CATEGORY

Media Release

NFF calls out Federal Government’s failure to protect the Great Artesian Basin

The National Farmers’ Federation has expressed profound disappointment and frustration at the Federal Government's ongoing neglect in safeguarding the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), one of Australia's most vital groundwater resources. As AgForce prepares to bring its case before the Federal Court next month, the Government has questioned the agricultural organisation's right to take legal action.

Big Rocks Weir handed to State Government

Charters Towers Regional Council has ... made a decision to relinquish its role as proponent, developer, owner and operator of the Big Rocks Weir Project (BRW) to the State Government. Council’s original aim was to build and operate a weir in the Big Rocks area, located on the Burdekin River approximately 35km north of Charters Towers.

Deeper reforms needed as Fed Govt celebrates biosecurity cost win: GPA

These fees and charges, largely applying to importers and travellers entering and leaving the country, had remained unchanged for the best part of a decade until July 2023 and have since brought in an additional $47.1 million.  Grain Producers Australia Chair Barry Large said having fees and charges for these activities match the actual costs of managing these processes, whether it be for inspections and assessments or potential incident management, was commonsense.  

Renewed deal to deliver water south of the Barmah Choke: MDBA

A renewed agreement between WaterNSW and Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) will help to move water around the Barmah Choke for the 2024–25 water year. MDBA Senior Director River Modernisation Joe Davis said the arrangement with MIL would ensure water delivery to downstream users whilst protecting the river environment and community values.  

Toad-ally awesome project halts cane toad invasion: Deakin University

Stopping cane toads with a Toad Containment Zone (TCZ) before they reach the Pilbara in Western Australia will protect 27 million hectares of sensitive habitat, significant Aboriginal cultural heritage, and a trove of native Australian animals from population decline … the TCZ was created to halt a toad invasion with a landscape level strategy – effectively, a ‘toad-break’ - on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert.

Wondai Heritage Museum Open Day

Come and enjoy the day. Wander through the Museum and ask the volunteers questions. There will be a sausage sizzle, coffee van and many stalls featuring local crafts and produce.

Australian Army rolls into Derby ahead of biggest exercise in years

Leaders from multiple agencies across the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley met with senior Australian Army personnel ... ahead of a major local training exercise. The ADF’s Exercise Austral Shield kicks off over the coming days and will see hundreds of soldiers and their armoured and heavy vehicles moving around town for the next week as they fight a fictitious enemy role-played by other Army soldiers.

Wallumbilla’s new community precinct breaks ground: Chisholm, Taylor, Kennedy-Clark

Construction works on Wallumbilla’s new community precinct has officially begun with Assistant Minister for Regional Development Anthony Chisholm joining  Maranoa Regional Council representatives to turn the first sod on the new $4.85 million facility (in south-west Queensland). The precinct upgrade will feature a new community centre, library, visitor information centre and professional service spaces.  

Farmers welcome fairer biosecurity funding: NSW Farmers

Farmers have welcomed a $47.1 million dollar boost to the nation’s biosecurity system thanks to the Australian Government’s new fees and charges system for importers. NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Ian McColl said the new cost recovery mechanism was a strong step towards better biosecurity funding for the future, with the proposed biosecurity tax on farmers now defeated in the Senate.

Remediation works to maintain perfect water quality

Lismore City Council is investing $1 million in important remediation work on two water reservoirs after a scheduled in-depth health check on the system's condition. The two identified for repairs are the Esmonde Street and Wyreema Avenue reservoirs.

Gallery launches Mid West Arts Membership program

Exciting times are ahead for artists in the Midwest following Geraldton Regional Art Gallery’s (GRAG) announcement of its first ever arts membership program. An innovative new initiative the Mid West Arts Membership (MWAM) is open to all artists living or working in the Midwest, providing the chance to upskill through workshops as well as gain valuable experience exhibiting in a professional gallery setting.

SA medical imaging Mobile Bone Density clinic visit to Coober Pedy

The Royal Adelaide Hospital Mobile Bone Density clinic is visiting Coober Pedy soon in August 2024. Speak to your GP to get a referral beforehand, then phone (08) 7074 5400 to book an appointment while the mobile unit is in your local area.

