The Bugle - 07 October 05
In news this week
Regional body stories
- Partnership trains community to monitor resources
- Water wise gardeners win inaugural QMDC award
- Acid sulphate soils blamed for dead fish, damaged wetlands
- Mackay waterways get Healthy
- Research seeks clues about mangrove dieback
- Regional group hosts groundwater GIG
- Land forum builds bridges
- Identifying production and environmental tradeoffs on farms
Government updates
- Good news for the accident-prone
- Community Activity Grants close soon
- Project scopes state of our regions
- CRC surfs into Rocky shores
Natural resources news
- Spring snakes sprung
- Hinchinbrook stage two development rejected
- Bulimba Creek wins national Riverprize
- Carl Glen gets six months for good behaviour while new inmates begin serving sentences
Partnership trains community to monitor resources
South West NRM has partnered with Rangelands Australia to bring an accredited natural resource monitoring training program to its region.
Rangelands Australia developed the 'Introduction to Monitoring for Management' short course using South West NRM's 'Monitoring Made Easy' system. The course gives participants field skills for monitoring changes in pasture and soil condition, biodiversity and water quality.
Rangelands Australia plans to make this short course available throughout Queensland in the coming months.
For more information about the 'Monitoring Made Easy' system, contact Mellissa Jess at South West NRM on 4654 7382. For more information about the short course 'Introduction to Monitoring for Management', contact John Taylor at Rangelands Australia on 5460 1662.
Water wise gardeners win inaugural QMDC award
The winners of the inaugural Queensland Murray-Darling Committee-sponsored award for the most water-efficient garden in the Roma garden competition were Bruce and Darlene Johnson of Massey Downs, Muckadilla.
Careful planning and astute watering of plants are two ingredients that Darlene Johnson attributes to her success.
Darlene uses drippers on trees, waters only at night, has pop-up sprinklers on the lawn, hand waters annuals only when they needed it and uses mulch extensively.
The new award is part of QMDC's broader project to develop an urban water use efficiency plan in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and eight local councils.
Contact QMDC for info on the urban water use efficiency project on 4622 8727.
Acid sulphate soils blamed for dead fish, damaged wetlands
Saving the lives of tens of thousands of fish in central Queensland's waterways is one of the upsides to a leading-edge research project.
The study aims to identify acid sulfate soils causing havoc in wetlands.
Principal scientist Bernie Powell said the study will build on information gathered over the last couple of decades to help explain the cause of coastal wetland dieback and occasional fish kills.
The three-year study, funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and supported by the Fitzroy Basin Association, the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, will look at how large amounts of sulphuric acid, aluminium, iron and heavy metals find their way into the local waterways.
So far it appears that many of the pollutants are released from soils during development and construction of infrastructure. However, the project will map acid sulfate in soils in the Rockhampton region and will provide councils, developers and land managers with information on the location of these effected soils.
The project will be completed by 2007 and could greatly improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Mackay waterways get Healthy
The Healthy Waterways Integrated Monitoring Program provides a central system for storing and analysing data, links current and future water quality monitoring programs, reduces duplication and helps fill the gaps in data collection.
The Mackay Whitsunday NRM Healthy Waterways Working Group developed the concept of the integrated program and contracted Natural Resources and Mines and the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research to develop it. The first phase of the program was undertaken by the Healthy Waterways Volunteer Network in late 2004.
A network of volunteers collects samples and includes people interested in water quality such as landholders and government agencies.
Collaboration and partnerships are being made with catchment management associations, Mackay City Council Stormwater Management Plan, Mackay Water, Seagrass Watch, industry and some PhD and research projects (e.g. mangrove dieback research) in the region.
Research seeks clues about mangrove dieback
A mangrove dieback research project may determine if runoff has significantly increased the levels of herbicides, nutrients and heavy metals in mangrove sediments.
The research will determine if the changes in levels of these pollutants have significantly affected mangrove health.
South-east Queensland's mangrove dieback steering group guides research into the health of the region's mangrove ecosystems. Monitoring is underway and results from this and previous exercises will be released next March.
