“What a lot of weather we’re having,” was something my Great Aunt Florence, a one-time Land Army girl, and someone as softly spoken as Lady Bracknell (of ‘The Importance of Being Ernest’) used to say. And we have had a lot of interesting, weather-related events. In the Murray-Darling, irrigated horticulture usually provides 40% of Australia’s fresh…
Category: Climate
Investing In Water Security
Level Five watering restrictions came into force in Brisbane this week. On average, each person in Brisbane uses about 198 litres of water per day. Brisbane City Council wants to reduce this to approximately 140 litres of water per day. This target will be hard to achieve as we are entering our long, dry season…
Brisbane’s Water Emergency Worsens
Shortly following revelations that our Water Commission has increased its own water consumption, the same organisation today announced that it wants personal water consumption to be reduced from the current 180 litres per day to 140 litres per day. Our personal daily water consumption at ‘Bellis’ has remained stable at about 116.66 litres since last…
Celebrating Three Years Of Drought
Planted in September 2004 the plants in our front garden were watered for six weeks to establish them. Apart from the hedge and two potted plants, the garden hasn’t been watered since.
Environmental Heroes Honoured
From the Federal government’s Australian honours website: Name: CUNDALL, Peter Award: Member of the Order of Australia Date granted: 26 January 2007 State: Tas Suburb: Rosevears Citation: For service to the environment, particularly the protection of wilderness areas in Tasmania, and to horticulture as a presenter of gardening programs on television and radio.
Reducing Water Use… Again
We need to make further water economies at home. On the bright side the rainwater tank is just over half full, so that’s enough water for three people for four weeks sparing household use, but if we do this none can be used for gardening. The sewage system provides about 330 – 350l of recycled…
Hail Delivers, Wind Claws Back
The bureau of meteorology’s radar view showed the large black mass of an intense storm sweeping our way. We switched off the computer and disconnected all powerpoints…While I was shutting windows, putting batteries in the radio and getting ready for what might follow, Damo took snaps of the storm front. At his call I went…
Oil, Rust, Heat And Global Crises
Four days ago (the 8.8.06) British Petroleum closed Prudhoe Bay, the largest oilfield in the USA. BP’s public relations claim that this was due to ‘corroding pipelines’. No one gets nervous when you hear about a bit – or even a lot – of rust. But is it true or hype? The arctic tundra is…
Springing To Life
It’s thirteen days since the mulberry, Morus nigra, next door sprouted its new spring leaves – in the middle of July (17.7.06). Here springtime traditionally follows Brisbane’s agricultural show – “The Ecca”, August 10 -19th. The media always look for indicators that springs are arriving earlier due to climate change. It’s such a predictable request…
Jerry Coleby-Williams 