The Bugle - 07 March 2008
In news this week
Due to the regional communication officers' workshop in Longreach, there will be no edition of The Bugle next week.
But fear not, The Bugle will return with bells and whistles on Thursday 20 March (due to the Good Friday holiday). To contribute to that issue email the regional NRM communications team.
Regional NRM group stories
- Beach project scrubs up nicely
- Leaf through these books
- Farmers look after rare cockatoos
- Snags just the ticket for a Kuhl catch
- Mackay Whitsunday NRM backs grower innovation
- QMDC: 'More work needed to protect precious soil'
- Glamour, glitz and a good time
- Improving Burdekin beef profits
- International recognition for Queensland turtle conservation leader
- Environmental scholarships for North Queesnland
- Big first year for Biosecurity Queensland
- Pilot program to inspire climate smart communities
- Stronger laws to protect Queensland farmers against parasitic weed
- Traditional Owners celebrate culture and conservation
- Alarm bells as evidence of slowed coral growth on the GBR emerges
- Governor welcomes patronage of peak body
- Indigenous land use agreement signed in Toowoomba
- Inglewood Shire helps Clean Up Australia
- QWaLC holds NHT3 discussions with federal Ministers
- Farm Day – let's show them how it's done
- Cyclones, fire, drought and flood – weeds love 'em!
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Beach project scrubs up nicely
Beach scrub is being put back on the map on the Central Queensland coast. Funding has now been allocated to twelve priority remnant beach scrub patches between Townsville and Rockhampton.
A unique cross-regional project is underway by NRM groups within the three regions aimed at Bringing Back the Beach Scrub. The project includes assessing the condition and distribution of remaining beach scrub patches, and implementing management actions at priority sites.
Kerri Woodcock, Beach Scrub project manager for the Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group said, "We are seeking to protect or improve the beach scrub condition. On-ground project activities will include fencing, weed control, revegetation and interpretive activities."
With less than 30 per cent of their original extent remaining, vine forests on coastal sands are an endangered ecological community. Remnant patches remain under threat from coastal development, weed invasion, fire, recreational vehicle use and foot traffic, and edge effects from adjacent urban and grazing areas.
Kerri added, "Beach scrubs are immensely valuable for their high levels of biodiversity, cultural value to Aboriginal communities, and protection they provide to the coastline from erosion. They grow in limited areas where they are protected from fire and strong winds, and have adequate nutrients and moisture."
The project is being delivered by the Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group, Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM and the Fitzroy Basin Association in partnership with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. Funding has been provided by the Australian Government.
For more information contact Kerri Woodcock on 4957 7158.
Leaf through these books
Peggy Ferguson was all smiles after South West NRM donated a collection of books to the Thargomindah Public Library.
The books covered a variety of subjects in the areas of the environment and NRM.
Geoff Edwards, CEO of South West NRM, said the community based organisation was more than happy to make the donation.
"It's a great opportunity to make these books easily available to the people of Thargomindah," Mr Edwards said.
"We're happy to be able to enrich the knowledge base of the library just that little bit more."
Mr Edwards said giving people easy access to information is a vital part of successful natural resource management.
"Education about the environment and how it all works and fits together is fundamental to increasing awareness and thus increasing involvement."
The library is located on Dowling Street, Thargomindah and is open Mondays to Fridays.
Farmers look after rare cockatoos
Landowners in the Burnett Mary region are helping to save a vulnerable bird.
Under a project jointly sponsored by the Burnett Mary Regional Group and the Glossy Black Conservancy, landholders are reporting sightings and protecting habitat of the Glossy Black Cockatoo.
Project coordinator Lee Dorahy, based in Mundubbera, said that several sightings of the rare cockatoos have already been confirmed in different locations.
"They have a very restricted diet of seeds of she-oak trees, so these trees are very important for their survival," Ms Dorahy said.
Several sightings of glossy black cockatoos have been recorded at "Goondicum", a historic old pastoral holding on the headwaters of the Burnett River where environmental values have been maintained and enhanced since the present family moved there in 1957.
"I have lived here 50 years", says Rosanne Campbell, "and it is still a tremendous thrill to sight these rare birds.
"The glossy blacks are very shy, and not at all noisy like the ordinary species. They are a very dark brown in colour; so dark they look black unless you see them in a good, clear light."
