The Bugle - 12 May 2006
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories
- Urban water use high on agenda for local councils
- Sowing the seeds of education
- Going forth boldly into the unknown...
- Volunteers lend a hand in cyclone clean up
Government updates
- Schools win community NRM awareness grants
- Pest strategy released for comment
- Feedback sought on regional NRM web site
Natural resources news
- $3.9 billion for the environment in 2006-07
- Water hotline established
- Program to save another 30 billion litres each year in SEQ
- New projects to protect neighbourhood biodiversity
- Science and innovation awards for young rural people
Urban water use high on agenda for local councils
Local governments and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee will undertake a range of urban water use efficiency projects over the next two years.
"Strong interest from local governments in our region has resulted in 21 projects," QMDC's Water Regional Coordinator, Gavin Prentice, said.
With growing concerns in many states about dwindling water supplies, Mr Prentice said it was important for local councils to explore ways to meet growing demands for water.
These projects will also help councils meet the outcomes of the federal government's National Water Initiative.
"Our projects will encourage councils to submit joint NWI applications, providing these smaller areas with 'buying power' and a more coordinated approach to urban water management," Mr Prentice said.
QMDC's urban water use efficiency projects have been funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments through the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality and Natural Heritage Trust.
For more information about working with QMDC, please contact their office on 4637 6201.
Sowing the seeds of education
School playgrounds across south west Queensland will soon be transformed, with teachers acquiring new skills in a series of environmental professional development workshops.
Ten teachers from 10 different schools attended a Learning Through Landcare workshop in Toowoomba last Wednesday entitled Selecting and Growing the Best Plants for Your School.
"The workshop responded to requests we'd had from a number of schools for information about how to create hands-on environmental projects in school grounds," workshop organiser Laura Weedon said.
The skills provided by the workshop will enable teachers to begin environmental projects that will cover mathematics, science, communication and teamwork in the classroom.
Learning Through Landcare is a Queensland Murray-Darling Committee initiative. Please contact QMDC on 4637 6201 to find out about the program's next teacher workshop.
Going forth boldly into the unknown...
The last remaining area of the Lower Burdekin that has not been mapped for soil type and suitability for agriculture, the Giru, will be studied through a partnership between the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Group and the Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee.
Soil scientist Jim McClurg is examining 400 soil cores from cane farms and grazing properties throughout the 7 000 hectare Giru area. A comprehensive database of the soils of the Giru area will be produced and, along with GIS maps, will be made available to landholders.
The Giru soils database and mapping information will be used by local councils planning for future use of the region and will help with management decisions.
Around 150 soil cores have been taken so far, although field work has stopped for the time being due wet weather.
For more info, email Holly Hanlon or phone 4724 3544.
Volunteers lend a hand in cyclone clean up
FNQ NRM and Conservation Volunteers Australia have set up an environmental volunteer team to help clean up the mess left by Cyclone Larry.
The volunteers are out and about helping landholders, community groups and local governments remove dead trees, put up fencing, re-establish lost vegetation, and manage weeds.
The CVA's Dave Hudson said the region's natural areas suffered significant damage from the cyclone.
"There's a real need to help the landscape bounce back and to lift the work load from landowners and community members," Mr Hudson said.
At this stage the team will be available for up to six months, focusing on conservation areas, Landcare sites and revegetation efforts.
FNQ NRM's Allan Dale said his group was working to source additional funds to establish a second team and sustain operations for the longer term.
The volunteer teams are fully supervised and come with a vehicle, basic hand tools and insurance. To find out more, contact the CVA's Dave Hudson on 0428 742 308.
Schools win NRM Community Awareness grants
The winners of the special schools round of the Community Natural Resource Awareness Activity Grants have been announced.
Twenty-one schools from around the state will receive grants of up to $2500 to raise awareness about the importance of natural resources.
The successful applicants and their projects are:
- Cooktown State School - Diverting pool back flush water discharged into Alligator Creek: resulting in irrigation of bush tucker trees
- Aloomba State School (south of Gordonvale) - Tilapia Terminators Fishing Competition: a competition to remove Tilapia, the "cane toad of the waterways"
- Duan Island State School, Torres Strait - Green & Healthy Schools: a program involving the school, parents and the community to beautify and promote the environment
- Oakey State School - Wakakirri National Story Festival: Water wise, the key to the future
- Wilsonton State School, Toowoomba - Water – the most valuable resource: a DVD and shopping centre display about water conservation
- Ananda Marga River School, Maleny - Celebrating Our Bridge Creek: water testing, performances, workshops and displays
- Chancellor State College - Permaculture demonstration garden: collaborative venture between Sippy Downs Community Association, Sunshine Coast Uni, the Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative and Maroochy Council
- Clifton State High School - Turning Full Circle: working with community groups to produce and sell seedlings and host a "round the table lunch"
- Elimbah State School - Wildlife Habitat project: signs, brochures, displays and activities for the revegetation of Six Mile Creek
- Millmerran State School, south-west of Toowoomba - Black Creek Monitoring project: collecting and analysing water quality: long-term focus for natural resource management
- Robina State Primary School - DVD and booklet on how to do a water audit for your home, school or office
- St Mary's College Maryborough - Mary Turtle project: breeding and conservation of this endangered species
- Tin Can Bay School - Remnants: a presentation by a Butchella elder, bushtucker lunch and guided tour of wallum remnants
- Mirani State School, west of Mackay - Notice board and open day to promote environmental park
- Birdsville State School - Sustainable vegetable garden in arid region
- Cabbage Tree Creek Cluster, Aspley - Kids Congress 2006: restoring native vegetation on waterway of Cabbage Tree Creek
- Cunnamulla State School - Fish stock and habitat repair: improving health of local waterways through restocking of native fish species, control of weeds and maintenance of the riparian zone.
