The Bugle - 16 September 05
In news this week
Regional body stories
- Badu ranger program off to a great start
- QBAC gets into RiverClean spirit
- Biodiversity laws explained
- Condamine captured in high resolution
- FNQ NRM welcomes newest team member
- Extension officers brush up on Burnett NRM issues
- People get proactive with Parthenium
Government updates
Natural resources news
Badu ranger program off to a great start
Badu island in the Torres Straits now has three official Land and Sea Rangers, for land, sea and cultural resource management and to participate in community and visitor education.
The rangers are involved in land management, cultural resource management, fisheries surveillance and monitoring, tourist/visitor management and community education, on behalf of the native title holders for Badu Island.
The Torres Strait's Regional NRM Facilitator provides capacity-building support and access to training for the new ranger program which is partly funded under the Natural Heritage Trust initiative and the National Landcare Program.
According to TSRA Chairperson, Mr Toshie Kris, the program is unique as it is driven by, and directly benefits, the Badu Island community and goes some way towards ensuring appropriate local management and protection of land and sea country.
In the near future, the Badu Island Rangers may become partners in a cross-regional project to address marine debris and ghost nets across northern Australia. They will also be involved in a dugong and marine turtle management project in which the Kimberley, Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and Torres Strait regions will participate.
"The rangers have a broad charter of responsibility and although it's early days, they have made some very good progress towards protecting their land and sea, and with continued community support their positive impact on the environment can make a significant difference," Mr Kris said.
QBAC gets into RiverClean spirit
The Queensland Baptist Aboriginal Corporation (QBAC) has been busy clearing Jim Finimore Park as part of the recent RiverClean celebrations.
QBAC contractors recently completed a five-day weed management project at the park, which was the site of tree planting and other RiverClean festivities to help improve the value of the Bremer River on 11 September.
Over five days, the QBAC contractors cleared more than 50 meters of woody weeds and non-native grasses along the creek bank. The chinese elm (Celtis sinensis), a major environmental weed along the Bremer River, was cut down and mulched for use on-site. Chinese elm is quick growing, rapidly forming dense thickets that dominate river bank vegetation and replace native shrubs and trees.
The QBAC's work will complement the Ipswich City Council's planned upgrade to the site and was part of the SEQ Western Catchment Group's riparian weed management program.
For further information please email SEQWCG's Jean Bray or phone her on 3816 9722.
Biodiversity laws explained
World Wildlife Fund – Australia (WWF) is holding a public workshop in Roma to explain the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).
The EPBC Act is the principal piece of national environmental law that outlines the Australian Government's responsibility for the protection of nationally significant natural and cultural heritage.
The workshop will answer questions about how the Act could affect local residents.
The Roma workshop organiser Alison Goodland from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee said: "The workshop is for all the community as the EPBC Act can impact on everyone and everyone can be involved."
Nationally significant natural and cultural heritage issues include threatened and migratory species and their habitat, threatened ecological communities, Ramsar wetlands, world heritage and national heritage places.
The Roma workshop will be held on the 20 September at the Agforce Building on 42b Wyndham Street, Roma. RSVP Alison Goodland, QMDC, 4637 6286.
Condamine captured in high resolution
The Condamine Alliance has taken delivery of sophisiticated satellite imagery, that will generate an easily accessible composite picture of the Condamine River catchment.
The Spot5 high resolution satelite imagery is a first for NRm in Queensland.
Alliance staff, armed with GPS receivers, have validated the satellite imagery with readings taken at more than 300 locations.
Land managers previously relied on aerial photographs or other satellite images, none of which formed a composite of the catchment.
Spot5 pixel resolution is relatively high (at 2.5m) and is suitable for mapping and analysis to a scale of 1:7500, makes it easier to identify paddocks, trees, water storages and other features.
Digitised images on this scale generally eliminate a requirement for ground truthing, allowing the Alliance and clients such as Landcare and local government to use the imagery as a baseline for planning and monitoring landscape change.
The Alliance has also established the first agreement between a regional body and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines to share NRM data.
FNQ NRM welcomes newest team member
John Reghenzani will be working under the new Sustainable Coastal Agricultural Systems (SCAS) which helps wet tropics farmers manage their farms better, increase productivity and protect the environment.
John has vast experience in the agricultural sector. He was a senior research agronomist at BSES Ltd for 30 years, has established environmental best practice techniques for the sugar industry and is currently investigating environmentally friendly drainage techniques to improve sugarcane productivity.
Part of John’s new role will be improving the communication link between grazing, cane and horticultural sectors, regional bodies and government to help bring long term viability and sustainability to farms and the environment.
Extension officers brush up on Burnett NRM issues
Thirty extension officers from DPI&F, local governments, the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), private consultants and agri businesses met for two days in Kingaroy on 12-13 September to discuss water quality, salinity, biodiversity and farming practices.
DPI&F AgSIP coordinator and organiser Valerie Sapin said the meeting looked at Sednet scenarios, water quality monitoring instruments and results. Participants also discussed past and current NRM extension efforts in cropping, grazing, dairying and agro forestry.
