Statement on resumption of Indonesian live cattle trade: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the agreement to resume the trade of Australian buffalo and cattle following restrictions imposed by Indonesia. We appreciate this has been a challenging time for the Australian and Indonesian industries as these issues were worked through.
Real cost of water buybacks revealed: NSW Farmers
The Federal Government’s plans to increase water buybacks will have a devastating impact on food production, NSW Farmers warns … “The Minister is talking about removing 450,000ML of water from production, that’s the equivalent of 9.8 billion serves of rice!": Water Taskforce chair Richard Bootle ... “When you simply toss out all previous Basin-wide agreements, our communities will have no choice but to fight back.”
Pilot cultural burn in Gibbergunyah Reserve
Wingecarribee’s Aboriginal community had an exciting opportunity to take part in a cultural burn within Gibbergunyah Reserve last weekend. The burn was conducted by Gundungurra Traditional Owners and our First Nations community in partnership with Yarrabin Cultural Connections Fire Practitioner Den Barber and his team, also supported by the NSW RFS and Wingecarribee Shire Council.
Partnership to help fund social homes in Toowoomba: Scanlon
The first tenants have moved into new social homes purchased in a partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and YWCA. Fifteen homes will be acquired in total, with the first eight homes already settled and another due to settle next month.
Abandoned wind farms going cheap
What would it cost? And what is the carbon footprint of the physical effort to remove the footing of one of the many 200m tall wind turbine towers soon to be seen scattered across the Wheatbelt? ... I wonder how many of the Greenpeace activist types have watched the doco Thrown to the Wind about the whale deaths off the East Coast of the United States?
Statement from AEMO
In last Tuesday’s edition, the “Buloke Times” published a report from a reader, critical of the visit by Transmission Company Victoria to the area of the VNI West. Subsequently, the “Times” received the following statement from a spokesperson for Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO: “The landholder liaisons were on their way to an appointment with a local landowner, who had spoken with them the previous day and agreed to meet and receive some information on the project ..."
New water legislation will have detrimental effects on Greater Shepparton: Greater Shepparton City Council
A water bill proposed by the Federal Government, which could see buybacks take 450GL of water from local irrigators, will have detrimental effects on the Greater Shepparton region and its horticulture industry … Known for being the food bowl of Australia, Cr Sali said Greater Shepparton would feel the brunt of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023...
Firewood collection areas open
Victorians are now able to collect free firewood for personal use from state forest firewood collection areas until Thursday 30 November, 2023. Forest Fire Management Victoria, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Jarrod Hayse, said firewood collection is only allowed in designated firewood collection areas during a firewood season.
Lagoon reopens – Public cautioned about potential spread of disease following mass frog deaths
The mass frog mortality event occurred at the lagoon last week, prompting the immediate closure of the popular nature park near Naracoorte. While DEW has confirmed a suspected chytrid fungus outbreak in the area, it has cautioned the public to stay on paths and help reduce the potential spread of the disease.
Backing Portland as a renewable fuel manufacturing hub: Shing
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing announced the new study for a renewable fuel manufacturing hub in the portside city ... The feasibility study will be led by Portland H2 – a subsidiary of HAMR Energy - – towards establishing a plant converting plantation forestry residue to green methanol.
Community plan has been bearing fruit
A community plan that was launched seven years ago has chalked up a number of milestones and will continue to bring economic benefits to the region. In a three-part series, we report on the projects that have been delivered and what the future holds.
It’s bureaucratic, says MP
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride says he does not support the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Mr McBride said the referendum was bureaucratic and would fail to deliver tangible outcomes for the indigenous people.
Pasin ponders phone towers
Member for Barker Tony Pasin would prefer a different funding method than the “all or nothing” approach of Telstra’s Connect Limestone Coast project. The $40 million project involves 27 phone towers scattered across the region, each costing $1.5 million.
Plea for blood
Daily, one in three patients requires blood in Naracoorte, and they need the public’s support to ensure there is enough supply. The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood says the demand for blood in Naracoorte and its surrounding towns was at its highest level...
Regional Victorian Power Alliance visits Murrabit
It was a full house as Victorian and NSW community members gathered in the Murrabit Hall to hear from Vicki Johnson and Gavin Ronan from the Regional Victorian Power Alliance (RVPA). The RVPA was created in May 2023 after communities who had been battling the Western Renewables Link … expanded to include VNI West impacted communities.
Undergrounding report released
As state and federal governments continue their push to renewables, the mad scramble to build 10,000 kilometres of new power lines by 2030 has rural communities across the eastern seaboard not only gravely concerned about the social and environmental impacts, but also methodology. Last week, the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding HumeLink was released...
TMR extends consultation for north-south bypass
The Department of Main Roads and Transport has extended the initial community consultation period for feedback on the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor. The initial round of community consultation has been extended to the 13th of October.
Drayton shopping centre approved
Toowoomba Regional Council has given its approval to a development application requesting to build a shopping centre on Brisbane Street, Drayton ... The shopping centre is set to include a supermarket, two specialty shops, an alfresco dining area, main entry foyer and 105 car spaces.
East Gippsland Shire Council votes 5-2 in support of timber ban reversal: FWCA
Last night (5 September), in the heartland of the Victorian sustainable native timber sector, East Gippsland Shire Council sat in consideration of a motion supporting the world class Victorian sustainable native timber sector. After hearing an emotional public submission from FWCA Executive Officer Mick Harrington, alongside a desperate plea from local councillor Sonia Buckley for council (who authored the motion), Council voted 5 to 2 in favour of the motion, cementing East Gippsland Shire as another Victorian council calling on the Andrews Labor government to repeal the statewide ban on sustainable native timber harvesting.
Experience like no other on new skywalk
The Narrandera Skywalk installation has been successfully completed and is already proving popular with locals and visitors keen to take a look. The design features a fully accessible walkway that extends 15 metres over and above the tranquil waters of Lake Talbot...
Non-GMO food market red tape slashed: DAFF
Meeting the export premium market certification requirements for non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) produce has just been made cheaper, easier, and more efficient for Australian farmers. Continuing its ongoing focus on export reform … DAFF has phased-out the use of manual processing for non-GMO certification to 37 countries...
Victorian farmers slam Basin changes: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has slammed the legislative changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan introduced by the Albanese Government in Federal Parliament … “This move tears up the agreement made by Basin states over 10 years ago and is trying to re-write history on what the Basin Plan actually is”: VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy.
