Anzac Day marches and many rememberance services cancelled for 25 April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic

ABC News, 16 March 2020:

A number of states have moved to cancel some Anzac Day services and ban the public from attending others in an attempt to thwart the spread of coronavirus. 

A selection of dawn services will be held across the country but the public will be asked not to attend. Any marches or midday services will be cancelled. 

RSL Victoria state president Dr Robert Webster said it was not a decision taken lightly. 

"Traditionally, many of us have marked Anzac Day by attending a dawn service at our local cenotaph or the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance," he said 

"But in 2020, on April 25, when you can't go to a local dawn service, the RSL is asking that instead you tune in via radio, social media or television and take a moment to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our veterans and those who are still serving today.".....

RSL Queensland president Tony Ferris said the move was designed to protect "our older veterans" who are particularly at risk, and said he was looking into alternative ways for people to commemorate the day. 

"Regardless of the form this year's Anzac Day commemorations take, we will always remember the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of our Defence forces, past and present," Mr Ferris said. 

Robert Dick, state president of RSL Tasmania, said he was hoping the public could empathise with the decision. 

"Yes, we cop a lot of public flak over the issue, but we ask them to consider everybody else, not just themselves," he said. 

Several states and territories are yet to make a firm decision about their respective services....

Iconic Bluesfest and a number of other events cancelled or postponed on NSW Far North Coast from March to December 2020

Several events in the NSW Northern Rivers have been cancelled due to the national large gathering bans in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These include: the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest on 9-13 April 2020 ; Lismore’s Songkran Festival on 5 April; Anniversary Day at New Italy on 5 April; and the 116th Maclean Highland Gathering on April 10-11.

Casino's Beef Week due to be held in May has been postponed, possibly until early September 2020. However timing depends on how the pandemic progresses.

Splendour in the Grass 2020 is being rescheduled to Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2020 at North Byron Parklands.

Byron Harmony Festival 2020 scheduled for 21 March at Mullumbimby has been cancelled. Tickets will be refunded.

Local industry group Northern Rivers Food (NRF) has confirmed that the 2020 Northern Rivers Food Harvest Festival has been cancelled.

Ballina Coastcare Committee (in consultation with long-time Dune Care members) has postponed DuneCare and Coastcare 30th Anniversary. No new date announced.

Grafton Relay For Life due to be held on 4-5 April has been suspended. New date will be announced.

Grafton Eisteddford was to be held on Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 April but is postponed until a date later in the year.

Criterion Theatre, Grafton, live theatre performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been postponed from 26 March-5 April to 26 November-6 December.

The Maclean Show Society has decided to cancel the 122 year old Maclean Agricultural & Industrial Show for this year in a unanimous decision of their committee.

Events that are still not confirmed under the latest large gathering ban (no more than 100 people limit): Carna Byron Bay on 21 March; Casino Race Day on 21 March; and Crankfest at Evans Head on 18 April.

Grafton Christ Church Cathedral has suspended the Wednesday 10am Eucharist for at least the next two weeks and Sunday services are expected to also be suspended following a meeting of the Parish Council tonight. Sunday services and other major holy days will be live-streamed via the cathedral’s Facebook page.

Lawrence Museum will be closed from Saturday 21 March due to the pandemic.

NOTE FOR SATURDAY SHOPPERS; Bunnings Warehouse has suspended Sauage Sizzles at all its stores.

Clarence Valley Conservatorium will still be going ahead with its scheduled concert featuring Swedish guitarist Johannes Moller at 7pm on Saturday 21 March 2020, but adhering to the strict guidelines being issued by health authorities only 30 tickets will be issued to ensure seating is suitably spaced.

COVID-19 Pandemic 2020: Clarence Valley Council taking social distancing seriously

#COVID19 means it's important to reduce avoidable personal contact with other people. If you have an enquiry you could call or email us or use the Live Chat facility on our website.

