Murray-Darling Basin Authority's sustainable limits study

Browsing round for background material on a post on my personal blog, Floods, Lake Eyre and yachting, reminded me about  the current Murray-Darling Basin Authority Sustainable Diversion Limits study. A dry title, but one whose purpose is defined in this way:

A central element of the Basin Plan is to set environmentally sustainable limits on the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin’s water resources. These are known as sustainable diversion limits (SDLs). SDLs will limit the amount of surface water and groundwater that can be taken from the Basin and will replace the current cap system.

Last year the Authority released an issues paper for comment; 155 submissions were received in response. You can find the issues paper and public submissions here.

I mention this because the outcomes from the process with its strong environmental focus are likely to have significant and differential economic and social effects across the vast basin affecting, among other things, jobs and land and real estate prices. For that reason, those who currently live in the Basin or who might want to move or invest there really need to monitor the process.

I haven't got my own mind around the issues yet. I will try to do so for a later post.   

Lord Howe Island

Another photo from Gordon Smith's archives, this one of Lord Howe Island.

A world heritage site, Lord Howe Island is formally part of NSW, but lies 600 km to the east from the mainland. 

This is a very beautiful place indeed. Visitor information can be found here.   

Crossing the Simpson Desert

In winter 1985, Gordon Smith and five others set out  in three vehicles to cross the Simpson Desert west to east. They were following the French Line, a track made by oil exploration companies in the 1970’s.

This is actually quite a remarkable shot because it brings out the sheer difficulty of the terrain.

Each year visitors die in the Australian outback because of their failure to take simple precautions - the right vehicle in the right condition, letting people know what you are doing, having reserves of food and especially water.

I often use Gordon's photos on this blog because they are simply so good. Have a browse.

Jobs growth

The global economic downturn had variable effects across Regional Australia. In general, the impact was less than in metro areas, although some centres dependant on particular projects were hit. Many regional centres also came out of downturn earlier.

I mention this because I see from the Singleton Argus that labour shortages have reappeared in this Hunter Valley mining and agricultural centre. Hat tip to Wollombi Valley for the story. 

Life on New England's North Coast

Lynne's story is a personal review of a series of blog posts about one slice of life on the north coast of NSW. I have included the link here because it provides a snap shot of regional life. This may not be for you, but then it may be.

Experiencing regional difference within Australia

Writing of Grafton, Lynne wrote:

  I should like to travel more and see more places, more towns. There are  subtle differences between towns and communities and I like this town- and would like to see others.

The photo shows performers at the Grafton Jacaranda Festival. I have to say that these are very pretty girls!

Lynne is right about the subtle differences across Regional Australia. I do love them.  

Derek Bullock's Camp Oven Cooking in Australia

Many modern Australians have forgotten how to cook outdoors. I was therefore pleased to discover that Derek Bullock's Camp Oven Cooking in Australia was keeping the old art of the camp oven alive.

Regional living - the lazy person's approach to gardening 6 a new start!

Back in March 2008 I began a new series, Regional living - the lazy person's approach to gardening 1 introduction. This series got sidetracked because living in Sydney as I am at present I lost my garden because the family wanted to move to a bigger house.

Knowing that we were moving I lost heart. Then, when we moved, we ended in one of those current Sydney small block places. You know the type, all crowded together with a tiny garden patch that has been manicured - paving and all - into what we might call an outdoor living space. Quite nice in summer, but cold in winter, this was the final kiss of death. I did plant a few herbs, but most died.

We have now moved to a new house. I have a garden again, we know we are here for eighteen months, so I can do something. Having moved Tuesday, I am starting my lazy person's approach this morning, just to illustrate what I mean. I will report as I go along. I am also taking some photos as I go, although it may be a little while before I load them.     

Introductory post in series. Previous post. Next post.

Job opportunities in Regional Australia - July 09

During the week the Law Council of Australia released a report on shortages of legal professionals in Regional Australia. At a time when big city firms are retrenching, 43% of those surveyed in Regional Australia say that they have insufficient lawyers to meet client demands.

This is not an isolated example. A recent survey of businesses in a substantial NSW regional centre found that something like half the businesses surveyed had job vacancies that they could not fill. Again, this holds at a time when unemployment in major metro centres is on the rise.

Not all regional communities have vacant jobs. Some especially dependant on mining have recently seen lay-offs. However, for those facing an uncertain metro job market, now is not a bad time to consider a move to Regional and especially inland, Australia.  

What food did the Aborigines eat in New England?

Keith asked in a comment on Australian Regional Food - Bush Tucker and the Australian Aborigines:

I would love to learn more about bush foods in the New England area, especially around here in Armidale. Most of the wild food information covers Queensland and the Territory, where there appears to be far more bush foods available.

I really don't know. More precisely, I know some of the birds and animals they ate, but not the vegetable material. Something else that I must find out!