Ms Dorahy said that the main threat to the Glossy Black Cockatoo was loss of feed sources and nesting habitat, particularly large eucalypt trees with hollows.
"If landowners can retain these old trees on their properties and re-plant she-oaks, then the birds have a chance to survive," she said.
Ms Dorahy added that she-oaks had many other uses other than providing food for the cockatoos.
"They make great windbreaks, provide shelter for stock, help to control erosion, and are favoured by woodturners for their rich grained timber."
Sightings of glossy black cockatoos can be reported by contacting Lee Dorahy on 4165 5406. For more information about the cockatoos, visit the Glossy Black Conservancy website.
Snags just the ticket for a Kuhl catch
Fishing enthusiast Noal Kuhl says snags placed in Oakey Creek at Bowenville Reserve, north-west of Toowoomba, contributed to his cool catch of a whopping 6.3kg 70cm-long Murray cod.
"I can't remember the last time someone caught a cod right here at the reserve," he said.
"We know that in the past cod have only been caught well upstream in the adjoining deeper and well snagged waterholes, as our group keeps a pretty good eye on observing these things."
Native fish populations such as the iconic Murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch have been steadily declining in the Murray-Darling system to the point where researchers estimate their numbers at less than 10 per cent of pre-European settlement levels.
Condamine Alliance has developed a River Rescue strategy to rehabilitate and protect riverine environments in the Condamine catchment, focusing on native fish species which will be monitored as a measure of the program's success. Bowenville Reserve, a popular spot for camping and angling, was chosen as a priority site for implementing the River Rescue program.
The region's prized native fish require shelter and won't hang around in areas like this if shelter isn't available. With this in mind, the Alliance, Jondaryan Shire Council and Oakey Freshwater Fish Stocking Association undertook a rehabilitation program that included re-snagging Bowenville Reserve with logs for habitat.
Within two months of the logs being placed into the creek at the reserve, the rarer silver perch (Bidyanus Bidyanus) had already taken up residence.
Noal Kuhl caught the cod right off the bank at Bowenville Reserve next to one of the newly placed logs, just two weeks after a minor flood went through. "I am surprised but elated by the program’s effectiveness," he said.
Locals can find out more about the River Rescue Program at Warwick's "Love your River" Festival on 15 March, and Dalby's Myall Creek Day 12 April. For more information about these events, or the River Rescue strategy visit the Condamine Alliance website.
Mackay Whitsunday NRM backs grower innovation
Mackay Whitsunday NRM group was a major sponsor to the two-day GIVE exhibition in Mackay on 28-29 February.
GIVE (Grower Innovation Virtual Expo) had over 240 sugarcane growers in attendance from the Mackay Whitsunday, Burdekin, Burnett Mary and Fitzroy Basin regions.
The two-day event was a series of grower presentations and field trips all highlighting good environmental practices including the results of a revolutionary shielded sprayer which minimises drift and chemical run off and gives valuable cost saving to the grower, as well as providing advice on how to maximize grower networks to exchange research and information to the benefit of all.
Rob Cocco and Will Higham, both from Mackay Whitsunday NRM group, gave a presentation on the water quality improvement plan which is undergoing a second consultation process, and also on the Sustainable Landscape project which growers can submit expression of interests for.
The two-day conference was an overwhelming success for the region and ensured NRM was high on the agenda of growers' minds.
QMDC: 'More work needed to protect precious soil'
The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) has said that land managers should look closely at how much topsoil may have been lost during the recent downpours.
"With the recent rainfalls and flooding events, runoff has been significant, turning our rivers into chocolate milk," said QMDC's CEO, Geoff Penton.
Mr Penton said that, after so many dry seasons, the sudden and significant rains have washed topsoil, sediment and nutrient build-ups in to the waterways, impacting water quality downstream.
"This means that hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of our regions soils natural fertility is washed away," said Mr Penton.
"Since 2004, QMDC has worked with and supported many landholder groups to do things like build soil conservation works, convert old cultivation country to permanent pasture and some machinery conversions to zero till. We've also helped landholder groups to fence to land types, to improve ground cover, but it's not easy during a drought to maintain this ground cover."
Mr Penton said, "Land managers have made significant improvements across about a third of the region QMDC works in, with more than one and a half million hectares already in the process of keeping the topsoil where it belongs, and improving water quality.
