Two more fire ant nests spotted
Local residents should remain on the lookout for fire ants following the discovery of two nests at Meringandan West. This discovery comes just weeks after 80 fire ant nests were found at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.
The dry continues
The furrowed brows of farmers continue to search the sky rain, but the season is on track for the driest May on record. Since last August most of the region’s farming land has experienced less than 10 per cent of normal rainfall since 1900, and less than five per cent in some areas.
Volunteers can fill many roles
This National Volunteer Week, the CFA and its partner emergency service volunteer organisations, acknowledge and thank the tens of thousands of Victorians for their unpaid contributions to their communities.
Outrage after public hearings scrapped
Public hearings before the committee of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities will not be conducted on the NSW mid and north coasts from Port Macquarie to the Tweed ... The Northern Rivers area, and particularly the Clarence Valley has the highest flood risk hazard of all, as outlined in the NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan 2024 – 2026. Surely this triggers the necessity for the committee to provide hearings in the mid-north and north coast regions of NSW, Yamba CAN Inc members said.
Open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: NFF
Last week, for the first time in 39 years, farmers from across Australia determined that they no longer have confidence in your government to represent their interests. This vote followed an unprecedented walk-out by farmers on your Agriculture Minister’s budget address. This is not how we usually operate at the National Farmers’ Federation ... But decision by decision, your government is pushing farmers away and eroding their trust. Frankly they’ve had enough.
Airborne survey the next step in AROWS project: Lawler, Worden
The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) project is continuing to take shape with an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey taking place to help streamline infrastructure design investigations for AROWS. AROWS is a sustainable approach to water security.
AI-powered weather forecasting accuracy set to help local growers: Hort Innovation
Growers could soon have tailored local weather forecasts directly at their fingertips through a ground-breaking program that leverages the cutting-edge capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning combined with traditional weather forecasting techniques … the $1.3M initiative … is tailored to meet the specific needs of individual growers, considering their farming block, unique terrain and operational requirements.
Regulations to be enhanced to further protect iconic koalas: Linard
The Miles Government has released the findings of a review of the government’s koala habitat protection regulations. The regulations were introduced in 2020 to better protect South East Queensland’s iconic koala population and the habitat they call home ... The consultation confirmed the regulations had been effective, however some elements have not worked as intended.
Dry seeding pushes on: GPA
Seeding is underway for most Australian grain producers with many in parts of western and southern Australia reducing their canola plantings as they continue to wait for a proper season break in the absence of any rain. The longer growing season required by canola had many growers pinning their hopes on an April break according to Grain Producers Australia Chair Barry Large.
Community insight helps protect against bushfire injury and loss of life
Michelago, Bredbo, Adaminaby and Jindabyne residents impacted by bushfires highlighted the importance of bushfire maps showing users their location in relation to a fire risk, while clearly communicating critical information such as direction of fire spread to ensure emergency information is easily understood and followed by communities under threat.
Barmah Choke trade opportunity for new irrigation year: MDBA
The Barmah Choke water trade balance to start the 2024–25 water year will deliver trade opportunity for irrigators. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Acting Executive Director of River Management Angus Paton said approximately 56 gigalitres (GL) of water would be available to trade downstream of the Barmah Choke on 1 July 2024. “This projected figure is 4 GL less than the 60 GL made available for the 2023–24 season…
Open day at Warwick’s Leslie Dam
Meet the team from Sunwater, learn about the history of Leslie Dam and how it works and find out how you can prepare for local weather events and stay safe in and on the water. It’s all happening at Leslie Dam on Saturday 8 June from 10am to 2pm.
Frack free NT brings Water of Life tour to Peko Park
Peko Park was lively as Mudburra musician Ray Dimaakarri Dixon and Jingili musician Stuart Joel Nugget, along with other musicians, performed at the Tennant Creek stop of the Water of Life Tour ... In addition to the music, there were discussions about the effects of fracking in the Barkly region and how the community can collaborate to prevent it.
‘Where do they go?’ Mysterious shorebirds in spotlight
Two tiny trackers are helping to uncover the secrets of the Sunshine Coast’s resident shorebirds. In a collaboration with the Queensland Wader Study Group and with the assistance of the Queensland Bird Research and Banding Group, Sunshine Coast Council recently fitted two tiny satellite trackers to Sooty Oystercatchers.
Red dirt to reef for water warriors
The 2024 Variety Victoria Bash will kick off in August with cars 25 years or older piloted by teams raising money for Victorian children living with disabilities, illnesses, or experiencing disadvantage. A local team of Water Warriors is taking a 1988 Nissan GQ Patrol on the journey from Swan Hill to Airlie Beach ... Doug hopes the trip will be a great chance to raise funds for the kids and also give them an opportunity to highlight the current water issues on the way.
Emergency Services Open Day a success
Around 400 people gathered on the day to watch live demonstrations and displays of vehicles and equipment ... All of Narrandera’s emergency services were present, including the SES, the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), Fire and Rescue NSW, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), Police Force and the Rapid Relief Team.
Darling Downs Zoo off the market
After making the difficult decision last year to put the zoo they founded on the market, Steve and Stephanie Robinson have had a change of heart, deciding to retain ownership of the Darling Downs Zoo at Pilton ... Mr Robinson said he wanted to ensure the zoo remains as a breeding facility for rare and endangered animals, as well as a family and educational facility that attracts visits from many local schools.
Outdoors calls artists
Serena Kirby. Denmark's newest painting group is encouraging artists to step outside and embrace the great outdoors. Taking its name from the French word for ‘out-of-doors’ the ‘plein air’ painters group is the brainchild of Kat Lamb who started the group two months ago.
Federal budget a missed opportunity: GrainGrowers
The federal budget is another missed opportunity to increase regional support through targeted agricultural investments directed at boosting the long-term profitability of grain farming communities. GrainGrowers Chair Rhys Turton said while the budget delivers some positive initiatives, rural industry was looking for a “cost of production” budget to address some of the underlying pressures now being felt across the rural sector.
Federal budget under fire: TasFarmers calls for strategic investments
TasFarmers, Tasmania’s peak agricultural organisation has expressed disappointment in this year's federal budget saying it was underwhelming, lacked strategic vision, and failed to grasp the economic opportunity presented by agriculture and even going so far as to suppress it. The President of TasFarmers, Ian Sauer, said the government had failed to grasp several opportunities in water, education and getting rid of the proposed biosecurity tax.
New Red Imported Fire Ant nest found
Communities across the Northern Rivers are being urged to be on the lookout for Red Imported Fire Ants after a new nest was found at South Murwillumbah last Thursday only metres from a nest that was destroyed in November 2023. Red Imported Fire Ants, one of the worst invasive species ever to enter Australia, were first detected in southeast Queensland in February 2001...
2024-25 Budget analysis: Waterfind
On 14 May 2024, the Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget. The key themes of the Budget were addressing cost of living pressures and a ‘future made in Australia.’ ... Waterfind has analysed the May 2024 Budget, and has provided commentary from a ‘water’ perspective on the key initiatives, funding and changes from previous budgets.
