It’s on: election race has started
The fight to win the vote of Far North Queensland residents has begun, with candidates in Leichhardt preparing for a six-week battle ... There are nine confirmed contenders, although that number could rise ... Katter’s Australian Party candidate Rod Jensen is third in the line of betting at $21
First meeting of 2022 Regional Youth Taskforce
New members of the third annual Regional Youth Taskforce have met for the first time at Dubbo Zoo to discuss important issues affecting young people in regional NSW. The taskforce provides policy and operational advice to the NSW Government to advance the needs of young people in the bush.
Iconic Calypso ® mango exports to China increase
Exports of Queensland-bred Calypso ® mangoes to China have increased this season despite the many recent challenges faced by growers, including unpredictable weather events and freight disruptions.
NSW releases Australia’s largest investment in koalas: Griffin
The NSW Government has released its new Koala Strategy, backed by an unprecedented amount of funding and more than 30 actions to conserve and grow koala populations ... ARR.News sought a response from Minister Griffin and received a response from a departmental spokesperson.
Labor affirms its decision to remove another 450 gigalitres of water from irrigation use: The Riverina State
Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party have affirmed their decision to remove another 450 gigalitres of water, in addition to the 2750 gigalitres already removed via the Basin Plan, from productive use in NSW and Victoria. Most, if not all, of this water will be sourced from The Riverina and northern Victoria.
Jobs to go under Albanese’s water plan: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has warned that jobs across regional Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia will be lost if Anthony Albanese’s policy for water recovery is implemented under the Murray Darling Basin Plan. VFF President Emma Germano said Federal Labor’s five-point policy showed a total misunderstanding of the Basin Plan and a total disregard for jobs in regional communities.
Labor’s plan to future-proof Australia’s water resources: Albanese
An Albanese Labor Government will protect Australia’s precious water resources with a five-point plan for the Murray Darling Basin that strikes the right balance between the needs of local communities, farmers and the environment ... Labor will deliver on the final 450 gigalitres (GL) of water for the environment that Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce have failed to deliver.
Forecast of low prices, more certainty for southern Basin irrigators
Water allocation prices in the southern Murray–Darling Basin are likely to remain low for a third consecutive year, according to the latest ABARES Water Market Outlook.
IoT technology to count Mildura’s CBD crowds this Easter long weekend
Utilising Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the trailer-mounted device features two solar-powered 3D movement sensors that capture, count and record pedestrian and vehicle numbers every hour. All data captured is publicly accessible via Council’s website.
Senator drills Federal Govt over weather radar delay
“An assistant secretary from the department falsely claimed Tennant Creek’s new weather radar will be complete this year and was unaware the project’s completion has been delayed until 2023 ... At the last round of Senate Estimates in February, I was disappointed to find out only three out of 28 initiatives of the Barkly Regional Deal have been completed since the deal was signed in 2019” : Senator Marlarndirri McCarthy.
Wheatbelt farmers diversify with carbon farming
INPEX, ANZ and Qantas have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the possibility of carbon farming and renewable biofuels projects in WA’s Wheatbelt. The Western Australian government is currently backing several carbon farming and regenerative agriculture projects across the state, with the hopes of helping the agriculture sector adapt farming systems to an environment facing the climate crisis, while boosting the future viability of such businesses.
Elections. One down and two to go this year
Mulga Bill. We call our system ‘representative government’ which obviously means we elect Members to go forth and promote the wishes of the electorate, in the Parliament. It is a fair call that an Independent MP will accurately represent his electorate but on many occasions this fine principle is subverted for the party politician. An elected MP from a party will need to firstly raise the concern of his electorate within the Party Room ... Do you question whether we have genuine representative government?
Lack of child care at Kingston hits federal parliament
Chris Oldfield. The lack of child care for around 50 families on a waiting list at Kingston has been raised in the Australian Federal Parliament. “Those in this chamber have heard me speak about Kingston South East and a lack of childcare services before,” Member for Barker Tony Pasin told parliament ... “A farming region devastated by fire, and parents unable to earn off-farm income because there was no childcare service available."
Master class with Mark: vital propagation skills passed on
Serena Kirby. Mark Parre is busy passing on his skills and knowledge to the next generation because, after nearly 30 years with the Shire of Denmark, retirement looms ... “The work is the greatest reward and when I revisit a site I planted up years before and see the diversity of flora and fauna it really makes my heart sing.”
Public meetings called to address mining threat
Two public meetings will be held on April 12 and April 19 to discuss the implications of a mining exploration licence application ... Bart Lebbing said the Denmark shire relied on primary production, nature-based tourism, education, art and craft enterprises, viticulture and the service industry. “Mineral exploration and mining do not value-add to these sectors, but compromise their viability,” he said.
Budget promises millions for MIA
The current Federal Government has pumped more than $300 million into the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area with $46.4million for Narrandera alone on extra programs and projects and according to Member for Farrer Sussan Ley last week’s budget shows there is more to come. “As well as the promised cost-of-living measures and fuel excise cut, there’s the NBN wireless towers speed and capacity upgrade – with more money also committed to add new mobile phone coverage and cut some increasing congestion on local phone towers,” she said.
Groundwater – making the invisible visible: BoM
BOM Blog. Groundwater – more literally, underground water – accounts for approximately 30% of Australia's water use. But because it can't be seen like rivers and lakes, many people don't know about it. So how can we 'see' this important but invisible resource?
History made as direct flights between Busselton and Melbourne take off
Jetstar has commenced the first-ever commercial air service between Melbourne and Busselton, opening a new gateway into Western Australia that is set to boost the local tourism industry by allowing interstate visitors to fly directly to the South-West.
EPA promises to be transparent about post flood oil sludge investigations
The Environment Protection Authority has done assessments of those Broadwater homes with hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon includes oil, diesel and other fuels. A specialist consultant is doing soil assessments and sampling from the yards of affected properties. The results of this testing will be provided to residents and used to decide remedial strategies.
Dean’s home was covered in toxic oil sludge during the floods. Who will take responsibility?
Dean Wilson faces a daunting clean-up of his Broadwater home. As the water receded after the March 1 flood not only was his home full of mud but there was a thick layer of oily sludge on his kitchen benchtop, in the laundry and in his garden. Everywhere. “My backyard and fruit trees are covered in toxic oil,” Dean said.
Delay to Gingin Emergency Services Centre
When the new emergency services centre was announced for Gingin last year it was expected to be finished by April this year but the project is running behind with some site works among the jobs still to be completed.
Councillors forego superannuation payments
Geoff Helisma. All of Clarence Valley’s councillors have told the Clarence Valley Independent that they have declined the opportunity to receive superannuation payments. In March 2021, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) was “celebrating the proposed introduction of superannuation for mayors and councillors from [July] 2022 as a major step forward”.
