Weekly Climate,Australian Water and Agricultural Update

For the week ending 17 January 2024, an active monsoon trough combined with a tropical low brought heavy rainfall in tropical parts of the country. Severe thunderstorms brought rainfall to southeast Australia.

These falls have provided signifcant boost to the soil moisture to support pasture growth and built reserves ahead of the upcoming winter cropping season.

Over the coming week, the active monsoon trough and tropical low will continue to bring heavy rain, in excess of 150 millimetres in parts, to far northern Australia. Troughs across eastern Australia will generate showers and storms over Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

Rainfall where expected will support development of summer crops and pasture growth, but dry conditions elsewhere will see a decline in soil moisture levels.

In December 2023, rainfall was variable for the world’s major grain-producing and oilseed-producing regions.

Northern hemisphere received generally average to above average, with exception of some parts of Canada and the United States where rainfall was below average. Southern hemisphere rainfall was below average for southern half of Brazil and northern Paraguay, and across much of western half of Australia. Above average rainfall was recorded for eastern Argentina and southeastern Australia. Close to average rainfall across the remainder of major grain-producing and oilseed-producing regions.

February to April 2024 rainfall is expected to be average to above average and snowpack will prevent winterkill in the northern hemisphere grain and oilseed growing regions. Generally average rainfall is expected in southern hemisphere cropping regions.

Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) decreased between 11 January 2024 and 18 January 2024 by 66 gigalitres (GL). Current volume of water held in storage is 19 108 GL. This is 12 percent or 2702 GL less than at the same time last year.

Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke decreased from $60 on 11 January 2024 to $41 on 18 January 2024. Prices are lower in regions above the Barmah choke due to the binding of the Barmah choke trade constraint.

I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New Year. I thank all the SES, Casino Rescue Squad, RFS, Surf Life Savers and all the other volunteers who kept us safe through the New Year period. This year there were some very challenging circumstances.

Norco Ice Cream

Norco Ice Cream is back

Kevin Hogan

team to periods of enormous success and setting a wonderful example for all who have followed.

Congratulations Lyn.

Baseball Australian Championships

Over the last week captaining the Australian Women’s Cricket team at 22 and she played in 15 test matches.

Lyn’s career started in Lismore and the

8 Far North Coast Baseball players and 1 Woolgoolga Baseball Association player competed at the Australian Youth Baseball Championships in Blacktown. Connor McCarthy, Kieran Weekes and Jayden in our supermarkets. From our very own dairy farmers and our very own ice cream factory. It’s in supermarkets across NSW and QLD. Please look out for it. Karen and I had grabbed a couple of teaspoons but ended up way past that.

Under 12 State Cricket Carnival

Twenty teams from across the state travelled to our region last week. Hundreds of under 12-year-old players, parents and supporters boosted our local economy. It was great to see so many families and friends at the various grounds supporting the teams. Our region had three teams in the competition. Well done Far North Coast

CONDE NAST TRAVELLERS BEST PLACES TO GO IN 2024

The Northern Rivers joins the likes of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Santa Fe in New Mexico and Mongolia as one of Conde Nast Travellers 24 Best Places to Go in 2024! This list is a collaboration between Conde Nast Traveller editors from around the globe who have researched, debated and vetted from a large pool of fantastic cities, regions, and countries

Thunder, Far North Coast Sixes and Far North Coast Renegades.

Lyn Larsen

Lismore Legend Lyn Larsen was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

women’s cricket comp had up to fve teams.

Lyn was a tremendous

Perrett ( Woolgoolga Baseball Association) were selected in the NSW Country U/16’s side. Wes Wilford represented Queensland in the U/16’s side. Lachlan O’Sullivan, Riley Cooper, Jake Connolly, Sam Davis and Hamish Weekes made the U/18 NSW Country team.

Lyn’s decade long cricket career included with new reasons to visit. This is the list of places they believe should be on every traveller’s radar for the year ahead. Go Northern Rivers!

15 BEST UNDERTHE-RADAR BEACH TOWNS IN AUSTRALIA

Delicious magazine has released their list of the Top 15 Under the Radar beach towns in Australia, with Kingscliff and Cresent Head topping the NSW contingent.

