The Bugle - 23 May 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Indigenous team rescues precious Jewel
- Fitzroy Fellowship offers $25K for resourceful people
- 'Duty of Care' pays off in Northern Gulf
- Local voice joins leadership program
- DCQ spreads the word on weeds
- Scheme to give weeds a spray
- Toowoomba community groups meet and greet
- Federal budget a welcome boost for Queensland's primary sector
- More than one third of Queenslanders volunteer
- Townsville bumper biosecurity blitz
- Being green in one easy stop
- Have your say on FNQ regional plan
- Stakeholders to evaluate Murray-Darling water purchase
- Research leads efforts to eradicate weed
- Applications sought for National Reserve System funding
- Join in Queensland Week celebrations
- Primary producers core of rural communities
- $300 available for Landcare functions
- Biodiversity conservation in the headwaters
- Caring for our Country Community Coastcare 2008 Grants open
- Rural discovery day a tremendous success
- Free NRM decision advisory service available now
- Feral pigs targeted by council
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Indigenous team rescues precious Jewel
Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group Inc, in partnership with Condamine Alliance, Department of Main Roads and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, has been working on an exciting project to protect valuable habitat for the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus) at Leyburn.
Requiring mature bulloak trees (Allocasuarina leumannii) and an ant species (Anonychomyrma sp.) for its survival, the bulloak jewel butterfly is only found in a few locations, one of which is at Ellangowan Nature Refuge, located just outside of Leyburn.
The on-ground works component of the project was completed in mid-April by the Condamine Alliance indigenous work team, who spent five days working at Ellangowan Nature Refuge.
Tasks undertaken by the team included hand weeding Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum spp.), Tiger Pear (Opuntia aurantiaca) and small Tree Pear (Opuntia tomentose). The team also worked on clearing the nature refuge of rubbish, collecting a total of two and a half ute loads of old cans, steel, bottles and broken glass, which were removed to the local tip.
All work at Ellangowan was carried out with minimal disturbance of the site to ensure protection of this valuable habitat for both the butterfly, and the ant species it relies on for its survival.
For more information contact Dawn Heath from Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group Inc on 4661 9909.
Fitzroy Fellowship offers $25K for resourceful people
People with a passion for natural resource management can now apply for a $25 000 bursary to develop their knowledge and skills.
The Fitzroy Fellowship will provide up to $25 000 for one individual living or working in the Fitzroy region to undertake personal development to become a local 'champion' of natural resource management.
The Fellowship is part of a $700 000 Innovation Fund from the Fitzroy Basin Association Inc (FBA) to foster new thinking in farming sustainability and ways to protect and restore our local environment.
The Fellowship will cover the cost of activities such as study, training and travel anywhere in Australia or overseas.
Whatever the activity or combination of activities, applicants need to show they will use the fellowship to enhance their ability to promote and lead the sustainable use of resources in the Central Queensland region.
Potential applicants might include farmers and land managers, people working in natural resource management fields, environmentalists, scientists, and students.
Application forms and guidelines are available on the FBA website under 'Opportunities', or by phoning 4999 2800, or emailing the FBA.
Applications for the Fitzroy Fellowship must be received by the FBA by 31 July.
'Duty of Care' pays off in Northern Gulf
The Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG) recently asked graziers in the region to participate in a 'Duty of Care' survey conducted by River Consulting.
The response was fantastic with over a third of the graziers completing the questionnaire.
Properties from 60 000 to 607 000 hectares were covered in the survey totalling almost a third of the region of the Northern Gulf (196 000 sq km).
'Duty of Care' for graziers is about looking after the productive capacity of the country and maintaining the biodiversity of a property at a level where native flora and fauna survive happily in a commercial grazing venture.
Managing feral animals, reducing woody weed infestation, protecting endangered habitats, maintaining native flora and fauna, and conserving diversity of pasture species are all specific goals in maintaining a 'Duty of Care'. This is even more relevant now with the changes to rural leasehold land following the Delbessie Agreement.
