The Bugle - 19 October 2007
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Sawfish future in good hands
- Get paid to manage remnant vegetation
- Land and Sea Conference a great success
- Naturally Resourceful in 2007
- Students set to become weed warriors
- Controlled traffic farming yields greater productivity
- Grants for a water-wise future in Torres Strait
- Round 10 Envirofund funding announced
- Lantana field days a must for FNQ landholders
- Funding for remote and rural communities
- National Water Week
- Manual sets local governments on right the track
- Graduates wanted
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Sawfish future in good hands
Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA) has made a significant commitment to the conservation of the unique sawfish through the hard work of Project Officer Ben Jones.
Ben has been assisting in the Natural Heritage Trust Sawfish Monitoring Project – a cross-regional project headed by Biologist Sterling Peverell from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. The collaborative project is funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and CSIRO involving CYPDA, Mitchell River, Southern Gulf Catchments and Northern Gulf Resource Management Group.
Research is being conducted throughout Queensland along with the development of an education program which will be delivered to schools throughout the state.
Four of the eight species of sawfish, which are found worldwide, occur in Queensland. Sawfish populations are under threat due to habitat disturbance and inappropriate fishing practices.
The sawfish monitoring project aims to conserve sawfish populations by creating awareness in the community about the fragile status of this amazing creature.
Check out CYPDA's newsletter for more on the project or visit the CYPDA website for more details on NRM projects.
Get paid to manage remnant vegetation
Landholders in the southern Brigalow Belt can now access stewardship funding from the Australian Government to help them protect or improve high quality remnant native vegetation on their properties.
The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee's (QMDC) 'Bush Tender 2007' will allocate Australian Government funding to land owners and leaseholders under the Australian Government’s Maintaining Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspot Programme.
Project Coordinator for QMDC, Emma Taylor, said that the programme had now invited bids for funding under a stewardship arrangement, with the aim of protecting valuable intact ecosystems - but not at the expense of productive land.
"The Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Programme will provide funding to offset the costs that are usually borne by landholders in managing important patches of natural habitat," she said.
Programme funding will be available for management on remnant vegetation already retained for high biodiversity values and mapped by the Department of Natural Resources and Water. For a full list of eligible vegetation, download the brochure from QMDC's website.
Expressions of Interest opened in September 2007, and will remain open for a period of five months. For more information contact Emma on 07 4623 3478 or log on to QMDC's website.
Land and Sea Conference a great success
More than 5000 visitors mingled with locals and 600 high powered delegates from all over the country at the second National Caring for Country Indigenous Land and Sea Management Conference and Festival at Cardwell last weekend.
Event co-coordinator Joanne Kuene said the whole town had been "blown away" by the conference and festival which she described as an enormous success.
"We knew it was going to be big - but not this big," she said.
Noel Pearson, Professor Mick Dodson and Peter Yu, three of the most powerful indigenous personalities in the country, were among guest speakers over the three day conference. Weekend festivities included entertainment by the nationally renowned traditional performers Boney M, Archie Roach and Banawurun.
Changes to environmental management, the Great Barrier Reef, and cultural changes were among the many topics discussed at the conference, partly sponsored by Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM.
Professor Dodson spoke about the concerns of protecting traditional knowledge that he described as "highly secret, sacred, and vulnerable to abuse and in desperate need of protection."
For more on the conference program visit the Caring for Country website.
Naturally Resourceful in 2007
The Naturally Resourceful short course for women is on again this year. After receiving funding from the Department of Communities, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) will be running a series of four workshops in several towns across their region.
The 'Naturally Resourceful' short course was developed specifically to enhance the involvement of rural women in natural resource management (NRM), at a property level and in the wider community.
Through this course, QMDC hoped to empower and inspire rural women to become more actively involved in NRM and to build their leadership, skills and confidence in this area.
The course will be facilitated by Emma Taylor from 'Sustainable Connections'. Locations, dates and an agenda are available at the QMDC website.
For more details on the course please contact Amanda Woods at QMDC's Goondiwindi office on 07 4671 7900.
Students set to become weed warriors
More than 100 primary school students from the Boonah and Beaudesert Shire have this week embarked on an exciting program to help manage Cat’s Claw Creeper along the creeks in their local area.
Students from Boonah, Maroon, Rathdowney, Tamrookum and Hillview State Schools are participating in the Weed Warriors Program during fourth term.
"Weed Warriors is an innovative program developed as part of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management and managed by Department of Natural Resources and Water that provides opportunity for students to learn about weeds, weed management and to be actively involved in biological control," National Weed Warriors Coordinator Jo Kelly said.
Through Weed Warriors, students, teachers and involved members of the community gain "real and relevant learning experiences" by working on local weed problems in conjunction with scientists from Biosecurity Queensland.
