The Bugle - 29 July 05
In news this week
Regional body stories
- Making Southern Gulf grazing sustainable and profitable
- Mackay Whitsunday launches forward
- Mackay Whitsunday program proves popular
- Symposium set to build capacity
- Landholders the key weedbusters
- Land mangers to be paid for being eco-friendly
- Landcare grows in the Burnett Mary
- Giving waterways a face lift in the far north
Government updates
- Silly people move Crazy Ants
- Providing help for Indigenous entrepreneurs
- Major events provide a boost to regions
- Evaluating RIS's effects on biodiversity
- DPI&F releases June 2005 prospects
Natural resources news
- Brazil speaks for Qld at Australian Landcare Council
- CEO's awarded for strong leadership
- Learn about Queensland's threatened plants
- Graeme Connors sings for Landcare
- Discussing future challenges as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park turns 30
- Brisbane sinks to become new dive
Making Southern Gulf grazing sustainable and profitable
The appointment of two scientists in Mount Isa to design a grazing land management (GLM) package for the Southern Gulf Region should make grazing in the region more sustainable and profitable.
Vanessa Alsemgeest and Rebecca Anders joined the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries team in May. They will work on a GLM project for North West Queensland.
The DPI&F appointed seven grazing land scientists in key locations throughout western Queensland.
The teams training packages will cover grazing management, use of fire, pasture restoration and weed management. The team will also provide extension support to property and sub-catchment planning groups.
The package has been developed in other Queensland regions, including the Burnett and the Burdekin, and the Katherine region in the Northern Territory. The project is funded by Natural Heritage Trust.
In the North West, the DPI&F, in partnership with Southern Gulf Catchments, is customising the GLM package to suit local conditions.
The GLM package will involve a three-day workshop, which aims to give participants an appreciation of environmental and ecological issues within the Southern Gulf, and present research collected from grazing trials and Landcare activities.
If you would like to be involved, please call Vanessa or Rebecca on 4747 2028.
Mackay Whitsunday launches forward
On-ground work to manage and protect valuable natural resources in the Mackay Whitsunday region is set to begin.
Federal Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation Senator Ian MacDonald jointly launched the Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group (MWNRM) management plan and regional investment strategy on the 15 July.
MWNRM Executive Officer Ray Allan said the plan aims to manage and protect the region's natural assets and the regional investment strategy outlines the projects that will be funded through the Natural Heritage Trust.
"The launch of the NRM plan and regional investment strategy coincided with the opening of our new office," Mr Allan said.
"The day was an opportunity to thank all those who have played a role in development of the plan." he said.
Mr Allan said the plan had lots of community input, and MWNRM would rely on partnerships with community groups, local government, industry and other stakeholders to implement the plan.
For further information please contact Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group on 4953 5298.
Mackay Whitsunday program proves popular
The Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group's sustainable landscape program has proven very popular, receiving more than 120 expressions of interest in the first round.
Program manager Will Higham said the program offered cash incentives to Mackay Whitsunday land managers for improving of the condition of their natural resources.
Mr Higham said $1.2 million was on offer in the current round. He encouraged land managers to be involved in the second round, which will start soon.
MWNRM's sustainable landscape program is supported by the Natural Heritage Trust and has provided land managers with 10 to 40 per cent of the total cost of implementing activities.
The program is provided through three integrated catchment management groups: Whitsunday Rivers Integrated Catchment Management Group, Pioneer Integrated Catchment Management Group and Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Group.
For further information please contact Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group on 4953 5298.
Symposium set to build capacity
The Condamine Alliance and QMDC are co-hosting an NRM capacity-building symposium on 28-29 September in Toowoomba.
The focus is on investigating processes for stakeholder engagement and generating new ideas. Tools and information for facilitating decision-making and actions will also be targeted.
The SEO4 state-level investment project, the Consortium for Integrated Resource Management, the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation and the Australasian Pacific Extension Network are supporting the event.
Most regional NRM bodies have expressed interest in attending and providing a regional prospective. Andrew Campbell (Land & Water Australia) will provide a national context, while two guests from the Netherlands, Janice Jiggins and Niels Roling, will provide international experiences and input.
Please take a look at the APEN web site for an outline of the event, a guide for paper submission and online registration.
If you have queries please call 02 6024 5349 or email APEN.
Top
Landholders the key weedbusters
Nine local council and Landcare staff from the Maranoa-Balonne and Border Rivers areas made the long trip to Townsville to hear about the struggles and successes other parts of Queensland, Australia and the world are experiencing to control weeds.
The overriding message from the 8th Queensland Weed Symposium was the most successful weed control programs have been driven by landholders.
Warroo-Balonne Landcare Coordinator in Surat, Lisa Thompson, attended the symposium. "The main question Landcare coordinators and councils face is how we can get landholders and communities more involved in weed control," Lisa said.
The trip to Townsville for the nine attendees was subsidised by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) as a part of its regional weeds and pest animal management strategy.
