FarmTalk March 2023

Advertising & Editorial Deadlines

April Edition:

March 24, 2023

May Edition:

April 28, 2023

June Edition:

May 26, 2023

July Edition:

June 23, 2023

August Edition:

July 28, 2023

September Edition:

August 25, 2023

October Edition:

September 22, 2023

November Edition:

October 20, 2023

December Edition:

November 17, 2023

February Edition:

January 26, 2024

March Edition:

February 22, 2024

Adrienne Hartnett CONTRIBUTOR

Leesa Muir GENERAL MANAGER & ADVERTISING

Jennifer Ho TRAINEE GRAPHIC DESIGN

Rebecca Flisher CREATIVE MANAGER

Zoe McMaugh CONTENT MANAGER

Jacquie Marshall CADET JOURNALIST

Krista Schade RIVERINE GRAZIER JOURNALIST

Sam Wake ADVERTISING

Amber King SALES SUPPORT

Adair Winder RIVERINA HERALD JOURNALIST

Close up of the different dung beetle species in compost soil.

“If you rotate your cows to a different paddock, they will often follow, and they also reduce nitrogen output into the environment because they move the dung under the ground.”

ALISON WRIGHT

Beetles are digging in

A business in Canberra has donated 20,000 dung beetles to five flood-impacted far mers in northern Victoria.

Dung

beetles are a valuable addition to a farm’s ecosystem.

The beetles can not only be used to break up and take away cow dung from the ground’s surface, providing the farmer with more pasture space, they can also reduce the number of flies and larvae.

Alison Wright has a small beef cattle farm that was under floodwater for about six days in October.

After the floods she realised there was no dung beetle activity any more, meaning cow dung was just sitting on the ground and taking up space.

“I have a farm that is 160 acres [65ha] in size,” Alison said.

“It’s not big and we have about 20 cows, so for us, every inch of space is incredibly important and we try not to waste any.”

She looked into purchasing a colony of dung beetles from a company in Canberra called Soilcam and was blown away by the cost of beetles — $2000 for one colony.

Soilcam came back to Alison and generously offered to donate 20,000 beetles to a group of flood-impacted farmers.

Alison then engaged with community members and asked them to put the call out to farmers.

Christine Sebire, a dairy farmer from Bamawm Extension, was one of five farmers to put her hand up for the beetle donation.

She thanked Alison for coming up with such an innovative idea.

“It’s just such a great initiative,” Christine said. In a Soilcam brochure, it says the average cow produces 10 to 12 litres of dung per day.

Left alone, the dung can foul waterways and create fertile breeding sites for pests and weeds.

Alison encouraged farmers to monitor the level of dung beetle activity on their farm.

She said farms impacted by the floods might still have dung beetles on their property, but most likely not to the level they should be.

“They don’t upset the natural ecosystem because they only eat cow poo,” Alison said.

“If you rotate your cows to a different paddock, they will often follow, and they also reduce nitrogen output into the environment because they move the dung under the ground.”

Farmers Ben Evans, Alison Wright and Christine Sebire with a colony of 3500 dung beetles. Photos: Steve Huntley

“They don’t upset the natural ecosystem because they only eat cow poo.”

ALISON WRIGHT

Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy profit

Luke Harrington.

Notone to sit idle, the time gave Mr Harrington the opportunity to further his studies into natural farming solutions, and eventually expand his business horizons.

Based in Deniliquin, Mr Harrington has always been interested in biology and soil health, along with healthy food production.

This passion has led him to invest in his own education to develop a diverse knowledge of the tools needed to increase the biological health of soil.

While caring for his wife, Mr Harrington completed a course in Korean natural farming - an organic agricultural practice that takes advantage of indigenous microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa to produce fertile soil that yield high output without the use of herbicides or pesticides.

He now has a qualification as a ‘Korean natural farming educator’ and says the techniques he has learnt perfectly complement what he already knew.

Mr Harrington owns Re-Gen Farming Solutions, and using his new knowledge has invented a new seed soak solution. It accompanies eight other natural products in his range to help transition to low input and healthy profit farming solutions.

The seed soak solution is made from natural ingredients easily obtained from home or store, such as vinegar.

“The organic products improve soil health while lowering input costs and making for a more profitable farming system”, he said.

“It takes about five years to turn the soil around and to make it healthy.

“You get a better gas exchange and water infiltration, with better nutrient, carbon and nitrogen cycles.

