The Bugle - 27 June 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM invests in Nature Refuges
- Awareness signs raising turtles' profile in Mackay region
- Bunnies bounce back, in our backyard
- Didgeridoos to boomerangs, taking our Indigenious culture to schools
- Studying an icon the Murray Codan
- The north west is committing to tackle climate change
- Helping us to help ourselves by protecting Burnett Mary's coastal and marine resources
- Students see future in farming by developing plans for commercial farms
- FBA gives the facts on Acid Sulfate Soils
- Mining the community for grey power
- Call for Caring for our Country Open Grants applications
- Three new wild rivers nominated for protection
- Queensland's coast declared iconic
- Rural communities benefit from Blueprint for the Bush funding
- Carbon credits, environmental offsets and Designer Carrots
- Weed Warriors use flies to wipe out lantana
- Ipswich wins national award for environmental management
- Darwin set to host the Coast to Coast Collaboration: Crossing Boundaries conference
- Climate change in regional NRM report released
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM invests in nature refuges
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and landholders in the Jericho, Bowen, and Townsville Shires are joining forces to link environmental needs with sustainable land management practices, making nature refuges an important part of their business strategy.
NatureAssist is a five-year funding initiative launched in 2006. Through a competitive tender process, landholders are eligible for funding for works such as fencing, watering points, weed control and revegetation that will improve the conservation values on their proposed or existing nature refuge. Nature refuges are protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 established through a voluntary perpetual conservation agreement between the landholder and the Queensland Government. There are currently 255 nature refuges across Queensland.
Eleven regional NRM bodies in Queensland have supported the scheme through funding for NatureAssist tenders or support for nature refuges in general.
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM is investing in three nature refuges covering 9136 ha:
- Bimblebox in Jericho Shire where funding will be used for fencing, weed control and establishing an additional watering point on Glen Innes Nature Refuge. Over 95% of the 7912 ha property is remnant vegetation (under negotiation).
- Mt Pleasant in Bowen Shire where funding will improve the management of the existing (and expanded) nature refuge, linking Mt Aberdeen National Park and Highlanders Bonnet National Park. Other works include fencing-off natural streams and springs, installing alternative watering points for stock and establishing a monitoring program.
- Bolger Bay in Magnetic Island where funding is being used for weed control on the 33 ha nature refuge. Works include weed removal and control for lantana, snakeweed, sisal, and rubbervine.
For more information contact BDTNRM's Bronwyn Houlden on 4724 3544.
Awareness signs raising turtles' profile in Mackay region
Mackay is one of the few areas in Queensland where marine turtles nest on beaches close to urban settlement. From October to March every year, female turtles climb-up the beach to lay their eggs in the same hatching area where they themselves emerged from beneath the sand.
The Mackay and District Turtle Watch Association, a group of dedicated volunteers, record turtle nesting activity in the region each season. However, many of the most important nesting sites in the region are under threat, so the group has decided to raise the profile of the ancient mariners.
Di Clarke, along time Turtle Watch member said, "Mackay and District Turtle Watch works hard to educate and inform the community and beach users that marine turtles nest and hatch on our beaches, and they face many threats to their survival."
Turtle Watch approached the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group (MWNRMG) for assistance to develop and produce interpretive signage for important nesting beaches in the region. "We worked closely with the group (MWNRMG) and other government and community organisations on this project. Our aim is to ensure that turtles continue to safely nest on our beaches," Di said.
Coastal Manager at Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group Matt Bloor said that one of the main threats to turtles in the region is from human disturbance.
"The key thing to remember is we share the coast with creatures that have been here far longer than us. Vehicles, dogs, boats and even bright street and house lights can result in nesting failures," Matt said.
Thirty signs have been installed from Hideaway Bay in the north to Carmilla Beach in the south.
"It was great to have the funding support from the Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group as well as the former Mackay, Sarina and Broadsound Councils and Whitsunday Catchment Landcare – it meant we could have more signs erected than we initially planned," Di said.
Visit the Mackay and District Turtle Watch Association website to learn more.
Bunnies bouncing back in our backyard
Just when we thought they were beaten, the bunnies are making a comeback. Not the hapless Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, but real-life members of the national rabbit league.
Twelve years after rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) wiped out up to 95% of the pests in some regions, experts warn that rabbits are developing resistance to RHD and that they are on the march again.
The newly formed Northern Darling Downs Rabbit Control Group has warned residents to be vigilant and report sightings to regional council pest officers. Hot spots where rabbits are spreading rapidly include the Bunya Mountains, Cooyar, and Yarraman areas.
