The Bugle - 08 February 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- From the mountains to the sea: Mark's mid-life crisis fundraiser
- Surge of interest in quirky announcements
- Day highlights value of wetlands
- Good management reduces flood impact
- Desert Channels Queensland steps out
- League legend lends support to Condamine
- Management plan to reduce cost of floods
- Linking healthy wetlands to healthy people
- Landscape Linkages revitalises the Desert Uplands
- Wanted: rural land experts
- Queensland leads world in weed mapping technology
- Ipswich achieves historic first with Indigenous Land Use Agreement
- Queensland cotton industry all sown up
- National emissions trading scheme a step closer
- Good news for Australian horse exports
- Plan your fishing trip and jump online
- RiverBlitz targets the Bremer
- Grants for grain tours, travel and training
- Weed control without hurting your hip pocket
- Call for nominations for valuable river prize
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
From the mountains to the sea: Mark's mid-life crisis fundraiser
In early winter, when the weather is mild, Condamine Alliance's Mark Schuster will walk the length of the entire Scenic Rim, partly for the challenge but mainly to raise funds in honour of a dear, departed friend.
Funds raised will go towards honouring the memory of Tony Briggs, NRM officer for Rosalie Shire Council who passed away in July 2007.
Mark, who is just past a significant birthday, is local government liaison officer for the Alliance. He hopes to use the funds for an NRM project or some form of NRM scholarship, to honour his friend.
Condamine Alliance will contribute and administer funding, and it is hoped other regional NRM bodies and councils in southern Queensland will contribute.
Mark's lonely path of over about 210km will take him through the dark and dense rainforests of the isolated Main and MacPherson ranges, across the Border Ranges and Lamington Plateau, and (hopefully) down through the Currumbin Valley to the end point of the walk at Point Danger, by the sea.
"I know much of the area fairly well," he says, "the walk will take me from Thornton (at the top of the Lockyer Valley), up to Mt Mistake, then southwards along Main Range, before swinging east towards the Border Ranges. In some stages I'll follow the rabbit proof fence and will report back on its condition."
Not content to test his energy, physically and mentally, Mark will photograph diverse habitats along the way.
Condamine Alliance wishes him well.
To offer your support or contributions, give the Alliance a call on 1800 181 101 or contact Mark on 4620 0131 or 0427 131 627.
Surge of interest in quirky announcements
Public interest in the effect of stormwater is surging with the help of a disgruntled dugong and "Drain Man".
Television advertising featuring the duo is raising awareness of the impacts of polluted stormwater and the things that we can all do to reduce the level of contaminants.
The Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) has funded four different announcements delivering the message: "The stormwater drain in your street runs into our rivers and out to sea. Don’t give your waste a free ride."
Chief executive officer of BMRG said he was surprised but glad to hear so many positive comments from the general public.
"It means that the message is getting through," he said.
"They were deliberately designed to be quirky and memorable, and have clearly captured people's attention."
The advertisements are part of a wider campaign on stormwater which includes the stormwater website where you can jump online and check out information sheets, a photographic competition, and a game for children called "Something's Spoiling Thunderberg."
Free promotional material is also available by contacting marine and coastal coordinator Sue Sargent on 4181 2999 (ext 204).
Day highlights value of wetlands
Around 20 people joined a bus tour of the St Lawrence wetlands to celebrate World Wetlands Day on Saturday 2 February.
The tour organised by the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) and Fitzroy River and Coastal Catchments (FRCC) was a chance to highlight the important role wetlands play in providing essential habitats for many birds, fish and plants.
The St Lawrence wetland forms part of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, an essential migratory pathway for birds. Several thousands of birds may be present in the wet and dry season, with many of these birds likely to use the wetlands for breeding.
It's also a significant nursery habitat for key recreational and commercial fish species such as Barramundi and Mangrove Jack.
The day included an inspection of rehabilitation work completed at the wetlands under the Queensland Wetlands Programme.
FBA received funding to coordinate the construction of walkways and fishways, erect fencing to control stock access, undertake weed control, and install interpretive signage.
The project is being supported by FRCC, the Fitzroy Basin Elders Committee and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
DPI&F recently installed two fishways at the site to improve upstream movement of migratory fish that move between freshwater and marine environments to breed.
DPI&F identified 39 fish species that could use the St Lawrence wetlands via the new fishways, which will greatly improve local fish habitat values.
Allan Briggs from Birds Australia Capricornia was on hand on the day to talk about and identify bird life supported by the wetlands, including the rare Cotton Pygmy-goose.