The workshop allowed extension officers to meet their new counterparts in local government, BMRG and other agencies. The group also visited an agri forestry trial, one of the major land use changes in the district.
On the second day, participants discussed the economic situation of Inland Burnett, with input from bank managers, DPI&F financial counsellors and local graziers. They heard first hand what local graziers had to say about their extension preferences, about trying to remain profitable and trying to do the right thing with their land or vegetation.
The meeting closed with a visit to a nearby DPI&F greenhouse where Ian Crosthwhaite, agronomist for Bean Growers Australia and Landcare member, showed participants the progress on the biological control for blue heliotrope the Blue Heliotrope Leaf Beetle (deutercampta quadrijuga) .
Val Sapin summarised the two days saying "The Burnett region is experiencing dramatic population and land use changes. We need to update each other regularly if we want to agree on where to invest future research and extension efforts. Managing regional resources is about trying to reconcile different value systems and experiences. This workshop is one of a series of steps in that direction".
People get proactive with Parthenium
Proactive measures are being adopted by shire councils and land managers to stamp out Parthenium in the Inland Burnett.
For more than 13 years, the Eidsvold, Perry and Monto Shire Councils have had a partnership to control the weed in their shires.
The working group overseeing the partnership recently agreed to develop a seven-year management plan for Parthenium upstream of the Goleby weir.
The group will seek to have the plan endorsed by the national Parthenium Weed Management Group and BMRG.
The BMRG is developing a regional response to Parthenium with support from the Parthenium Weed Management Group, University of Queensland, CRC for Australian Weed Management and Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
Vegetation clearing laws explaned
Primary producers and contractors affected by new vegetation clearing laws can learn how to access the $130 million available in Queensland Government funding in a series of seminars.
The seminars, which are being held throughout the state, will start in North Queensland on 12 September. The seminars are being held by QRAA, formerly known as the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority, and the Department of Natural Resources & Mines. Attendees will be able to discuss their individual circumstances at the completion of the seminars.
The new laws have resulted in many producers planning to build up or alter their farming operations. The government's funding package is desgined to help producers to implement their new plans. Producers planning to build up or alter their farming operations should attend the seminars to find out more about the legislation and how they are affected by the changes, and what financial options are now available to them.
Producers are able to access two funding options:
- Enterprise Assistance in the form of a grant of up to $100 000 is available to implement plans to develop their enterprise and increase their future profitability.
- Exit assistance which provides options for those primary producers who wish to get out of primary production or relocate their enterprises.
The eligibility criteria for assistance were recently broadened following calls from industry and these changes will be discussed at the seminars.
For further information or to reserve a seat call the QRAA on 1800 623 946.
Governing water in South East Queensland
Water is becoming a rare and precious commodity as we move into the 21st century. The combination of rapid population growth and climate variability, especially in regions such as South East Queensland, means we can no longer take water for granted.
Urgent changes to our traditional way of thinking are required. Water restrictions, while an important tool of policy, need to be supplemented by far more innovative approaches.
What must we do to establish a secure supply of good quality water? a public seminar will be held on 18 October at Customs House from 1.00-5.00pm.
This seminar will explore answers to this question and will focus on managing community expectations and behavioural change, developing effective regulatory arrangements in a complex area of policy and introducing more efficient and equitable systems of water pricing. The role and importance of recycled water will be an overarching theme of the seminar.
The seminar will feature presentations by a range of decision-makers, stakeholders, analysts and consultants who are at the centre of the contemporary water debate
To attend please call 3220 2198 and then RSVP by 14 October. The seminar costs $60 and there is a $10 discount for Brisbane Institute members.
Contributions to Australian Landcare magazine now open
The December edition of the Australian Landcare journal will focus on the triple bottom line impacts of Landcare, with an emphasis on community benefits.
If you have a story to tell, the deadline for contributions is 2 October.
Articles with an upper word length of 300 - 400 words and stories in line with the above theme will be considered on individual merit.
For more information or to submit a story, contact Peter Collins, Contributing Editor, Garrison Communications on 3315 6920 or email admin@garrisonau.com
Feral fido wears out welcome
With the onset of warmer weather, wild dog activity is on the rise and the state government has urged land managers to join each other in efforts to control it.
At this time of year, inquiries about wild dogs to NR&M and local councils are at their peak as there are more sightings of wild dogs, mainly at dawn or dusk, and people often see their tracks.
Wild dog control methods include baiting, trapping, shooting, fencing and the use of guard dogs to protect valuable stock.
Co-ordinated baiting programs were the most economic, humane and effective method of controlling wild dogs, especially in inaccessible or larger areas. Trapping is an alternative for landholders close to built-up areas, or for people who don't want to use chemical control, but for the best results this should be done in conjunction with wider district co-ordinated programs.
People living on the urban fringes could also do their part by not leaving out food scraps which may attract dogs, and making sure garbage bin lids were tightly fitted. Domestic animals should be contained, keeping dogs behind fences and poultry in suitable enclosed areas to safeguard them from wild dog attacks.
Anyone experiencing wild dog problems should contact their local council for advice. NR&M assists councils by providing effective poisons, training and support. For more information on pest animals, visit the NR&M pest management web site.
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