Drivers urged to look out for koalas this long weekend after iconic animal falls victim to record-high vehicle strikes: Friends of the Koala
Koala conservation organisation, Friends of the Koala, say there’s been a 15 per cent increase in koalas being hit by vehicles in the Northern Rivers region this past year, calling for extra vigilance from motorists ... Between May 2023 and May 2024, Friends of the Koala received reports of 71 koalas who were hit by vehicles, of which only 13 were able to be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.
Building a seed bank for iconic forests: FCNSW
Forestry Corporation has embarked on a seed collection program to safeguard some of the most iconic forests in New South Wales. The giant eucalypt forests of the NSW high country dominated by Alpine Ash were severely impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.
Over 115,000 Barra to be released in Top End waterways this dry: Joel Bowden
100 juvenile Barra were released in the Palmerston Recreational Fishing Lakes ahead of the Hooked on Palmerston fishing competition... The Barra are released into waterways where they would not usually occur such as isolated lakes, lagoons and dams, providing easy-to-access and safe land based fishing opportunities where fishers of all ages and abilities can participate in this iconic Territory pastime.
Responding to the Basin Leadership Summit: MDBA
Sir Angus Houston. Following the 2-day Basin Leadership Summit in Sydney on 16 to 17 April the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released a report summarising discussions of approximately 100 participants with diverse views on the environmental, cultural, economic, and social outcomes for the Basin. The Summit assembled more than 2,400 years of collective experience in Basin water management to gather diverse perspectives to inform preparations for the 2026 Basin Plan Review.
Australia’s winter crop planting up, but production to hang on La Niña – Rabobank
Australia’s farmers are expected to plant 23.55 million hectares to winter crops this year – up more than three per cent on 2023 – despite a mixed start to the season across the country, Rabobank says in its 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Outlook ... This year’s winter crop planting – representing a 3.6 per cent increase on 2023/24 though down 1.8 per cent on the five-year average...
James Lister speaks out: wind farms blow the seeds of community division
James Lister MP. Recent talk of more wind farm developments in our electorate of Southern Downs has stirred up all kinds of anger and ill feeling in the community. The fundamental problem is the exclusion of local input from state government level decisions over where wind and solar farms should be.
First female captain for Walmer FB
Congratulations to Julie Hough, who as from 1 July will be the first woman to be appointed Captain of the Walmer Fire Brigade ... She is well qualified and has a few roles at the Walmer Brigade - she’s the Comms Officer, the Health & Safety Officer, is trained in first aid, is licensed to drive trucks and has been part of a few strike teams.
Lovegrass threat
It’s scary and a superspreader. That’s how a Keith farmer and elected councillor of the Tatiara District Council has described the situation involving the spread of African lovegrass in the Upper South East ... Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a long-lived tussock-forming grass usually growing 30 to 120cm tall.
Biochar plan a world-first
Patricia Gill. A biochar project of over three and a half years at the Shire Waste Transfer Station has the potential to develop a world-first industry for Denmark. Through a pyrolysis unit, which heats waste in low oxygen, green waste, silage wrap and food organics would potentially be converted into a carbon-rich product capable of improving soils and animal health.
Emergency services get disaster ready
Last week, Toowoomba Regional Council hosted a major joint Local Government and Police disaster management exercise testing the capability of various Local Disaster Management Groups (LDMGs) from across southern Queensland ... The exercise used a major flood event scenario to practice the various Local Disaster Management Group’s capabilities to respond to a request to provide evacuation centre support for a mass evacuation scenario.
Major funding to help reduce ag emissions
At the Sustainable Agriculture Summit held in Toowoomba last Thursday, the Federal Government announced details of $63.8 million allocated in the 2024-25 Budget. The funding will go towards supporting the reduction of emissions in the agriculture industry and contribute to the whole-of-economy transition to net zero.
Fire officer pulls pin over loss of vehicle
The Group Captain for the Southern Border region of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has resigned after being asked to return his official vehicle. Lankeys Creek volunteer brigade member, John Hawkins, claims that on May 17th he had been told by his RFS manager that his Group vehicle - a 2005 Toyota Landcruiser with 600lts of water (classed as a Cat 9) - was to be taken off him, with no replacement available ... In his resignation letter, Mr Hawkins also took the RFS to task over a number of other issues.
Are we uninsurable?
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite insurance costs have risen, resulting in home and contents insurance being cost prohibitive for some Clarence Valley homeowners with prices ranging from $35.51 to $252.36 per week, while in some parts of the valley some companies refuse to insure homes ... To determine home and contents insurance costs across the region and if we are insurable, the Clarence Valley Independent sought quotes for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single storey home...
Dean addresses CWA on fire ants response
Kimberly Grabham. Dean Whitehead spoke at a recent meeting of Hay CWA in response to the threat of fire ants, and to explain the Fire Ant Eradication Program. Mr Whitehead said the objective in regards to fire ants is eradication, and a stringent process is followed to achieve this goal.
Pig problem escalates: NSW Farmers
Farmers are reporting a fresh surge in feral pig numbers, prompting a call to escalate funding to fight the state’s feral pig problem ... “There’s reports of feral pigs weighing well over 100 kilograms charging through the paddocks, trashing food crops and killing calves and lambs at the drop of a hat”: NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin.
Recovery Pods help flood-affected communities rebuild: Watt, Champion
Recovery Pods have been deployed to help South Australians still recovering from the River Murray floods. To date, six of the self-contained homes have been deployed to help individuals and families who lost their primary place of residence, with more still available.
To inform decision-making for Southern growers – New farming systems project
A new farming systems project is set to shed light on how farm management decisions affect profitability and sustainability to help southern region grain growers understand the upside and downside of their decisions. The five-year project involves nine field sites … covering different soil types and rainfall zones in South Australia and Victoria, as well as biophysical modelling and economic evaluation.
CCS in the GAB – Agriculture, rural communities and conservationists say no and now the science does too: QFF
The Queensland Government has rejected the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Glencore's carbon capture and storage (CCS) project confirming the grave concerns raised by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), industry and other representatives. The EIS assessment process has found that the science behind this project is inadequate, and the risk to the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) too great, meaning the precautionary principle must apply.
Funding helps council forge ahead with 1500-blocks at Fairy Hill for flood-free housing
On a bright day, next to the bridge arching across the swollen Richmond River at Woodburn, an announcement was made about funding for affordable flood-free housing. The State Government is giving $245,000 to Richmond Valley Council to scope out what is needed for the 1500-blocks at Fairy Hill to proceed.
Robert Borsak expresses deep concern over NPWS responses to aerial shooting program
Robert Borsak, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, today expressed his profound concern over the statements made yesterday by Atticus Fleming, Deputy Secretary of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), regarding the welfare outcomes of the aerial shooting program targeting feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park ... "How can an average of 7.5 shots, up to a maximum of 15 shots, be considered humane?" Mr. Borsak questioned. "The RSPCA has deserted their principles and the people who support them."
Enjoy the Winter Walks Program
Once cropping is over, we can start to think about having a few weekends off and enjoying the autumn/winter days. And once again the Avon Plains Banyena Landcare Group will be running its regular Winter Walks Program. These events are open to all and sundry – with an interest in nature and a willingness to walk slowly through the landscape the only prerequisites.
Maldon’s living treasures
As part of a Connecting Country event held last Sunday, Mulga Urban Landcare (MULGA) Secretary Bev Phillips took a group of Landcare colleagues on a tour of some of Maldon’s oldest trees. This included trees located at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve, the Police Reserve and Maldon Primary School.
