Do you have Hudson pear on your property or mining claim?

The new biocontrol mass-rearing facility at Lightning Ridge is stocked with the Hudson pear cochineal and they are ready to be released.

Contact Mat Savage on 0427 253 463 to collect your plastic tub (for collecting clean Hudson pear segments - no ants or soil). Swap your tub of clean segments for a tub of cochineal-infected ssegments. Mat will advise you on how to release the cochineal and record the release data.
North West Local Land Services Walgett Shire Council North West Plains Sustainability Group

Farmers in north-west New South Wales are furious at the defeat of a bill to temporarily put a stop to Coal Seam Gas activity in the state.

The Bill passed the NSW Upper House late on Wednesday night, and the Government unexpectedly brought it to a vote in the Legislative Assembly yesterday afternoon.

It was defeated 38 votes to 36.

The legislation had the support of Labor, the Greens, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers (SFF) and other independents.

The Deputy Premier John Barilaro has accused the SFF of having "sold out jobs in regional NSW to align themselves with the Greens, not because of outcomes, but because of politics".

Key points:

• The State Government defeated a bill that would have temporarily stopped all coal seam gas activity
• Farmers in the state's north-west are worried about the implications for the impending Narrabri Gas Project
• The government insists it has the community on its side

Coal seam gas (CSG) mining at just one Queensland site will produce three million tonnes of salt - enough to raise a pile 10 metres high and 11 kilometres long, senators have been told.

A parliamentary committee yesterday took evidence in Canberra looking at the impact of mining CSG on the Murray Darling Basin.

Liberal senator Bill Heffernan told the hearing of the salt produced by one approved Queensland project.

"Eleven-point-three kilometres by 30m wide by 10m high - that'll be the pile of salt that'll be produced from this one mining approval," Senator Heffernan told representatives of the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services (DTIRIS) attending the hearing.

"This is for you to think about because we don't want this to happen in NSW - that's approved under the onerous provisions of the Queensland DERM (Department of Environment and Resource Management).

"I wouldn't like that on my landscape."

Riverina-based farmer research group Riverine Plains has appointed well known agricultural leader Catherine Marriott as its first CEO.

Farmers from all of mainland SA will have the option of growing genetically-modified crops.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler has expressed his disappointment and concerns over Santos gaining conditional approval for its controversial Narrabri coal-seam gas project in NSW.

“I’d rather that the project was not approved,” said Mr. Butler.

After the year we’re having it’s important to stop and ask yourself and those around you R U OK?

On 10 September as a Nation we come together and ask that question, but it’s important that we keep asking and keep checking in with each other. Times are getting better in Barwon, the crops are looking great and the stock numbers are back on the rise – but never assume that this means mentally everyone’s OK. So ask the question R U OK? and be prepared to stop, listen and provide support.

This past weekend I have been on the road with the Police from the Western Region as part of the 10th Annual Wall to Wall Police Remembrance ride. Every day the members of the NSW Police Force go to work not knowing what to expect, sadly some never come home from their shift. To the Police right across Barwon, stay safe out there and thank you for what you do.

This week I am heading back into Parliament, following the events of last week its sure to be heavy on the politicking.

Check on your strong friends, check on your quiet friends, check on your happy friends, check on each other.

Roy