The Bugle - 09 December 05
In news this week
- Ministers launch Torres Strait plan
- Citizen Senate reviews natural resource planning
- Rock ramp a stairway to fishing heaven
- Program educates future Landcarers
- Caring for Country plan officially launced
- Landmark approach to water-use efficiency
Government updates
- Queensland's funding commitment secures regional NRM groups
- New group to assess NRM programs
- Calling all NRM communicators
- e-shop 'til you drop: NR&M products available on-line
Natural resources news
- Water storage improve slightly despite damaging storms
- Public access to Queensland beaches protected
- Builders and plumbers briefed on water-saving measures
- Course offers women a bridge to uni study
Ministers launch Torres Strait plan
Vital funding for land and sea management in the Torres Strait is now guaranteed with the release of the region's Land and Sea Management Strategy for the Torres Strait.
The $2.1 million strategy was launched by Queensland Ministers for Natural Resources and Mines, Henry Palaszczuk, and Environment, Desley Boyle.
The strategy identifies the region's land and sea assets, issues and activities, and potential mechanisms for supporting the Torres Strait community to manage their natural resources.
The strategy sets out priorities for how $2.1 million from the Natural Heritage Trust will be invested in the region.
The Torres Strait is a geographically and ecologically unique region and covers an area of more than 35 000 square kilometres, extending from the south-western coast of Papua New Guinea to the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. Relatively shallow seas cover more than 91% of the region, while tidally inundated reef flats make up 6.2%. Only 2.6% of the Torres Strait is terrestrial land, with more than 100 islands scattered throughout.
For further information contact NR&M's Kate Eden by phoning 3224 8408.
Citizen Senate reviews natural resource planning
The effectiveness of more than $2.6 million invested across South East Queensland during 2005 on 22 major projects to manage and protect the region’s precious natural resources was examined by the second annual Citizen Senate yesterday.
The SEQ Citizen Senate was held in the old Legislative Council chambers at Queensland's Parliament House to allow ordinary people to have a say on how the region should manage its natural resources.
The Citizen Senate also reviewed the contribution of thousands of volunteers participating in natural resource projects underway in partnership with 42 community groups, local governments, rural and urban industries and traditional owners. These projects included creek bank management, vegetation and habitat management, weed control, wetland preservation and sand dune restoration, as well as property management plans for 30 significant private landholdings across the south east.
The keynote presentation was given by Dr Darryl Low Choy, Associate Professor Griffith University's School of Environment Planning and Urban Resources.
SEQ Catchments Regional Planning Manager Mr Andrew Davidson said the Citizen Senate was part of a community consultation program for SEQ's Integrated NRM Plan – The Future in Balance.
"It provides an opportunity for a cross section of the community to develop informed recommendations and opinions on regional natural resource management activity," he said.
For further information, contact José Abad on 0403 930 380.
Rock ramp a stairway to fishing heaven
A helping hand for juvenile native fish in Raglan Creek could spell good news for future anglers.
The first of two fish ways recently funded by Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) and built in the creek is already proving successful after 70mm of rain last week saw storm waters help many young barramundi, mangrove jack and bony bream migrate upstream to breed.
DPI&F’s biodiversity project officer Richard Stewart said the Gentle Annie rock ramp structure removed a 70cm high barrier created by the wide concrete apron and under-road pipes of the causeway crossing.
"It was gratifying to see fish moving through the newly constructed system which will certainly boost stocks of barramundi, mullet and mangrove jack as well as native fish species such as gudgeons and rainbowfish," Mr Stewart said.
The Gentle Annie road fish way project was one of two local fish way projects in Raglan Creek undertaken in a $26,000 funding arrangement which includes six months monitoring of in-stream fish movement. A third fish way would be installed next year at the Bajool Weir on Twelve Mile Creek, a permanent water course adjacent to wetlands that was an acknowledged juvenile barramundi habitat.
