The Bugle - 03 August 2007
In news this week
- Fresh funds just the juice for fruit, veg and Landcare
- Weekend away in the Whitsunday wetlands
- Catchment association and landholders fighting erosion
- Ghosts nets to bags
Government updates
- Free botanical workshop for land carers
- DPI&F delivers dollars for local pest offensive
- $11.1 million to assist sugar communities
- Modest fisheries investment generates huge benefits
- Guide helps in using fire
Reef updates
- Funds unlock reefs' secrets
- New database shares Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maritime history
Natural resources news
- Climate change already affecting rainfall
- Tenth annual International Riversymposium & Environmental Flows conference
- Wildlife sanctuary in honour of Steve Irwin
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Fresh funds just the juice for fruit, veg and Landcare
More than $370 000 in funding from the National Landcare Programme will help kick-start working partnerships between the booming fruit and vegetable industry on the Darling Downs and local Landcare groups in natural resource management.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Peter McGauran last week approved funding of $843 000 for three new NLP activities in the Condamine River catchment region in 2007-08.
Around $2.9 million was approved for 15 projects in Queensland from NLP's Community Support component.
"The close involvement of the Landcare community in the preparation and delivery of these projects is encouraging," Mr McGauran said.
"I trust these projects will encourage the community to participate in and support the NLP in generating more productive and sustainable resources in the Condamine region."
The $376 300 allocation for the horticulture project is the single largest allocation in the state. Improving the Sustainability of Intensive Industries in the Condamine Catchment will be led by Toowoomba Landcare Group and Growcom.
It recognises the mutual benefit of Landcare and industry working together on sustainability issues. The total value of this project, including funds from growers and other sources, is $870 000.
TLG, Growcom, and six other Landcare groups will work with fruit and vegetable growers as far afield as Killarney and Chinchilla to improve their production techniques while addressing key issues, such as water-use efficiency and soil health.
Many Landcare groups have had no engagement with horticultural producers in their areas. This project aims to tap into the grower network, with the support of Growcom, to encourage these growers to become a part of the Landcare network.
All three projects combine partnerships between key sectors to achieve targets for nature conservation and sustainability of industry, outlined in the Condamine River catchment management plan developed by Condamine Alliance.
Weekend away in the Whitsunday wetlands
On a weekend late in July, 30 residents of the Whitsunday Catchment participated in presentations and a field trip run by the Mackay Conservation Group to learn more about wetland management and birds of the wetlands.
The weekend began with an evening of presentations by Roger Jaensch from Wetlands International, Whitsunday Catchment & Landcare coordinator Christine Peterson, and project officer David Pepplinkhouse.
The next day, participants were taken on a guided tour of privately-owned wetlands on the Proserpine Goorganga Plain.
Maureen Cooper, from Birds Australia, provided binoculars for all, and assisted Roger in identifying and providing information on the 38 bird species seen by participants during the two-and-a-half hour walk, which will contribute to the databases of Birds Australia, Whitsunday Catchment & Landcare, and the Environmental Protection Agency's Wildlife Online.
Major wetland management issues such as feral pig control were discussed, as were the results of on-ground weed control trials - conducted by Whitsunday Catchment & Landcare as part of the Australian Government's Coastal Wetland Protection Programme.
Catchment association and landholders fighting erosion
Local landholders and the Bremer Catchment Association have taken the lead in remediating an eroded streambank at Peak Crossing, helping protect the sensitive and environmentally significant Purga Wetlands.
Landholder Troy Muller was concerned about erosion on his property so he approached SEQ Catchments, the group responsible for managing the region's natural resources, for assistance. SEQ Catchments brought the landholders and the catchment association together.
Well-known retired soil conservation expert and Bremer Catchment Association member Bill Steentsma - better known from his days at the Department of Primary Industries as "Contour Bill" - worked with the landholders Barry Meier, Troy Muller and Lyle Winks on the problem. SEQ Catchments soil conservation officer Peter Pearce lent his support with technical advice on the erosion control site.
The landholders provided earthmoving equipment, fencing and labour, while Boral donated a large amount of rock from its nearby quarry to help anchor 1100 square metres of geofabric along the creek bank.
The project will also involve revegetating up to 400 metres along both sides of Sandy Creek with native trees and grasses and fencing to further protect the riparian area.
