The Bugle - 20 January 06
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories
- Olwyn Crimp takes the helm at QMDC
- Roma resident wins agricultural award
- Flagship project targets mother of millions
- Big response for new soil management funding program
- Regional meetings boost local Landcare
- Participants hail investor training workshop
- Free workshops help local people get involved
Government updates
- Torres Strait strategy now available
- SIPs update out now
- Be alert, not alarmed: Fridge magnet gives a hand to help the land
- Awards to recognise sustainable rural business
- It's that time of the year again: Six-monthly reports now due
- Investment strategy reviews underway
Reef news
Natural resources news
- Landcare conference set to bridge the urban-rural divide
- QWaLC on the wild side: become an associate member
- Spot on: Weedspotters can spot the difference
Welcome to the first edition of The Bugle for 2006. We hope you had a happy holiday and are refreshed and inspired.
Please let us know if you have stories you would like covered in The Bugle and suggestions for improvement.
Feel free to pass The Bugle to anyone you think might be interested and encourage them to subscribe.
Olwyn Crimp takes the helm at QMDC
Olwyn Crimp has taken over as Executive Officer at the Queensland Murray Darling Committe.
Before moving to the QMDC, Olwyn was General Manager of Natural Resource Management Arrangements within NR&M.
You can contact Olwyn Crimp by phoning 4637 6271 or 0429 37 6271
Welcome aboard, Olwyn.
Roma resident wins agricultural award
Roma's Janet Snars will head to England to study at Rothamstead, the world's oldest agricultural research station, after winning a grant from the Foundation for Young Australians.
Janet intends to use this research trip to further her work with the Queensland Murray Darling Committee as a land management technical officer, based at the Maranoa Balonne Catchment Centre in Roma.
"In my current position I am delivering workshops and giving advice resulting from on-farm research/trials. Researching these topics from another country’s perspective will give me an opportunity to broaden my current research theories and provide a better intercultural exchange of ideas," Janet said.
For more information, contact the QMDC's Pam Fisher on 4622 8727
Flagship project targets mother of millions
Millmerran Power Partners and the Condamine Alliance have pioneered a new approach to natural resource management by jointly funding a $72,000 mother-of-millions weed eradication project.
Power project owner Millmerran Power Partners will contribute $15,000 in cash and an equivalient amount in labour. This is the first time a major company on the Darling Downs become a partner in an environmental project under the regional NRM program.
"Whilst our core business is electricity, we are responsible for management of about 9000 hectares in the Millmerran Shire," Millmerran Operating Company general manager Mal Gamble said .
Mother of Millions has spread rapidly on the Darling Downs, invading valuable farming and grazing land and threatening livestock. It is toxic to stock and has been responsible for significant economic losses to landholders. Millmerran Power Partners, the Alliance, Millmerran Shire Council, Millmerran Landcare and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines have agreed to the coordinated attack on the weed.
Condamine Alliance has facilitated the partnership agreement to eradicate the weed from the Back Creek Sub-catchment in Millmerran, intending to block its progress in the Condamine River catchment.
"This agreement represents a new model of pest management which can be showcased to the rest of southern Queensland," Condamine Alliance chief executive Phil McCullough said.
The Condamine Alliance encourages other companies to partner with it in other community and environmental projects. For more information, contact Brendan Monckton, Millmerran Power Partners, on 4612 0848 or Phil McCullough from the Condamine Alliance on 4620 0111.
Big response for new soil management funding program
The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee's pilot Soil Management Tender has met with a big response from farmers in the Maranoa-Balonne and Border Rivers catchments.
The pilot Soil Management Tender, which aims to increase ground cover and improve soil fertility and structure, attracted 65 responses.
"We are very encouraged by this response," QMDC's Lands and Soils Regional Coordinator Bob Walker said.
This new style of incentive is intended to become a common program for QMDC. For more information about tender progress and subsequent tenders contact Amelia Radford on 07 4637 6201.
Regional meetings boost local Landcare
Bundaberg & District Urban Landcare Group will host the next Burnett Mary regional Landcare meeting on 6 March in Bundaberg.
Each quarter, the region’s Landcare groups get together with the help of the Burnett Mary Regional Group.
