Joanna Prendergast

Australia, Geraldton

Rural Reporter at ABC News (Australia)

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Articles

Historic wheat shipment ends CBH's 85-year monopoly at Geraldton port

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Belinda Varischetti

In what is regarded as a sign of growing competition in Western Australia's $10 billion export grain industry, the first shipment of wheat to depart Geraldton independent of the CBH Group sailed last night. CBH is Australia's largest agricultural cooperative and is WA's main grain handler, exporting most of the state's average annual 16 million tonnes of crop. For the past 85 years it had exclusively exported grain from Geraldton, 420 kilometres north of Perth.
Calls for agriculture lobby groups to unify for stronger representation

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Belinda Varischetti

There are calls to unite agricultural interests into one representative group to more effectively lobby government. Proponents say it would strengthen the industry's ability to defend itself against detrimental policy. Existing WA lobby groups such as the Pastoralists and Grazier's Association and WA Farmers don't support the idea.
WA fishers say federal plans to protect more ocean will increase seafood prices

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Kate Forrester

The Environment Minister Murray Watt has announced new protections excluding commercial fishers from an additional six per cent of Australia's oceans. The move, along with scenes on global fishing practices from Sir David Attenborough's new documentary Ocean, has angered the WA Fishing Industry Council. The council has warned Australian shoppers will bear the cost of the new protections, but the minister says it will guarantee the long-term security of the fishing industry.
Puppy farming prevention questions as WA government dumps contract

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Piper Duffy

The West Australian government has quietly scrapped a $9.8 million contract to build a new online pet registration considered a key step in the fight against puppy farming. The Centralised Registration System (CRS) was to replace all registers managed by local governments. It was a key part of the government's reforms aimed at stopping black market dog breeding.
Yalgoo residents wary of new FI Joint Venture iron ore mine's groundwater impacts

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Chris Lewis

A Hong Kong-based company is planning a large mine near a small outback community, sparking fears for groundwater and a tourist attraction. FI Joint Ventures is planning a 310-million-tonne open pit iron ore mine less than 20 kilometres from Yalgoo. The Shire of Yalgoo has an objection to the miner's plans in the WA Wardens Court.
Confusion over licensing and access to hunting grounds under WA's strict gun laws

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast

Pastoral owners say they can't register on WA's new firearms portal, making it impossible for them to grant permission for people to continue to hunt on their land. The laws have left some Aboriginal people confused and upset as they want to continue to gather traditional food. WA Police say they are aware of issues with the online portal.
'Horrendously expensive' interstate shipping denies farmers lifeline

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast

A West Australian grain exporter says it is cheaper and safer to send Australian grain to China than to drought-hit farmers in states such as South Australia. Livestock farmers grappling with an ongoing drought in SA are running short of feed and are looking to source grain and fodder from other states. But Perth-based shipper John Orr said union and government-imposed shipping rules made it risky and expensive to send grain to other states.
Sheep farmers slam government's live export transition aid draft plan

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Belinda Varischetti |Joanna Prendergast

A draft document of how the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry plans to allocate $45.5 million to WA's sheep and wool sectors has been leaked. In the draft, the department notes that the funding may not go far enough. Farmers say it offers no solution to give the industry more security. Grants are expected to be opened in July as part of a co-design process.
Land lease plans for $15b hydrogen plant has Kalbarri locals nervous of lockout

Mar 4, 2025 | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Chris Lewis

Plans are afoot to build one of Australia's biggest green hydrogen projects near a popular coastal holiday hotspot in WA. Locals are concerned a land transfer proposed by the state government will lock them out of areas important to the community. The Shire of Northampton says the development process is not transparent and wants more information from the WA Government and the project developer.
Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road upgrade an election pledge as residents deal with dust, potholes

Feb 18, 2025 | abc.net.au | Joanna Prendergast |Chris Lewis |Natasha Harradine

A pothole-riddled, heat-warped road still bearing the scars of flood damage from nine months ago has finally got some attention with an election pledge. For residents of towns along the 335-kilometre Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road, the billions of dollars spent on new bridges and train lines in Perth feel a world away and they say they have had enough of the inequity. They suffer from small town shops blanketed in dust and median strips destroyed by wide loads.