Sky’s the limit for Uluru tourism with new Virgin flights now boarding: Bowden
Virgin Australia now flies direct to Uluru from Melbourne four times a week and Brisbane three times a week. The new routes were secured in partnership with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. Investments through the Lawler Labor Government’s Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme improve travel choices for Territorians and provide a boost to inbound tourism through better aviation access and connectivity.
Fracking corporation’s cultural heritage and water breaches show the Albanese Government must take immediate action
GetUP is calling on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to urgently use her powers to protect water and ancient artefacts following the exposure of significant environmental breaches by Empire Energy during their fracking operations in the Beetaloo Basin, Northern Territory. These violations highlight a disregard for environmental regulations and Traditional Owners’ cultural heritage.
New player joins fracking in Beetaloo
The Lawler Labor Government says it is continuing to back the industries that get the Territory working, with a new company entering the onshore gas industry. Top End Energy is the newest explorer to enter the highly prospective McArthur Basin, parent basin of the Beetaloo Sub-basin which is worth an expected $17 billion dollars to the Territory’s economy, joining global energy players Tamboran Resources, Empire Energy and Santos.
Critically endangered wombats explore new home: Linard
In a magnificent moment for conservation, the first northern hairy-nosed wombats have been released to explore their new home at Powrunna State Forest near St George in south-west Queensland. Northern hairy-nosed wombats are one of the rarest land mammals in the world.
The best Hollywood script ever – the brumby cull in New South Wales: Robert Onfray
Robert Onfray. Any Hollywood film producer needing a blockbuster script should look no further than New South Wales and the aerial culling of brumbies. It is a highly polarised issue and has been for many years. After all, the concern about culling brumbies is not matched by concerns to kill other feral animals or pests, such as deer, pigs, rabbits, foxes and cats. In one corner ... the brumby haters. In the other corner are the brumby lovers ...
60 new GPs
The government has announced a new plan that will see the addition of 60 new general practitioners in regional South Australia, including the Limestone Coast. The new Single Employer Model (SEM) will support up to 60 additional GP and rural generalist registrars training in the community at any one time – potentially quadrupling the state’s existing cohort as the program scales up over time.
Elective surgery chopped
Stakeholders: What’s going on with health services? Booked for an elective surgery at a public hospital, you might have to look for other options. Elective surgery has been cancelled at all hospitals across the state, including the Naracoorte Hospital. Reason, the health system is heaving under an illness load, with a large number of Covid and flu cases in the community resulting in staff shortages...
CCS banned in Queensland GAB
Future water security has been ensured in the Queensland portion of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), with Premier Steven Miles banning carbon capture and storage last week. Clifton and Pittsworth currently draw their town water from the Basin. Greenhouse gas storage activities, including carbon capture and storage projects, will be permanently prohibited in the basin as part of the move to protect the critically important resource.
Bushfire response defended
The head of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has responded to claims by a former group captain about a lack of communication and red tape, particularly surrounding the Green Valley blaze during the 2029-20 Black Summer bushfires. John Hawkins recently tendered his resignation as Group 7 Captain, claiming that he had been told by his RFS manager that his group vehicle was to be taken off him, with no replacement available.
Rice vesting to end
Australia’s last commodity single desk, rice vesting is set to end on July 1, 2025 after a recent announcement by the NSW Government. The rice vesting arrangements were established in response to grower preferences around the marketing of their rice in the 1920s, and have contributed to the development of a vertically-integrated industry with significant grower influence ... The Government claims that under the future arrangements, growers will be afforded greater choice and flexibility to pursue a range of markets, including export markets, and that it will also benefit the long-term sustainability of the industry in the face of lower water availability and a more variable climate.
Baaka Cultural Centre progressing well
Central Darling Shire Council has received a project update on the Baaka Cultural Centre. The development of the $9.5 million Baaka Cultural Centre at Wilcannia is a regionally significant project. It is being funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
There’s action at the station!