Mossman’s after-school care is back in action following six-month flood recovery: Centacare FNQ

Reopening its doors this week with colourful, fresh new surroundings, Mossman families are celebrating the reopening of St Augustine’s Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) after a six-month flood recovery program.  With extensive damage caused by flood inundation following Tropical Cyclone Jasper,  Catholic Early Learning and Care—Diocese of Cairns Director Alison Forster said it is great to be back delivering outside-hours care for Mossman families and carers...

Farmers urged to reach out for help: Rural Aid

Australia’s most trusted rural charity is encouraging farmers to reach out for assistance this Farm Safety Week. “This year’s Farm Safety Week theme is 'in safe hands',” Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said. “Rural Aid’s mission is to stand with farmers when they need it most.”  

Reach out and ask for help: Farmsafe Australia’s ‘In Safe Hands’ campaign prioritises workforce wellbeing for farmers and farm workforce

This National Farm Safety Week, Farmsafe Australia’s ‘In Safe Hands’ campaign extends the regular work, health and safety conversation beyond physical safety to address the role of wellbeing in our capacity to make safe decisions on farm. Recognising the unique challenges faced by farmers, their families, and the broader farm workforce, the campaign aims to ensure that farmers know vital, practical support is available to them.

Mitigating the disproportionate bushfire vulnerability in rural communities

Over the years, Australia has experienced several large scale bushfires, with many of these fires and 90 per cent of the associated fatalities caused by faulty power lines in rural areas, according to Professor Alan Wong, Founder and CEO of IND Technology ... The early fault detection (EFD) system acts like a smoke alarm for the power network, enabling the prediction and locating of potential fires through this Australian-made innovation.

Ancient genomes reveal more than two thousand years of dingo population structure: Charles Sturt University

A leading Charles Sturt University researcher co-led a multi-discipline team investigating the origins of dingoes, when they arrived in Australia, and how they changed over nearly three thousand years. Professor of Evolution and Environmental Change Alan Cooper … analysed genomes from skeletons and mummies of dingoes found in the many caves of the giant Nullarbor Plain across southern Australia.

Far North Queensland biodiversity secured thanks to new protected areas: Plibersek, Linard

The project will support the 64,000 hectare  expansion of the Crystalvale Nature Refuge, about 15km south-west of Coen, and  establish the new 244,000 hectare Abingdon Downs North Nature Refuge, about 85km north-west of Georgetown ... Abingdon Downs North and Crystalvale make up the largest dedication of private protected area in the past six years.

World record-breaking damper team reunite in Charleville after 5 years

The six team members who won the Guinness World Records crown for the Longest Damper - 153.002 metres - are reuniting in Charleville on July 13 for the 5-year anniversary since the epic event ... It’s going to be a small reunion this year, just sitting around the campfire and spinning some yarns, however we have some big plans to put Charleville more on the map": Ranger Nick.

Built to thrill: Yarrila Place wins industry acclaim

City of Coffs Harbour’s cutting-edge community building Yarrila Place has won construction industry acclaim, with the builders recognised for their part in the exceptional project at the Master Builders' Association NSW Northern Region Awards. Lipman, the commercial builders, won Best use of tiles, Best use of brick, Public Buildings over $50 million, and the esteemed title of Commercial Builder of the Year at the prestigious awards.    

New Indigenous-managed land and sea areas across Australia: Plibersek, Burney

From the Western Australian deserts to the NSW rainforests, the new projects combined will protect 7.5 million hectares of land and 450,000 hectares of sea Country – bigger than the size of Tasmania. This is on top of existing IPAs which currently cover 87 million hectares of land and over five million hectares of sea Country – the majority of Australia’s national estate.

Broome Night Space helping community and youth stay safe: Papalia, Winton

Broome's new Immediate Response Night Space (IRNS) service - also known as Ngurra Buru - has created a safe service to help get young people off the streets and into care after hours. Funded by the Cook Government, the IRNS program has for two months been offering a culturally secure service led by an Aboriginal organisation to children aged 10-17 for four nights a week from 10pm to 5am ... provides a safe physical location, outreach services including a night patrol, meals and next-day family follow-up.

All categories