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Regional natural resource management

The Bugle - 11 April 2008

In news this week

Regional NRM group stories Government updates Reef updates Natural resources news
Regional NRM group stories
Mackay Whitsunday set to launch plan on water quality

The Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group will be launching their Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) at the fifth Healthy Waterways Forum at Airlie Beach on 9-10 May 2008. 

The Honourable Tim Mulherin MP, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, will officially launch the WQIP for the Mackay Whitsunday region.

Whitsunday Catchment Landcare is hosting the event which is sponsored by Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group, the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and CANEGROWERS, with funding from the Queensland and Australian governments.

The first day of the event will be structured with talks by water and sugar industry experts. The second is an open community day. The Healthy Waterways Forum is open to anyone with an interest in the region's waterways, including community members, government agency staff, and community groups.

Registration for day one is essential. For more information (and to request a registration form) contact the Whitsunday Catchment Landcare group on 4945 0267.

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Farmers offered incentives to help the Reef

Terrain NRM is inviting primary producers to submit applications for funding to help implement practice changes on their farm to improve water quality, e.g. machinery modification, off-stream watering points or improved control of fertiliser application.

Terrain NRM, with help from the National Landcare Programme, has developed a Water Quality Incentives Scheme to minimise the sources of contaminants exported to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Up to $5000 will be provided to applications that are likely to result in improved water quality. A total of $200 000 has been allocated for such projects in 2008.

Any primary producer who is GST registered and has an ABN, within the eight major catchments of the Daintree/Mossman, Barron, Russell/Mulgrave, Johnstone, Tully/Murray and the Herbert Rivers may submit a funding application. Joint applications from non-family related entities are eligible, although they have a limit of $10 000.

Applications close next Monday (14 April). For more information contact Terrain NRM's Bianca Woolley, land management facilitator, on 4068 0266 or 0437 731 081.

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DCQ at Monkira in the Channels

Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) was a presence at last Friday's Desert Knowledge CRC's, WaterSmart™ Field Day at NAPCO's Monkira Station 130 kms east of Bedourie in Queensland's Channel Country.

Four of the on-ground team donned their DCQ attire and spread the word about DCQ's work. Brett Carlsson, Steve Wilson, Sue Gardiner and Roelie Hartwig were available to answer questions and Sue, information systems officer, also showed landholders satellite imagery of their properties on her laptop.

"Over 100 people, mostly graziers from Birdsville to Cloncurry, attended the field day. It was fantastic to see so many people interested in the water management technologies being trialled at Monkira," explains Colleen James, WaterSmart™ pastoral production project officer, based at DCQ in Longreach.

For more information about the Monkira project, visit the Desert Knowledge CRC website.

For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, call 4658 0600.

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CYPDA benefits from grant

The Queensland Government's Gambling Community Benefit Fund recently provided $7260 to Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA) for the purchase of equipment to help with promotions throughout Cape York.

CYPDA purchased a marquee, barbecue, tables, utensils, a cupboard to house brochures and also a chair to be used at events that are held to promote the CYPDA's services to Cape York residents.

CYPDA extends its sincere thanks to the Community Gambling Benefit Fund for granting the funds to make this possible.

For more on what's happening on the Cape head to CYPDA's website.

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Government updates
A Facebook/MySpace approach for new NRM website

A innovative approach to NRM requires a new approach website and the Web 2.0 framework of the Designer Carrots' website provides just such an innovative approach.

The new Market Based Instruments Capacity Building program (Designer Carrots) website is unlike standard NRM websites, as it allows users to create their own profile (similar to Facebook or MySpace), upload documents and other media to their own profiles, conduct forums on key NRM topics and send messages to each other via a members' area of the site.

It provides information on what market-based instruments are, how to do them, and outlines what is currently being done by natural resource managers on the ground. It also contains all the Designer Carrots fact sheets, case studies and guidelines.

In addition to a wealth of information on market-based instruments for NRM, which is available to the general public, the profiles section of the website creates a fantastic resource for its members. The profiles section is a 'Yellow Pages' of people involved in NRM and market-based instruments, or as the Designer Carrots program team calls it, the Little Orange Book, a market place for developing and implementing market-based instruments for NRM change.

Designer Carrots is a program designed to assist regional NRM groups and government agencies build their capacity to implement auctions, competitive tenders and other market-based instruments to improve the management of our natural assets.

