Water wars: Labor and Greens unite to drain rural communities
The environmental, economic and social value of water to our floodplain communities is once again washed away under a tide of political games ... Once again, South Australia leads the Feds around by the nose while glossing over the impacts of the barrages, the south east drainage scheme, the topography and even the estuarine nature of the area.
Basin Plan deal: Let the ‘Hunger Games’ begin
The fate of regional communities in the Murray-Darling Basin now rests with a handful of Senate crossbenchers after the Labor and the Greens struck a deal to enforce another 450GL in water buybacks from farmers within four years ... "The Minister’s insistence that buybacks are not the only option is disingenuous at best ... To add insult to injury, it is well documented that any water recovered cannot physically be delivered where it is intended to go ... ": NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller.
Calls to rethink timber closure
Dahlsens is one of more than 40 Gippsland and Victorian businesses connected to the forestry sector who have written a letter to the Premier, Jacinta Allan, urging a rethink of the policy to close the native forest industry, arguing the decision has several direct and perverse unintended consequences. The businesses represent all aspects of the forestry supply chain, from contractors through to sawmills, processors, retailers and furniture manufacturers, and have 40,000 voting members.
Under the pump
Koondrook has a problem – the town is growing so fast and becoming so popular, it is in danger of outstripping the ability of its fire brigade to guarantee its protection. And not because there are not enough firefighters ... they just don’t have the equipment they need to protect their community.
Norco’s ice cream factory’s sweet comeback
After being wiped out in Lismore’s biggest flood in living memory, the Norco Ice Cream factory reopened last Friday following a $100 million dollar rebuild. Challenges faced during the rebuild included securing electrical equipment due to global supply chain shortages...
Red imported fire ants in South Murwillumbah update: Moriarty
Following the eradication of the five red imported fire ants nests at South Murwillumbah on the weekend, the NSW Government has been further implementing its fire ant plan by focusing on tracing, surveillance and educating local businesses and the community. Detection dogs have been on location ... inspecting local high-risk premises...
Fire ant information and community support on hand: Tweed Shire Council
A special community information drop-in hub has been established to provide support to businesses and residents after red imported fire ants were detected at South Murwillumbah. Located in front of Council administration office in Murwillumbah, the information hub is staffed by invasive pest specialists...
Research begins to reduce shed of microplastics during laundering: Deakin University
A new collaboration between Deakin University researchers and Australia’s largest commercial linen supplier Simba Global is tackling a critical global issue, the spread of harmful microplastics through our laundry.
Premier Minns urged to distance himself from Albanese Government: NSW Farmers Association
The Albanese Government has allowed the Greens to dictate water policy that jeopardises the vitality of rural and regional towns across the Murray Darling Basin ... “Politicians have failed to listen to locals who have been warning them about the detriments of water buybacks": NSW Farmers Water Taskforce chair Richard Bootle.
Making bore water fit for dialysis
Making scarce and impure bore water in The Centre’s outback fit for use in medical dialysis has earned Alice local Michael C Smith a Distinguished Alumni Award from Flinders University in Adelaide. “I’m proud that one of my designs is working today in Kiwirrkurra, Australia’s most remote Aboriginal community,” says Dr Smith.
Council approves raising home above permitted height to escape floods
A house on Woodburn-Evans Head Road that flooded in February-March 2022 needs to be raised by 2.6metres and this would put it above the permitted height limit ... This decision impacts other properties where owners are wanting to raise homes above existing maximum heights so they can reduce risks in flooding ...
Detection of Red Imported Fire Ants in South Murwillumbah: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers is aware that there has been a detection of Red Imported Fire Ants in South Murwillumbah. This incursion is a threat to agricultural production and to the landscape of NSW ... Authorities must act quickly to eradicate this population of Red Imported Fire Ants.
Communities thrown under bus in Greens water deal: NFF
Farming communities fear a deal announced today between the Government and the Greens will see their concerns about water buybacks ignored in favour of cheap politics. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said when presented with the choice to listen to communities and negotiate on sensible changes, MMr Jochinke is currently in the Basin town of Shepparton where a major demonstration is underway with tractors and heavy machinery convoying in opposition to further water buybacks.
Strengthening the Restoring Our Rivers Bill: Plibersek, Hanson-Young
The Albanese Government and Australian Greens have agreed to strengthen the Restoring Our Rivers Bill ... “We’re talking about the largest inland river system in Australia, supporting threatened plants and animals and delivering drinking water for 3 million Australians. We have to get this right": Plibersek ... “As part of this agreement, the Greens have secured an independent audit of water in the basin to stop the rorts, inject integrity and restore trust after a decade of mismanagement from vested interests": Hanson-Young.
CMA on the lookout for natural drought refuges
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is on the lookout for drought refuge pools – natural bodies of water that stay full, even during dry times.
Patience is a virtue!
Kerry Cain. Local Judy Streeter has waited 12 years for her Gymea Lily to bloom. When Judy purchased the lily, she was told it would never grow in Maldon.
QFF joins a growing chorus of industry and community voices calling on a carbon and capture storage project proposed for the Great Artesian Basin...
A proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) project that would see liquified carbon dioxide injected into a water producing aquifer (the Precipice Sandstone) within the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) has industry and community alarm bells ringing, not only in Queensland, but across the nation.
Tentative pipeline route released
In preparation for the final route of the Toowoomba to Warwick (T2W) Pipeline being confirmed, Seqwater has released a detailed map of where the pipeline is planned to be constructed.
Workshop on flood resilience and recovery
Cambooya Landcare will host a workshop dealing with flood resilience and recovery at the Felton Hall this Saturday, 25th November. Intense rainfall events can damage farm, road and other infrastructure and lead to severe soil loss, with long term consequences for pasture and crop production and the health of creek systems.
Enough is enough says Leeton protest rally
More than 600 residents, business owners and farmers demanded "enough is enough" and called for a stop to the water buybacks by the Albanese Government in a protest rally at Leeton. The crowd in Mountford Park was addressed by Leeton Mayor Cr Tony Reneka...
Still fighting
Even though this week’s rally in Deniliquin pulled a 700-strong crowd, for many, it was simply a case of déjà vu. Another year, another town, another rally, and every farm and rural/regional community the length and breadth of the Murray-Darling Basin still fighting a rearguard action to save their water and their future.
Raintree hydrant a community effort
Alison Bennett Taylor. Denmark businesses and residents have helped bolster the community’s bushfire preparedness, funding a new hydrant that will reduce response times for volunteer firefighting brigades ... Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson unveiled the Wentworth Road hydrant which allows fire trucks to fill up from the dam at Raintree Estate in less than a minute.
