Ocean users cautioned
Ocean users in the South-East have been asked to exercise extra caution following the spread of abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) in South Australian waters for the first time. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) said AVG has been confirmed in wild abalone in waters south of Port MacDonnell, and restrictions are now in place from the Southend to the South Australian-Victorian border in the east.
Avoiding seed damage at planting: Incitec Pivot Fertilisers
Better than expected summer rain across key winter crop growing areas has set up a favourable window for 2024 winter crop planting ... Incitec Pivot Fertilisers (IPF) technical agronomist Clint Sheather explains while the last thing growers want to do when applying fertiliser at planting is delay or reduce plant emergence, there is potential for seed damage when fertiliser is placed with the seed.
Local rural fire funds to stay local
Fire Minister Nikki Boyd has reassured rural fire brigades that local funds and assets will stay local following legislative change currently being considered through a committee process ... "The policy framework will make it clear that local assets like trucks and local funds will continue to solely benefit those local brigades and be accessed by local brigades for local purposes."
Priority burns planned locally
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) intends to take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to reduce the risk of bushfires on the community and environment ... This year 111 planned burns covering an area of 56,486 hectares are prepared and ready for ignition in north east Victoria.
Group calls for new ads to provide Basin balance
Ongoing community outrage at misleading Australian Government advertisements has led to official complaints by a leading rural organisation. The Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG) has submitted formal complaints to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Its complaint relates to Murray-Darling Basin Plan advertisements, amid numerous claims they are inaccurate and misleading.
All ages effort to boost cockatoo numbers
Patricia Gill. Denmark school students are part of a landscape-scale move to re-establish the breeding of black cockatoos in the region. To spark their students’ enthusiasm, environmentalist Simon Cherriman visited four schools recently and helped the students build four nesting boxes at each school from recycled materials ... The Denmark Men’s Shed will build 40 nest boxes ...
Balloons identified as major threat to marine wildlife
A CSIRO study recently identiï¬ed balloons among the top three most harmful pollutants threatening marine wildlife, along with plastic bags and bottles ... Plastic Reduction Denmark has been providing an alternative for the past ï¬ve years – ‘borrow and return’ bunting is made from pre-loved fabrics in many colours and designs to suit every occasion.
Celebrating International Day of Forests 2024: VFPA
“Under the bark of trees are powerful solutions”. This year’s International Day of Forests celebrates the role of trees in providing powerful solutions for a better world.
Half a million PET bottles of drinking water avoided in NSW schools: SOURCE Global
In the lead up to World Water Day on March 22, SOURCE Global has reported on the success of its partnership with the NSW Department of Education, which installed 100 SOURCE ®Hydropanels across 10 drought-impacted schools to provide accessible drinking water for children and teachers, in compliance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Experts query wind plans costs and timing
The state government is accelerating planning approvals for renewable projects as several energy experts have predicted that Victoria's wind energy will be more expensive and will take longer to meet targets than the government has estimated. The Premier, Jacinta Allan, last week announced renewable projects will be eligible for an accelerated planning pathway under the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).
Setting the record straight – yet again: VicForests
Monique Dawson. Recent public commentary about the closure of VicForests has included numerous false and misleading claims. VicForests knows there are individuals and organisations who are opposed to native timber harvesting who will be celebrating VicForests’ closure ... The most offensive category of false claims being made is the suggestion VicForests is “rogue” or a “cowboy agency”.
Not in my backyard – a resounding no to proposed wind farm
Enthusiastic city-driven support for renewable energy infrastructure is in direct contrast to the majority feeling in the Allora district where a public meeting on Thursday night demonstrated strong opposition to any idea that a wind farm should be established in the Goomburra Valley area.
Power poles
Walk out your front door and look down the street. If you are in the regions or in suburbia, then you will look at a tall wooden pole that carries the cables that gives you electricity. Have you taken much notice of them? Probably not, but the pole is native hardwood harvested from a native forest where, through the application of science, it was encouraged to grow that straight. Timber power poles are selectively harvested from regrowth or working forests.
Plea to leave dolphin alone
Michelle Daw. Concerned members of the public have called on Barunga West Council and the state government to take action to help protect a lone dolphin from interactions with people. There are reports some people have interfered with the dolphin, which has been seen along the Port Broughton foreshore.
A cruel silence on VicForests shutdown
VicForests, the Victorian Government’s own forestry agency, is being treated deplorably as it braces for a June 30 shutdown ... Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals, said it seemed the government was intent on wiping VicForests from the history books.
Going solar suits some but those living near proposed Richmond Valley Solar Farm are not happy
Let’s go solar. Across the world, in Australia and NSW, there is a push for alternative energy including wind and solar power ... IndyNR.com spoke to a resident ... She is opposed to the Richmond Valley Solar Farm. She has many reasons for her opposition including the fire risk of the proposed large BESS.
Damage bills mounting: Cape York NRM
Just 16 km north of Wujal Wujal, the historic Mount Louis Station is one of the most fertile and picturesque cattle stations in Far North Queensland, fattening some of the country's finest Brahman and Brangus steers. But the severe pounding it received from the flooding that followed Cyclone Jasper, has caused a damage bill, estimated by an agronomist recently, of more than $300,000...
Ovens River Challenge 2024: Australian Trout Foundation
The Ovens River Challenge at Myrtleford Victoria is again on for young and old ... Widely renowned wildlife artist and fly fisher, Trevor Hawkins, will be present to show some of his fantastic works of fish and bird art ... we are researching the abundance of the endangered Macquarie Perch and Trout Cod.
Striking the balance to save threatened dingo population: Dimopoulos
Effective from 14 March, the dingo unprotection order will conclude in north west Victoria - this decision follows new research, strong advice and the effectiveness of non-lethal dingo control methods to protect livestock. Farmers in this area will be supported by a $550,000 investment to adopt alternate non-lethal control methods via a pilot of measures ...
Newstead Brigade unveils Field Command Vehicle
Kerry Cain. Last Saturday, the Newstead Fire Brigade impressed attendees at the Newstead Pool Party by showcasing its latest addition, the Field Command Vehicle (FCV). With this specially equipped vehicle, the brigade can now respond more effectively and decisively to emergencies of all kinds and direct and deploy its appliances and personnel, as well as those of other services, as required.
Lake helps firefighters
A Black Hawk aerial firebombing chopper and the Naracoorte Swimming Lake were valuable resources during a major firefighting operation near Repeater Station, outside of town last week. It took 21 fire trucks, 120 firefighters, and seven firefighting aircraft almost 20 hours to contain the bushfire...
Government hasn’t given up on Basin plan says Minister
"I’ve been very clear that my government does not support buybacks. This is not an empty promise – I have already demonstrated that I am taking action by releasing the NSW Alternatives to Buybacks Plan in February that clearly shows how we plan to minimise the exposure of regional communities to water buybacks": NSW Minister for Water, Rose Jackson.
