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.
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.
