Irrigation
Push for progress on irrigation deal
Tom Arup Federal Water Minister Tony Burke will meet his Victorian counterpart Peter Walsh today as they try to break the deadlock over $1 billion in water-saving irrigation works for the state's north.
Irrigation upgrade to raise Murray River salinity
Billion-dollar upgrades to Victoria's irrigation sector are expected to increase salinity in the Murray River, according to government documents.
Farmers stranded as irrigation supply cut off
Peter Ker They are enthusiastic young farmers with an eye on the latest technology and a belief that Victoria must modernise its farming sector to survive.
Parched farmers vote to abandon irrigation
Peter Ker The winds of social change are gathering speed across Victoria, after irrigators in one of state's most drought-ravaged districts virtually voted themselves out of existence last night.
EPA defends its actions over 'natural' uranium in contaminated aquifer
Sean Nicholls The Environment Protection Authority took almost a year to issue a $1500 fine to energy company Santos over contamination of an aquifer near a major coal seam gas project, which included uranium at a...
Livestock watered from polluted aquifer
Sean Nicholls, Nicole Hasham The NSW environment regulator has revealed water for livestock is being extracted from an aquifer at a point less than five kilometres from where it was contaminated by a controversial coal seam gas...
Toll of forest, grassland destruction continues to climb: FAO
Asia-Pacific nations are failing to halt the loss of natural forests and grasslands, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says, robbing people of their livelihoods and worsening...
Santos coal seam gas project contaminating aquifer in use after two years
Nicole Hasham A leaking pond that contaminated an aquifer with uranium at levels 20 times safe drinking guidelines is still being used, despite coal seam gas operator Santos knowing it was faulty more than two...
Santos coal seam gas project contaminates aquifer
Sean Nicholls A coal seam gas project operated by energy company Santos in north-western NSW has contaminated a nearby aquifer, with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, an...
Geo-engineering no solution to dangerous climate change, study finds
Peter Hannam Greening deserts in Australia and North Africa with millions of trees would only have a modest impact on climate change, with potentially significant side-effects, new international research finds.
Wine grape growers escape heavy harvest losses from heatwave
Tom Arup Wine grape growers across Victoria and southern NSW say early estimates of the damage caused by last week's scorching heatwave suggest a loss of 5 to 10 per cent of harvests - but it may have been...
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.
Salty wetlands help curb fungus killing frogs
Bridie Smith A deadly fungus decimating the world's frog populations may yet have a weakness scientists can exploit to reduce its lethal impact in Australia.
Environment Protection Agency sidelined after warning of high risks at AGL coal seam gas project
Michael West The NSW government has sidelined the Environment Protection Authority in pushing ahead with a coal seam gas project despite advice it is high risk, threatening valuable agricultural land.
Heatwave: Grape growers watch their fortunes wither
Rod Gribble looks at his horror harvest through the haze of another 40-plus degree day. He's been up working since 2am to beat the heat, only to be mauled by mosquitoes.
World Bank plans 'aggressive' move on soot, other pollutants
The World Bank said it was planning 'aggressive action' to help developing nations cut emissions of soot and other air pollutants blamed for causing climate change, in a shift also meant to protect...
Murray-Darling rescue not out of the water yet, says frustrated minister
David Wroe NSW has warned there are still major hurdles to be overcome before an agreement can be reached to save the ailing Murray-Darling river system, as the clock ticks down on finalising a deal this year.
Power needs muddy the water for farmers
Vince Chadwick and Adam Morton Farming and green groups express concern about the 'dirty, muddy, yellow' state of a Victorian river after an open-cut coalmine was given emergency approval to dump floodwater into it.
Billionaire has green sights set on Hawaiian isle
If Oracle billionaire CEO Larry Ellison has his way, the Hawaiian island of Lanai will be transformed into a model for environmentally sustainable enterprise, a prospect that has excited some...
Warming climate sends US corn belt north
Joe Waldman is saying goodbye to corn after yet another hot and dry summer convinced the Kansas farmer that rainfall wonât be there when he needs it anymore.