Tiaro was, by all accounts, the place to be in November for the last regional Landcare meeting of 2005. More than 30 people representing 15 of the 20 plus groups in the region attended. While groups involved have initiated some fantastic activities in their communities, this meeting saw a new chapter in the collaborative approach to Landcare in the Burnett Mary region.
For further information, please contact BMRG Landcare and Industry Coordinator Clinton Muller on 4132 8333.
Participants hail investor training workshop
Participants have hailed the Condamine Alliance's Securing Non-Traditional Investment in Natural Resource Management training workshop.
The workshop focused on how to develop an approach to secure corporate investment in NRM.
A highlight of the day was the presentation by guest speaker Genevieve Fraser, senior external affairs adviser for Comalco on the "Future Reef" partnership between Comalco and the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation.
Participants were also given the opportunity to question a panel of Queensland business managers familiar with corporate investment strategies, including Lisa Bennetts, sales development manager, Qantas; Jacquelyn Malouf, corporate development manager, Queensland Performing Arts Centre; and Mary Jung, state manager for Queensland, Australian Business Arts Foundation.
The generic process for investor approaches is provided in the Condamine Alliance Investor Model Manual, copies of which have been forwarded to all Queensland regional NRM groups.
Free workshops help local people get involved
Caring for Nature: Local Solutions by Local People is the theme of a series of free workshops and field days organized by the Mackay Conservation Group. The program is designed to introduce local community projects to protect and restore our environment and show community members how to become involved.
The project, funded by the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group, aims to increase community awareness of critical environmental projects within the Pioneer, Sarina and Whitsunday catchments that could not succeed without the support of community volunteers.
"The workshops aim to give back to the current volunteers and introduce programs to those who might be interested in volunteering," Mackay Conservation Group representative and Management Committee member of the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource management Group, Mrs Patricia Julien said.
"The first program will be run in Mackay on 3-4 February. Similar programs will be held in Sarina on 3-4 March and Airlie Beach on 24–25 March."
RSVPs are essential. Further information, contact Mackay Conservation Group's Patricia Julien on 4969 5580 or 4966 8025 or the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group's Kelly Flower 4953 3864.
Torres Strait strategy now available
The Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait is now available in hard copy and CD.
The strategy describes the natural assets and environmental challenges of the region and suggests priorities to protect these assets and address the challenges.
Potential proponents of NRM projects, such as landholders, community councils, community groups, industry, CRCs and researchers, are advised to tailor their projects to address the priorities identified in the strategy.
The new Torres Strait Land and Sea Management Unit will soon be recruiting a manager and project officer. These positions will offer great opportunities to live in an amazing part of the world and work on a fascinating array of natural resource management and environmental issues so watch this space for developments.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the strategy, contact NR&M's Kate Eden on 3224 8408.
SIPs update out now
The latest information on the information management, water quality, salinity, capacity building, sustainable agriculture and social and economic aspects of NRM investment projects is available in the summer edition of SIPs Update.
SIPs are the state-level investment projects that cover these important aspects of NRM.
The latest edition features the new guide, Integrating Natural Resource Management into Local Government Corporate,Operational and Strategic Plans. Produced under the Capacity Building project, the guide is part of the evolution of local government's role in NRM.
Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach to NRM, it helps councils with their planning processes. The Queensland Local Government Association will provide the guide and associated training module to its interstate counterparts.
The Summer edition of SIPs Update will be posted on the regionalNRM web site. For more information, contact Kirstin Kenyon on 3896 9594.
Be alert, not alarmed: Fridge magnet gives a hand to help the land
Spreading the word about the many funding opportunities to help land holders protect their natural resources is the aim of a new fridge magnet available from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
The fridge magnet, in the shape of a human hand, has the message "Want a hand to look after your land? Check funding opportunties at www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au".
If you would like copies of the fridge magnet to distribute to interested people and organisations, please contact NR&M's Beth Clouston on 3224 7734.
Awards to recognise sustainable rural business
The Environmental Protection Agency is searching for Queensland’s best and most innovative sustainability practices in business and industry.