Check out the FBA's website for more on protecting Central Queensland's wetlands.
Good management reduces flood impact
Good land management has helped prevent more than 75 000 tonnes of sediment being washed into the ocean by recent flooding in the central Queensland region.
CEO of the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA), Suzie Christensen, said flood water gushing through the Fitzroy River catchment highlighted the importance of sustainable land use by local landholders.
"Landholders are reducing annual average sediment loads delivered to waterways by about 75 000 tonnes, and we're on target to cumulatively reduce sediment entering waterways by 4.1 million tonnes over ten years," she said.
The FBA worked with more than 200 landholders last year to improve land management to prevent sediment run-off into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
The Fitzroy Basin is the largest river system draining to the east coast of Australia, with 20 850km of waterways all leading to the reef lagoon.
"The effect of this flood would have been worse if landholders weren't already taking steps to reduce impact on the land by retaining ground cover and using best practice farming techniques," she said.
Desert Channels Queensland steps out
Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) recently hosted the first Longreach Tourism Association meeting for 2008.
Being involved with the tourism industry gives DCQ a voice in the promotion of the region, and the management of increasing tourist numbers.
By giving the many visitors to the region a greater appreciation of the natural environment they are travelling through, DCQ hopes they will be more likely to take up sustainable practices that minimise adverse impacts and ensure future visitors can enjoy what we take for granted today.
For more information on the work of DCQ call 4658 0600.
For more information on Longreach Tourism Association, contact Alan Smith on 4658 3000.
League legend lends support to Condamine
Rugby league legend and Leyburn local Shane Webcke has joined the Condamine River Rescue Program run by Condamine Alliance, expressing his concern about rising numbers of carp and the risk of another pest fish, tilapia, finding its way into the Murray-Darling river system.
"If we can raise awareness about tilapia now, there is a chance we can keep this pest out of the Murray-Darling Basin. I've seen how carp have taken over our waterways and it's been a disaster for native fish like Murray cod and yellowbelly.
"Tilapia could be just as big a pest if they got into the Murray-Darling, they’re not there yet, but they’re not far off either."
The Alliance is filming two television commercials featuring Shane at Leyburn reserve, delivering key messages about responsible camping and fishing, including the legal requirements to destroy carp, tilapia and other pests, and to avoid using any of these declared species as live bait.
"We are very pleased to have Shane involved, as he is obviously well-known in the region and commands great respect both locally and state wide," said Kevin Graham, special projects officer for the Alliance.
The Alliance is targeting pest fish as part of its Condamine River Rescue Program, based on the premise that a healthy river system reflects a healthy catchment. The Condamine Alliance program is structured on the Demonstration Reach principles endorsed by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's Native Fish Strategy.
Community groups have expressed interest in developing a demonstration site at Leyburn, eventually progressing to a Demonstration Reach between Leyburn and Karara, requiring investment of $500 000 over five years.
Condamine Alliance allocated $20 000 at its board meeting on December 10 last year to fund a consultant to develop a comprehensive plan for the restoration of Leyburn Reserve.
On completion of the plan early in 2008, the Alliance will fund and implement the restoration program in partnership with other community organisations to protect the reserve from further damage, deliberate and unintentional, caused by public access.
The Alliance has discussed what actions can be taken to educate people about the need to respect and conserve the iconic Condamine river catchment, and has agreed on a two-pronged approach to the problem:
- first, a media campaign aimed at informing both anglers and visitors of "Do's and Don'ts" while they are on public reserves
- second, work with teachers and students at the Back Plains, Leyburn and Clifton schools to develop education and management plans for all the sites.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries website offers more information on exotic pest fish species and noxious fish.
For more information on the Condamine River Rescue Program contact Kevin Graham on 0418 411 351, or Francine Holt on 4620 0117.
Management plan to reduce cost of floods
A review of the Condamine catchment floodplains suggests that proactive management may save up to 25 per cent of the annual cost of $12 million caused by flooding.
In a project funded by Condamine Alliance, environmental consultancy group Natural Solutions conducted the catchment wide review of bioregional corridors, endangered, vulnerable and rare (EVR) species, water quality guidelines and floodplain infrastructure.
The report suggests that a high level of irrigation infrastructure developed on the floodplains and changes in cropping practice over the past few decades are likely to have changed flow patterns, which in some cases may affect agriculture and infrastructure in the event of a flood.
