The Bugle - 16 February 2007
In news this week
- Building on the success of the Gold Coast community
- Climate change forum and expo at Home Hill
- Water quality under public review in the Whitsundays
- New gold rush for NRM projects in the Southern Gulf
Government updates
- Weeds and ferals beware, Queensland is on the attack
- DPI&F has launched an online database for rural workforce training
Reef Plan updates
Queensland Wetlands Programme updates
Natural resourcesnews
- Nautilus hatching an Australian first
- Herbert River region gives birth to sustainable communities
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Building on the success of the Gold Coast community
There was a buzz in the air on 3 February when over 115 volunteers came together for a free one day conference at Griffith University on the Gold Coast.
Volunteers from local catchment, Landcare and Bushcare groups, community members and Griffith University students shared their knowledge, experiences and challenges of working within community environmental groups. SEQ Catchments hosted the conference, supported by Landcare Queensland, Gold Coast City Council and Griffith University's Centre for Coastal Management.
Nine local groups presented their projects to participants. Presentations of successful on-ground weed removal and revegetation works provided inspiration for other groups. This information sharing reminded groups that they are not alone in protecting and improving their local environment. In many cases this was the first time that participants had learnt about other groups.
The day provided an ideal networking opportunity. Participants expressed their enthusiasm for the day, "there was a great diversity of people and ideas"…"unity of care and positive future outcomes"…"encouraged by seeing so many others involved"…"a most successful day!"
Additional community events are planned for later in the year so keep an eye out.
For more information email Sarah Castle.
Climate change forum and expo at Home Hill
Hundreds of Burdekin residents are expected to attend a public forum and expo to find out more about climate change on 7 March at Home Hill Memorial Hall.
Climate change is considered the greatest environmental cause for concern of the present time. Paul Wuth is a project officer for the planning for NRM Change Project in the Burdekin and he says at the end of the day it is a huge part of everyone’s life and can be very extreme.
Sunwater is a major sponsor for the Burdekin climate change forum and expo hosted by the Burdekin Bowen Floodplain Management Advisory Committee (BBIFMAC), along with the Lower Burdekin Landcare, the Burdekin Shire Council and Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM.
Leading scientists and local experts will present the latest information about climate change and discuss measures and efficiencies we can adopt, at home and on our properties for a more sustainable future in the Burdekin region.
The expo will be held from 2 pm and the forum will commence at 6 pm. Bookings are essential.
For more information please call BBIFMAC on 4783 4344.
Water quality under public review in the Whitsundays
The first of several forums on water quality was held in the Whitsundays last week. Other meetings on healthy waterways will be held around the region within the next couple of weeks.
The Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group says it is hosting the meetings to get public input on ways to improve water quality.
Executive officer Col Creighton invites everyone to attend the meetings as we all can play a part in reducing harmful runoff.
To learn more about these meetings visit the Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group website.
New gold rush for NRM projects in the Southern Gulf
Expressions of interest for projects that promote and protect natural and cultural resources are now being sought by Southern Gulf Catchments.
Southern Gulf Catchments hope to have up to 25 new natural resource management projects underway by August 2007. Projects would be of the order of $5000 to $50 000 and Southern Gulf expect the projects to be completed by 30 June 2008.
Expressions of interest will be received until 2 March 2007.
Project staff are available to provide details on 4743 1888, via email or by visiting the Southern Gulf Catchments website.
Government updates
Weeds and ferals beware, Queensland is on the attack
Pest animals and weeds across Queensland will be targeted with new eradication projects under the Queensland Government's historic $11 million Reclaim the Bush: A Pest Offensive program.
Successful projects under the program were announced this week, which is a major element of the government's Blueprint for the Bush initiative.
Pests such as wild pigs, wild dogs and weeds would be targeted and there is funding for bio-controls for weeds like prickly acacia, bellyache bush and cats claw creeper. Additionally, 10 new wash-down facilities and satellite imaging to detect weeds will be funded.
More than $4.3 million will be provided to eight regional NRM groups to fight pests and weeds, 20 local government projects will receive more than $3.7 million and three Aboriginal shire councils will share almost $550 000.
Thirty one applications consisting of 47 projects were successful.
Visit the Department of Natural Resources and Water website for more information about pests and visit Queensland media statements for a full transcript of this story.
DPI&F has launched an online database for rural workforce training
A new online tool is available which identifies what training is needed, and where, for Queensland's rural industries.
The Skills Telegraph is an innovative web-based database that will collect information on training and skilling needs to target investment in training.
The intention of the database is to assist rural industries attract, retain, develop and access a skilled workforce.
People associated with rural industries are encouraged to tell DPI&F their training needs by logging on to the Skills Telegraph web site or by calling DPI&F on 13 25 23.
Reef Plan updates
Grassroots research benefits Great Barrier Reef
New fertiliser research by Eacham Landcare members in north Queensland is pointing to significant gains for both dairy farmers and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The group has reported dramatic preliminary results from research into using less nitrogen fertiliser on winter rye grass pastures. Landcare members used daily temperatures to gauge when rye grass was in its growing phase and have used up to 70 per cent less fertiliser to produce the same rich pasture.
Eacham Landcare President Russell Fry was elated by the results and said, "We're on the brink of big changes, when research and technology help to improve farm practices and make our industry more efficient – as well as helping the environment."