According to Mr Steentsma, planning the project has taken some time, but should result in a reduced level of sediment affecting landholders downstream.
SEQ Catchments community partnerships manager Jean Bray said the project was 20 months in the making.
"It's a significant project because it links remediation projects upstream at Ipswich City Council's Flinders/Goolman Conservation estate and Ivory Rock, with the Purga Wetlands downstream," Ms Bray said.
"There's a growing awareness among landholders along this corridor about the impact of erosion on their properties, their neighbours downstream and the Purga Wetlands - and the need for a collective effort to address it.
"This project is a great example of landholders, community groups and business working together and they all deserve congratulations for their efforts."
SEQ landholders who are interested in similar erosion-control projects should contact Jean Bray, SEQ Catchments, on 3816 9722.
Ghosts nets to bags
The Hammond Island Arts Centre in the Torres Strait got busy recently, completing a five-day workshop in July making bags from ghost nets collected by the Hammond Island Rangers.
The workshop, as part of the Natural Heritage Trust-funded Carpentaria Ghost Nets Project, was conducted with Chantal Cordey, winner of the Design for a Sea Change competition with a guitar strap woven from ghost nets, and Miggs Bodie, who assisted with the workshop.
"[I was] really impressed by the way members of the group flew with the idea and added their own creative input," Chantal said.
While many participants were sceptical at first, and thought the nets were rubbish that had been dumped at the group’s work shed, they were soon moving beyond crayfish bags and hammocks and thinking of bigger things to weave.
The group is also beginning to share their new skills with other community members.
The Torres Strait Marine Debris project is being rolled out with the support of the Land and Sea Management Unit of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), in partnership with the Carpentaria Ghost Nets Program, and Seagrass Watch.
Government updates
Free botanical workshops for land carers
A series of botanical field workshops to help land carers involved in vegetation management and planning will be held in August, Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said earlier this week.
The workshops, to be held across the Gold Coast, Albert and Logan areas, will provide practical information to help participants identify the four main forest types within the south-east region.
Mr Wallace said the workshops were being conducted by the department's south-east region natural resource officer, Ashley Sewell and botanical experts from the Environmental Protection Agency.
"There is a great demand for botanical information as it relates to the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and land clearing," Mr Wallace said.
"The field workshops focus on coastal wallum, wet sclerophyll, dry sclerophyll, and wet and dry rainforest; the four main types of vegetation found in the south-east corner."
Mr Wallace said participants should come away from the workshops with a sound knowledge of local vegetation and the ability to identify trees through their bark, leaves, form, height and location.
All participants will receive a comprehensive handbook on local species found within each site inspected, including regional ecosystem identification, land zones, geological information, botanical keys to eucalypts and acacia species, relevant photos and a glossary of botanical and forestry terms.
Attendees also receive a certificate acknowledging their participation.
The workshops, which are free for non-profit organisations, will be held from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week until the end of August. A small charge applies for corporate participants.
For bookings, contact Ashley Sewell on 5451 2260.
DPI&F delivers dollars for local pest offensive
Work targeting critical pest management issues is set to roll out across the state, with Biosecurity Queensland announcing the first instalments in the $11 million Pest Offensive have now been delivered.
"The Pest Offensive program is part of the state government's Blueprint for the Bush, a 10-year plan to build a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland,'' Minister Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
"The state government, in collaboration with local government, industry and regional natural resources management bodies, is addressing three critical areas of pest management.
"Biosecurity Queensland has distributed over $2 million in Pest Offensive funding to a variety of groups for projects to prevent and eradicate new pests, reduce widespread pest impacts and develop innovative solutions for weed and pest animal control, and these groups now have the funding in their hands," he said.
Mr Mulherin said the Pest Offensive program specifically targeted strategic new weed incursions, such as coral and snake cactus, to prevent them becoming major weeds in Queensland.
"Woody weeds are a significant burden to production systems for many landholders in the bush and the Pest Offensive program is targeting woody weeds to prevent them increasing their current home range," Mr Mulherin said.
"It is estimated that woody weeds like rubber vine and prickly acacia cost the Queensland grazing industry up to $9 million respectively each year.
"Over $1.2 million of funds have been distributed for projects to tackle weed species such as prickly acacia, mesquite, rubbervine, pond apple, coral cactus and snake cactus in Queensland.''