For more information please phone QMDC on 4637 6270.
Land mangers to be paid for being eco-friendly
Condamine Alliance is funding the development of a "ecosystem service payments" model to help protect natural resources around an important urban water source.
Crows Nest Shire environmental officer Rick Galbraith is leading the project to develop a model for properties around Cooby Dam, with the support of Toowoomba City Council, Toowoomba Landcare and DPI&F.
Ecosystem services have been described as the fundamental life-support services provided by natural ecosystems, without which human civilisation would cease to thrive.
This project will develop market-based instruments to encourage land managers to retain and enhance those assets that contribute ecosystem services.
The payments could provide income for land managers and improve the environment, according to Mr Galbraith.
An environmental levy on rates or a charge on water consumed could fund on-ground actions in line with targets in the Condamine Catchment NRM Plan.
For further information please email the Condamine Alliance on phone 4620 0102 or visit the Condamine Alliance web site.
Landcare grows in the Burnett Mary
Growing Regional Landcare is not only an aim but also the title for the latest Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) National Landcare Program funding application just submitted.
The title is already proving an apt one with the Burnett Mary regional Landcare partnership experiencing unprecedented levels of support from its partners.
The gains made by the partnership since its inception in 2003-04 have encouraged new groups to form and past groups to reform.
This latest proposal will see five more groups participating.
Growing Regional Landcare will complement a continuing application entitled Regional Landholder Ownership of Sustainable Land Use Solutions and Implementation and provide an essential link between science and the paddock.
For further information please email the Burnett Mary Regional Group on phone 4132 8333 or visit the Burnett Mary Regional Group web site.
Giving waterways a facelift in the far north
Stream banks and waterways in the Gordonvale area are undergoing a makeover thanks to local green thumbs.
The project is coordinated by the Mulgrave Landcare Group.
FNQ NRM Ltd Coordinator and local landowner Bruce Corcoran says the community tree planting day offer members of the community a way to contribute to the landscape they live in.
"These plantings create homes for animals, brighten the area visually and improve the function of our waterways. The plantings are also very social with loads of fresh air, fun and exercise," Bruce said.
Best of all, working together in our own backyard, we can watch our work grow and see the changes taking place."
Bruce said the days also hone planters' gardening knowledge. "People learn about plant species, maintenance and nutrient cycles. This is information they can use at home in their own gardens," he said.
The work also generates serious environmental benefits. Recently 300 native trees have been planted on a tributary of Middle Creek north of Gordonvale. This project linked the work of three neighbouring cane properties to form a much-needed wildlife corridor.
Plantings are held on Sunday afternoons for around one-and-a-half hours.
For further information please email the FNQ NRM Ltd on phone 4061 6477 or visit the FNQ NRM Ltd web site.
Silly people move Crazy Ants
New outbreaks of Crazy Ants have been reported at Banyo (SEQ) and Gordonvale (FNQ).
Contaminated demolition material appears to have been removed from the Edmonton quarantine area to the Gordonvale area.
An inspection of the Gordonvale property revealed crazy ants in the demolition material. NR&M immediately destroyed this incursion. Monitoring will continue.
This incident demonstrates why quarantine conditions must be adhered to, and residents and developers should be aware that penalties for breaching quarantine conditions can be severe.
Failure to comply with a emergency quarantine notice may lead to fines of up to $60,000.
Emergency quarantine notices were issued for the Banyo infestation after surveillance determine the extent of this infestation. Businesses under quarantined have been very co-operative with NR&M staff during initial survey and discussions.
Quarantine notices have been reissued for other sites in south east Queensland and the Edmonton area.
For further information contact Steve Matheson on 4761 4000
Providing help for Indigenous entrepreneurs
A state indigenous business development program will give grants to help Indigenous people to increase their economic independence, take up employment opportunities and improve their quality of life.
The Indigenous Business Capacity Building Program aims to help Indigenous people through projects focusing on business establishment or capacity building. The Indigenous Business Establishment program will support activities that lead to establishing viable Indigenous businesses.
Applications are ongoing and further information is available by visiting the State Development web site, by emailing State Development or calling them on 3224 6099.
Major events boost to regions
The Queensland Government's, Queensland Events Regional Development Program aims to extend the economic and social benefits of events to regional Queensland.
The Queensland Government committed $3 million over an initial three-year period. This enabled the Queensland events program to create the most comprehensive portfolio of supported events of any state in Australia.
Given the success of the initial program, the Queensland Government not only extended its investment, it increased it.
Two new funding initiatives, the Significant Regional Events Scheme (SRES) and the Regional Events Innovations Scheme (REIS) were added to the program to increase the scope of funding assistance.
Many rural and regional centres are turning to tourism as a new industry and events can be a cost-effective way of promoting the region and its attractions.
These grants support the development and growth of regional events which increase local economic development, improve the appeal of the destination, and enhance the visitor experience.
Applications close 5 August and further information is available by visiting the Queensland Events web site, emailing regional events or calling 4799 7301.