“It allows for less fertilizer and less chemicals, which leads to better health.

“We can grow a pretty good crop most years for under $100 per hectare (input costs).

“I want to get better and get the prices even lower by transitioning to healthier soil systems.”

Mr Harrington says your soil is the most important asset to your farm and business.

“Healthy soils are alive with a buzzing network of soil microbes, organisms and bacteria.

“All these organisms work together to help your plants absorb the nutrients and water they need for healthy growth.

“Healthy soils not only benefit the plants and your crop, stock benefit from healthy plants, as does the planet – living soils help sequester carbon from the atmosphere into the soil.

“One of the most important relationships in improving the health of your soil, your crop and therefore your farm production system, is the symbiotic relationship between Mycorrhizal fungi and plants.

“This fungi lives in the soil and helps the plant access nutrients which it may not be able to on its own.

“Not only does this relationship improve plant health, in addition stock which feed on healthy crops put on weight faster and more efficiently.

“A well-designed foliar fertiliser application is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve plant health, allowing a plant to reach its full potential.

“Not only does good foliar nutrition improve plant health and yield, but it is also important for building soil health.”

Mr Harrington said improved soil health also leads to improved health for you. He was inspired to research more about the link between soil health and human health after attending 14 funerals in under 18 months. Two were for young children.

“It drove me to research the cause, and I have found that health and farming practices over the years had led to high chemicals, high insecticides and fertilizers which are linked to many health issues,” he said.

“One of the first things I learned on my soil health journey - and I have been on it for a while - is the way

we traditionally deliver crop and pasture nutrition is damaging to the life in our soil.

“This in turn leads to poor soil health resulting in poor plant and animal health and ultimately poor human health.

“In our attempt to simplify food production systems, we had oversimplified plant nutrition to a point that we were basically feeding our crops a diet of junk food, which of course has impacted the food we feed ourselves over the last few decades,.”

Mr Harrington said the whole aim of Re-Gen is to regenerate farming soils, regenerate farming families and regenerate community health. He runs on-farm consultations, conducts seminars and attends field days to further inform people on better farming practices.

Some of Mr Harrington’s products are also designed for home gardening usage to help your gardens thrive naturally.

A devastating horse riding accident left Luke Harrington’s wife Leanne with a broken back, and over the next four months he was her primary carer and unable to work.

DOWNGRADE RHS

DOWNGRADE GAL RHS

DOWNGRADE ‘W’ STRAP

DOWNGRADE PIPE

CATTLE RAIL AUSSIE - GAL

Do you have a bushfire plan for your livestock?

These considerations help to understand the way fire would behave on your farm. A good way to do this is to go on the www.rfs.nsw.gov.au website and search ‘know your risk’.

It’s important to have a plan for your livestock. A good way to do this is to go on the www.ses.nsw.gov.au website and search ‘get ready animals’. There is often no time to move livestock in the event of a fire. Having a prepared safe area to house livestock during these events is critical to their survival. This site should provide feed and water for 3-7

days. Vegetation should be kept short in these safe areas to reduce the fuel load for fire. Minimising other flammable material, such as dead timber, further assists in reducing fire fuel. Consider where you store hay. Multiple storage locations can help reduce the risk of losing all fodder in one fire event. This may allow fodder stores to support low grassed paddocks following a fire event

Livestock are clever - where they can, they will walk away from an active fire. During the drier months, open all internal gates outside of paddocks containing livestock. This can save time in the event of a fire.

It is common in large bushfire events for livestock to become misplaced. It is imperative that all livestock on your property are clearly identified. NLIS ear tags in combination with management tags are the most effective way of maintaining the traceability of your livestock.

For further information and advice on how to livestock owners can prepare for bushfires, contact your LLS district veterinarian.

Contributed by Emily Stearman (pictured), district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services.

