R[0]="293"; T[0]="New plant tissue technique has higher strike rate"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20020501"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[0]="a17a38a55a93"; B1[0]="      In Vitro Soil (IVS) is a new plant tissue culture technique for propagating plants which have been difficult or impossible to produce "; B2[0]="using traditional tissue culture methods... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      In Vitro Soil (IVS) is a new plant tissue culture technique for propagating plants which have been difficult or impossible to produce "; S2[0]=" using traditional tissue culture methods.
      For the first time in the history of plant tissue culture, IVS addresses the problem of poor "; S3[0]=" root strike on micro-propagated plants and offers a culture strategy that will have wide application not only in WA but in the rest of Australia "; S4[0]=" and the world.
      IVS integrates modern propagation nursery practices with tissue culture techniques.
      Plants with IVS grown root systems "; S5[0]=" acclimatise more easily into the nursery system because they establish normal photosynthetic capacity quickly once they leave the lab.
      Traditional tissue cultured "; S6[0]=" plants really struggle at this point and the results are poor and unpredictable.
      Plant tissue culture is a propagation method based on "; S7[0]=" the principle of selecting elite individual plants from a population and then cloning that individual to capture the genetic benefit of the desirable variation it "; S8[0]=" possesses.
      Selected plants targeted for tissue culture propagation could include specialised specimens.
      This might be a plant that is "; S9[0]=" fast growing, or has high fruit or flower stem numbers, has a high oil content (or some other chemical), possesses a unique or desirable flower "; S10[0]=" colour, a specific flowering time, could be disease resistant or selected for general novelty.
      The process of plant tissue culture has four "; S11[0]=" basic stages · Stock plant selection: where a plant is chosen, prepared and introduced into culture.
      The goal here is to establish "; S12[0]=" healthy plant material in vitro.
      · Stock management: Plant material is encouraged to grow and is repeatedly sub cultured to increase stock "; S13[0]=" volume.
      There are a number of ways to do this.
      The goal is to produce micro-cuttings capable of root "; S14[0]=" strike.
      · Root strike: Micro-cuttings are placed on a media that induces roots to develop and grow.
      The goal "; S15[0]=" of to ensure root development.
      This is where IVS fits in.
      IVS improves root strike and growth on micro-cuttings "; S16[0]=" by forward integrating sterile porous propagation mix into this stage.
      · Nursery establishment: The goal of this stage is the production of "; S17[0]=" healthy tube stock in the nursery that can be used and grown for some purpose.
      For example, this tube-stock cloned from an "; S18[0]=" elite stock plant selection might be used for revegetation, planting out or commercial sale... "; R[1]="292"; T[1]="New plant propagation technique set to boost landcare"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20020501"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[1]="a17a38a55"; B1[1]="      A new plant tissue culture propagation technique has been developed in Western Australia and is predicted to revolutionise the use of plants "; B2[1]="for landcare... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      A new plant tissue culture propagation technique has been developed in Western Australia and is predicted to revolutionise the use of plants "; S2[1]=" for landcare.
      The In Vitro Soil (IVS) system, developed at the Department of Agriculture, WA offers an effective way to propagate a "; S3[1]=" range of woody plants and trees, previously beyond the reach of landcare managers and conservationists.
      Researcher Chris Newell spent two years developing "; S4[1]=" the IVS technique to overcome problems of low root initiation percentages and poor root development in tissue cultured plants.
      IVS has the "; S5[1]=" potential to save some threatened and endangered Australian native plant species.
      'The problem of root strike in woody plants has limited the "; S6[1]=" application of plant tissue culture propagation worldwide, however, many plants and trees once considered 'too hard' can now be propagated, including some Australian plants,' Mr "; S7[1]=" Newell said.
      'IVS has been successfully tested with a wide range of Australian woody ornamentals that are classed as stubborn or weak "; S8[1]=" rooters and has produced exceptional results.' Mr Newell said early indications were that IVS would also work well on tree species.
      'For "; S9[1]=" example, if 20 Jarrah trees, selected for dieback resistance, were cultivated using traditional plant tissue culture propagation techniques, it is possible that up to half "; S10[1]=" of them would not strike roots, limiting their potential use,' Mr Newell said.
      'With IVS, it is anticipated that all 20 could "; S11[1]=" be successfully propagated, which has significant implications for landcare and conservation.' Mr Newell said the objective of any propagation activity, regardless of whether it was "; S12[1]=" for research and development or for commercial application, was the production of hardened-off tube-stock.
      He said IVS offers plant propagators with a "; S13[1]=" plant tissue culture laboratory the opportunity to produce desirable selections in commercial volumes for a variety of reasons including tree farming, forestry, conservation and land "; S14[1]=" management.' 'This means that the selection and production of plants from the bush or other breeding programs is now more likely than ever in the "; S15[1]=" history of plant tissue culture propagation,' Mr Newell said 'These superior selections could then be established in statistically valid assessment trials, planted into seed orchards "; S16[1]=" and plantations or simply conserved in botanical collections.
      'Now a wide range of selections based on conservation values, the rate of growth, "; S17[1]=" a desirable phenotype (shape), disease resistance, or chemical content (for example oil) can be propagated successfully using IVS technology.' IVS has proven to work well "; S18[1]=" with a wide range of Australian plants, including woody plants such as Eucalyptus, and gives consistent and reliable results.
      IVS increases the "; S19[1]=" rate and the final percentage of root strike and also increases the rate of root development by replacing solid agar medium with a sterile propagation "; S20[1]=" mix of peat, sand and perlite.
      Consequently roots that grow in IVS systems are more like naturally occurring root systems compared with "; S21[1]=" roots that grow in traditional agar based systems.
      Agar is a gel devoid of oxygen that is used as propagation medium in "; S22[1]=" traditional tissue lab culture systems.
      IVS has the potential to lower production costs by lowering plant losses, improving material handing rates and "; S23[1]=" shortening times in the propagation area.
      The IVS culture system integrates well with the modern nursery, is readily available and does not "; S24[1]=" require a large amount of expensive retrofitting... "; R[2]="277"; T[2]="Trees not the answer to salinity: hydrologist"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20020416"; Dt[2]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[2]="a37a43"; B1[2]="      Tree planting has failed to perform as expected as a tool to combat dryland salinity, according to Department of Agriculture hydrologist Richard "; B2[2]="George... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      Tree planting has failed to perform as expected as a tool to combat dryland salinity, according to Department of Agriculture hydrologist Richard "; S2[2]=" George.
      Recent evidence showed that tree planting was not a viable way of preventing rising saline water tables, the basic cause of "; S3[2]=" dry land salinity, he said.
      Interest was shifting to engineering solutions such as deep drains.
      Dr George said that "; S4[2]=" drains had been studied since 1975 and results had been poor or mixed.
      But some new schemes put in by farmers, such "; S5[2]=" as the Narembeen project, had achieved surprising results using 20-tonne excavators which penetrated into the porous cemented subsoil.
      It was not fair "; S6[2]=" to criticise agencies for not promoting drains.
      They had been shown to work in some places but in other soil types recent "; S7[2]=" results were poor.
      Other obstacles to landscape drainage were getting agreement from downstream landholders, including those whose land would act as sumps "; S8[2]=" for the highly saline water.
      The saline water at Narembeen was acidic.
      This could kill aquatic life and carry "; S9[2]=" dissolved metals.
      There were problems designing drains to avoid silting up and collapse, Dr George said.
      CSIRO hydrologist Tom "; S10[2]=" Hatton, who is heading the evaluation of Narembeen and other drainage schemes, said options could not be measured against what the landscape was once like.
"; S11[2]="       Recovery depended on having people making a viable living from the land.
      Abandoning the land would lead to further "; S12[2]=" degradation... "; R[3]="276"; T[3]="Farmers salt victory"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20020416"; Dt[3]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[3]="a37a42a43"; B1[3]="      One of the world s biggest privately funded drainage schemes is turning thousands of hectares of salt-wasted land back into productive ground, "; B2[3]="according to Wheatbelt farmer John Hall... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      One of the world's biggest privately funded drainage schemes is turning thousands of hectares of salt-wasted land back into productive ground, according "; S2[3]=" to Wheatbelt farmer John Hall.
      But he says that it is no thanks to government agencies which spend millions of dollars having "; S3[3]=" conferences and doing more and more research.
      Mr Hall and about 20 other farmers around Narembeen have joined forces to establish an "; S4[3]=" 80km arterial drainage scheme across the shire.
      It began in 1996 with a 2m deep channel which drained westwards through the Narembeen "; S5[3]=" townsite to the headwaters of the Avon River.
      Since the drain was cut, fortnightly pumping of hotel cellars and garage pits has "; S6[3]=" ceased, flood damage has been cut and up to 10,000 kilolitres a day of brine flows into a lake system west of Narembeen.
    "; S7[3]="   Dying trees in low-lying areas along the channel have come back to life and abandoned fields have been reclaimed.
