Latest environment news
Wind farm boom looms as Andrews looks to boost clean power
Adam Morton Victoria would have 40 per cent clean electricity in less than a decade - nearly tripling the current level – under an ambitious plan announced by the state government.
Reef's melomys is world's first mammal climate casualty: scientists
![Extinct: The Bramble Cay melomy.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/7/3/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj73v.11u395.png/1465949050628.jpg)
A rodent that lived on a low-lying coral cay in the Torres Strait has become the first mammal in the world to vanish as a result of human-induced climate change, researchers say.
Extremely rare marsupial mole caught on camera in the Gibson Desert
![The rare mole eats mainly scorpions and insects.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/i/w/u/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpiwxx.11u395.png/1465969113384.jpg)
Hannah Barry A rare marsupial mole, spotted just a handful of times a decade, has been captured on film by an Indigenous women's group travelling through the Gibson Desert in Western Australia.
'Potential for more severe weather'
![Coogee Surf Life Saving Club staff survey the damage after the big storm earlier this month.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/f/z/1/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj8se.11u395.png/1466037404220.jpg)
Peter Hannam Residents across an arc of eastern Australia stretching from Queensland to Tasmania should be on watch for more potentially severe weather this weekend as another winter storm loom, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Labor would grab back enviro controls
![Eastern quoll at the Mount Rothwell conservation centre. Labor says it will do more protect the environment.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/9/a/n/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpiicn.11u395.png/1465919113894.jpg)
Peter Hannam A Shorten government would consider a national environmental protection authority as part of efforts to grab back key conservation controls devolved by the Coalition from Canberra to the states.
'People just believe the risk doesn't exist'
![The pool torn from the frontyard of a Collaroy residence shows the destructive power of the Sydney storm.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/c/w/s/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpery1.11u395.png/1465898236208.jpg)
Peter Hannam, Melanie Kembrey The damage wrought by the Sydney storm has provided us with a reality check. But where do we go from here? And where else is at risk?
Supermarkets will be scrambling for enough free range eggs
![Amanda Mutton at the Long Paddock free range egg property at Bungendore.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/d/f/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj70j.png/1466078039477.jpg)
John Thistleton 9:53 PM "Supermarkets want $1-a-litre milk on the supermarket shelves, but don't want $3-a-dozen eggs.''
Pipedream realised: Broken Hill to get water from the Murray in $500m project
![With the Darling River all but dry in places, NSW will spend big to pump water from the Murray River.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/p/9/l/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpkjg2.png/1466063715408.jpg)
Peter Hannam 5:55 PM Water from the Murray River will be pumped all the way to Broken Hill as part of a $500 million investment to provide a "safe and secure water supply" for the outback town, the Baird government said.
The 'giant army' marching across Port Phillip Bay
![A Great Spider Crab in Port Phillip Bay. Picture supplied by Sheree Marris.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/k/m/3/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpkmbk.png/1466061427184.jpg)
Darren Gray 5:17 PM It's an annual spectacular underwater show that occurs in the shallow waters off the beaches of Port Phillip Bay. And it's happening right now.
'The hairiest question' to ask
![The dam when it last spilled in August 2015.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/8/y/w/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpkazp.png/1466058821474.jpg)
Peter Hannam 4:33 PM Sydney's major dams may spill next week if a forecast storm brings even moderate rainfall to the area.
Flush manufacturers buckle to environmental pressure
![A blockage of wet wipes also known as a fatberg.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/b/8/i/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj5mx.png/1466038146298.jpg)
Julie Power 9:51 AM Public outrage over wet wipes blocking sewers has prompted giant paper and wipes manufacturer Kimberly Clark to introduce what it claims is a more flushable version of its ripple brand toilet wipes for adults.
Science
Super-coral may take heat off reef bleaching
![A diver checks out the Barrier Reef coral bleaching at Heron Island.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/m/b/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpjf42.png/1465984022604.jpg)
Peter Spinks The uncanny ability of Kimberley corals to withstand high levels of heat stress raises hopes for the stricken Great Barrier Reef.
CFA brigade loses money for fuel reduction works
![A CFA brigade has had to return about $37,000 after it breached conditions of a grant.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/s/a/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpjsht.png/1466063896611.jpg)
Darren Gray A CFA brigade in the Dandenong Ranges has been forced to return about $37,000 of funding amidst allegations that an endangered native plant was bulldozed during works on a project it led.
Queensland set for another drenching
![Parts of Queensland are in for a drenching.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/6/d/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj5ko.png/1466037432656.jpg)
Forecasters say southern Queensland will cop another drenching.
India puts 18 lions on trial for murder, and the culprit may get a life sentence - in a zoo
![A file photo of an Asiatic Lionesses in Gir National Park, in the state of Gujarat, India.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/j/3/z/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpj46a.png/1465935451033.jpg)
Max Bearak Police have rounded up 18 male suspects wanted for the murder of three in Gujarat, an arid western Indian state.
