lessons of the future until you thoroughly know and accept the history of the past. These prophetic words came to mind when I attended a recent meeting in Yamba and most of the people present were relative newcomers to our town. I soon realised they had not experienced the original fears suffered by most local ratepayers over the then first attempts to develop our controversial floodplain areas…
Cairns Group Farm Leaders Statement in advance of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29): NFF, CGFL
The Cairns Group of Farm Leaders (CGFL) are a group of farm organisations from Cairns Group countries, a coalition of agricultural exporting countries. Together, we represent farmers that grow and produce over one third of the world's agricultural exports. It is our vision to create a world with an equitable and enforceable rules-based trading system in agriculture.
Koala Park panel reps selected: City of Coffs Harbour
City of Coffs Harbour will be represented as the NSW Government moves toward the creation of a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast ... The consultation process - as it works toward the park’s formation - includes establishment of three advisory panels (Aboriginal groups, community and industry) ... Coffs Harbour Council resolved to nominate Cr Jonathan Cassell to the Great Koala National Park Community Advisory Panel.
Leann found 140 turtle eggs on her morning beach walk
Leann Spencer has lived in Evans Head for more than four years. Every morning, as the sun is coming up, she goes for a beach walk ... as the fog was lifting, she saw strange tracks in the sand ... On closer inspection, Leann discovered it was a turtle nest and there were 140 golf ball size eggs at the bottom of the large hole.