"However, there's still a great deal to do, with more land managers wishing to implement similar projects than our staff can currently support," he said.
In light of this, Mr Penton said that QMDC, as one of 56 regional NRM bodies across Australia, has called for the federal Labour Government to make a speedy decision about funding beyond 2008.
"With so much work left to do to secure the health and sustainability of the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin, we need to make sure we'll have the funding and resources to continue what we've begun with landholders," he said.
Glamour, glitz and a good time
Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) will be in the spotlight tomorrow night as the sponsor of the environmental section of the inaugural central west industry excellence awards being held at the Longreach Civic Centre.
This event will be a major profile for the region, and DCQ is very proud to be involved. Individual section sponsorships have come from 'Water Saving' – Georgina Pastoral Company; 'Education and Training' – Job Futures; 'Innovative Environmental Management' – NAPCO; and 'Environmental Support' – Santos.
"We're very pleased and excited that some of our significant stakeholders have come on board to support this important event in our region," said Leanne Kohler, executive officer of DCQ. "DCQ is really keen to support events like this that recognise environmental talent and expertise in business and local government in our area."
For more information on the work of DCQ, call 4658 0600.
For more information about this event, visit the Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning & Development Board website.
Improving Burdekin beef profits
Imagine neighbouring graziers sitting together discussing their banking and financial details.
While cattlemen from older generations may scoff at the thought, this was the case last week in Charters Towers, where 25 cattle graziers met to compare management strategies and listen to presentations from experts on the rapidly changing beef growing industry.
Research to Reality, a Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM and Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) project, was developed two years ago by DPI&F's Brigid Nelson, and last week's conference was the celebration of round one.
Ms Nelson, project leader, admits there were teething problems when the idea was first mooted among the beef community, but she was at total ease come conference day.
"The outcomes couldn't have been better," Ms Nelson said. "The whole idea of the project is to give producers the skills and capacity to make decisions on their properties so they can improve sustainability and profitability, and help each other."
According to Ms Nelson, there were some very positive outcomes, with all participants eagerly anticipating round two of the project.
"They're receiving tailored support for implementation of their case study projects," Ms Nelson said. "These include innovative property development design for integration of wet season spelling into the beef business, and investigation into animal nutrition for improving first calf heifer performance."
Discussions also focused on how feeding and breeding patterns between the wet and dry seasons are expected to undergo some change in spite of a feared, but generally expected, hike in the cost of molasses and its transport.
The project, funded by Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM, is divided into three areas; Belyando, Collinsville, and Northern Speargrass.
For more information visit the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM website.
Government updates
International recognition for Queensland turtle conservation leader
The leader of the Queensland Government's marine turtle conservation project has been elected president of the International Sea Turtle Society.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, congratulated Dr Col Limpus, from the Environmental Protection Agency's Freshwater and Marine Sciences Unit, on his appointment.
"This is a prime example of an international organisation seeking Queensland talent," Mr McNamara said.
"Col's appointment to head the world body is further confirmation of his internationally-recognised expertise in turtle biology and conservation.
"He's been awarded the Public Service Medal and other major awards for his efforts and achievements in conservation.
"He received the International Sea Turtle Society's Life Time Achievement Award for his turtle research and conservation activities."
As president of the society Dr Limpus will be organising the 29th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation to be held in Brisbane from 17-19 February 2009.
The symposium will look at the threats and challenges faced by sea turtles, and the research and conservation work being done around the world for these amazing creatures.
"This event will be an excellent opportunity for Australians to show-case their expertise in turtle conservation," Mr McNamara said.
"Dr Limpus' passionate interest in turtles has inspired thousands of Queenslanders to study these ancient sea creatures and help in their conservation.
"He is tireless in his efforts to prevent further decline in turtle numbers, travelling to countries such as Indonesia, Mexico and New Caledonia to study conservation efforts, and to share research techniques and give lectures."
Visit the symposium website for updates and more information.
Environmental scholarships for North Queesnland
Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, has announced nine scholarships for research projects into environmental challenges facing north Queensland.
The students will receive funding of $720 000 over three years under the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility Graduate Scholarship Scheme – part of the $100 million Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program.
"These research projects will give us a better understanding of the environmental pressures on the Wet Tropics rainforest, the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Garrett said.
