Archived Industry News for Water Professionals

A mining company has been fined $120,000 for the heavy pollution of waterways in Far North Queensland.

Reef record shows two-thousand year growth spurt

A study led by University of Sydney scientists has had a long look back at the Great Barrier Reef’s history, probing deepwater fossils for the natural wonder’s life story.

Santos spreads wells for knowledge

Australian oil and gas company Santos Ltd. is sinking eighteen water monitoring bores around its operations in New South Wales – saying that if water tables are diminished or damaged, they will know about it.

Study seeks to unpick conflicts, cut to core of land issues

A new project has been launched to find out exactly how the values of people in rural areas are affected by land use conflicts caused by CSG drilling, wind farms, irrigation and agriculture.

Twin spills spark nasty clean-up, closures

The Gold Coast City Council may need some extra toilet training, after raw sewerage was accidentally spilled twice in less than a week.

Why pollution changes clouds to anvils in the sky

Airborne pollutants do more than just accumulate over time – we now know they contribute to the make-up of storm clouds, creating more direct weather effects.

New NASA launch to peek behind Venus' veil

Biting at the heels of NASA’s latest launch, the space agency is preparing to send up a rocket to probe the atmosphere of Venus.

Process cut to get gas freely floating

The Australian Government is continuing its pledge to dissolve approval processes it deems unnecessary or duplicative, this week announcing a new ‘one-stop-shop’ environmental process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities.

Border net picked apart by budget cuts

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service says it will be difficult to “stop the boats” when it has to cut 600 staff members in coming years.

Algae growth shows centuries of sea-ice shifts

The ebb and flow of annual changes in sea-ice cover is reflected in the algae underneath, allowing scientists to plot changes in the ice by counting the ‘age rings’ of water plants.

Better science hopes to save billions

Even under the most modest global warming scenarios, extreme El Niño years will occur twice as often – a new report from the University of New South Wales says.

Chevron funds Barrow Island bug book

A new book has added 25 species to the thousands which inhabit a small island area off the north west of Australia.

Eddies vetted for air supply

An international team has collected information to show in greater detail how undersea ‘eddies’ distribute oxygen, warmth and nutrients around the ocean, and how a reduction of this process could leave some parts starving.

Freshwater fish fighters rally to plan next waves

The nation’s leading freshwater fish ecologists have gathered to discuss threats to freshwater fish species at a symposium attracting close to 100 delegates from across the country.

Hyundai's hydro debut set

For years people have said that the only real replacement for internal combustion engines would be a hydrogen-driven motor, but that is too far off. Not anymore.

Sand mine expansion sees Government backing, community outrage

The expansion of a silica mine in New South Wales has been recommended for approval by the Department of Planning, but will face continuing clashes with activists opposed to the 15 million tonne dig.

Streets packed to keep the tax

Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets over the weekend, speaking out about the need to fight climate change with realistic methods.

Agriculture cuts could leave doors open to disease

With exports on the rise and a huge government focus on infrastructure and transport, it would stand to reason that securing borders from invasive diseases and destructive life-forms has become more important than ever – but regardless, the Federal Department of Agriculture is looking to shed over 200 biosecurity staff.