Why this dangerous pest must be stopped
The battle against one of the most serious threats to Sunshine Coast native wildlife is about to resume. To protect native animals, Sunshine Coast Council is running its Coastal Fox Control Program, for the ninth year.
State’s best farming land under threat: NSW Farmers Association
Farmers on the state’s best agricultural land have faced years of uncertainty because of complex red tape that threatens food production. New analysis from NSW Farmers revealed a cloud over ongoing farm production on two-thirds of State Significant Agricultural Land because of conflicting mapping and land use definitions from the NSW Government.
Bunya Pines are impressive but dangerous
Allora has two massive Bunya Pines ... In the bad storm last week branches were ripped from the Pines with sharply pointed leaves falling to the ground covering the lawn and gutters of the nearby home. If a child or even adult was under the Pines when a cone dropped on their head there could be serious consequences. Is it time these Bunya Pines were permanently removed?
Howitt Society weighs into debate
Hiding behind climate change is not a strategy to address the increasing number and intensity of fires and floods across Australia, according to the Howitt Society. The society's president, Rick Cooper, said even if all burning of fossil fuels was stopped across the world tomorrow, climate change was not going to shift into reverse.
‘Today is the day we stop building on the floodplain’ says online petition
Broadwater resident Sophie Morgan-Smith has started an online petition to reject the development proposal for 60 house blocks at Rileys Hill Rd , Broadwater. This land is a floodplain that was 5.33 metres under water in the February-March floods in 2022, Ms Morgan-Smith said.
Big smiles at ‘big shed’ opening
Located at Nymboida Camping and Canoeing, the big shed offered many residents a safe place to stay following the catastrophic bushfires which devastated the region in 2019 ... “We housed locals in the cabins, and very importantly, Nymboida Camping and Canoeing provided a space for people to come and share their experiences and stories with others who understood": Laena Stephenson.
Super way to light community interaction
A vibrant and decorative space has been created in Grafton’s Market Square as part of Clarence Valley Council’s (CVC) Rediscover Grafton project ... Between 6-11pm each night, attendees are welcome to bring their picnic blankets and deck chairs into Market Square and lie or sit below a pair of entwined trees, and engage with the extraordinary experience.
Open letter to Albo: Apparently you have the power to pause bank closures
Just five months ago, a petition calling for an immediate moratorium on regional bank closures was signed off on by your government, published and subsequently received 5000 signatures. Yesterday, in defiance of a direct request by a senate committee investigating the economic and welfare impacts of regional bank closures to pause all planned closures while the inquiry was in progress, Westpac shut the last banks in the South Australian towns of Coober Pedy and Tailem Bend.
That Camp Street levee!
Harold Flett. So Donald had a well above average total of rainfall in the Spring of 2022. Official rainfall records inform us of 365mm for the months of August through to end of November. That is a considerable amount of rain in four months, resulting in many flooded roads, crops and a decent “run” down our local Richardson River ... The first real chance to have our town levees challenged since the erection of them in the years following the “one in a hundred” flood of January 2011.
Putting community safety first with tougher action on youth crime and its causes: Palaszczuk, Ryan, Linard
It will be harder for serious repeat offenders to get bail and there will be even more investment in tackling the complex causes of youth crime, the Palaszczuk Government announced ... The new investment of $332 million will also help boost police resources ... including a new $25 million injection for high visibility police patrols and $17 million for expanded joint flying squads.
What about the war against vermin? The WA firearms debate
Where the line should be drawn between those who need firearms or use them for work, sport and recreation and community safety is a debate that's in full swing in Western Australia where the McGowan government is in the middle of a complete redraft of the laws as to who can have a gun and who can't, along with what size, number, ammunition stocks, property location, size and mental health.
Prime Minister must show leadership on regional WA’s crime crisis: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urgently visit the Western Australian town of Carnarvon while he is in the state this week. Mr Littleproud said the Prime Minister should spend a night in Carnarvon, rather than holding a $1,500 a head fundraiser in Perth to appreciate what’s needed in this community and others across regional WA.
SA’s primary industries continue to experience record-breaking growth: Scriven
The release of the Primary Industries Scorecard 2021-22 illustrates the resilience of the sector in overcoming Covid 19, extreme weather, floods and bushfire events, the Russian invasion of Ukraine along with Chinese trade tensions to generate a revenue of $17.3 billion in 2021-22, an increase of 12% and accounting for 51% of the South Australia’s merchandise exports: Claire Scriven.
SA Liberals need to get onboard Team SA on Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Close
The SA Liberals misguided opposition to voluntary water buybacks risks undermining South Australia’s position ahead of Friday’s Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting. A united South Australian position is crucial when dealing with the unwillingness of the NSW and Victorian governments to deliver the 450 gigalitres promised when the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was agreed to: Susan Close, SA Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (SA).
CEO’s report advised leaving Guilderton café lessee out of tender process
The Shire of Gingin says claims the former Guilderton café lessee was discouraged from applying for a lease renewal are false but the Enright family was only invited to join the closed tender process when councillors amended an officer’s report to include them.
Election debate to tackle food future, 22 February 2023: NSW Farmers
Keeping food affordable, renewable energy zones and securing production will feature as part of a key regional debate for voters in Dubbo. Designed to focus on key agricultural issues ahead of the state election, the Dubbo debate on Wednesday night will feature Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders, Shadow Minister Mick Veitch, Greens spokesperson Sue Higginson, One Nation spokesperson Rod Roberts, and Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers spokesperson Robert Borsak.
New alliance calls for emergency funding for rural roads: ALRTA
The newly-formed Rural Road Alliance is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming Federal Budget. The alliance ... been formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road network in the wake of recent flooding and high rainfall.
Flood study review set to start
The Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study currently underway will be updated with new data from the October 2022 flood event ... “This will enable potential future flood mitigation measures, warning systems and triggers to be developed based on the latest information”: Campaspe Mayor Cr Rob Amos.
Murray feels the ocean on his feet once again
Murray Stevens, 91, has long had a yearning to feel the sand between his toes and the ocean lap on his feet once more, and on Wednesday this become a reality. Murray was the first person to use an aided beach-walker and Mobi-mat at the U-Beach Community Beach Day at Nielson Park.
Sky is the limit for rare flightless bird: Griffin
NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said the population of one of Australia’s rarest birds, the Lord Howe Island Woodhen, has increased five-fold in four years, and more than doubled within 12 months ... "The NSW Government’s rodent control program is a world first for a permanently inhabited island, and the results for the biodiversity on Lord Howe are remarkable": Minister Griffin.
People and industry must be at centre of Basin Plan: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says people and industry must be at the centre of discussions during next week’s meeting of state and federal water ministers on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan ... “The MDBA’s report card doesn’t look at the impact on jobs, on food production and on communities that have resulted from water buybacks and broader Basin Plan implementation”: VFF President Emma Germano.
Bushfire learning, policy and management opportunities: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell finds that the Treasurer's recent essay opens up an opportunity to discuss whether Australia has in fact learnt and implemented lessons from the Black Saturday bushfires and ways to improve economic and management outcomes for Australia in relation to bushfires.
