The Bugle - 03 March 06
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories
- Forum focuses on inland climate change
- Study to add reality to salinity
- Forum shines spotlight on Burnett catchment
- Get a Job – In the Desert Uplands!
Government updates
- JSC congratulates groups on performance reports ...
- And recommends $8.25 million for strategic reserve projects
- Schools in the running for NRM grants
- Program develops future leaders
- What's in a name?
Natural resources news
Reef news
Forum focuses on inland climate change
When will the next serious drought come? Or are we still in one?
The Burnett Mary Regional Group’s 2006 Inland Climate Change Forum will provide information and techniques to help people manage the next dry time.
It will also show how the region’s climate has changed and will continue to change.
Climate Change is a serious issue that will affect everyone in the world. This forum will bring the issue of climate change to inland Queensland, focusing on how climate change will affect the inland.
The forum is on Friday 10 March at Brian Pastures Research Station. If you want to know more or would like to attend the forum, please contact Lee Dorahy on 4165 5406.
Register by Friday 3 March.
Study to add reality to salinity
South West NRM, in conjunction with the University of New England, is roving the Nebine / Mungallala / Wallam catchment to ask the community's view on how best to address salinity.
The project team will be in the lower Nebine (21 March), Bollon (22 March) and Mungallala (23 March) where information exchange sessions will be held that address:
- Theory of salinity hazard and risk
- The salinity situation in the Nebine / Mungallala / Wallam
- Community involvement in monitoring and management of salinity
- Tools required to assist the community in managing perceived salinity risk.
For details on meeting locations and to RSVP, please contact Debbie Atkinson on 4654 7382.
Forum shines spotlight on Burnett catchment
The Burnett Catchment Care Association will host a forum to investigate the state of the catchment’s environmental health.
All Burnett catchment stakeholders are encouraged to attend and participate in the protection of this unique catchment.
Speakers will cover topics including land, waterways, weed and pest management. Delegates will also have the opportunity to assess current and future projects through a series of case studies.
For more information, contact Barrie McLellan, Chair East Burnett Catchment Care Association on 4157 8166.
Get a Job – In the Desert Uplands!
The Desert Uplands Build-Up and Development Strategy Committee is looking for a communications officer.
The Barcaldine-based position runs to 30 June 2007, with a possibility of extension.
Application packages are available by phoning the Desert Uplands office on (07) 4651 1002 or by emailing info@desertuplands.org.au. Applicants must address the selection criteria in the position description.
Applications close 17 March.
JSC congratulates groups on performance reports ...
The Joint Queensland-Australian Government NRM Steering Committee (JSC) has congratulated regional NRM, State-wide Investment Project (SIP) and statewide and strategic reserve project groups on the quality of their performance reports.
The JSC considered the reports at its meeting in Brisbane last week.
Performance reporting helps the JSC track the progress of NRM activities throughout Queensland. It also gives the groups a great opportunity to promote their successes and improvements in the condition of natural resources.
The JSC acknowledged the big effort the groups had put into their reports, which were the best yet. The groups will receive the JSC's response to their reports shortly.
For more information, email Nicole Blackett or phone her on 3224 2154.
JSC recommends $9.14 million for strategic reserve projects
The JSC has recommended Ministers approve funding for nine strategic reserve projects worth more than $9.14 million.
The recommendation is subject to in-kind contributions for the projects.
The recommended projects are:
- Spatial imagery ($3,675,000)
- Systematic approach to sustainable agriculture ($1,400,000)
- Queensland communications ($400,000)
- Reef link ($763,000)
- Traditional owner knowledge ($1,035,000)
- Fire management ($788,000)
- Biodiversity - pingers ($148,000)
- Biodiversity - sawfish ($482,000)
- Great Barrier Reef water quality coordination ($450,000).
If Ministers agree to the JSC's recommendations, these projects will begin before the end of the financial year.
For more information, email Dave Wildermuth or phone her on 3224 2475.
Schools in the running for NRM grants
Queensland schools are invited to apply for Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants to raise awareness of natural resource issues and their importance in our daily lives.
Grants of up to $2500 (GST inclusive) are available to schools to develop small, innovative and creative projects.
The grant activities will be the focus of Natural Resources Week in May 2006. Projects will occur or be profiled in or around that week to showcase community involvement.
The theme of Natural Resources Week 2006 is Managing Queensland's natural resources ... for today and tomorrow.
Applications must be received by COB Friday 31 March 2006. For more information, contact Grants Coordinator Christine Powell on 3224 2323 or visit the department's web site.
Program develops future leaders
Building Rural Leaders prepares participants to lead themselves and others to deal effectively with today's changing world.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries conducts the Building Rural Leaders program to support regional communities and help them achieve a profitable and sustainable future.
In 2006, the Building Rural Leaders foundation program will be available at Bundaberg, Townsville and Cooktown. A series of six four-day modules will be held over a nine-month period between March and November 2006.
For further information phone Pam McAllister or Rob Nielsen on 1800 356 621 (rural Queensland) or 3239 3424 (metropolitan) or visit the Building Rural Leaders web site.
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What's in a name?
Sick of being confused with an insurance company, the division of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water formerly known as Natural Resource Management Arrangements has given itself a new name – Community Partnerships.
The new name reflects our role in improving natural resource management through facilitating and supporting partnerships with the community and industry.
We also have new areas of responsibility: Reef Protection, Social and Economic State-level Investment Projects (SIPs), and contract management aspects of NHT National Weeds, Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) and Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative (RWUE) programs.
ABS report charts population changes
Melbourne's population grew faster than Sydney's during 2004-05 but Brisbane topped all capitals, according to regional population figures released recently by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
During 2004-05, the total population of south east Queensland, comprising Brisbane and the surrounding Moreton Stastical Division (which includes Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast), grew by 53,300 people during this period, or more than 1,000 people a week.
Elsewhere in Queensland, coastal local government areas saw strong growth in Maroochy (up 3,900 people), Cairns (3,000 people), Caloundra (2,800 people) and Townsville (2,700 people).
See the ABS report for details population changes throughout regional Australia.
Revamped water quality web site goes live
The new Water Quality Online web site is up and running.
Water Quality Online is the home of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality's Queensland Water Quality program.
The site is a tool for disseminating information about the Water Quality program, as well as for distributing products. These products aim to assist with regional natural resource management in Queensland.
Check out the web site. For more info, email Belinda Tompson or phone her on 3896 9893.
Integrating the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan into regional NRM planning
A new module to help regional NRM groups meet the requirements of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan is available on the regional NRM web site.
The module, Integrating the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan into regional NRM planning, will help regional NRM groups work with the Australian and Queensland Governments and other stakeholders.
Download Integrating the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan into regional NRM planning
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.
Last updated 05 April 2006