"These are great natural treasures, and they also make a significant contribution to the Australian economy. The Great Barrier Reef alone is worth $6 billion a year, with more than 63 000 jobs in associated tourism, fishing, cultural and recreational industries.
"However, these areas face significant threats from coral bleaching as well as threats to rainforest biodiversity from growing population pressures.
"The Australian Government recognises the urgent need to address these problems."
More than $7.6 million is being allocated in research funding for 2007-08 for projects under the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility program. The projects include the development of a simulation model for the dispersion process of weeds or invasive species in tropical landscapes, leading to more effective targeting of weeds and introduced pests. Another project is developing an 'early warning system' to help the tourism industry to prepare protective measures against the Crown-of-Thorns starfish.
"The stronger and more conclusive the science and the more extensive our knowledge on the changes being wrought by climate change and other pressures on this fragile environment, the better our chances of finding effective and timely solutions," Mr Garrett said.
Big first year for Biosecurity Queensland
Whether it's stopping the entry of a parasitic weed that could devastate Queensland broadleaf crops, seeking out and destroying nests of an Asian bee that could wreck the local honey industry, or eradicating equine influenza, a dedicated team of professionals with Biosecurity Queensland has spent the past 12 months proving their worth!
With Queensland downgrading equine influenza movement restrictions and edging closer to life without the exotic disease, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said his department would also be celebrating another milestone in its ongoing work to protect Queensland.
Established as a business unit of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F), Biosecurity Queensland was launched one year ago on 1 March 2007.
Mr Mulherin said Biosecurity Queensland was established because there was a need to bring all the pest and disease expertise, experience and capability under the one umbrella organisation.
"Biosecurity Queensland was put to the test only months after it was established, with our staff managing the state component of one of the Australia's most challenging outbreaks to date - equine influenza," Mr Mulherin said.
"An eradication program for Asian green mussels and Asian bag mussels, the first marine outbreak ever managed by DPI&F, is also underway, and I have no doubt that the diverse skills and experience that now exists in Biosecurity Queensland has again allowed us to carry out this new work.
"It's been a big year for Biosecurity Queensland, but we move forward with a lot of exciting new prospects ahead.
"This year DPI&F plans to release a public discussion paper about biosecurity issues in Queensland, in the lead up to finalising a Biosecurity Strategy early next year.
"We're also looking at how we can better work at putting long term preventative measures in place to further protect the state from the impact of pests, diseases, invasive weeds and other issues that may affect lifestyle or trade, as well as putting a stronger focus on the science that underpins our ongoing work," Mr Mulherin said.
For more information about Biosecurity Queensland, visit the DPI&F website.
Pilot program to inspire climate smart communities
Four Queensland communities will take part in a community-based pilot program designed to inspire ClimateSmart living across the state.
Premier Anna Bligh announced the $230 000 pilot program in Parliament last week, with Home Hill the first community off the mark.
"The ClimateSmart Living Community program will be launched in Home Hill next Tuesday and will be extended to Biloela, Gordonvale and Stanthorpe within months," Ms Bligh said.
"The focus of each pilot project will be the installation of a solar power cell at a community building - in Home Hill's case the town library - which will provide a live demonstration of the benefits of renewable energy.
"The solar power cell will form the basis of community information forums and school-based initiatives like competitions and projects about energy efficiency and renewable energy to increase awareness about how individuals and business can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
"The community project is designed to inspire local residents to make sustainability an everyday part of their lives, saving energy and building stronger businesses and communities," Ms Bligh said.
To read the full media release visit the Queensland Government Ministerial media statements website. For more information about the program, visit the CimateSmart Living website.
Stronger laws to protect Queensland farmers against parasitic weed
Queensland has tightened entry conditions, and enhanced powers to reject risky plant material from South Australia, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
Mr Mulherin said regulatory changes under Queensland's Plant Protection Act (1989), put in place powers to assist Biosecurity Queensland to reduce the risk of branched broomrape, a serious parasitic weed currently found in some areas of South Australia, from spreading to Queensland.
Mr Mulherin said the regulatory changes gave Queensland farmers better protection from the threat of a serious pest.
"As a parasitic pest, branched broomrape attacks the roots of other plants including pulses, pasture legumes, oilseeds and vegetables," Mr Mulherin said.
"With the potential to affect yields by up to 70 per cent, this pest would have a serious impact on Queensland's primary industries if it was to ever get in to Queensland – particularly on our broadleaved crops."
