Land & environment

The Northern Regional Planning Panel have refused a proposal for a controversial $53 million 284 lot subdivision at Miles Street, Yamba, in a split decision 3 votes to one ... The NRPP gave ... reasons for refusing the application relating to filling of the site, the flood risk and evacuation, community concerns about flooding, and the management of Acid Sulphate Soils ...

Joanne Tucker. One of Australia’s worst invasive weeds has been identified in 31 new locations in the Northern and Yorke region, including Moonta ... “The roadside infestations have just jumped the fenceline into the adjoining properties, so we will work with those landowners to control the buffel on their properties”: David Hughes, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board team leader.

Almost 300 people will converge in Albury next week to discuss the future of water management in the Murray–Darling Basin at the 2024 River Reflections Conference on June 19 and 20. This year’s conference features a diverse range of speakers from government, First Nations and farming communities, with a program aimed at fostering collaboration in water management across the Basin.

Jack Bradshaw. Having killed off the native forest timber industry by edict, the WA government is now taking the next step to cement its hypocrisy in legislation. Reece Whitby, the Minister for the Environment has recently introduced an amendment to the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (WA) to “lock in this Labor government’s historic decision to stop the unsustainable practice of commercial native logging”.

The Toowoomba Region Koala Habitat Project has put the call out for local landholders interested in bringing koalas back to their properties. Project ecologist Shannon Michael said the project supports landholders right across the Toowoomba Region who want to plant koala trees to restore original habitat on their properties.

Secure supply of quality water is an important piece of infrastructure for any town and Cambooya, Greenmount and Nobby are set to benefit from construction of the Toowoomba to Warwick Water pipeline due for completion in 2027.

Thousands of firefighters will be better protected on the frontline with a new foam fitout on all of CFA’s ultralight vehicles. The agency has commenced the new $3.19 million retro-fit program which includes 246 existing ultralights plus $4.95 million for the purchase of 33 new ultralights with crew protection.

The vision for bushfire management in Victoria for the next 10 years has been set out in the recently released Bushfire Management Strategy. Severe bushfires earlier this year once again highlighted the devastating impacts bushfires can have on our communities, economy and natural environment.

The Albanese Government's legislation change to allow additional water buybacks shocked farming communities that rely on this precious resource ... To add insult to injury, the recent $12 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign used fake computer-generated images of death and destruction in the basin, along with emotive language that only fuels misunderstanding through the misinformation campaign.

Mixed seasonal conditions across the country – coupled with economic pressures – have seen the nation’s farm sector confidence take a U-turn in the latest quarter, declining after a resurgence in optimism at the start of the year. he quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey ... found sentiment among the country’s agricultural producers had dipped into ‘negative territory’ – with fewer farmers expecting a better year ahead than those holding a negative outlook.

For the first time in decades, koalas have been spotted on a historic sheep-grazing property in Victoria which had thousands of trees planted on it to bring the species back. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is teaming up with Koala Clancy Foundation on June 15 and 16 to plant more than 8,100 trees on the property, which sits along the Moorabool River in Victoria.

Bradley Law et al. Population trends are lacking for most threatened species, especially those that are cryptic and difficult to survey. Recent developments in passive acoustics and semi-automated call recognition provide a cost-effective option to systematically monitor populations of vocal species. We assessed recent trends for the koala  Phascolarctos cinereus, an iconic marsupial, based on 7 years of acoustic monitoring across 224 forested sites.

Many portable devices today are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These types of batteries pose a higher risk of fire than others. Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they are lightweight and long lasting compared to other rechargeable batteries.

Member for Murray Helen Dalton has thrown her support behind the “Protect Rural and Remote Communities from Commonwealth Water Buybacks” petition lodged with the NSW Legislative Assembly. The origin of the petition is unknown, and is attributed by Ms Dalton to a ‘constituent’ and the independent member says buybacks will harm country towns.  

Just three weeks after public hearings about Lower Clarence developments before the Portfolio No 7 committee of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Planning system and the impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Communities were scrapped, they have been resurrected, delighting community groups ... But last Friday afternoon, Yamba CAN Inc. was informed by the committee that a hearing concerning Lower Clarence developments will be held next week.

Marathon paddlers from around the nation converged on the Murray River last weekend for South Australia’s premier long-distance event, the Riverland Paddling Marathon (RPM). Run by the Marathon Canoe over the June long weekend each year, the RPM has become a staple of the marathon calendar since its inception in 1988.

Farmers and families have rallied against Labor’s secretive plans for the Borumba Pumped Hydro project, with fears it will destroy prime agricultural land, pristine rainforest and animal habitat in the Kilkivan area. The concerned locals met with Federal Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud and Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, warning Labor’s hydro project could have devastating consequences.

The Lockyer Valley and Somerset Regional Councils continue to work together to garner positive outcomes for not only both communities, but the state and nation too. Recently, both Councils met with members of the Lockyer Valley and Somerset Water Collaborative and representatives of the Queensland Government for an update on the Lockyer Valley and Somerset Water Security Scheme (LVSWSS).

Questions about heavy tankers transporting water from the Gingin proclaimed groundwater area should be directed to the Shire of Gingin, according to the Cook Government. On Friday Moore MLA Shane Love said The Nationals WA had launched a petition highlighting the effects of water transport vehicles ...

Kristina Nhen is almost crying as she talks about the support she’s had from the Casino community after a fire destroyed the Mun Tien restaurant on April 29. The  fire  started in the early hours of the morning at the laundry and haberdashery next door to the Chinese Restaurant.