Nathan Johnston, FBA Regional Coordinator Water Quality said: "This is a positive step towards restoring natural fish migration in the region and our goal is to assist construction of at least one fish way a year."
For more information, contact Sharon Marks at the Fitzroy Basin Association on 4999 2816.
Program educates future Landcarers
Creating a butterfly garden, designing and building a frog habitat pond, monitoring the health of a river, saving a threatened species - school was never this much fun!
The Queensland Murry-Darling Committee's Learning Through Landcare program is a school-based, environmental education initiative. Registrations for 2006 are open to all schools and interest has been strong.
Teachers and students are supported in developing a locally relevant environmental project that encourages awareness of natural resources. Professional development for interested teachers and community members is a big part of the program. Topics include GIS, water quality monitoring, vegetation management and urban sustainability.
Participating schools can showcase their work at the 2006 Discovering Landcare Conference.
Registrations for the 2006 program close in February. Contact Laura Weedon at the Landcare Discovery Centre on 4637 6201.
Caring for Country plan officially launced
The Burdekin Dry Tropics Board’s long-awaited Caring for Country plan was officially launched last week.
The plan provides guidelines for traditional owners to be consulted about activities that might affect culturally significant land and sea areas.
The Burdekin Dry Tropics Board received $20 million this year to go towards projects that look after land and sea.
Landmark approach to water-use efficiency
Rural service company Landmark will lead the Condamine Alliance's latest project to improve water-use efficiency on farms, this time in the Brookstead area of the Darling Downs.
Landmark has been working with dryland and irrigated growers in the area to improve water use efficiency through:
- pre-crop planning (crop and field selection, layout and infrastructure, fertiliser strategies, weed and insect management strategies, irrigation strategies)
- resource assessment, including detailed elevation maps, soil maps and yield maps
- in-crop water scheduling and associated water-use monitoring.
Landmark's national salinity project manager, Kevin Graham, said work with existing farm clients in the area had helped them to increase corn yields in consecutive years – from 8 to 10 to 12 tonnes per hectare – using the same amount of water.
For further information, contact Don Turner at the Condamine Alliance.
Queensland's funding commitment secures regional NRM groups
The Queensland Government has allocated $5 million to ensure the continued operations of Queensland's designated Natural Heritage Trust-funded regional natural resource management groups to June 2008.
Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the funding provided a secure future for the regional NRM groups, allowing them to continue their vital work protecting, conserving and restoring Queensland’s natural resources.
Mr Palaszczuk said the money spent protecting, repairing and restoring our natural resources was an investment in Queensland’s social, economic and environmental well being.
He said regional NRM relied on the work of regional body staff, directors and thousands of volunteers in communities across Queensland who made a big contribution to their community and the environment. This funding from the Queensland Government would keep the regional bodies in business until at least 2008.
The funding was made available through the recent mini budget for designated National Heritage Trust-funded regional NRM groups, which cover the areas of the Torres Strait, Cape York, northern and southern Gulf of Carpentaria, far north Queensland, Mackay-Whitsunday and Desert Channels.
New group to assess NRM programs
The Australian Government has appointed a new reference group to advise it on the future of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust.
The group's three members have strong links to the community and experience in the environment and sustainable agriculture.
Kim Keogh, a well-known pastoralist from WA will chair the group. The other members are Burdekin Dry Tropics Executive Officer Bob Frazer and Doug Chant, President of the United Dairy Farmers of Victoria.
The group will consult industry, environment, scientific and community groups before reporting to government early next year.
Calling all NRM communicators
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines maintains an email group for regional body communication officers to share information. This group is open only to regionial bodies' communication officers in Queensland.
It has been suggested that a similar email list for communication officers in the broader NRM area - for example, communication officers in peak bodies, industry groups, research organisations and government departments - should be established.
If you are a such a communication officer, think this is a good idea, and would like to be on such a list, please email Paul Rees by COB Friday 16 December.
If there is enough interest, we will establish an NRM communicators email list in the new year.
e-shop 'til you drop: NR&M products available on-line
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines is participating in a three-month whole-of-government e-shop trial.
