Latest green news
More thought for animals than children
Kim Arlington, Heath Gilmore, Rachel Browne Emergency planning in Australia makes far more detailed provisions for managing animals than it does for the needs of children, a report has found.
Leaking toxic sludge report kept quiet by chemical giant
Natalie O'Brien Chemical giant Orica has tried to keep secret a potentially damaging report into whether the dangerous metal mercury might have been leaking off site from its former chlor-alkali plant, which operated at the Botany Industrial Park for almost 60 years.
Oil slick danger from tyres in fire
PETER HANNAM An official crackdown has begun on the illegal storage and disposal of tyres in NSW - about a week too late to prevent a huge toxic fire and oil slick in Sydney's south-west.
Bigger carbon cuts needed, report says
ADAM MORTON The gap between climate change commitments and what scientists say is necessary is underlined in a new report that estimates Australia would need to make emissions cuts of at least 27 per cent by 2020 and 82 per cent cut by 2030 to play its part in averting global warming.
Health problems soar due to bushfires
Rachel Browne, Heath Gilmore 12:55am Emergency treatments for breathing problems have risen sharply due to the significant air pollution resulting from bushfire smoke.
Rural homeowners need more power to prevent losses, state MP warns
Heath Gilmore 5:47pm Homeowners in high-risk bushfire areas face higher insurance premiums if they are prevented from establishing buffer zones between their property and surrounding bush, the Blue Mountains State MP has warned.
It's a stud's life
Their racing days might be over, but champion stallions can still earn millions, writes Grant Doyle.
With that buzz in the air, it's beginning to sound like Christmas
Kim Arlington They sound like shady underworld figures - masked devil, razor grinder, black prince - and their sound has been ringing out early this season.
Lucky country
Damien Murphy The fire threat was ''as bad as it gets''. Soaring temperatures and fierce winds were preceded by an unusually warm and dry winter. But the damage was relatively contained so what went right?
When it comes to global warming, no country is an island
PETER HANNAM Because Australia's weather is so variable, linking disasters to climate change will be a hard sell.
Climate debate must stick to the science: professor
HEATH ASTON The author of a report that lays bare the connection between climate change and extreme bushfires has expressed his ''frustration'' with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Environment Minister Greg Hunt for their refusal to accept scientific consensus on climate change.
Climate change means more severe fires: CFA
Josh Gordon and Richard Willingham Victoria's Country Fire Authority is predicting larger and more severe fires because of climate change, warning emergency service workers will have less time to recover and prepare from one disaster to the next.
Bushfire smoke sends pollution levels skyward again
PETER HANNAM Sydneysiders can expect another day of high smog levels as smoke from nearby bushfires blankets the city.
Alarming US map of Australian bushfires explained
American network NBC has been ridiculed on the web this week for graphically misrepresenting the bushfires in Australia, but it turns out they weren't as wrong as it seemed.
Barry O'Farrell to speak with Tony Abbott after army starts bushfire
DAVID WROE NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says he wants to discuss possible compensation for victims of the State Mine bushfire with Prime Minister Tony Abbott after Defence admitted starting the fire.
Swan River dolphins feeding near toxic sediment from Elizabeth Quay
Narelle Towie Swan River dolphins are using a dredging barrier that contains contaminated sediment from Elizabeth Quay digging works to capture fish.
Night watch: firefighters on the spot after dark
EMMA PARTRIDGE Three firefighters sprint towards a glowing piece of bark which hovers in the air above the Bells Line of Road.
Tony Abbott should never say 'never' about climate change bushfire link
PETER HANNAM It's unwise to say climate change caused this week's bushfires. But it's absurd to assume it played no part, writes Peter Hannam.
Man's best friend
Peter Munro The responsibility of caring for their own pets is turning around the lives of many homeless people. And a number of animal charities are responding by providing a helping hand where they can.
A week of drama, a sense of foreboding and a time to help
Darren Goodsir Thankfully, the catastrophic predictions were not fulfilled. But that has not made the past week's fire emergency any less dramatic or gut-wrenching.
Not a hero, he was just doing his job
Kim Arlington Sergio Rosato knows heroes have been at work in his community, but not for a second does he count himself among them.
