A marvellous monarch: James Lister
"We have lost a truly remarkable Sovereign. Throughout her seventy year reign - the longest in the over one thousand year history of the Crown - Elizabeth the Second was a tower of strength and dignity. She proved over long years that lasting and beloved leadership is not founded upon power and influence (although she nominally possessed both) but that it is about always being there and being a steadfast reference point through time and in the lives of people and nations": James Lister, Member for Southern Downs, Queensland Parliament.
Sugar mill steams ahead with long-awaited $12m grant
After six months of silence, steam from the sugar mill chimneys punches into a clear sky before quietly dissolving into the blue. It is a welcome and familiar sight for residents of the small riverside village. Finally, cane is being crushed again and its back to work at Sunshine Sugar in Broadwater.
Jardine no more – national park renamed after major handback
Samuel Davis. The legacy of one of Cape York’s most controversial figures is being revisited following a major land handback to traditional owners. Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk returned more than 362,000 hectares to the Gudang/Yadhaykenu, Atambaya and Angkamuthi (Seven Rivers) peoples at Injinoo last week. As part of the agreement, Jardine River National Park has been renamed Apudthama National Park.
Million journey milestone for tracking technology on regional buses: Farraway
Customers in regional NSW have now had access to real-time data on more than one million bus trips across the state. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway announced the milestone, ahead of the new tracking technology system being rolled out on buses in Orange and Griffith from Monday.
Farmers urged to join the fight against FMD: Saunders
Farmers are being encouraged to participate in the NSW Government’s largest ever pest management campaign to minimise the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) spreading through feral animal populations if an incursion was to occur. Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government’s Spring Offensive program will not only reduce the risk of FMD spreading across the country, it will also play a critical role in protecting primary producers’ top-quality food and fibre.
Threatened species bouncing back in NSW rewilding sites: Griffin
The most ambitious rewilding project in Australia is achieving incredible results, with 10 locally extinct species now thriving after being reintroduced to three feral-free areas in NSW national parks ... “It’s incredible to see that in such a short period of time, we’re on track to remove at least 10 animals from the NSW extinct list – the first time this will have happened anywhere in the world”: NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin.
New nature reserves in South-West to protect threatened species: Whitby and Kelly
"These new nature reserves provide an important ecological link to other reserves in the area supporting our native species. Through the upcoming release of the draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033, the community will get the chance to have their say in caring for the health of our forests" : WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby.
People of Orbost speak on facing an uncertain future as timber supply dwindles: FWCA
The current timber supply shortages in Victoria brought about by vexatious legal action against VicForests is causing anguish among the people of Orbost, where 37% of its workforce faces the axe ... Forest & Wood Communities Australia went to Orbost last week to speak with what we thought would be a few families to get an idea of what they are going through ... FWCA MD, Justin Law, said the heart-breaking situation in Orbost was unnecessary.
River People’s Forum
A diverse range of views were heard at the River People’s Forum held in Swan Hill on September 2. What do we want our river communities and river to look like? What is the balance between regulated flows and floods and natural ones? Do we want concrete giants like the KP regulators? Nothing was out of bounds.
How much can a koala bear before it faces extinction? :Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt academic, Dr Joanne Connolly explores what makes koalas unique and how Charles Sturt University is contributing to saving endangered populations, including research into the Narrandera koala population ... ARR.News asks some questions of Dr Connolly.
Story Walks mark beginning of a new chapter for Scenic Rim libraries
The installation of a series of colourful storyboards in parks at Boonah and Beaudesert has marked a new chapter for Scenic Rim libraries ... the Story Walks at Springleigh Park, Boonah, and Jubilee Park, Beaudesert, aim to encourage children’s early literacy through play while strengthening family connections and the Scenic Rim’s links to its Indigenous heritage.
Ground-breaking farmers cutting food waste: D’Ambrosio
Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio visited a business in Werribee South which is turning surplus vegetables into powders ready for supermarket shelves ... The powders – on shelves soon under the label Nutri V - can be added to smoothies, sauces, soups and used in muffins, cakes, breads and other baked goods to boost vegetable intake.
New opportunities to support and harness underwater forests: Griffin
Marine ecosystems and coastal communities will benefit from increased investment and restoration projects as a result of the new NSW Blue Carbon Strategy ... “The simplest way to understand blue carbon is to liken it to underwater forests – just as trees store carbon, marine and coastal plants and ecosystems do too, except even more efficiently” : Minister for Environment, James Griffin.
Another cohort of Territory nurses transition to country: Fyles
Ten Territory nurses will spend the next 12 months building their skills and providing services to remote communities under the Transition to Remote Practice Program. This year is the first time the program recruited a second cohort of participants. They will join the 12 nurses who commenced the program at the beginning of 2022.
Pilbara decision adds to WA record of Native Title determinations: Buti
The Yinhawangka and the Jurruru Native Title holders have been formally recognised as Traditional Owners after the Federal Court endorsed a determination of Native Title for about 3,423 square kilometres of land in the Pilbara ... This determination marks the 134th Native Title determination in WA, with over 85 per cent of the State now covered by Native Title determinations equating to a total of 2,157,903 square kilometres.
NSW Government responds to regional health inquiry report: Taylor
The NSW Government has finalised its response to the Rural Health Inquiry, reaffirming its commitment to improve health outcomes for all people living in rural, regional and remote NSW ... The NSW Government supports or supports in principle 41 of the 44 recommendations. Work is already underway to address many of these supported recommendations. Three recommendations are noted.
Next phase of work steaming ahead for Barton Highway: King, McBain, Farraway, Tuckerman
The duplication of the Barton Highway is forging ahead with the focus now turning to construction of several intersections along a seven-kilometre stretch as part of Stage 1 ... ARR.News asked some questions for the Ministers and Members and received a response from a spokesperson for Minister King.
WA regional high schools failing ATAR students
With the state's year 12s soon to start their mock exams, I thought it opportune to go back and have a look at how our country high schools are performing. Some may recall an article I wrote in 2020, ‘Country High Schools = F Fail’ and I wondered if there has been any improvement.
New Toowoomba Hospital construction underway
Early enabling works have begun at the Baillie Henderson campus as part of the new $1.3 billion Toowoomba Hospital. Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the works, which include electrical works, are now underway and these will become more visible later this year when bulk earthworks at Baillie Henderson commence.
Gates shut on Evans Head development
“Refused!” That one word on the Community Against Iron Gates Development Facebook page said it all. Ian Rankin from the protest group was elated and found it difficult to put the Northern Rivers Planning Panel’s decision into words ... The panel said they would announce their decision on the DA by Gold Coast Coral for 183 houses at Iron Gates in Evans Head at 5pm. At 5.30pm the panel chair Paul Mitchell made the announcement.
Empowering local environmental initiatives: Frank Batini
Many years ago one of my tasks involved assessing rehabilitated mine sites to see if they had attained the agreed "completion criteria" and could be accepted back by Government for ongoing management ... Some years later, a mining proposal was rejected by the EPA and I was approached by the company for advice on an "environmental offsets package" that could be acceptable ... What we managed to achieve was some expenditure in the local area/community with local decision-making.
Record number of recruits march toward career on the frontline: Ryan
A record 92 future firefighters have marched in the largest recruit parade in Queensland’s Fire and Rescue Service history. Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said the parade, held at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy, was a brilliant show of the professionalism and unity required to keep our communities safe.
