Latest news with #BarringtonTops
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Moonan Flat pub closes as locals worry it will be end of the tiny Hunter town
The only thing worse than a pub with no beer may be a town with no pub. That is what the residents of the tiny town of Moonan Flat are facing. Its only hotel is closed and for sale. The village in the Upper Hunter, near the Barrington Tops National Park, is home to just 30 residents. But the patronage of farmers from surrounding properties and tourists on their way up the Barringtons meant the pub was once a thriving hub of rural life. Regular patron Ray Keaton said the venue was vital for the small community. "There was one fellow who used to come here every day, [and] when he passed away last week, we didn't know. "Had [the pub been open], it would have been a different story; we would have wondered where he was and checked on him." Without the pub, tourists have nowhere to eat, drink, or sleep, and locals have nowhere to meet. Residents are worried it might be the end of the historic town. Upper Hunter Shire Council Mayor Maurice Collison, who lives at Moonan Flat, said small communities relied on their pub for more than just a beer. "If you're having a yarn to someone, it often breaks that little barrier that you may be going through. "It's a place to do business and pick up employment, it's great for tourism … if people are working in the area, they use the facility for accommodation." Cr Collision said he was particularly worried about the loss of tourism if another buyer could not be found. He said the council had recently spent "a lot of money" on the sealed road that led to Barrington Tops. "It's crucial to tourism for the whole [Upper Hunter] because this is the track to the coast," Cr Collison said. Local Gary Johnson said being able to catch up with mates at the pub had been crucial for his mental health. "There are quite a few single people [who live alone] in the area, and they come here and they meet up, so each one knows what the other one's doing. "Now, they'll be out working and people won't know where they are or what they're doing, so it makes it sort of an unsafe situation too." Kate Morris cancelled her wedding party when the pub closed, and said there was nowhere else close by that could accommodate her 180 guests. "It's a big let-down," she said. After the pub's manager left town last month, the Newcastle-based owners closed the doors and the 'For Sale' sign went up. Real estate agent Deane Moore, who is selling the property, said multiple inquiries had been received. "We are hopeful of having the asset sold and seeing the historic hotel reopen again," he said. But Cr Collison said finding a buyer for an isolated pub would be challenging. "It is very hard in the country because to find [staff] is tough and the transport to get your stuff out is very expensive," he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Invasive weed vanishes from popular tourist attraction thanks to tiny 'miracle'
One of the country's most invasive and destructive weeds has been officially eradicated from a 400-hectare wildlife sanctuary with the help of an unlikely accomplice, and could soon be replicated around Australia. Scotch broom was first introduced as a garden plant in the early 1900s, however it quickly spread across Australia's southeast, smothering native vegetation and destroying wildlife habitat — ultimately landing itself on the list of Weeds of National Significance. Now, in what Tim Faulkner, managing director of sanctuary Aussie Ark, has deemed an 'ecological miracle', the pesky plant has completely vanished from the conservation organisation's site situated near NSW's Barrington Tops, which is also a popular destination for eco-tourists. 'It's thick, short canopy chokes out native flora and wipes out wildlife,' Faulkner said. 'It was all over the Ark. We've been fighting it for years, a decade in fact, with more traditional methods like spraying [and] clearing, with very limited success.' What is Scotch broom? Scotch broom (cytisus scoparius) is a deciduous shrub that grows up to four metres tall and has deep-yellow flowers that can also feature a tinge of white and red. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia, partly because of its economic and environmental impacts, according to the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. The plant, which is spread solely by seeds, can reduce grazing areas and harbour feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and pigs in its dense thickets, NSW's Department of Primary Industries states. It is toxic to humans and some animals and will cause discomfort and irritation, but it is not life-threatening. The poisonous seeds can cause high blood pressure and nausea if ingested. Scotch broom favours disturbed sites such as roadsides and cooler areas with higher rainfall. Along with NSW, the species has been recorded in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. How did Aussie Ark finally eradicate Scotch broom? In 2016, Aussie Ark teamed up with Scone Landcare, Landcare NSW and the Department of Primary Industries to release English broom gall mites (aceria genistae) — a tiny insect that specifically targets the invasive plant. 'It's an environmental hero, a natural control solution,' Faulkner said, adding that the ambitious biological control program was a 'slow burn' for the first eight-and-a-half years. 'Then it went boom, and the magic happened.' Last week, Aussie Ark confirmed the insects had destroyed all remnants of the weed, which was once quite prevalent in the area. The eradication 'from such a significant sanctuary is not just a local win', Jodie Lovell, enabling program manager at Landcare NSW said, but it's 'a model of success that could be replicated across the state'. 💦 Region's battle against sinister threat lurking at popular waterfall 🌳 Property owners warned after council finds 'significant' weed in garden 💰 How Aussie farmers are turning the tide on $4.43 billion weed problem Local landowners, state forests and national parks called to action English broom gall mites sit dormant each winter before becoming active again in the spring. 'That's when Aussie Ark wants to strike,' Faulkner said, encouraging local landowners and its neighbouring state forests and national parks to 'get involved'. 'Aussie Ark has the mite — a surplus of them. If you would like to join Aussie Ark to help roll out this natural, biological environmental control program, come join Aussie Ark's war on weeds.' To find out more, contact Aussie Ark at admin@ Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Pinch-yourself moment': new tug boat's grand Newcastle entrance
WHAT an entrance. Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26. To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads. The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore. At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility. "It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said. "Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart." The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean. It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance. Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer. "It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said. "This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull." "It's a new design with leading-edge technology." Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia". "[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said. The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels. The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said. "We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said. A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August. WHAT an entrance. Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26. To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads. The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore. At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility. "It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said. "Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart." The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean. It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance. Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer. "It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said. "This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull." "It's a new design with leading-edge technology." Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia". "[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said. The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels. The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said. "We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said. A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August. WHAT an entrance. Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26. To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads. The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore. At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility. "It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said. "Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart." The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean. It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance. Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer. "It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said. "This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull." "It's a new design with leading-edge technology." Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia". "[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said. The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels. The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said. "We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said. A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August. WHAT an entrance. Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26. To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads. The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore. At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility. "It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said. "Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart." The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean. It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance. Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer. "It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said. "This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull." "It's a new design with leading-edge technology." Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia". "[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said. The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels. The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said. "We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said. A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August.
The Guardian
05-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘Really amazing': joy as 10 Tasmanian devil joeys emerge from Australia's biggest mainland breeding program
Ten tiny, egg-like joeys have been confirmed as the newest members of mainland Australia's largest fleet of Tasmanian devils. It comes after the first pouch check of the 2025 breeding season at Aussie Ark's Barrington Tops sanctuary in northern NSW. A recent deluge that brought more than 600mm to the region didn't rain on the devils' parade, with a spokesperson saying all the joeys, mums and dads were safe. Operation manager, Dean Reid, said up to four more devils are expected to conceive in June in the final breeding window of the year. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'It's really amazing to be able to handle a devil … and see those amazing devils come out of the pouch,' Reid said on Thursday. 'These gnarly, big, chunky animals have little baby joeys in their pouch. 'We've got four more females that didn't have them and one we missed, so more joeys to come.' The Tasmanian devils' mating season occurs over three cycles from February to June, with birth coming after 21 days' gestation. When catching the devils, the conservationists found there was a mix of joeys from the first and second cycle conceptions. Reid also said the joeys' fathers and mothers were doing well. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'While we have the females, we do a full health check, we're doing body scores, weight and giving them preventatives,' Reid said. 'In a couple of months, we're going to see little tiny joeys running around.' The announcement comes on World Environment Day.