Branched broomrape has very small seeds which can be spread by moving plants, seeds, soil, machinery, fodder and livestock.
"These regulatory changes ensure Biosecurity Queensland can prevent high risk items that are potential vectors of branched broomrape from entering Queensland," he said.
"It also allows Biosecurity Queensland to put in place quarantine measures which would help stop the pest from spreading if it was to ever penetrate Queensland's border."
To find out more about branched broomrape, visit the DPI&F website.
Reef updates
Traditional Owners celebrate culture and conservation
Woppaburra Traditional Owners came together recently to celebrate the first accredited Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement in the southern Great Barrier Reef.
The agreement, which applies to Dharumbal sea country around the Keppel Group of islands near Yeppoon, is specifically designed to ensure traditional use is ecologically-sustainable while still meeting Indigenous aspirations.
The Woppaburra, which in traditional language means 'island people', worked to develop the agreement over the past year.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) executive director John Tanzer said the agreements were a great example of how Traditional Owner groups and government agencies can work together in the use, conservation, and management of marine resources.
"[This] is a celebration of the achievements and commitment made by the Woppaburra in developing their very own Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement following its accreditation by the Authority Board and the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency," Mr Tanzer said.
"The fact it was simultaneously accredited by both agencies is in itself important."
Bob Muir, representing the Woppaburra Traditional Owners, said it was great to have this occasion to celebrate this historic event.
"To have the agreement accredited by government acknowledges Traditional Owners and their aspirations to be involved in sea country management," Mr Muir said.
The agreement is accredited until 21 June 2010. It will ensure cultural practices continue to co-exist with the conservation and management of the Reef.
For more information visit the GBRMPA website.
Warning bells as evidence of slowed coral growth on the GBR emerges
Worrying signs that warmer seawater combined with a possible change in the ocean's acid balance may be curtailing the growth of an important reef-building coral species have been documented by a research team from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville.
The paper, published in the journal Global Change Biology, points to a 21 percent decline in the rate at which Porites corals in two regions of the northern Great Barrier Reef have added to their calcium carbonate skeletons over the past 16 years.
The AIMS research team analysed a total of 38 Porites colonies from the two regions. Porites are a common massive coral with a striking spherical appearance. They are long-lived and distributed widely around the Indian and Pacific oceans.
The researchers speculate that their results may be an early signal that the corals, as well as being subjected to warmer water, are being affected by a phenomenon known as ocean acidification. This is a predicted consequence of climate change, in which large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolve in the oceans, causing their alkaline/acid balance (their 'pH') to shift towards acidic.
AIMS climate change team leader, Dr Janice Lough, a co-author of the paper, said that much more needs to be done to understand all the implications of the increase in carbon dioxide entering the oceans and to put these preliminary coral growth data into context.
"We need more information about the chemistry of the Reef and how that has, is and will change," Dr Lough said.
The paper outlines Porites growth at two sites in the northern reaches of the Reef, about 450km apart. The project examined calcification rates, which are a combination of coral skeleton density and the linear rate at which the coral grow.
"The fact that the two sites are reasonably well separated and have different general characteristics and different average water temperatures but are still showing the same decline in calcification is good evidence that something unusual is happening," Dr Lough said.
This story can be read in full on the AIMS website.
Natural resources news
Governor welcomes patronage of peak body
Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, has welcomed her new patronage of Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC), the peak body for NRM volunteers.
"Her Excellency's patronage demonstrates that although the 'Decade of Landcare' is eight years behind us, our volunteers' donation of time and labour to Queensland's natural resources is recognised and supported at the highest level," said QWaLC chair Esma Armstrong OAM.
QWaLC represents community NRM groups across Queensland.
Her Excellency, who has a strong sense of responsibility to the community, is delighted to become the Patron of QWaLC. Ms Quentin Bryce's achievements and participation in professional and community service are immense and outstanding, and have been recognised in her appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia.
"It is an honour to have the Governor of Queensland as Patron of QWaLC," said Ms Armstrong.
"The Governor's support has further fuelled our drive to effectively represent our members. In our fifth year of operation, we will be focussing on our roles of representation, advocacy, networking, promotion and providing insurance for these groups."