Completed prior to the recent rainfalls, the report highlighted some gaps in flood mitigation for the catchment as a whole. An inadvertent gap identified was the focus of many water plans, which target extraction and productive water use from flood flows, which though positive is only one aspect of an effective mitigation strategy.
The report also highlighted an apparent lack of succession planning needed to capture current information held by key personnel which would be of benefit to flood planning.
As part of the suite of recommendations put forth by the report it is recommended that further study be conducted into flood mitigation, investment costs and information capture as well as a number of targets for inclusion into the catchment's NRM plan.
This review, combined with the recent rainfalls, has provided a robust assessment of both mitigation successes as well as areas yet to be addressed.
For more information visit the Condamine Alliance website or contact Penny Hamilton on 4620 0107.
Linking healthy wetlands to healthy people
Capricorn Coast Landcare and Emu Park Community Bushcare joined forces on Saturday February 2 to celebrate World Wetlands Day with this year's theme: Healthy wetlands, healthy people.
About 50 people attended the day at Bicentennial Park Lagoon in Emu Park, Central Queensland.
The event was supported by the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) under funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme.
Advice, educational material and various activities, including Tai Chi and Yoga demonstrations focused on healthy living activities.
Bushcare member Murray Bullock said, "The World Wetlands Day really helps to focus public awareness on the significance of these areas for the community’s health and well being."
Livingstone's Remnant Vegetation group provided free trees and both Landcare and Bushcare had poster displays with informative booklets and fact sheets.
A number of speakers addressed relevant issues, including Glen McIntyre from Livingstone Shire Council's plant pest management control and Capricorn Conservation Council’s John McCabe who explained the interaction between native species such as the Melaleuca and exotic problem weeds.
The day was also attended by a number of local and state politicians. Livingstone Shire Councillor Mike Prior planted a native fig to commemorate the day, adding to the hundreds of beautiful trees planted in the area by Landcare and Bushcare volunteers.
For further information or interviews on this story, contact FBA's education officer Glyni Cumming on 4999 2821 or media and communications coordinator Jody McDonald on 4999 2816.
Landscape Linkages revitalises the Desert Uplands
By Terry Butts
An innovative pilot scheme financed by Townsville based Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM (BDTNRM) to entice land owners in the Southern Desert Uplands to manage their land with native vegetation and at the same time conserve wild life in their pastures, is being hailed a great success.
Known simply as Landscape Linkages it is a scheme whereby land owners and managers in the region bordered by the shires of Jericho, Aramac and Barcaldine submitted a price to provide the required maintenance of vegetation on the submitted areas on their properties while not increasing the intensity of grazing.
Winning tenders were financed by BDTNRM (at an average of around $2 a hectare) but at all times land owners managed and were in control of their own commitment. A total of 15 properties covering 85 207 hectares were involved.
According to Andrea Lingard, the project officer of Barcaldine based Desert Uplands Build Up & Development Strategy Committee (DUC) the first year has seen a 40 per increase in grass cover over the areas submitted into the project.
The two year project is due for completion in October and the DUC will source funding opportunities for the continuation and extension to the project.
Government updates
Wanted: rural land experts
Experts in rural land management are being sought for a government committee which will advise the state government on the management and use of pastoral leasehold land.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said that the role of the committee would be to provide scientific, technical and policy advice on specific issues related to the implementation of the recently released State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy.
"It's important that we have a broad representation of experts across the geographic extent of the rural leasehold estate to advise on the implementation of this strategy," Mr Wallace said, "We are looking for a balance between experts from organisations, industry, gender, cultural and age groups."
Mr Wallace said eight positions on the committee were open to the public for nominations. Six voting positions are to be filled by an independent chairperson and individuals with expertise in NRM, environmental land management, indigenous land management, agricultural science, and social science.
They will be joined by five non-voting technical advisors, two of whom will be independent experts in NRM and the agricultural industry. The remaining three positions will be filled by advisors representing the state government departments of Natural Resources and Water, Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, and Primary Industries and Fisheries.
An information kit outlining the role of the State Rural Leasehold Land Ministerial Advisory Committee, selection criteria for membership and application details can be obtained by emailing the department or by telephoning 3224 8975.
Applications close at 5.00pm on 29 February 2008.
Queensland leads world in weed mapping technology
In a world first, Queensland scientists are using satellite technology to help manage one of Australia's most damaging weeds.
Officers from the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) are using remote sensing mapping to chart lantana outbreaks along the east coast of Australia.
The three-year, $450 000 project has reached its half-way point and already identified extensive lantana outbreaks at several centres, including Mackay, Rockhampton and as far west as Emerald.