THE EXPO IS BACK FOR 2023

EDUCATIONAL TALKS

COOKING AND BUTCHER DEMOS

STATEVICTORIAN CRACKINGWHIP CHAMPIONSHIPS (SATURDAY ONLY)

WHIP CRACKING DEMOS & COME ‘N TRY SESSIONS

FOOD & DRINK STALLS

AGRICULTURAL DRONE DEMOS

SUPERTANK FISHING DEMOS

BUY TICKETS ONLINE FOR QUICK EVENT ENTRY

WORKING DOG DEMONSTRATIONS

ANIMAL EXHIBITS

DUE TO RECENT FLOODRECOVERY WORKS, ALL EVENTS WILL BE ON THE REAR OVAL FOR 2023

FARMER DARRYL FREE ANIMAL NURSEY

PLUS 400 EXHIBITOR SITES, 30 FOOD & DRINK VENDORS AND MUCH MORE

31 MARCH - 2 APRIL 2023

KINGS PARK, SEYMOUR

Daily 9 am – 4 pm

Grab your friends and family and head down to the Seymour Expo for a great day out. seymourexpo.com.au

SCAN ME TO BUY TICKETS

Get your expo tickets

Tickets are now on sale for one of the Goulburn Valley’s biggest regional events - the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.

The event will run from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2 and once again there is plenty to see and do.

McPherson Media Group event manager Jamie Gilbert said the expo had a long and rich history in the region, showcasing current and future farming practices for small and medium farm enterprises.

The event has also proved to be a popular social day out for couples and families and provides a welcome $6 million injection into the local economy annually.

Mr Gilbert said many familiar faces would be back as well as some new and exciting exhibitors.

“Due to the flooding late last year in Seymour, we’ve had to adapt the event layout to suit the venue’s current capabilities,” he said.

“Activities, usually found on the main oval, will now be housed on the rear oval.”

This includes vintage car displays, whip cracking championships, as well as Paul McPhail, from Beloka Kelpies, who will be running working dog demonstrations.

Resident chef and butcher team Adrian Hensley and Vic Bonacci have put together a delicious demonstration schedule across Saturday and Sunday, which will run out of the Country Kitchen and Butcher Shop marquee.

“There will also be plenty of activities for families including the kids’ corner, Bunnings’ activity tent and children’s rides,” Mr Gilbert said.

“It really is three fun-filled and informative days with something for everyone.”

Mr Gilbert thanked Mitchell Shire Council, Seymour Football Netball Club and Kings Park Committee of Management for their ongoing support and co-operation.

More information is available at seymourexpo.com.au.

The Seymour Alternative Farming Expo runs from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2 from 9am to 4pm each day at Kings Park Reserve, Tallarook St, Seymour.

FARMtalk has two family passes to the expo to giveaway! For your chance to win, please email your name and phone number to farmtalk@denipt.com.au by March 26. One entry per family.

Courtney and Brett Carroll from Stihl Products Mower Shop Seymour at the 2022 expo.

Chef Adrian Hensley, pictured with daughter Lila at a previous event, will be joined by Lila’s younger sister Maggie this year.

Ned Azzopardi 3.5 years old looks quite at home on the tractor at the 2022 event.

Learn in a SAFE space

The expo, which has a long history in the region showcasing current and future farming practices for small and medium farm enterprises, runs from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2 at Kings Park Reserve, Seymour.

The Learning Hub sessions are a long-standing and important part of the event and this year will run across all three days.

Topics and speakers include:

• an introduction to keeping goats with Bruce McKenzie from Cleveland Boer Goats;

• an introduction to beekeeping with Andrew Stanish from Australian Bee Supplies;

• an introduction to camel farming with Megan Williams from the Camel Milk Co;

• vertical gardens with Roger Morris from Vertigro Australia;

• going off-grid with Aaron Lewtas from Off-Grid Energy Australia;

• hemp farming with David Brian from Southern Hemp;

• how can microbes help your farm and garden with Kevin Beecroft from BioLink 4 Plants;

• setting up for poultry in the backyard or on small acreage with Megg Miller from Australasian Poultry Magazine; and

• training working dogs with Paul MacPhail Beloka Kelpies.

McPherson Media Group event manager Jamie Gilbert said as well as the Learning Hub sessions, there would be plenty of demonstrations and workshops at various sites around the grounds.

Resident chef and butcher team Adrian Hensley and Vic Bonacci have put together a delicious demonstration schedule across Saturday and Sunday, which will run out of the Country Kitchen and Butcher Shop marquee.

In the livestock and arts and crafts pavilions, exhibitors and site holders were always happy to share their experiences and provide advice.

Mr Gilbert said due to the flooding late last year in Seymour, the event’s layout had been adapted to suit the venue’s current capabilities.

“Activities, usually found on the main oval, will now be housed on the rear oval, but there will, as always, be plenty of activities for everyone,” he said.

The Seymour Alternative Farming Expo runs from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2 from 9am to 4pm each day at Kings Park Reserve, Tallarook St, Seymour.