Indigenous land use agreement signed in Toowoomba
An indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) over the Battle of One Tree Hill site, 6.5 km south-east of Toowoomba, was signed last week to ensure the protection of significant Aboriginal places and broader community use of the area.
The site, also known as Tabletop Bushland Reserve, in the Toowoomba City Council region is part of the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people's native title claim in south-east Queensland. The Battle of One Tree Hill was one of the last major battles fought there between traditional owners and European settlers in 1843.
Under the ILUA the Toowoomba City Council has recognised the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people as the Traditional Owners of the area.
The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the parties in September 2007 which set out how they would negotiate an ILUA.
Native Title Tribunal member Neville MacPherson, who mediated between the groups, said they had succeeded in reaching agreement about how their native title, local government and community interests in the land could exist alongside one another.
"This agreement will benefit the whole community as the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people work together cooperatively to manage and protect the reserve," he said. "It establishes how the council can help to resolve the native title claim.
"The ILUA is a positive step for the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people as they seek legal recognition of their native title rights in the Federal Court. They have now signed ILUAs with city councils in the eastern and western reaches of their native title claim area, as this agreement follows an ILUA signed last month with the Ipswich City Council," Mr MacPherson said.
Mr MacPherson said the Toowoomba City Council was one of many local governments around Australia that had worked through land management issues with the traditional owners in their area to reach an agreed outcome.
The National Native Title Tribunal has registered 314 ILUAs around Australia, and of these approximately 30 have involved a local government authority as an applicant or a party. The majority of these agreements have been reached in Queensland.
Inglewood Shire helps Clean Up Australia
On 29 February two Inglewood-based schools did their part for Clean Up Australia Day.
The schools, Inglewood Shire State School and St Maria Goretti School, both volunteered on the day with around 150 students in total.
Although the day started a bit cloudy it turned into a very warm and sunny day as the children wandered around the town picking up any piece of rubbish they could see.
Most desirable was the 'specially marked' rubbish that was distributed throughout town. In exchange for these special pieces of rubbish the students received a native tree seedling. There were 40 tree seedlings in total distributed on the day, all donated by the regional coordinator for the Aboriginal Program Tim Knox from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC).
The event was co-sponsored by the Australia Post Grant program, which covered most of the materials used, some prizes and advertisement for the day.
As a follow up to the day, the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, through its Aboriginal Program, will also sponsor one of the shire's schools with a native bush-tucker garden. This will also be done through some help from the Australia Post Grant. This project will probably start sometime in April and the school which does not receive this amazing prize will be given support for planning to create its own school bush-tucker garden.
The Inglewood Shire landcare coordinator thanks all those who were involved in making the day a succes: the students and teachers of Inglewood State School and St Maria Goretti, the QMDC and especially Tim Knox, and all the wonderful people at Australia Post.
QWaLC holds NHT3 discussions with federal Ministers
Queensland NRM community groups have had their perspective on NHT3 represented to the Federal Government.
Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC), the peak body for NRM volunteers, met with John Faulkner, federal Special Minister of State (representing Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) and David Borthwick, Secretary of the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts on 2 March 2008.
The federal representatives and QWaLC discussed the need for a smooth transition of funding between NHT2 and NHT3 in order for groups to continue their essential environmental work.
"NRM volunteers make a substantial contribution to the Queensland environment, through donation of time, labour and resources," said QWaLC executive officer Vickie Webb. "We don't want them forgotten when decisions regarding federal funding are made."
QWaLC advocated that interim funding be provided to Queensland's regional bodies to ensure that groups’ on-ground projects are not disrupted. The funding, which in Queensland is distributed by regional bodies rather than statutory authorities, "is necessary so that the regional arrangements process in Queensland can work as effectively as it should," said Webb.
Farm Day – let’s show them how it’s done
Primary producers will again have the unique opportunity to showcase their farming business to city dwellers when the second national Farm Day takes place on 24-25 May.
Farm Day founder Deb Bain piloted the day in 2006 with the intent of generating 'fun, friendship and understanding'. Independent research found it has been successful in all three areas.
The warm country hospitality extended by the 2007 farm hosts resulted in an overwhelming positive response to the initiative from city visitors. 94 per cent described the experience as "very" or "extremely" enjoyable.
In Mitchell, Queensland, Teresa and Don Allen were experiencing the worst drought in living memory but it didn't stop them opening their farm to the Hughes family from Brisbane.
