Awards recognise water innovation
North East Water’s work has been recognised with a major award and a high commendation ... North East Water’s complex $6.5 million Beechworth project involved drilling through granite bedrock to construct a one-kilometre pipeline in Beechworth Historic Park, making it one of the longest single shot boring operations attempted through granite in Victoria.
Ferrero shuts down hazelnut project
The Ferrero Group is selling its $70 million hazelnut development near Narrandera amid claims that the region’s climate played a key factor in its decision. The move to not proceed with its NSW project is considered a major blow to the establishment of a commercial-scale hazelnut growing industry in Australia.
New arrival at Altina
Two black-and-white ruffed lemurs have been paired together at the Altina Wildlife Park near Darlington Point. The species is critically endangered due to poaching and deforestation and one is from England and will provide genetic diversity to the Australian lemur population.
Current conditions driving demand for hay
Australian farmers are requesting donated hay at a phenomenal rate as drought and bushfire conditions bite ... Queensland cattle producer Betty Johnson, of Biggenden, this month received hay from Rural Aid ... “We’ve had no rain at all since about January which means that I’ve been feeding stock for ages. If you’re feeding stock, it costs money.”
Getting the Murray–Darling Basin Plan back on track: Productivity Commission
Improved accountability would boost progress on the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, according to the Productivity Commission. The interim report of the 2023 Murray–Darling Basin Plan implementation review finds the Australian Government’s recently proposed extension of the Basin Plan timeframes is necessary but won’t be enough. “In the five years since the last Commission review, very little progress has been made on water recovery, or on supply and constraints-easing measures,” Associate Commissioner Chris Guest said.
Basin Plan buybacks a death knell for the bush: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Productivity Commission’s Murray-Darling Basin Plan Implementation Review backing of more water buybacks would irreversibly damage Basin farming communities and tears up a decade-long agreement to collaboratively manage the river system.
Tasmania’s peak farming body welcomes watershed moment: TFGA
Tasmania's peak farming body welcomes the introduction to the Tasmanian Parliament today of the Water Miscellaneous Amendments (Delegation and Industrial Water Supply) Bill 2023. Proposed changes to legislation will mark a significant milestone in Tasmania's water management by enabling water utilities such as Tasmanian Irrigation to supply industrial users for green hydrogen production.
Goomburra fires
As at Tuesday 31 October the Goomburra Fires are under control after many days of fire fighting and back burning. Each day about half a dozen units are attending the fires which are still burning in the hills.
How did the turtle cross the road? Community asked to assist to help protect reptilian friends: Landscape SA
As spring turtle nesting season begins, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board is asking drivers to play a crucial role in helping to protect the region’s vulnerable freshwater turtles. Turtle fatalities as a result of traffic accidents are a significant contributor to the steep decline in freshwater turtle numbers in the Murraylands and Riverland.
Calls for council slashing at Nymboida
A Nymboida resident who was in the middle of the Glen’s Creek Road firestorm last Wednesday says calls for council to slash about 80 acres of land adjoining his and two other properties have resulted in a limited response that placed lives in jeopardy … “Council would be having a go at anyone else whose property is putting people at risk, but council can get away with it because they’re council…it’s not good enough.”
Project to improve biodiversity at Niigi Niigi – Sealy Lookout: Forestry Corporation of NSW
A partnership of key local agencies will rejuvenate the bush to improve biodiversity at one of Coffs Harbour’s most visited natural assets. Forestry Corporation has partnered with Envite Environment and the Gumbaynggirr Ranger team of the Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) to undertake weed management and staged bush revegetation work within the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve.
Tasmanian Farmers reject new fire levy options as totally unfair and unacceptable: TFGA
Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) says it cannot support the government's proposed Tasmanian Fire and Emergency Services fire levy funding models in their present form ... TFGA President, Ian Sauer said, “While we support the move toward a fairer, more efficient funding system with a single source of funding, in some instances we’re seeing farmers' contributions increase under one proposed model by a staggering 1000 per cent, and under the other model by at least 230 per cent in contributions, which is unacceptable and certainly not equitable.”
Flood Corporation withered – now we hope FloodCorp3 will provide serious relief
It is the end of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. From Tuesday, October 31, the NRRC will be dissolved and its assets, rights and liabilities transferred to the NSW Reconstruction Authority. This is hardly a surprise...
As buybacks remove houses, the town shrinks and there’s nowhere else to go
Woodburn needs better solutions for its flood recovery, councillor Robert Hayes said. At Richmond Valley Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 17, Mr Hayes asked the council to write to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the NSW Reconstruction Authority to express concern about the potential impacts of large-scale housing buybacks on the future of Woodburn.
Tender awarded for Mount Morgan Pipeline
The next major step in delivering a long-term permanent water supply to Mount Morgan has been taken with Council announcing Haslin Constructions Pty Ltd as the successful tenderer for the construction works ... “As part of the tender, they also are committed to sourcing labour and materials for this project locally as much as possible which is another big win for our community”: Mayor of Rockhampton Region Tony Williams.
NSW Farmers joins campaign against anti-farming policies: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers has thrown its support behind an unprecedented national campaign against anti-farming policies. Liverpool Plains farmer and NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the Australian agriculture industry was united in its stand to call on Federal parliamentarians to stand up against policies which threaten to slash billions from farm production.
Tasmanian Farmers join national chorus to campaign against anti-farming policies: TFGA
Tasmanian Farmers have backed a national advocacy campaign in the fight against anti-farming policies that impact our farmers. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA) President Ian Sauer said the farmers across Australia have united in a call for federal politicians to say no to government policy which is putting billions in farm production at risk.
Murray River Group of Councils takes its pushback water buybacks message to Canberra
Murray River Group of Councils is taking its “PushbackBuybacks” message to Canberra after accepting an invitation to participate in a public hearing being conducted by the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for the Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023.
How long is your hose?
The Naked Farmer (18-year CFA volunteer). Have you ever been a volunteer? It feels great, doesn’t it? Imagine if you were responsible for putting those volunteers’ life at added risk? For an organisation like the CFA which relies predominantly on volunteers, why wouldn’t it stop and ask the question, "Why are we allowing the added risk of Transmission Lines to our volunteers and those we serve to protect?"
The Buloke Times editorial: A message from the Chief Fire Officer
Despite the fire activity we have already seen in spring, our bushfire risk management program will continue where conditions are suitable and it is safe to do so. Planned burning, mechanical treatments and planned burn preparation are our highest priority into late spring and early summer because if a bushfire starts, these activities will help us suppress fires.
Barkly landowners urged to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions
Emergency services are urging Barkly landowners to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions and ensure they have a bushfire survival plan ready ... "The Barkly is experiencing really dangerous fire conditions, so there is a fire ban in place for the Barkly North and the Barkly South": Acting Chief Fire Officer Joshua Fischer.
Tony, Mac and a handful of hope
Thanks to photographer extraordinaire Rob Leeson for this great photo of Newstead farmer Tony Butler, and Kelpie Mac, in a paddock of wheat. In recent weeks, the local region has received around 40mm of rain, and this has been a bonus for farmers.
