Land & environment

Hugh Schuitemaker. Upgrade works taking place at infrastructure along a major local creek is set to benefit native fish species and Riverland outdoor enthusiasts. The Department of Environment and Water (DEW) recently commenced upgrade works on Bookmark Creek infrastructure.

Rachel Hagan. After about a 200-year hiatus, the Narungga Nation cultural burning practices have returned to Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula) to help bring back balance to a landscape traditionally shaped by fire. Throughout the year, a series of workshops have brought the burning practice back to Country at Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, Ardrossan grasslands and Minlagawi nature reserve.

Liz Sandeman. Over the past 16 years since the first edition of Marine Connection’s Lone Rangers report was produced, there has been an increasing number of dolphins and whales around the world living solitary lives ... The report is not only an historic record of solitary, sociable dolphins, and whales, but also highlights their individuality and why it is vital that we respect them as wild animals.

Families will have the opportunity to get a close look at unique Australian wildlife this summer with the introduction of three new koalas to a major national park … Miffy, a seven-year-old female from Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria, and Louie and Franklin Doogsie, 18-month-old brothers from Cleland Wildlife Park … were released into Yanchep National Park late last month.

“All the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictors in the western part of Victoria are showing a drier than usual lead up to the fire season , with soil moisture low, and a high fuel load ringing alarm bells for the next few months,” said Andrew White, CEO of the Victorian Forest Products Association.

The official opening of the Catholic school in Woodburn is a reminder of how far the riverside town has come in its recovery after the 2022 flood disaster. Principal Jeanette Wilkins gave an emotional speech at the blessing and dedication of St Joseph’s Primary School in Woodburn ... Governor-General Sam Mostyn officially declared the school open.

Rangers and police are using drones to identify unauthorised vehicles involved in off-road activity in Two Rocks. WA Police said they have been assisting and would continue to assist in conducting proactive patrols ... using a police-issued drone.

Two years ago, on 14 November 2022, a wall of water virtually swept the town away, nearly wiping Eugowra from the map. The residents were all but forgotten in the build-up to the event through rushed and late warnings. Immediately after the flood, the emergency response didn’t meet the expectations politicians kept promising after every emergency disaster.

Ninety five per cent of ocean beaches in NSW have been graded as Good or Very Good. The State Government Beachwatch Program has assessed beaches since 1989. The latest report summarises the performance of 218 swimming sites along the NSW coast in 2023–2024 including ocean beaches, estuarine areas lakes, lagoons and freshwater swimming sites.

More than 1650 gigalitres of water for the environment was provided to South Australia in the 2023-24 financial year, the largest volume since the introduction of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in November 2012. ... "All of this work highlights the importance of recovering the final 450 gigalitres of environmental water under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to ensure we deliver better outcomes for the River Murray": Susan Close.

The South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program has achieved a significant milestone with more than 20,000 deer now removed from across the state. Feral deer are regarded as one of Australia’s worst pest animals in both rural and peri-urban areas and removing them significantly improves outcomes for primary producers and the natural environment.

The State of the Climate Report 2024 has found Australia’s weather and climate has continued to change, with an increase in extreme heat events, longer fire seasons, more intense heavy rainfall, and sea level rise. The report, prepared every two years, was released today by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and the Bureau of Meteorology.    

Forestry Australia is calling on the Australian Government to ensure that new ACCU Scheme carbon methods developed for managing native forests are truly ‘nature positive’ ... “The proposed method,  Enhancing Native Forest Resilience, is focussed on improving the health and resilience of native forests and encouraging active, adaptive management of native forests across all land tenures to assist Australia in meeting its Paris Agreement targets": Dr Bill Jackson.

The story of an American father and his two sons who swam Australia’s longest river, the Murray, is now available for streaming in Australia ... ‘Take Your Dream’ was made by the Helmick family ... The film features their 120-day swim down the Murray from Corryong, through Lake Hume and Lake Alexandrina, eventually ending at the mouth of the river in Goolwa, South Australia.

The National Farmers’ Federation warns that the Federal Government’s dismal response to the Red Imported Fire Ant Senate Inquiry Report will come back to bite ... “It appears the Government is underestimating this pest. Red fire ants pose a mammoth risk not only to farming, but to humans, animals, plants and the quintessential Aussie backyard barbecue”: NFF Sustainable Development and Climate Change Committee Chair Angus Atkinson.

Coinciding with Cambooya Landcare’s annual general meeting at Felton Hall on Saturday, 9 November will be a free ‘Fossils on Farms’ Workshop and community barbecue ... Attendees will learn what fossils can be discovered in our area, what to look for, where to look and what the rules and rights are if you find something.

Both Barham and Deniliquin High School students attended Barham Lakes to complete revegetation work. Almost 200 terrestrial plants grown at Tulla Natives and many aquatic species transferred from within the local area were planted, assisted by Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Traditional Owners from the Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council, Deniliquin Landcare and volunteers.

Mrs Dalton wants the NSW Government to take a stand against the Federal Government’s move to take productive water from regions under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan using the water buyback scheme. A petition organised by Ms Dalton needs 10,000 signatures, and Ms Dalton said she’s got just over 5000 so far ... "10,000 signatures will bring on debate in NSW parliament."

Hugh Schuitemaker. The State Government says the Riverland’s wildlife and plant species are seeing benefits of increased environmental water, however, senior local politicians have described the announcement as "misleading" ... Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said the increased environmental flows were due to high storage volumes and the 2022-23 flood event.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has today released Australia’s State of the Forests Report: Synthesis 2023. ABARES Executive Director, Dr Jared Greenville, said the five-yearly report covered all areas of Australia’s forests—public and private forests, forests managed for production and forests managed for conservation…

Panel members have now been appointed to lead the independent review into the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project, marking a significant step forward in the review process. It comes following the NSW Government’s commitment to undertake a review of the Wilcannia proposed weir design.

A cross-section of the nation’s leading minds have converged in Ballarat, to discuss the goal of creating a healthy and resilient future for Australia’s forests and share knowledge and ideas to ensure forests can provide a wide range of benefits for generations to come. Approximately 300 scientists, researchers, forestry professionals and foresters will gather at Forestry Australia’s National Symposium…