      The productive "; S8[3]=" land is worth about $700 a hectare.
      Wheat crops yielding four tonnes a hectare have been grown on land which earlier could "; S9[3]=" produce less than a tonne.
      And land cropped for the first time in 30 years has yielded 1.5 tonnes, almost the district "; S10[3]=" average, only two years after the drain was built across the barren scald of dryland salinity.
      This scourge of the Wheatbelt has "; S11[3]=" claimed 1.8 million hectares or 10 per cent of agricultural land since the deep-rooted perennial native vegetation was replaced with shallow-rooted annual crops.
    "; S12[3]="   But, according to Mr Hall, agencies including Conservation and Land Management, Agriculture, Water and Rivers and Environmental Protection have failed in their duty to "; S13[3]=" achieve results.
      At the same time they have put big obstacles in the way of using drainage to combat salinity.
    "; S14[3]="   'The trouble is, they each have their own little piece of territory to protect and there's no one to see the big picture and "; S15[3]=" achieve real outcomes,' Mr Hall said.
      'How many acres have they made productive again? One? Ten? 'We have done thousands, and without "; S16[3]=" a dollar of government money.
      The results speak for themselves.' But not loudly enough to get full support from the State Government.
"; S17[3]="       While the State and Federal governments continue to negotiate over the stalled $1.4 billion national action plan for salinity and water quality "; S18[3]=" announced in 2000, the Narembeen farmers have found nearly $3 million and, according to Mr Hall, have got their money back.
      Up "; S19[3]=" to 300 people a year visit Hall Farms, 11km east of Narembeen, to see the project and details of it are posted on a Web "; S20[3]=" site.
      Initial findings of a CSIRO-Department of Agriculture evaluation have found that the project is working effectively.
      The study "; S21[3]=" was sponsored by the 60 per cent grower-funded Grains Research and Development Corporation... "; R[4]="269"; T[4]="Salinity impact on cotton worse than expected"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20020416"; Dt[4]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[4]="a15a37a38a43"; B1[4]="      The threat of salinity developing across the major cotton producing regions of central and north-west New South Wales has always been rated "; B2[4]="as low... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      The threat of salinity developing across the major cotton producing regions of central and north-west New South Wales has always been rated "; S2[4]=" as low.
      And while the area affected by salinity is currently small, the potential impact of predicted changes in irrigation water quality "; S3[4]=" could eventually have a major impact on cotton production.
      NSW Agriculture researcher, Dr Nilantha Hulugalle, said changes in ground water quality have "; S4[4]=" been detected in the Lower Namoi Valley over the last five years.
      'Our research has shown that the uptake of essential plant "; S5[4]=" nutrients such as potassium can be altered by relatively small increases in soil and water salinity,' he said.
      'Because cotton has a "; S6[4]=" high demand for potassium and salinity reduces its uptake, then cotton yields could be reduced.' Increases in water salinity also cause cotton growth reduction due "; S7[4]=" to chloride toxicity.
      Dr Hulugalle said new research is planned that will enable a better understanding of the potential impact of predicted "; S8[4]=" changes in irrigation water quality to cotton production.
      'The research will not only assess the impact of salinity on cotton production, but "; S9[4]=" also develop practical management solutions for growers,' he said.
      'In order to do this, current farming systems and irrigation strategies will be "; S10[4]=" examined to see what effect they have on salinity and how they may need to change as the quality of irrigation water declines.' The potential "; S11[4]=" risk of salinity increasing in the Macquarie and Namoi River systems over the next decade was highlighted in the 2000 State Salinity Strategy.
    "; S12[4]="   Deep drainage under furrow irrigation systems is known to contribute to the movement of salts through the soil profile.
      This may "; S13[4]=" reduce the accumulation of salts in the root zone of the cotton crop.
      However, high levels of deep drainage reduces water use "; S14[4]=" efficiency and can increase the long-term salinity hazard by contributing to the establishment of shallow water tables and deterioration of ground water quality.
    "; S15[4]="   The new research being planned in collaboration with the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre will examine the impact that changes in soil and water "; S16[4]=" salinity have on cotton production.
      It will also come up with management strategies to minimise deep drainage.
      The work "; S17[4]=" will involve evaluating the impact of total crop water use, crop rotations, and the effect that tillage and stubble management strategies have on salinity and "; S18[4]=" deep drainage... "; R[5]="264"; T[5]="Cheap toxic algae test offers better control"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20020417"; Dt[5]="Wednesday 17 April 2002"; Acats[5]="a37a40a42a91"; B1[5]="      Kim Fergusson, a 25-year-old University of SA PhD student, has developed a new test for detecting toxic blue-green algae - its cheap, "; B2[5]="fast and good She hopes the new test will help eliminate vast algal blooms and waterway closures by providing an early-warning system that is simple "; B3[5]="and easy to use... "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      Kim Fergusson, a 25-year-old University of SA PhD student, has developed a new test for detecting toxic blue-green algae - its cheap, "; S2[5]=" fast and good She hopes the new test will help eliminate vast algal blooms and waterway closures by providing an early-warning system that is simple "; S3[5]=" and easy to use.
      Current tests for the toxins produced by the algae cost up to $600, meaning councils, land owners and "; S4[5]=" the water industry usually only test when absolutely necessary - mostly when algal blooms have spread throughout the waterway.
      Mrs Fergusson's test "; S5[5]=" only costs a few dollars, enabling cheap routine testing.
      She said the new test would lead to a preventive program of monitoring "; S6[5]=" rather than a reactive, hasty clean-up.
      'This is about creating an early warning system,' she told the Adelaide Advertiser.
      "; S7[5]=" 'Current systems mean it can be too late by the time it is detected and then the waterway has to be closed.
      "; S8[5]=" With my test, it shouldn't get to that stage.' Mrs Fergusson's research has also cut the testing period from a week to a day, meaning "; S9[5]=" treatment can begin earlier.
      Present treatments include the artificial mixing of the water, flushing the waterway or chemical intervention.
      "; S10[5]=" Mrs Fergusson's test has proved so revolutionary that it recently won her the national Young Water Scientist of the Year Award.
      It "; S11[5]=" works by tracking the blue-green algae's DNA in water, in a similar way to police forensic testing.
      She said her next task "; S12[5]=" was to make the test commercially viable.
      At present water samples have to be taken back to the laboratory for testing.
  "; S13[5]="     However, she hopes to develop a dip-stick type of test.
      'This would be great for people at the source doing "; S14[5]=" the testing, and also for people in remote communities who aren't able to get samples tested quickly,' she said.
      The test does "; S15[5]=" not just have local uses - Zimbabwe, the American state of Florida, Brazil and South Africa all have major problems with the algae.
    "; S16[5]="   'There would be huge commercial interest in it, so it is really a very exciting thing to be working on,' Mrs Fergusson said.
  "; S17[5]="     'People may think algae is boring and not important, but my research will help save money, reduce time and play an important role "; S18[5]=" in public and animal health and safety.
      'It really is very rewarding.'.. "; R[6]="263"; T[6]="$25m for extra flows in the River Murray"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20020416"; Dt[6]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[6]="a37a40a42a91"; B1[6]="      Over the next six months a range of water-saving projects will be examined to try to deliver an extra 30 billion litres "; B2[6]="of water into the River Murray... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      Over the next six months a range of water-saving projects will be examined to try to deliver an extra 30 billion litres "; S2[6]=" of water into the River Murray.
      SA and Victorian government officials have been given six months to report on potential projects to "; S3[6]=" be financed by a new $25 million environmental fund.
      Work will begin as soon as the projects are identified.
      "; S4[6]=" Premier Mike Rann and Victorian Premier Steve Bracks signed the agreement yesterday while travelling on a houseboat along the Murray.
      Mr Bracks "; S5[6]=" flew in to Murray Bridge by helicopter for the signing and left straight afterwards.
      Victoria will give $15 million to the fund "; S6[6]=" by June 30 but SA's contribution will not have to be paid until 2005.
      'Never before have we had this level of "; S7[6]=" co-operation,' Mr Rann said.
      Mr Bracks said the River Murray Environmental Flows Fund was 'an instalment for the future'.
      "; S8[6]=" 'There is a long way to go but we are putting our money where our mouth is,' he said.
      The extra water "; S9[6]=" will be in addition to the 70 gigalitres given to the Murray in a trade-off for SA agreeing to the Snowy River getting more water.
"; S10[6]="       Mr Rann and Mr Bracks said huge potential water savings could be made along the Murray just through improved irrigation practices and "; S11[6]=" by reducing losses through evaporation and seepage.
      Australian Conservation Foundation land and water co-ordinator Tim Fisher said the deal was a 'positive "; S12[6]=" step in the right direction'.
      'It's a welcome commitment that can only help progress us towards the broader objective of more flow "; S13[6]=" in the Murray,' he said.
      'But we need 15 to 20 times that figure for a notable improvement in the health of "; S14[6]=" the Murray.' Murray Bridge mayor Allan Arbon said the Murray was the lowest he had seen it 'in years'.