South Australia's Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation Greg Mutze says "Despite the successful introduction of myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease as biological controls, rabbits remain the single greatest threat to agricultural production and conservation values in Australia."
Even at historically low current levels, rabbits are still causing:
- agricultural losses of more than $100 million a year.
- environmental degradation that will lead to local extinction of plant species, irreversible changes in vegetation communities and loss of dependent fauna.
The incursion of rabbits on the Darling Downs has been limited by a rabbit-proof fence stretching for 555 km from Mt Gipps in Lamington National Park in the east, to Goombi in the south-west where it connects to the Wild Dog Barrier Fence. But the new hot spots are all inside the fence, says Mark Schuster, who represents Condamine Alliance on the new rabbit control group.
The Alliance is supporting the northern Downs group with $10 000 to assist with control measures such as fumigation of warrens and the clearing of favoured habitat, such as lantana and blackberry bushes.
Read the full media release on the Condamine Alliance website. For more information contact Mark Schuster, Condamine Alliance, on 4620 0131.Didgeridoos to boomerangs, taking our Indigenious culture to schools
Desert Channels Queensland has once again shown its diversity through Ron Beezley, NRM Facilitator, sharing his Indigenous skills and knowledge with two of Longreach's schools as part of this year's NAIDOC celebrations.
Ron, from the Wakka Wakka tribe whose land stretches from Caboolture to Mundubbera, spent Tuesday morning teaching the young students of Our Lady's School how to throw a boomerang, blow a didgeridoo and care for Country.
Longreach State High School was Ron's second outing and there he talked with the Aboriginal boys about their culture as well as educational and work opportunities.
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, call 4658 0600.
Studying an icon: the Murray Cod
Anglers from along the New South Wales/Queensland border, east of Goondiwindi, have been studying the optimal stocking rates for the Murray Cod, which is listed as vulnerable under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The project, called 'Study of an Icon', has been carried out on the Dumaresq River between Mingoola and Bonshaw.
The project has been organised by the Glen Lyon Dam Fish Restocking Group and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. It is supported by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, the Murray Cod Recovery Team, the Freshwater Fish Stocking Association of Queensland, Victorian Fisheries, CSIRO and the University of New England.
Organiser Brian Dare from the Glen Lyon Dam Fish Restocking Group, said an initial research trip had already taken place in late May. "Over 100 cod were caught over two days by 68 keen anglers," Brian said.
All cod caught were tagged and released.
Brian said this information would help the project assess the contribution of fish stocking and the levels of natural recruitment for the Murray Cod along the river.
For more information on the project, please contact Brian Dare on 02 6737 5266, or Megan Purvis from QMDC on 4671 7900.
The north west is committing to tackle climate change
Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC) with the support of the local community, government and businesses, held their inaugural North West Climate Change Forum earlier this month as a scoping exercise for developing a Climate Change Alliance.
Executive director of the Queensland Office of Climate Change, Greg Withers congratulated, the Mount Isa community for their initiative in regard to addressing their climate change concerns.
The forums objectives included developing projects to address recycling, cost of transportation, investigating the building of alternate energy generators (geo-thermal, solar and mini hydro), efficient businesses/housing, the building a Centre of Excellence for Sustainability and more eco-education geared towards the region's youth.
SGC's CEO Donald Coventry explained, "We have all of these great ideas but leadership is required within the community and this is where the formation of a Climate Change Alliance will make the region as strong and adaptable as possible."
More information on the Climate Change Alliance and how to become a member will be announced as the group is identified and formed.Helping us to help ourselves by protecting Burnett Mary's coastal and marine resources
Researchers from the Centre for Environmental Management at Central Queensland University, in conjunction with four-wheel drive (4WD) owners, have developed a 4WD code of practice to help protect various species of nesting shorebirds and turtles that use the beach.
These species use coastal resources (dunes, beaches and wetlands) as feeding, roosting, and nesting grounds and are susceptible to human disturbance as many people undertake activities on the beach.
The code of practice, made possible through a grant provided by the Burnett Mary Regional Group for NRM, provides recreational 4WD users with simple guidelines to minimise their impacts on coastal resources and their inhabitants. Examples of the guidelines include:
- when driving on beaches drive on firm damp sand below the most recent high tide, reduce speeds and beware of other pedestrians and users on the beach particularly around fisherman and swimmers.
