The Bugle - 28 April 2006
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Mackay hosts Healthy Waterways forum and photo competition
- Minister launches corporate investment initiative
- National rating for dams to save water
Government updates
- Awards promote reconciliation
- Revamped Regional NRM web site blasts off into cyberspace
- Financial incentives for landowner conservation partnerships
- Deadline passes for Gulf region wild river submissions
- NRM Ministerial Council considers the big issues
Natural resources news
- Banksia Awards promote a climate for change
- Report shows low economic impact from greenhouse gas reduction
Mackay hosts Healthy Waterways forum and photo competition
Mackay Whitsunday NRM and Pioneer Integrated Catchment Management Association will host the Healthy Waterways Science Forum on 30 March.
The free forum, and a field trip the next day, are part of Healthy Waterways month in the Mackay Whitsundays.
Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group's Kelly Flower said, "presenters for this year's forum will be speaking on topics ranging from coastal monitoring, landholder activities to improve healthy waterways, mangrove health, groundwater and fishways".
For a registration form or more info, email Vivienne Dwyer or phone 4953 5298.
Mackay Whitsunday NRM is running a photographic competition to coincide with Healthy Waterways month.
"The competition is open to the public and has three categories. The categories are, Responsible Water Use – sponsored by Theiss; Diversity of Aquatic Life - sponsored by Healthpoint Chemist Group and; Restoring Our Waterways - sponsored by Macrossan and Amiet," Mrs Flower said.
The competition closes Friday 12 May. Entry is free and cash prizes of up to $100 are on offer.
For entry form and conditions, contact Vivienne Dwyer.
Minister launches corporate investment initiative
Queensland Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk officially launched the Condamine Alliance's Corporate Investment Initiative this week.
The initiative is designed to help regional NRM groups attract investment from corporations to fund work that protects and repairs our natural resources.
Guest speaker at the launch was David Nelson, CEO of InterGen Australia, the Condamine Alliance's inaugural partner in a project to protect and repair natural resources in the Condamine catchment.
The Corporate Investment Initiative is a state finalist in the EPA's Sustainable Industries Awards, which will be judged in May.
For more info, email the Condamine Alliance or visit the Alliance's website.
National rating for dams to save water
Darling Downs irrigators working with the Condamine Alliance to assess water losses from irrigation dams have called for the work to go national, to test and rate the efficiency of the nation's public and private water storages.
Central Downs Irrigators (CDI) director Ian Hayllor, who attended the recent National Water Commission workshop in Canberra, has proposed a project of national significance to rate all storages on their yield of usable water as a percentage of total volume, and implement ways to lift their efficiency.
CDI is working with the Condamine Alliance in the second stage of an irrigation dam seepage project to:
- Clarify the amount of water lost to evaporation and seepage
- Identify point-sources of seepage (using EM38 ground-penetrating radar and soil core analysis)
- Seal identified leaks.
Condamine Alliance has secured a Natural Resource Innovation Grant of $44 500 (2005-06) through the National Landcare Program to support the project.
For more info, phone the Condamine Alliance's Penny Hamilton on 4620 0107.
Awards promote reconciliation
The Reconciliation Awards for Business are an excellent opportunity to acknowledge businesses that are taking positive steps towards reconciliation and promoting cross-cultural awareness.
Regional NRM groups might consider nominating themselves or the groups and businesses they work with for the Reconciliation Awards.
Awards are offered in three categories:
- Emerging Business, proudly supported by Zinifex Limited
- Employment, proudly supported by the Department of Public Works
- Joint Ventures, proudly supported by the Department of Main Roads.
Ernie Dingo will host this year's Awards ceremony, to be held at Parliament House on 27 July.
Zinifex Limited has provided a bursary of $5,000 to be awarded to the winner of the Emerging Business category, which is open to businesses advancing reconciliation that have been operating for less than five years.
The Employment Award winner will also receive a $5,000 cash prize in recognition of outstanding recruitment and employment practices that support reconciliation.
These prizes are a great incentive to nominate for an award. Please consider nominating an organisation, business or project for the 2006 Reconciliation Award for Business.
Nomination forms and the award guidelines are available at the Reconciliation - It's everone's business website.
For more info, email Kym Green or phone her on 3224 2409.
Nominations close Friday 19 May 2006.
Revamped Regional NRM website blasts off into cyberspace
The all new Regional NRM web site has gone live.
Regional NRM features a new look, all new content and simple, easy-to-use navigation. It aims to be a central point for anyone seeking information about regional NRM in Queensland.
There's plenty to look at now, and more features and pages will be added periodically.
Check it out at www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au.
Financial incentives for landowner conservation partnerships
The Queensland Government's new NatureAssist program gives owners of environmentally significant land a cash incentive to protect it for future generations, according to Environment Minister Desley Boyle.
In Cairns this week, Ms Boyle launched the new program and announced $3 million was available to Queensland landowners in the first round.
"Queensland has the largest variety of plants, animals and landscapes in Australia, spreading right across the State from Cape York to the Gold Coast and out west," Ms Boyle said.
"The NatureAssist program gives private landowners a way to help protect the environment – and a cash incentive."
For more information, or to receive an expression of interest package, phone your nearest EPA Nature Refuge Officer, call 1800 603 604 or visit visit the EPA website.
Read the Minister's full statement
Deadline passes for Gulf region wild river submissions
The deadline for public submissions on four Gulf region nominations and the draft code under Queensland's wild rivers legislation passed this week.
Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk said he extended the consultation period for the Gulf wild river nominations - Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet and the Gregory and Staaten rivers by two months to 24 April.
Consultation on the draft wild rivers code was also extended to 24 April.
"Due to flooding in the region, I have asked the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water to receive late submissions," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"I understand some stakeholders are continuing to finalise their submissions. I urge those stakeholders to lodge their comments with the department as soon as possible."
"The department can get on with the work of analysing the submissions they have already received, while accepting submissions lodged shortly after the extended deadline."
NRM Ministerial Council considers the big issues
Primary Industries, Natural Resources, Environment and Water Ministers from Australia and New Zealand met in Sydney last week for the tenth Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.
The agenda included some of the biggest issues facing Australia - the effect of climate change on agriculture, the National Water Initiative, Indigenous reconciliation, biosecurity and future directions for regional NRM.
Read the Council's communique.
Banksia Awards promote a climate for change
Time is running out for nominiations for the prestigous Banksia Awards for environmental excellence, with nominations closing 5pm Wednesday 10 May.
The theme for the 2006 Banksia Awards is "a climate for change". The Banksias recognise and reward individuals, community groups, businesses and government for leadership and excellence in protecting Australia's environment.
The Awards represent a powerful means of motivating those who do well to continue to do so, and inspire others to follow.
For more info, check the Banksia Awards website.
Report shows reducing greenhouse gases won't cost the earth
A new report shows greenhouse gases can be significantly reduced while maintaining strong economic growth.
The independent report, commissioned by the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change, models the effects of a 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.
The roundtable consists of CEOs from six leading companies, including BP Australia, Westpac, Origin Energy, IAG, Swiss Re and Visy, along with the Australian Conservation Foundation.
The research shows strong economic growth can be maintained, with GDP averaging more than two per cent if action starts immediately.
Read the full story in Land and Water News.
Thought for the week...
"How long can [the biosphere] withstand a blaze of consumption so frenzied that the dark side of this planet glows like a fanned ember in the night of space?"
Ronald Wright, A Short History of Progress
We welcome your input and feedback on this newsletter. If you have any contributions, comments or suggestions please contact Paul Rees or Shona Strachan.
Last updated 21 January 2009