Mr Mulherin said prevention was the key to managing weeds, an approach supported through a Local Government Association of Queensland economic report, highlighting that a $1 investment in prevention and eradication control can lead to returns of up to $38 and $26 respectively.
"Over $400 000 dollars has been distributed for the improvement of existing clean down facilities and building new facilities to prevent the spread of weed seeds in Queensland," he said.
Mr Mulherin said, pest animals can devastate crops, land and livestock.
"Over $140 000 has been distributed to help improve wild dog and feral pig coordination programs and reduce their impacts to people in the bush."
$11.1 million to assist sugar communities
The Australian Government will provide a further $11.1 million to assist sugar communities across Queensland and New South Wales to develop sustainable long-term futures.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, said the funding for 29 new projects would lead to greater diversification in the industry and improve its environmental management and productivity levels.
"The projects, due to be completed by June 2008, will continue work to restructure the sugar industry and provide benefits to the wider community," Mr McGauran said.
"Among the projects is a $1.8 million recycled water cooling plant at Mulgrave Central Mill. Mulgrave's milling operations rely on large amounts of water from the Mulgrave River, near Cairns, which discharges into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This project will result in the mill recycling water and reduce the amount it takes from the river.
"Another grant is for Davco Farming in the Burdekin, which will receive up to $670 000 to extract groundwater from two areas at risk of salinity due to a rising water table, and demonstrate the sustainable use of water otherwise unsuitable for irrigation."
Mr McGauran said this was the fourth and final round of the Regional and Community Projects (RCP) component of the Sugar Industry Reform Programme (SIRP) 2004.
"I would like to thank the Industry Oversight Group and the Regional Advisory Groups for their work on all four rounds of the grants scheme," Mr McGauran said.
"As leaders of reform within each region, the regional advisory groups have also played a vital role in identifying strategic projects for funding, and I have allocated up to $2.1 million to allow priority projects identified in the regional plans to be completed.
"As announced in December 2006, funds have also been allocated for a domestic benchmarking study to analyse productivity changes in key sectors of the industry.”
To read the full media release, visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
Modest fisheries investment generates huge benefits
The freshwater fish restocking program is turning fairly modest investments into millions of dollars worth of benefits, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin announced in July from the Community Cabinet in Yarrabah, North Queensland.
"I am pleased to report that the Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP)Scheme, introduced to support the development of recreational fisheries throughout regional Queensland, has raised more than $2.9 million since its introduction in 2000," Mr Mulherin said.
"The funding raised from the SIP scheme is distributed to community-based fish stocking groups for the purchase of fish fingerlings for stocking into dams and other activities to enhance the local fisheries.
"The scheme currently supports 30 dams throughout the state and, to date, more than 8.5 million native fish have been released into these dams.
"For example, in this region, Lake Tinaroo has received a boost from this scheme with 550 of 6000 30cm-long barramundi released late last year guaranteeing some good recreational fishing on the lake.
"Lake Tinaroo is an extremely popular destination for recreational fishermen. It is a world-class fishery that brings in about $1-1.5 million to the local economy each year," he said.
Mr Mulherin said for every dollar spent on stocking Tinaroo with barramundi, up to $35 was returned to the Queensland economy.
Minister Mulherin said that the most recent economic study of two impoundments on the Scheme had demonstrated the excellent return on the investment.
"The recreational value of the two impoundments in 2006-07 was $1.1 million for the Bjelke-Petersen Dam and $3.2 million for the Boondooma Dam. In comparison, the funding allocations were $24 267 for the Bjelke-Petersen Dam and $25 996 for the Boondooma Dam. The 'recreational value' refers to the estimated total annual spending by anglers while on fishing trips to the local areas.
"The beauty of the scheme is that it is funded totally by those people who are enjoying the use of the fisheries."
Stocked impoundment permits cost only $35 a year and cover all 30 dams.
"The benefit of this scheme is that it has established new freshwater fisheries which would not otherwise exist, and we are working hard to ensure these fisheries are managed for the future," Mr Mulherin said.
"I am aware that some stocked impoundments have felt the brunt of the drought and recent ongoing below average temperatures that have hit the State in recent weeks with reports of some tropical species dying in these dams and lakes.
"These stocked impoundments are an extremely valuable resource for Queensland and steps have already been taken to ensure the impoundments affected by this natural occurrence are cleaned up and where necessary will be re-stocked."
