Environment Minister Matt Kean has today announced the successful reintroduction of a critically endangered wallaby into a large feral predator proof fenced area within Pilliga State Conservation Area, near Narrabri.
Mr Kean said the releases are part of the NSW Governments ten-year Saving our Species program that would see the global population of Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies triple.
“Current estimates suggest there are 2,500 Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies in the world. Our NSW Government program will see that number boost to more than 6,000 – that’s a massive boost to the global population,” Mr Kean said.
“Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, but NSW has the opportunity to turn around our extinction and threatened species rates, by expanding our rewilding programs and focusing on eradicating feral species.”
“It’s not just about preserving what we have, it’s about bringing back what we have lost. It makes me incredibly proud to see these amazing endangered Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies returning home to NSW.”
The reintroduction was made possible through the collaboration of the NSW Government (National Parks and Wildlife Service), Queensland Government (Department of Environment and Science) the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby Recovery Group and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).
AWC Chief Executive Tim Allard said projects like this will see the future secured for this species.
“We need to take radical action now to stop more extinctions. The fact that only very recently, the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby was thought to be extinct shows collaborative efforts can protect our natural heritage,” Mr Allard said.
The NSW Government has committed $100million to secure populations of threatened species in the wild under the broader Saving our Species program, with a further $41.3 million for this specific project.
Under this project, 13 mammal species will be reintroduced to select national parks in western NSW, with Brush-tailed Bettongs and Numbats among the species still to come.
Mallee Cliffs and Sturt National Parks are also part of the program and further reintroductions will occur in these parks in the near future.
For more on NSW Government Saving Our Species Program:
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/saving-our-species-program
Author: admin
South Coast, ACT to join Netball NSW Premier League
Netball NSW is delighted to announce that the organisation’s flagship competition, the Premier League, will expand in 2020 with new franchises from the South Coast and ACT joining the eight foundation teams.
Founded in 2016, the Netball NSW Premier League is the pinnacle competition in the state, showcasing the best current and emerging talent NSW has to offer.
It provides a local, elite platform for players, coaches, officials and administrators, and bridging opportunities to the Deakin University Australian Netball League (ANL), the feeder competition to Suncorp Super Netball.
The Premier League is contested across two divisions – Opens and Under 23s – and from 2020 will have 10 teams in each division facing off for the respective titles.
The newly formed South Coast Blaze, backed by the Illawarra, Kiama and Shoalhaven Netball Associations as well as the Illawarra Academy of Sport and University of Wollongong, has been confirmed as one of the new franchises.
The other, called Capital Spirit, will be owned and operated by Netball ACT. The competition’s regular season and Finals Series will still take place at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park.
Netball NSW CEO and Premier League Commissioner Carolyn Campbell said the addition of two new franchises was huge step forward for the competition.
“To see how the competition has grown since it was introduced back in 2016 is something we are very proud of,” Campbell said.
“Both the Blaze and Spirit put forward very strong cases for inclusion in the competition going forward and we are delighted to welcome them into our Opens and Under 23s competitions
“We have seen our ANL teams reach Grand Finals over the past few years and I think the level of netball they are exposed to in the Premier League helps with that.
“As a result our players are in a better position to step up should they be called into the ANL – or even the NSW Swifts or Giants Netball in the level beyond that.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both the South Coast Blaze and Capital Spirit on their successful applications and look forward to seeing them on court in 2020.”
The Blaze and Spirit will join the eight existing franchises who also compete across both the Opens and Under 23s divisions: Central Coast Heart, ERNA Hawks, GWS Fury, Manly Warringah Sapphires, North Shore United, Panthers, Sutherland Stingrays and UTS Sparks.
Police appeal for assistance with investigation into death of woman near Newcastle
Police are appealing for public assistance to establish the movements of Danielle Easey, whose body was found in a creek near Newcastle at the weekend.
About 10.30am on Saturday (31 August 2019), police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman’s body, was removed from the water by officers.
The woman has since been formally identified as 29-year-old, Danielle Easey.