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about how to live more sustainably, manage livestock or even keep bees, the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo’s Learning Hub program is the Ideal place to start.

Megan Williams of Camel Milk Co with some of her prized camels.

Australian Bee Supplies will have on show at this year’s expo the full range of equipment for both budding apiarists and established professionals. Photo by: Andy Wilson.

Paul Macphail from Beloka Kelpies.

Challenging harvest wraps up

After record rainfall and significant flooding, the last of harvest has finally wrapped in the southern Riverina and north east Victorian region with farmers describing it as one of the “toughest’ seasons in years.

Extensive flooding and wet weather brought on by the third consecutive La Niña system in spring impacted much of cropping season with variability right across the board.

North of the Federation Council region fared the worst with overland flooding causing headaches for farmers trying to get onto their paddocks to get crop off.

In Oaklands, James Nixon who runs a family mixed cropping operation comprising of wheat, barley, canola, maize and rice, said the season had been quite disappointing.

“Harvest has been long and drawn out and we’ve still got some to go,” he said.

“There’s still water lying around in areas up here.

“It’s an average season overall yield-wise. From where we were in September to where we are now, there was just a feeling something would go against us. It’s hard to get three good seasons in a row. We’ve had two good seasons and now an average one.”

In Rennie, Craig and Fiona Marshall fared somewhat better describing the season as a “real mixed bag”.

“Results really depended on where you were regarding topography. For those who were in areas where water drained well or moved along, there were high yields and high quality,” Fiona said.

“However, for those where water sat around, and is still sitting around, it’s been really difficult. Some farmers still can’t get crops off.

“There’s so much variability this year which makes it tough when you look over your neighbour’s fence and see they might have had the opposite results of what you achieved.

“Livestock has suffered as well with the prolonged wet weather. Some farmers have struggled to find feed.

“All in all, it’s been a very complicated and long harvest. Farmers are really feeling it this year. It’s the second year where harvest has finished quite late. Many haven’t had holidays for a couple of years as a result.”

Tungamah farmer Josh Buerckner said it was certainly another long and challenging harvest again this season, however results were generally at or above expectations around the Yarrawonga/ Tungamah area.

“Other than a few isolated paddocks where extended periods of waterlogging had a very negative effect on yield, most farmers were surprised with how good the results were in terms of yield and grain quality,” Mr Buerckner said.

“Our total rainfall was 855mm for the year which is around 170 per cent of the annual average. Given this and the amount of water that inundated some paddocks it was amazing that we were able to harvest as much area as we did.

“Cereal yields, where fungicide programs were able to be implemented were generally five tonne per hectare or more, while Canola yields were around two tonne per hectare or better.

“With grain prices historically high most farm businesses locally should turn a profit which won’t be a bad result considering prices of inputs were up around 30 per cent year on year in 2022.”

Corowa’s Richard Sargood said most farmers around Corowa were counting their blessings.

“Under really trying conditions it turned out not too bad all things considered,” Mr Sargood said.

“Obviously, the biggest challenge for all farmers was the carrying capacity of the ground over harvest. With the ground being so wet, it was difficult trafficking paddocks.

“Surprisingly, with exceptions to some, the quality was better than everyone thought, and yields were generally pretty good except for the washed out areas.

“If you were in lower lying areas, or overland flood areas then clearly you were in a bit of trouble. There will be a range of farmers having the worst year in a long time and some having the best year.

“I know some guys who still have harvest to take off because the grounds are still too wet to get a header on the paddock.

“These last three years have been remarkable in their own right, given that they’ve been mostly good. Last year was probably the best year in generations that people can remember.

“This year was shaping up to be something similar but there was just more rainfall than we could handle. There was good canola, wheat and barley yields. Faba beans really suffered this year. Everything else was pretty good provided you get on your paddock.”

South of the border in Rutherglen, managing director of Lilliput Ag Andrew Russell said farmers in the area had expected results to be “ a lot worse” after record rainfall in the area.

“We had some of our highest rainfall totals on record, going back 30 years,” he said.

“Our annual rainfall total was 1050mm, three times average.

“From September to November things were looking disastrous with significant crop impact.

“It did try out, however. I think a lot of farmers suffered losses which was to be expected but it could have been worse.

“It was a high input year so where the drainage was good the yields were exceptional. But there have been significant losses which has had an emotional impact for many farmers. Certainly, one of our most trying harvests in years. With too much rain, you’re essentially paralysed with what you can do. With drought years, at lest you can get on the paddock and do things like fencing, but we couldn’t even do that this year.

