Land & environment

The Lawler Labor Government says it is continuing to back the industries that get the Territory working, with a new company entering the onshore gas industry. Top End Energy is the newest explorer to enter the highly prospective McArthur Basin, parent basin of the Beetaloo Sub-basin which is worth an expected $17 billion dollars to the Territory’s economy, joining global energy players Tamboran Resources, Empire Energy and Santos.

In a magnificent moment for conservation, the first northern hairy-nosed wombats have been released to explore their new home at Powrunna State Forest near St George in south-west Queensland. Northern hairy-nosed wombats are one of the rarest land mammals in the world.

A proposed planning permit application for a 16-block subdivision on land in Maldon that is bordered by Lowther, Polsue and Reef Streets is once again in the spotlight ... The [Tarrangower] Times met with two of the objectors last week, who said that their primary objection to the application is the fact that the block is subject to periodic flooding.

In this review, John O'Donnell explores 19 town and city bushfire disasters, ranging from bushfire impacts of the early settlements in the 1851 Victorian bushfires to bushfires in 2021, a period covering 170 years. Readers can assess bushfire preparation in relation to their own and other towns and cities and consider if bushfire preparation is well managed, has improved after earlier bushfires and if it has improved since the 2019/ 20 bushfires.

Robert Onfray. Any Hollywood film producer needing a blockbuster script should look no further than New South Wales and the aerial culling of brumbies. It is a highly polarised issue and has been for many years. After all, the concern about culling brumbies is not matched by concerns to kill other feral animals or pests, such as deer, pigs, rabbits, foxes and cats. In one corner ... the brumby haters. In the other corner are the brumby lovers ...

The Playle’s Hill Project Group continues to make further upgrades to the community facility and the latest addition is The Labyrinth. The project originated through the Black Summer bushfire recovery process ... It is a reflective healing space to walk solo, with a partner, with family or friends.

Sitting high above the town, Wyreema’s elevated reservoir will soon be removed from its perch as it is no longer needed. The Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) reservoir, located at the Council compound on Newman Road, will be demolished beginning in July.

A recent collaborative training exercise between CFA and Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) has been hailed as a success following an enforced break because of the pandemic. The Shelley Burn Camp is unique because it occurs in one of the highest locations in the state and is home to extensive pine plantations managed by HVP.

Kurrajong and the community in general were devastated with the news that the Kurrajong Narrandera Laundry building was extensively damaged by fire last Thursday night. Kurrajong team members arrived to find that emergency crews had contained the fire, but significant damage occurred, particularly to the centre of the building.

Rain across four states has failed to dampen demand for fodder to feed drought affected livestock. Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, said the sigh of relief from farmers who received rain in the past week was almost audible such was the desperation of some; none more so than producers in south-western West Australia where the region had experienced its driest conditions on record.

Christine Webster. Lowbank farmer David Schmidt is feeling more optimistic about the grain growing season after the end of a dry spell spanning more than four months. Some rain finally arrived in the region on Thursday and more showers fell on Friday ... “You would not classify it as an official break in the season,” Mr Schmidt said.

In July last year the construction of much-needed new water treatment plants for Ivanhoe and Wilcannia was put in doubt because of a funding shortfall. Today NSW Senator Deb O'Neill visited Wilcannia to announce $10 million in additional funding for water treatment plants at White Cliffs, Wilcannia and Ivanhoe and new potable water rearticulation scheme at White Cliffs.

Yamba Welding and Engineering celebrated its 50th anniversary ... one of the Clarence Valley’s premier export businesses ... started in 1974 by Bill Collingburn in his garage and has grown to become Australia’s go to supplier for premium quality, high performance vessels, for the Australian Defence Force, Border Force, Marine Rescue, Coast Guard and the SES.

Members of NSW Parliament’s Portfolio Committee No. 7, who are undertaking a parliamentary inquiry into the planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities, saw and heard about issues concerning proposed and approved developments sites in the Lower Clarence first-hand when they visited Yamba and Maclean last Friday.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Ensuring water buybacks can be made from Riverland communities while the “local economy stays strong” is the aim for a senior South Australian politician. Deputy premier, and Minister for Environment, Susan Close said – during a recent visit to Calperum Station – methods to ensure water buybacks that had minimal negative impacts on regional communities were being discussed. “As a state government, we’re still working – mainly through Primary Industries – with the region,” Dr Close said.

Maureen Donnellon. Part 2 will acknowledge the many old Palm trees, Jacarandas, Moreton Bay Fig trees, Peppercorn trees and plantations. One of the best known and most significant varieties of trees in Birchip are the palm trees, the most noticeable to locals and travellers being the four large date palms in the median strip of Cumming Avenue.

Ian Hutton. During the week ending 10th of May, Lord Howe Island experienced extreme low tides – tens of centimetres lower than the published tidal predictions which are based on calculations of astronomical movements of the sun and moon around the earth, creating gravitational pull on the world’s oceans. This variation from the predicted tide level is caused by a sea level anomaly.

Suzie Christensen. Once widespread, the Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta) disappeared from Lord Howe Island following the introduction of pigs and rodents and spread of invasive weeds ... With the successful eradication of these pests and an ongoing weed control program, the vulnerable species now has the opportunity to return to breed on the main island.