Guide helps in using fire
Queensland forestry scientists have released guidelines to help landholders use fire to get the best returns from their land while protecting the environment.
Department of Primary Industries and Forestry (DPI&F) forestry science general manager John Chapman announced the launch of the controlled burning guidelines. He said they were based on many years of fire research, including research run by DPI&F.
"Our scientists worked closely with AgForests Queensland [a joint initiative of Timber Queensland and AgForce] to make sure they were suited to the needs of the timber and grazing industries," Mr Chapman said.
AgForce CEO Brett de Hayr said the guidelines had been developed by tapping into knowledge landholders and forest scientists had gained over the years.
"They will help landholders better understand how to manage their burning regimes in a way that will encourage sustainable grazing and increase timber returns, reduce the risk of damaging bushfires, and maintain a healthy forest ecosystem."
The guidelines are available from the DPI&F website.
Reef updates
Funds unlock reefs' secrets
Our coastal fringing reefs may be close but they are often forgotten.
That's all about to change thanks to funding provided by the Burnett Mary Regional Group which recently allocated $220 000 to enable Central Queensland University's Centre for Environmental Management to map the reefs and co-existing habitats.
The fringing reefs about to be mapped and studied are within close proximity to the coast from Tannum Sands to Burrum Heads.
CEM's Dr Ashley Bunce said the fringing coastal reefs had long been overlooked.
"Many people know of them, particularly our weekend fishermen, but there are very few documented reports," he said.
"Most of the attention and studies are on the Great Barrier Reef system but the fringing reefs are equally as vital to the ecosystem.
"Over the next 12 months we will be going out to the reefs, mapping them and creating a data base on coral," research officer Dr Ralph Alquezar said.
Story sourced from the Gladstone Observer.
New database shares Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maritime history
Australia's first online database solely on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connections to the Great Barrier Reef was launched as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Story Place contains around 1000 annotated references on books, reports and electronic resources that have been produced on topics relevant to Traditional Owner groups over the last 100 years.
The nationally-significant online resource was developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as a comprehensive reference on the connection Traditional Owners have to the Reef.
GBRMPA chairperson Virginia Chadwick said the resource celebrated how Traditional Owners used their sea country and its significance to people's lives.
"This is the first time all this information about traditional connections to the Great Barrier Reef has been housed in one location," she said.
"The aim is to share information and knowledge about Traditional Owners and their relationships with land and sea country in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park."
Ms Chadwick said Traditional Owners were encouraged to use the database to search for information relevant to their group and issues such as sea rights and cooperative management.
"We will continue to update and add to the information so current marine issues are captured in the database," she said.
"We have worked hard to ensure the database is culturally appropriate and meaningful for Traditional Owners."
The database was developed in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra, the National Native Title Tribunal, the National Library of Australia and James Cook University.
The database is free to use and able to be searched online on the GBRMPA website.
Natural resources news
Climate change already affecting rainfall
Accurate, long-term rainfall data from around the world has distinguished between regional or cyclical shifts in rainfall.
A study has yielded the first confirmation that global warming is already affecting world's rainfall patterns, scientists say.
According to a paper published in the journal Nature, climate change is bringing more precipitation to northern Europe, Canada and northern Russia but less to swathes of sub-Saharan Africa, southern India and South-East Asia.
"[The changes] may have already had significant effects on ecosystems, agriculture and human regions that are sensitive to changes in precipitation, such as the Sahel," the researchers say.
Scientists have long said that global warming is bound to interfere with snow and rainfall patterns.
This is because air and sea temperatures, and sea-level atmospheric pressure - the underlying forces behind these patterns - are already changing.
But until now evidence for declaring that the interference is already happening existed anecdotally or in computer models, rather than from observation.
One problem for researchers has been a lack of accurate, long-term rainfall data from around the world that would enable them to distinguish between regional or cyclical shifts in rainfall.
Dr Francis Zwiers, a scientist with Environment Canada, Toronto, found a way around these problems by using two datasets of global rainfall pattern beginning, conservatively, in 1925 and ending in 1999.
They compared these figures with 14 powerful computer models that simulate the world's climate system, and found a remarkably close fit.
Over the 75 year period under study, global warming "contributed significantly" to increases in precipitation in the northern hemisphere's mid-latitudes, a region between 40° and 70° north, they say.
