Extra NSW road repairs welcomed
NSW Farmers has welcomed additional manpower to repair ruined rural roads, but says flood-proofing for the future must be on the agenda.
On November 22, the NSW Government said 200 people and heavy machinery would be deployed to the central-west and Murrumbidgee to assist with the mammoth task of reconnecting the road network.
According to local councils about 10,000km of roads had been flood-affected.
The situation was placing enormous strain on an already stretched agricultural sector, with limited harvest opportunities and road access causing headaches across the state.
NSW Farmers’ John Lowe said the extra help to get road repairs under way was welcomed, and the total damage bill could be enormous.
“Rural people are dismayed at how quickly the road network crumbled, and it’s pretty clear that we need to rebuild better so we can avoid these sorts of headaches in the future,” Mr Lowe said.
Support for flood-affected communities
Ag services group Nutrien Ag Solutions will donate $150,000 to the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal to support flood-affected communities.
“Many of the communities in which we live and work in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania continue to deal with serious impacts from flooding,” Nutrien Ag Solutions managing director Kelly Freeman said
“A number of our branches and stores have been directly affected and many of our farmer customers have lost crop and livestock. The impact on communities has been significant.”
FRRR has supported remote, rural and regional communities across the country to prepare for and recover from natural disasters since 2006.
To date, FRRR has distributed about $46 million for community-led disaster recovery and resilience initiatives.
Mr Freeman said that beyond the donation to FRRR, Nutrien would match employee donations, to show support for the employees’ contribution to those affected.
For more information, visit: https://www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/flood-support-and-assistance
Landcare under review
A review of Victoria’s Landcare movement will deliver a new Landcare Plan that will establish directions for the movement over the next decade and beyond.
Landcare Victoria has engaged consultancy firm Projectura to develop the plan, with a series of community engagement workshops being held between December 5 and 9.
Landcare Victoria chief executive officer Andrew Maclean said the aspirations and ideas of the Landcare community were vital to the development of the plan.
The workshops will focus on opportunities and challenges facing Landcare, including united action on climate change and biodiversity decline, the delivery of community education, and opportunities to improve existing and new partnerships, difficulties growing local membership bases and attracting sustainable funding, as well as ensuring a clear brand and shared purpose for Landcare.
To find out more about the workshops or to register your attendance, visit: www.landcarevictoria.org.au/landcareplan
Scholarships available for ag students
The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program is open to students studying agriculture-related or STEM degrees with major studies and/or subject selections that align to agriculture.
Australian Eggs, Australian Wool Innovation, Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia, Dairy Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Meat & Livestock Australia, Hort Innovation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, FMC Australasia, AgriProve, Kalyx and the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses, Rice, Honeybee and Pollination, Agrifood Innovation and Emerging Industries Programs are all sponsors of the Horizon Scholarship Program.
To be eligible to apply students must:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- be studying an undergraduate degree at an Australian university; and
- be entering the final two years of their degree in 2023.
Applications close Friday, January 13 at 5pm.
For more information and to apply, visit: www.agrifutures.com.au/horizon
Donkey shelter opens its gates
Tongala’s donkey shelter is having its annual open day on Sunday, December 4.
The shelter is a non-profit organisation and holds the open day to raise funds for the ongoing upkeep of its donkeys.
There will be a sausage sizzle, donkey stalls and a patting yard. It is a cash-only event.
The shelter is at 1949 Matheson Rd, Tongala. Gates open at 11am and close at 3pm, with entry $20 per car.