The Designer Carrots team invites you to use the site and refer it to your friends, family, work colleagues and anyone with an interest in market-based instruments. The site can be accessed by using the following web address: www.marketbasedinstruments.gov.au.

Any feedback on the site or suggestions for future developments should be directed to Carl Glen on 3239 3884.

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Think your sustainable business is the best? Put it to the test.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling for nominations from Queensland's businesses for the state's annual Sustainable Industries Awards.

Entering the awards provides the opportunity to:

Entries are sought from Queensland businesses, individuals, community and not-for-profit organisations and local or state government. Entries should relate to projects or initiatives that are Queensland-based and have potential to be adapted or adopted by other organisations.

To see which category your project or business initiative might fit and for information on how to enter, visit the EPA website or contact the EPA on 3225 1999. Entries close Monday (14 April).

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Search is on for young Indigenous leaders

The search is on for Queensland's Indigenous leaders of tomorrow, with applications now open for the 2008 Young Indigenous Leaders Forum in Brisbane from 26–29 May.

Minister for Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Lindy Nelson-Carr, said the four-day forum was designed to help ambitious young Indigenous Queenslanders enhance their leadership skills, while tackling issues close to their heart.

"We're looking for 20 inspiring young Indigenous Queenslanders to get involved and learn skills that they can take back into their communities to make a difference," Ms Nelson-Carr said.

"I encourage any young Indigenous Queenslanders, aged 18 to 25, who have a commitment to reconciliation, to consider applying for this important event."

Ms Nelson-Carr said the Young Indigenous Leaders Forum was timed to coincide with National Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June.

"National Reconciliation Week is a prime time for young Indigenous Queenslanders to come together and discuss issues to help improve the lives of Indigenous peoples," she said.

"Forum participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn how to turn ideas into reality, develop networks with peers, connect with mentors and identify and set leadership goals and plans.

"Previous forums have been hugely successful, attracting up to 120 applicants and high calibre participants, such as 2007 Young Australian of the Year winner Tania Major, who participated in the 2005 forum and returned as a guest speaker last year."

Applications close Wednesday 16 April. For more forum information and application forms, call 1300 555 954 (cost of a local call) or visit the Reconciliation website.

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Reef updates
More caring eyes on southern coast's reef health

Local divers will help give coral reefs on Queensland's Gold and Sunshine coasts regular health checks as part of the United Nations' community-based global reef monitoring program.

Reef Check, which studies reefs in more than 80 countries including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has expanded its national program to include South East Queensland.

Diving enthusiasts and marine biologists will join forces to monitor the effects of climate change, pollution and urbanisation from the Gneering Reefs off Mooloolaba, to Moreton Island's Flinders Reef and the Peel Island Reefs.

"The beauty of the project is that we actually engage local community, so we're about raising awareness about the importance of coral reefs, and particularly in South East Queensland," Reef Check's Jonathan Werry said. "A lot of people aren't aware that we actually have some great coral reefs even off the Gold Coast here."

Diving volunteers will be specially trained during an intensive two week course to identify and differentiate the thousands of fish, shark and coral species in South East Queensland's coastal waters. Their recordings will be used to collate base line data about South East Queensland reefs, now under threat because of their location near urban areas.

"You can train local divers who have local knowledge and a passion for diving, but don't necessarily have the opportunity to be involved in a monitoring project," Mr Werry said.

Sea World's Shark Bay, which replicates the natural underwater habitat off the Gold Coast, will be the divers' training grounds.

Sea World director of marine sciences, Trevor Long, said he hopes the program will help improve the management of the reefs and fisheries. "It's credible, it's got science behind it, and I think government will sit up and listen, so it's very, very important," Mr Long said.

Story sourced from brisbanetimes.com.au

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Natural resources news
Aboriginal skulls homeward bound

The skulls of six Aborigines given to National Museums Scotland in the 19th century will be returned to Australia within weeks.

There is little information on the remains apart from the country they came from. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed the announcement that the skulls would be sent back to Australia. "Australia applauds the National Museums Scotland for facilitating this return and earlier returns of indigenous remains," Mr Rudd said in London yesterday.

Although there is no firm idea as to where the skulls came from, one has been linked to Victoria. The federal government has contacted the Aboriginal Heritage Council of Victoria regarding the skull. "The other five skulls will be sent to the National Museum of Australia, where work will continue to identify the community of origin," Mr Rudd said.