It is vital to the region as a whole that 'Duty of Care' is understood and embraced by graziers to ensure the ongoing viability of their properties, the Northern Gulf, and to give a future for our children.
An opportunity to learn about the findings of the research and discuss its relevance in the context of leasehold land renewal will be given during workshops conducted from 29 May–3 June across the Northern Gulf region.
For more information contact the NGRMG office on 4062 1330.
Local voice joins leadership program
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Aboriginal land management facilitator Sam Savage has been chosen to join 34 other young leaders from all over the nation for this year's prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).
It was a chance happening that led to Sam's invitation to join this year's ARLP program which includes scientists, primary producers community leaders, human service providers and government (state and federal) policy makers.
It was at the Land and Sea Conference in Cardwell last October where Jane Bennett from ARLP was waiting for another guest speaker, when Sam picked up the microphone and adlibbed on the issue of the necessity for long term funding for Traditional Owner natural resource management.
She was obviously impressed and directed Sam to ARLP director Rob Patrick. After a number of meetings Sam was offered a $55 000 scholarship and his entrance was fast tracked.
The program is in its 15th year and is designed to find and prepare Australian leaders for the future who are already actively involved in rural, remote and regional Australia.
All participants have been selected as a result of their extraordinary passion and commitment which has been a hallmark over the history of ARLP.
The program commences next month and will conclude in November 2009. It will take participants all over Australia for hands-on studies of a whole range of subjects.
DCQ spreads the word on weeds
Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) made its presence felt at the annual Australian Weed Conference held earlier this week in Cairns.
As an organisation highly regarded and recognised for the work it does in weed management, it was appropriate that DCQ was a sponsor of this event.
A number of staff members attended the conference and were busy throughout the break out sessions manning the highly visible and fabulous stand, and answering all sorts of questions about weeds and weed management in the DCQ region (approximately one third of Queensland).
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, call 4658 0600.
Scheme to give weeds a spray
Landholders will benefit from a new South West Natural Resource Management (NRM) weed spraying scheme.
South West NRM is offering the loan of a vehicle and a weed spray unit for landholders to control localised weed infestations on their properties.
Ric Newson, South West NRM's acting operations manager, said working with landholders will help to control infestations before they become a bigger problem.
"We'll supply the vehicle, fuel and chemicals; the landholder will supply the manpower," Mr Newson said.
It is hoped the scheme will prevent invasive species overwhelming the landscape in the future.
"You have to control and contain an infestation while it's still manageable," Mr Newson said.
"Otherwise, it gets out of control and huge amounts of resources are needed to make any sort of impact against it."
Mr Newson said there are some conditions for the scheme.
"They have to be an open licence holder over 25 years of age, and can only use the equipment on their own property," Mr Newson said.
For more information contact Ric Newson at South West NRM on 4656 8500.
Toowoomba community groups meet and greet
Toowoomba region community groups are getting together to build links and contribute to joint activities, encouraged by a growing youth presence in the collective of people with interests in natural resource management.
Toowoomba Landcare Group invites NRM stakeholders in the area to discuss opportunities for collaboration at a meeting on 27 May at 2pm, upstairs at the Metro Café in Railway Street.
Youth Climate Action Toowoomba, Condamine Alliance and Condamine Catchment Management Association also invite groups to a Toowoomba and Region Environmental Round Table on 4 June.
Youth Climate Action is organizing a Youth Climate Conference in Toowoomba on 25-26 July.
For more information on these events visit the Condamine Alliance website.
Government updates
Federal budget a welcome boost for Queensland’s primary sector
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin has welcomed the continued recognition of the importance of the primary industries sector in the new federal government budget.
Mr Mulherin said he was especially pleased to see such strong funding in the Caring for our Country initiative.
"This $2.2b five-year program will refocus natural resource management to better target national priorities, including $200m for the Great Barrier Reef Rescue Plan," he said.
