Land & environment

Fall armyworm (FAW) are being detected at unprecedented levels in sorghum crops across Central Queensland, the Western and Darling Downs and northern New South Wales causing what experts predict could be the most significant impact on sorghum since the pest’s arrival in Australia in 2020.

Hay Shire Council has confirmed its support to the local Rural Fire Service in the face of   an inquiry into NSW RFS arrangements with Local Government. With the bushfire season underway, the upcoming inquiry into the effectiveness of NSW RFS's asset management and operations will be undertaken by a parliamentary committee.

What happens when a bush concert is facing cancellation, and how can Easter Bilby help? That’s the storyline in ‘Banjo Frog’s Concert Spectacular’, a new children’s book released by Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia in conjunction with Wakefield Press.

The Beetaloo-Sub Basin on-shore natural gas resource will be at the forefront of the world’s transition to renewable energy and enable a new economic era for the NT, estimated to increase economic activity by over $17 billion ... Tamboran a key stakeholder in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin, released their initial production results from well testing.  

Confusion reigns amongst farmers and other landowners in southern Gippsland as the state government's new kid on the bloc, VicGrid, has pushed aside their negotiations with existing companies over the various transmission projects that will be built across the region under the government's renewable energy policy. This comes across the background of the blackouts caused by storms last week that brought down transmission lines and electricity poles that led to the closure of Loy Yang A power station.

Farmers are fighting a “slow-moving bushfire” as invasive weeds such as African lovegrass and serrated tussock explode following a wet summer. NSW Farmers Cooma branch chair Craig Mitchell said the state’s struggle with weeds had reached a tipping point, with some public and private land managers failing to meet their responsibilities.

Forestry Corporation is monitoring state forests in the Bathurst area after a recent spate of illegal dumping incidents. Forest rangers have found piles of plastic coating that has been burnt off cabling ... “A key concern for Forestry Corporation is the risk that the fires will spread into the pine plantations."

Ex Tropical Cyclone Lincoln has certainly made its presence felt around Tennant Creek over the weekend with close to 200mm of rain falling over the two days.

The North East Catchment Authority (NECMA) is in the process of undertaking flood recovery works on a further five high priority cases in the catchment including a creek in the Upper Murray. The five cases were selected following an assessment process that takes into account any risks including the threat to public infrastructure and river health if no action is undertaken.

Serena Kirby. The coming performances of ‘When Birds Take Flight’ will take audiences on a poetic and musical journey that symbolises the migratory path of birds between Denmark and Siberia. The musical collaboration for voice and instruments has been created by composer/lyricist Louise McKenna and poet and spoken word performer, Jen Fraser, and takes the form of a story-song cycle.

A section of Wilson Inlet between 107-109 Minsterly Road has been named Hart Cove in honour of the late James (Jim) Hart ... Namings, such as the cove after Mr Hart, would be a lasting reminder of remarkable contributions and legacies.

A recent fish kill in Gunbower Creek has reignited frustrations over managing the waterways ... “The fish kill in January two weeks ago, that was because of the record January rains, farmers had to drain water into the creek and the creek was stagnant because no irrigation took place,” said Jason Lunghusen.

Cattle Australia has urged the federal government to rethink the role of methane in the beef industry in its decisions on how Australia will tackle climate change in the future. CA, which is the peak council for the grassed beef sector, said a single focus on absolute emissions reduction under current carbon dioxide-equivalent accounting frameworks was detrimental for the beef industry.

Greater Shepparton City Council has entered into a contract with Kelland Environmental Technology Pty Ltd, trading as DiaperRecycle, to process and recycle collected disposable nappy and incontinence product waste from Greater Shepparton residents ... "The service is processing an estimated 1,500 kg of waste per week, diverting this waste from landfill”: Liam Moller, GSCC.

The NSW Government’s feral pig control program has culled 33,277 feral pigs in just 4 months, making it one of the largest feral pig programs in the nation’s history. Already 2,035 property owners have participated in the Government’s $13 million Feral Pig Program, working with Local Land Services to target pest populations.

Jenny Pollard. Two days after last Tuesday’s storm which created so much havoc across Victoria, it was hard not to be shocked by the damage Charlton sustained from just a few minutes of mother nature’s fury. On Thursday last week, the majority of visible wreckage from what appeared to have been a mini tornado, was the countless trees and massive tree limbs fallen on roadsides...

Hitting the Queensland roads in February and March, audiences in  Gympie, Townsville, Cairns, Rockhampton, and Bundaberg  are destined to be uplifted and enthralled by six stories of strength and resilience in the one original and heart-warming theatre production of  GRIT. Developed in 2022 after Gympie’s devastating floods ...

One of the most invasive Australian weeds is being touted as a potential economic crop, with benefits for the construction, mining and forestry industries, and potentially many First Nations communities. The prickly paddy melon weed, which costs the agricultural industry around $100 million a year in lost grain yields, cattle deaths, and control measures, could turn into an unlikely money spinner...

This week I thought I would join the lack of EV charging stations across regional WA together with the Australian government's adoption of the strict new Euro 6d emissions standards and give you my views on what this is likely to mean politically and its potential to redefine Australia.

Insecticide resistance in redlegged earth mites (RLEM) has been closely monitored over the last 15 years ... The RLEM poses a significant threat to establishing crops and pastures across the southern growing regions of Australia.