Kaye McPherson, who works for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Historical Service and is cultural custodian for Tasmania's Lia Pootah community, said the repatriation of the skulls could pose some problems for Aboriginal communities.

"It's appropriate that they are returned, but only if it is known from where they came," Ms McPherson said. "When old fellas come back, it can create ownership problems within communities, and I don't think it is good, on a spiritual level, for ancestors to be fought over."

Ms McPherson said if the history of the skulls could not be determined, a special site should be set aside to house unidentified Aboriginal remains. "They can't just shove the skulls on a shelf somewhere," Ms McPherson said. "That might have been deemed appropriate 60 or 70 years ago but it is not appropriate today."

The latest move follows the agreement last year by Britain's Natural History Museum to hand over a set of 17 Tasmanian Aborigine remains to the Australian Government, which approved their return to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. The museum also returned 10 items to the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.

Story sourced from The Australian

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Queensland Landcare Conference 2008 updates

Climate Messenger to visit Burnett as keynote speaker

Stephen Davis is a life long environmentalist and a 30 year long entertainer. When Al Gore made his Climate Change documentary An Inconvenient Truth he also set about training climate messengers around the world. Stephen Davis was one of the original 170 Australians trained by Mr Gore and has made over 20 presentations around Australia. Stephen will share a special climate change message with conference delegates during a keynote presentation.

Community display zone

A community display zone is being planned for one of the meal areas, located directly adjacent to the trade exhibition hall. Grassroots landcare and community conservation groups are welcome to book space in the community display zone at no cost. Space will be made available for posters, brochures and digital stories about landcare projects happening around the state. 

For more information, please contact the event manager, Samantha Morris at Wombat Creative on 0421 709 519.

Trade exhibition spaces filling fast

There are only a few trade exhibition spaces available for the conference this year. The trade exhibition hall will be located in the Monto Showgrounds Pavillion - directly adjacent to the registration desk, delegate internet centre, conference cafe and meals area. For more information or to book your exhibition space, contact Landcare Queensland by emailing Emma Trigg.

More detailed information, including booking forms and information about accommodation, will be available in the conference registration package, available from 30 April from the Queensland Landcare Conference website. In the meantime, if you would like any additional information on any of the above options, please contact Samantha Morris.

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Bush restoration in Coastal Catchment's fair

Gold Coast Catchment Association is hosting a major bush regeneration and contractors fair for groups and individuals interested in finding out more about the services available to assist in conservation and natural resource management activities. 

The fair, which will be held on Saturday 5 July will include a full day of presentations by conservation and technology experts and a trade fair for exhibitors and community groups focusing on bush restoration techniques. The catchment association is hoping to cater to the growing number of community groups on the Gold Coast who are involved in NRM and conservation projects and bush regeneration activities. 

Mark Tierney, president of the catchment association said, "there are thousands of volunteers on the Gold Coast who are working to repair bushland and coastal environments and this fair will provide them with the skills, tools and contacts to make their jobs easier."

The event takes place from 9.00am at the Loder's Creek restoration site off Ewan Street, Southport. Enquiries can be directed to Samantha Morris, Wombat Creative on 0421 709 519.  

The Gold Coast Catchment Association is the peak body for community groups managing the Gold Coast's natural environment and this fair is supported by the Australian Government's Envirofund.

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Conference to cover weed topics in the tropics

The Weed Society of Queensland is hosting the 16th Australian Weeds Conference at the Cairns Convention Centre from 18–22 May.

The theme for the conference is 'weed management 2008 – hot topics in the tropics'.

The conference will showcase recent advances in weed science, extension and policy across Australian and international communities and landscapes. The program for the conference includes plenary, oral, and poster sessions and trade exhibitors.

The conference will appeal to anyone involved in weed research and development, management and extension and will be a great opportunity to build new networks and explore existing ones.

Visit the Weed Society's website for registration and program details. The Weeds Conference – it's gonna go off!

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Farm Day – connecting farming and city families

Victorian wool and lamb producer Deb Bain instigated Farm Day in 2006 based on her desire to reconnect urban and rural Australians. This Canadian-born city woman, a pharmacist by profession, has embraced the rural life she shares with husband David and three children in western Victoria, and enjoys her various community commitments.

As a result of Deb's vision and dedication to Farm Day, she won the prestigious Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Australian Rural Women's Award 2007, and she will outline the Farm Day concept in May at the Rural Press Club during Primary Industries Week.