Ms Easey lived in Booragul with family, but more recently she was staying at multiple locations around the area.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District have established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Homicide Squad’s Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said investigators are appealing for assistance from the community to establish Ms Easey’s movements in the weeks leading up to her death.
“We know that Danielle was staying at different locations over the last three weeks and we are keen to establish where those locations were and speak to who she stayed with during that time,” Det Ch Insp Taylor said.
“Of particular interest to us is any sightings or contact with Danielle since early to mid-August, and we are appealing for those people to contact us as soon as possible.
“Our investigations have revealed Danielle had been associating with people involved in drug-related activities over the last few weeks.
“Detectives have been liaising with her family, who last had contact with Danielle several weeks ago.”
It is unknown when Danielle’s body was dumped in the creek.
“We are keen to speak to any motorists with dash cam vision who may have been driving in the area of Wakefield Road over the past three weeks,” Det Ch Insp Taylor.
SYDNEY MODERN TAKES ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for the Arts Don Harwin today announced that Richard Crookes Constructions has been selected as the contractor to build the Art Gallery of NSW’s Sydney Modern Project, which remains firmly on track to be delivered within its $344 million budget.
“The Sydney Modern Project will offer outstanding arts and cultural experiences to the community and visitors from across the world,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Sydney Modern Project will almost double the current gallery space to show more of the State’s art collection, including more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks, as well as hosting major international exhibitions.”
Mr Harwin said the Sydney Modern Project, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, is expected to increase gallery visitation to two million people a year and inject more than $1 billion into the NSW economy over 25 years.
“The project will create a series of interlocked pavilions that step down towards Woolloomooloo and Sydney Harbour, following the natural topography of the land,” Mr Harwin said.
A decommissioned WWII naval oil tank, underground next to the Eastern Distributor, will be transformed into a unique contemporary art space.
The Sydney Modern Project will also include an outdoor Art Garden to connect the new and existing gallery buildings, a new entry plaza, rooftop art terraces and space for research and education.
“The NSW Government sincerely thanks the generous philanthropists who have raised more than $100 million to make this project possible,” Mr Harwin said.
President of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Board of Trustees, David Gonski AC said: “This is an exciting time for the state’s leading art museum as we move closer to realising our compelling vision for the future.”
“We are truly grateful for the NSW Government’s foresight in making such a significant public investment in the arts, and the very generous donors who have pledged support for the new building.”
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Dr Michael Brand said: “I welcome the announcement of Richard Crookes Constructions as the selected contractor for the Sydney Modern Project.”
“We look forward to the next stage of the project that will bring physical form to SANAA’s magnificent design. We are creating an extraordinary building that will transform our institution and the way visitors engage with art.”
Construction of the Sydney Modern Project is expected to commence in the coming months and be complete in 2022.
Police appeal for assistance with investigation into death of woman near Newcastle
Police will address the media to appeal for public assistance after a 
woman’s body was found in a creek near Newcastle at the weekend.
About 10.30am on Saturday (31 August 2019), police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman’s body, was removed from the water.
The woman has since been formally identified as 29-year-old, Danielle Easey.
Ms Easey lived in Booragul with family, but more recently she was staying at multiple locations around the area.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District have established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and are appealing for public assistance to establish her last movements.
Firearms and ammunition stolen from rural property – Hunter Valley
Police are appealing for information after firearms and ammunition were stolen from a rural property in the Hunter Valley overnight.
Between 11pm on Friday 30 August 2019 and 8.30am on Saturday 31 August 2019, it is alleged seven registered firearms and 500 rounds of ammunition were stolen from a gun safe inside a shipping container located on a rural property on Bell Road, Lower Belford.
Detectives attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified of the theft today (Saturday 31 August 2019) and commenced enquiries.
The stolen firearms include: a Remington 223 calibre, a Winchester lever 22 calibre, a Marlin 3333, a Remington 222 calibre, a Rossi double barrel shotgun, a Gamo 177 air rifle and a Pardus 12 gauge shotgun.