“Despite everything, we’ve rolled into a new season and commenced summer spraying and other programs. We are also confident about the year ahead with climate indications showing that we are moving back into a more reasonably dry season.”

GrainCorp Area Manager Fred Accurso said GrainCorp’s up-country receival sites across NSW received over 4.9 million tonnes of grain, while sites across Victoria have received 3.9 million tonnes of grain.

“GrainCorp’s Oaklands site falls into the North East Victoria region, which has seen over 700,000 tonnes delivered from growers. The team at Oaklands took in over 150,000 tonnes, making it one of the sites to receive the most grain in the area,” Mr Accurso said.

“Receivals across this southern region of NSW were significantly delayed due to flooding and widespread wet weather, compared with previous seasons. But harvest ramped up over the Christmas and New Year period thanks to clearer skies, with receivals trickling into February.

“Canola deliveries were strong, with a cool, wet spring bringing good yields and high oil levels. While received everything from feed to milling grades for wheat, we opened additional segregations on site to cater for the full spectrum of grades coming in.

“There remains strong demand for both feed and milling grade commodities, so we continue to work with growers to get the best outcome for them.”

Despite the impact of the devastating floods in the local area and in the eastern states, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) have forecasted winter crop production in Australia still reach a total 62 million tonnes, the second highest on record.

Currently, the consensus across climate forecasting models is for a dissipating La Nina and a return to a neutral season between El Nina and La Nina in 2023.

A bright transport future

While the world was in chaos amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the transport and freight industry was as strong as ever.

Afterall, people still needed food and that meant transport of bulk materials like grain and fetiliser was in high demand.

It’s part of the reason why Bundy Logistics has expanded so quickly.

Now celebrating two years in business, Bundy Logistics’ beginnings was as a one-man show.

Mr Creenaune would allocate jobs to the 10 subcontractor drivers at his disposal to transport from his home office, and completed all the invoicing and bookwork himself.

Today, the company has four full-time staff - Mr Creenaune, allocation managers Candice Lawson and Rochelle Walters and accounts manager Ryan Hefferand operates from two locations.

Bundy now also has access to 25 full-time ‘subbies’ and another 175 as required for casual work.

“I started working out of my own home in Deniliquin, and it soon became obvious that I would need more support and more space.

“I registered as a company in 2021, and later that year moved into an office space at 48 Hardinge St, Deniliquin - I felt we were more professional than working out of a private residence.

“Candice - whose father and husband are both in transport - had joined me by then, and that’s when we really hit our straps.

“We needed to expand again, and our next location would be determined by the best applicant for the job.

“Rochelle works from a home office in Horsham, and it gives us a really good presence in central Victoria. She also has previous experience in transport.

“Ryan only joined us at the start of 2023, taking on the accounts manager role after Candice had progressed to be our allocations manager for the Riverina.”

Mr Creenaune started in the industry as a truck driver in the shearing off season in his early 20s, and soon became a full-time driver.

After 10 years he went into the grain storage side of the industry, and then spent a year managing a hotel before coming back to transport and logistics in the Riverina.

He was with Brooks Logistics in Barooga for 12 years, then Fellows Bulk Transport in Deniliquin and McNaughts before deciding he wanted to go into business for himself.

It was at a time when the pandemic was taking hold of the world, but truck drivers were essential workers and the transport and grains industries were both very strong.

“We can work with anyone from international and national companies down to individual farmers - no job is too big or too small.

“We actually want to extend our expertise to do more of that work direct with the landholder.

“We are capable of moving 1000 tonne off one farm, and our record to date is 5000 tonne in one week.”

As for the bulk transport industry as a whole, Mr Creenaune said while there are input pressuresparticularly fuel costs - and trouble recruiting drivers because of compliance red tape, the future is very bright.

“Right now there is enough grain to keep us going for two years, and with another good season that will extend out to four years,” he said.

Ryan Heffer, John Creenaune and Candice Lawson are your Bundy Logistics team in Deniliquin.

It was a case of perfect timing when John Creenaune decided to go into business for himself in the transport industry.

More efficient with Muthing

Sowhen a product comes on the market that can make that process more efficient, you’re onto a winner. And part of that winning combination, according to AJ and LM Thomson Ag Contracting, is the Muthing Pro860 mulcher.