Farm Day is when a farm family hosts a city family for a day of real hands-on experiences and promotes a greater understanding of the day-to-day life of the farming family. In 2007 more than 200 families took part nationwide, including some in Queensland. The experience provides a chance to see how the modern farmer operates, and how it affects our daily lives.

Interested farm families and city families can register for this free experience, which this year will be held on 24-25 May, via the Farm Day website.

Early bookings are available – visit the Rural Press Club website to find out more.

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Sustainable production field day this month

Noosa & District Landcare Group and SEQ Catchments will be holding a sustainable production field day on the corner of Kinmond Creek Rd and Dr Pages Rd, Cootharaba, on Saturday 19 April from 9.30am.

In the morning there will be a number of talks. Topics covered will include rainforest plantations, vegetation management in Noosa, compliance related activities and growing sustainable agricultural precincts in the Middle Mary and Kin Kin.

During a free barbecue lunch by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council there will be the opportunity to view displays by Landmark, Hartbeat First Aid, SEQ Catchments, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA), Private Forestry Southern Qld (PFSQ), Noosa & District Landcare Group and Sunshine Coast Council Environment Services.

In the afternoon, two concurrent walks will be held from 1pm. Grazing lands will be guided by staff from Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries. The riparian vegetation walk will be conducted by experienced plant identifiers.

For further information or to make a booking please contact Don Maskall on 5485 2468 or email the Noose & District Landcare Group.

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Trackers could help protect endangered species

The Threatened Species Network says Aboriginal trackers could hold the key to helping save endangered animals from extinction in the outback.

The network held a conference in Alice Springs last week about getting more Indigenous people involved in conservation work. The network's arid rangelands coordinator Andy Vinter said the skills and knowledge of Indigenous trackers are under-utilised in Australian animal preservation.

"People are still unsure about why some species occur some places and they don't occur some places where they should be," Mr Vinter said.

"So the idea of focusing on this track based monitoring is that we got more people out on country looking for animals so we can learn from that.

"There's a lot of highly skilled trackers in Central Australia. We should be utilising those skills to help us find out where threatened species occur and where they don't occur."

Story sourced from ABC Online

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Volunteers learn about run off

The three western tributaries of the Mary River drain the largest area of land in the catchment, but in recent years stream flow has declined.

The western creeks - Widgee, Wide Bay and Munna - drain grazing country and, during the drought pasture, ground cover was reduced.

Steve Burgess, from the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, told a group of WaterWatch volunteers that sediment run off from those areas can contribute to problems in Sandy Strait.

"CSIRO studies indicate that Widgee and nearby Glastonbury creeks contribute significantly to sediment run off," Mr Burgess said. "With only three per cent of the catchment area they contribute 26 per cent of the sediment."

Those creeks drain areas of mostly steep, highly erodible red soils that have been cleared for cropping or pastures. Leaving sufficient ground cover can reduce sediment in the creeks and then into Hervey Bay by 30 per cent.

Mr Burgess said that in the past few years turbidity readings have been quite low due entirely to lack of run off. Measurements taken by the volunteers include water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) as well as turbidity using a clarity tube.

They have also been asked to report on aquatic weeds and note whether an infestation is expanding. Other comments during the regular water testing are for weather conditions, rainfall, water appearance and flow and observations such as a fish kill.

Water temperature levels affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water and this has a direct effect on all aquatic life.

"The iconic Mary River cod will not breed if water temperature goes above 23 degrees," Mr Burgess said.

EC is essentially a measure of the salts in the water and this relates mostly to salinity levels. Some creeks have naturally high salinity levels due to local geology while water pH varies during the day depending on plant growth, water temperature and stream flow.

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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:

To register for the workshops contact Bree Robertson on 3238 6039. To register for the AgForests Field Day contact Rohan Allen on 0408 769 918.

More information on these workshops can be found on the AgForward website (under 'Workshops').

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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: South West NRM

Title: District project coordinator

Tenure: Full-time, 12 months from 1 July 2008, with possibility of extension

Location: Based within Cunnamulla Shire

Closing date: Thursday 24 April 2008

The purpose of the position is to:

For further information contact South West NRM's programs manager on 4654 7382 or visit the South West NRM website.

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Thought for the week

If you're in the penalty area and don't know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we'll discuss the options later.

Bob Paisley OBE, Liverpool FC manager (1974-83)

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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.

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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.

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Last updated 08 May 2008

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