      'It appears to "; S15[6]=" be in crisis,' he said.
      'We certainly need more water in the river.' Opposition Leader Rob Kerin said any additional flows into "; S16[6]=" SA were welcome but he wanted to know how much extra water would flow into SA and when.
      'Last year, we were "; S17[6]=" the first state to sign off the $100 million national salinity action plan,' he said.
      'This project has been substantially held up "; S18[6]=" by Labor states delaying agreement to the plan.'.. "; R[7]="261"; T[7]="Exclusion of commercial fishers could boost tourism"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20020404"; Dt[7]="Thursday 4 April 2002"; Acats[7]="a34a37a44"; B1[7]="      Queensland s peak recreational fishing body says the exclusion of commercial operators from six key fishing areas would boost tourism and spending "; B2[7]="in regional economies... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Queensland's peak recreational fishing body says the exclusion of commercial operators from six key fishing areas would boost tourism and spending in "; S2[7]=" regional economies.
      On Friday, Sunfish will submit applications to the Queensland Fisheries Service to create recreational only fishing areas off Brisbane, Mackay, "; S3[7]=" Townsville, Hervey Bay and Weipa.
      Chief executive officer David Bateman told the ABC that it will take a lot of consultation with "; S4[7]=" the commercial fishing industry, conservationists and indigenous groups, but he is confident of success.
      'I think we have an excellent chance of "; S5[7]=" getting some or parts or all of them over the next five years,' he said.
      'I think there'll be quite a few "; S6[7]=" of them actually declared in the next two to three years.' The Queensland Seafood Industry Association says it will oppose the applications for recreational fishing "; S7[7]=" areas.
      The association's president, John Olsen, says commercial operators cannot afford to lose access to more fishing grounds.
      'Oh "; S8[7]=" look, we simply have been squeezed down and squeezed down in available fishing area over a great number of years because of management restrictions that "; S9[7]=" have been on the commercial sector for decades, and it's slowly wound the commercial industry down, down, down,' he said... "; R[8]="250"; T[8]="Invasive weed cause swimming ban"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20020404"; Dt[8]="Thursday 4 April 2002"; Acats[8]="a37a42a44a48a85"; B1[8]="      Adelaide s West Lakes have been closed to all activity as concerns grow over the spread of an exotic weed.... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      Adelaide's West Lakes have been closed to all activity as concerns grow over the spread of an exotic weed.
      "; S2[8]=" Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) said the ban - which includes swimming, boating and windsurfing - would remain in force for one month.
"; S3[8]="       A ban was applied to fishing last week.
      That ban was also extended to the Port River as a "; S4[8]=" marine survey was also launched to check on the spread of the weed, Caulerpa taxifolia.
      PIRSA marine habitat program manager Vic Neverauskas "; S5[8]=" said surveys would continue for the next month.
      In the meantime, he said it was important that the weed was not disturbed.
"; S6[8]="       'Because the seaweed can establish a new plant from a very small piece of an existing plant, even if it has been "; S7[8]=" out of the water for 10 days, PIRSA is concerned that people may inadvertently spread the seaweed,' he explained.
      PIRSA said the "; S8[8]=" weed was not harmful to humans but was distasteful to marine species and reduced biodiversity because it was invasive.
      In other countries "; S9[8]=" where the weed had been found whole fisheries have been decimated.
      Marine experts said it was capable of colonising most of South "; S10[8]=" Australia's marine waters.
      It had previously been found in some areas of Queensland and NSW... "; R[9]="244"; T[9]="NEW Envirofund helping local groups make a difference"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20020404"; Dt[9]="Thursday 4 April 2002"; Acats[9]="a37a45"; B1[9]="      More Australians are set to become involved in improving their local environment under a new community-focused program of the Commonwealth Government s "; B2[9]="$2.5 billion Natural Heritage Trust... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      More Australians are set to become involved in improving their local environment under a new community-focused program of the Commonwealth Government's $2.5 "; S2[9]=" billion Natural Heritage Trust.
      The $20 million Australian Government Envirofund was launched today by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr "; S3[9]=" David Kemp, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss.
      'The Australian Government Envirofund takes the Natural Heritage Trust into "; S4[9]=" a new phase of community-based funding,' Dr Kemp said.
      'Its simplified application process will allow community groups or individuals to apply for "; S5[9]=" funding of up to $30,000 to help protect the conservation values of their local area.
      'The success of the Natural Heritage "; S6[9]=" Trust hinges on the commitment of regional communities in identifying local environmental and natural resource management problems, developing local solutions and working cooperatively to implement "; S7[9]=" them.
      'The Australian Government Envirofund recognises that every idea and every effort - no matter what size - can make a "; S8[9]=" difference.
      Small local projects will help to ensure that our unique biodiversity is protected and our rich resources are sustained for the "; S9[9]=" next generation,' Dr Kemp said.
      Minister Truss said that over the past six years, the Natural Heritage Trust has funded some terrific "; S10[9]=" work in our community.
      'For example, a number of school groups have received funding under the Trust - in the Northern Territory, "; S11[9]=" Dundee School was allocated $2,900 to create a nature walk along the Dundee Beach coast.
      In Gippsland Victoria, Paynesville Primary School was "; S12[9]=" allocated $1,100 to conserve three precious frog communities by re-establishing and developing a wetland habitat in their area.
      'In a larger project, "; S13[9]=" WA's Julimar Road Creek Catchment Group was allocated $23,100 to ease salinity and create wildlife corridors through fencing, tree planting and stream restoration work.
  "; S14[9]="     'In Queensland 14 landowners were allocated $3,700 to implement sustainable agriculture, water quality and erosion control measures on the last natural 11 kilometre "; S15[9]=" stretch of Ned's Gully, in an effort to improve the quality of water discharge into nearby Kings Creek.
      'These four projects illustrate "; S16[9]=" the diversity of projects that the Australian Government Envirofund will be able to support.
      'Dr Kemp and I strongly encourage community groups "; S17[9]=" around the country to apply for funding from the Australian Government Envirofund to help make a real difference in their local areas,' Minister Truss said.
"; S18[9]="       Community groups interested in applying for funding of up to $30,000 under the Australian Government Envirofund should obtain a copy of the "; S19[9]=" Guide to Applications, or an Expression of Interest form if they need advice on the feasibility of their project.
      Community groups wishing "; S20[9]=" to apply for funding can do so up until 5 June 2002.
      Application Guides and Expression of Interest forms are available "; S21[9]=" by calling toll-free on 1800 065 823, or by looking on the Internet at www.nht.gov.au... "; R[10]="231"; T[10]="British farmers to be paid for best practices"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20020329"; Dt[10]="Friday 29 March 2002"; Acats[10]="a02a04a37a38a42a72"; B1[10]="      British farmers are to be paid to open their farms to demonstrate the highest standards of animal welfare and green practices.... "; B2[10]=" "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      British farmers are to be paid to open their farms to demonstrate the highest standards of animal welfare and green practices.
  "; S2[10]="     These model farms must also be profitable and use the most up-to-date business techniques.
      At a farming seminar yesterday, Tony "; S3[10]=" Blair gave the go-ahead for a pilot network to be set up before the end of the year.
      The farms will be "; S4[10]=" part of the government strategy to help farmers to increase their incomes and earn higher prices for their produce.
      Up to six "; S5[10]=" 'beacon' farms are planned for each region; each will specialise in a sector of agriculture.
      They will be chosen by a panel "; S6[10]=" of veterinary, environmental, farming, food and business experts.
      The offensive is part of a package designed to revive the country's ailing farm "; S7[10]=" industry.
      Among other developments are tough new controls on the import of meat, including the use of dogs to check baggage at "; S8[10]=" airports; more continental-style farm co-operatives; and the creation of a Food Chain Centre to help farmers to increase their profits and to cut out bureaucracy "; S9[10]=" and middlemen in the food chain.
      Mr Blair told the Times that reform of the common agriculture policy was inevitable.
    "; S10[10]="   He was unable, however, to give the signal for greener farming that was the centrepiece of the recent report on the industry by Sir "; S11[10]=" Don Curry.
      The industry overhaul is now unlikely before September.
      With the Treasury keen to limit public spending, it "; S12[10]=" is increasingly uncertain whether Margaret Beckett, the Rural Affairs Secretary, will be able to secure the £500 million needed to implement the reforms.
    "; S13[10]="   Sir Don, during the meeting with Mr Blair and industry representatives, said bluntly that piecemeal selection of his proposals was not acceptable.
    "; S14[10]="   He said later: 'One recommendation is dependent on another and we cannot achieve the refocusing of our industry unless the report is adopted in "; S15[10]=" total.' Environmental groups were also pessimistic that the Treasury would block farming reforms.