After successfully campaigning the Victorian State Govt. to continue funding the Overland until 2027, many of us were devastated to see the sudden appearance of the cyclone fence being erected at the Nhill Station on July 18th, 2023, preventing access to the veranda, when waiting to board the Overland or greet folks arriving ... it is pleasing to see Stage 1 of the renovations, has finally begun.
No more band-aids for pool
There will be no further band-aid remedies for Hay’s 60-year-old John Houston Memorial Pool. Hay is to get a new swimming pool after Council made the difficult decision last week to borrow up to $4million.
Parliamentary committee visit Valley
Members of NSW Parliament’s Portfolio Committee No. 7, who are undertaking a parliamentary inquiry into the planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities, saw and heard about issues concerning proposed and approved developments sites in the Lower Clarence first-hand when they visited Yamba and Maclean last Friday.
Close wants buybacks in ‘best possible way’
Hugh Schuitemaker. Ensuring water buybacks can be made from Riverland communities while the “local economy stays strong” is the aim for a senior South Australian politician. Deputy premier, and Minister for Environment, Susan Close said – during a recent visit to Calperum Station – methods to ensure water buybacks that had minimal negative impacts on regional communities were being discussed. “As a state government, we’re still working – mainly through Primary Industries – with the region,” Dr Close said.
Susan Close keeps blue-green algae sludge secret despite health warning for River Murray: Centofanti, Whetstone
Blue-green algae sludge – which poses health risks to humans and livestock – has begun trickling down the River Murray from New South Wales after Susan Close agreed to accept the concerning bacteria in South Australia without warning communities ... the NSW Government recognising “not only is the foul smell and colour of the water extremely distressing for the local community, blue-green algae can also pose potential health risks to humans and livestock”.
New era for state emergency and marine rescue services starts today: Ryan, Boyd
A new era in Queensland’s disaster and emergency management begins today as some of the most significant changes to how the state responds to natural disasters and emergencies takes effect. The State Emergency Service (SES) is now formally established with its own legislation, the State Emergency Service Act 2024 ... And for the first time, Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) is established as the state’s first integrated marine rescue service ...
Expanded bus network to link new Yanchep line stations
An extended bus network for the northern suburb corridor will start when the Yanchep rail extension opens in July ... The new routes will improve network coverage with expanded services in Catalina Estate (Tamala Park); Eden Beach Estate (Jindalee), Trinity, Shorehaven and Alkimos Beach Estates (Alkimos), Amberton Estate (Eglinton) and Capricorn Beach Estate (Yanchep).
Over 115,000 Barra to be released in Top End waterways this dry: Joel Bowden
100 juvenile Barra were released in the Palmerston Recreational Fishing Lakes ahead of the Hooked on Palmerston fishing competition... The Barra are released into waterways where they would not usually occur such as isolated lakes, lagoons and dams, providing easy-to-access and safe land based fishing opportunities where fishers of all ages and abilities can participate in this iconic Territory pastime.
Statement on Perth farmer protests: NFF
David Jochinke. The Prime Minister, Ag Minister and all parliamentarians need to take a good look at what’s unfolding in Perth this morning. This is a grassroots farmer demonstration of historic proportions ... This latest call on live sheep exports has lit a fire under the industry and brought people together like you wouldn’t believe.
Cattle monitoring goes next level with artificial intelligence: Furner
Moove over ChatGPT – we’ll soon be using artificial intelligence to monitor cattle. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Goondiwindi-based company Infarm have collaborated to create a prototype automated camera system to detect cattle and monitor their condition using advances in machine vision and AI.
James Lister speaks out: wind farms blow the seeds of community division
James Lister MP. Recent talk of more wind farm developments in our electorate of Southern Downs has stirred up all kinds of anger and ill feeling in the community. The fundamental problem is the exclusion of local input from state government level decisions over where wind and solar farms should be.
