Vic

Back in May, NSW’s Natural Resources Commission and Department of Primary Industries, as well as three universities, quietly published a report about forest monitoring. It states that north coast koala populations have been stable for the last five years, despite 30 per cent of koala habitat being burnt by the disastrous Black Summer megafires ... NSW bureaucrats obviously know that the koala population wasn’t adversely affected by Black Summer. So, one wonders why they’re not shouting the good news from the rooftops.

The Victorian Government has been accused of “side-stepping the consultation process” over proposed changes to animals welfare laws that could see licences brought in for horse events and any commercial horse activity. Animal Care Australia (ACA) horses and livestock representative Karri Nadazdy said as a major stakeholder, ACA responded to the Animal Welfare Act Reform Directions Paper in December 2020 and said no warning was given that licensing was under consideration.

Licences for any professional horse activity and events in Victoria could be brought in under proposed new animal welfare laws. The proposal has been outlined in a plan developed as part of the reform process for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and states that anyone “showing and exhibiting animals for a commercial purpose” would be subject to new regulations, including that a “licence is required”.

Glenelg Shire residents are right to be alarmed at an effective 20 per cent increase in their rates. Farm rates will go up 22 per cent ... This comes at a time when a 2 per cent rate cap is in place across the state. The council argues that it is technically still within a 1.75 per cent rate cap. “But in reality – the Glenelg Councillors have enabled a rate rise in excess of eight times the rate cap,” Mrs McArthur said.

Emmanuelle Dubuc. Mirawara is a not-for-profit, social enterprise located within the goldfields of Central Victoria in Box-Ironbark country. We are a bunch of passionate outdoor and environmental educators who want to promote connections and the creation of stories/culture between young people and nature through outdoor education activities such as rock-climbing, bushwalking, canoeing, bush skills, nature studies and much more.

The Central Goldfields are renowned for their diversity of spring Indigenous wildflowers, with the disturbance from historic mining creating a mostly open forest floor that allows for a diversity of smaller plants that can be easily viewed. Peter Haack, horticulturalist and Landscape Architect, will take you on a gentle wander through the Maldon Historic Reserve.

Peter Sedgwick. Last Wednesday, 14 September, Maldon hosted the season’s First Triples Competition. Twelve teams of three competed.  The participating players came from Maldon, Talbot, Carisbrook, Avoca, Dunolly, Harcourt, Maryborough Golf and Maryborough Highland ... Only one point separated the three top teams after the three games of 10 ends.

Out now!

Like a shining beacon of fun and entertainment, the new cluBarham bowling facility lit up the night sky at the official opening on Friday, September 16. Members, invited guests and bowling dignitaries made up the 170 strong crowd in attendance ... What unfolded was a team of local trades and services that shared a common goal of building a facility that can attract regional, state and even national competition.

Farmers in the state’s south say water authorities are failing to prepare for severe flood risks in the Murray Valley as La Nina conditions threaten to fill major dams and rivers. NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Committee chair Louise Burge said while authorities may not be able to prevent all risks of flooding this year, they should “absolutely” avoid making flooding conditions even more extreme.

Kendall Jennings. Residents around the district supported the Kerang Orchid Show blooming in the Kerang Basketball Stadium over the weekend, hosted by the Mid-Murray Orchid Club. After a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions, judges from Melbourne travelled to Kerang to award displays designed by local growers.

Out now!

After hovering around 99% capacity for 4 weeks, the largest water storage in the Murray–Darling Basin is expected to be flowing over the spillway tomorrow thanks to inflows from last weekend's rain. MDBA Senior Director of River Management, Joe Davis said water would begin flowing over the Dartmouth Dam spillway at low rates and contribute minor flows to the Mitta Mitta River downstream, with water also still being released through the valves at the base of the dam.

After a 2 year break due to COVID-19, the countdown is on to Saturday October 1st for the 126th Nathalia Show! This year’s special theme is ‘The wonderful world of LEGO and Celebrating 75 years of the Harry Ferguson tractor’.

Victorian citizen scientists are helping to keep our waterways clean and healthy with an innovative new program using insects to stop nutrient run-off from farms ... The breeding program was established 12 months ago and includes a network of 16 dung beetle ‘nurseries’ on Landcare and farming properties in the Macedon Ranges, Nillumbik Shire, Western Port and the Mornington  Peninsula.

Tiny solar-powered, satellite backpacks are tracking one of Australia’s rarest bird species after they were released for only the second time ever in NSW as part of a conservation effort between the NSW, SA and Victorian Governments. Fifteen critically endangered Plains-wanderers have been released into Oolambeyan National Park in the NSW Riverina, which was protected in perpetuity in 2002 due to its high conservation value in protecting critical habitat for the Plains-wanderer.

Logging contractors in Central and West Gippsland with virtually no work, a large mill in Orbost running out of log supply, while a new poll shows Victorians overwhelmingly support home grown timber for housing. Welcome to the paradox and crisis facing Victoria’s forest industry; the native forest sector, largely based in Gippsland, is at a virtual standstill due to legal action by environmentalists and decisions by the Supreme Court, as demand for native hardwood because of its beauty, strength and durability remains high.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s tour of Australia in 1954 was long anticipated. They had been due to visit in 1952, but their plans were cut short by the death of King George VI. Following Elizabeth’s coronation, they finally arrived in Sydney aboard the liner Gothic on Wednesday, 3 February 1954. The couple would tour every State, visiting each capital city and many regional towns.

The much-loved camp on Derby Hill will officially close its doors on Saturday, 24 September. The results of the closure are widespread, with 25 employees left without work and the cancellation of all future school camps and programs for disadvantaged young people. The future of the camp is uncertain, and many are concerned about the loss of a valued community facility.

The Maldon Twilight Dinner 2023 is set to be bigger and better than before with the possible addition of a Friday Night Market. The committee is awaiting council approval to include a free Twilight Market to showcase local street traders, food trucks, produce stalls, bands, and swing and belly dancers.