Anyone who has been offered these firearms for sale, or is aware of them being advertised, needs to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Investigations are ongoing.
Police appeal after body located in creek near Newcastle
Police are investigating following the discovery of a body by members of the public in a creek near Newcastle yesterday.
Police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road at Killingworth about 10.30am (Saturday 31 August 2019), after members of the public reportedly saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water while driving past.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and removed the item from the water.
The item, believed to be a body, will be subject to forensic examination by specialist police.
A crime scene was established at the creek and emergency services remain at the scene.
Strike Force Furzer has been established as officers from Lake Macquarie Police District and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
No further information is currently available.
Police appeal following ram raid – Hunter region
Police are appealing for the public’s help following a ram raid in the state’s Hunter region this morning.
About 4.10am (Saturday 31 August 2019), a manager attended a general store on Wollombi Road, Broke, after a security alarm was activated, and saw that the glass front doors had been smashed.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were notified who attended and commenced inquiries.
A small amount of cigarettes and lighters were allegedly stolen.
Anyone who may have been driving through the area at the time and have captured dashcam footage is urged to come forward.
Labor is in climate chaos. Where's Albo?
The ALP is melting down over climate policy, and Anthony Albanese is missing in action.
“The Government’s climate policy is shockingly weak, and rather than showing leadership, Labor looks like they’re about to join them. At a time when we need to be declaring a climate emergency, WA Labor is declaring climate surrender,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“WA Labor’s decision to dump the emissions targets that Labor just took to the federal election and replace them with the Coalition’s shockingly weak targets follows Queensland Labor’s support for Adani and full throated attack on climate protesters. Anthony Albanese’s inability to reign them in shows just how adrift the Labor Party has become and why the Greens are now the real opposition.
“Labor has changed their climate policy half a dozen times in recent years and with every change its got weaker. With big donations from the coal, oil and gas lobby continuing to flow, Albo out to lunch and the ALP adrift at sea, it’s only the Greens who are prepared to take the fight up to this rotten government.
“Where is Albo, and when is he going to tell us what Labor’s climate policy is?”
“It looks like Labor and the Liberals are now on a unity ticket in backing Tony Abbott’s measly emissions targets, which are not consistent with global warming staying below two degrees,” said Greens Climate Change Spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.
“The Greens are fighting the Liberals’ climate denialism, but it looks like Labor won’t be with us.
“Anthony Albanese needs to get his colleagues on the same page, override the WA Labor party and help the Greens fight for emissions cuts consistent with the Paris ‘two degree’ goals, because otherwise we’re on track for climate disaster and Labor’s climate credibility is shot.
Code Red for Reef on Morrison’s watch
The Morrison Government will be responsible for the death of the Great Barrier Reef unless it takes urgent action on climate change, the Greens say.
“Today’s report is a Code Red on the survival of the Great Barrier Reef,” Greens Environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Today’s report confirms that things are getting much worse for the Great Barrier Reef under the Morrison government. We must have immediate and comprehensive climate action if we are to save it.
“The future of the Reef, the 64,000 jobs that depend on it, and its value as a World Heritage Area are all in peril because of the fossil-fuel loving Coalition.
“It’s not the Greens saying this, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has again clearly said climate change is the biggest threat to the Reef and without national and global action, it won’t be ‘Great’ for much longer.
“Meanwhile, Matt Canavan is in India courting coal barons and putting the future of the Reef and the climate in further danger.
“If the PM and the Environment Minister insist on keeping their heads in the sand on climate change they’ll be to blame for the death of the Great Barrier Reef. Time to stop shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Greens Oceans spokesperson and chair of the Senate Inquiry into the $444m grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said: “It’s official, the Great Barrier Reef, the planet’s biggest living organism, has been admitted to the emergency ward.”
“No amount of cosmetic surgery will save it from its inevitable total decline. The life support it needs is urgent and requires drastic climate action.
“Collectively, the world needs to reduce emissions. As custodian of this natural wonder, Australia must lead from the front and it isn’t doing that.”