Three-month search to snap this rare bird
A three-month search for the elusive glossy black cockatoo led to this photo. The splendour of the red panels on the tail of the male glossy black cockatoo can be clearly seen. It was a photo ecologists feared might never be taken after searching for the rare birds for almost three months in the Northern Rivers without success.
Fresh flooding to impact food supply chain
Farmers across the state are once again being hit by wild weather creating fresh concerns about food supply chains ... The impacts of the torrential rain are being felt out into the central west, and vegetable growers in the Hunter Valley have had paddocks drowned for a third time this year.
Tougher penalties on the way for bad behaving councillors with major local government reforms finalised: John Carey
Local Government Minister John Carey has announced the final package of reforms to the Local Government Act 1995, following a review of public submissions. The reforms are based on the findings and recommendations of a number of reports and consultation undertaken over the past five years, and represent the most significant change to local government in Western Australia since the Local Government Act 1995 was introduced more than 25 years ago.
Aboriginal joint management of national parks to expand: NSW Gov’t
Minister for Environment James Griffin said a new model could lead to the handback of title to all NSW national parks, which cover nearly 10 per cent of NSW, over a 15 to 20 year period. “Already, more than 30 per cent of the NSW national parks estate is covered by joint management, but Aboriginal people currently hold title or native title to just over four per cent of it,” Mr Griffin said.
Not cool – a fridge scam dumped at our doors: Bev McArthur
Unwanted fridges have been dumped at local businesses under the Victorian Government’s abysmal net-zero-inspired appliance replacement scheme ... “Can you imagine arriving at your business one morning to see multiple fridges in boxes plonked at your front door? These are fridges you haven’t ordered, don’t want and now have to get rid of. In the meantime, the company dumping them has registered the fridges and received $3,000 for each of them from the Premier, Dan Andrews" : Bev McArthur.
Fresh election to be called for North Ward
The Court of Disputed Returns has declared that the result of the October 2021 Serpentine Jarrahdale Council election for its North Ward to be invalid. The ruling means that from 1 July the two individuals sworn in as Councillors after the election to represent the North Ward, Mr Rob Coales and Mr Gary Singh, no longer hold their positions at the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.
More affordable airfares have landed for Shire of Ashburton residents
Shire of Ashburton residents can now take advantage of capped airfares travelling to and from Perth from July 1, 2022. The first scheme of its kind to be implemented in Australia, the WA State Government has committed $19.8 million to deliver the capped airfare scheme over the next three years.
New appointments for State MPs
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards has been nominated to take on the role of Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. She has been representing her electorate since 2010 and has been in the Deputy Speaker’s job for the past five years.
Fisheries Centre sets record as expansions go ahead
Narrandera is playing a huge part in the fresh water fish stocking season. NSW Department of Primary Industries is in the final stages of the 2021/2022 fish stocking season, which has so far seen more than 4.8 million fish, produced at NSW DPI hatcheries, released throughout the state.
Koala research team visits
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has a team visiting Narrandera this week to conduct aspects of koala research in the Narrandera Reserve ... Dr Joanne Connolly from Charles Sturt University's proposed research will involve further steps in the research proposal to establish a koala research centre in Narrandera and will complement and build further on the data being collected by the team from the Koalas Biodiversity and Ecological Health Branch of NPWS.
Murray cod stranded
It’s that time of year when irrigation channels are drawn down for maintenance works. Native fish such as Murray cod and yellas often find themselves stranded.
Stranded cod at Wakool
A large number of Murray Cod have been relocated from irrigation channels in the Wakool area, thanks to collaboration between numerous individuals and organisations ... At the end of the irrigation season, it is common for native fish to be left stranded in pools of water behind channel gates and irrigation syphons, and unfortunately, they perish.
Opportunities to further optimise fire management and funding in NSW: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell looks closely at recent announcements by the NSW Government concerning funding for bushfire management and climate change adaptation and identifies 7 key remaining areas of concern, including an emphasis on bushfire suppression and inadequate levels of fire mitigation.
Massive investment in bushfire management and climate change adaptation: NSW Gov’t
The 2022-23 NSW Budget is delivering a major boost to fire management in national parks through a $598 million investment, delivering 250 permanent jobs and critical infrastructure upgrades. The NSW Government has also committed an additional $93.7 million to deliver the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy to prepare for the impacts of climate change and capture new investment opportunities.
New biosecurity zone set up for varroa mite
Another biosecurity zone has been set up in NSW after varroa mite was discovered in bee hives at three more properties. Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders says the move accounts for an infested premises, which is located outside the existing zones.
Yaegl People celebrate a step towards self-determination
Geoff Helisma. The NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Aboriginal Land) 2019 aims “to provide for development delivery plans for areas of land owned by local Aboriginal land councils [LALC]” and “to declare specified development carried out on land owned by LALCs to be regionally significant development” - last Saturday June 25 the Yaegl Traditional Owners Corporation (YTOC) held a gathering at Hickey Island to recognise and promote another step towards self determination.
New drone technology revolutionises regional bridge and road maintenance
Maintaining the state’s transport network will be safer, less disruptive and more cost effective, thanks to new cutting edge drone technology ... Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said Transport for NSW is the first government agency in Australia to secure the next generation technology as part of its first dedicated bridge drone inspection program that will revolutionise how assets are maintained across the network.
Mithaka people make Betoota their home base: Stewart
Mithaka traditional owner Joshua Gorringe said the freehold ownership of about 97 hectares of land in Betoota, about 140km east of Birdsville, would be an important base for future generations ... Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the Queensland Government had transferred more than 6.24 million hectares of land under Queensland’s Aboriginal Land Act and Torres Strait Islander Land Act.
Budget delivers big for the Cape
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui says she is thrilled that Cape York received its fair share in the 2022-23 state budget ... “In this year’s budget we are making record investments in health, education, jobs, renewables, and community services like police, fire and emergency services,” Ms Lui said.
Aboriginal koala conservation
I reckon the Monty Python team would have been jealous of the creative genius behind NSW’s Koala Strategy. It would be hilarious except for the $200 million price tag to save an irruptive species which is in much greater numbers across a much wider area than before the European ‘invasion’. Apart from Strzelecki, no explorer saw any koalas because they didn’t live in the grassy valleys occupied by Aborigines and sought by pastoralists.
NSW Government invests in aboriginal koala conservation: Griffin
A $600,000 investment to support an Aboriginal koala habitat conservation project is being delivered as one of the first actions in the NSW Koala Strategy. Minister for Environment James Griffin said the project with the Gumbaynggirr community applies cultural lessons from traditional owners. “The traditional custodians of this land intrinsically understand how to care for their Country,” Mr Griffin said ... ARR.News has some questions for the Minister.
Statewide emergency order issued for varroa mite in NSW
A statewide emergency order has been issued to control the movement of bees across NSW and stop the spread of varroa mite ... “After the first detection of varroa mite at the Port of Newcastle on Friday, DPI is investigating potentially contaminated hives outside the initial 50 kilometre biosecurity zone,” Minister Saunders said.