      The National Trust said: 'The Government's slow progress on "; S16[10]=" farm policy reform risks triggering further review and debate instead of driving forward the momentum for change.'.. "; R[11]="220"; T[11]="Banana prawns turn nutrient rich waste water into profit"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20020326"; Dt[11]="Tuesday 26 March 2002"; Acats[11]="a17a34a37a42"; B1[11]="      Department of Primary Industries research is suggesting prawn farmers could lower waste water nutrient levels and generate extra revenue by stocking waste "; B2[11]="treatment ponds with banana prawns... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      Department of Primary Industries research is suggesting prawn farmers could lower waste water nutrient levels and generate extra revenue by stocking waste "; S2[11]=" treatment ponds with banana prawns.
      Fisheries biologist with the Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences Dr Paul Palmer said aquaculture farmers could "; S3[11]=" gain multiple benefits from culturing banana prawns.
      'The banana prawns are not fed by the farmer, instead they grow on algae and "; S4[11]=" detritus produced by nutrients and organics in discharge waters feeding into treatment ponds.
      As a result farmers should receive an extra crop "; S5[11]=" that is easily marketed plus gain lower on-farm residual organic wastes in a strategy aimed towards reducing environmental impacts.' Dr Palmer said.
      "; S6[11]=" He said most prawn farms have settlement ponds to treat wastewater prior to discharge or reuse.
      Researchers at the DPI's Bribie Island "; S7[11]=" Aquaculture Research Centre (BIARC) are receiving favourable reports from five participating farms in southern Queensland on survival and growth of banana prawns that were stocked "; S8[11]=" into their settlement ponds at low densities.
      'Banana prawns are more omnivorous than the commonly farmed black tiger prawn, and they have "; S9[11]=" been observed at BIARC to feed and grow exclusively on the fine surface algae (periphyton) that grows in an enriched pond environments.' 'DPI has investigated "; S10[11]=" ways in the past two years of remediating or improving water quality, allowing producers to profit from waste.
      Fisheries researchers studied mullet "; S11[11]=" in small scale pilot studies to reduce prawn waste nutrient levels.
      This year the project, funded by the National Heritage Trust, moves "; S12[11]=" into farm sized systems and already banana prawns are looking very good as a means of reducing nutrients in settlement ponds and generating extra revenue.' "; S13[11]=" Dr Palmer said.
      Over 280,000 banana prawn postlarvae were stocked into treatment ponds in mid November 2001 to investigate survival and growth "; S14[11]=" in this type of management system.
      Dr Palmer said growth at one farm appears to have been exceptional, reaching an average size "; S15[11]=" of 17g 80 days after stocking.
      This demonstrates that the banana prawn is an excellent candidate for future bioremediation research, The work "; S16[11]=" is also confirming Australian and overseas evidence that it is an excellent species for aquaculture, he said.
      He said that fisheries scientists "; S17[11]=" will test whether the farm scale system can remove the bulk of nitrogen in waste waters while also developing new techniques and knowledge using a "; S18[11]=" permanent pilot remediation system.
      The system is being commissioned at BIARC, funded by the State Government Aquaculture Industry Development Imitative, which will "; S19[11]=" underpin long term and ongoing development of bioremediation technologies.
      Dr Palmer said 'To date we have produced and tested 13 different families "; S20[11]=" of banana prawns - only the best will be bred, so we may be able to improve on the natural efficiency of banana prawns as "; S21[11]=" bioremediators.' 'We hope to go State-wide with this approach, ultimately producing between 50-100 tons of prawns in settlement ponds, removing nutrients otherwise destined for our "; S22[11]=" oceans.' he said... "; R[12]="210"; T[12]="Draft water management plan for Victoria s Kiewa River"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20020320"; Dt[12]="Wednesday 20 March 2002"; Acats[12]="a37a40a42"; B1[12]="      Sustainable management of rivers in Victoria s north-east took a major step forward today with the launch of the draft Kiewa Stream "; B2[12]="Flow Management Plan by the Minister for Environment and Conservation, Ms Sherryl Garbutt, this week... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      Sustainable management of rivers in Victoria's north-east took a major step forward today with the launch of the draft Kiewa Stream Flow "; S2[12]=" Management Plan by the Minister for Environment and Conservation, Ms Sherryl Garbutt, this week.
      The plan is designed to share stream flows "; S3[12]=" between all users in this economically important and environmentally valuable catchment, she said.
      Ms Garbutt said the draft plan was prepared by "; S4[12]=" a consultative committee representing major stakeholder and interest groups.
      'We need to manage our rivers for the benefit of future generations and "; S5[12]=" sound management plans are central to achieving that goal,' she said.
      'We believe that this sort of planning must be done to "; S6[12]=" ensure a catchment's future as well as maintain its present use.
      'On a more positive note we should pay tribute to the "; S7[12]=" committee who have worked so hard to get to this point, because this is a truly tremendous effort.' Ms Garbutt said that the committee has "; S8[12]=" had difficult issues to deal with in working through sustainable water allocations for the Kiewa River 'This river presents serious challenges, it is largely unregulated, "; S9[12]=" there are real demand issues during the summer and there are environmental issues such as erosion and vegetation clearance,' she said.
      'Moving "; S10[12]=" from summer to winter extraction by the use of off-stream dams, together with other strategies on pumping extraction rates, water trading and use of groundwater, "; S11[12]=" are just some of the constructive solutions presented by the committee.' 'The progress made on establishing strategies to meet the minimum flow requirements is impressive "; S12[12]=" and I look forward to the communities views on the draft plan.' 'The Water (Irrigation Farm Dams) Bill currently before Parliament provides an essential foundation "; S13[12]=" for the work being done on committees like the Kiewa SFMP.
      'Farmers need to make plans secure in the knowledge that someone "; S14[12]=" immediately upstream is not going to construct an unlicensed catchment dam that will capture their summer flow.
      'That it why flow mangement "; S15[12]=" plans are the backbone of the Bracks Government's Farm Dams Bill, which is currently stalled in parliament by the Opposition.
      'This simple "; S16[12]=" conclusion is somehow beyond the Liberal party who continue to argue we should sit and wait until a river is stressed before a stream flow "; S17[12]=" management plan is required.
      'This is exactly the sort of reactive and short-sighted behaviour we have come to expect from a party "; S18[12]=" with no ideas and clearly does not care about sensitive environmental issues.
      'I encourage everyone with an interest in the plan to "; S19[12]=" make a submission before 7 June 2002, so that the committee can present a final plan for my consideration.' Copies of the draft plan are "; S20[12]=" available from Goulburn Murray Water by ringing 5833 5500... "; R[13]="208"; T[13]="Plans for Shoalhaven dam shelved"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20020320"; Dt[13]="Wednesday 20 March 2002"; Acats[13]="a37a40"; B1[13]="      New South Wales Government plans to build a dam in the upper catchment of the Shoalhaven River have been shelved indefinitely and "; B2[13]="a nature reserve will be put in its place... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      New South Wales Government plans to build a dam in the upper catchment of the Shoalhaven River have been shelved indefinitely and "; S2[13]=" a nature reserve will be put in its place.
      New South Wale's Environment Minister, Bob Debus, says a 6,000 hectare Nature Reserve "; S3[13]=" will be created as a result of a decision to indefinitely defer construction of the Welcome Reef Dam, north of Braidwood.
      He "; S4[13]=" says this is largely due to improved water conservation in the past decade, which has reduced water consumption in metropolitan Sydney.
      Mr "; S5[13]=" Debus says taxpayers have saved at least $1 billion and some endangered species have benefited.
      'On the one hand we save a "; S6[13]=" river valley and on the other we save a very large amount of money that taxpayers would otherwise have to pay,' he said.
    "; S7[13]="   'The whole thing, of course, [is] dependent on our continued success in persuading citizens of metropolitan Sydney to better conserve the water they use.'.. "; R[14]="200"; T[14]="Murray water crisis looms"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20020319"; Dt[14]="Tuesday 19 March 2002"; Acats[14]="a37a40a42"; B1[14]="      With emergency irrigation restrictions in force on both sides of the Murray River, the Department of Land and Water Conservation says the "; B2[14]="worst could be still to come... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      With emergency irrigation restrictions in force on both sides of the Murray River, the Department of Land and Water Conservation says the "; S2[14]=" worst could be still to come.
      All licensed irrigators in the Murray region between Yarrawonga and the Darling River junction are banned "; S3[14]=" from pumping between 8:00am and 2:00pm until next Monday and the restrictions could be increased.
      Separate restrictions have been introduced by Murray "; S4[14]=" Irrigation Limited and Western Murray Irrigation.
      The Department's Murray regional director, David Harriss, told the ABC that demand for water has peaked "; S5[14]=" late in the season because of more summer immigration.
      'There's also another issue that Menindee Lakes is now dry and we won't "; S6[14]=" be able to supply South Australia's water supply next year unless it rains during winter,' he said.
      'If that's the case we're "; S7[14]=" going to have to provide additional volumes through the Murray Valley which is going to mean restrictions like we've imposed so far are likely to "; S8[14]=" be the norm next year unless we get decent rainfall in the Darling catchment during winter.' Mr Harriss says there is a problem getting the "; S9[14]=" water through the Barmah choke.