The Minister said there was also significant funding for the critical areas of quarantine and biosecurity, an area of real priority for Queensland.
"There is $15.3m over four years to establish a National Weeds and Productivity Research Program to investigate and address significant invasive plant problems and to improve advice to the farm and forestry sectors on managing invasive plants in forests, pastures and native vegetation," he said.
"In addition there is $5.4m over four years to implement a comprehensive Quarantine Research and Preparedness Plan to minimise the impacts of pests, diseases and contaminates on Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.
"In 2008-09 there will be just under $5m to further boost Australia's ability to detect and respond to biosecurity threats, and to minimise the cost to industry and government caused by established pests, exotic pests and disease incursions.
"I am also very pleased to see climate change is front and centre in this budget with a $2.3b package," he said.
The Minister said he would be working closely with his federal counterparts to ensure that these programs were delivered for the benefit of Queensland.
More than one third of Queenslanders volunteer
A new army is being created in Queensland with more than one-third of the population signing up to volunteer, according to a report released last week.
The report is an updated version of The Economic Value of Volunteering in Queensland, released in 2006, and reinforces that volunteers make an enormously valuable contribution to Queensland communities.
The report shows us that 38 percent of Queenslanders volunteer – with women and those in the 35-64 years age group leading the way.
The report values the efforts of volunteering in Queensland in that year as $13.4 billion, which equates to an additional 299 000 jobs throughout the state.
To view the full revised report visit the Department of Communities website.
Townsville bumper biosecurity blitz
A bumper biosecurity blitz scheduled for the Townsville region in early June will tackle a range of pests, diseases and weeds.
This year's Townsville urban survey will be the first to involve all aspects of biosecurity brought under the Biosecurity Queensland umbrella.
Biosecurity Queensland was formed last year, bringing together personnel and resources associated with biosecurity activities in the departments of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Natural Resources and Water, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Previously, the annual survey has concentrated on plant biosecurity issues but this year's survey has been expanded to include invasive weeds, Asian honey bees and tramp ants such as fire ants, electric ants and yellow crazy ants.
The Biosecurity team will knock on doors randomly selected across the greater Townsville area, including Magnetic Island, and request cooperation from householders to inspect their gardens for signs of any potential problems.
Surveillance activities, such as the Townsville survey, help Biosecurity Queensland to quickly detect any exotic pests, diseases and weeds that might pose a threat to agricultural industries and the environment throughout North Queensland.
For more information visit the Biosecurity Queensland website or call 13 25 23.
Being green in one easy stop
The Australian Government will invest $3.0 million to develop the One Stop Green Shop, an online environmental resource for schools, business and families.
The One Stop Green Shop will provide a single window to all federal, state and local government environmental programs for sustainability at home.
While there is increasing information and programs to help households reduce emissions, it is distributed and sometimes duplicated across different locations and levels of government.
This new web portal is expected to bring the information to schools, businesses and families in one easy location.
The One Stop Green Shop will provide practical information such as tips that will help a household reduce its environmental footprint, as well as a guide to government environmental programs for individuals, families, schools and businesses.
Have your say on FNQ regional plan
The State Government has called for community help to shape Far North Queensland's future with the release of the first of five draft regional plans.
The draft Far North Queensland Regional Draft Plan 2025 is a blueprint that will guide development in the region over the next two decades.
This is the first statutory regional plan to be launched outside the state's south-east and the first of five such plans due in draft form this year.
Following the finalisation of the regional plan by the end of the year, a five-year action plan will be developed. The action plan will outline key priorities and implementation strategies, and identify key projects and actions required.
Submissions will be accepted until 8 August. You can visit the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website to find out how to make a submission.
Copies of the draft plan are available on the website, at regional council offices and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning's Cairns Office.
