Farmers fear more red tape on the way, with NSW Government launching new water review: NSW Farmers Association
The state’s largest farming organisation is warning government against introducing more red tape for farmers with a new review into stock and domestic water rights getting underway.
Australia’s largest weir since World War 2 now complete: Dick, Butcher
Construction on Australia’s newest major water infrastructure asset is now complete. The $568.9 million Rookwood Weir, west of Rockhampton, will yield 86,000 megalitres each year to boost economic growth, agricultural production and industry in Central Queensland.
Fire destroys Charlton Post Office
On a day when the celebration of recording history was being highlighted at one end of Charlton, the demise of a significant town landmark at the other end was making history when a late morning fire destroyed the Charlton Post Office.
When community recovery meets neighbourhood house . . . collaboration becomes the key
On Thursday, Neighbourhood House co-ordinators from across the Buloke Shire met with the newly appointed community recovery officers, Claire Cook, Bruce Stafford and Sam Wheelhouse, and their manager Jo Postlethwaite, to learn more about the Community Recovery Projects being rolled out in the Buloke Shire, and the potential for collaboration.
Spray drift: not on our watch
Michelle Daw. Prompted by its investigation into 26 reports of off-target impacts of the herbicide Overwatch on Yorke Peninsula, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia says it will crackdown on non-compliant use of agricultural chemicals ... PIRSA has referred the reports to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority but has not yet received feedback. Manufactured by FMC Australia, Overwatch is a pre-emergent herbicide which is applied during seeding time in April/May to control annual ryegrass and some broadleaf weeds in broadacre crops.
Gardener says he’s counting the cost
Alford gardener John Peters says Overwatch drift has affected about 100 plants in his garden, including roses, fruit trees, and ornamental and aquatic plants. “I noticed the damage at seeding time and I’m noticing it now, when they are supposed to be putting out leaves and flowers,” he said.
Wilcannia Town Fire Service AGM
Come across an Electric Vehicle fire – let it burn, stay upwind to avoid toxic fumes and do not approach. If you are not there on the spot when the fire starts you will not have time to rescue anyone. Lithium battery fires are almost impossible to extinguish with water alone, as are solar panels. Some EV fires have taken over 100,000 litres of water, that is about 28 truckloads for the Wilcannia brigade.
A year in review: What your council has done, how much it has spent and on what
Kyogle Council released its 2022/2023 Annual Report and it makes for interesting reading ... The numbers in the report tell a story about the council and the community it serves...
Risky start to bushfire season
Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said Labor’s fuel reduction program had become a monumental failure, with regional Victoria being left to face a long, hot, dry summer with significant vegetation growth and fuel loads on roadsides and public lands right across the state. Ms Kealy said her office continued to receive complaints from residents calling for extensive slashing of roadsides and public areas prior to summer.
EU glyphosate decision welcomed by GrainGrowers
The decision by the European Union to extend approval for the use of glyphosate is welcome news for Australian farmers. GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the decision followed an earlier assessment by the European Food Safety Authority that found no critical areas of concern.
Natural Newstead – Getting busy
Geoff Park. After filling the skies above the forest for weeks now, the woodswallows have finally descended to nest. It’s early stages, with some birds incubating and many nests still being constructed. White-browed and Masked Woodswallows often select locations in the lower canopy...
Ombudsman urges councils to consider the human story
This story of a 72-year-old widow, who has spent the last six years entangled in a bureaucratic nightmare with two local councils – Mitchell Shire Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council – serves as a reminder to all councils of why the most basic hallmarks of good complaint handling are important, says Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass.
Firebugs, lightning burn 15,000 square kilometres
There were a number of deliberate ignitions, mainly on roadsides, however over the past week the majority of fires are the result of lightning strikes, according to Chief Fire Control Officer Tony Fuller. “On Friday we had at least 14 new fires as a result of lightning,” he says.
Build it back somewhere better – a national conversation on assisted relocations: Natural Hazards Research Australia
Suncorp Group and Natural Hazards Research Australia have released a discussion paper to help drive a national conversation on giving communities at high-risk of being repeatably impacted by extreme weather the opportunity to be relocated out of harm’s way. The discussion paper was developed out of a roundtable held in Canberra...
Park is a testament to resilience
The culmination of hundreds of hours of volunteer contributions was recognised at the official opening of Playles Park in Corryong on Sunday. Project co-ordinator, Cathy Ross, acknowledged everyone who has played a part in the project which was a collaboration of many organisations and individuals.
Schools left high and dry by water buybacks
Water buybacks have taken a toll on education in the southern NSW Murray-Darling Basin, with school principals linking falling enrolments and subject choices to the lasting socioeconomic impacts of past Government purchases. A NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) analysis of enrolment data, supported by interviews with school principals, shows how water buybacks are contributing to a loss of population and jobs and therefore fewer enrolments, subject choice and resources for regional schools.
Protect us from Plibersek!
Southern Riverina communities are being called on to ‘fight for our future’ at a rally next week. It aims to highlight the community concern at the social and economic damage that will be caused if water buybacks are introduced, as proposed by the Albanese Government.
Sacrificial lambs for a political agenda
Promoting a political agenda that costs jobs and ruins the livelihoods of people in rural communities has been described as "a sad reflection on the priorities of our city-based political elite." ... Mr Lolicato said the MDBA’s own socio-economic community profiles show job losses, again primarily from water buybacks, at more than 3,200.
Dwellingup revisted: Frank Batini
The weekend of 4/5 November 2023 was eerily similar to my experiences as a 20 year old fire-fighter at the disastrous 1961 Dwellingup fire, which burnt 200000 hectares of forest and destroyed several towns ... Multiple lightning strikes, dry, heavy fuels and strong winds eventually overwhelmed all fire-fighting efforts.
Inadequate firefighter safety in south east Australian forests: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell believes that many of the forested fire grounds across south eastern Australia are way too dangerous to fight bushfires and for firefighter safety and that, as a society, we have learnt very little following 2019/20 bushfires and bushfires before that, especially in regards to bushfire mitigation and safety. John has identified 21 main areas of concern in relation to bushfire firefighter safety in forested areas.
Widespread water protest planned: NSW Farmers Association
Basin communities, farmers and businesses will join forces for the nation’s largest ever protest next week against the Albanese Government’s controversial water bill. The coordinated action led by Deniliquin, Griffith and Leeton councils, along with key farming groups such as NSW Farmers and businesses, will see towns across multiple states host demonstrations on Tuesday, November 21, sharing the message that a rewrite of the Murray Darling Basin Plan will cost thousands of jobs and slash almost $1bn worth of food and fibre from farms.
‘We stand by our river’: Murray Darling Conservation Alliance
With the Senate set to decide the fate of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, an alliance of First Nation leaders, irrigators, farmers, ecologists and environmental organisations today travelled to federal parliament to urge politicians from across the political spectrum to deliver for inland rivers and communities.