      'We've been having to run the river tighter and tighter and there's been a substantial amount of "; S10[14]=" irrigation development in the lower reaches of the river which, of course, is adding demand at these periods of peak demand.'.. "; R[15]="191"; T[15]="New WA planning policies to protect agricultural land."; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20020315"; Dt[15]="Friday 15 March 2002"; Acats[15]="a02a04a38a90"; B1[15]="      Two new State planning policies will enhance rural land use planning and help ensure the State s most valuable farming land remains "; B2[15]="in production... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Two new State planning policies will enhance rural land use planning and help ensure the State's most valuable farming land remains in "; S2[15]=" production.
      Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today released a 'Statement of Planning Policy No.
      11 - Agricultural and "; S3[15]=" Rural Land Use Planning', and announced that the Western Australian Planning Commission had adopted Policy No.
      DC 3.4 - Subdivision of Rural "; S4[15]=" Land.
      Ms MacTiernan said the Statement of Planning Policy would help guide local governments in preparing town planning schemes and local planning "; S5[15]=" strategies.
      'The aim is to achieve a better balance in protecting the State's productive agricultural land, and sustaining an industry worth more "; S6[15]=" than $5billion annually,' she said.
      'Agricultural industries can be affected both by a loss of land to non-agricultural uses and by restrictions "; S7[15]=" due to the proximity of urban settlement or other incompatible activities.' This new policy simplifies agricultural land zoning into two types, Priority Agriculture and General "; S8[15]=" Agriculture.
      'The Priority Agriculture zone provides greater protection for agricultural areas with State, regional or local significance, from land uses which compete "; S9[15]=" or are incompatible with agricultural activity,' Ms MacTiernan said.
      'Any proposal to establish non-agricultural uses in these areas will have to be "; S10[15]=" accompanied by an Agricultural Impact Assessment.
      'General Agriculture zones can include a diversity of rural activities, but this applies to areas considered "; S11[15]=" of lesser significance.
      'Neither zoning will exclude uses or activities already existing within them and both will allow for new agricultural uses "; S12[15]=" and activities at the discretion of the local government.' Residential, rural-residential and rural smallholdings zones provide for more intensive settlement consistent with local government settlement "; S13[15]=" strategies.
      The policy also introduces measures to enable local governments to better protect and manage water and other environmental resources, and to "; S14[15]=" provide for mining and other resource industries.
      'Policy DC 3.4 complements the statement of planning policy by setting out specific principles that "; S15[15]=" will be used by the Western Australian Planning Commission in determining applications for the subdivision of rural land,' Ms MacTiernan said... "; R[16]="173"; T[16]="Bugs return to Blue Mountains water"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20020308"; Dt[16]="Friday 8 March 2002"; Acats[16]="a37a38a40a42"; B1[16]="      A decade ago the wild waterfalls and streams of the Blue Mountains were a foaming mess - polluted, undrinkable and, in some "; B2[16]="cases, dangerous to touch... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      A decade ago the wild waterfalls and streams of the Blue Mountains were a foaming mess - polluted, undrinkable and, in some "; S2[16]=" cases, dangerous to touch.
      Poorly treated sewage from about 80,000 residents, raw effluent from 14,000 unsewered homes and leakages from pipes flowed "; S3[16]=" into tiny water courses that made their way into wilderness areas such as the Grose.
      Generations of hikers were warned not to "; S4[16]=" drink from, or wash in, streams.
      Today those same streams are recovering, with all but three of the mountains' antiquated sewage treatment "; S5[16]=" plants having been decommissioned.
      As the chemicals and pollutants have disappeared, armies of invertebrates have returned to the streams, indicating that the "; S6[16]=" water is returning to pure.
      Reducing pollution has become more imperative since the Blue Mountains were World Heritage listed in 2000.
  "; S7[16]="     The story of the recovery is best told by looking under a rock in one of the creeks in the Wentworth Falls area.
"; S8[16]="       Before the treatment plants were decommissioned, most underwater life consisted of worms, fly larvae and snails - all indicators of poor river "; S9[16]=" health.
      Those same micro-habitats are now home to tiny organisms that have not been seen in the waters around Wentworth Falls for "; S10[16]=" generations: mayflies, stoneflies and dragonfly larvae.
      An aquatic ecologist with Sydney Water, Ian Wright, says: 'If you turn a rock over in "; S11[16]=" a stream and you see worms, then it's a rule of thumb that it is a sick creek.
      If you get a "; S12[16]=" diverse range of forms, shapes and movements, it gives you an indication that there's good biological life there.' Sydney Water is using 1100 organisms - "; S13[16]=" including worms, molluscs, bivalves, crustacea and insects - from the Greater Sydney Region, including the Blue Mountains, to assess the health of the water in "; S14[16]=" the areas formerly affected by pollution.
      Mr Wright says that previously, 'you would see greyness, foaming and cloudy water'.
      "; S15[16]=" Now, many of the worst areas, such as around Leura and Wentworth Falls, seem drinkable.
      The streams around Wentworth Falls are officially "; S16[16]=" regarded as 'clean'.
      Some of the other waterways, though, are still affected by urban problems such as stormwater run-off.
      "; S17[16]=" An environmental impact study is looking at shutting down the Mount Victoria and Blackheath treatment plants.
      Most of the sewage will be "; S18[16]=" pumped into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.
      The director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel, welcomed the diversion of sewage effluent to more "; S19[16]=" modern plants, where there is more potential to re-use treated water... "; R[17]="172"; T[17]="Clashes over dwindling crayfish stocks in Torres Strait"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20020308"; Dt[17]="Friday 8 March 2002"; Acats[17]="a34a37a42a88"; B1[17]="      Commercial fishermen in north Queensland are considering taking up arms to defend themselves against what they say are unprovoked attacks on them "; B2[17]="by Torres Strait islanders... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      Commercial fishermen in north Queensland are considering taking up arms to defend themselves against what they say are unprovoked attacks on them "; S2[17]=" by Torres Strait islanders.
      As figures suggest that lucrative stocks of lobsters are falling sharply in Torres Strait waters because of overfishing, "; S3[17]=" island leaders warn they will move to restrict commercial fishing if a native title claim lodged over the 48,000-square-kilometre area is successful.
      "; S4[17]=" Tensions between islanders and the fishing industry have been mounting since two Murray Island men were found not guilty in the Cairns District Court in "; S5[17]=" February last year of armed robbery.
      Benjamin Nona and George Gese had held up a licensed fisherman, David Rhodes, with a spear "; S6[17]=" and taken his catch of coral trout.
      The court found that the men had a traditional right to the fish and had "; S7[17]=" therefore not acted illegally.
      Mr Rhodes's employer, Cairns fishing operator Bob Lloyd, said he has had enough of threats from islanders.
  "; S8[17]="     'They're saying, 'give us the fish or we'll kill you' - it's just robbery.
      They're waving machetes and spears in "; S9[17]=" our faces.
      Imagine what that's like.
      Our blokes are terrified.' Mr Lloyd said that as the system had failed "; S10[17]=" him, he reserved the right to defend his employees.
      'They've got their spears, so we have to have something.
      "; S11[17]=" A gun is a good idea.
      We're not going to stand by and let them take our fish anymore.
      "; S12[17]=" I'm going to shoot them if they try to take my fish.' The vice-president of the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Barry Ehrke, said the incident "; S13[17]=" was not isolated, with similar confrontations being reported every few weeks.
      'Our people have a legal right to be there; they can't "; S14[17]=" just be told to get out,' he said.
      'The islanders think that fishing belongs to them and nobody else, but three trawler "; S15[17]=" licences have been made available to them for years and they haven't been taken up.' Australian Fisheries Management Authority figures show catches of rock lobster, "; S16[17]=" the Torres Strait's most prized stock, are declining, from 240 tonnes in 1998 to 150 tonnes in 2000.
      The chairman of the "; S17[17]=" Torres Strait Regional Authority, Terry Waia, said commercial fishing licences would be reviewed if the sea claim is, as expected, successful.
      It "; S18[17]=" was lodged in the Federal Court last November.
      'Some of these licences will have to be given to the Torres Strait people,' "; S19[17]=" Mr Waia said.
      The chairman of the Yam Island Council, Getano Lui, said that islanders would tightly regulate commercial fishing activities when "; S20[17]=" they had title over the sea.
      'If it is seen as being detrimental to the environment, then some of these people could "; S21[17]=" be banned,' he said... "; R[18]="156"; T[18]="Country Web focuses on natural resource management"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20020307"; Dt[18]="Thursday 7 March 2002"; Acats[18]="a04a37a42a46a48"; B1[18]="      People involved in natural resource management tell their stories in the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture s "; B2[18]="Rural Women s Network... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      People involved in natural resource management tell their stories in the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture's Rural "; S2[18]=" Women's Network.
      With a readership of some 20,000 people, The Country Web is an important communication avenue for rural women and their "; S3[18]=" families, providing a wealth of information and contacts.