Stakeholders to evaluate Murray-Darling water purchase
Commonwealth Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has announced a Stakeholder Consultative Committee to evaluate the success of the first ever Commonwealth Government water purchase in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The $50 million open tender to purchase water across the Murray-Darling Basin commenced in February this year and closed last Friday.
Senator Wong said the Committee would comprise 12 people from a broad cross-section of Murray-Darling stakeholders.
"We have invited irrigators, community members, environmentalists and water experts onto the committee to look at how we can make best use of water purchasing into the future," Senator Wong said.
"Water purchase by the government is a relatively new frontier, so we are acutely aware of the need to learn from our first foray into the market.
"The group we are establishing will provide advice on how the government can best respond to community concerns as we progress water purchase."
The government has allocated $3.1 billion from the $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan to purchase water for rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin.
A further $5.8 billion will be invested in sustainable irrigation infrastructure and projects to help communities make an early adjustment to a new Basin-wide cap on water use.
Senator Wong said further details on the outcomes of the $50 million tender would be announced in the near future.
A list of appointees to the Stakeholder Consultative Committee is available on the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website.
Research leads efforts to eradicate weed
Ground-breaking research is moving North Queensland one step closer to eradicating an aquatic weed menace from its waterways.
As a serious aquatic weed targeted for eradication, limnocharis flava (also known as yellow burrhead), could have been wrongly managed without research identifying a key ecological factor.
National weeds awareness coordinator with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Andrew Clark said this was one of the hot topics discussed at the 16th Australian Weeds Conference in Cairns from 19-22 May.
"The conference discussed the latest research information and on-ground management experiences to better prepare for the coming decade," he said.
The eradication program is managing limnocharis at 11 locations across tropical North Queensland, including 10 suburban water features. The results of local reproductive studies are important to the success of the eradication efforts.
The limnocharis program is a national cost-shared eradication initiative. For more information on the weed visit the DPI&F website.
Applications sought for National Reserve System funding
The Australian Government is seeking applications for National Reserve System funding in 2008-2009.
Government, non-government and community organisations are invited to apply for funding to:
- buy high priority land to be turned into a protected area
- establish a private protected area on high priority land they already own
- develop cooperative arrangements between Indigenous groups and nature conservation agencies for the management of protected areas.
The National Reserve System, Australia's network of parks, reserves and other protected areas, is a vital component of the national effort to conserve native plants and animals. Building Australia's National Reserve System is one of six priorities for national investment under Caring for our Country.
Future opportunities for funding to contribute to the National Reserve System will be included in the annual Caring for our Country Business Plan.
For more information visit the Caring for our Country website.
Join in Queensland Week celebrations
Premier Anna Bligh is urging Queenslanders to get into the Queensland Week spirit from Sunday 1 to Sunday 8 June.
"Queensland Week embraces everything which makes the Smart State the best place in Australia," she said.
The week marks Queensland's separation from New South Wales and encourages communities to hold their own events to celebrate what is special about their particular region.
There will be a wide variety of events held across the state as part of the Queensland Week celebrations. For further information visit the Queensland Week website.
Wetlands updates
Banrock Station wetland refilled to save critical plant and animal life
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) announced earlier this month that it would partially refill the Ramsar listed Banrock Station Wetland in South Australia's Riverland to prevent potentially irreversible damage from increasing salinity and to save critical plant and animal habitats.
The watering will start later this month with MDBC making 617 megalitres (ML) of Living Murray environmental water available. Banrock Station will contribute an additional 215 ML to the site.
The water being used is an environmental entitlement, set aside to protect rivers and wetlands. Use of the water would not affect anyone else's water allocations.
The total amount of Living Murray water available to the environment across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia this year is about 17 gigalitres which is about one per cent of the total volume of water available to consumptive users.
Banrock Station wetland had been disconnected from the Murray River since January 2007 as a drought water saving measure, with more than 1600 ML saved during this time.
Watering in autumn and early winter minimises evaporation and reduces the volume of water needed and makes the most efficient use of the precious water resource. The wetland will be monitored for salts, nutrients and organic matter to determine if it will be later reconnected to the Murray.