This innovative project will benefit landholders across the country by mapping all lantana infestations instead of solely relying on landholder reports. The project will help to plan more effective control programs for lantana and identify high-priority areas to target resources.
Lantana is one of 20 Weeds of National Significance. It robs pastures and forestry plantations of essential nutrients, which reduces their productivity. It adds fuel to fires, and is toxic to stock, so this project between NRW and DPIF to map lantana is a big step forward in managing this weed.
This project is part of the Defeating the Weeds Menace program, funded by the Australian Government with in-kind support from the Queensland Government.
Ipswich achieves historic first with Indigenous Land Use Agreement
An historic milestone was achieved in Ipswich last month with the signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the traditional owners of the land.
Ipswich City Council is the first council in Queensland to enter into an ILUA covering its entire local government area.
The landmark partnership with Ipswich's traditional owners will act as a blueprint for similar partnerships in councils across Australia.
Indigenous sites of significance in Ipswich will be better protected and recognised as a result of the agreements which are the result of many months of negotiation.
The agreements feature a number of agreed procedures with the traditional owners and the consultation process involved will help council to comply with the relevant acts of both State and Federal Government legislation.
The agreements will include the employment by council of at least three people to be drawn from the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people to assist with the implementation of the agreement, two as rangers for parks, open space and other land, and another as a partnerships co-ordinator.
The agreement structure features two separate but linked documents, the ILUA which is the parent document and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Remuneration Agreement which deals directly with cultural heritage matters.
Visit the Ipswich City Council or the National Native Title Tribunal website for more details.
Queensland cotton industry all sown up
Cotton farmers, the community and the environment will benefit from a landmark agreement between Cotton Australia and the Queensland Government.
The cotton industry's Best Management Practices (BMP) Program administered by Cotton Australia has been granted accreditation by the state government.
Accreditation provides cotton farmers with the ability to meet the state's regulatory requirements for a land and water management plan through participation in the BMP Program.
This initiative will provide environmental, financial and industry benefits ensuring the cotton industry meets stringent farm management requirements to conserve land and water resources.
Acceptance of the industry's BMP Program is an enormous vote of confidence in the industry. Participating in the cotton industry's voluntary BMP program provides an alternative to developing a statutory land and water management plan.
Not only will this agreement save cotton farmers time and money, it will demonstrate real value in participating in the BMP program and encourage more growers to become BMP certified.
View the full media release at the Queensland Government website.
National emissions trading scheme a step closer
The Australian Government is a step closer to establishing a national emissions trading scheme with the release of a policy paper on mandatory corporate reporting of energy and greenhouse gas emissions data.
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong said the release of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, Regulations Policy Paper was the next important step in creating a national framework for corporations to report greenhouse gas emissions and actions to reduce emissions.
"The new national reporting system will provide the data needed to underpin Australia's national emissions trading scheme, which is a major part of the Australian Government’s commitment to action on climate change," Senator Wong said.
The policy paper outlines proposed approaches to detailed reporting requirements including the scope of data subject to mandatory reporting, detailed definitions of terms such as facilities and emissions, registration and deregistration information, as well as reporting requirements for greenhouse gas offsets, and actions to reduce or remove emissions.
"A new streamlined reporting system will be good news for business. Moving to a single system will cut duplication in reporting and reduce the cost burden currently imposed by the patchwork of separate greenhouse and energy programs," she said.
"It's also welcome news for the Australian community; providing for the first time, public information on the greenhouse and energy performance of large companies across the Australian economy," Senator Wong said.
Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposals. Information sessions will also be held in capital cities before the deadline for submissions.
For more information visit the Australian Government's Climate Change website.
Good news for Australian horse exports
Several international markets are re-opening their doors to Australian horse exports.
Australia's chief veterinary officer, Dr Andy Carroll said following the equine influenza (EI) outbreak many countries suspended horse imports from Australia, but the excellent progress of the eradication program has allowed trade to resume.
"Japan, Hong Kong and Macau recently agreed to resume trade," Dr Carroll said.
"Negotiations are progressing well with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, which is great news for Australian horse exporters," he said.
Biosecurity Australia also met with Biosecurity New Zealand earlier this week to discuss animal health issues including horse import conditions.
Green zones in NSW and Queensland are now reclassified white. Free horse movement is allowed within white areas and to adjoining states. Horses travelling to adjoining states will not need to be tested or undergo quarantine.
Reclassifying green zones to white means more than 95 per cent of Australia is demonstrably free from EI including much of the infected states.
