Wild dogs terrorising Gwydir Shire farmers stopped in their tracks
Two elusive wild dogs, which had been terrorising farming operations north of Coolatai for the last 12 months, have now been successfully controlled, Minister for Agriculture and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has announced ... “Over the last year, this wicked pair of wild dogs wreaked havoc on local landholders, including one farmer who lost around 200 sheep,” Mr Marshall said."
Vaccination certificates
The streets of Maldon are bustling once more as visitors from Melbourne are free to travel the state. While cafes and retail stores happily welcome the increase in trade they now have the unenviable task of checking each customer's vaccination status. The Tarrangower Times interviewed local business owners and employees, many of whom have found the government mandates to be unclear, and at times difficult to implement.
Science not slogans needed on methane
NSW Farmers President James Jackson says a “key” climate promise from Glasgow is more about slogans than science. Mr Jackson welcomed Australia’s decision not to sign up for a 30 per cent reduction in methane emissions, which would have had disastrous consequences for agriculture without delivering any positive action on climate change.
The meat in the methane debate
In the lead-up to the G20 meeting in Rome and the COP 26 Summit in Glasgow, and after some necessarily tough negotiations with their Liberal Party Coalition partner, the National Party obtained some concessions it says are designed to prevent the 'heavy lifting' of emissions reductions being placed unduly on rural and regional Australia.
Group blasts bridge decision
Narrandera Landcare has blasted Narrandera Shire Council for axing the lattice railway bridge project which attracted widespread community support. The proposal to convert the State-listed heritage bridge to a pedestrian bridge for cyclists and walkers ... was the subject of a DA ... The Council worked with Narrandera Landcare over six years to develop the project and then, in a surprise about turn, rejected the DA on a 5-2 majority vote.
Labor’s permanent power grab under fire
The Bill to amend the Public Health and Wellbeing Act has drawn fire from expert legal minds and politicians. The Bill would allow Premier Andrews alone, the ability to declare a pandemic empowering the Minister of Health effectively unlimited power to rule the state by decree, for an indefinite period, and without effective judicial or parliamentary oversight ... Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said democracy has already gone out the window in Victoria, with Daniel Andrews ‘drunk on power’ and determined to entrench himself in a position where not just the parliament itself is at risk, but the individual liberties of every Victorian.
Gunbower watering
Geoff Wakeman is not against the principles of environmental watering. He does, however, have a huge problem with the way it is being used in the Gunbower Forest/National Park, particularly around Cohuna ... As a geologist, his interest was piqued when he came across some commentary surrounding the Barmah Choke, which prompted him to take a closer look at what was happening out in the Gunbower Forest. It was then he became alarmed.
Power: Neighbours see red over greener energy
The proposal for a battery at McKees Hill has neighbour against neighbour. This week 20 residents met on the rise of Auckram Rd outside the new site proposed for the Lismore Battery Energy Storage System (Lismore BESS) to discuss what action they would take to oppose the project.
Native foods business blossoming in the Mallee
The Victoria Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Belar Nursery and Bioculture Resources Centre to announce the Labor Government’s $2 million Djakitjuk Djanga Program in partnership with the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations ... The Djakitjuk Djanga Program has supported 13 Aboriginal native plant businesses to overcome key resource-related barriers towards the commercial production of native foods and botanicals.
Guiding Aboriginal bushfood businesses to success
Two new guides, 'Setting up for success: Bushfoods' and 'Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for Bushfood Businesses', highlight the risks and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, as well as promoting best practices for industry.
More housing for seasonal workers in Mildura
The Andrews Labor Government is securing more accommodation for seasonal workers in Mildura, with the completion of a new facility to help tackle workforce shortages in the Mallee. Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas has opened the newly refurbished Ramsay Court Worker Accommodation facility in Mildura.
Australia’s first CCS hub to be operational by 2024
The Morrison Government welcomes the final investment decision taken by joint venture partners Santos and Beach Energy to establish Australia’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub at Moomba, South Australia. The $220 million Moomba CCS hub is the first project of its kind to be registered under the Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
As the world moves on methane, Morrison’s misinformation and farm fear mongering holds Australia back: The Greens
Continuing to run a protection racket for coal and gas projects and their methane emissions, Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce and Labor have collaborated to frame methane emission reduction as an attack on agriculture, despite the numbers indicating we could meet the 30% reduction by acting on coal and gas emissions by 2030 and without touching a single cow. Further, the final wording of the pledge does not even require each country to cut by 30%: The Greens
Locals rate NL Council’s Blackford fire response
Gabrielle Duykers. Residents affected by the Blackford fire have described local council as “missing in action” during the recovery efforts following the tragic event. In January this year, the Blackford fire burnt through more than 14,000 hectares of land throughout Lucindale and Avenue Range. On September 23, 2021, Naracoorte Lucindale Council emailed a survey to residents and landowners affected by the fire to gain feedback on its recovery actions and approach.
Megafires: Prof Ross Bradstock responds
The bulk of this commentary has little to do with the content of the Report to the NSW Natural Resources Commission. The report addresses the consequences of the 2019/20 fires for the objectives and outcomes of the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (i.e. forest health, threatened species conservation, water quality and aquatic biodiversity). The 2019/20 fires have rendered forests, in relation to these objectives and outcomes, in a highly vulnerable state because of their magnitude and severity. This vulnerability will be ongoing and challenging to deal with because the efficacy of all facets of fire management (e.g. preparation, prevention, suppression) will be adversely affected by climate change.
New registration laws for short-term rental accommodation in NSW
From 1 November 2021, owners of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) will be required to register their properties with the NSW Government and will no longer require Council planning approval.
Cowra glasshouse to pioneer pasture and crop research
Minister of Agriculture Adam Marshall and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke have opened the $2.1 million state-of-the-art glasshouse precinct at the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station. Mr Marshall said the new facility would advance the State’s research and development capabilities, enabling new science to help increase the productivity and profitability of the agriculture sector.
New infrastructure protects ancient petroglyphs at Ewaninga
New infrastructure at a Central Australian conservation reserve will help protect prehistoric Aboriginal rock engravings and enhance visitor safety to the site. The new viewing platform and boardwalk at Napwerte/Ewaninga south of Alice Springs, enables visitors to have an optimal view of the petroglyphs which date back around 30,000 years, while preventing inadvertent damage to the works by visitors.
Conversation with Sanjeev
In a wide-ranging, exclusive conversation with Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin, GFG Alliance Executive Chairman Sanjeev Gupta has reiterated his passion for Whyalla; his green steel and hydrogen plans; and thanked the community and employees for their hard work and persistence.
Sustainable practices commonplace on farms: survey
The majority of farmers surveyed in an ABARES study are using sustainable land management practices to improve the natural resource base and drought resilience. ABARES’s acting Executive Director Jared Greenville said the findings of the Natural Resource Management and Drought Resilience – survey of farm practices demonstrates the agriculture sector’s commitment to sustainable land management.
E-petition to support public interest journalism providers
Some news providers around Australia, including Yanchep News Online, are asking readers who want to support public interest journalism to sign an e-petition, which will be presented to the House of Representatives. The news providers have organised the e-petition because under the News Media Bargaining Code while Google and Facebook have struck deals with a small number of media outlets they have not negotiated with the majority of Australian news providers – including a range of outlets that meet the criteria set out in the code.
New report reinforces farmers are the best land managers
In 2018, the NSW Government introduced the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code as part of the wider NSW Land Management and Biodiversity reform framework. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the inaugural NSW Land Management Report 2018-2020 showed how farmers had used the Code to increase agricultural production, while restoring valuable native vegetation.