The inaugural EPA Sustainable Industries Awards have seven categories, with the rural industries category being particularly relevant to NRM. Other categories include sustainable technologies, corporate social responsibility, industrial eco-efficiency and the Minister’s Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability.
Entries are encouraged from companies, community groups, local government and individuals.
For more information, contact Stacy Mcleod.
It's that time of the year again: Six-monthly reports now due
Regional NRM groups, State-level Investment Projects (SIPs) and Statewide projects’ performance reports are due on 27 January.
Performance reporting is an opportunity to report achievements and performance against milestones, request any variance to funded projects and identify any risks associated with project completion.
The Joint Commonwealth-State Steering Committee (JSC) uses these reports to make decisions on how NRM funds will be invested.
Regional NRM groups and other proponents can also use this information to promote their achievements and the value of properly managing our natural resources to the community, media and politicians. They can also use the lessons learnt during each reporting period to help improve the way our land, water and vegetation are managed,
In addition, NR&M's officers value the reports as they help keep the department in touch with the great work that's happening on the ground in the regions.
For more information about performance reporting, contact Nicole Blackett on 3224 2154.
Investment strategy reviews underway
Reviews of the Far North Queensland and Burdekin-Dry Tropics investment strategies are underway.
Once completed, the reviews will be forwarded to JSC and then to Commonwealth and state ministers for approval.
The RIS reviews give groups an opportunity to access new funds.
Ministers approved reviews of the Queensland Murray Darling and Condamine Alliance investment strategies in December.
For more information about about the reviews, contact Kate Eden on 3224 4808.
Reef assessment starts soon
A project to assess how regional NRM groups' currently funded activities will contribute to the Great Barrier Reef Plan will begin soon.
The project will:
- document regional NRM groups' strategies relevant to the Reef Plan and identify successful approaches
- articulate these to the government decision-making committees
- develop a way to report Reef Plan activities easily within existing and proposed NRM reporting arrangements
- recommend improvements to regional groups' Reef-related activities.
The evaluation will consist of a desktop analysis of Reef-relevant regional investment strategies, followed by in-depth interviews, focus groups and discussions.
A steering committee with representatives from the Australian and Queensland Governments and a regional body representative from FNQ will oversee the project, which NR&M's Learning and Evaluation Unit will manage.
This evaluation is one of six JSC-funded reviews to be undertaken in 2005-06. Two are already complete - The Review of Science and Information Needs/Gaps and the development of the Protocol for Changing Management Action and Resource Condition Targets.
For more information, contact Suzanne Hoverman on 3239 3884.
Landcare conference set to bridge the urban-rural divide
The 17th annual Queensland Landcare conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 21-24 August . The conference, with the theme Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide, will look at the links between producers and consumers; policy makers and land managers; and strategies and action.
With field trips visiting some of south-east Queensland's unique landscapes, great speakers and topics and fantastic social events, the conference promises to be a hit with delegates from urban, rural and peri-urban locations.
For regular updates about the conference, join the mailing list. For information about sponsorship, papers or trade exhibitions, contact Samantha Morris at the Queensland Landcare Foundation on 07 3211 4413.
QWaLC on the wild side: become an associate member
Individuals or organisations with an interest in the natural resource management volunteer sector are now invited to become an associate member of Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC).
Membership is FREE and associate members receive quarterly editions of the Australian Landcare Magazine, plus regular email/mail updates from QWaLC.
To find out more or to sign up for associate membership, visit the QWaLC web site or email QWaLC.
Spot on: Weedspotters can spot the difference
Have you got what it takes to be a Weedspotter?
The Weedspotters program uses the skills of people with relatively high levels of botanical expertise in the fight against weeds.
Retired professionals, accomplished amateurs and people working in agriculture, the nursery, horticultural or vegetation management sectors have a wealth of botanical knowledge that can help spot new weeds so they can be eradicated before they become established.
Using Queensland as a model for a possible later national framework, Weedspotters aims to identify this expertise, then develop and train a network focused on the detection of new weed incursions.
If any groups or individuals are interested in helping out, or if you'd like more information, contact Jane Morton.
Weedspotters is a collaboration between the Weeds CRC and the Queensland Herbarium.
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 regional NRM 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