Business owner Alex Thomson stands behind the brands he uses in meeting the tough demands of day-to day use for his clients.

The Pro860 is his third Muthing mulcher. It is bigger, better and allows for a faster turnaround time for the jobs he is contracted to do.

“We purchased the new mulcher, which is the second one in Australia, due to the growth of our business and upgrading the equipment to be bigger and more efficient,” Mr Thomson said.

“With our advanced rice stubble abilities we can guarantee stubble can be burnt within 48 hours of mulching, and 72 hours later you can have your crop in the ground.

“The turnaround for double cropping is greatly increased.

“The mulcher is from Germany, and we purchased it through Serafin Ag Pro in Griffith.”

The two other Muthing mulchers used by the business measure in at 6m, while the Pro868 is 6.8m with a more effective cut.

It is a butterfly folding mulcher running hammers instead of flails.

“I class this as a superior machine to all others on the market for its easy maintenance and quality of the job,” Mr Thomson said.

“It performs and the safety is second to none.

“This mulcher has a no throw certificate; it can’t throw stones as opposed to other equipment on the market.

“It produces a much finer mulch and is more reliable.”

AJ and LM Thomson Ag Contracting specialises in everything from roadside work through to mulching winter crops, rice crops, pasture topping and other summer crops.

“We have 25 years of mulching experience working with multiple brands and we travel within a 100km radius of Deniliquin for contracting jobs,” he said. If you would like any further information you can contact Alex Thomson on 0428 493 474.

Any ricegrower will tell you that time is an important factor in the production cycle.

Australian farmers and others working in food and fibre production are urged to consider how they could use overseas study tours to improve their business and industry, through a Nuffield Scholarship.

Nuffield Australia CEO and 2013 Nuffield Scholar Jodie Redcliffe said the scholarships enable producers to travel the world and bring back the latest ideas and innovations to develop themselves, their businesses and wider agricultural industry.

“Recognising the uncertainty across the globe, we’ve strengthened our focus this year on enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Australian agriculture.”

For the first time, Nuffield Australia will offer at least five specific drought resilience scholarships, supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

“Despite many areas experiencing floods recently, as farmers we know Australia is prone to drought.

“Of all the climate challenges to affect Australia, drought is one of the most feared and costly in terms of production losses.

“Droughts also bring other emergencies like bushfires and take a toll on the mental health of farmers and their communities.

“Nuffield is proud to partner with the Future Drought Fund to deliver specific drought resilience scholarships and also to weave the topic through our scholarship programs and training. This will give all our scholars the ability, knowledge and experiences to understand the topic and make a difference in their communities.”

Applications for Nuffield Scholarships are open now and close on June 9. Each scholarship is valued at $35,000. Nuffield Australia will award up to 20 scholarships this year.

Scholarships on offer include the five drought resilience scholarships, as well as others covering horticulture, grains, dairy, wool, fisheries, cotton and more. Nuffield Scholarships are open to all those involved in food and fibre production typically aged between 28 and 45. The bursary allows scholars to travel for 14 weeks over the next two years to study a topic important to their industry.

Go to https://www.nuffield.com.au/how-to-apply to find out more and apply.

Top selling reads for Autumn

WILLA AND WOOF

JACQUELINE HARVEY

Meet Willa and Woof. Join these best friends for a story full of adventure, imagination and loads of fun! Willa’s throwing a surprise party, but nothing’s going to plan. Can she and Woof save the celebration?

$12.99

SHYLA THE SNOWY BRUMBY

KELLY WILSON WITH NINA SUTHERLAND

CAN NINA HELP THE WILSON SISTERS TAME A WILD BRUMBY INTO A CHILD’S PONY?

All ten-year-old Nina has ever dreamed of is working with ponies. When the renowned horsewomen Kelly Wilson invites her to help tame a wild pony for the Australian Brumby Challenge,Nina has to pinch herself to believe it. She and Shyla swiftly form a close bond, but all the time Nina knows that the little Brumby is destined for the auction, and the dream pony she has worked so hard to train will go to another child. Nina’s wild pony adventure will take her to Australia’s Snowy Mountains and back – but will she get the chance to have a wild Brumby of her own?

