North Coast Rural Report
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Latest Report
Macdonald defends Alstonville closure
DPI staff have pinpointed low staff morale and no long term plan for agricultural research as key issues arising from research centre closures.
Researchers that have worked at the Alstonville DPI since the 1970's say that the cuts, or consolidation which is what the government is calling it, have been a long time coming.
However Primary Industries Minister MacDonald denies all claims, particularly that research and knowledge will be lost if Alstonville is closed down.
Industry committee to negotiate Alstonville closure
The New South Wales Government has agreed to consult with the Tropical Horticulture Industry regarding the closure of the Department of Primary Industry research centre at Alstonville on the states north coast.
On the committee is NSW Banana's CEO Bob Campbell, he says the committee was initiated by industry and was driven particularly by Australian Macadamia Society.
Mr Campbell says that despite only macadamia and banana's being directly represented on the board, all industries are being represented.
"We are just the representatives for all of the horticulture industry on the North Coast, obviously you can't have everyone on a committee."
The committee hopes to achieve a long term commitment to the research facility.
In response to whether he believes the committee will have much sway with the government, Mr Campbell says it is better than doing nothing.
Dairy pushing forward
North coast dairy representatives met yesterday to produce a plan for the future.
Environmental challenges, carbon pollution reduction schemes and new funding structures for natural resource management are all presenting challenges to the industry.
At the meeting was Catchment Management Authority Northern Rivers Chair Judy Henderson says that because all sectors of the North Coast dairy industry have been working together for so long, they will be able to make strong bids for Federal funding under the new Caring for our Country program.
New South Wales Features
A long fight for the long paddock
New South Wales' travelling stock routes and reserves (TSRs), provide land that drovers and apiarists rely on for their living and that many of us use for a dip in the river or a picnic in the scrub.
Anger grows over Alstonville closure
Rallies, posters and committees are being set up to stop the closure of the DPI's Centre for Tropical Horticulture on the NSW North Coast.
Home owner advice on managing locusts
NSW DPI provides valuable information to urban dwellers as locusts swam start to move into urban areas of Southern NSW.
Dorrigo turns out for annual ag fair
If horses, cattle and woodchopping weren't enough then the vintage tractors, whipboxing and bush dog trials certainly helped make this local show a success over the weekend.
Macdonald defends DPI cuts
The NSW Primary Industries Minister has defended cuts to his department in the state's minibudget, saying they will save millions of dollars.
Forbes fights for its golf course
The town of Forbes, in the central west of New South Wales, looked set to lose its golf course this summer, but locals have come to its rescue.
Overweight dads lead family fitness campaign
Who talks the most about eating healthy food in your home? A program underway in Newcastle encourages dads to lead the way.
Stellar cast of campdrafters at Gladstone
Throw in a bit of dirt with the saddles and spurs, add some good cattle worked by the best riders and horses around and you've got yourself a mighty fine weekend of campdraft action.
Worm farm near Broken Hill reducing waste and fighting aphids
You may have seen a worm compost in someone's garden before, working to break down their garden scraps into rich, healthy mulch.
Well, imagine a worm farm doing that for a whole town's green waste, and you'd see something like Australian Vermiculture in Broken Hill.
Men shed weight in the Hunter
An on-line program to help men lose weight in the Hunter region of New South Wales is so successful men are lining up to join.
