EPA, developer defend records over contentious WA beach development
By Sam Tomlin, Stan Shaw, and Gabrielle Becerra Mellet

The City of Busselton says the watchdog has ignored its own rules after giving the Smiths Beach development the green light, but Fini Group says its work was "rigorous".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-28/epa-under-fire-city-of-busselton-smiths-beach/106474390

#RegionalDevelopmentandPlanning #EnvironmentalImpacts #StateandTerritoryGovernment #LocalGovernment #SamTomlin #StanShaw # #GabrielleBecerraMellet

Australian dependence on imported packaging exposed by Iran war
By Jake Evans

The war in Iran renews the government's interest in reducing Australia's dependence on imported packaging, particularly oil-reliant plastic.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-27/oil-crisis-revives-talks-of-levy-plastic-packaging/106497956

#RecyclingandWasteManagement #FederalGovernment #GovernmentandPolitics #FederalParliament #Industry #PlasticsPolymersandRubberManufacturing #EnvironmentalImpacts #OilandGas #JakeEvans

Bay the 'greatest risk and biggest asset' for beachside residents in Victoria
By Jonathon Kendall

For residents of Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula like Vicki, who is facing the impacts of climate change-induced erosion and inundation, the water near their doors is both their biggest asset and greatest risk.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-26/coastal-erosion-climate-change-impacts-bellarine-coast-victoria/105184364

#ClimateChange #EnvironmentalImpacts #JonathonKendall

NSW forestry industry fighting to avoid the chopping block
By Lauren Bohane and David Claughton

The NSW forestry industry is calling for secure access to timber as the proposed Great Koala National Park locks up resources and recent closures of Victorian and Western Australian sectors raise fears for the future of native logging.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-26/nsw-forestry-industry-calls-for-secure-future-national-shutdowns/106471438

#ForestryLoggingandTimberIndustry #Forests #EnvironmentalImpacts #EnvironmentalPolicy #Rainforests #Agriculture #LaurenBohane #DavidClaughton

How a world-first baiting program could save the seabirds of Browse Island
By Esse Deves

Scientists are using "world-first" drone-baiting technology to eradicate house mice infestation from a remote WA island to save seabirds.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/seabird-drone-baiting-browse-island-kimberley-house-mice-mouse/106486150

#Conservation #Pests #Drones #Environment #Animals #EnvironmentalImpacts #EndangeredandProtectedSpecies #EnvironmentalManagement #EsseDeves

Cacti confiscated from home garden over fears of another 'prickly pear' disaster
By Crispian Yeomans

An opal miner's garden plants have been destroyed after it was identified as a prohibited plant, potentially as invasive as one of Australia's most notorious plants.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/cactus-confiscated-from-outback-town-garden-over-biosecurity/106492174

#SucculentPlants #AgriculturalWeedControl #InvasiveSpecies #EnvironmentalImpacts #CrispianYeomans