During the term, the students will be rearing biocontrol agents (leaf sucking bugs called 'tigids'), learning about Cat's Claw and its impact on the local environment and identifying sites that will be suitable for releasing the tigids. If all things go according to plan, each school will be ready to release approximately 1200-1500 tigids before they break for Christmas holidays.
SEQ Catchments is pleased to support the five local schools participating in the Weed Warriors program. SEQ Catchments Science and Education Coordinator Kay Montgomery has been busy introducing the program to local schools and arranged an introductory professional development training session for members of the participating school communities at the end of last term.
It is anticipated that all participating schools will share their data and communicate with each other via a blog on Education Queensland's web-portal Learning Place.
For further information on the program, contact Kay Montgomery from SEQ Catchments on 0400 910 680.
Controlled traffic farming yields greater productivity
In a first for agriculture in the Bundaberg and Childers region, fruit and vegetable producers and cane growers were introduced to the benefits of controlled traffic farming (CTF) at a special meeting held at Alloway at the beginning of this month.
In a joint endeavour by Growcom and Canegrowers' Isis Target 100, local producers interested in controlled traffic farming technology heard CTF Solutions expert Dr Jeff Tullberg and guest speaker John McPhee of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, both with extensive experience in controlled traffic in farming production systems.
Chief Executive Officer for the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), David Brown, said, "the objective of this project is to work with horticultural and cane growers in the Bundaberg and Childers region who wish to learn more about controlled traffic systems.
"Through the use of permanent compacted wheel tracks, and in controlling the amount of traffic in the farming system, we can lead growers to more productive and sustainable farming systems."
The project is funded through the National Landcare Programme and administered through BMRG, proved an opportunity to demonstrate to growers the many advantages of using controlled traffic farming to increase yield and decrease negative impacts on sustainability.
Visit the BMRG website for more details on the meeting.
Government updates
Grants for a water-wise future in Torres Strait
Torres Strait Island communities will receive a boost from the National Heritage Trust in the form of a $130 000 grant to help deliver an important water education project.
The project will raise community awareness and understanding about the need to save water and water saving approaches suitable for the needs of particular islands and households. The project will also help communities access funds to implement these practices.
The Island Coordinating Council Infrastructure Support Unit is managing the project which will deliver a community education package and develop management tools for water conservation, recycling and reuse.
"In the Torres Strait it may seem like a case of water, water everywhere, but these are Island communities, so it's really sea water we're talking about," Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said.
"Fresh water is an incredibly precious and limited resource. Being water-wise out here is not just a good thing - it's a necessity."
For the full media statement, visit the Queensland Government media release website.
Round 10 Envirofund funding announced
Coastlines will be restored and wildlife will be protected with the announcement of successful projects from the special Envirofund Coastal and Marine Round on 14 October 2007.
Following assessment from Community-based Assessment Panels, 167 projects to protect and conserve Australia's marine environments will benefit from a share in $4 million of funding.
The special 'coastal and marine' round attracted an amazing 564 applications from across Australia, seeking over $14.3 million dollars.
For full details on projects to be funded in this round visit the Envirofund website.
Lantana field days a must for FNQ landholders
Lantana is one of the scourges of the Australian bush, and Far North Queensland landholders wanting to know more about the latest control methods will have the opportunity at field days to be held in November.
Declared a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), lantana is the focus of a national management strategy ensuring coordinated action between states and agencies and the development of best practice management strategies. The weed costs Queensland graziers an estimated $70.8 million each year in lost production and has a dramatic impact on natural ecosystems, where it smothers native plant species and reduces biodiversity.
The upcoming field days will showcase best practice management trials and provide landholders with the opportunity to find out more about the Lantana WoNS project.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' (DPIF) Biosecurity Queensland lantana expert, Dr Daniel Stock, encourages landholders to attend the field day.
"We invite everyone with an interest in controlling this menace to come along and speak to experts about the latest successful control programs that have been developed."
Field days will be held at Malanda on Tuesday November 13, 10am-3pm; Glen Ruth Station, Wednesday November 14, 11am-3pm and Abergowrie State Forest, Thursday November 15, 10am-3pm.
To book your place at one, or all, of the field days, contact Dr Daniel Stock on 07 3206 2099 or via the DPIF Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Funding for remote and rural communities
Anyone who intends to submit an application for Our Place, Our Future funding is reminded that the second application round for 2007–08 closes on Monday 22 October 2007.
The Department of Communities' Our Place, Our Future initiative aims to assist members of rural and remote communities to increase their capacity to build more socially, culturally, and economically sustainable communities.
Rural and remote communities are encouraged to apply for funding in two categories:
- Planning and engagement - to assist local communities to work together to identify, develop, coordinate and prioritise local strategies and plans that may lead to longer-term initiatives.
