Land & environment

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.

The annual whites run of WA rock lobsters into deeper waters will start earlier this year, scientists with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are predicting. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the number of rock lobster on the move offshore was influenced by several factors including ocean temperature.

Tens of thousands of Australian farmers have shown adaptability and sustainability this National Agriculture Day by taking part in programs under the Future Drought Fund (FDF) that are helping stock, pasture and native wildlife … provides an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of farmers like Cindy and Steven Scott from the NSW Riverina, who are looking at new ways to manage drought...

As warmer weather sets in, Darling Downs Health is reminding local residents to be on the lookout for snakes. In the first two months of snake season, September and October, 39 people presented to emergency departments with snake bite injuries within the Darling Downs region.

Global carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions from fossil fuels have reached a record high in 2024 but total emissions from fossil fuel and land use changes over the last decade have stabilised, according to the Global Carbon Budget ... The report is produced by leading research international organisations, including CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, as part of the Global Carbon Project.

Mrs McArthur highlighted the severe impact of these changes, pointing out that “Victoria’s parks, like everything else beyond the tram tracks, are a low priority. Even when the government had money, Parks Victoria was not a priority” … in the past three years, the area treated for invasive species and pest control has fallen by 33 per cent.

Several clean-up operations were in place across Grafton ... after a ferocious storm swept across southern parts of the Clarence Valley. Trees were uprooted by strong gusts of wind and localised flash flooding cut roads in half as heavy rain fell relentlessly during the afternoon and into the evening.

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) crews are currently focused on cutting grass on public land in the Murray Goldfields District to reduce the risk of grassfires this summer.  FFMVic Murray Goldfields Acting District Manager, Aaron Gay, said crews will be slashing a total of 2,000 hectares across 700 locations in the coming weeks.

The Game Management Authority (GMA) will begin its annual survey of Victoria’s game duck population ... The survey will be conducted by wildlife biologists, who will record the presence, species and number of game ducks at more than 850 waterbodies across Victoria including wetlands, farm dams, sewerage treatment plants, streams and rivers.

Gingin volunteer firefighter and councillor Nikki Wood’s photo "We Work Together as One" is a state winner in the Resilient Australia awards. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the stirring image visually captured the joint response from firefighters, police, paramedics and the RAC rescue helicopter at a crash in Gingin.

Weather forecasters are predicting widespread rainfall for November, across NSW and Queensland. Falls of between 20 and 60 mm are being touted for the Back Country. The Bureau of Meteorology says rainfall is likely to be above average across much of eastern Australia and parts of the interior until January.

The Moulamein Men’s Shed is helping to keep the small village alive. The oldest town in the Riverina, members of the shed work hard to do whatever they can to keep various aspects of the town afloat ... Moulamein’s main drawcard is to fishermen and bird watchers.

The National Farmers’ Federation has raised its eyebrows at today’s announcement the Federal Government has received 1000 responses to the southern Murray-Darling Basin open tender process. NFF Water Committee Chair Malcolm Holm said the announcement by Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek raised significant questions for farmers in Australia’s food bowl.

The Albanese Labor Government’s voluntary water purchase open tender has received more than 1,000 responses across the southern Murray-Darling Basin, far exceeding the volume of water required ... About 27.5 gigalitres, or 11,000 Olympic swimming pools of water, have already been recovered – up from just two gigalitres in May 2022.

Sean Cunningham. The Lake Mejum/Coolah water storage proposal is back in the spotlight, following an announcement from Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka. Council is seeking funds to conduct a feasibility study into Lake Mejum/Coolah as an off Murrumbidgee River water storage location. A former Narrandera Mayor and Murrumbidgee Valley Water Users group member, Warwick Heckendorf, was an advocate for the project decades ago, but his opinion has since changed.

Rural water users in NSW could see their costs more than double over the next five years if IPART accepts the WaterNSW new pricing proposal. NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller said the pricing proposal recommends hiking water bills by 21-24 per cent every year for five years, adding up to $40,000 to a ‘typical’ farmer’s water bill by 2030.

Patricia Gill. An emaciated emperor penguin was found far from his Antarctic home on Ocean Beach on Friday in the first known sighting of the bird species on Australian shores. Gus, named after the Roman emperor Augustus, is reported to be doing well while in the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, Carol Biddulph from the WA Sea Bird Rescue.

As the weather warms up the incidents of snake sightings being shared has increased. Hay Veterinary Clinic’s Wayne Gardam says snake "season" is shaping up to be a particularly bad one for domestic pets, with about twice as many patients as usual being presented to the Hay Veterinary Clinic for treatment for snake bite since September.

Hugh Schuitemaker. State government politicians have been invited to witness ongoing impacts of frost and industry challenges on the Riverland wine industry, following the announcement of a support program that has left senior local MPs "frustrated" … Tim Whetstone said direct state government consultation with Riverland growers impacted by recent frost, and other industry challenges, had been lacking.

Sebastian Calderon. Riverland grape growers gathered last week to tour some of the frost-damaged vineyards at Loxton, aiming to discuss new approaches to manage the weather events, while also voicing opinions with Riverland Wine representatives regarding unknown grape prices. The meeting started at Peter and Michelle Hill’s Loxton North property...

After arriving via the Rural Fire Service helicopter, Premier of NSW Chris Minns and Member for Barwon Roy Butler entered the Golf Club with no fanfare and immediately began to introduce themselves to the 60 Wilcannia, White Cliffs and rural residents present ... Following the Premiers visit, Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe hosted another, smaller gathering on Sunday the 27th October. Adopting the same approach as the Premier, the Minister spoke to local business owners, before answering questions from the floor.