Officer stayed at the desk
EMMA PARTRIDGE Senior Sergeant Paul Bousfield was helping frantic residents at the counter of Springwood Police Station in the middle of the bushfire crisis when he received a text message from his wife Karen.
Recruiting is a tough task
Peter Munro A man hauls a dog from the flames, smoke coursing from his uniform. The world burns behind him as the music builds and the camera lingers on his ash-stained face. ''What would it take for you to fight?'' a voice asks. For your family, your children, your mate?
Extreme fire danger days on the rise
HEATH ASTON Climate change is increasing the probability of extreme bushfire conditions, a report by the nation's leading climate change advisory body has found.
Guardian angels
Damien Murphy Lasting images remind us of the heroism of our firefighting volunteers.
Battle to save Brisbane's Swan Lake
TONY MOORE A man-made lake at the Port of Brisbane, which has become a sanctuary for hundreds of species of birds, is set to be filled in to make way for a car park.
Threat flares again as bushfires remain uncontained
Nick Ralston, Sarah Whyte and Peter Hannam The volatile nature of the bushfires still burning across NSW was again underlined on Thursday night, with two massive fires raging uncontained on the western side of the Blue Mountains flaring again and threatening containment lines.
Cooler, calmer conditions overnight to help firefighters make headway
Peter Hannam A cold blast that dumped decent snowfalls over much of the Alps and sent overnight temperatures plunging in the Blue Mountains might have been a perfect storm – had it arrived about three months ago.
Springtime snow
Peter Hannam The cold, wintry spells have continued in October with the nation's S/E corner experiening another icy blast this morning. At Falls Creek temperatures dipped to (minus) -4°C this morning & receiving yet another dusting of new snow. Katrina Milne & 10 week old lab 'Molly', got her 1st glimpse at Falls Creek today. a The cold, wintry spells have continued in October with the nation's S/E corner experiening another icy blast this morning. At Falls Creek temperatures dipped to (minus) -4°C this morning & receiving yet another dusting of new snow. Katrina Milne & 10 week old lab 'Molly', got her 1st glimpse at Falls Creek today. Pics by Chris Hocking
Study monitors dolphin activity in WA
The dolphin population in Western Australia's South West increases from about 65 in winter to 140 in summer, and is believed to be due to an influx of males during the breeding season, a study has found.
Two NSW bushfire emergencies re-emerge
The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued two new emergency warnings, for both the State Mine and Mount York Road fires.
Queensland heatwave won't last, say experts
KIM STEPHENS Queensland's record breaking spring heatwave is unlikely to persist through summer according to the latest outlook from the National Climate Centre.
Easing winds and a cold snap to help firefighters
PETER HANNAM Moderating winds are likely to see the threat from bushfires recede over coming days before another day of danger next Tuesday, forecasters say.
Northern WA locals fear an increase in crocodiles encroaching on towns
ALEISHA ORR As a child, the Derby West Kimberley Shire president Paul White fondly remembers swimming near the Derby wharf in an effort to ward off the heat. These days, he wouldn’t dare.
Eight-year-old boys caught trying to light a bushfire
MEGAN LEVY Fire authorities say they are extremely disappointed in the actions of two eight-year-old boys who were caught trying to light a fire in the Hunter region on what was forecast to be a potentially devastating day in the NSW bushfire emergency.
Spring in Melbourne: Expect winter weather and a dusting of snow
Nick Toscano Unseasonable snowfall is forecast for the mountains around Melbourne on Thursday morning in what the weather bureau has called a 'good burst of winter' in the middle of spring.
At last, a smile from the fire boss with the marshalling yard mind
RICK FENELEY More than most, Shane Fitzsimmons knows the worth of a win over the flames, write Rick Feneley and Sarah Whyte.
Heat to stay as the high temperature records melt
PETER HANNAM Most of the state faces an elevated fire threat for months, with the latest seasonal outlook pointing to above-average temperatures until at least the end of January.
Trains halted but tourists still come
NICOLE HASHAM Destructive bushfires halted train services and closed a major motorway on Wednesday, but the emergency was not enough to deter curious tourists from visiting the Blue Mountains.