- Project implementation - to action existing community plans and priorities that improve the sustainability of communities through social, cultural, environmental and/or economic development initiatives.
Funding of $7.42 million has been committed over the next three years for Our Plan, Our Future.
Rounds 3 and 4 will close on 3 March and 1 September 2008.
The funding information paper and application form are available on the Department of Communities website or by phoning 1300 794 611.
Reef updates
Pesticide management hot topic at workshops
Scientists, industry, conservation, and government representatives investigated a pesticide reporting system for Great Barrier Reef catchments at workshops in Townsville and Mackay recently.
A pesticide reporting system may be able to determine the quantity of pesticides used in Reef catchments, where specific pesticides are being used and when, and support industry and government programs in managing the potential risks associated with the use of pesticides.
Project Manager and NRM Scientist with consultants URS Australian Pty Ltd Australia Dr Belinda Lovell said that the two workshops in Townsville and Mackay in late September 2007 followed a desktop review of pesticide reporting systems throughout Australia and the world.
"Outcomes from the workshops will help to inform preferences for a pesticide reporting system, to support the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan in its goal to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef," Ms Lovell said.
Participants at the workshops included representatives from peak industry bodies, regional NRM bodies, Queensland Government agencies, conservation groups and some researchers, who worked through the challenges of setting up a reporting system across the whole Reef catchment.
The investigation of a pesticide reporting system is a requirement under Action F7 of the Reef Plan.
URS Australia Pty Ltd is undertaking the project on behalf of the Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
Natural resources news
National Water Week
Next week is National Water Week (NWW). Running from 21–27 October this year, Australians will have the opportunity to 'Protect, Conserve and Get Involved' in water-related activities and celebrations around the country.
The initiative is designed to assist the community to understand and take action to protect and conserve our precious water resources and habitats. It delivers a strong focus on the national priority to protect, conserve and become involved in water management.
NWW creates a large scale local awareness of community initiatives that generate long-term behaviour change for the protection, rehabilitation and improvement of streams, wetlands, waterways, beaches, and estuaries. In addition, water conservation campaigns are launched, highlighted or reinforced during the week to promote water saving in the community.
For more information on what's happening in your area log on to the National Water Week website.
Be sure to check out the Waterwise competition for your chance to win your own 'living dinosaur' – the ancient and rare Wollemi Pine.
Manual sets local governments on NRM target
As part of its Natural Resource Management (NRM) Capacity Building Project, the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has developed a manual for local government operational staff.
The manual was developed at the request of councils and aims to introduce Queensland’s local government operational staff to NRM activities.
The manual will assist council operational staff to undertake ecological assessment of roadside and bushland areas in their shire with the intent of management and protection of conservation values; undertake water quality monitoring of river and stream health and provide an overview of the legislative responsibilities of Local Government including State and Commonwealth legislation.
For further information please contact Malcolm Petrie, LGAQ's NRM Project Coordinator, on telephone 07 3000 2202.
Graduates wanted
The Queensland Government is seeking motivated, result-oriented graduates interested in the sustainable management of the State's water, land and vegetation.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said the department was looking to attract up to 14 recent graduates, or those who will complete a degree by the end of 2007, into a range of disciplines.
"My department works closely with industry, landholders and the community to ensure Queensland's natural resources - our water, land and vegetation - are used sustainably," Mr Wallace said.
"To do this, the department needs staff throughout the state with qualifications across a wide range of disciplines."
The targeted disciplines for NRW's 2008 graduate program include a wide variety of disciplines from environmental science/management to law.
Graduates have until October 29 to apply for the 2008 program. For more information on the program and application the process visit the NRW website.
AgForward workshop update
Every month, AgForward runs a number of workshops across the state. Upcoming workshops include:
- 15 November : Barcaldine - Computer mapping
- 15 November : Proserpine - GPS Essentials
- 20 November : Surat - Computer mapping
- 20 November : Woolooga - AgForests field day
- 21 November : Meandarra - Computer mapping
- 22 November : Moonie - Computer mapping
- 22 November : Monto - AgForests field day
The cost of the workshops are:
- Computer mapping - $100 per enterprise
- GPS essentials - $50 per enterprise
More information on these workshops can be found on the AgForward website (under 'Workshops').
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 body: Terrain FNQ
Title: Field assistant - landscape rehabilitation (2 positions available)
Tenure: Casual
Salary range: $20 per hour (inclusive of loading) + 9% superannuation
Location: Babinda
Applications close: COB Friday 26 October 2007
If you’re interested in this position visit the Terrain website, or visit the Babinda office, 53 Munro Street Babinda, for the relevant selection pack.
Thought for the week
Don't despair. Only a mediocre person is always at his best.
Somerset Maugham
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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 22 January 2009