Careless burning sparks EPA warning for Western Victoria
EPA Victoria says a rise in illegal burning in Western Victoria is damaging the environment and putting people’s health at risk with contaminated residue and hazardous smoke. The environmental watchdog has investigations under way in the Hindmarsh, Horsham and Northern Grampians areas after recent fires on farming, industrial and residential property.
New strawberry variety makes Stella debut at Ekka: Furner
A high-yielding, disease-resistant and delicious new strawberry variety has been unveiled at the Ekka, on top of the famous Ekka strawberry sundae. The new subtropical strawberry variety, Stella-ASBP, developed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Hort Innovation’s Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) in partnership with Hort Innovation and the Australian berry industry has hit the shelves this winter.
Lack of service and access to rural healthcare causing more hospitalisations: NRHA
Troubling figures released today show many illnesses among rural, regional and remote Australians could have been prevented or treated better with accessible primary care, thus avoiding the need for hospitalisation. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), many parts of rural Australia have higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations, highlighting the need for early interventions and ongoing care, particularly for non-communicable diseases.
NT election: Model predicts CLP win
Professor Rolf Gerritsen. Later this month we Territorians will vote in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly election. Recent opinion polls indicate a tightening contest as the Labor Government rallies under the surprisingly effective Ms Lawler ... here are my 10, Lichtman-adapted variables.
Preventing crime by easing poverty
The elephant in the room is poverty, says Greens candidate for Namatjira, Blair McFarland, in the election campaign mostly focussed on what to do about crime. “We’re already the most over policed region in Australia. If public safety depended on police numbers we’d be one of the safest places in the world.”
Remembering Elliot McAdam: Local leader honoured for service to Barkly
Tributes for iconic local Elliot McAdam AM have flowed in across social media following his death on Monday ... Born in his namesake town of Elliott, Mr McAdam spent many years of his early life in Adelaide before returning to the Barkly in the 90s to take on the role as General Manager of Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation.
State Fire Commissioner opens Allora Facility
Officials from Queensland Fire Department were in Allora on Saturday for the recommissioning of the Allora Facility which houses both the town and rural brigades. Members of the Allora Rural Fire Brigade were happy to show off their new medium attack firefighting appliance which was handed over to them as part of the formal proceedings.
Burning questions
Tonnes of flood-damaged firewood in Barmah Forest will now be made available to locals instead of being burnt by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). The wood has been pushed into 70 large piles throughout the forest and a DEECA spokesperson says “the flood-affected wood is being assessed and will be used for habitat and environmental projects within the park.
Calls for urgent Wind Farm Code reform
AgForce has said it is increasingly concerned that delays to urgently needed reforms to the Wind Farm Code could put agricultural landholders at potentially crippling financial risk. Queensland’s peak representative body for farmers is disappointed that despite a review of the Wind Farm Code last year, the Queensland Government has not released any reforms to the Code since.
“Common sense recommendations”
The Health Minister has welcomed the Limestone Coast Local Health Network board’s decision to endorse “several common-sense” recommendations from the feasibility study on establishing a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East. The study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”.
No radiation therapy
The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”. The design and planning of the new Mount Gambier Cancer Care Centre have been on hold while the feasibility study into radiation therapy services was undertaken.
We won’t give up
Naracoorte based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
New advantage program for SA’s eID roll out: Scriven
South Australian producers of sheep and farmed goats and the broader supply chain will benefit from a new electronic identification (eID) implementation program to prepare for the traceability system that becomes mandatory from 1 January 2025. A further $900,000 in funding is being provided to establish the eID Advantage Program to improve producer knowledge and understanding of changed responsibilities under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
Murray Darling Basin Authority visit
An influx of Government and Government Agency staff visited Wilcannia on Monday 29th July to look at the old weir, proposed site for the new weir and meet with local organisations and the Shire. Included in the group was former Western Lands Commissioner and passionate Wilcannia and Darling River advocate Geoff Wise.
Elected councillors to return but”¦
Eighteen community members, from towns and rural areas, attended the community meeting with the Minister for Local Government Hon. Ron Hoenig on Sunday 21st July to hear of his plans for the future of Central Darling Shire Council. The Minister said that he would be returning the Council to a form of democracy in around March 2025.
Highest honour for Narrandera Aboriginal Education Officer
Narrandera High School Aboriginal Education Officer, Aunty Joy O’Hara, was awarded a Secretary’s Award for Excellent Service on Monday night at the Sydney Town Hall by the Secretary for Education, Murat Dizdar and former Justice of the High Court The Honourable Michael Kirby. This award was presented as part of Education Week and are the highest awards within the NSW Department of Education.
Deer harvest numbers increase
The Game Management Authority (GMA) recently released the Estimates of the 2023 deer harvest in Victoria report. Results show an estimated 137,090 deer were harvested in 2023 which is an 11 per cent increase on the estimated 123,400 deer harvested in 2022 and a 59 per cent increase on the long-term average of 86,400.
Independent Review findings shared
At a Community Meeting in Carisbrook ... the findings and recommendations of the Carisbrook Levee Independent Review were shared with residents ... The report has found that overall, there is confidence in the catchment modelling to which the Levee has been built.
National Livestock Identification System a policy of inequity for SA farmers: Centofanti
The SA Cattle Industry Fund has announced its intention to withdraw funding for the Malinauskas Labor Government’s National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) cattle compliance program, after revelations not all states are contributing equally. Minister for Primary Industries, Clare Scriven, has reportedly pleaded for the decision to be reversed.
Record tonnes exported from the Pilbara for fifth consecutive year: Michael
The Pilbara region has achieved a remarkable milestone, with a record 758.3 million tonnes of exports passing through its ports in the 2023-24 financial year. This marks the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking throughput for Pilbara Ports.
Peak body lobbies for virtual fencing in NSW
Virtual fencing is a system that enables livestock of varying types to be confined or moved without using fixed fences, instead relying on collars, sensors and wireless technologies. The CSIRO started research and development (R&D) into virtual fencing in 2005. Animals are given an audio warning if they approach the perimeter and feel an electric pulse if they continue – one far lower than contacting an electric fence.
CFS answers the US call: Cregan
A team of CFS volunteers and staff are heading to the United States this morning, ready to assist with dozens of wildfires burning across the country’s west. The eight-member SA deployment will travel to Boise, Idaho, to help fight major fires in the Pacific Northwest, across the states of Oregon and Washington.
