Dryandra Woodland is Western Australia’s newest national park: Whitby
The Dryandra Woodland National Park, near Narrogin, 180 km south-east of Perth, is the first national park in WA's Wheatbelt region ... Converted from a State forest to a national park, Dryandra is a key stronghold for some of Australia's rarest and most vulnerable wildlife including numbats, woylies, brushtail wallabies, chuditch, quenda and the mound-building malleefowl.
New biosecurity collaboration to protect Australian citrus industry
Australia’s $900 million citrus industry could face serious production and market access risks if the industry is not adequately prepared to manage future biosecurity threats. A new five-year national biosecurity program, CitrusWatch, is a collaborative effort that is designed to protect the citrus industry from harmful exotic pests and diseases.
Next generation of Queensland sheep and wool producers tune in to popular webinar series
A first of its kind to be hosted by Leading Sheep, the 10-part ‘H Series’ webinar program spanned across 2021 covering topics from health and husbandry to herding foundations and how to buy and sell sheep. Commencing in April 2021, the now completed H Series recordings are all available online.
Forestry Australia calls for science to justify native harvesting decision
Forestry Australia is calling on the Western Australian Government to release scientific evidence in justification of its decision to end native forest harvesting. Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon said the association was concerned the decision to end native harvesting was not based on science, demonstrated poor understanding of WA’s world-class forest management practices and would result in increased imports of wood products from countries with lower management standards.
Barkly residents left in the dark over COVID vaccination rates: Edgington
While Territorians continue to follow the ever-changing mandates to stop the spread of COVID in communities, residents in the Barkly are feeling the frustration over a lack of information about cases and vaccination rates in the region and long waits for test results. Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s government still refuses to tell Barkly residents what the vaccination rate for Tennant Creek is.
New state-of-the-art weather radar for Tennant underway
With unpredictable weather being experienced due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Tiffany in the north, many might be wondering where Tennant Creek’s new $17 million radar is.
Keep the dam gate open
A number of Baringhup residents are concerned about the possibility of Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) closing the embankment at Cairn Curran Reservoir and the surrounding picnic and swimming areas. Local resident, Kerrie Jennings told the Tarrangower Times, “It would be good to achieve some clarification from GMW on their current proposal and reasoning. Also, are GMW truly open to local community input, and should we lose a much-loved part of Cairn Curran, is there an alternative visitor plan within an acceptable timeframe?”
Will this pandemic deter future generations of nurses?
There was a global shortage of nurses … and then the pandemic hit. Researchers, including a Charles Sturt academic, investigate how COVID-19 has affected an already struggling nursing industry and what can be done to save it.
NSW Cabinet reshuffle
NSW food producers and irrigation companies are looking forward to working collaboratively with a number of new Ministers, announced by the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday 20 December 2021. Murray Irrigation Chair, Steve Fawns said, ‘there are numerous Ministers who have responsibility for issues that fall under the operations of Murray Irrigation, and it is important to develop positive working relationships with each one’.
New exhibition explores Australians love of boats
Australia’s history is populated with maritime related stories. With over 1,000 rivers and a coast that stretches for more than 36,000 kilometres, it is no surprise that Australia abounds with stories of people who have lived and worked on the water. This exhibition presents some of those stories, exploring the remarkable connections between people and their boats.
Hume Dam releases increase to manage summer storm activity
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has increased the amount of water released from Hume Dam to 17 gigalitres per day to manage inflows from Upper Murray catchments. Hume Dam is effectively full, at 99% capacity.
New online service for Environmental Management Plans
The Territory Government has strengthened the implementation of a recommendation of the Hydraulic Fracturing Pepper Inquiry with the establishment of a new online subscription service for Environment Management Plans (EMPs). The new online subscription service allows the community to have their say and keep up-to-date on drilling and hydraulic fracturing EMPs that are under assessment.
Straight talk from your new mayor
Kylie Thomas said it would take time for the Kyogle community to get used to having a new mayor. “I want people to know that I’ve been here a long time. I’m known in this community. I’m a team player and I have no outside agenda,” Kylie said.
Plenty of produce available, say Farmers
NSW Farmers President James Jackson said there were good production levels of fresh food despite the challenging weather of the past few months and urged shoppers not to panic buy. “Our growers are sending plenty of produce down to the Sydney Markets, and we’re working on making sure farm businesses can continue to harvest these crops,” Mr Jackson said.
Lockyer Valley to welcome Bruce and Denise Morcombe as 2022 Australia Day Ambassadors
The Lockyer Valley will welcome child safety advocates Bruce Morcombe OAM and Denise Morcombe OAM to the region as the 2022 Australia Day Ambassadors. Co-founders of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the couple are committed to making communities a safer place for children.
Lord Howe Island Board Report
The Lord Howe Island Board Report covers a wide range of key matters relating to the island, including management, Covid-19, projects, infrastructure, engineering, environment and biosecurity.
Anyinginyi angered by gym eviction
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation is calling out the behaviour of the Barkly Regional Council (BRC) for the eviction of the Corporation from the Sport and Recreation Centre. The town’s sole gym was built by Anyinginyi, maintained and operated for two decades on Purkiss Reserve. Anyinginyi Board Chairperson Ross Williams said the actions of Council are a repudiation of the Barkly Regional Deal’s intent to work together, co-operatively in the interests of the community.
2022 NT Youth Round Table members announced
Barkly locals Azra Zendelji 25, and Boyd Cook 17, have been selected to join a range of other young Territorians on the 2022 Youth Round Table. The 18 members will provide advice to the NT Government and inform the development of policies programs and services. They will also share information that enables the Government to engage with issues of importance to young Territorians. Both Azra and Boyd have spent their lives in Tennant Creek and are looking forward to advocating for their peers during their term on the Youth Round Table.
Govt/Dr dispute close to being resolved
Chris Oldfield. As Christmas looms, and the final 2021 edition of this newspaper goes to print, high level negotiations were taking place between the SA Government health officials, the Australian Medical Association and the Rural Doctors Association of SA. The News understands the intention on both sides was to resolve the rural doctor crisis crippling country SA. And in good faith, for three of the five unfilled 24-hour shifts on the Naracoorte hospital roster, local doctors are working together.
151 Denmark people won’t be home for Christmas
A total of 151 Denmark people, aged one year to 87, are homeless or live in caravans, sheds, vehicles, tents, in overcrowded housing, sleep rough or couch surf. The number is expected to swell by 22 per cent by the end of the year due to people living in insecure housing ... more than 30 people were applying for each rental vacancy in Denmark, rents were ‘sky-high’, families were leaving Denmark and businesses were closing or reducing operating hours because of the staff shortage.
Landcare champions in our own backyard
The Strongs were early adopters in sustainable farming after the droughts of the early 80’s and 90’s, it was after this when the family started to notice a change in farming profitability ... By 1997 the Strongs had implemented the method of direct seeding ... In 2006 they started marketing ‘Arcadia Saltbush Lamb’ and built up a self-replacing Soft Rolling Skin (SRS) dual purpose merino flock with high fertility to match that of cross breeds.
First harvest of biomass crops
Around one thousand trees will be harvested at Yanco this week in the next phase of a critical biomass crops for bioenergy trial. NSW DPI Senior Research Scientist, Dr Fabiano Ximenes, said the harvest operation would provide important insights into expected productivity of the trees and their potential benefits in terms of carbon sequestration and soil nutrient impacts.