Confirmed: army exercise started blaze in Blue Mountains
David Wroe, Sarah Whyte An army training exercise caused a massive fire in the Blue Mountains that ripped through more than 47,000 hectares of bushland last week, a Rural Fire Service investigation has found.
Crews converge as winds turn but emergency passes
RACHEL OLDING The emergency warning came just after 2pm.
Scuba gear and veteran volunteers on hand in crisis
Leesha McKenny, Amanda Hoh If it came to it, Ian Muir had 80,000 litres of water and a back-up plan.
'We are killing Moreton Bay'
TONY MOORE Moreton Bay's waterways will die within 20 years if more isn't done to protect the health of the bay, a leading Australian water scientist has warned.
Greg Hunt uses Wikipedia research to dismiss links between climate change and bushfires
Esther Han, Judith Ireland Environment Minister Greg Hunt has hosed down suggestions of a link between climate change and increased bushfire intensity, saying he had ''looked up what Wikipedia'' said and it was clear that bushfires in Australia were frequent events that had occurred during hotter months since before European settlement.
NSW bushfires: 'Aggressive and high-risk strategies' avert catastrophe
Nick Ralston and Sarah Whyte and Peter Hannam A high-risk gamble by firefighters has paid off, with NSW escaping from one of its most threatening bushfire days on record mostly unscathed.
Sydney's red October brings unprecedented weather
Peter Hannam, Emma Partridge It really has been an October like no other for residents around Sydney.
UN official 'talking out of her hat' on bushfires and climate change, says Tony Abbott
JUDITH IRELAND Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed the comments of a senior UN official who said there was a clear link between bushfires and climate change, arguing ''fire is a part of the Australian experience''.
Winds hamper firefighting aircraft with worse weather still to come
MEGAN LEVY Strong wind gusts of up to 100km/h are fanning large bushfires already burning across parts of NSW, while new blazes are breaking out in the afternoon's deteriorating conditions.
Fire danger to remain high with no rain relief in sight
PETER HANNAM Firefighters and threatened communities face two days of very high to extreme fire danger with winds already gusting to 70 km/h early on Wednesday, and Sydney on course to match October records for heat.
NSW bushfires: minister urges residents to leave Blue Mountains
MEGAN LEVY Rain that fell overnight on four major bushfires burning in the Blue Mountains and the southern highlands actually hampered firefighting efforts, authorities said, as strengthening winds had already ramped up to 70km/h early on Wednesday morning.
'Mini-tornado' rips through Ararat as storm cells cross Victoria
DEBORAH GOUGH Homes have been damaged after huge winds gusts described as a 'mini-tornado' ripped through Ararat, in the state's central west, overnight.
Back on parade: Firestorm families ready to rebuild their homes and lives
RICK FENELEY Almost all residents who lost their properties on a Winmalee street plan to start over at the same spot, writes Rick Feneley.
Crack teams drop onto 'black edge' to hunt hot spots
Jacob Saulwick, Sarah Whyte ''We walk the black edge.'' Paul Downie is explaining how to fight fires without water. You do it with chainsaws, with rake hoes, and by take long slogging walks through charred-forests, breaking up logs where hidden embers and ash can contain the seeds of another blaze, for tomorrow or next week.
Little nugget of gold and a diamond ring bring joy
EMMA PARTRIDGE Phil Dunlop spent hours sifting through ash and rubble in what once was his bedroom when he found gold.
Blue Mountains deemed most vulnerable to fire
PETER HANNAM Tens of thousands of homes in the Blue Mountains would be difficult to defend in extreme fire weather conditions because of close proximity to the bush, according to research commissioned for the NSW government.
NSW bushfires: Banksia cones the latest weapon in the battle to defend homes
Leesha McKenny and Sarah Whyte "If you see them in a bushfire, they go off like a bomb," said Clint Smart of an unlikely weapon that found its way into firefighters’ arsenal in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.
Eucalypts reveal their veins of gold
BRIDIE SMITH Money may not grow on trees but researchers have found that the next best thing does. Gold.
Couple will stay to defend their straw house
AMANDA HOH Damien and Amanda Stevens knew bushfires would be their biggest threat when they bought land in Kurrajong five years ago.
