Victoria’s aerial duck survey takes to the sky
The GMA is conducting the annual helicopter survey across Victoria to monitor the abundance of game duck populations, to help improve our knowledge of waterfowl ecology. The aerial survey will be conducted by experienced wildlife biologists recording the presence, species and number of game ducks on waterbodies across Victoria.
Ashby Hall Reserve group finalist in Crown Land Management Awards
Rodney Stevens. The determination and persistent toil of the Ashby Hall Reserve Crown Land Management committee and volunteers over more than two years has been recognised ... The announcement follows the opening of the Ashby Nature Discovery Trail ... a project born out of the devastation of the 2019 Myall Creek Road bushfire which burned more than 67,000 hectares around Ashby, Tullymorgan, Mororo and Jacky Bulbin Flat.
WA failing in farm safety
After 14 work related deaths in the WA agricultural industry over last 18 months, far more than any other state, serious questions need to be asked about why our Ministers have put all their faith in the impact of draconian new industrial manslaughter laws when it's clearly not working.
New direction for Southern Forests water security: MacTiernan, Kelly
The WA Government has determined not to proceed with the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme in its current form, as the climate modelling indicates the dam on Record Brook is not viable. Reports by CSIRO found climate change and lowering of the water table has significantly altered the supply of available water from the Donnelly River.
Water buybacks to further damage Northern Victorian dairy industry: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation’s United Dairy Farmers of Victoria (VFF UDV) says Northern Victoria’s dairy industry would be further damaged by water buybacks and the recovery of the 450GL up-water target ahead of this week’s meeting of State and Federal Water Ministers to discuss the Murray Darling Basin Plan. VFF UDV President Mark Billing said the group strongly opposed the recovery of the 450GL saying it would lead to losses in dairy production and local jobs.
New Nelligen Bridge to open a year ahead of schedule: Farraway
Work on the Nelligen Bridge Replacement project is steaming ahead with the new bridge now expected to be open to traffic by early 2023 ... “The final deck pour on the concrete bridge deck was completed in July to create a solid base for the asphalt layer, which will start going down in November, weather permitting": Parliamentary Secretary for the South Coast Shelley Hancock.
Thermal assisted aerial cull removes more than 1000 feral deer from Fleurieu Peninsula: Scriven
An aerial cull of feral deer on the Fleurieu Peninsula culled more than 1000 deer from forests, farms and private conservation properties in September 2022 ... Aerial culling is the most effective landscape-scale tool currently available for rapidly reducing the impacts of feral deer.
Central Darling Shire Council and the move out of administration Â
Wendy Tuckerman, the Minister for Local Government, visited towns in Central Darling Shire last week. Meetings were held with residents and representatives of organisations which were an open forum to allow any matter of concern to be raised. In Wilcannia, housing, the weir and employment were raised by residents. However one item the Minister was keen to hear opinions on was how the Central Darling Shire Council will move out of administration (due in 2024) and what do the residents want to see happen.
New nature refuges for FNQ equal 4,000 Suncorp Stadiums: Scanlon
Two parcels of land in Queensland’s far north equal in size to 4,000 Suncorp Stadiums will be added to the state’s protected area network in an agreement struck between the Palaszczuk Government and South Endeavour Trust. Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced new nature refuges, the Mount Gibson Nature Refuge and the Oakey Scrub Nature Refuge...
Carp eradication plan must be made public immediately: Centofanti
The long-awaited National Carp Control Plan has now been handed to the federal Agriculture Department, but there is no news on when it will be made public. The South Australian Liberal Party is calling on the Labor Government to publicly release the plan immediately.
Queensland backs efforts to fight Lumpy Skin Disease with new vaccines: Furner
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Queensland Government had partnered with Meat and Livestock Australia, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and US based biotechnology company Tiba Biotech to create a world-first synthetic vaccine for LSD.
Water quality and local environment on the improve following riparian rehabilitation works
North Coast Local Land Services is continuing to make improvements to the water quality and the local environment at the Richmond River following the completion of the latest round of riparian rehabilitation works. The works ... are designed to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the Richmond River from the Emigrant Creek Catchment area.
Softwood plantings
Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the agreement with Hancock Victorian Plantations involved planting an extra 16 million trees to create a new forest estate ... The Nationals Leader, Peter Walsh, slammed the policy as a replay of a $110-million investment, the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program, announced in 2020.
Dowden explores human element of wild dog management: National Wild Dog Action Plan
Managing wild dogs is not easy work with community engagement simply not about the deployment of tools into the landscape by the people whose assets are threatened by incursions. According to Western Australian landholder Debbie Dowden, it requires human action, which means working within the complex dynamics of human nature.
Narrandera patients losing out on cancer treatment costs
The Riverina Cancer Care Centre which opened in 2002 was built using $3million raised by communities including Narrandera yet is now the only facility in NSW leaving patients out of pocket. It was the first regional cancer care centre in NSW and is now the only one that requires patients to pay for their treatment.
Hellyers Road Distillery named Tasmanian exporter of the year: Rockliff
Burnie’s Hellyers Road Distillery has been named 2022 Tasmanian Exporter of the Year at a gala event in Hobart ... Hellyers Road took out the title after being named the Small Business Award category winner earlier in the evening.
Western Australia remains the national economic powerhouse: McGowan, Johnston
Western Australia's resources sector continues to drive the State and national economies, with record sales of $231 billion and the highest-ever employment figures in 2021-22. This is the fourth financial year in a row the sector has delivered record sales, following $151 billion in 2018-19, $172 billion in 2019-20 and $211 billion in 2020-21.
Warragamba Dam declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure: Perrottet, Roberts, Anderson
A proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), as it is deemed essential to NSW for economic and social reasons. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties and would help future-proof Western Sydney from flood risks. Â
Boost for farmers with completion of Murchison cell fence: MacTiernan
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has officially opened an expansive cell fence project in the Murchison, which is protecting 53 pastoral properties in the region from wild dogs ... The cell builds off the State Barrier Fence to encompass more than 6.5 million hectares of pastoral land, extending through the Yalgoo, Mount Magnet, Sandstone, Cue and Meekatharra areas.
Innovative bush fire tech put to the test: Henskens, Cooke
High-tech sensors which can predict and detect fires and clean energy solutions for bush fire-affected communities are among five innovative ideas being piloted under a landmark NSW Government research and development (R&D) program. Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the Bushfire Technology Pilots Program, a total of $6 million over four years, will support trials of field-ready bush fire technology developed by NSW businesses.
Working holiday makers return to SA to help fill workforce shortages: Bettison
A tour guide, hotel concierge and bar attendant are among the working holiday makers to secure jobs after jetting Down Under as part of the South Australian Tourism Commission’s ‘ £10 flight’ campaign. Launched in April, the campaign attracted global attention as it offered young travellers in the United Kingdom and Ireland return flights to Adelaide for just £10...
Mayor eyes biosecurity alternatives across Cape
Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott says the closure of the Cape York Biosecurity Centre appears to be a foregone conclusion and plans must start for alternative measures in the region. Cr Scott spoke with officials from the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture on Friday and walked away believing that there was little hope of saving the Coen facility.