Banrock Station was listed as a Ramsar Convention wetland in 2002, recognising it as an internationally significant wetland.
Visit the MDBC website for more details.
Natural resources news
Primary producers core of rural communities
Last week's Primary Industries Week showcased the commitment of Queensland's primary producers to long term, sustainable land management across grazing, sugar, cotton, horticulture and dairy industries.
That's the view of Andrew Drysdale, Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Groups Collective (the Collective) chief executive officer, who says the work of primary producers across Queensland is vital to rural and urban communities alike.
"There are over 100 projects coordinated through partnerships between regional groups and more than 70 partner organisations such as, landcare, industry and conservation groups, government organisations and research corporations and universities," Mr Drysdale said.
Mr Drysdale said landholders carried out these initiatives despite facing many challenges including climate change, volatile export markets and demanding community expectations around natural resource use.
"Primary producers throughout Queensland are supported through regional natural resource management groups, industry groups and government agencies to manage environmental issues such as biodiversity, land degradation and more recently, climate change.
"We believe primary producers are at the core of communities' longevity," Mr Drysdale said.
$300 available for Landcare functions
Landcare Australia and Elders are offering $300 to landcare groups to host functions enabling the discussion of the Elders Landcare Farming Partnership.
Landcare Australia and Elders have teamed up to support farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices, and to help them demonstrate their environmental credentials to the community through the Elders Landcare Farming Partnership.
Local landcare communities, together with Elders staff, are ideally placed to determine how regional farming and natural resource management issues can benefit from the partnership.
If you are interested in organising an event or wish to discuss the partnerships, please contact Shane Norrish, Landcare farming program manager at Landcare Australia on 02 9412 1040.
More information is also available on the Queensland Water and Landcarers website.
Biodiversity conservation in the headwaters
Twenty-five people attended the Condamine Headwaters Landcare Biodiversity Workshop held at Killarney Recreation Hall on 26 April.
Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group project officer Dawn Heath opened the event with a talk that focused on the threats to biodiversity in the region and illustrated some simple steps that landholders can take to improve biodiversity conservation on their properties.
Other speakers included Alison Goodland, Land for Wildlife and regional biodiversity officer with Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, Bruce Lawrie, Nature Refuge officer with Queensland Parks and Wildlife, and Dr Bill McDonald, from the Queensland Herbarium.
Following the presentations, attendees travelled to a local Nature Refuge, where Dr McDonald took a fascinating guided walk; identifying some rainforest species and highlighting the floral biodiversity of the rainforest community.
Excellent feedback was received on the event, with 39% of attendees showing an interest in registering their properties with Land for Wildlife program and 4.35% of attendees interested in the Nature Refuge program.
Forty-eight per cent of attendees also classed their knowledge of biodiversity conservation to have risen from medium (before the event) to high (after the event).
For more information contact Dawn Heath on 4661 9909.
Caring for our Country Community Coastcare 2008 Grants open
Community Coastcare is an element of the Australian Government's $2.25 billion Caring for our Country initiative providing grants to help local communities better protect coastal environments.
Community Coastcare project activities may target all coastal environments including intertidal zones, beaches, dune ecosystems, estuaries and coastal wetlands, islands and reefs and coastal vegetation. Coastal environments also include coastal waters, i.e. nearshore marine areas, and those areas immediately landwards of the coastal waters where there are processes or activities that affect the coast and its values.
All Community Coastcare projects will contribute to the Caring for our Country national priorities by protecting and rehabilitating coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, and enhancing community skills, knowledge and engagement.
Community Coastcare will provide two levels of funding: small grants up to $50 000; and larger-scale grants up to $250 000. Applications close on 25 July.
Fact sheets, guidelines and the application form can be downloaded from the Caring for our Country website.
Rural discovery day a tremendous success
More than 500 students took part in the 2008 Primary Industries Week Rural Discovery Day on 15 May at the RNA Showgrounds.
