East Greenmount fire a warning sign
A significant team of firefighters was needed to battle a large grassfire which broke out alongside the New England Highway between East Greenmount and Eton Vale on Saturday afternoon ... Mr Greer said the region is carrying a heavy load of fuel in the form of dry grass as a result of good rain earlier in the year, a recent extended dry period and a number of severe frosts.
Barely a drop to drink
Patricia Gill. Water pressure dropped to a trickle to 400 households last Friday night when a leaking water main was turned off for repairs about 9.30pm. WA Water Corporation crews began work on Friday leaving households without pressure until 6pm on Saturday but the water was cut again from 9am-4pm on Sunday so a Shire of Denmark stormwater drain could be fixed.
Hub closes but support continues
The Upper Murray community came together on Sunday to mark the closure of the Upper Murray Recovery Hub and to celebrate the strength of its people. Located at the former junior school campus in Corryong the hub has played a significant role in responding to the recovery and the building of community strength after the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.
Little River finds gives hope for species
A survey of the Little River system has found one adult male snake-necked turtle in an area where three were found 10 years ago. The find offers hope for threatened South-Western snake-necked turtle population in the habitat after no turtles have been seen there in 10 years.
Forestry Australia proposal: Expanding carbon credits to native forests
Forestry Australia is leading an Australian initiative to expand Australia’s carbon credits across all native forest tenures, including State forests, private native forests, forests managed by Traditional Owners, national parks and conservation reserves. The Forestry Australia ‘Enhancing Native Forest Resilience’ proposal is a forest-sector-led submission to the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee EOI process for Australian Carbon Credits Units (ACCU) Scheme methods.
Bird (flu) is the word
Hugh Schuitemaker. A Senior Riverland politician says the State Government needs increased preparation against potential bird flu outbreaks in South Australia. Riverland-based MLC, and opposition spokesperson for regional SA, Nicola Centofanti has claimed documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request revealed "no official correspondence" between Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven and the state’s chief veterinary officer (CVO) regarding the threat of H7 HPAI bird flu between May and July.
Landscape Board fuelling interest in biochar – Upcoming Lameroo workshop: Landscape SA
Land managers across the Murraylands and Riverland are invited to attend a free workshop to find how biochar can be used to improve soil health. The event will be held on-farm at Lameroo ... and include live demonstration of a biochar kiln, weather permitting. Operated by Maccy Biochar, the kiln will be used to burn organic, on-farm waste at a high temperature in a low oxygen environment.
Jabiluka Mineral Lease not renewed: Monaghan
In March, 2024, Energy Resources Australia (ERA) applied for a 10 year lease renewal on the Jabiluka Uranium mine, which ERA has previously held for 42 years. Based on advice from the Federal Government, the Jabiluka Mineral Lease will not be renewed. As the Mineral Lease relates to a prescribed substance, uranium, there are strict regularity requirements in place ...
Essential tools and proactive biosecurity measures for sustainable sea cucumber industry growth: AgriFutures Australia
Sea cucumbers, small marine animals found on the seafloor, are characterised by elongated, soft bodies and a leathery texture, resembling the shape of a cucumber. These cucumber-shaped animals are highly valued in some cultures, particularly in Asian cuisine, where they are often dried and consumed as a delicacy known as bêche-de-mer.
10,000 mulloway released into river in government’s white spot recovery program
More than 10,000 mulloway fingerlings were released into the Clarence River at Yamba on Friday, July 26. The 10,000 mulloway fingerlings were produced by Searle Aquaculture and the fish re-stocking program has been done by the Clarence River Fisherman’s Cooperative.
Massive new national park forms part of Australia’s biggest monolith: Whitby
The milestone means an 816,000-hectare parcel of land about four times the size of the Australian Capital Territory will be added to the State's conservation estate in WA's north, with joint management to create new opportunities for Mount Augustus (Burringurrah) to support tourism experiences at Australia's largest rock. It also means 3.5 million hectares of the Plan for our Parks' target of five million hectares of new reserves has now been created in WA since 2019.