      Editor, Sylvia Porss, said the 27th edition provides a broad overview on natural resource "; S4[18]=" management, an in-depth look at how decision-making operates, and the people putting ideas into practice.
      'There are a number of stories on "; S5[18]=" people who have turned their farms into viable and sustainable enterprises by good natural resource management practices,' she said.
      'Lucinda and Brian "; S6[18]=" Corrigan from Bowna are a good example - they now use an integrated property management plan for their Angus cattle farm with great results.
  "; S7[18]="     'Most of the changes come from what Lucinda learnt from the Sustainable Grazing Systems program run by Meat and Livestock Australia.
    "; S8[18]="   'Another story tells of how an Urbenville family went from a drought-devastated cattle property to a sustainable tourist recreation park by changing from a "; S9[18]=" slash and burn system to improved pasture and preservation of habitat.' The 27th edition explains the big three issues of natural resource management - water, "; S10[18]=" salinity and vegetation - and provides incentives to encourage people to get involved in finding solutions.
      It also covers recycling, conservation, organics "; S11[18]=" and has a handy pullout section crammed with natural resource management information, contacts and funding sources.
      Copies of the 27th edition and "; S12[18]=" previous editions featuring themes of 'volunteering' and 'Real people - Real Heroes' are available from Allison Windus at the Rural Women's Network on 6391 3620.
"; S13[18]="       Copies of The Country Web can also be accessed via the Internet at www.agric.nsw.gov.au/rwn... "; R[19]="145"; T[19]="Integrated biosystems for sustainable development"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20020301"; Dt[19]="Friday 1 March 2002"; Acats[19]="a04a37a42"; B1[19]="      A new review of integrated biosystems has been published by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      A new review of integrated biosystems has been published by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
      Integrated biosystems "; S2[19]=" make functional connections between agriculture, aquaculture, food processing, waste management, water use, and fuel generation.
      They encourage the dynamic flows of material "; S3[19]=" and energy by treating wastes and by-products of one operation as inputs for another.
      In this way food, fertiliser, animal feed and "; S4[19]=" fuel can be produced with the minimum input of nutrients, water and other resources.
      Biosystem integration can help achieve sustainability objectives by: "; S5[19]=" # treating the management of wastes and residues as a central design feature rather than as something external to themain production function; # specifying clear "; S6[19]=" performance indicators and measures of efficiency; # encouraging holistic, systems-level thinking in which the dynamics of interconnection and interdependence are as important as the components "; S7[19]=" that are connected; # providing a framework for flexible closed-loop applications over a wide range of contexts and spatial scales - e.g., in both rural "; S8[19]=" and urban situations, and at single property, sub-catchment and catchment levels; # allowing different specialist producers and neighbouring landholders to combine complementary expertise, equipment and "; S9[19]=" other infrastructure to mutual advantage; # increasing options for land use planning by placing the emphasis on the functional integration of complementary activities (e.g., by "; S10[19]=" using vermiculture to process wastes from dairy/pig/fish farming, or by combining cane/grain growing with fuel generation), rather than just coexistence.
      Sustainability objectives "; S11[19]=" will be best served by the progressive introduction of carefully planned integrated systems capable of satisfying food production, fuel and fertiliser needs with near-zero environmental "; S12[19]=" impacts.
      To this end, operational initiatives by individual producers and others will need to be complemented by legislative and government-led incentives, coordinated "; S13[19]=" research and development, and the incorporation of integrated biosystem principles in land use planning.
      Integrated biosystems make explicit connections between agriculture, "; S14[19]=" aquaculture, food processing, waste management, water use and fuel generation.
      They are life-support systems based on the dynamic flow of material and "; S15[19]=" energy, where wastes and by-products of one operation become inputs for another.
      In this way food, fertiliser, animal feed and fuel can "; S16[19]=" be produced with the minimum input of nutrients, water and other resources.
      In biosystem integration, the management of wastes and residues is "; S17[19]=" treated as a central design feature.
      Thus, in contrast to other production systems where waste disposal and remediation are essentially treated as "; S18[19]=" externalities, sustainable design features are intrinsic to integrated biosystems.
      Such design features include the following: # minimise resource inputs by redirecting 'waste' "; S19[19]=" outputs within the system; # contain material flows within the system; # treat production and consumption as a continuous cyclical process, rather than a linear "; S20[19]=" one; # tighten production-consumption loops to minimise losses, transport costs etc; # maximise efficiency of natural conversion processes (e.g., microbial decomposition and trophic links) and "; S21[19]=" of nutrient / water retention.
      For further information see http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Ras/01-174.pdf.. "; R[20]="137"; T[20]="The Country Web: focus on natural resources management"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20020228"; Dt[20]="Thursday 28 February 2002"; Acats[20]="a37a48a64"; B1[20]="      People involved in natural resource management tell their stories in the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture s "; B2[20]="Rural Women s Network... "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      People involved in natural resource management tell their stories in the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture's Rural "; S2[20]=" Women's Network.
      With a readership of some 20,000 people, The Country Web is an important communication avenue for rural women and "; S3[20]=" their families, providing a wealth of information and contacts.
      Editor, Sylvia Porss, said the 27th edition provides a broad overview on natural "; S4[20]=" resource management, an in-depth look at how decision-making operates, and the people putting ideas into practice.
      'There are a number of stories "; S5[20]=" on people who have turned their farms into viable and sustainable enterprises by good natural resource management practices,' she said.
      'Lucinda and "; S6[20]=" Brian Corrigan from Bowna are a good example - they now use an integrated property management plan for their Angus cattle farm with great results.
"; S7[20]="       'Most of the changes come from what Lucinda learnt from the Sustainable Grazing Systems program run by Meat and Livestock Australia.
"; S8[20]="       'Another story tells of how an Urbenville family went from a drought-devastated cattle property to a sustainable tourist recreation park by changing "; S9[20]=" from a slash and burn system to improved pasture and preservation of habitat.' The 27th edition explains the big three issues of natural resource management "; S10[20]=" - water, salinity and vegetation - and provides incentives to encourage people to get involved in finding solutions.
      It also covers recycling, "; S11[20]=" conservation, organics and has a handy pullout section crammed with natural resource management information, contacts and funding sources.
      Copies of the 27th "; S12[20]=" edition and previous editions featuring themes of 'volunteering' and 'Real people - Real Heroes' are available from Allison Windus at the Rural Women's Network on "; S13[20]=" 6391 3620.
      Copies of The Country Web can also be accessed via the Internet at www.agric.nsw.gov.au/rwn... "; R[21]="119"; T[21]="Salinity campaign condemned as a waste of money"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20020222"; Dt[21]="Friday 22 February 2002"; Acats[21]="a37a43"; B1[21]="      Former Labor minister Peter Walsh has condemned the Federal Government s $1.4 billion salinity plan as a waste of money likely to "; B2[21]="do little more than fund armies of bureaucrats... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      Former Labor minister Peter Walsh has condemned the Federal Government's $1.4 billion salinity plan as a waste of money likely to do "; S2[21]=" little more than fund armies of bureaucrats.
      Speaking at the Pastoralists and Graziers'Association annual conference, Mr Walsh said the plan was the "; S3[21]=" latest in a series of government-funded schemes since the 1980s.
      'So far, most of this money has been wasted on political stunts, "; S4[21]=" conceived in ignorance, wishful thinking and bureaucratic empire building,' he said.
      'There is little reason to believe the latest will be better "; S5[21]=" spent.' Mr Walsh, who was finance minister in the Hawke government, accused the National Farmers'Federation and the Australian Conservation Foundation of getting into bed together "; S6[21]=" in the quest for funding.
      He said the alliance which had promoted the development of the landcare movement showed a lack of "; S7[21]=" knowledge of economics and agriculture and a penchant for authoritarian solutions.
      Federation president Ian Donges and foundation director Don Henry, who shared "; S8[21]=" the panel at the conference, said the alliance was necessary to raise public awareness of salinity and environmental degradation.
      Mr Henry said "; S9[21]=" the Australian urban public felt cut off from the country but was prepared to pay to protect the rural environments.
      Mr Donges "; S10[21]=" said there were points of disagreement with the foundation but sitting at the same table helped build common ground.
      He said the "; S11[21]=" major problem faced by farmers was getting recognition of the right to farm or, where this was taken away for perceived community good, gaining compensation.
"; S12[21]="       Mr Walsh said public investment to prevent salinity and environmental degradation would bring regulations imposed by people and agencies who were ignorant "; S13[21]=" of the local environment or serving other agendas.
      They included the demands of green pressure groups which had caused what he said "; S14[21]=" was the gratuitous sacrifice of 1000 timber workers in WA.
      'The public policy processes were decoupled from science and empirical knowledge in "; S15[21]=" favour of secular religious fundamentalism and spurious moral vanity,' he said.