- travel within two hours of low tide.
- keep to established vehicle tracks.
- ensure vehicles are mechanically sound to reduce pollution, e.g. fix oil leaks.
These simple guidelines ensure the beautiful sites, coasts and wildlife are protected for future generations.
For a copy of the code email Dr Tamara van Polanen Petel at the Centre for Environmental Management or the Bundy 4WD Club, Wide Bay Burnett 4X4, Four Wheel Drive Queensland or your local council.
Students see future in farming by developing plans for commercial farms
Senior secondary agriculture and geography students from across southern Queensland will take up the challenge to design a working property management plan for a commercial farm, as part of the annual Property Planning program offered by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC).
This year the Property Planning day will be held on Trevor and Lois Martin's property, 'Marrakai', outside Goondiwindi, on Wednesday 20 August.
Program coordinator Renee Fletcher said the Property Planning program would take students through the steps involved in developing a property management plan, including consideration of the natural resources, goals and limitations of the property.
"The program also caters for all students and learning styles," she said.
The students will be assessing and monitoring riverine environments, soil health, weed management and biodiversity values.
For more information please contact QMDC's Renee Fletcher on 4637 6270.FBA gives the facts on acid sulfate soils
A new fact sheet from the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) reveals the threat to the Capricorn Coast from acid sulfate soils and how the risk can be avoided.
FBA coastal and marine coordinator Shane Westley said if disturbed, the soils have the potential to cause significant damage to natural and built environments.
"When acid sulfate soils remain waterlogged and undisturbed they are relatively benign, but increasing growth and development on the coast increases the risk of acid sulfate soils being exposed," Mr Westley said.
"Iron sulfides in the soil react with oxygen in the air to release sulphuric acid, the same product found in car batteries, which in high concentrations can pollute the environment and damage infrastructure.
"FBA supported the Department of Natural Resources and Water to map acid sulfate soils in priority coastal areas including Yeppoon, The Narrows, near Gladstone and the Bajool/Port Alma area.
"These maps can be purchased from NRW and will provide an excellent resource for groups such as land developers and local councils," Mr Westley said.
Copies of the FBA Acid Sulfate Soils Mapping project Fact sheet are available from the FBA website under 'Publications'.Mining the community for grey power
In a move that is perhaps appropriate for a region with mining activity, the wealth of knowledge of local retired professionals will be 'mined' as part of a novel project, called "Grey Power: Networking community wisdom in environmental management".
In recognising that an ageing demographic can be an advantage, Condamine Alliance designed a project to engage the skills and knowledge of retirees in a network that can be tapped by Landcare and other community-based volunteer groups engaged in natural resource management.
The project is being funded with a $20 000 contribution from Blueprint for the Bush.
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government Warren Pitt, who approved the funding, said, "The purpose of the funding is to assist the organisation to conduct a feasibility study into using an existing group of skilled retirees to achieve land management practices with minimal environmental impact on rural residential communities."
While the network will be a resource for the whole catchment, initially it will concentrate on the rural residential or peri-urban areas on the outskirts of the main urban centres such as Toowoomba.
Not only are population growth rates high, but these populations are extremely diverse and challenging to engage in natural resource management.
Condamine Alliance CEO Phil McCullough said "The land they occupy is often critical in relation to environmental impact, but the land owners often lack management skills and access to information targeted to their needs.
"This project will help fill the gaps and boost the capacity of the community to identify and manage critical natural resource management issues in the Condamine catchment," Mr McCullogh said.
Read the full media release on the Condamine Alliance website.
Government updates
Call for Caring for our Country Open Grants applications
Anyone with a project to protect Australia's unique natural environment and create a sustainable future for our country can apply for a new Open Grant, announced last week by the Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Arts, and by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke.
The new Open Grants are part of the transitional funding component of the Australian Government's new $2.25 billion Caring for our Country initiative.
Funding of up to $25 million is now available in 2008-09 for high quality projects in the six national priority areas, particularly those that will:
- protect, enhance or restore Australia's biodiversity and natural icons
- improve the water quality of our critical aquatic habitats
- achieve greater take-up of sustainable farm practices.
The grants are available for projects between $80 000 and $400 000. Successful projects will demonstrate integration and partnerships and deliver Caring for our Country outcomes.
Anyone can apply as long as you are a legal entity. Applications close on Friday 1 August.
To download guidelines and application forms visit the Australian Government's NRM website or call toll free 1800 065 823.