"The successful biosecurity control program combined with vaccination, veterinary authorities, the actions of horse industries and individual horse owners has allowed Australia to recover from EI much sooner than expected," Dr Carroll said.
While the control of the outbreak is good news for all horse enthusiasts, adherence to remaining biosecurity and movement restrictions is the key to completely eradicating the disease.
With no new cases of the EI since late December we are getting closer each day to eradicating the disease by the mid-March target. However, it is vital that anyone who suspects EI report it immediately to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Plan your fishing trip and jump online
Adding a few fishing hours into busy schedules has never been easier with the newly released Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) 2008 desk top calendar.
The free calendar, which can be downloaded from the DPI&F website, is featured as a computer screensaver and includes useful information such as fisheries rules and regulations, moon phases and school holidays.
The online calendar proved extremely popular last year, as it provided a fresh approach to the previous editions. Until last year the calendar was only available to be downloaded for print, this year downloading will be much easier as you don't need to have printing facilities or a high-powered computer system.
Keen fishers may also find a copy of the recreational fishing rules and regulations for Queensland guide which can be simply downloaded from the DPI&F website.
Reef updates
Ancient climate secrets raised from ocean depths
Scientists aboard the research vessel, Southern Surveyor, have retrieved a collection of coral samples and photographs taken in the Southern Ocean at greater depths than ever before.
Using a remotely operated submersible vehicle the international research team captured images of life found on deep-sea pinnacles and valleys up to three kilometres beneath the Ocean's surface.
During a three-week voyage, scientists from CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship and the US, collaborated to retrieve examples of live and fossilised deep-ocean corals from a depth of 1650 metres near the Tasman Fracture Zone, south-east of Tasmania.
"These corals are evidence of an extinct coral reef," says the voyage's chief scientist, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research's Dr Ron Thresher.
"Our sampling came up with some very old fossil corals of the type we are now seeing live and forming extensive reefs at depths of 800-1300 metres. This suggests that the reef extended much deeper in the past, but how long ago or why it died out, we don't know yet," he says.
The composition of deep-sea corals is used to determine past ocean conditions, such as temperature, salinity and the mixing of surface and deep-water layers, over tens to hundreds of thousands of years. Over the coming year the samples will be examined to determine when these newly discovered reefs existed and if their extinction can be related to long-term climate patterns.
The findings will provide ancient climate data that contribute to models of regional and global climate change, based on historical circulation patterns in the Southern Ocean.
The voyage is part of a collaboration between CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship, WHOI in the US, the National Science Foundation in the US, the marine division of the Australian Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and the Marine National Facility.
Natural resources news
RiverBlitz targets the Bremer
Ipswich City CBD's natural icon, the Bremer River, is in for a cleanup as Greening Australia launches its RiverBlitz program.
One catchment per state is chosen each year to receive funding through the program, the Bremer River catchment was chosen for Queensland in September last year.
The initiative is aimed at improving river health through local community involvement in riparian restoration projects.
Greening Australia, Queensland is currently working in partnership with Ipswich City Council to develop and implement a project along the southern banks of the Bremer River, between River Heart Parklands and Bob Gamble Park.
Funds of $135 000 have been allocated from the Australian Government's River Recovery Program to undertake exotic weed control and removal, bank stabilisation works and revegetation with native species.
The project will create a greater amenity for the area and improve the environmental and ecological value on the river bank and most importantly improve the stability of the river bank.
It will also demonstrate riparian rehabilitation within an urban footprint and create increased community usage of the walkway from River Heart Parklands and the play equipment in Bob Gamble Park. There will also be better visual access to the river as well from a proposed viewing deck.
The RiverBlitz project provides an opportunity for the Council to work in partnership with Greening Australia and the community to enhance the visual and ecological value of the Bremer River in the CBD.
Grants for grain tours, travel and training
Are you planning to attend a grains conference, workshop, training course or study tour? Or thinking of running a seminar or field day?
Financial assistance is available from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in many cases, to help those involved with grains to develop their skills, build relationships and acquire new information that will contribute to building a sustainable and profitable industry.
Applications for the next round close on 29 February, for travel, study and conferences being held in the second half of the year.
Details and forms are available in the 'applying / reporting' section of the GRDC website or by phoning 02 6166 4500.
Weed control without hurting your hip pocket
The price of glyphosate might be on the rise in Australia, and cases of herbicide resistance too, but that doesn't mean your weed numbers should be.