Regional group hosts groundwater GIG
NRM SEQ's work with the Groundwater Investigation Group (GIG) on Eudlo/Paynter creek and Maleny on the Sunshine Coast has produced a draft framework for getting the community into groundwater monitoring.
The group is engaging the community through local catchment networks and the response has been very positive. The community has helped identify and monitor a significant number of bore sites.
The framework will be further developed as the networks are trained. It is hoped that the framework will eventually be applied in the many other areas with poor groundwater knowledge.
For more information please email Andrew Todd or on 5441 2938.
Land forum builds bridges
A Murries and land management forum brought together about 50 people from the Fitzroy Basin region to get an update on the involvement of Aboriginal people in natural and cultural resource management activities.
The forum, held at the Emerald Agricultural College on 28-29 September, was a great way for traditional owners and Fitzroy Basin Association staff to network and share information.
Other topics discussed included protection and interpretation of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ka Ka Mundi and Salvatore Rosa parts of Carnarvon National Park and Murri involvement in the planning of major water infrastructure developments in the Fitzroy.
Ron Archer from the Northern Gulf Savanna Group spoke about NRM's reliance on people working together across cultures.
A major result of the workshop was the formation of a working group to investigate ways of improving the representation and engagement of the more than 30 different native title claimant groups in the Fitzroy Basin.
Identifying production and environmental tradeoffs on farms
A resource economics workshop titled 'Identifying production and environmental tradeoffs at the farm level' will be held in Rockhampton on 28 October.
The workshop is part of the Central Queensland University's AgSIP 13 project. The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality's state-level investment projects (SIPs) cover five key areas: salinity, water quality, social and economic, capacity building and agriculture.
Details of the workshop program and registration details are available on the University's AgSIP 13 web site.
The Agricultural Statewide Investment Projects (AgSIPs) are led by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. More information about the AgSIPs can be found on the DPI&F web site.
Good news for the accident-prone
NR&M has negotiated a better deal on the insurance it provides for community NRM groups, cutting excess by 90 per cent.
The package comprises public and product liability, personal accident and professional indemnity insurance, and is provided free to endorsed community NRM groups.
The renewed policies have a few notable changes; the most exciting news for groups is the reduction in excess for the public and product liability from $10 000 to $1000.
Coastcare groups should be delighted that watercraft up to eight metres long are now covered, with no restrictions to watercraft on inland waterways.
All groups covered under last year's policy will continue to be covered. However, any new groups or groups that are currently not covered MUST register as a community NRM group.
If you are unsure if your group is covered, or would like more information about the registration and application process, email QWaLC Executive Officer Brenda Walhain or phone 3211 4409.
Information about the insurance package, including activities covered, conditions and exclusions is available from NR&M’s Capacity Support Officer on 3239 3860.
Community Activity Grants close soon
Applications for the 2006 round of Community Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants close Friday 28 October 2005.
Grants of up to $2500 are available to Landcare, Bushcare, Coastcare, Waterwatch and other community natural resource management groups to develop small, innovative and creative projects.
The theme for the 2006 grants is Queenslanders, naturally resourceful. Successful projects will occur in or around Queensland Resources Week, in May 2006.
Applications are encouraged from regional and rural communities. Projects should seek partnerships with community, school, youth or business groups, or local government.
The grants will support projects that take an entertainment, educational or cultural approach to strengthening the community’s awareness and involvement in sustainable NRM. The program is not intended to fund on-ground core activities.
For further information on how to apply, download the guidelines and application form from the NR&M web site, or contact the Capacity Support Officer on 3239 3860.
Project scopes state of our regions
A state of the region reporting scoping project has helped to identify the drivers, needs and perceived roles and responsibilities of four regional NRM bodies providing state of region reports in Queensland.
State of region reporting improves our knowledge of the condition of natural assets, how they are currently used in the regions and how effectively the community, industry and governments are managing them.