If you need to make payments, call your bank now about setting up #BPay#ClarenceValley pic.twitter.com/xS11Yaek1L

— Clarence Valley Council (@CVCNSW) March 16, 2020

Now, when do we hear that this local government council has also considered not just the health and safety of its own workforce, but how it will support the basic needs during this pandemic of the est. 17.5% of the Clarence Valley population 70 years of age and over whom social distancing is going to make just that little bit more vulnerable during a prolonged period of physical isolation, the est. 29% who live alone often without family support and, the est. 5.4% of local residents who have no car and rely on local buses or taxis.

In case shire councillors need to be reminded, residents who fall into one or all three of these categories were already sometimes dying alone and unnoticed before this pandemic arrived on the NSW North Coast. The annual figure was not high, but this current situation has the potential to raise the incidence. 

There are fines for breaking Australia's national large gatherings ban dring the COVID-19 pandemic

Crikey Worm, 16 March 2020:

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINED

State governments and police will take responsibility for enforcing penalties over the new quarantine rules, with Morrison encouraging a “dob in” your mate system, and Pedestrian.TV reporting that, under existing rules, fines for breaching public health orders carry wildly different penalties according to state.

• Victoria: $6,400
• Tasmania: $8,400
• Queensland: $13,345
• South Australia: $25,000
• NSW: $11,000 and six months’ jail
• WA: $50,000 and 12 months’ jail

The Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC respectively report both NSW and Western Australia police will enforce the existing laws; ditto Queensland police, who will conduct random check-ins.

South Australia, meanwhile, has officially declared a public health emergency, the ABC reports.

Third COVID-19 case reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District

 Northern NSW Local Health District, 18 March 2020:

A third confirmed case of COVID-19 has been recorded in the Northern NSW Local Health District.

This case is among the 267 total cases recorded for NSW as at 11am 18 March.

As with the other two cases recorded within the LHD, this case was acquired overseas, and is not the result of local community transmission.

The individual is self-isolating, and the North Coast Public Health Unit has already followed up close contacts of the case.

No further details relating to the individual’s location will be made public at this time. There are no locations that pose an ongoing risk to members of the public.

We can also confirm that all close contacts of the previous two recorded cases in NNSWLHD have been identified, contacted and followed up by Public Health officers.

NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinics are up and running across the state however, we stress these clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, or people like our health workers. People without symptoms do not need to be tested.

For more statewide statistics and flight details of confirmed cases, please refer to NSW Health – https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200318_00.aspx

UPDATE

On the morning of 19 March 2020 it was reporteded that a fourth person in the Northern NSW Local Health District has tested positive for COVID-19.

Reserve Bank of Australia dumps emergency $14.7 billion into banking system and states intention to buy up Morrison Government debt, as financial system is stressed by COVID-19 pandemic

Reserve Bank of Australia, media release, 16 March 2020:

Statement by Philip Lowe, Governor

As Australia's financial system adjusts to the coronavirus (COVID-19), financial regulators and the Australian Government are working closely together to help ensure that Australia's financial markets continue to operate effectively and that credit is available to households and businesses. (Refer to earlier Council of Financial Regulators' (CFR) press release.) Australia's financial system is resilient and it is well placed to deal with the effects of the coronavirus. At the same time, trading liquidity has deteriorated in some markets. 

In response, the Reserve Bank stands ready to purchase Australian government bonds in the secondary market to support the smooth functioning of that market, which is a key pricing benchmark for the Australian financial system. The Bank will also be conducting one-month and three-month repo operations in its daily market operations until further notice to provide liquidity to Australian financial markets. In addition the Bank will conduct longer term repo operations of six-months maturity or longer at least weekly, as long as market conditions warrant. The Reserve Bank and the AOFM are in close liaison in monitoring market conditions and supporting continued functioning of the market. 

The Bank will announce further policy measures to support the Australian economy on Thursday. 

Channel 9 News, 16 March 2020:

The Reserve Bank has pumped extra liquidity into the banking system, part of a package of measures aimed at ensuring business and households have access to credit as the coronavirus causes chaos in global financial markets.

The RBA used its daily money market operation to add $5.9 billion to the system through regular repurchase agreements, well above its original intention of $2.5 billion.

That followed an injection of $8.8 billion on Friday, which had left commercial banks with a hefty $10.7 billion of surplus cash held at the RBA.....