Nitrogen has been implicated in damage to the Great Barrier Reef, and the research is likely to lead to less nitrogen loss by stopping it from sinking into the soil or running off farms after heavy rainfall. It also has the potential to considerably reduce costs for dairy farmers on the Tablelands who grow over 1500 hectares of winter pasture. Savings could be as great as 50 per cent a year for each farmer, as well as reducing time spent irrigating and fertilising.
The research may also have wider applications for crops throughout Australia. The group hopes to introduce trials on banana farms in the lower catchment near Innisfail. Over the next couple of years the Landcare group plans to give farmers the knowledge and the tools to deliver on nutrient reduction - and with farmers leading farmers, empower them to take action.
Nautilus hatching an Australian first
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Townsville Aquarium has become the first in Australia to hatch Nautilus from eggs layed within one of their display tanks.
The breeding program has produced the first baby, a perfect miniature of an adult measuring a tiny 2.5 centimetres in length. This is even more amazing as these animals live at a depth of 100 metres to 400 metres below sea level, so there are limited numbers kept in captivity.
The Nautilus was active as soon as it hatched and began consuming a diet of live shrimp. Studies show a baby Nautilus will not reach maturity until around seven years of age and can be expected to grow to around 20 centimetres in length.
Nautilus are found in the deep dark ocean waters and have been living in the Pacific for over 500 million years. They spend the day living in the deep cool waters off the edge of the reef, while at night they rise to feed on crustaceans.
There are still other eggs in incubation and it is hoped these will hatch in the coming months.
Visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website to learn more.
Queensland Wetlands Programme updates
Wonderful wetlands world celebration week ends
Last week was World Wetlands Week, an annual event marking the anniversary of the signing in 1971 of the International Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran. It celebrates actions underway around the world and in Australia which protect wetlands and manage them sustainably amid the many often conflicting uses.
The Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group (MWNRMG) is sampling water quality in wetlands and waterways. This includes sampling for agricultural chemicals and nutrients to determine the retention and 'cleansing' effect wetlands have on the water entering the Reef lagoon.
These wetlands management projects in the Sarina, Pioneer and Whitsunday catchments include partnerships between land managers, state government, catchment and Landcare groups and the MWNRMG. A range of approaches are underway to manage ecological threats to wetlands including weed control, strategic fencing and grazing, fire management and feral pig control.
Wetlands have a diversity of functions - everything from protecting the coast and absorbing pollutants to purifying water and forming nurseries for fish. In the Reef catchment wetlands include mangroves, melaleuca swamps, mud flats, salt marshes, saltpans, shorelines, estuaries, seagrass meadows and coral reefs.
Visit the Queensland Wetlands Programme website for more information about wetlands or Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group website for more information about their projects.
Natural Resource news
Herbert River region gives birth to sustainable communities
CSIRO has used a decade of research into systems-based approaches and the idea of multiple stakeholders working together to create the sustainable communities initiative (SCI).
The SCI model takes a holistic approach to community specific sustainability issues - whether they be salinity, responding to a changing climate, regional development or countless others - and seeks to understand the relationships between local economic, environmental, social and governance systems to develop and deliver systemic responses to the challenges and opportunities.
The ideas behind SCI began in the Herbert River region of north Queensland. It started as a diverse group of locals, pitching in to buy data so a surface contour map of the Herbert River catchment could be generated and became the Herbert Resource Information Centre (HRIC), a joint venture used by its partners and the wider community to ensure the ecologically sustainable development of the Herbert River catchment.
For 10 years this home to canegrowers and conservationists has exemplified the benefits that emerge when governments, business, researchers and the wider community interact with a shared goal to make their home a better place.
The HRIC's success as a model for improved natural resource use, management and planning has largely been ascribed to its collaboration; so much so that CSIRO has taken the idea of multiple stakeholders working toward making communities sustainable and developed it into the SCI.
To learn more about the SCI visit the CSIRO Sustainable Communities Initiative website.
Paul Rees moves on from NRW
Paul Rees has left the Department of Natural Resources and Water, moving on to new adventures.
As an avid reader of The Bugle, many of you would know Paul, who has been the editor of The Bugle for the past 15 months while Carl Glen was on secondment to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Paul's contribution over the past couple of years has been great and his legacy of producing plain English articles will live on. I am sure you will join me in wishing Paul all the very best in his new endeavours.
Please keep sending in those great articles we all love to read, but make sure you email them to Carl Glen.
Get a job in NRM!
Are you interested in working with Queensland's regional natural resource management bodies? Then head to the Regional Groups' Collective website where current job opportunities are available. Be sure to check back regularly to ensure you don't miss out on the job of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of what's on offer:
Cape York Peninsula Development Association Inc. has two positions based within Cook Shire Council.
Project Officer (CYWAFAP)
The position is initially funded for 12 months, with the possibility of extension dependent on performance, funding and program requirements. The salary will range from $44 112.55 to $49 060.25 per annum. (A locality allowance is also payable $2367.56 with no dependants and $4734.60 with dependants).
Technical Assistant - Pest Management Status
Salary level to be negotiated with the successful applicant. Five weeks annual leave - annual leave loading applies.
Thought for the week
It is possible to move a mountain by carrying away small stones.
Chinese proverb
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The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Community Partnerships, the Department of Natural Resources and Water, highlighting regional NRM activities around Queensland.
Last updated 10 January 2008