$14.99

THE OPAL MINER’S DAUGHTER

FIONA McARTHUR

Searching for the elusive sparkle of shifting colour was hard work but surprisingly rewarding – that hint of bright promise, if she was lucky:’ Obstetrician Riley Brand leaves the city behind to go in search of her mother, who’s taken leave from her marriage to pursue a passion for opal mining in the dry backblocks of an old mining town. Accepting a short – term posting as a fertility expert in Lightning Ridge, Riley plans to assist women pursue their baby dreams in remote and regional areas, while at he same time helping to rekindle her parents’ love for each other. The small dusty community is a far cry from her polite medical practice on the North Shore of Sydney, but the down to earth locals soon welcome her into the fold with their Friday night social gatherings. But no one is more welcoming than enigmatic doctor Konrad Grey,the GP who’s working alongside her.

$32.99

THE MALLEE GIRL

JENNIFER

SCOULLAR

Armed with nothing but some loose change and her beloved dog Duke, Mallee girl Pippa Black has finally found the courage she needs to escape a dangerous relationship. Two cryptic words written on a paper napkin send her away from the Mallee region in search of the one person who might help her- a long lost brother she has always dreamed of finding. Pippa’s quest leads her to the remote town of Currajong, high in the beautiful Victorian alps. As a runaway seeking refuge among strangers, Pippa learns that she’s been mistakenly implicated in a shocking crime. She finds her way to Brumby’s Run, a wild horse sanctuary, where she begins work assisting the enigmatic farm manager Levi,and becomes entranced by Thowra, a magnificent golden stallion who leads a heard of Brumbies in the region. Both man and horse will teach Pippa more about herself than she ever thought possible – including when to run, when to hide, and when to stand up and fight.

$32.99

Dam debate rages

It is on track to be submitted for review in the first half of 2023.

Booligal resident Bill Sheaffe describes the move as “an expensive exercise in environmental vandalism.”

“In my time living on the Lachlan River between Hillston and Booligal I have witnessed one significant ibis rookery being abandoned and several wetlands and lakes that are dry most of the time,” Mr Sheaffe said.

“The catchment area for the original dam was approximately 8,300 square kilometres and whilst the capacity of the dam will be increased the catchment area will remain the same.

“The concerns of people that live on the lower Lachlan, and no doubt the environmental water agencies, is the reduction of water from dam spills should this project go ahead.

“What effect will the reduced inundation have on ground water recharge? What effect will reduce dam spills have on large areas of red gum, black box and lignum swamps, aquatic fauna and flora, bird habitat and breeding events?

“The social, economic and environmental impacts must also be considered. Environmental flows no matter how well managed cannot mimic nature.”

University of NSW professor of environmental science Professor Richard Kingsford has been vocal in his concerns over the project.

“The New South Wales Government has promised a ‘robust business case’ but will it adequately measure the cost to the river and the people, animals and plants that depend on it?” Prof Kingsford asked.

“Who will measure the cost to agriculture of knocking out most of the huge colonies of straw-necked ibis on the Booligal floodplain? These are nature’s own locust eaters.

“Or the costs to graziers of reduced flooding on their land?

“Building large dams is not just an experiment we don’t know the answer to. Graziers across the Murray-Darling Basin are paying the price of large dams, with reductions in their incomes.

“Most floodplains which receive flooding less often and less extensively are on grazing land, not public land.

“And it is the small and medium floods which will be knocked out. Large dams do not stop the massive floods like the one we are having at the moment. The dams soon fill up and overflow.

“We can only hope that taxpayers are able to see the full cost of the enlargement of Wyangala Dam and not just the few benefits for few people that keeps being pushed.”

Prof Kingsford and Mr Sheaffe share concerns over the vague cost estimates surrounding the project.

“Cost of construction, as far as I am aware, is not set in concrete, but the figures being talked about are between $1.2 billion to $2.1 billion, to increase the dam capacity by 53 percent or 650 gigalitres,” Mr Sheaffe said.

“I leave it to you to do the maths on the cost of a litre of water,” he continued.

“Like so much about this project, there are blow outs, like the timing,” Prof Kingsford added.

“The estimated cost has also gone from an estimated $650 million to $2.1 billion. Taxpayers will pay an astronomical price for this water,” he continued.

Meanwhile work on a new $5.1 million Wyangala water treatment plant began in February and is due to be completed in the first half of 2023.

It will deliver up to 800,000 litres of clean drinking water every day to the village residents and the popular holiday park.

The debate over the raising of the Wyangala Dam wall continues to rage, as the NSW Government promotes its It is on track to be submitted for review in the first half of 2023.

Wyangala dam spilling in 2021. Credit: AAP Image/Lukas Coch.