All major activities and events will temporarily be ceased in NSW public schools

Echo NetDaily, 15 March 2020:

All major arts, sports and initiative activities and events will temporarily be ceased until further notice. This includes whole school sporting events and inter-school events involving three or more schools.

‘Local inter-school sport and other activities, can proceed but we ask organisers to ensure that as far as possible, reasonable precautions are taken,’ he said.

‘I trust our principals and staff to show leadership during this time.

Schools will be provided with more detailed advice and suggestions on how they can adjust their day to day activities with minimal disruption.

The Department is continuing to prepare for further closures if necessary with scaling up of technology, additional training of staff and preparation of offsite lessons.

Useful links for families and students in self-isolation can be found here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/continuity-of-education

And general COVID-19 advice for schools here:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety/novel-coronavirus.html

Clarence Valley 2020: For the first time since WWII Maclean's Highland Gathering has been cancelled

On 16 March 2020 the organiser's of the Highland Gathering at Maclean NSW - due to be held on 10 & 11 of April - announced it will not be held this year due to national restrictions in place with regard to large groups during the the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of the Lower Clarence Scottish Association Alister Smith told The Daily Examiner; “We obviously have a lot of people within the particular age range that are susceptible. It’s a very difficult decision when you think the last time we’ve had to cancel the gathering was for World War II.”

Participating bands, solo players, stall holders and sponsors will be contacted in coming days to make arrangements for repayment of any fees.

In the Clarence Valley at least 17.5 per cent of the populaion are 70 years of age or older and, health authorities have identified the elderly as being more vulnerable to infection.

NCEC Fire Forum - 'Let's Talk About Fire', Saturday 28 March 2020, Whiporie General Store, Whiporie, NSW 2469 at 10:00 am – 4:00 pm AEDT

NCEC Fire Forum - 'Let's Talk About Fire'

Are you concerned about what the Australian Fires, the government inquiries and the Royal Commission will mean for our forests and native wildlife?

As well as the devastating impacts to life and property, the recent, unprecedented wildfires have resulted in extensive losses of our precious biodiversity from the mountains to the sea. Given the increasing impacts of global heating, such extreme climatic events are likely to become more frequent in the future. This North Coast Environment Council (NCEC) event is specifically targeting conservation groups and individuals who care about nature to come together to discuss the way forward to assist the restoration of habitats, recovery of our flora and fauna and planning to better protect our biodiversity from future catastrophic events. The NCEC have enlisted a number of expert presenters who will provide information on key aspects of bushfire planning for biodiversity outcomes. Learn about the extent of our biodiversity losses and discuss ways to mitigate the impact that similar future events will have on our precious flora, fauna and cultural values.

When: Saturday March 28, 2020

Time: 10am - 4pm

Where: Whiporie Hall, 5351 Summerland Way, Whiporie, NSW 2469

Between Grafton and Casino on the Summerland Way

Fee: $15 include morning/afternoon tea and lunch, concession $10

Speakers

• Dailan Pugh OAM - What we’ve lost, flora, fauna and EEC’s
• Dr. Rob Kooyman - Fire in Gondwana Rainforest
• Ian Dixon - Community response from the Mt. Nardi fire
• Oliver Costello - Firesticks Alliance - Cultural Burning
• Maria Mathis - Koalas, planning for fire
• Dr. Wayne Somerville - The 2019/20 Bushfire Trauma:
• Recovery and resilience for people and forests
• Dr. Graeme Douglas - Threats to conservation as a result of wildfires reviews /enquiries

Q&A Session

Booking is essential by 26th March 2020

Please email through any special dietary requirements to Jim Morrison: pactec@harboursat.com.au

Contact: Jim Morrison

Email: pactec@harboursat.com.au

Ph: (02) 6664 5233

Organiser of NCEC Fire Forum - 'Let's Talk About Fire' is North Coast Environment Council Inc. Formed in 1976, it is the peak umbrella environment group in northern NSW, covering the area from the Hunter to the Tweed and west to the New England Highway.

Sixteen weeks after the 2019 Border Ranges bushfires in north-east New South Wales this is how the rainforests looked

https://youtu.be/LOU9CVWYT9M

Some 160,000 hectares of NSW's rainforests burnt in 2019, the effects were devastating, this video shows the effects on World Heritage listed rainforests of the western Border Ranges.

