Media Release

Jumping dogs? Yes, that's right, come along to see the jumping dogs (and their assistants) in fast and fearless competition at the Clare Show on 16 October. Plus a whole lot more including show bags, kids zone, garden hub, lego legends, fireworks and side shows.

The professional association representing some 1,000 forest scientists, researchers and professional forest land managers  in Australia will soon be known by a new name. The Institute of Foresters of Australia and Australian Forest Growers (IFA/AFG) has announced it will launch a new identity at its upcoming national conference, which will be held in Launceston and online in a hybrid model, from 11 to 14 October 2021.

From their headquarters at Birtinya, Kilcoy Global Foods manages the production, distribution, and export of eight million cartons of premium beef annually to more than 35 global markets. KGF is also a major supplier to Australian supermarkets, food wholesalers, fine dining establishments and family restaurants including McDonalds.

Queensland’s first dedicated regional quarantine facility is moving ahead quickly with the first concrete poured at the Wellcamp site today ... “Construction is moving ahead swiftly and Wagner Corporation has confirmed we are on-track for the first stage of the quarantine facility to be delivered for use by the end of 2021": Steven Miles.

With the benefit of two recent barrier trials under his belt and possessing a sound record when resuming from a spell, there are plenty of positives around the chances of Safado in the $80,000 Birdon Group Sprint at Port Macquarie on Friday.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and  DT Global  will grow agricultural trade between Pacific Island countries and Australia, through improved food security, better market access and biosecurity outcomes.

In partnership with Basin state governments, the Murray–Daring Basin Authority (MDBA) will detail water sharing arrangements in the River Murray system at a public webinar next Tuesday 12 October 2021. The webinar will run through the basics of how water is shared between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and the factors that influence each state's allocation decisions.

Scientists are exploring the use of mobile polliniser units to improve cross-pollination in netted apple orchards in a new trial being delivered through Hort Innovation in partnership with the University of Adelaide.   Over the past 14 months, scientists have been working with apple growers in the Adelaide Hills as part of the project, which aims to solve the challenges involved in using honey bees to cross-pollinate in undercover settings.

Grass and crop fires are the greatest concern for the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), with the official bushfire season across NSW underway. After spending two months assisting with wildfires burning in the northern hemisphere, the 737 Large Air Tanker (LAT), ‘Marie Bashir’, has returned to NSW, and will be ready to assist firefighters to save lives and properties here, as part of the RFS aerial fleet.

The $13 million Next Generation Simulator project at Waurn Ponds will allow students, researchers and industry to do cost-effective prototype testing, engineering and commercial product design of driver and driverless cars.

The Tasmanian Government welcomes the first sightings of Orange-bellied  Parrots as they return to Tasmania for the breeding season, following the record-breaking success of last year’s breeding season. Four Orange-bellied Parrots marked to return to Tasmania for the breeding season have been sighted in the past week.

Up to 60,000 tonnes of softwood logs will start to be shipped off Kangaroo Island to support South Australia’s forestry sector and booming housing construction industry, with applications to the Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program (CSTAP) now open. The CSTAP is jointly funded by the Morrison Coalition Government and Marshall Liberal Government and provides assistance to freight bushfire-affected softwood logs salvaged from Kangaroo Island to the South Australian mainland and then to sawmills with immediate capacity to process structural timber.

Shelly Hancock, NSW Minister for Local Government, announces that the NSW government will introduce a population growth factor in the annual rate peg from July 2022 to raise additional revenue for councils to fund key infrastructure in growing communities.

In a first for the Southern Hemisphere, researchers have shown a bacteria can successfully sterilise and eradicate the invasive, disease carrying  Aedes aegypti  mosquito which is responsible for spreading dengue, yellow fever and Zika.    The breakthrough could support the suppression and potential eradication of Aedes aegypti worldwide.

Bendigo’s Telstra Exchange building and neighbouring Bendigo Creek will be transformed in early November with the spectacular night time display Djaara Lights, featuring neon artworks, street art and digital experiences telling stories from Dja Dja Wurrung People.

Tasmanian fine timber reclaimed from the depths of Lake Pieman and crafted into artistic furniture by London-based Tasmanian designer Brodie Neill, will be on display to around 115,000 people at London Craft Week.

Racing SA has announced that jumps races will not be scheduled in the South Australian racing calendar as of next year. Despite the efforts of all industry stakeholders to maintain a jumps racing program in SA, declining participation levels and horse numbers have made the industry unsustainable and unworkable.