A summer reminder from CFA and RSPCA … time to consider our pets
As the summer arrives, CFA, with RSPCA Victoria, is reminding Victorians to consider their pets and livestock in their bushfire survival plan. While families should always put their own safety ahead of their pets in an emergency, it is important to have bedding, food, and water ready to go for them should a fire cause concern.
Demolition of flooded supermarket, new design plans with ‘submarine room’ almost finished
Woodburn IGA is being knocked down. Tanya and Neale Hundy have gone away during the demolition because it’s “emotional” to watch ... The IGA supermarket was renovated and modernised a year before it was flooded to the ceiling in the 2022 floods.
Aussie farmers are more prepared for adverse weather conditions now, than in the past five years: Kellanova ANZ
This World Soil Day, Kellanova ANZ, parent company of Kellogg’s, is shining a light on how farmers are preparing for the upcoming El Niño summer season, with soil health at the very heart ... New research reveals that 9 in 10 Aussie farmers already have a plan in place to deal with drier weather; Almost a third are confident the practices they use will help them prepare for potential drought.
Murray Darling Basin Plan rescued: Plibersek
“This is one the biggest things any government has done for the environment in a decade. I said from day one that I was determined to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, including the 450GL of water for the environment. That’s what I’ve done ... we’ve worked with people across the Parliament to strengthen this legislation and make it law ...": Tanya Plibersek.
Killing koalas to “save” polar bears: Robert Onfray
In this article Robert Onfray details the lack of environmental scrutiny of the wind factories and pumped hydro projects built or planned in Queensland as the state sanctions the wholesale clearing of remnant native forest on the coastal ranges straddling the Great Dividing Range ... 10,178 hectares of koala and 6,744 hectares of greater glider habitats are set to disappear if all the renewable proposals in Queensland are approved ... "blunt force trauma" is to be used to euthanise injured animals or those that cannot be relocated, particularly koalas.
Putting rabbits to the test: DAFF
Community members will continue to be able to access free testing services for rabbits and hares, thanks to an Australian Government funded national disease monitoring program. The National Rabbit Disease Monitoring Program is being delivered by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
20 years of captive care for Dryococelus australis
Rohan Cleave, Kate Pearce. A big thank you for hosting us on Lord Howe Island (LHI) in September, where we celebrated Threatened Species Day at the LHI Community School and a community event ... The LHI Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) is one of the world’s most critically endangered invertebrate species.
Stunning landscapes, unique natural values on Curtis Island to be protected: Linard
The stunning landscapes and unique environments of Curtis Island will be further protected and celebrated under a new Queensland-first partnership. The Palaszczuk Government has purchased the island’s Spadely Station from Bakara Investments Pty Ltd to add the land to Queensland’s protected areas estate, with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to partner with the company to boost eco-tourism and visitor numbers on the island.
International bond helps food charity
It was a memorable occasion last Friday when local food pantry provider, Corryong FoodShare Services, offically opened its new premises in Harris Street. The honours were carried out by Member for Indi, Helen Haines, and the French Ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault.
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.