Coles supermarkets now have new purchasing rules due to coronavirus panic buying as of 14 March 2020

As the situation around Coronavirus continues to develop, we believe that everyone in the community should have access to their share of grocery items, particularly the elderly.

Following the toilet paper restrictions introduced last week we have seen compassion from customers respecting these limits.

Our team members and suppliers have also been working as hard as possible delivering more products to stores every day and stocking shelves as quickly as possible. I would ask all customers to continue to respect and support our team members, particularly if a product is unavailable or the checkout queues are longer than normal.

To continue to allow everyone the opportunity to purchase staple items, we will be implementing a couple of further changes throughout our stores:

1.   From Saturday we will limit the purchase of pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers to 2 items per customer. We will also be introducing some additional limits on certain items in each store. These can vary between stores, so please visit your local Coles for more information.

2.   From today we will be temporarily suspending our change-of-mind refund policy to discourage over-purchasing. If you have already purchased additional items you no longer want, please look at donating them to community organisations or neighbours who have been struggling to purchase them during this time.

Further information on Coronavirus can be found at www.health.gov.au

Thanks for your ongoing support and patience in these unprecedented times. We will get through this together!

Best wishes,

Steven Cain

CEO, Coles Group

COVID-19 virus spread in NSW is gaining pace in March 2020

This post is no longer updating.

11 Affected NSW Local Heath Districts, 14 March 2020

In the space of fourteen days the COVID-19 virus went from 6 cases in New South Wales to 91 cases.

To date 44.4% of all Australian confirmed COVID-19 cases are in this state.

NSW UPDATES:

48.7% as of 15 March 2020
45.2% as of 16 March 2020
46.6% as of 17 March 2020
47% as of 18 March 2020
45% as of 19 March 2020
41.7% as of 20 March 2020
40.6% as of 21 March 2020
39.36% as of 22 March 2020
41% as of 23 March 2020
44.6% as of 24 March 2020
42.4% as of 25 March 2020
43.5% as of 26 March 2020

Cumulative COVID-19 confirmed infection numbers since the outbreak began in New South Wales*

• 15 January 2020 - 1 case
• 25 January 2020 - 3 cases
• 31 January to 28 February 2020 - 4 cases
• 29 February 2020 - 6 cases
• 2 March 2020 - 9 cases
• 3 March 2020 - 15 cases
• 4 March 2020 - 22 cases
• 5 March 2020 - 25 cases
• 6 March 2020 - 28 cases
• 7 March 2020 - 36 cases
• 8 March 2020 - 40 cases
• 9 March 2020 - 47 cases
• 10 March 2020- 54 cases
• 11 March 2020 - 64 cases
• 12 March 2020 - 77 cases
• 13 March 2020 - 91 cases
• 14 March 2029 -111 cases

NSW UPDATES:

• 15 March 2020 - 133 cases
• 16 March 2020 - 171 cases
• 17 March 2020 - 210 cases
• 18 March 2020 - 267 cases
• 19 March 2020 - 307 cases
• 20 March 2020 - 353 cases
• 21 March 2020 - 436 cases
• 22 March 2020 -533 cases
• 23 March 2020 - 704 cases
• 24 March 2020 - 818 cases
• 25 March 2020 - 1,209 cases
• 26 March 2020 - 1,219 cases

Conservative infectious disease models suggest that every person infected with COVID-19 has the potential to infect 4 other people.

On 1 February 2020 Australian Prime Minister & MP for Cook Scott Morrison announced a ban on direct travel from mainland China.

On 29 February 2020 Morrison imposed a ban on direct travel from Iran. However this was a case of closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

On 5 March he announced a ban on travel from Korea and on 11 March from Italy. 

As of 14 March Morrison refuses to consider a ban on travel from the United States of America, even though more people who have entered Australia from the US have been diagnosed with the coronavirus than was the case with incoming flights from Iran.

By Saturday morning, 14 March 2020 there were 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia with 3 deaths and 27 fully recovered, according to an Australian Dept. of Health health alert on the same day. This left 167 confirmed active cases of COVID-19.