Three new wild rivers nominated for protection
Pristine and near pristine river basins on Cape York will be formally nominated as Queensland's next wild rivers, preserving them for future generations of Queenslanders and the world.
Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace, said community consultation had begun on the potential declaration of the Lockhart, Stewart and Archer river basins as wild rivers.
The declaration last year of Queensland's first six wild rivers, Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet, the Gregory River and Staaten River, in the Gulf, and Hinchinbrook and Fraser Islands, was an event of national and international environmental significance.
"We are planning for Queensland's future by protecting our world-class natural environment," Ms Bligh said.
The consultation will be co-managed by indigenous organisations and the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
The three Cape York river basins, which cover an area of nearly 19 500 square kilometres, are:
- the Stewart River Basin on Cape York's east coast. Includes the catchments of Massy Creek, Breakfast Creek, the Stewart River, Balclutha Creek and Gorge Creek, which flow from the Great Dividing Range into the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.
- the Lockhart River Basin, also on Cape York's east coast. Includes catchments of the Claudie River, Lockhart River, Nesbit River and Chester River. Region has significant areas of rainforest, eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, and estuarine wetlands. Includes the Iron Range National Park and Lloyd Bay Wetlands - extensive and diverse wetlands of national significance.
- the Archer River Basin drains into the Gulf of Carpentaria on the west coast of Cape York. Includes catchments of the Archer, Kirke and Love Rivers. Basin estuaries are in a natural state and there are a number of significant wetlands, including the Archer River Aggregation. Also includes the Mungkan Kandju National Park.
Other river basins may also be considered for possible declaration as wild rivers later in 2008-09.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Queensland's coast declared iconic
The Queensland Government has named parts of two of the state's most picturesque coastal regions as iconic.
Declaring sections of the central Capricorn Coast, north of Rockhampton, and the Blackall Range, near the Sunshine Coast, as iconic means they will have any future development monitored more closely.
The regions will join the former Noosa and Douglas shires under the Iconic Queensland Places Act (2008) which monitors large or controversial development in the region.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said "These are unique areas that help define Queensland's character and the local communities want to make sure they’re protected.
"The iconic places laws recognise that the natural and built character of these areas was being well cared for under the planning schemes of the former shire councils. This won't affect putting up your garden shed, these laws only deal with large or controversial developments," Mr Lucas said.
More than 1000 expressions of support were received for the Blackall Range declaration, which includes Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton.
Twenty-one sites have been named on the central Capricorn Coast between Keppel Sands and Farnborough.
Local assessment panels have been set-up to help monitor future development applications.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Rural communities benefit from Blueprint for the Bush funding
Rural communities around Queensland will benefit from the latest round of Blueprint for the Bush funding.
Queensland's Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said 21 organisations throughout the state will share in $604 863 funding towards a range of community projects.
"The Blueprint for the Bush – Strengthening Rural Communities program offers grants to help rural communities develop and implement projects to improve community capacity, access to transport services and the image of rural areas," Mr Pitt said.
"I am pleased to announce the details of more than $600 000 in grants being distributed through round three of the Our Place, Our Future initiative, which is part of our Strengthening Rural Communities program.
"Our Place, Our Future aims to strengthen and enhance relationships between rural and urban areas, as well as building the networks and support needed to attract and retain skilled workers," Mr Pitt said.
Some of the successful projects included:
- $63 740 for Roma Regional Council to implement the environmentally-focused 'Renew Roma Go Green Scheme'
- $52 320 for the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council to employ a consultant to implement the Tambo Urban Design Strategy and Sports Plan
- $25 428 for Queensland Youth Services to support a Station Restoration Project in Ingham
- $20 000 for the Charters Towers Regional Council to develop a youth strategic plan
- $17 919 for the Hughenden Kindergarten Association to develop a five-year business plan.
"Our ongoing investment through the program helps to deliver practical measures to address rural community development issues, assist effective community engagement and help implement existing community plans," Mr Pitt said.
For more information about the program visit the Blueprint for the Bush website. Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Carbon credits, environmental offsets and Designer Carrots
The new online Designer Carrots metric essentials tool and decision support tool are helping to build the capacity of regional NRM groups to get them involved in carbon credit, environmental offset and other market-based instrument (MBIs) programs.
MBIs are incentive tools used by regional NRM groups and government agencies to encourage land managers to adopt more sustainable practices for managing our rivers, forests, soils and wetlands.