The students were educated about a range of farming practices and industries throughout the day by some 20 industry bodies.
Rural Discovery Day is part of Primary Industries Week, which is sponsored by representatives from across the primary industries sector including, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland Farmers' Federation, Cotton Australia, CANEGROWERS, the Royal National Agricultural Society, Regional NRM Groups Collective, Banana Growers Council, Chicken Growers Association, Brisbane Markets, AgForce QLD, Queensland Dairy Farmers' Organisation and Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland.
This year's event showcased how organisations which support the rural sector have been able to come together for a common cause of showcasing the work done by Queensland farmers.
Free NRM decision advisory service available now
A free and independent advice service for regional NRM bodies has been launched by Land & Water Australia (LWA).
Provided by the Knowledge for Regional NRM program, the service assists regional NRM bodies select approaches for decision making. Advice is provided by a team of consultants from RM Consulting Group (RMCG) and Symbolix.
RMCG is a Victorian consulting business specialising in natural resource management planning. Symbolix is a company that specialises in the development and application of Decision Support Systems nationally and internationally.
For more information visit the LWA website.
Feral pigs targeted by council
Successful raids on feral pig populations in the Cassowary Coast has encouraged the regional council to contribute to future campaigns.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Bill Shannon has told council that a recent federally-funded campaign in the Tully-Murray floodplain in 2006 by private contractor Boar Busters had knocked out large numbers of the crop-ravaging pests.
The campaign involved running 25 traps and up to six baiting stations at any given time.
Cr Shannon said, "Feral pig numbers are stabilising and even dropping. But the absolutely critical thing is that if we don't back it up, in four months they will be back bigger and better."
Council's acting parks manager Paul Devine said the initial campaign had dramatically reduced pig numbers around Mission Beach, and reduced the Tully-Murray infestation to four small populations.
"Between August 2007 to August 2008, 487 pigs had been removed in the Upper Murray, and 132 in the Tully-El Arish area," he said.
"An indicator that the population is in decline is demonstrated in trapping figures in the Tully-Murray down to 18-25 a month from 90 a month."
Mr Devine said Terrain NRM now wanted to expand the project into new areas and future years.
Cr Shannon said it was important to keep up pressure on the pigs. which caused major havoc to farms and rainforest as well as disturbing soil run-off to the reef lagoon.
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:
- 27 May: Cape York - AgForests field day
- 27 May: Charters Towers - Computer mapping workshop
- 28 May: Charters Towers - Computer mapping workshop
- 29 May: Charters Towers - Computer mapping workshop
- 29 May: Daintree - AgForests field day
- 3 June: Cunnamulla - Vegetation management workshop
- 4 June: Charleville - Vegetation management workshop
- 5 June: Auguthella - Vegetation management workshop
- 10 June: Crows Nest - AgForests field day
- 12 June: Warwick - AgForests field day
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').
AgForward will be taking a break from workshop delivery in July to finalise its schedule for the period August – December, so if you'd like to arrange workshops in your region please contact Bree in Brisbane on 3238 6039 or download our expression of interest form and fax it to Brisbane on 3236 3077.
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:
Organisation: Mitchell & District Landcare Association Inc
Title: Landcare coordinator
Salary range: $38 000 - $52 000
Location: Mitchell
Closing date: 20 June
The successful applicant will work predominantly with landholder groups to support natural resource management improvement at a property and landscape scale. Formal qualifications in a rural or natural resource management field are desirable, while group facilitation skills are required.
The position description and selection criteria can be obtained from Angela Betts, QMDC, on 4622 8446. For further information about the position contact Jamie Gorry on 0427 500 182 or Stacey Henry on 4623 1072.
Thought for the week
English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education, sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E B White
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The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Community Partnerships, the Department of Natural Resources and Water, highlighting regional NRM activities around Queensland.
Last updated 22 January 2009