Evaluating RIS's effects on biodiversity
Six regional NRM bodies from Queensland have been selected among 15 regions nationwide to develop case studies as part of the national evaluation of biodiversity outcomes of regional investment.
The evaluation aims to assess the extent of regional investment in activities that contribute to the biodiversity, conservation objectives of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
Desert Channels, Burnett Mary, Southern Gulf, QMDC, South West and Far North Queensland have been selected to evaluate the effects of their investments.
If you want further information, please email Dr Duggan or phone on 02 62820941.
DPI&F releases June 2005 prospects
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has released the June 2005 quarterly Prospects Update.
The Prospects Update contains revised short-term gross value of production forecasts for 2004-05.
The update focuses on commodities where major changes have occurred since the September 2004 edition of Prospects. It feature pigs, milk, grain sorghum, wool, fruit and vegetables.
The Prospects Update series complements DPI&F's annual Prospects publication. Due to popular demand, there will be three Prospects Updates published each year in March, June and December, in addition to the annual Prospects published in September.
You can get a copy of the June 2005 Prospects Update from the DPI&F's web site.
Brazil speaks for Qld at Australian Landcare Council
Bobbie Brazil is the Queensland community member on the Australian Landcare Council (ALC) and is soon to become the chair.
ALC is the Australian Government's peak advisory body on Landcare and NRM matters.
The next ALC meeting will be held 17—18 August in NSW and Bobbie is asking Queensland regional NRM groups to comment on two items:
- The three most important NRM issues the ALC should address over the next 12 months
- Whether Landcare groups would use an online source for information and training?
If you wish to comment or provide any other feedback to the ALC, please email Bobbie Brazil.
For more information about the ALC visit the Australian Landcare web site.
CEOs awarded for strong leadership
Nominations for the fourth annual Equity Trustees not-for-profit CEO awards are open!
Recognising outstanding not-for-profit leaders, the prize of $20,000 is sponsored by Deloitte and Equity Trustees. The awards will be announced at Philanthropy Australia's international conference in Melbourne on 11 October.
The keynote speaker is Australian of the Year, Professor Fiona Wood. Nominations close 8 August.
To enter online visit Equity Trustees web site or call Equity Trustees on 03 8623 5000.
For more information, visit the Philanthropy Australia web site.
Learn about Queensland's threatened plants
The Threatened Species Network has produced a new publication to raise awareness of threatened plants in Queensland.
The book provides extensive information and is useful for land mangers and people generally interested in nature.
The book is available by emailing the Threatened Species Network or calling 3221 0573.
Graeme Connors sings for Landcare
Country singer Graeme Connors is set to give an intimate solo performance at this year's Queensland Landcare Conference ‘The Outback Speaks' to be held August 4—7 in Barcaldine.
The Desert Uplands Committee, hosts of the 2005 Landcare Conference, are excited and honoured that Graeme has scheduled his new tour with his performance at the conference in mind.
They are pleased to have a drawcard like Graeme coming to sing on the Saturday night, as he is a compelling storyteller and the two-hour performance will suit the conference theme, ‘The Outback Speaks'.
As well as the great social itinerary, conference organisers have some thought-provoking presenters and fantastic workshops lined up, the focus being on sharing knowledge and understanding of Landcare and Catchment management beyond the Great Dividing Range.
To find out more about program and registration details, contact conference hosts, the Desert Uplands Committee on 4651 2160 or email Kerri Woodcock. Conference registration forms are available at Desert Uplands web site.
Discussing future challenges as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park turns 30
A state conservation conference will be held in Townsville from 15—17 September with the theme "Great Barrier Reef: 30 year of management and future challenges".
This year marks 30 years since the creation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It is an appropriate time to look at the past 30 years of management, the current impacts on the integrity of the Reef and the future challenges facing the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef.
The conference will be hosted by the North Queensland Conservation Council and more information is available by visiting the North Queensland Conservation Council web site.
Brisbane sinks to become new dive
This Sunday is the day they will sink Brisbane, but the city's residents need not head for the hills. It will be the ex-HMAS Brisbane that sinks beneath the waves to create an artificial reef and dive site.
A new conservation park will protect the ex-HMAS Brisbane after the vessel is scuttled off the Sunshine Coast.
The conservation park will ensure commercial access to the site is well-managed and will restrict or prohibit activities that could compromise safety, amenity or conservation, such as fishing and anchoring.
It is hoped that this new dive site will put Queensland firmly on the international dive tourism map and will attract thousands of divers each year, opening up tourism job opportunities for the Sunshine Coast and the region.
The site is due to open for diving in August.
We welcome your input and feedback on this newsletter. If you have any contributions, comments or suggestions please contact Carl Glen or Paul Rees.
To view past issues of The Bugle use this link, on the regionalNRM web site.
The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Strategic Policy and Regional Arrangements, Natural Resources and Mines, highlighting regional natural resource management activities around Queensland.
Last updated 05 April 2006