      Mr Walsh said agriculture might not be subject to the same "; S16[21]=" political decree as forestry but its viability could be devastated by cultists who took affluence for granted, ignorant that it was a product of the "; S17[21]=" things they wanted to ban or curtail.
      'These people may have noticed that countries mostly in Africa which practise something close to "; S18[21]=" their organic farming ideal are the countries in which malnutrition, starvation and disease are most prevalent,' he said... "; R[22]="101"; T[22]="Benefits from reduced use of chemical sprays"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20020218"; Dt[22]="Monday 18 February 2002"; Acats[22]="a03a37a42"; B1[22]="      The environment and primary producers could be the winners from Department of Primary Industry trials studying the impact that reduced levels of "; B2[22]="chemical sprays have on beneficial and pest insects... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      The environment and primary producers could be the winners from Department of Primary Industry trials studying the impact that reduced levels of "; S2[22]=" chemical sprays have on beneficial and pest insects.
      Kingaroy entomologist Hugh Brier with the Agency of Food and Fibre Sciences, said researchers "; S3[22]=" would continue trialing low rates of current pesticides in mungbeans.
      Trials to date indicate that dramatically lower rates of some insecticides can "; S4[22]=" give a high level of control of green and brown mirids in mungbeans, but have a markedly reduced impact on beneficial insects.
      "; S5[22]=" Mr Brier said three trials were staged in mungbeans at Pittsworth, Kingaroy and Cambooya during 2001 and 2002.
      The chemical dimethoate was "; S6[22]=" applied at eighth, quarter, half and full rates; 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 ml/ha respectively.
      Researchers found that dimethoate at 250mL/ha gave "; S7[22]=" control of pest mirids equal to that achieved at 500 mL/ha, but had markedly less impact on beneficial insects.
      Dimethoate at rates "; S8[22]=" lower than 250 mL/ha gave unsatisfactory control of mirids, particularly of adults, but had even lesser impact on beneficials.
      However, the addition "; S9[22]=" of salt in small quantities greatly improved the performance of dimethoate against mirids at rates less than 250 mL/ha, but did not adversely impact on "; S10[22]=" beneficials.
      Under some circumstances, rates as low as 20 percent of the current registered rate can give satisfactory mirid control, depending on "; S11[22]=" the number of mirids in a crop, the stages of mirids present, and the stage of crop development.
      Mr Brier said further "; S12[22]=" efficiency and plant safety trials are required to secure the registration of low rates of dimethoate and also dimethoate plus salt mixtures in mungbeans.
  "; S13[22]="     He said there was considerable community interest in the results, as the projects promoted the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management "; S14[22]=" practices, and the reduced and more responsible use of pesticides.
      'Creating a cleaner and greener agricultural environment requires considerable baseline research to "; S15[22]=" develop sustainable pest-management practices that are viable for rural industries and that meet community expectations.
      'The message at this stage of the "; S16[22]=" current DPI/GRDC funded Pulse IPM project are that farmers can reduce unnecessary pesticide use in pulses conserving beneficial insects and reducing the flaring of heliothis.
"; S17[22]="       This also has obvious benefits for the rural environment.' Mr Brier said.
      'Trials during 2001 confirmed that mirids are "; S18[22]=" major pests of mungbeans and also that mirid sprays increase the risk of subsequent heliothis attack, because the sprays at the currently registered rate (500 "; S19[22]=" mL/ha) kill many of the beneficial insects attacking heliothis.' 'In some cases, mirid spraying is necessary.
      Spraying significant mirid populations, averaging 4 "; S20[22]=" per square metre, in a Kingaroy trial significantly improved yield and crop value by $200/ha, despite increased heliothis activity.
      However spraying low "; S21[22]=" mirid populations, fewer than 0.33 mirids per metre, in other trials significantly reduced yield because of subsequent increased heliothis activity.' Mr Brier said He said "; S22[22]=" data from recent trials have enabled scientifically backed mirid thresholds to be developed.
      While these thresholds need to be verified in the "; S23[22]=" 2002 season, mirid data generated to date have greatly reduced the mungbean industry's fear and uncertainty of these pests.
      Mr Brier said "; S24[22]=" to address environmental concerns, while at the same time protecting crop value, the project was also investigating less toxic new generation mirid sprays, and the "; S25[22]=" use of non-toxic additives to reduce the rates and costs of these products.
      He said, 'Further trials were planned for 2002 to "; S26[22]=" refine mirid pesticide recommendations'.
      Mr Brier said reliable sampling protocols have been developed for mirids in mungbeans and would be refined over "; S27[22]=" the coming season in conjunction with scouts and agronomists with the assistance of Pulse Australia and the Australian Mungbean Association... "; R[23]="90"; T[23]="Voluntary Conservation Agreements : First for Gold Coast"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20020213"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 13 February 2002"; Acats[23]="a37a42a66"; B1[23]="      A conservation scheme, described as the first of its kind in Australia, has been launched on the Gold Coast.... "; B2[23]=" "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      A conservation scheme, described as the first of its kind in Australia, has been launched on the Gold Coast.
      "; S2[23]=" A Tallebudgera Valley couple have become the Gold Coast's first landholders to enter a Voluntary Conservation Agreement with the city council.
      Ron "; S3[23]=" and Barbara Bartholomew have agreed to protect more than 60 hectares of rainforest and woodland on their property from building and other activities.
    "; S4[23]="   In return, they will receive rates rebates and financial assistance.
      Mrs Bartholomew told the ABC that the agreement is in harmony "; S5[23]=" with her husband's attitude to the land.
      'He's always had this notion that he wants to be able to leave something not "; S6[23]=" just for his family but for future generations of the population,' she said.
      'Bushwalkers often come through and they always give us "; S7[23]=" the courtesy of phoning and asking if they can walk through and groups go through and everybody seems to enjoy it.
      'Birdwatchers "; S8[23]=" come out and look at all the bird life.'.. "; R[24]="67"; T[24]="Rice forum to explore natural resource technology"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20020206"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 6 February 2002"; Acats[24]="a23a37a38a42"; B1[24]="      The rice industry s research and development community will examine new technologies and their potential impact on water policy and management at "; B2[24]="the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production s (Rice CRC) 2002 Symposium in Griffith next week... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      The rice industry's research and development community will examine new technologies and their potential impact on water policy and management at the "; S2[24]=" Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production's (Rice CRC) 2002 Symposium in Griffith next week.
      The Symposium will focus on scientific advances "; S3[24]=" likely to provide greater capacity for improved water management and water savings during the Technology for a Healthier Environment Forum on Tuesday, February 12.
  "; S4[24]="     'The forum promises to stimulate some valuable discussion and should provide a platform for more informed debate going forward,' Rice CRC Director Dr "; S5[24]=" Laurie Lewin said.
      'The staging of the forum is timely, given the present circumstances with regard to water availability and negotiations over "; S6[24]=" water sharing arrangements.' Key rice industry and natural resource management delegates would provide a range of perspectives on water management issues during the three-hour forum, "; S7[24]=" Dr Lewin said.
      Murrumbidgee River Management Committee Chair Professor Kath Bowmer, environmental policy adviser Deedee Woodside and Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Ltd environment "; S8[24]=" manager Arun Tiwari would each deliver presentations.
      'Four prominent Rice CRC researchers will then look at the environmental benefits of groundwater modelling "; S9[24]=" and rice plant cold tolerance research; novel cropping systems, and EM technology for better land management.' An expert panel, including Charles Sturt University Chair of "; S10[24]=" Irrigation Prof Greame Batten, Prof.
      Bowmer and Deedee Woodside, has been assembled to dissect the issues and debate questions from the floor.
"; S11[24]="       'Given the level of community scrutiny of a range of water-related issues at the moment, now is a good time to take "; S12[24]=" a close look at the achievements and potential of research and development in these areas,' Dr Lewin said.
      Remote sensing; nitrogen testing "; S13[24]=" and precision agriculture; the production implications of cold tolerance research; rice industry extension; and product and product quality research are among other topics to be "; S14[24]=" discussed at the two-day Symposium at the Griffith Regional Theatre.
      The 2002 Rice CRC Symposium Program can be viewed at http://www.ricecrc.org.. "; R[25]="51"; T[25]="Salt sucking hybrid gum tree"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20020205"; Dt[25]="Tuesday 5 February 2002"; Acats[25]="a37a39a42a43"; B1[25]="      A new salt tolerant gum tree has been developed that may offer hope of arresting salinity problems that are devastating vast areas "; B2[25]="of Australia The new salt tolerant hybrid has been developed that could pump-down saline groundwater in areas where native trees have been wiped out... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      A new salt tolerant gum tree has been developed that may offer hope of arresting salinity problems that are devastating vast areas "; S2[25]=" of Australia The new salt tolerant hybrid has been developed that could 'pump-down' saline groundwater in areas where native trees have been wiped out.
  "; S3[25]="     It is the result of a seven-year, $8.5 million project codenamed Saltgrow, which has been conducted by horticultural company Yates, Murdoch University in "; S4[25]=" Western Australia and institutions in Queensland and Victoria.