Prioritise Reef over coal: survey
![Hunter Valley open cut coal mine](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/t/d/6/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpim6w.png/1465949478284.jpg)
Nicole Hasham A thumping majority of Australians want the health of the Great Barrier Reef prioritised over coal mining, according to a survey of more than 63,000 Fairfax Media readers.
Flooding and beach erosion possible as another storm looms
![Collaroy's beach front houses were among those hardest hit from the early June event.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/d/a/p/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpibw0.png/1465942435050.jpg)
Peter Hannam NSW may be in for another winter storm bringing heavy rain and a coastal storm surge with another east coast low projected to form off the coast.
Canberra colder than Thredbo on Monday morning
![Overnight temperatures are tipped to remain low for much of the week.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/c/f/i/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpho12.png/1465808873725.jpg)
Katie Burgess Thredbo top station had nothing on Canberra on Monday morning.
Carp virus will leave masses of dead fish in Canberra lakes
![Charlie Diedo has caught and released hundreds of carp in Lake Burley Griffin.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/d/8/4/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpcs3e.png/1465730429377.jpg)
John Thistleton Research begins to avoid Canberra stench over biggest ever carp cull.
'The tip of the iceberg'
![Farmers have been cutting down paddock trees at an increasing rate.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/h/8/p/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gph8m5.png/1465725733700.jpg)
Peter Hannam The state's farmers have lopped paddock trees at an accelerating rate in the past 18 months even before a new land-clearing law eases controls further, government figures obtained by the Greens show.
Woman ditches corporate life to save elephants
![Sharon's moment kissing Willa when she was pregnant and needed comforting.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/r/j/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpgr5e.png/1465648163402.jpg)
Amy Mitchell-Whittington One woman's battle to save her family of elephants in Africa.
Do tourists turn away from heritage sites at risk?
![Images taken around Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in May show the aftermath of coral bleaching.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/d/e/o/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gph67a.png/1465730895221.jpg)
Jon C Day 1.88 million tourists visited the Great Barrier Reef in 2014.
Is Australia a future electric car power?
![Electric BMW car and charger.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/e/g/t/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpbfss.png/1465628157762.jpg)
James Hall Australia's high-cost economy and small market potential provide a sobering reality to the Greens' policy, according to experts.
Egg industry grinding male chicks to death
![Millions of male chicks are killed each year in Australia.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/7/4/l/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpgy5s.png/1465813726366.jpg)
Esther Han More than 12 million male chicks are suffocated or shredded to death each year because they're seen as worthless. This cruelty could soon end.
$2.7m to fit Qld bats with trackers
![Bats across Queensland will be fitted with satellite trackers to allow researchers to better understand their movements.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/1/7/0/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpgxvv.png/1465612275311.jpg)
Bats across Queensland will be fitted with satellite trackers to allow researchers to better understand their movements.
"These are the signs that make you cross your fingers": Bumper snowfall may be just over horizon
![Snow no-show: There's been a steady decline in accumulated snowfall depths from 1954-2014.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/h/m/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpgmbv.png/1465776091033.jpg)
Inga Ting The 2016 winter is likely to bring two of the three weather patterns which, in combination, create the ideal conditions for a bumper snow season, climate experts say.
Boost for NSW solar farms as government directs electricity supplier to make purchase
![Sun power: The Moree solar farm in NSW.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/u/q/p/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpg4jp.png/1465983691320.jpg)
Sean Nicholls The NSW government's electricity supplier has been asked to buy a substantial amount of energy from the state's solar farms – enough to power about 700 schools.
'Boy did he smell good!'
![A seagull ended up covered in curry sauce near Gloucestershire in Britain.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/f/w/l/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpfwgb.png/1465538251901.jpg)
Esther Han A hungry seagull dyed its plumage a bright shade of orange after plunging into a vat of chicken curry sauce.
Dolphin 'takes off like a bullet' after being rescued from Namibian beach
![The video of Naude Dreyer rescuing a dolphin has gone viral.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/f/b/5/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpf7j2.png/1465474008986.jpg)
Esther Han A video of a dolphin rescue is going viral.
Victoria to stop pumping out carbon dioxide by 2050, Premier promises
![The Macarthur wind farm in western Victoria. The Victorian government has set a target of zero emissions by 2050.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/l/q/3/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpey3r.png/1465914545263.jpg)
Adam Morton and Josh Gordon Zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 - which would see an end to coal-powered electricity generation - is the ambitious target set by Premier Daniel Andrews.
Collaroy residents happy to pay for seawall
![Tony Cagorski says he and his neighbours are happy to chip in for the construction of a seawall.](/web/20160616155447im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/d/u/d/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpefxp.png/1465365316844.jpg)
A man whose million-dollar beachfront property on Sydney's northern beaches was damaged by king tides says he and his neighbours are happy to chip in for the construction of a seawall.