Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project submission
The Tasmanian Government will today lodge its official funding submission with the Australian Government to initiate the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay confirming it as one of Australia’s strategically important locations for the development of the emerging green hydrogen industry.
Door open for renewable energy to be produced alongside renewable timber
Renewable energy and renewable timber may soon be produced side-by-side, with the passage today of legislation to enable clean energy developments such as wind energy to be established in State forest pine plantations. NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Forestry Act 2012 as part of the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill to facilitate the opportunity to establish renewable energy infrastructure in State forest pine plantations.
Coffin Bay oyster harvesting area closed
The oyster production areas of Coffin Bay have been closed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) as a precautionary measure as part of an ongoing investigation into a recent rise in Vibrio parahaemolyticus cases.
Action needed on farm worker shortages
Nicholas Rupolo. The NSW Farmers Association has grown tired of the state and federal government’s inaction on agricultural labour shortages ... The state’s grain harvest was forecast to be worth $6 billion to the state economy but harvest forecasts have been revised down as a result of worker shortages ... The inability to access labour is made worse by growing costs associated with harvesting that have proven to be a major issue.
Boosting the Wallumbilla Gas Hub
Australian governments are seeking stakeholder feedback on a consultation paper that seeks to increase liquidity and flexibility in the east coast gas market through enhancements to the Wallumbilla Gas Supply Hub and the pipeline capacity trading framework ... Stakeholder feedback on these options will inform development of a roadmap for Energy Ministers to consider in early 2022.
Council contemplates future for Emerald Ag College site
The future of the former Emerald Agricultural College site could be secured in early 2022, with Central Highlands Regional Council confirming its interest in acquiring part of the land. In a general council meeting in October, councillors voted to provide formal advice to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) about council’s desire to purchase approximately 350 hectares of the site, located on the Capricorn Highway.
Teachers rally amidst state-wide staff shortages
Emma Pritchard. “Teachers are instrumental in every community and the NSW Government needs to invest in them because children, especially in rural and regional areas, are bearing the brunt of the shortages and as a consequence their education is being put at risk”: NSW Teachers Federation President, Angelos Gavrielatos.
Japanese government funds green hydrogen export project from South Australia
The South Australian Government welcomes the Japanese Government awarding funding to Marubeni Corporation for a project to export green hydrogen produced in South Australia to the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has selected Marubeni Corporation’s hydrogen production project in South Australia as a pilot project, as part of a program looking to cooperate with developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sleuth scientist solves mystery of the mouldy mungbean
Qld Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said a Departmental plant pathologist has found that two pathogens cause powdery mildew in mungbean, potentially unlocking new solutions for the $100m Australian industry. “Scientist Lisa Kelly has ‘bean’ on the case to unlock the mystery of the fungal disease that’s been present in Australian mungbean crops for at least 60 years,” Mr Furner said.
TFGA supports Tasmanian Government net zero 2030 target
Tasmania's peak farming body has produced a range of commitments it is seeking from the State Government relating to climate change. The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) has developed the commitments along with the formation of an Agricultural Sustainability Committee to oversee its response to the challenges of climate change.
Underwater drones protecting NT aquaculture industry
A high-tech underwater drone is helping protect Territory fish and marine life from harmful aquatic pests. The cutting-edge remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) takes monitoring to the next level, reducing the need for divers and providing a mobile camera capable of scanning large areas in limited time.
Don’t make decisions about us without us: NLC
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has called on the Territory Government to stop making decisions without it. NLC announced this week it supports the call by the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) that a safe reopening of the Northern Territory must be based on a number of key principles and actions ... “This is about our lives, our people and our country. Governments have to think beyond the big cities when making important decisions about our mob out bush – don’t make decisions about us without us”: Samuel Bush-Blanasi, NLC Chairman.
Taxpayers funding locum doctors
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government is using taxpayer funds to pay fly-in locum doctors up to $3000 per 12-hour shift at country hospitals. And it is claimed it pays our local Naracoorte GPs as little as $285 per 24-hour shift to cover accident and emergency. Seven SA country hospitals including Millicent and Mount Gambier are now reliant on taxpayer funded fly-in locums – when they are available.
Food van up and running
The Narrandera Youth Council’s Food Trailer ‘Take A Bite Into the Future” project’ has now come to fruition ... The project will see the Youth Council providing a variety of food and drinks at community and Council events ... The design of the trailer showcases some of Narrandera’s beautiful landmarks and landscape.
TAFE closure claim denied
TAFE NSW has denied claims that it plans to sell off the Narrandera and Deniliquin campuses. The denial was in response to claims by the Member for Murray Helen Dalton that a secret briefing note ... revealed TAFE NSW wanted approval to sell off 19 TAFE campuses across regional NSW ... “We should be investing more in TAFE, not less. I sometimes wonder if this Government want to kill off all of regional NSW and force us all to move to Sydney.”
Beetle care a dung deal
Shaun Ossinger. Regional Development Minister Alanah MacTiernan has announced a grant of about $35,000 to help colonise winter-active dung beetles in the Wilson Inlet catchment. Part of the natural ecosystem of cattle, dung beetles have evolved alongside the animal throughout Europe and Africa, breaking down cattle dung and recycling nutrients.
When it comes to EVs, a picture is worth a thousand words
This map is demonstrative of the unrelenting push by Australian bureaucrats and politicians to force rural and regional Australians out of the bush and into the cities and large regional centres.
Division decision
Segregation of the community based on vaccination status is now the norm after Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) implemented the Andrews Government roadmap. The unvaccinated 16 years and over will now be excluded from Gannawarra Library Service branches and swimming pools, despite being able to mingle in many other retailers, essential services and localities.
“Locked out” council divided
Kendall Jennings. The trio of councillors said the Zoom meetings have been difficult from their residences due to service connectivity and wanted to use the council offices for the scheduled meetings for the day. However, the councillors have been told that the offices are not a working space because there is no disability access, and to use the space would be against the anti-discrimination act.
Tasmania prepared for upcoming bushfire season
Preparations for the upcoming bushfire season are well advanced, with more than 150 people taking part in a multi-agency pre-season briefing in Launceston ... This year, a total of 217 fuel reduction burns treating over 32,000 hectares have to date been completed, and a successful “Red Hot Tips” Program has also supported farmers and large landholders to conduct 229 burns covering over 5,300 hectares.
Regional Housing Taskforce recommendations released
An independent report with recommendations for how the planning system can address housing supply and affordability in regional communities has been released by the NSW Government.
‘Bunyip Bird’ takes centre stage at 2022 Australasian Bittern Summit
The iconic Australasian Bittern is the focus of a summit in Leeton on 1-4 February 2022, designed to advance the conservation of this cryptic species ... “The Bittern holds a special place in Indigenous culture and Australian folklore, with its booming call thought to be behind the legend of the bunyip,” said Senior Local Land Services Officer and conference lead Anna Wilson.