Customers can now order and purchase a limited range of NR&M's saleable products via the internet, including state and regional maps, recreation guides, historical maps and an astronomical chart.
The e-shop is part of the Smart Service Queensland initiative.
Subject to a successful trial, most of NR&M's saleable products should be available in the e-shop by mid- to late-2006.
The e-shop is currently hosted on the Queensland Government Publications web site; customers can also purchase NR&M products online from NR&M's web site.
Water storage improves slightly despite damaging storms
Damaging storms in south-east Queensland recently have had little impact on the region's key water storages, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Henry Palaszczuk said.
Mr Palaszczuk said water storage levels in the Wivenhoe-Somerset-North Pine system increased by 1% to 34% of total capacity. Water storages at Wivenhoe Dam increased to 34.5%, while Somerset and North Pine have remained at 33% capacity.
Mr Palaszczuk said the storms once again highlighted the importance of the current water restrictions.
"Recent rains are keeping our backyards and parks green, but the rainfall deficit is so clearly evident in the low levels in many of our water storages."
Public access to Queensland beaches protected
State Parliament has unanimously backed Queensland Government moves to protect the public's continued access to beaches and tidal foreshores.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the Government was implementing a three-year freeze or temporary "stay" on the extension of freehold tidal boundaries.
"This freeze is necessary because some freehold lots along the Queensland coast are being resurveyed and new plans are being registered with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines Land Titles Register," he said.
"The issue at stake here is the public's continued access to beaches and other tidal areas. The Government is determined to protect the public's access to beaches."
"There is a possibility that owners of resurveyed lots may, now or some time in the future, restrict access to some areas of foreshore, including parts of beaches."
"This is an issue that potentially affects all tidal and estuarine titles along the Queensland coast, but it is particularly an issue at Zilzie on the Capricorn Coast near Rockhampton and Kelly's Beach at Bargara near Bundaberg."
The freeze takes effect from 8 November 2005, the day the Natural Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (PDF, was introduced into Parliament.
Mr Palaszczuk said the freeze would in no way affect any current title as it does not change the current positions of property boundaries, legal definitions, nor take away from landholders what was already shown on a registered plan.
Builders and plumbers briefed on water-saving measures
The Queensland Government's sustainable housing and greywater road show is providing buiders and plumbers throughout the state with information on the use of greywater in Queensland.
Local Government and Planning Minister Desley Boyle said: "The road show is travelling state-wide to give information and advice to councils, the plumbing industry and the building sector to prepare for the 1 March 2006 release of new water-saving legislation.
"From March, councils will be able to approve the installation of greywater systems to water lawns and gardens and all new homes in Queensland will be required to meet new sustainability standards."
The new sustainability standards mandate in all new homes:
- greenhouse-efficient hot water systems
- energy-efficient lighting
- AAA-rated shower roses in reticulated town water areas
- dual-flush toilets
- water pressure-limiting devices to restrict maximum water pressure to no more than 500 kilopascals.
The greywater legislation will allow people to divert water from showers, bathtubs and washing machines to underground watering systems in sewered areas.
"If councils are going to accept greywater applications, they need to know how it all works - likewise, the plumbers who will install systems for residents, also need to know the requirements," Ms Boyle said.
"This road show is bringing information directly to the plumbers, builders and council staff who will be instrumental in helping Queenslanders save water."
See the Department of Local Government and Planning's website for more information on greywater and sustainable housing.
Course offers women a bridge to uni study
Central Quensland University offers free courses to help women study science and technology at university.
The Women into Science and Technology (WIST) courses particularly suit women as they are self-paced, study-at-home packages that develop writing skills and offer maths, science and computer subjects.
For more information, phone the WIST office on 4930 9341 or visit their web site.
We welcome your input and feedback on this newsletter. If you have any contributions, comments or suggestions please contact Shona Strachan or Paul Rees.
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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