Media Release

Olney State Forest is now home to a series of frog ‘hotels’ designed to support threatened frog species, thanks to a partnership between Forestry Corporation of NSW and the University of Newcastle.

‘Have Your Say’ consultation is now open on a redraft of existing legislation that underpins Australia’s agricultural levy system ... The new legislation aims to provide a simpler, clearer legislative framework so industries can keep benefiting from their investments in research and development, marketing, biosecurity, emergency responses, and residue testing.

While thousands of people across the UK are expected to gather around large screens in bustling city locations to celebrate the Coronation of his Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in the Queensland Outback Quilpie locals will celebrate in true Aussie style with a large scale bonfire that will be coloured a Royal red for the occasion and fireworks lighting up the crisp Autumn night at Baldy Top look out.

Australian dairy producers can look forward to another favourable season in 2023/24, with the sector set for its fourth consecutive profitable year, Rabobank says in its recently-released annual Australian Dairy Seasonal Outlook.

Members of the executive of the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA) were pleased to welcome Senator Lidia Thorpe onto Barkindji Country, in far west NSW, this week (18/04/2023). Gathering at Mutawindji National Park, one hour from Broken Hill, the IAPA executive yarned with Senator Thorpe about current issues affecting IAPA members, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

In what will be music to travellers’ ears, Bonza has launched its Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Tamworth route on 2 May 2023. The new route, connecting Australia’s Country Music Capital with its Cuisine Capital, will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays with fares starting from $59 per person (one way).  

Planning is underway for the nation’s largest gathering of harnessed draught animals, The Good Old Days Festival, at Barellan in southern NSW on September 30-October 1, 2023. The committee is putting together a full program of authentic heritage events ... Barellan Working Clydesdale Committee member Bruce Bandy, and Aleks Berzins, of Exeter, will drive a team of over 20 heavy horses pulling a wool wagon around the arena.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has called on the Victorian Government to step in and take over planning of the state’s transmission network following the consultation on the proposed VNI West project. VFF President Emma Germano said the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) had failed to take the impact on agricultural production into account in planning for transmission on behalf of the Victorian Government, and that the government needs to take back control.

As a young theatre director and teacher Peter Derrett travelled to the 1973 Aquarius Festival ... He took his camera with him and the resulting collection of images  provides a comprehensive documentary account of this landmark event in Australian cultural history ... offer valuable insights into what happened at the Festival and sum up many of the ideologies that surrounded it.  

The Kimberley’s Ultimate Festival is back in 2023. The Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster will be held 19 - 27 May 2023 in Kununurra, Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng country, in Western Australia’s northwest ... A curated program of special events, from big concerts to lunchtime sessions, station luncheons, comedy, Indigenous culture and arts and family-friendly festivities kick off the East Kimberley’s tourism season.

A strong connection to Burra, its community and the iconic Midnight Oil House has seen the creation and generous donation of a collectable jewellery masterpiece by Melbourne jeweller Glenn Bakker; to the Burra community, through the Regional Council of Goyder during this year’s Shannon’s Rally of the Heartland ... He has since spent the last 12 months creating an exquisite piece of art which he has named the "Midnight Oil House-Burra".

National Farmers' Federation Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar said the industry had long called for a purpose-built migration system designed to meet its labour and skills demands, rather than the current mixture of haphazard solutions ... Mr Mahar said there was real concern among industry regarding the review’s recommendation to limit or even scrap the requirement for Working Holiday Makers to work on farm.

Regional South Australia has rocketed toward its 2025 tourism target and a new record-high, hitting almost $4 billion in 2022 – some three years ahead of schedule. Latest data shows regional visitor expenditure hit an all-time high $3.98 billion in 2022, just $200 million shy of its $4.0 billion target set for December 2025.

The ‘Bird in Hand’ gold deposit area at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills has been proclaimed by the Governor at the request of the State Labor Government, protecting it from future mining applications. The land protected under the proclamation is the same area that was subject to a previous development application by Terramin Australia, with the move effectively prohibiting any future applications over the known Bird in Hand gold deposit.

As part of the Australia Government  Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, council has engaged a contractor to undertake the design and construction of pavement rehabilitation works on the  Rolleston Aerodrome Landing Area runway.  The design phase is expected to commence in early June and conclude in mid-June 2023 with the construction phase to commence between July and September 2023.

The region is set to enjoy a boost to economic, cultural and educational opportunities as The Barossa Council gears up to enter into a formalised  sister-city agreement with the  City of Grapevine, Texas  which is the fifth largest wine producing state in the United States. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange said as major wine and food destinations, the two regions share many similarities and a global reputation for premium wine, food and events.

Increased supply good news for consumers, but a challenge for Queensland growers. Sunshine Coast-based macadamia supplier Nutworks has revealed that macadamias are set to become more accessible for the average Australian, with increased supply of the premium product expected to lead to lower prices on supermarket shelves in the months ahead.

Powerlink is seeking community feedback on two recommended corridors for proposed new transmission line connections in the Gympie, Somerset and South Burnett regions. Powerlink’s Draft Corridor Selection Report (CSR) has been released publicly and provides detailed analysis of a number of corridor options against social, environmental and economic criteria.

A new $150,000 walking trail has been unveiled in Kununurra's Mirima National Park in the heart of Western Australia's East Kimberley ... This is the fourth trail within the national park and the longest at 3.5 kilometres.