Orange-bellied Parrots start to return for the breeding season
The Tasmanian Government welcomes the first sightings of Orange-bellied Parrots as they return to Tasmania for the breeding season, following the record-breaking success of last year’s breeding season. Four Orange-bellied Parrots marked to return to Tasmania for the breeding season have been sighted in the past week.
Deal done to get timber off Kangaroo Island
Up to 60,000 tonnes of softwood logs will start to be shipped off Kangaroo Island to support South Australia’s forestry sector and booming housing construction industry, with applications to the Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program (CSTAP) now open. The CSTAP is jointly funded by the Morrison Coalition Government and Marshall Liberal Government and provides assistance to freight bushfire-affected softwood logs salvaged from Kangaroo Island to the South Australian mainland and then to sawmills with immediate capacity to process structural timber.
Patient’s express anger at Iluka doctor’s suspension
Geoff Helisma. Many people have reacted angrily to the news that the Medical Council of NSW has temporarily suspended the registration of Iluka doctor David Alan Richards (Iluka Wellness Centre) following a decision by a Council s.150 (immediate action) panel ... “Sad day for Iluka,” one person posted. “We miss you Doc. It was so good to go to a doctor that was brave and honest and truly believed in the Hippocratic Oath ... “There is conclusive evidence (sighted on Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency documents) that AHPRA has silenced health practitioners from raising concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine ...": Petition EN3375.
Government introduces population growth factor to raise infrastructure funds for growing councils and communities
Shelly Hancock, NSW Minister for Local Government, announces that the NSW government will introduce a population growth factor in the annual rate peg from July 2022 to raise additional revenue for councils to fund key infrastructure in growing communities.
Gateway to growth – Lakeland is Cape’s next boom town
Considered the Gateway to the Cape, the farming community of Lakeland is shaping as the gateway to growth in Cook Shire. Already the agricultural capital of the region, Lakeland’s potential to develop into a bustling township is being seriously considered by the council.
Tasmanian timber and functional art collide at London Craft Week
Tasmanian fine timber reclaimed from the depths of Lake Pieman and crafted into artistic furniture by London-based Tasmanian designer Brodie Neill, will be on display to around 115,000 people at London Craft Week.
Cleaner, reliable and affordable secure energy system by 2030
As part of the transition to affordable, reliable, cleaner and secure energy, the Territory Labor Government has released the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System Plan. The System Plan provides a comprehensive and credible pathway to generate 50% renewable energy by 2030 in the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System - cutting emissions in half.
Wild horse draft plan for Kosciuszko National Park
The draft plan for the management of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park has been released for public comment. Environment Minister Matt Kean said the draft plan strikes the right balance between protecting the fragile alpine ecosystems and recognising the cultural heritage values of the wild horses ... The draft plan is open for public comment until Tuesday, 2 November 2021.
Reel in the million dollar fish and turn your catch into cash
Hooking a barra in the Territory is about to make some lucky fishos a lot richer as Season 7 of Million Dollar Fish has officially opened.
More local manufacturing being returned to WA
The McGowan Labor Government has welcomed Rio Tinto's commitment to use local suppliers to build iron ore railcars for its Pilbara mining operations. Rio Tinto's announcement includes a commitment to the initial purchase of 50 iron ore railcars, followed by an ongoing commitment of 10 ore cars a year for at least the following five years.
Fabricated myths and politics are causing the mismanagement of water in the Murray-Darling Basin
Robert Onfray. Before I started our travels, I recall hearing and reading stories about the parlous state of the Murray River and its basin. These calls are always louder when there is a drought. On our trip, I have spent a lot of time on the Murray, the Lachlan and Edward Rivers, as well as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area. We also stopped at Wentworth to observe the mouth of the Darling into the Murray River.
Palaszczuk Government takes next steps for Southern Downs water security
Water security for the Southern Downs region is being bolstered with early works underway on projects to unlock new water sources and upgrades to critical water infrastructure.
