Westbrook Telecom Tower approved
A Telstra telecommunications facility will be constructed on Keding Road at Westbrook following approval by Toowoomba Regional Council, providing improved reception, 4G and 5G services ... The application was submitted by Ventia Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Amplitel Pty Ltd.
Bushfire theories versus real world experience
Sadly, death and destruction will continue to escalate whilst governments rely on advice from academics and firechiefs and give them increased funding after every disaster. Sustainable fire management would be very much cheaper and better.
Rail Trail back in the news
Sheryl Lowe. The Penola/Coonawarra Rail Trail was discussed at length at the July Council meeting with elected members faced with choosing between two options for the future of the project. A further almost half a million dollars to complete the planned route or reduce the length of the trail to cut costs was discussed in a 15 minute break from official proceedings.
Money drives madness
Australia’s $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan is yielding some unintended consequences as decades of sage warnings went ignored ... Money is the motivator. “Almonds, citrus, and table grapes can all be grown above or below the Barmah Choke, but horticulturalists believe they can each be grown more profitably below the Choke.”
Existing environmental benefits mean 450GL isn’t needed: VFF
“Over 2,100 gigalitres of water has already been recovered for the environment and has delivered great benefit to our ecosystems. But we must acknowledge the huge toll on rural communities and agricultural jobs as a consequence. Further recovery can’t be achieved, will hurt farming communities and jobs, and won’t provide any real environmental benefit” : VFF Water Council Chair, Andrew Leahy.
Australian and Indonesian livestock sectors work together to limit disease spread: MLA
The Australian livestock industry will work with Indonesian feedlots to help protect their facilities from disease incursions and subsequent trade disruption via a biosecurity support project jointly funded by the Australian Government and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) ... MLA responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
FMD fragments detected shows system working, but highlights need to continue to strengthen system: Simson, NFF
The DAFF statement regarding the interception of items containing fragments of Foot and Mouth Disease brings home the urgent need to ramp up the resourcing of Australia's biosecurity systems and implement 100% screening of passengers returning from high-risk areas ... Fiona Simson responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
Apiarists on edge as mite threatens
Parts of New South Wales are in the grip of a Varroa mite infestation, the most serious pest for honey bees ... Narrandera apiarist and owner of King Bee Honey, along with his wife Wendy, David Mumford, is one of the region's beekeepers to be affected. The Riverina region has fared well so far compared to other areas which have had hives eradicated.
Critical research into local koala population
Narrandera's iconic koalas are at the forefront of an exciting research project to assess the population, health and genetics of the free-ranging colony. The project, led by National Parks and Wildlife Service, swung into action last month when a six-member team of specialist veterinarians, NPWS staff and a professional tree climber arrived in town to undertake field work.
Lithium-ion battery fires spark winter home safety plea: Stephen Dawson
Emergency Services are urging Western Australians to take precautions this winter and reduce the risk of life-threatening fires started by battery-powered devices ... Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said many of these incidents were preventable, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was reporting an increasing number of destructive fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
State of the environment report indicates it’s time to double down on pests and weeds: Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
The latest State of the Environment Report paints a dire picture for the ongoing survival of Australia’s threatened species under ever increasing pressure from feral animals and weeds ... “Invasive species are the common denominator: foxes and feral cats fuelled by rabbits are the major driver of mammal extinctions while foreign plants are a source of major weed problems impacting landscapes throughout Australia. :Andreas Glanznig, Chief Executive of the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.
“Investigating complaints about essential mobile services” report released
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has released a report highlighting the key drivers behind complaints about mobile services. The report is in response to a shift in complaint trends, with mobile services becoming the dominant complaint type. Between July 2020 and March 2022, the TIO received over 63,000 complaints about mobile services.
Doctor, doctor give me the news – and please sign my mum out of hospital
Personal stories keep coming in about elderly people stuck in hospital beds because they can’t get signed out to go into a nursing home. A major issue for people is finding a GP to sign their relative out of hospital.
Controversial Mount Marshall feedlot approved
At their Ordinary Council Meeting last Wednesday, Southern Downs Regional Council approved a contentious development application by Arolla Pastoral Company Pty Ltd to build a sheep and cattle feedlot at Mount Marshall ... The feedlot is of much interest to the community, with the application receiving 74 submissions, 11 in favour and 63 against.
NSW backs industry calls for national electronic ID scheme for sheep and goats amid FMD threat
The NSW Government is backing growing industry calls for the urgent development of a national mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification system in light of the serious threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) entering Australia ... “Individual traceability for sheep and goats will be crucial during an emergency disease outbreak and deliver benefits across the supply chain" : Dugald Saunders, NSW Agriculture Minister.
Australia’s forest scientists support Minister’s calls for environmental law reform: Forestry Australia
Following the release of the State of the Environment report, the peak national organisation representing over 1,000 forest scientists and professionals in Australia has joined in supporting Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek’s calls for more reform in the area of environmental law ... “The current approaches to management of Australia’s forests are not working – we believe we need to reform our philosophy of land management, our approach to conservation and how we manage our forests,” Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon.
EPA prosecutes Forestry Corporation again
Geoff Helisma. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is prosecuting Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW), for the second time this year, for allegedly felling giant and hollow-bearing tees in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest, at the headwaters of the Nymboida River. The EPA alleges that the actions of FCNSW – a NSW Government-owned corporation – resulted in a “failure to retain local wildlife habitat”.
Farmers call for riverside camping halt over biosecurity fears: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to Victorian Minister Lily D ‘Ambrosio, Minister for Environment and Climate Action calling for an immediate suspension of the rules that allow camping on riverside farmland due to the biosecurity risks posed by both Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). VFF President Emma Germano said both LSD and FMD pose a very real risk to the agriculture industry and the Victorian Government must take swift action to prevent disaster.
Biosecurity efforts continue to ramp up: MacTiernan
The Western Australian Government is continuing to ramp up biosecurity outbreak preparedness planning in light of the increased risks presented by foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease ... The State has established an Industry and Government Preparedness Task Group to boost WA's emergency animal disease prevention, preparedness and response capacity.
Race to the finish line for local students at RoboRAVE Australia
Twenty Sunshine Coast teams have battled it out at the RoboRAVE Australia annual robotics competition at the University of the Sunshine Coast, with ten of those teams from seven local schools winning across 15 divisions ... The energy was electric as students, aged eight to 20 representing 363 teams from across Queensland, ... raced to design, build and program fully autonomous robots to compete in the challenges for each division.
Outgoing farm leader sees hope on horizon: NSW Farmers
Outgoing NSW Farmers President James Jackson says there is a great future ahead for Australian agriculture if governments and the public support the vital sector ... “Australia as a nation lags behind on backing farmers, with a government paper on food security this week revealing we have one of the lowest levels of agricultural support across the 37 OECD member countries – and when compared to major emerging economies."
East Weipa nearly ready to be returned to owners
Rio Tinto Weipa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four Traditional Owner groups which details an agreed consultation process around closure planning for the East Weipa bauxite mine. The MoU was jointly developed over a period of seven months between Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto and lays a path regarding the eventual return of their lands after mining at East Weipa stops.