In contrast, the northern hemisphere's tropics and subtropics, a region spanning from the equator to 30° latitude north became drier.
And the southern hemisphere's tropics (equator to 30° latitude south) became wetter.
The study looked at annual average rainfall on the land, not at sea.
It also did not look at extreme weather events, like episodes of drought and flooding, whose frequency and severity may increase as a result of global warming.
Story sourced from the Agençe France-Presse.
Tenth annual International Riversymposium & Environmental Flows conference
Held in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the 2007 Riversymposium will be held in Brisbane from 3-6 September.
This year's symposium will focus on the emerging field of river management and environmental flows. The program will feature presentations on innovative practices and case studies from all over the world and a wide range of perspectives on managing river flows for people and ecosystem health. A key feature of the symposium is the presentation of the prestigious International and National Thiess Riverprizes for excellence in river management. This year the international prize is valued at AUD$300 000 and the national prize at AUD$100 000.
Riversymposium is part of Riverfestival, Brisbane's best-loved community and environmental festival celebrating our waterways and culture by focusing on the city's signature natural landmark, the Brisbane River. The festival is 10 days of celebration at the start of spring offering a rich and diverse program including music, visual arts, film, forums, education projects, dining, culture, large-scale free outdoor events and recreation.
Wildlife sanctuary in honour of Steve Irwin
The conservation legacy of Steve Irwin, known around the world as the croc hunter, will live on for generations to come with the establishment by the Australian Government of a wildlife reserve in his honour on Queensland's Cape York.
The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Malcolm Turnbull today joined the Irwin family at Australia Zoo to announce the $6 million Australian Government funded purchase of what will become the 135 000 hectare Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve north-east of Weipa, under the National Reserve System Programme.
"Steve Irwin had a long-held dream for this region to become a wildlife sanctuary, and Terri and the family has worked tirelessly to turn this dream into reality," Mr Turnbull said.
"I'm delighted to announce that the Australian Government will ensure the reserve is established to guarantee Steve's remarkable legacy lives on for generations."
Mr Turnbull said the Irwin family will manage the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve for conservation into the future.
"The reserve protects a stunning array of wildlife, from orange-footed scrub fowl to the endangered northern quoll – and of course Steve's beloved crocodiles."
The Wenlock River, which borders the property, is home to Australia's greatest diversity of freshwater fish as well as the endangered speartoothed shark. The reserve's important gallery dry-vine forests are amongst the largest and least disturbed examples of their type in the region.
Terri Irwin said "Steve was in awe of the prolific wildlife of the Wenlock and Ducie rivers bordering the reserve and he would have been proud to see the property protected as a wildlife reserve.
"This magnificent gesture by the Australian Government will allow us to actively manage this land for conservation and research, as a perpetual memorial to Steve's work.
"Controlling feral animals and protecting wetlands and forest will be a big part of our work on the reserve. We're also building a scientific research centre and will work with the University of Queensland and other research organisations to help people learn more about this bit of country.
"We are proud to accept the responsibilities that come with managing this reserve for the benefit of all Australians, and are eternally thankful that Steve's work will live on through this reserve."
The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve will be the 301st property the Australian Government has added to the National Reserve System (NRS), a network of protected areas preserving Australia's distinctive landscapes for future generations.
Malcolm Turnbull thanked Terri Irwin, her family and the team at Australia Zoo who have all worked hard with the Australian Government to secure this reserve. The Minister also acknowledged the Honourable Mal Brough for his support in achieving this result.
Under the Australian Government's stewardship Australia's network of protected areas has grown by more than 40 per cent. Reserves now cover more than 11 per cent of the Australian continent, protecting more than 88 million hectares of our most distinctive and fragile landscapes.
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 now 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:
Regional group: Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM
Title: Coastal/Local Government Project Officer
Location: Ayr or Bowen
Closing date: Monday 6 August
Based within either Burdekin Shire Council or Bowen Shire Council, this position will support local government in terms of coastal management by developing negotiated agreements with the regional NRM body for on-ground works investments in the coastal zone.
In addition, the role offers capacity to local governments to liaise with state and Commonwealth agencies regarding the development of relevant planning documents and support for the development of these.
Thought for the week
Speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
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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 08 January 2008