In fact, says the Weeds CRC, there couldn't be a better time to decrease your reliance on herbicides and switch to an integrated weed management (IWM) program.
Integrated weed management combines herbicides with other cultural tactics for weed control, maximising the opportunity to prevent seed-set and to reduce the weed seedbank.
"Australia's farmers can have their cake and eat it too," said technical specialist, Mr Andrew Storrie from Weeds CRC/NSW Department of Primary Industries. "Weeds can be managed without relying solely on herbicides, and, used sustainably, herbicides can be protected for future generations."
"Incorporating non-herbicide tactics for weed management will not only protect farmers' hip pockets, it will also protect farms from developing herbicide resistant weeds," he said.
And, with a growing list of weed species developing resistance to herbicides in Australia, and world glyphosate shortages seeing prices rise by up to 100 per cent, that's no mean feat.
Many farmers don't adopt IWM because of the added short-term costs. However, research and farmer experience have shown that failure to adopt IWM leads to herbicide resistance.
"Integrated weed management is like an insurance policy," he said, "pay a small premium now in adopting IWM, or risk paying a bigger premium later when herbicide resistance occurs."
"Herbicide resistance in Australia is getting worse. The only way to manage it is to use IWM but, once resistance occurs, there are fewer options for weed management and the costs are higher," he said.
Last year, the Weeds CRC launched its flagship agricultural product, an integrated weed management manual. Affectionately nick-named the 'Weed Basher's Bible', the manual is the culmination of over ten years research by some of Australia's leading weed scientists, and it underpins training workshops for farm advisers across the country.
"Its practical nature means there's lots of advice, tactics, case studies, photos and weed profiles as well as important information on herbicide resistance," said Mr Storrie .
Further information about the manual can be found at the Weeds CRC website.
Call for nominations for valuable river prize
Nominations for the prestigious Thiess Riverprize will close on March 28. Internationally renowned for recognising and rewarding best practice in the restoration and management of river systems around the world, the Thiess Riverprize is the most coveted award of river basin and watershed management groups.
First established in 1999, the Thiess Riverprize, now valued at AU$500 000, offers the highest monetary award of river management prizes, and global recognition at the annual International Riversymposium in September. All international and national finalists are invited to present their projects at the Riversymposium which attracts more than 600 participants at all levels of river management in government, science, industry, environmental and community groups from over 50 countries.
There are two awards, and Australian river and catchment management groups may enter both the International Thiess Riverprize and National Thiess Riverprize. The monetary value of the 2008 International Thiess Riverprize is AU$350 000, and the 2008 National Thiess Riverprize is AU$150000, with presentation of the prizes during the Riversymposium.
This tenth anniversary of the Thiess Riverprize follows the release in 2007 by the International Riverfoundation of its River Heroes report, documenting the accumulated knowledge and best practice of previous winners.
River Heroes underscores the importance and success of the work of the International Riverfoundation in funding this major global prize that inspires people to find a way to bring rivers back to life, and in many cases, bring safe drinking water to communities in desperate need.
Information and nomination guidelines for the 2008 International and National Thiess Riverprizes can be downloaded from the Riverysymposium website. Previous entrants are encouraged to apply again.
The Thiess Riverprize is an initiative of Riverfestival in partnership with the International Riverfoundation. The International Riverfoundation provides the generous prize money for this award whilst the Riverfestival manages the award and produces the prize ceremony.
AgForward workshop update
The AgForward team present a range of workshops to landholders, including, GPS Essentials, Computer Mapping, Vegetation Management and AgForest's Native forest field days. Between March and June this year AgForward will conduct around 107 workshops throughout Queensland! Upcoming workshops include:
- 26 February: Quilpie - Computer mapping (follow-up for past participants)
- 4 March: Murgon - Computer mapping
- 4 March: Desert Uplands Area (TBC) - GPS Essentials
- 5 March: Dalby - Computer Mapping
- 5 March: Desert Uplands Area (TBC) - GPS Essentials
- 6 March: Desert Uplands Area (TBC) - GPS Essentials
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: Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group
Title: Chief executive officer
Location: Mackay
Closing date: COB 19 February 2008
As executive officer and coordinator for the committees, the position reports to the chair and is responsible for the strategic implementation and effective functioning of all aspects of Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group business.
For a full position description and selection criteria, please contact Krystal Prentice at Ready Workforce 4957 8575.
Thought for the week
The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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We welcome your contributions and feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions for The Bugle please contact Carl Glen, Shona Strachan or Aleisha Domrow.
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