- Glamorgan Vale State School - Worms, paper and trees make managing our resources a breeze: recycling program
- Clarke Creek State School, between Rockhampton and Mackay - Producers of Tomorrow: student excursion to cattle property, guest speaker from Landcare, workshop by Fitzroy Basin Association
- Dulacca State School, near Roma - Future Landcarers: students to identify areas of environmental significance and produce brochure
- Normanton State School - The Norman - Our River, Our Responsibility: a monitoring plan for river water testing
Pest strategy released for comment
The draft Australian Pest Animal Strategy has been released for public comment.
The environmental, economic and social impacts of pest animals cost Australia in excess of $720M per annum.
All comments from stakeholders will be considered and used to refine the Australian Pest Animal Strategy. Once finalised, the strategy will then go to the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council with recommendations for implementation.
The period for comment closes 7 July.
Feedback sought on regional NRM web site
The new regional NRM web site has been live for a couple of weeks. It features all new content, simplified navigation and a cleaner look.
Check out the regional NRM web site and let us know what you think. Email Shona Strachan or phone her on 3222 2758.
We've fixed a number of broken links (an inevitable part of completely redoing a web site). If you happen to find some more, please let Shona know.
$3.9 billion for the environment in 2006-07
Australia's environment and heritage remains in strong hands with record levels of funding once more in the 2006-07 Budget, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell said.
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government had continued its record levels of environment spending in 2006-07 with $3.9 billion to protect our environment and heritage for future generations. This year's Budget sees an increase in total Government expenditure of more than $878 million on 2005-06.
"The Australian Government will invest a further $500 million to restore the health of the Murray-Darling Basin for the benefit of the environment, irrigators, industry and regional communities. This brings the Australian Government's total investment in the Murray Darling river system to almost $2 billion since 1996.
"This spending complements the infrastructure and on-ground work being done for Australia's natural resource management and water conservation under the Australian Government's $2 billion Water Fund, our flagship $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust and the $1.4 billion National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality programmes," he said.
For more information: www.deh.gov.au/about/publications/budget/2006
Water hotline establised
The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water has established a dedicated Water Infrastructure Hotline to provide the public with information about water infrrastructure projects.
Premier Peter Beattie has announced several investigations into possible future water storages in the State: Traveston Dam on the Mary River; Tilley's Bridge on the Logan, Eden Bann Weir and a new weir at Rookwood in the Fitzroy region.
Not all these projects are new, some having been previously identified in various departmental studies.
The hotline number is 1800 243 585.
Program to save another 30 billion litres each year in SEQ
The Queensland Government has unveiled a $6 million program to assist irrigators in the State's south-east to save more than 20 billion litres of water per annum.
Water Minister Henry Palaszczuk told State Parliament this week the South East Queensland Irrigation Futures (SEQ-IF) was a four-year water use efficiency program for irrigators in the region - from Noosa in the north, west to Toowoomba and south to the NSW border.
"The program is a partnership with the Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation, Growcom, Flower Association of Queensland Inc, Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland, Queensland Turf Producers Association and SEQ Catchments," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"The program aims to achieve a 10% reduction in irrigation water use across the region by 2009, equivalent 30 billion litres or 30,000 megalitres."
New projects to protect neighbourhood biodiversity
The Australian Government has reinforced its commitment to protect regional biodiversity by announcing the successful projects to receive $1 million in funding in the third round of the $10 million Regional Natural Heritage Programme (RNHP).
Making the announcement today, the Acting Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Eric Abetz, said the programme was actively helping to protect the significant biodiversity hotspots in our region, and this funding round would enable this work to continue.
"Australia has a strong record of protecting biodiversity and supporting the Asia-Pacific region," Senator Abetz said.
"We have been working closely with regional governments, non-government organisations and communities to protect biodiversity hotspots, while remaining sensitive to the challenges of sustainable development in the South-East Asia and Pacific region.
Further information about the Australian Government's Regional Natural Heritage Programme visit www.deh.gov.au/heritage/programs/index.html#rnhp
Science and innovation awards for young rural people
Young Australians with innovative ideas on how to boost the competitiveness of our rural industries can apply for up to $10,000 under a national awards program.
The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, said the Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry were sponsored by the Australian Government and rural R&D corporations.
"The awards are open to people aged 18-35 who have ideas for projects that will deliver long-term benefits to our agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food or natural resource management industries," the Minister said.
"This year, there are 20 awards on offer; 12 that are industry-based, and one from each State and Territory."
The Bureau of Rural Sciences, part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, coordinates the awards. Applications close on Friday 30 June 2006 and can be submitted online at Science awards web site.
Thought for the week...
"I think we are challenged as mankind has never been challenged before to prove our maturity and our mastery, not of nature, but of ourselves."
Rachel Carson
We welcome your input and feedback on this newsletter. If you have any contributions, comments or suggestions please contact Paul Rees or Shona Strachan.
To view past issues of The Bugle visit the regional NRM web site.
Last updated 11 May 2006