Landcare champions in our own backyard
The Strongs were early adopters in sustainable farming after the droughts of the early 80’s and 90’s, it was after this when the family started to notice a change in farming profitability ... By 1997 the Strongs had implemented the method of direct seeding ... In 2006 they started marketing ‘Arcadia Saltbush Lamb’ and built up a self-replacing Soft Rolling Skin (SRS) dual purpose merino flock with high fertility to match that of cross breeds.
First harvest of biomass crops
Around one thousand trees will be harvested at Yanco this week in the next phase of a critical biomass crops for bioenergy trial. NSW DPI Senior Research Scientist, Dr Fabiano Ximenes, said the harvest operation would provide important insights into expected productivity of the trees and their potential benefits in terms of carbon sequestration and soil nutrient impacts.
FPH regulation tabled
Just two days after the NSW Upper House enquiry into floodplain harvesting, NSW Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, tabled another attempt in parliament to pass floodplain harvesting regulation. The bold move by the NSW National Party was taken despite the ink being barely dry on the consultation that sought to address the end of system flow target for the Darling Baaka, licensing to the legislated legal limit, and to maintain volumes and entitlements within existing SDLs.
Victorian Ombudsman finds border exemption scheme “unjust”
The border closure imposed by Victorian and New South Wales State Governments in response to COVID-19 not only had huge financial impacts but a great human cost. The Victorian Ombudsman has found the narrow exercise of discretion under the border exemption scheme resulted in unjust outcomes, and recommended the Government publicly acknowledge the distress caused to affected people.
Fire station’s newest recruit already helping Santa
New recruit Geoffrey Steven will work out of the Coraki Fire Station. He is among 214 accomplished men and women who have graduated as officers at the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy in Sydney. South Grafton Fire Station has Ryan Raymond as their new recruit.
Government mitigates shark attack risk
Geoff Helisma. The NSW Government is adding drumlines into its mix of anti-shark measures along the state’s coastline. Last week at Yamba, Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis met with Paul Butcher, principal research scientist with NSW Department of Primary Industries, to mark the installation of 15 SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real Time) drumlines, which will be deployed daily between Iluka Bluff and Angourie Back Beach.
Queensland farmers combine world-class beef production & forest growth
The National Farmers Federation is celebrating the environmental credentials of Queensland beef producers ... The 2019 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report shows growth of forest area of about 160,000 hectares since 2008. Australia’s latest State of the Forests Report also confirms steady forest growth during the previous five-year period.
Progress needed on floodplain harvesting
A Parliamentary Committee has detailed a number of ways to reform floodplain harvesting in NSW. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said even small steps towards evidence-based regulation of floodplain harvesting were better than the uncertainty surrounding the issue at present.
Three million hectares land opens to carbon farming
More than three million hectares of unallocated Crown land in Western Australia will be released for carbon farming opportunities, to help the state reach its 2050 net zero target. With the price of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) expected to increase significantly by 2030, areas of WA's crown land estate are highly sought after for carbon farming initiatives.
Council hit hard by lowest rate cap in 20 years – fees and charges may rise
Narrandera Shire Council General Manager George Cowan said this week’s decision by IPART to introduce the lowest rate cap in 20 years did not reflect reality. “It is based upon a formulae that reflects generic cost indexes that may have prevailed during the previous financial year. The real cost increase facing Councils next financial year includes wages growth, substantial increases in fuel costs and these are two of the biggest inputs affecting Council operations,” Mr Cowan said.
Christmas tree in Government House a display of forestry’s value
A Christmas tree grown by Forestry Corporation of NSW proudly sits in Government House in the centre of Sydney as a visual reminder of the forestry industry and the value it provides.
Safer road for emu crossings at Taloumbi
Geoff Helisma. There may be fewer than 50 coastal emus left in existence, but the efforts of Lions Club of Clarence – Environmental (LCC-E) and its proactive relationships with government departments and Clarence Valley Council (CVC) have resulted in measures to protect the endangered bird. The speed limit along a 7.2km section of Brooms Head Road, Taloumbi, has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h and warning signs have been painted on the road.
Mock operations help prepare Council and the community for extreme weather events
Council recently hosted two timely disaster preparedness operations, firstly with the Local Disaster Management Group to test preparedness for potential flooding, and secondly with Community Disaster Volunteers from across the Scenic Rim.
Dingoes in the Grampians: a dog of an idea: Bev McArthur
“This idea is so ludicrous, that when it was first floated locals didn’t take it seriously – they simply didn’t believe it was for real. Unfortunately, they now know how crazy and contemptuous it is, so much so that 4000 people have signed a petition to stop it happening,” Mrs McArthur said.
Major win for manufacturing delivers Geelong jobs
Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Martin Pakula congratulated Hanwha Defense Australia on its successful bid to deliver the Commonwealth’s LAND 8116 program in Victoria, strengthening the state’s defence capabilities and creating 300 highly skilled local jobs in design, engineering and manufacturing.
$1 billion defence contract, sovereign defence manufacturing facility in Geelong announced
The Morrison Government has announced a $1 billion defence contract for new Self-Propelled Howitzers for the Australian Army has been awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia. The contract signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea. Based in Greater Geelong, the contract will procure Self-Propelled Howitzers and Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project.
A new and improved ‘big battery’ for the Darwin-Katherine electricity grid
The tender has been awarded for the 35MVA (megavolt amps) Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System (DK BESS) – a ‘big battery’ – for the Darwin-Katherine grid, which will deliver cost savings of around $9.8 million per year. The DK BESS is expected to pay for itself in approximately five years ... Hitachi Energy will deliver the major components of the $45 million DK BESS to be built and located at Territory Generation’s Channel Island Power Station.
Unvaccinated teachers being sent to Cape York
Taxpayers will fund the costly relocation of unvaccinated teachers to Cape York over the school holidays, despite the fact they will be unable to work when students return in 2022 ... According to the Queensland Teachers’ Union, teachers and school staff, have until January 7 to provide the department with evidence that they have received at least the first dose.
What’s happening to the jarrah forest?
Jack Bradshaw. Exposing the hypocrisy of the WA government in banning sustainable timber harvesting in native forest but supporting the strip mining of the same forest.
Singleton Station water licence subject to changes in conditions
Following the Water Resources Review Panel’s assessment of the Singleton Station water licence, the Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing (as delegate for the Minister for Water Security) has announced that an amended water extraction licence has been granted for Fortune Agribusiness with some new and modified conditions ... Under the revised water licence, Fortune Agribusiness is required to carry out further hydrogeological investigation of the water resources at the site of the planned bore field, and also complete an impact assessment of groundwater extraction on identified groundwater dependent cultural values.
Rail trail concerns process and outcome
Sheryl Lowe. “So, you can imagine our dismay upon receiving a letter from Mr. Munivenkata Krishna Sunkappa Reddappa advising us that the rail trail has been funded and contracts let, asking us if we had any concerns. Surely it was a bit late in coming after years of design, funding applications and tenders and contracts finalised. Any concerns the affected ratepayers may have had should have been addressed long before now.”
Response to NSW Government Code of Conduct review
The NSW Minister for Local Government, The Hon Shelley Hancock MP, a week out from the local government elections released a consultation paper. The paper concerns the operation of the Code of Conduct provisions of the Local Government Act. These are contentious provisions both in their terms and in their operation ... The Code of Conduct provisions are a bureaucratic supervision of community-elected representatives.