That figure changed later on Saturday, as New South Wales,  Western Australia and South Australia reported additional cases, bringing the national count to 223 confirmed cases with three deaths and 27 fully recovered.

AUSTRALIAN UPDATES: 
As of midnight 14 March 2020 the national count stood at 250 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 8:82pm 15 March 2020 the national count of COVID-19 cases is 251.
As of 11am 15 March 2020 the national count is 273 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 15 March 2020 the COVID-19 national death toll has reached 5 persons.
As of 16 March 2020 the national count is 378 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 17 March 2020 the national count is 450 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 18 March 2020 the national count is 568 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 19 March 2020 the national count is 681 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 20 March 2020 the national count is 846 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 21 March 2020 the national count is 986 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of midnight on 21 March the national count was 1,073 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 7 deaths.
As of 22 March 2020 the national count is 1,354 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 
As of 23 March 2020 the national count is 1,717 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of 24 March 2020 the national count is 1,831 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 
As of 25 March 2020 the national count is 2,423 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 
As of 26 March 2020 the national count is 2,799 confirmed COVID-19 cases - the number of deaths has now reached 13.

If Victorian Dept of Health published data is any indication then exposure to this particular coronavirus is likely to occur at Australian airports, aboard domestic/international commercial airline flights, on metropolitan trains, at sporting events, in parks/ovals, at supermarkets, university campuses, hotels, cinemas, markets and medical practices, as well as at high schools.

During this last week, despite federal or state governments refusing to outright ban large gatherings of over 500 people (and only offering recommendations for many types of gatherings) and the prime minister encouraging people to turn up at sporting events, actual event organisers and businesses began to make their own decisions to either cancel events or run them without audiences.

By Friday, after the general public discovered that at least one federal cabinet minister had tested positive for COVID-19, Scott Morrison altered his stance and advised all "non-essential, organised gatherings" of 500 people or more be cancelled from Monday to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

Mainstream media reported that Mr. Morrison refused to be tested for the virus and, extended this exemption to all of his ministers, stating none needed to be tested or needed to self-isolate.

It seems that there is one rule for the general population based on proven epidemiology protocols and one special rule for Scott Morrison and his political mates.

Luckily for the people of New South Wales someone in the Berejiklian Government had a different perspective on political privilege and, the Sydney offices used by Morrison and certain other cabinet ministers - along with various state /territory ministers and departmental staff - were promptly cleaned.

Government offices in Sydney being cleaned by people in hazmat following Peter Dutton’s positive test. ⁦@9NewsAUS⁩ pic.twitter.com/bB25XMvj69

— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9) March 14, 2020

Note: 

* Official numbers are not updated on Saturday or Sunday. However, looking at the exponential growth to date, by Monday 16 March 2020, the state of New South Wales may have entered the point of no return if it has not completely banned all large gatherings. 
See: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/2020-nsw-health.aspx for latest NSW statistics. Please be aware that the original statistics show 1 interstate resident diagnosed in NSW, who by protocol is listed under state of residence, so has been deducted by me from the NSW total. 
It appears that an est. 16,593 people in NSW have been tested for the virus to date, with 14,665 returning a negative result.

Cartoons of the Week

David Rowe

Mark David

Lismore City Council withdraws plan to increase rates due to community backlash and concern over potential COVID-19 economic impact

The discovery that Southern Cross University campus at Lismore had been exposed to the COVID-19 virus in early March 2020 and news that weeks before that a number of workers on the Pacific Highway upgrade had also been exposed, indicates that this virus is now in the Northern Rivers region. 

LIsmore City Council took that into consideration, along with the impacts of recent drought and bushfires, at its ordinary monthly meeting on 10 March 2020.

The Northern Star, 12 March 2020: 

Lismore City Council will be withdrawing its controversial plan to increase rates by 24 per cent over four years, partly due to growing concern over the impact of coronavirus. 

The council last year decided to apply to IPART to implement a staggered increase of 7.5, 9.4, 3.9 and 3.2 per cent over four years to fund an infrastructure and roads backlog. 