"Farm Day was an excellent day for us because we had a great family who were open to the realities of farming life," Teresa said.
"I think what really struck the Hughes was that farming is a business, it isn’t a lifestyle, and we have sophisticated techniques and tools in place to help make it successful and viable. They were really impressed with the way we care for our cattle and didn't realise there was such a thing as 'low-stress stock handling'.
"We talked to them about caring for our land and environment, and they couldn't believe how, even in drought, it is most important to manage your grazing practices. They were astounded by how many kangaroos were on the property – they likened them to a plague of ants – and realised their city impression that kangaroos need to be protected, was totally misguided.
"Our friendship has continued, since the farm visit and we have visited them while in Brisbane.
"We thoroughly enjoyed Farm Day and know that our city visitors came away with a greater understanding and appreciation of farming. It really is a commendable initiative and I'd encourage all farmers to open their farms for Farm Day," Teresa said.
Deb Bain said she hopes Queensland farmers embrace Farm Day as they have previously. She's calling on farmers to register now to enable the matchmaking process to proceed smoothly.
To register to be a host farm simply visit the Farm Day website or call 1300 36 70 36.
Cyclones, fire, drought and flood – weeds love 'em!
Drought, flood and fire may be the ruin of rural life, and cyclones the curse of coastal land and other low-lying communities, but if you're a weed you love 'em, says Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO of the Weeds CRC.
Commenting on the recent floods in northern NSW and Central Queensland, Dr McFadyen says that while our agricultural systems, and our native plants and animals, take a hammering from these extreme weather events, they give weeds and other biological invaders the perfect leg up.
"In the tropics, cyclones often break open the canopy of a forest and let in new light to the normally dim forest floor – that's just perfect for weeds," Dr McFadyen said.
"For thousands of years the local native plants have supplied the only seed available. This meant, given time, that the forest always returned to near-original condition."
But now, says Dr McFadyen, thanks to people and vehicles, there are often seeds of new foreign species lying around in small numbers ready to out-compete the local plants in the grab for space and light. Birds and animals may also bring in these new seeds from towns and farmland.
Fire risk is also predicted to increase greatly under climate change scenarios, and favours weeds by 'clearing the decks' of competitors, says Dr McFadyen. And while fires may burn up many tons of weed seed, and favour the germination of some fire-adapted native species, it also provides the perfect seed bed for weed seeds.
Some weed species, such as the four metre-tall African gamba grass now rapidly spreading in northern Australia, go even further by fuelling fires so hot that even normally fire-resistant eucalypts are killed. Native eucalypt woodlands, with their many animals and birds, are changed into a pure stand of gamba grass with much lower biodiversity.
Drought also tips the scales in favour of weeds. "If the drought kills off all the competitors, whether these are crops or pasture grasses, then when the rains finally come the weeds will do what they do best – invade bare ground and grab all the moisture," Dr McFadyen said.
"Whether it's cyclones, fire, drought or flood, weeds are set to become the big winners from climate change," Dr McFadyen said. "Extreme vigilance and early action by landholders, agencies and individuals are the keys to keeping these species under control."
"Changing climate is new territory for farmers and other land managers, and they will need all the information and understanding that science can provide if they are to stay ahead in the weed war," Dr McFadyen said.
This story can be read in full on the Weeds CRC website.
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:
- 25 March: Beaudesert - AgForests Field Day
- 26 March: Monto - Computer mapping workshop
- 27 March: Lowood - AgForests Field Day
- 27 March: Eidsvold - Computer mapping workshop
- 28 March: Gayndah - Computer mapping workshop
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: Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ)
Title: Industry liaison officer
Tenure: 12 months
Salary range: $55 000 to $65 000
Location: Longreach
This position will work closely with the DCQ community, actively promote a range of services available to producers from agencies, private consultants, bankers and financial institutions, facilitate community meetings, workshops and information sessions for the DCQ community, and respond effectively to current and emerging community issues.
For a full position description and selection criteria contact Brittany Wakefield on 4658 0600.
Closing date: COB Monday 17 March
Thought for the week
There's an old African proverb that says "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." We have to go far — quickly. And that means we have to quickly find a way to change the world's consciousness about exactly what we're facing, and why we have to work to solve it.
Al Gore
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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.
View past issues of The Bugle.
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