Experience magic at this year’s Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival, 30 September-3 October
Magic will be in the air at this year’s Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival featuring yet another stellar line-up of local and West Australian authors, illustrators, storytellers, poets and musicians.
Look out for locusts this spring
With bumper crops on the horizon for much of the state, Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has today urged landholders to be on the lookout for locust activity this spring and report any sightings immediately.
NSW/ Queensland border bubble reinstated
Northern border residents will be able to cross the Queensland border from 1am on Monday 13 September for essential work and essential reasons with the reinstatement of the border bubble, following discussions between the NSW and Queensland Governments.
Blue trees branching out for better mental health
From Broken Hill to Inverell, Corrective Services NSW staff across the state have been whittling, welding and painting blue trees in the name of mental health awareness ... Staff and inmates have been involved in creating their distinctive blue trees – from murals and collages to welded sculptures and painted tree trunks.
McGowan Government delays Yanchep rail extension
Yesterday Yanchep News Online reported Opposition Transport spokesman Shane Love had called for the McGowan Government to answer legitimate questions about whether the Yanchep rail extension was on budget and on time. Today in his first Budget as Treasurer the Premier Mark McGowan said as well as the Yanchep rail extension being deferred one year the Joondalup Light Auto Workshop had also been deferred one year with completion now expected in mid‑2024.
McBride crosses floor for border community
Chris Oldfield. Member for MacKillop Nick McBride crossed the floor of State Parliament last week, preventing his party from extending its state emergency COVID powers to April 30 next year – after the next state election. He supported amendments by Mount Gambier Independent Troy Bell, and the state’s emergency Act will now be reviewed again before December 1, inclusive of some changes for regional people. The State’s emergency Act has given great power to police commissioner Grant Stevens to restrict civil liberties, enabling lockdowns, border closures and other COVID restrictions.
Point Cartwright study provides beacon for future planning
One of the Sunshine Coast’s most picturesque locations is in the spotlight with Sunshine Coast Council embarking on a study to understand how much we love the area and how we use it.
$150 million missions to boost Australian agriculture and food sectors
Three major new missions from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will grow Australia’s agriculture and food sectors targeting $20 billion by 2030. The $150 million investment from CSIRO, government and industry will tackle drought, the food export market and growing the protein market.
Aviair inter-regional flights connecting Port Hedland with the region set to continue
Port Hedland Council has endorsed a proposal from Aviair to provide financial support to continue operating four return weekly inter-regional flights from Port Hedland, connecting the port city with Karratha, Newman and Broome over the next five years.
New artwork and signage portrays rare Glossy black-cockatoos
New artwork and informative signage has been revealed at Robert Dixon Park at Kingscliff to draw attention to the rare Glossy black-cockatoo. The Glossy black-cockatoo, also affectionately known as Glossies, is listed as vulnerable in NSW. The Tweed is lucky enough to be home to both the Glossy black-cockatoo and the Yellow-tailed black-cockatoo however, there isn’t enough reliable data to confirm Glossy black-cockatoo numbers.
Floods coming, yet allocations absent
A flood is coming. The forecast flow downstream of Yarrawonga is estimated to reach 50–60,000 megalitres per day (split between Tuppal and Bullatale Creeks and the Murray River) and the Goulburn has had minor flooding, with flows of 21,000 megalitres a day ... Our food producers now face what is an allocation drought during a flood event.
NSW and Vic Parliament suspension continues
Despite COVIDSafe Plans, masks, social distancing and vaccinations, both New South Wales and Victorian Parliaments remain suspended. Are politicians not essential? Surely good governance is! What is it called when a state is run by one side of politics with no accountability or questioning?
Village life during Covid-19 times
Kirstin Nicholson. Fondly known as ‘The Village’, the Respect Cohuna Village is the retirement home of 45 of the district’s elderly residents. Don’t let the terms ‘elderly’ or ‘retirement’ put you off, their lifestyle is by no means sedentary. The village is a hive of activity with visiting family and friends, health professionals and volunteers who attend to treat, entertain, care for the residents and enhance their life. That was until COVID-19 came on the scene.
Bushfires and logging debate: Senator Jonno Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
Blaming bushfires on forestry is just another attempt from those ideologically opposed to forestry to shut down an industry they fundamentally disagree with. There is a constant pattern of behaviour from the those who disagree with the forestry industry of using misinformation and cherry picking from report and science to support their claim. As we currently stand there is no unequivocal or generally accepted evidence that forestry operations increase fire risk.
WA call another example of thought-bubble policy on native forestry: IFA/ AFG
“The IFA/AFG is concerned that professional forest scientists, researchers and managers do not appear to have been consulted to inform this decision, and also questions whether the views and aspirations of Traditional Owners have been considered,” IFA/ AFG VP Dr Freeman said. “This thought-bubble policy is out of step with the rest of the world, which views well-regulated, sustainable native forest management and biodiverse plantings as the preferred source of timber, because of their positive contribution to climate change mitigation, biodiversity and forest resilience."
All states must follow Western Australia’s lead and end native forest logging: Greens
Australian Greens forests spokesperson, Senator Janet Rice, has welcomed the announcement that Western Australia will end all native forest logging by 2024, and called on the Commonwealth and other state governments to follow suit and end the destruction of Australia’s forests.
Shock WA native timber decision shows total ignorance of global policy: FWCA
The shock announcement by the WA Labor Government to end native timber harvesting in the state in just two years shows complete lack of understanding of forestry. Forest & Wood Communities Australia said it was unfathomable how any government can ignore IPCC advice that forest management was an important tool to reduce and sequester carbon ... “Climate Action Minister Amber Jade Sanderson even categorised sustainable forest management, which sees a tiny fraction of WA’s native forest is harvested and regenerated under the most stringent restrictions of anywhere in the world, as deforestation!": FWCA MD Justin Law
Media statement: McGowan Government’s historic move to protect native forests
The McGowan Labor Government announces that it has made the historic decision to protect the State's native forests from 2024, and will invest a record $350 million to expand Western Australia's softwood timber plantations to create and support sustainable WA jobs. The decision to end logging of native forests in the upcoming Forest Management Plan 2024-33 will preserve at least an additional 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests.
Tired of lots of ‘health advice’ but no ‘health contrition’?
Kookaburra, along with many other Australians, is very weary of listening to pontificating doctors, health professionals, epidemiologists, chief medical officers and the whole array of health 'industry' persons talking down to the population about what we should or should not be doing. These people never ever seem able to accept that they often get things wrong. Indeed, they have made some horrid mistakes.
Record canola spurs another wonder winter crop
Australian winter crops are set for another bumper year with favourable conditions and a record amount of land sown to winter crops. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the Australian Crop Report forecast another harvest well above the historical average.
Conservation dog takes the lead in sniffing out pests!
Rocky the conservation dog will be sniffing out fox dens this month as part of an expanded Coastal Fox Control Program. Rocky and his handler Tom Garrett will survey coastal areas south of the Maroochy River to detect fox dens between September 10 and September 27, 2021. Previously Rocky worked in areas north of the Maroochy River.
Blackbutt launches art trail exhibition
The team behind Blackbutt Avocado Festival is pleased to launch the Blackbutt Shopfront Art Trail from Saturday 11 September ... Arts Project Officer Olivia Everitt said, “The Blackbutt Shopfront Art Trail celebrates an opportunity for artists and businesses to come together. We thank the businesses involved for embracing this exhibition concept, and encourage locals and visitors to enjoy the artworks as you shop in town, stop for a coffee or enjoy the Rail Trail.”