      The tree is a blend of the river red gum, flooded gum and Tasmanian "; S5[25]=" blue gum, and can live off water with a salt concentration of up to 20 per cent that of sea water.
      Saltgrow "; S6[25]=" general manager Robert Prince said yesterday thousands of the hybrids had been planted at more than 100 test sites in New South Wales, with ground-level "; S7[25]=" salinity reduced in each case.
      'Not only do these trees thrive on salt water, they also produce high-quality hardwood and reshoot from "; S8[25]=" stumps - they are a sustainable solution for what was once believed to be an unsustainable problem.' When planted, the trees take up salty water "; S9[25]=" through their roots, lowering the underground water table.
      Unlike the parent species, the Saltgrow trees have a gene which allows them to "; S10[25]=" resist osmotic pressure and instead take up salt water, filtering the salt through their system and depositing it on the ground around their trunk.
  "; S11[25]="     'A red gum can suck 1000 litres of water a day - that's a lot of salt water being removed,' Mr Prince "; S12[25]=" said.
      The trees have the support of the South Australian and New South Wales Forestry departments, the CSIRO and the Murray-Darling Basin "; S13[25]=" Commission.
      Mr Prince said the trees - which retail for $1.50 a plant - would provide a core for any anti-salinity efforts "; S14[25]=" in the River Murray region... "; R[26]="50"; T[26]="How much water is enough?"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20020205"; Dt[26]="Tuesday 5 February 2002"; Acats[26]="a37a40a91"; B1[26]="      A plan to claw back 60 gigalitres of water from Murrumbidgee River irrigators for the environment has been criticised as being unlikely "; B2[26]="to provide a benefit or arrest the decline... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      A plan to claw back 60 gigalitres of water from Murrumbidgee River irrigators for the environment has been criticised as being unlikely "; S2[26]=" to provide a benefit or arrest the decline.
      Irrigators in the river's catchment area would see a reduction in annual water allocation "; S3[26]=" to a total of 2230 gigalitres, down 60 gigalitres.
      A review by the Department of Land and Water Conservation, National Parks and "; S4[26]=" Wildlife Service, Environment Protection Authority, NSW Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture.found that rules in the draft plan governing water usage appear to be in "; S5[26]=" conflict with water management legislation because they have been drafted with primary concern for water users rather than the environment.
      It concluded "; S6[26]=" that the allocation reduction plan is 'unlikely to maintain or improve the ecological health of the Murrumbidgee River in view of the level of development "; S7[26]=" in the valley'.
      'This is a particular concern given the recent listing of the area as an Endangered Ecological Community,' the review "; S8[26]=" said.
      Environmental groups say a reduction of at least 100 gigalitres a year is needed to improve the health of the river, "; S9[26]=" which has seen reduced flows into the Murray River, a large reduction in fish diversity and dried-out billabongs and flood plains in the past decade.
"; S10[26]="       The Australian Conservation Foundation has written to the chairman of the Murrumbidgee River Water Management Committee, Professor Kath Bowmer, to formally object "; S11[26]=" to the draft plan, and is considering a legal challenge.
      The Nature Conservation Council's executive officer, Kathy Ridge, told the Sydney Morning "; S12[26]=" Herald that the water planning process should result in a 'net benefit for the environment'.
      'The water sharing plans are all about "; S13[26]=" giving water to users - it doesn't ensure that water quality for those users or the environment,' she said.
      But the chairman "; S14[26]=" of Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Dick Thompson, said the draft plan delivered for the environment.
      He said water-saving improvements - including replacing irrigation channels "; S15[26]=" with pressurised pumps and up-river storage facilities - should be established before irrigation allowances were further reduced.
      A spokeswoman for the State "; S16[26]=" Minister for Land and Water Conservation, John Aquilina, said issues raised by the review panel would now be debated, and further views would be sought "; S17[26]=" when the draft plan is exhibited publicly later this month... "; R[27]="47"; T[27]="WA rivers in trouble"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20020204"; Dt[27]="Monday 4 February 2002"; Acats[27]="a37a40a67a91"; B1[27]="      The Murray River in Western Australia is dying from the effects of algal blooms and boats that are eroding its banks.... "; B2[27]=" "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      The Murray River in Western Australia is dying from the effects of algal blooms and boats that are eroding its banks.
  "; S2[27]="     An $84,000 Federal Government-funded inquiry has found that Peel's waterways will not be able to sustain the increasing recreational demands of expected population "; S3[27]=" growth.
      The Peel Inlet group and the Water and Rivers Commission have released for public comment the draft report of an independent "; S4[27]=" year-long study on an economic development and recreation management plan for the waterways.
      The Peel authority hopes it will be finalised and "; S5[27]=" put before the State Government in June.
      Peel Inlet Management Authority chairman Bruce Tatham told te West Australian that the Murray River "; S6[27]=" was in trouble.
      'I fear for its future and that of the Serpentine,' he said.
      'They desperately need urgent "; S7[27]=" government action to do something about the situation.
      'The Serpentine has algal bloom counts 100 times higher than the Murray-Darling River Basin "; S8[27]=" in the eastern States.' The report found that under the stress of expected population growth, the environment would decline further unless resources were found for "; S9[27]=" action in the catchment to improve water quality throughout the system.
      It would also need to restore the environment and habitats of "; S10[27]=" the rivers, especially the Murray River.
      The report said the condition of the Murray was poor and becoming worse with further urban "; S11[27]=" and rural development along its course.
      The draft plan proposed a large-scale tree-planting and revegetation program for environment rehabilitation as a high "; S12[27]=" priority strategy.
      It also recommended a Peel Waterways Institute as a tourist discovery centre.
      This would be based on "; S13[27]=" an education, training, research and development facility.
      The report called for a 30-year program for fish stock enhancement and said that river "; S14[27]=" flats sustaining birds protected under international obligations were at risk.
      Catchment pressures were increasing through closer subdivision and land use changes.
  "; S15[27]="     The report also found that the Serpentine River had major water quality problems.
      Mr Tatham, 53, is a third-generation professional "; S16[27]=" fisherman on the Murray and the last one still operating.
      He said it once had 50 fishermen providing fish to three processing "; S17[27]=" plants and a big cool store complex.
      Now fish were dying regularly.
      'Thousands upon thousands of bony herring were "; S18[27]=" part of last year's toll,' he said.
      Mr Tatham said algal blooms sucked up river oxygen leaving little or none for the "; S19[27]=" fish.
      He said the vast number of boat owners had made the Murray a thoroughfare and put the river at risk of "; S20[27]=" collapse.
      'In the last five years, bank erosion has made the river shallower by at least a metre,' he said.
    "; S21[27]="   'There should be a no-wash policy for boats on the river.
      It does not matter how slow they have to go "; S22[27]=" for that... "; R[28]="38"; T[28]="Cane toad threatens to wipe out death adder"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20020201"; Dt[28]="Friday 1 February 2002"; Acats[28]="a37a42a86"; B1[28]="      A unique variety of death adder would become extinct in the wild as the toxic cane toad continued its advance across the "; B2[28]="Top End, a snake export said today... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      A unique variety of death adder would become extinct in the wild as the toxic cane toad continued its advance across the "; S2[28]=" Top End, a snake export said today.
      Australian Reptile Park owner John Weigel said he recently introduced 10 of the death adders "; S3[28]=" - including two females - to his Gosford-based wildlife park in the hope that some might survive in captivity.
      'I'm racing around "; S4[28]=" trying to get specimens of that variety of snake right now because its going to be extinct in a year or so,' Mr Weigel said.
"; S5[28]="       'I don't think anyone in the territory's doing it and we can't seem to generate any interest; its very frustrating.' If Mr "; S6[28]=" Weigel's prediction proves correct, the snake could become the first species recognised to be wiped out by the cane toad.
      Experts say "; S7[28]=" the battle against cane toads has not received the research funding it deserves because the toad is not recognised as a true introduced pest such "; S8[28]=" as foxes.
      While toads cause the depletion of wildlife that feeds on it, most if not all these species make some recovery.
"; S9[28]="       The arrival of cane toads in Kakadu National Park was confirmed in March last year.
      The toads are expected "; S10[28]=" to reach Darwin as early as the next wet season, extending across the death adder's woodlands range.
      Mr Weigel said the snake "; S11[28]=" is not yet recognised as a separate species but will be with further research.
      It is regarded as one of at least "; S12[28]=" three varieties of northern adders which extend from Cape York in Queensland to the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
      'You have this "; S13[28]=" very unique variety of death adder that inhabits the flood plain country and its quite common to find them crossing the Arnhem Highway from Jabiru "; S14[28]=" is Humpty Doo,' he said.
      Mr Weigel said some snakes including king browns appeared to have become extinct in parts of Cape "; S15[28]=" York where cane toads had become established.
      'Local extinction for this death adder amounts to total extinction because you won't find them "; S16[28]=" anywhere else,' he said... ";