The artificial opening of the Belongil Creek, an Intermittently Closed and Open Lake and Lagoon (ICOLL), on Monday, 12 October led to yet another significant fish kill with locals and vistors advised to avoid the area and not swim nearby.

As more horses risk life and limb at The Melbourne Cup today, animal lovers are gathering at Flemington Racecourse and across the country to stand up for the victims of what has been described as an outdated and exploitative horseracing spectacle.

A major effort to rehabilitate almost 30 kilometres of flood-affected riverbanks across NSW has received international recognition, with Local Land Services and the Soil Conservation Service winning this year’s International Erosion Control Association Australasia (IECA Australasia) Environmental Excellence Award.