Native Australian bees could be the next to join the country's ‘War on Waste’ with researchers working to produce a water-repellent and flame-resistant form of natural plastic from the bees’ nesting material.

Veronica Harwood-Stevenson, founder and chief executive of the biotech start-up company, “Humble Bee”, says her work involved trying to understand the cellophane-like bioplastic that lines the bees’ nest.

Taronga Zoo could be responsible for Sydney’s prolific ibis population says research scientist, Dr Richard Major.

Taronga Zoo’s experimental breeding program in the 1970’s, encouraged the Australian white ibis to roost in the grounds of Sydney harbour.

Dr Major said while it would be unfair to point the finger directly at Taronga Zoo, it was reasonable to suspect its program helped the wetland dweller adapt to life in the city.

The long-discussed pedestrian and cyclist bridge connecting the Brisbane CBD to Kangaroo Point will have a business case developed.

On Tuesday, the state government announced it would give the Brisbane City Council $230,000 towards planning the new bridge across the Brisbane River.

The bridge which was first proposed in the 1800’s and again in 2013, had previously had $32 million allocated funding - but the funding did not appear in subsequent budgets.

Two survivors have been pulled from debris as Indonesian rescuers search the rubble of a destroyed village mosque on Lombok Island.

The rescue mission comes after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the holiday location, killing at least 105 people.

The natural disaster has left more than 230 people significantly injured and 20,000 displaced.

A study has found 1 in 7 children born to mothers with Zika virus will have health problems including birth defects.

The majority of people infected with Zika virus don’t get sick, however the first long-term study has revealed children born to mothers with Zika virus are at risk of severe brain defects.

Researchers also found there were not enough health checks for children born to mothers with Zika virus.

The preliminary report on NAPLAN results was due to be published today, however, some states are in disagreement with the national assessment authority over how they should be presented to the public.

ACARA has been canvassing different versions of the report since early June, whilst considering the reputational risk to the body, NAPLAN, and My School data.

Several state department heads have questioned whether data between the new online tests and the pen-and-paper version should be comparable after seeing early results.

A statement issued by Transport Canberra encouraging women to join the public transport industry has received social media backlash with women describing it as “condescending” and “sexist”.

The ACT Government said it was “committed to the recruitment of female drivers…inviting ladies to try driving a bus.”

The media release ended by saying, “Everyday female bus drivers are out on the road showing they are equally as safe and confident behind the wheel.”

Drone zones in Brisbane have been made permanent after hundreds of residents supported designated spaces for the aerial vehicles.

Demand from drone enthusiasts led Council to conduct an Australian first, six-month trial of the zones in December last year.  

Brisbane City Councils environment, parks, and sustainability chairman, David McLachlan, said the council provided launch and landing sites at 10 Brisbane parks to accommodate the growing number of drone enthusiasts.

There has been a 35% increase in usage of Brisbane’s City Cycles with over 2,000 trips taken daily.

The City Cycle scheme which originally got off to a slow start, costing taxpayers 13 million dollars, has now been operating for eight years.

The Brisbane service is considered a success in comparison to Melbourne and Sydney’s bike share services which were both shut down this year.