Far North Queensland Natural Resource Management, Fitzroy Basin Association, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee and South East Queensland Catchments Group (included representatives from the combined SEQ Western Catchments NRM Group and NRM SEQ) are all participating in the study.
This scoping project will test the validity of an implementation framework proposed in the State of Region Reporting Discussion Paper against the needs of these four regional NRM bodies. It will also investigate the ability of the regional bodies to report on the state of their regions.
A final project report will be released in November. For further information please email Chris Chinn or phone 3362 9318.
CRC surfs into Rocky shores
The Coastal Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is organising a two-day training workshop on practical strategies for collaborative NRM in Rockhampton on 17-18 October.
The workshop is for regional NRM body staff, boards and stakeholders, government officers involved in regional NRM, researchers and community groups.
Several Coastal CRC research projects focus on the role of partnerships among stakeholders in NRM, while others aim to provide tools to assist NRM managers with making decisions and accessing information. There will be presentations by social researchers on governance and partnerships research projects, interactive exercises and local case studies.
The cost is $300. Registration is essential and places are limited.
For details, session outlines and registration, visit the Coastal CRC web site or email Karrina Nolan or phone 0403 920 195
Spring snakes sprung
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is urging people to be wary of snakes as temperatures rise.
The warning is timely as snakes and other reptiles are likely to be out and about in the next couple of months looking for mates and replenishing their energy after winter.
When left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people. Anyone who sees a snake should give it a wide berth and not threaten or provoke it. If left alone, the snake will generally move on.
Residents who find a snake indoors that shows no signs of moving should contact their local snake removal business (see the Yellow Pages), Southern Queensland Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372 or your local QPWS office for further advice if necessary.
Snakes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act. They cannot be harmed or taken from the wild. Keeping a snake requires a licence from QPWS.
Hinchinbrook stage two development rejected
The EPA has rejected stage two of the Port Hinchinbrook development, a proposed addition to the controversial development approved in 1994. The area is adjacent to important coastal wetlands and the World Heritage listed Hinchinbrook Island.
The EPA found the proposed development posed an unacceptable risk to land earmarked for national park and containing significant coastal wetlands, dunes and endangered regional ecosystems.
There are also serious concerns that clearing and construction work could lead to acid sulfate soil disturbance, water quality impacts, erosion and salinity problems.
The application was assessed under the Coastal Protection and Management Act, State Coastal Plan and the Cardwell-Hinchinbrook Regional Coastal Management Plan. The Act and plans did not exist when stage one was approved.
Bulimba Creek wins national Riverprize
Brisbane's Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) caught the eye of judges to win the prestigious 2005 National Thiess Riverprize.
The $50,000 Riverprize is awarded each year to an outstanding Australian river or catchment restoration project.
Bulimba Creek is a degraded urban waterway being restored by an active group of volunteers. It has been recognised as a model for successful rehabilitation and community participation.
B4C is the first Queensland group to win the national prize, now in its eighth year.
The 2005 Riverprize was presented in front of 450 delegates at the International Riversymposium, a forum focussing on world's best practice river and catchment management, in Brisbane on 7 September.
The Riversymposium's theme this year was 'Water and Food Security - Rivers in a Global Context'. It looked at the challenge of meeting human needs for water while keeping our river systems healthy.
For further information please contact B4C's Luke Diett on 3420 4800.
Carl Glen gets six months for good behaviour while new inmates begin serving sentences
Carl Glen will be taking a six month break as editor of the Bugle as he has been seconded to assist with communication for the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.
Please keep sending in those great articles we all love to read, but make sure you email them to Shona Strachan or Paul Rees while Carl is away.
Carl thanks all everyone for their contributions to the Bugle and looks forward to working with you all again soon.
We welcome your input and feedback on this newsletter. If you have any contributions, comments or suggestions please contact Shona Strachan or Paul Rees.
To view past issues of The Bugle visit the regionalNRM web site.
The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Natural Resource Management Arrangements, Natural Resources and Mines, highlighting regional natural resource management activities around Queensland.
Last updated 05 April 2006