But after community backlash and further lengthy discussions within council, councillors voted in favour Tuesday night to withdraw its application to IPART. 

The fear of coronavirus, mentioned by community members and councillors, was added to the list of reasons why many people considered imposing the rate rise was the wrong decision for the region. 

Councillors also discussed at length the usual concern about the financial burden on ratepayers, the ongoing recovery from natural disasters and the low-socio-economic demographic of the region. 

Councillor Nancy Casson, who put forward the motion to withdraw the IPART application, said unless the council acted smarter, a significant rate rise would hike up the amount of homelessness and create further financial hardships on ratepayers......

According to the NSW Dept. of Health there have been 78 cases of COVID-19 in the state as of 1pm on 12 March 2020.

Out of these cases, 3 people died and at least 4 have fully recovered, leaving est. 71 people still infected.

A further 11,040 people have been tested for COVID-19 and been excluded, while another 1,181 people are under investigation in the state.

Media reports state that Australia-wide there have been 140 cases since the start of the virus outbreak.

A reminder that the NSW Nationals do not have the best interests of Northern Rivers communities at heart

This was the NSW Nationals Member of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin (left) on the subject of a particular fossil fuel whose by-products, flaring and fugitive emissions contribute to Australia's rising greenhouse gas emissions and poor water security...... 

Echo Net Daily, 21 February 2020:

A recently announced bilateral energy deal between the NSW and federal coalition governments – which includes expanding the gas industry – has the full support of local Nationals MLC Ben Franklin.

Franklin replied to the question of whether he was supportive of the expansion of the gas industry, despite it contributing to anthropogenic climate change.

He said, ‘The bilateral deal on energy signed between NSW and the federal government is a wonderful step forward’.

‘As the minister for energy and the environment Matt Kean says, “It is the single biggest state-based financial commitment to emissions reduction in the nation’s history and represents a massive Green deal for NSW”.’

It’s a statement rejected by The Greens and environmental groups.....

* Photograph from www.parliament.nsw.gov.au

Topsoil loss during 2020 flooding in the Clarence Valley

The Daily Examiner, 9 March 2020:

Anyone travelling around the recent flood-affected areas of the Valley, including along the Clarence River itself, couldn’t fail to notice the chocolate brown colour of those floodwaters.

The Orara River was particularly bad, and after the floodwaters had receded, council needed to use a front end loader to scrape thick layers of deposited mud off some roadways and bridges. The paddocks alongside creeks were likewise buried beneath a thick layer of mud.

This was always to be expected if torrential rain occurred soon after the bushfires, especially with ash washing off the bare ground into waterways.

But these floods brought more than ash. This was topsoil, something that is in short supply across much of the Australian continent. We are told that globally, some 24 billion tonnes of topsoil are lost annually through erosion, and Australia’s contribution is shameful, given we are a supposedly developed country with sufficient resources to protect this precious commodity.

Wind and water are the two main forms of erosion.

Both can be significantly mitigated simply by maintaining a good vegetation ground cover. Without that cover there is nothing to hold the soil, and this past season has highlighted that fact.

Firstly there was drought, and overgrazing to the point where only bare soil remained, resulting in one huge dust storm after another for months on end.

Then the bushfires destroyed what vegetation the livestock had left. Then came the floods, ripping apart fragile unprotected stream banks, and washing them downstream to the ocean.

Even without bushfires we lose far too much soil to erosion, and again, poor livestock management is largely to blame.

Many Australian rivers and creeks have no adequate vegetation to buffer against erosion and fewer still are fenced to exclude cattle.

As a result, these animals congregate along waterways, trampling banks, and browsing any available vegetation, so their impact is even greater than fire.

Landowners have a responsibility to manage erosion on their properties and to consider what they are leaving for future generations. If we are to solve the erosion problem, livestock management must be a focus point.

JOHN EDWARDS, Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition

COVID-19 exposure reaches the NSW Northern Rivers region in March 2020

ABC North Coast, 11 March 2020:

It is possible that another two people are already infected because of being "directly or indirectly associated with attendance at a workshop". NSW Health does not state where the workshop was held. [NSW Health, alert, 10 March 2020].