Green light for Australia’s first blue carbon farming trial
The Sunshine Coast will soon be home to an Australia-first blue carbon project creating a thriving mangrove ecosystem, a healthier Maroochy River for everyone to enjoy and the potential for future income streams for landholders. The Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator has formally registered the nation’s first Blue Carbon project in the Sunshine Coast’s Blue Heart, on the lower Maroochy River floodplain, following a rigorous research and application process.
Coast to cave via ice, quakes and fault
Caves aren’t just a hole in the ground it seems. Of interest is where they are, how they formed and why they exist ... As a cave diver and geologist, Ian is the “eyes” underwater and underground for geologists as he looks at caves and their structure.
Critter crisis hotlines
It’s part of the deal for most people living in a small regional town; lots of time spent on the road between places. This means that what happens on the roads attracts a lot of attention ... And lately it seems that what happens on the road is: animals, lots of different animals.
Grass, science and farming
The Grassland Society of Southern Australia (GSSA) is looking to rebuild by engaging with a new generation of farmers and agricultural consultants. The society has connected farmers, scientists and consultants for 65 years and members gave its future a big vote of confidence at the annual conference in Bendigo on July 17-18.
Daylight saving and wild dogs up for debate: NSW Farmers Association
Wild dogs, shortening daylight saving and improving the renewable energy rollout were just some of agriculture’s hot topics up for debate as NSW Farmers returned for the final day of its 2024 Annual Conference yesterday. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said while Australia needed strong farms to feed the future, the sector was facing a wide range of challenges that delegates were keen to address...
“Cultivating clarity” – understanding ’emissions basics’ increasingly important for Australia’s farm sector: Rabobank
Understanding the "basics of emissions" is becoming increasingly important for Australia’s farmers as the sector faces growing expectations to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farm … In a new guide produced for its farming clients ... Rabobank says as large corporations – including food and agribusiness companies – become more active in managing climate impact across their full supply chain, this is expected to have increasing market access implications for farmers.
Mixed messages on deforestation
Two conflicting reports on land clearing during the last week are likely to leave Queensland residents confused over the issue and make it difficult to decide as to what is fact, bias or just propaganda. The Queensland Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals, Scott Stewart said the latest Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) report and accompanying vegetation management analysis shows Queensland’s vegetation management laws continue to protect native ecosystems ... In the same week the Queensland Conservation Council used the same SLATS report but put forward its concerns over the report’s findings.
Whale carcass removed from Greys Beach
An operation to remove an estimated 20 tonne whale carcass from Greys Beach was successfully completed ... City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ross McKim said it was the most difficult removal the City has undertaken in more than a decade.
Alliance prepares for fire season
The Softwoods Working Group has engaged major stakeholders to develop a strategy to safeguard the softwood forestry industry in the Murray Region Hub ahead of the upcoming bushfire season. A $13M forestry funding package from the NSW government is aimed at protecting essential timber supplies in the region and will support key fire prevention, detection and response initiatives.
Australian seafood industry hooked on better management: UniSA
New research from the University of South Australia shows that the Australian seafood industry has become more resilient to food shocks – a good sign, with Australians eating more seafood now than ever before. Shocks are a sudden and dramatic loss in food production and can impact food security, as well as local industries and livelihoods.
Fisheries expert shares UK lessons on how offshore wind and fishing can co-exist: BMM
Australia’s fledgling offshore wind farm sector can learn from the successes and mistakes of the UK, says an expert with a quarter century of hands-on experience in fishing and the last dozen advising offshore oil, gas and renewables industries. John Watt, Brown and May Marine’s Senior Fisheries Expert, was invited as a keynote speaker at this month’s Offshore Windtech Summit1 in Melbourne, the Asia Pacific’s largest wind energy gathering.
