Land & environment

Kangaroo Island has been named one of the world’s top destinations to visit – and is the only Australian destination to make the list. Ranked as #2 by global travel authority, Lonely Planet, in its 2024 Top Regions Hotlist, Kangaroo Island is recognised as a premier eco-tourism destination which offers distinct local produce, abundant native wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches.

An unprecedented campaign against anti-farming policies has been launched by new NFF President David Jochinke in his first day in the role. Speaking in Canberra at the National Farmers’ Federation National Conference, Mr Jochinke called on parliamentarians to stand up against policies which threaten to slash billions from farm production.

Lynn James Harrison, known to one and all as Sam, was born September 22nd, 1939 in the Corryong Hospital ... Sam Harrison officially joined the Bringenbrong Rural Fire Brigade in 1958 ... well respected as a Captain as he remained very calm under pressure.

Kale Makeham, a former resident of Koondrook, is no stranger to performing daring stunts on dirt bikes. Fast forward 11 years and Kale is still pushing the limits on a two-stroke dirt bike, but this time, he's taking the challenge from the dirt to the water!

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will not comment on multiple observations by several people of a brightly lit object in the controlled airspace of Alice Springs, over a period of several months ... The sightings are always to the east of Alice Springs, at various heights in the night sky and usually still visible when all the stars are already gone from view at dawn.

The Southern Downs Regional Council encourages the agricultural industry to consider sustainable water management practices to protect the region’s waterways and wetlands.

A NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the Planning System and the Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Communities is calling for public submissions and the Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc is encouraging locals to show their concerns about what is happening on the Yamba floodplain.

Citizen scientists are being called to swap their backyards for a local waterway by joining a wave of volunteers across the Murray–Darling Basin to help with conservation efforts. The spring sampling season of the Great Australian Wildlife Search, delivered by Odonata Foundation, has started.

Forestry Australia has released three new and highly topical Position Statements to share its evidence-based positions on important issues relating to the management of forests across Australia ... “Now more than ever we need to ensure that there is evidence-based and balanced information readily available, given we live in an era of information overload, misinformation and disinformation”: Forestry Australia President, Dr Michelle Freeman.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says more than one year after Victoria’s devastating 2022 flood event, the state’s crumbling roads are worse than ever and continue to fall into disrepair.

The government has acted quickly to offer assistance to communities who experienced bushfires this month. The LGAs eligible for disaster assistance include Kyogle and Tenterfield. Bushfire impacted communities, landowners, farmers, and primary producers will be supported in the clean-up and recovery.

A free  Bushfire Resilience Rating app  has been released for residents to assess and prepare their homes for bushfire risk. Households can measure the bushfire resilience of their own home through a star-rating system and then get a customised action plan to make practical, safety improvements to their homes.

To say that a bushfire can turn a normally rational person into someone on the verge of becoming unhinged is an understatement. Experts say that panic is a normal response and that you never know how you’ll react until a bushfire threatens your community, your property, your loved ones or your life. But the experts also say that being prepared can greatly reduce panic so here are some valuable tips and points of advice.

The State Government has released key policy positions that will form the basis for the Fitzroy water allocation plan, as part of its ongoing commitment to protecting the Fitzroy River while supporting economic development. The  Water allocation planning in the Fitzroy – Policy position paper  reaffirms the State's commitment not to dam the Fitzroy River and its tributaries.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council says the integrity of the Insurance Council of Australia should be questioned, following months of unanswered correspondence from the region’s Mayor ... “Following the 2022 floods, the Insurance Council advised us they were willing to engage and could encourage insurers to undertake consistent and meaningful assessments for those impacted from flooding, but unfortunately it seems to have been empty promises": Mayor Milligan.

The annual assessment of Commonwealth fish stocks from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has found that the majority of stocks assessed were both not overfished and not subject to overfishing. The ABARES Fishery status reports 2023 provides an annual, independent assessment of the biological and economic status of Commonwealth managed fisheries.

A concept for young people aged 13-18 to take a leading role in disaster resilience in their local area has taken out the 2023 Disaster Challenge, run by Natural Hazards Research Australia in Melbourne.

The end goal of the recent Maldon Inc Kangaroo Art Project was finally realised last Friday when the much-anticipated Mylab Five VET ultrasound machine was installed in the treatment clinic at Red Box Wildlife Shelter. The ultrasound machine will assist volunteer Senior Veterinary Surgeon Dr Mark Sayer in expediting diagnosis of internal injuries in kangaroos.

Opposition has been expressed by nearby residents regarding a proposed planning permit application for a 16-block subdivision in Maldon on land bordered by Lowther, Reef and Polsue Streets ... It is understood that their objections include the small size of some of the blocks and the inappropriateness of the development in relation to the surrounding area.

The Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters Association (AHSLEA) along with 27 other international leather industry organisations, is calling on the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to recognise the positive impact of natural materials such as leather on people, lives, and livelihoods and as a means of directly mitigating climate impact ... AHSLEA Executive Officer Dennis King said over the last four decades Australian leather processors have implemented a range of exciting sustainable initiatives to reduce leather’s carbon footprint including adopting cleaner tanning technologies and practices.