Latest news with #MidNorthCoast
ABC News
12 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Hope for regent honeyeater with signs of booming blossoms after NSW rain and floods
A silver lining has emerged in the wake of record-breaking flooding across parts of New South Wales with signs the wet weather has created prime conditions for nectar-feeing birds, including the critically endangered regent honeyeater. There have been observations of a mass eucalypt budding event in the wake of the flooding across the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. Mick Roderick, Birdlife Australia's regent honeyeater recovery adviser, said he had seen various eucalypt species thriving in the Hunter after their prolonged soaking during April and May. He said as the different species flowered the blossom season could last throughout the next year at least. It would provide food for the regent honeyeater, a species which has dropped to around 300 wild birds. "To know that so many trees will be flowering from a breeding season, right through summer and winter … is significant for a critically endangered species that relies almost exclusively on nectar," Mr Roderick said. "It provides the regent honeyeaters that are left with an opportunity to take advantage of those conditions and hopefully successfully breed. Mr Roderick said Birdlife Australia had recent evidence of hundreds of honeyeaters of various species and lorikeets feeding on the coast where swamp mahogany trees were flowering, while white box was flowering on the western slopes. He said many other eucalypts had been observed putting on buds in preparation for flowering. "The exciting thing is we seem to now have a mass budding of certain eucalypts, certainly in the Hunter Valley, and most of the buds have appeared after the really heavy rain," Mr Roderick said. "So we have red gums, ironbarks, grey gums, and then spotted gums to follow all these spring flowering gums. Mr Roderick said eucalypt blossoms typically dropped during drier years and it was the most promising blossom season in the region since heavy rainfall in 2021/'22. "We're going to have two exceptional seasons within four years of each other, which is pretty incredible," he said. Dean Nicolle, a consultant botanist and ecologist specialising in eucalypts, said there were more than 800 different eucalypt species throughout Australia and that certain species grew strongly in the wake of prolonged rainfall. "Some species are very tolerant of flooding and waterlogged soils and are much more drought sensitive, while other species are much more drought tolerant," he said. "The species described [in the Hunter], like spotted gums and ironbarks, are generally species of hillsides and ranges. "They would be responding to increased moisture in the soil, so conditions are good for growing. "They can take up as much water as they want, grow lots of leaves and then flower heavily." The budding eucalypts are also a welcome sight for apiarists, including Hunter Valley-based Colin Wilson who has been a commercial beekeeper for about 45 years. "In the Hunter Valley at the moment there's ironbark species putting buds on, spotted gum trees, grey gum trees, so there's a fair range of trees which will all flower at different stages," he said. "The last few years they have been below average in the amount of flowering and nectar and it's looking a lot more hopeful for the next 12 months. "Trees bud sometimes six months or more in advance before they flower. As a beekeeper you then know there'll be some honeyflows." Mr Wilson had to euthanase bees when varroa mite was detected in the region several years ago. "A lot of people around here have suffered quite a lot financially over the last few years because hives were euthanased," he said. "We brought bees back again when we were allowed to and have a growing process of expanding bee numbers. "When you can see a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel it does give you a bit of hope."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend who played for Alan Jones breaks his silence just before ex-radio star faces court on sexual touching and indecent assault charges
Footy legend Ben Elias has branded Alan Jones an 'absolute great man' who has devoted his life to selflessly helping other people in his first statement on the radio star's legal battle. It comes as Jones, 83, is due to face court in July as the one-time Wallabies coach faces 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 20 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. Speaking on 2WAY FM - a community radio station based on the mid-north coast of NSW - Balmain Tigers great Elias told veteran host Dave Lazarus he caught up with Jones on Monday alongside fellow footy star Steve Roach and another friend. Elias - who played under Jones when he coached the Balmain Tigers from 1991 to 1993 - also confirmed the veteran broadcaster was in 'great spirits'. 'We all know Alan. He's an absolute legend,' Elias began on Monday. 'Me, "Blocker" Roach and a bloke named Grant Vandenberg – we went over to AJ's today (Monday) and had an absolute delightful lunch... the bloke's in great spirits. 'You know, it's a remarkable position that he's in, which I certainly feel sorry for him in many ways. True bloke, great man. 'He's done amazing, amazing things for people, that people don't recognise. For what he's up for, I'd be very, very surprised if anything comes about it. 'But look, who knows? I can't say other than the bloke is an absolute, great man.' Elias added: 'He has been one hell of a man who's helped many charities, many, many, many charities and many young people along the way, mate. 'He's been an absolute legend. I hope that everything goes well for him.' Jones is accused of historical sexual assault offences allegedly committed in various locations across NSW, including Newtown, the Sydney CBD, Fitzroy Falls, Alexandria and Tamworth between 2001 and 2019. Police have previously stated the youngest alleged victim was 17 at the time of the alleged offence. Jones has denied all wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty to all charges. 'These allegations are either baseless or distort the truth,' he told reporters. Jones also said he was given no opportunity by police to respond to any of the claims prior to his dramatic arrest. 'I have never indecently assaulted these people... I am emphatic that I'll be defending every charge before a jury in due course,' he said. Previous allegations levelled against Jones include that he rubbed the inner thigh and genitals of multiple former employees and attempted to kiss others on the mouth and squeeze their bottoms. Jones began a hugely influential life on the airwaves in 1985 after a failed career in politics, becoming a feared interviewer who excelled at grilling leaders while dividing audiences with his outspoken views. He first worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut. NSW Police said State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad established Strike Force Bonnefin in March last year to investigate a number of alleged indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019. Jones will next face court on July 8.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Thousands rally in Taree to call for $75,000 government grants for flood recovery