LISMORE SECURES all-rounder, leading the Australian Women’s

GLOBAL TOURISM RANKING FOR 2024

Lismore has taken out a top tourism gong, listed as one of the world’s “Coolest Places to Visit in 2024” by Qantas Travel Insider magazine. The global carrier and iconic airline ranked Lismore as No 11, alongside New York, Shanghai, London and Venice as 25 must-see tourist destinations.

CAPER BYRON BAY 2024

Are you a local business in or around Byron

Congratulations to them all and I thank Jason Bromell, Clint McCarthy, Liam Weekes and Ash Bromell who had coaching/ managing roles and went with them.

Bay in the food, drinks, art or wellness space?

Expressions of Interest for Venue Events and Festival Village stall holders for Caper 2024, being held 17-26 May, are now open, with applications accepted until late January 2024. Caper Byron Bay is all about celebrating the incredible food community, talented creatives and beautiful region in a way that refects a vibrant Byron. caperbyronbay.com/ eoi-2024

Cober Pedy, Flinders Ranges & Broken Hil

14 days. 18th April to 1st May 2024

Smal group boking. But large comfortable coach transport.

No luxury liner trip for early settlers

Title: Death Ships

Author: Doug Limbrick

Price: $28.95

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing

By Samantha Elley ere were no luxury cruise liners to enjoy the trip out on.

Coming to Australia in the early days of white settlement was no picnic.

In fact, for many it was a death sentence.

Doug Limbrick gives an account in this incredibly well researched book of the lives of the early pioneers who decided to make the great southland their home.

Events such as the discovery of gold in 1851 had a huge impact on the numbers of people who decided to come to the colonies and make their fortunes.

Limbrick concentrates on six large North American-built ships which were used to transport

Unveiling the All-New Ballina Coast and Hinterland Visitor Guide: Your Gateway to Unforgettable Experiences

The Ballina Tourism Team is excited to introduce the muchanticipated Ballina Coast and Hinterland Visitor Guide—an expansive A4 publication meticulously crafted to showcase the region’s must-see attractions through captivating visuals, insightful editorials, and essential visitor information.

Serving as the primary marketing publication for the Ballina Tourism Team, the Visitor Guide functions as a gateway to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland, catering to a diverse audience that includes both current explorers of our region and prospective visitors meticulously planning their journeys. Widely distributed through the extensive Visitor Information Centre Network and strategically placed in key destinations, this guide is thoughtfully designed to inspire and inform.

emigrants to the colonies to ll the positions in the commercial and agricultural world that had been abandoned by gold-seekers.

ese ships, the Wanata, Beejapore, Marco Polo, Shackamaxon, Ticonderoga and Bourneuf were commissioned to transport nearly 5000 passengers on board.

What happened on those ships and the results, would have permanent e ects on those aboard for decades to come.

Doug Limbrick is a graduate of the Australian National University in Canberra and has worked for many years in social policy development.

His interest is 19th century Australian history and his previous book, reviewed here is ‘Colonial Artist, S.T. Gill’.

‘Death Ships’ has been nominated for a number of literary awards, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for Australian History in 2022.

Death Ships can be purchased at shawlinepublishing.com.au a unique opportunity to share the wonders of this destination with people across the country. We extend our sincere appreciation to the businesses that have supported this project and shared their compelling stories with us.”

For those eager to obtain a copy of the guide, a visit to the Ballina Visitor Information Centre at 6 River Street, Ballina, is all it takes. Retail, tourism, and accommodation businesses are also encouraged to collect copies to offer their patrons.

In collaboration with over 45 local businesses, the Ballina Coast and Hinterland Guide beckons visitors to embark on a journey of exploration, highlighting the distinctive experiences that defne our destination. With a print run of 50,000 copies, the guide is disseminating across the Northern Rivers region, Southeast Queensland, New South Wales, and select parts of Victoria.

Alanah Ward, Team Leader Visitor Services at Ballina Shire Council, shared her enthusiasm, stating, “The Ballina Coast and Hinterland guide provides us with

Additionally, the guide is readily accessible online at discoverballina.com. au/visit/visitor-guide, providing a virtual gateway for anyone keen to explore the Ballina Coast and Hinterland from the comfort of their screens.