Broadening the Australian palate with new wine grape varieties
The McGowan Government continues to support the expansion of the State's wine industry, backing the local development of three new wine varieties from the Mediterranean - two receiving a medal at a recent Western Australian wine show ... Prosecco, a sparkling white grape variety, and Nero d'Avola, a mid-body red variety, were sourced from Italy while the Mencia variety originates from Spain.
McBride to stay with Liberal Party
Sheryl Lowe. One week into a two-week time frame to decide his political future, Member for McKillop Nick McBride MP confirmed he had consulted with members of his electorate as he considered how “I can best serve my constituents and my electorate” ... Mr McBride told The News he is happy with the outcome. He has “greater lines of communication within the party” and the difficulties he experienced getting traction for important issues in the past have been removed, he said.
Daintree National Park returns to Eastern Kuku Yalanji people
The world-famous Daintree National Park has been handed back to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people, part of 160,000 hectares of land in Cape York that is again in the hands of traditional owners following an agreement with the Queensland government. The planet’s oldest rainforest joins Uluru and Kakadu as UNESCO world heritage sites under management of First Nations people.
Call for protection of farmland in race to Net Zero
NSW Farmers has called for the clear protection of agricultural land as the state moves to slash emissions by 2030. While moves to increase private sector investment, grow the economy and lower power prices were welcomed, NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin said the protection of prime agricultural land had to be a fundamental part of the plan. “As they say, they’re not making any more dirt, and we need to ensure that prime agricultural land is protected because once you dig it up or pave over it, it’s gone forever ... We remain concerned about regional renewable energy zones – there is clearly scope for this sort of infrastructure, but we must ensure it does not displace food and fibre from quality land."
NSW gives nation’s biggest energy project the go-ahead
New South Wales is leading the nation’s charge towards a low-emissions energy system after the NSW Government approved stage one of a $1.8 billion transmission line that would link NSW and South Australia’s energy networks for the first time. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said stage one planning approval had been granted for the NSW Western Section of Energy Connect, a 900-kilometre transmission line that would run from Wagga Wagga to Robertstown in SA, with a spur line to Victoria.
Murky water stirred by politics
The NSW Upper House inquiry into floodplain harvesting hadn’t even finished hearing evidence when a barrage of media releases came from the Victorian and NSW National Parties ... What caused this great flurry of excitement by the Nationals? It appears the excitement was generated by how floodplain harvesting sits as an offence under s60A of the Water Management Act. This does not mean floodplain harvesting is lawful, it just means that provision doesn’t catch it.
Proposed global scale Energy Hub one step closer for NQ
Townsville is a step closer to a huge industry and jobs boost from a proposed advanced manufacturing facility at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct that would refine ore to produce critical materials for use in new-technology batteries. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the proposed Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) had been declared a prescribed project and would support North Queensland’s economic recovery.
North coast MPs seek protection from ‘70 percenters’
Geoff Helisma. Five north coast MPs – Janelle Saffin, Chris Gulaptis, Geoff Provest, Ben Franklin and Tamara Smith – have jointly written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, expressing their fears that the government’s Covid 19 policy is a threat to the health of their constituents. “We are really concerned that, without policy changes, our region will suddenly become deeply vulnerable to a major influx of newly freed Sydneysiders, while we are still short of the 70 per cent safety target,” the MPs write.
NSW set to halve emissions by 2030
NSW is set to attract more than $37 billion in investment while slashing emissions by 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, under updated projections and objectives released as part of the Net Zero: Stage 1 Implementation Update. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state’s new objective of halving emissions by 2030 – up from 35 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 – shows that NSW is serious about setting itself up for the future while helping the world decarbonise.
Modular to be used for social housing in Kalgoorlie for first time
Modular will be used for social housing in Kalgoorlie for the first time, with two homes currently under construction. The homes are being prefabricated in a factory in Perth's south and will soon make the 600-kilometre trek east.
