Independent inquiry into Menindee fish deaths: Jackson, Sharpe
The NSW Government has asked the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) to conduct an Independent Review of the unprecedented deaths of millions of fish at Menindee in March 2023. Minister for Water, Rose Jackson, said the deaths sent shockwaves around the world and it was essential to better understand the cause and explore strategies to prevent a recurrence.
Yellow lights won’t fix potholes: Bev McArthur
... Victoria, the state whose debt is greater than the combined debt of NSW, Queensland and Tasmania, will illuminate multiple iconic venues across Victoria in yellow this week. It is being done in the memory of those “impacted by road trauma, to mark National Road Safety Week.” While the symbolism and education is worthy, Member for Western Victoria and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Road Safety, Bev McArthur, said the Government’s money would be better spent actually fixing the state’s dreadful roads.
Conservation efforts lead to reopening of fishing for Torres Strait species: Furner, Watt, Lui
A fishing season for a high value sea cucumber in the Torres Strait has reopened for the first time in 20 years thanks to a concerted conservation and stock restoration effort ... Torres Strait Islanders will have exclusive access rights to black teatfish, which is estimated to be worth $380,000 to the local economy.
A first in 40 years – Murray crayfish released back into South Australian waters: Landscape SA
Around 200 Murray crayfish have been released into the river as part of a landmark trial to reintroduce the iconic Australian species back into the South Australian River Murray ... "The Murray crayfish release in South Australia would not have been possible without the rescue efforts of OzFish volunteers during the upstream black-water event, and North-West Aquaculture and Nature Glenelg Trust for maintaining them in captivity," said Darren Willis, Team Leader Wetlands at the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Dubai Chambers and Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry sign MoU
Dubai Chamber office in Sydney a ‘big win,’ says Al Ghurair ... Al Ghurair said that Dubai Chambers aims to encourage more Australian businesses to set up companies in Dubai to boost bilateral trade and foreign investment in the city ... “We will be taking the UAE business community back to Australia where they can also invest and explore what kind of economic activities they can do in Australia.”
Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Conference, May 24th – 26th 2023
Managing fire together: Applying science, skills, and stories. The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is excited to announce details of the 13th Biennial Bushfire Conference. The conference is unique in its focus on community participation in fire management...
Mayor Otto calls for the Biosecurity Levy to be removed
South Burnett Regional Council Mayor, Brett Otto has joined National Party Leader and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud in questioning the federal government recent budget announcement to impose a levy on farmers to fund biosecurity. Mayor Otto has called on the federal government to reverse the decision, saying it is another impost on struggling farmers.
Top UK businesses encouraged to ‘join the club’ and invest in South Australia: Champion
A group of the United Kingdom’s most influential business figures were presented insights into South Australia’s growing global investment opportunities at a premier industry event in London recently ... The event highlighted the State’s economic priorities to some of the UK’s most influential business figures, focusing on key initiatives such as renewable energy, food and wine, digital skills, space and defence.
National Simultaneous Storytime
Lockyer Valley Libraries will participate in National Simultaneous Storytime later this month. The event, to be held at the Gatton Library on Wednesday 24 May, is an annual campaign by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) that encourages young children to read and enjoy books.
LisAmore! – Lismore Friendship Festival
Visit Lismore - Come play, come stay. LisAmore! takes place in the middle of winter, on Sunday 18 June. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit Lismore, Nimbin and Villages. There is so much to see, do and explore in surrounding towns, villages and national parks, plus Lismore is in the heart of the Northern Rivers, making it the perfect location to discover the entire region.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, 11 May 2023
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority met on 10 May 2023 in person on Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) and via videoconference ... Key water management activities in the River Murray System were discussed, including airspace management at Hume Dam, as well as the prospect of an El Niño weather pattern developing later in the year.
Reef island purchases protect critical koala, turtle habitat: Scanlon
Leases on two Great Barrier Reef islands have been purchased by the Palaszczuk Government with the move protecting key habitat for a range of species including koalas and flatback turtles. Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced that the government had purchased the lease for St Bees Island, 35km north-east of Mackay and the lease for the Long Island Broad Sound in the Southern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
New fee system to help protect Aboriginal cultural heritage: Buti
At the lowest scale, a fixed fee of $250 will apply for a company or organisation with less than $10 million in global revenue, up to a fee of $1.39 million for a company or organisation with a global revenue of $5 billion or more that enters an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan over 20 years. Where there is no risk of impact to Aboriginal cultural heritage, no approval is required and there is no fee payable.
Buloke calls for better lines of consultation on VNI West Project
Buloke Shire Council has publicly expressed its concern about the consultation processes in relation to the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) Project and called for the project to be suspended.
Council’s hire-local policy reaps results for Barkly community service centres
In a social media post this week, Mr McAdam claimed BRC was suffering from 111 positions vacant ... In BRC’s media release on Wednesday, it was on a positive note about adopting a hire local policy which had reaped great results for its eight community service centres in the Barkly.
Barkly on top of NT Budget: Paech
Nyinkka Nyunyu is set for a $7 million upgrade, announced in this week’s Territory Budget ... Speaking to the Tennant & District Times, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech said works include a new artist studio, upgraded gallery, performance and storage spaces and immersive audio visual displays and experiences that share history, stories, arts and culture.
Scrapping dam will hold back food production: NSW Farmers
Farmers say scrapping Dungowan Dam is a short-sighted move that will limit future food production. State Water Minister Rose Jackson announced Dungowan Dam would not proceed in the wake of the federal budget, saying it would save taxpayers $632 million.
Turf Club secret: What`s in that box?
The Alice Springs Turf Club is hosting Chinese satellite navigation equipment with potential military use and apparently without the knowledge of the Federal Government. This is alleged by a source, formerly linked to the company that supplied it, speaking with the Alice Springs News on the condition of not being named.
‘New water plan is a disgrace’: Les Turner
Les Turner, CLC CEO. The twice-rejected Western Davenport water allocation plan unmasks the Northern Territory government’s disregard for Aboriginal rights and sites and lacks social licence ... Alekarenge community leader Graham Beasley says: “That’s our country. We should be involved. What’s going to happen to our sacred trees?”
Maldon Central Heritage Precinct’s bid for listing with the Australian Heritage Council
Michele Waddington. This is the first part of a series on Maldon’s application for listing by the Australian Heritage Council as the outstanding 19th-century Australian Goldfields central precinct ... Part 1 claims that Maldon’s authentic and integrated streetscape was the impetus for heritage protection in Australia.
High-flying couple welcomes new skyhome
This was a renovation rescue like no other – a new skyhome for a high-flying Sunshine Coast couple. Sunshine Coast Council has just completed a lofty project to ensure a better future for a beloved pair of ospreys – and their future offspring.
Dismal dollars in Budget for rural roads: NFF
Three peak bodies representing famers and transporters have raised concerns about the lack of sufficient additional funding in the Federal Budget to address the perilous state of flood impacted rural roads. In the lead up to the Budget, GrainGrowers, National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) called for an emergency funding package of nearly $5.5 billion, a call the Government answered with just $250 million in new funding.