Thousands of residents affected by record-breaking floods at Taree on the NSW Mid North Coast have rallied, calling for more financial support. Organisers of the rally say about 3,000 local farmers, business owners and affected families gathered outside the Manning River Rowing Club, on the banks of the Manning River, on Monday. At the height of the flooding in late May, the Manning River at Taree exceeded the 1929 flood level of 6 metres. In the wake of the floods, the MidCoast Council estimates there has been $100 million in damage to the region's public spaces and parks alone, with more than 600 homes and 100 businesses damaged. Currently, grants of up to $25,000 are available for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits to help them recover. Residents are calling for Category D funding to be made available, which would provide grants of up to $75,000 jointly funded by the state and federal governments. So far the state government hasn't applied for this additional funding. A petition to the NSW parliament was circulated at the rally, calling for the additional funding. Rally organiser Rob Chapman's home was inundated during the floods. Mr Chapman said Monday's rally was about bringing the entire community together to push for greater support. "We've been affected in different ways, shapes and forms right along the river," he said. "We just need to show a force through our local politicians and federal politicians to the halls of Canberra and halls of NSW parliament that we aren't going to be forgotten up here. "Category D funding isn't a silver bullet, none of us think that. "But it will just [go] … a long way to help businesses get back on their feet, to help farmers help buy their feed and starting their process off again." Taree dairy farmer Douglas Schlenert said more financial support was urgently needed. "We are on a dairy farm over on the river here and we have lost 90 per cent of our cattle down to the ocean," he said. Taree local Robyne Keogh wasn't affected by the flood but attended the rally to show her support for the local farmers. "We had a flood in 2021, and we got Category D funding really quickly," she said. On Monday, Mid Coast Mayor Claire Pontin met federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain to present new flood-damage figures and push for the Category D disaster funding. "The argument is if a one-in-500 year flood doesn't result in a Category D declaration then what does, because we've experienced a huge amount of damage," Councillor Pontin said. "So many people's lives have been disrupted."
ABC News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Mid North Coast floods led to a month of isolation for Cundle Flat residents
For the past month, Kristina and Ollie Strat have had their groceries delivered by a helicopter or a makeshift pulley system rigged up over the Manning River. They're among five residents at Cundle Flat isolated when devastating floods hit the Mid North Coast in May. Ms Strat estimates about two hectares of her land was washed away, including a campground the couple ran on the banks of the river. "It's just rock city," she said. "What was once beautifully manicured lawn, grass, river flat … it's [now] just indescribable," she said. Ms Strat said Cundle Flat Road itself was left "virtually non-existent" in parts. Essential items like food, fuel and vet supplies have been flown in by helicopter and drone. Ms Strat said fuel was invaluable for the first 12 days of isolation, when they relied on a generator for power. But while the power was restored, the only access road remained blocked, so some innovation and cooperation were needed. "About three weeks ago we managed to organise a small boat at the end of the road to the other side of the river," Ms Strat said. Neighbours would also lend isolated residents their cars so they could get to town. Pip Hamersley-Everett is waiting for the road to be repaired so she can get an excavator in to stabilise eroded land on her sheep stud. She lost thousands of dollars worth of fencing and dozens of animals, including her benchmark ewes, but she said fixing erosion would be the biggest cost after the water carved a cliff "which is actually quite dangerous". "That'll be the most expensive thing to do ... getting an excavator in to try to stabilise that embankment, because at the bottom end it's like six metres," she said. While limited 4WD access has been restored for residents, it could be months before they are able to get materials and machinery in for repairs. Mid Coast Council Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Robert Scott said Cundle Flat Rd was one of the region's hardest hit, leaving it like "a war zone." "In some areas we've just basically re-established a track through the debris and disaster to allow people in and out," he said. He says full restoration of the road could take six-to-18 months. Ms Strat said their elaborate grocery delivery system might remain in place for another week while crews worked to make the road more accessible. Despite more than four weeks of isolation, residents say Cundle Flat was only this week assessed as an eligible locality for the state government's personal hardship grants. "My true understanding is that it's an oversight," said Ms Hamersley-Everett. "There's only five of us in this valley, so it's easy for them to overlook us. "But we have alerted them to the fact that we are here and we have been severely affected." Ms Strat said the delay in receiving financial assistance, coupled with damage to her property and the loss of her business, has compounded the mental weight of being isolated. "We live in a beautiful environment — or it certainly was before the flood — [but] it is an isolated environment and you do treasure that. "But when you know that you are actually isolated and you have no time frame on when that is going to cease, it gets a little tiring after a while. She said the support of friends, family and long-term campers has been invaluable as they deal with the aftermath of the flood. A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said SES data and evacuation orders were used to identify an initial 142 suburbs and localities for grant eligibility. The spokesperson said further suburbs and localities had been added as the government consulted with local representatives.
ABC News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Cundle Flat residents still isolated by flood damage.
A Mid North Coast community spent one month relying on chopper drops in the wake of May's devastating floods. Supplied: Pip Hamersley-Everett