The online Designer Carrots metric essentials tool and decision support tool were developed as part of a $1.2 million Market Based Instruments Capacity Building Program, funded by the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
The Designer Carrots decision support tool guides the process of selecting MBIs for NRM. The purpose of the tool is firstly, to help natural resource managers assess whether an MBI is a suitable policy instrument to be used to address a particular NRM issue and secondly, to ascertain which type of MBI may be most appropriate.
The Designer Carrots metric essentials tool is a framework which aims to communicate current knowledge and recent experience in metric design and implementation, and recommend approaches to assist MBI practitioners to access and use the knowledge of scientists and MBI design experts. The metric framework defines metrics and their use in supporting MBIs, describes the essential elements of good metric design for MBIs, and indicates the types of metrics appropriate for different MBIs and NRM issues.
Other products being developed by the Designer Carrots program include fact sheets, case studies, and training modules which are being delivered through a series of 18 workshops and are now available online. A national Market Based Instruments Capacity Building Program website has been developed to host this material, making it easily accessible to all regional NRM groups and government agencies throughout Australia.Reef updates
Fishing ban boosts Great Barrier Reef stocks
A team of Australian marine scientists have found fish populations more than doubled in a short time under restricted fishing zones.
The team, led by Professor Garry Russ from James Cook University and Dr Hugh Sweatman from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, found coral trout numbers jumped by as much as 75 per cent in parts of the Great Barrier Reef with no-fishing policies in the past two years.
A fishing ban was introduced to 33 per cent of the Reef in 2004, to form the world's largest network of no-take reserves. Professor Russ said there was little or no change in coral trout numbers in the unrestricted parts.
Professor Russ said no-fishing reefs off Townsville had a 64 per cent increase in coral trout while Mackay had a 57 per cent jump and Cairns a 53 per cent increase. One closed reef had a decline in trout - the Keppel Islands which, in March 2006, were hit by a devastating coral bleaching episode.
The team said that angling displaced from the closed reefs onto open reefs probably had little effect, as there was at the same time a decline in commercial fishing on these reefs. In time, the higher fish populations on closed reefs may lead to improvements in fish numbers on open reefs, as juveniles from closed areas settle on open ones, the team said.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and the Australian Government's Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility helped fund the research.Story sourced from brisbanetimes.com.au
Natural resources news
Weed Warriors use flies to wipe out lantana
Students from Julattan State School and Kuranda District State College are trialling a new biological control to help win the war against one of Australia's worst environmental weeds, lantana.
The school program follows Biosecurity Queensland's launch in late 2007, of a new biological control for lantana, a tiny leaf-mining fly called Ophiomyia camarae.
Biosecurity Queensland's Weed Warriors Coordinator Petra Skoien, said Julattan State School and Kuranda District State College both registered with the Weed Warriors Program, after lantana infestations were found near their school grounds.
"Lantana is a major problem in Queensland, and is considered one of Australia's worst weeds," Dr Skoien said. "In fact, it has invaded more than 4 million hectares throughout Australia, with some areas impossible to reach via mechanical or other control methods, and is a major target for Biosecurity Queensland.
"Through the Weed Warriors program, students breed the flies and then release them on to a local lantana infestation. They then monitor the lantana to see if the fly successfully established in the wild. Students love it," she said.
The innovative local Weed Warriors program is supported by Tablelands Regional Council, and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Tropical Weeds Research Centre in Charters Towers.
For more information about tackling invasive pests and weeds visit the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries website.Ipswich wins national award for environmental management
Ipswich City Council has won a national award for local government excellence in environmental management for its work to promote environmental sustainability and tackle climate change.
The council was selected as the winner from three finalists in the local government environmental management category of the recent United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards.
As part of its efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change, in 2002 the council set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2010. Ipswich is on track to meet this target and is working to develop emissions reductions targets beyond 2010.
Ipswich City Council mayor Paul Pisasale says the council has also established environmental partnerships that aim to improve the quality of local waterways, maintain native habitats and assist in the sustainable development of the fast-growing city.
The council's environmental sustainability initiatives range from investing millions of dollars to upgrade waste water treatment plant infrastructure, to a grass roots program to supply residents with native plants at no cost to plant in suburban backyards.
Victoria's Maribyrnong City Council and Mount Alexander Shire Council were the other finalists in this awards category.
The local government award for the best specific environmental initiative was won by New South Wales' Fairfield City Council for its 'Nalawala Sustainability Hub'. Newcastle City Council's 'ClimateCam' initiative; the City of Melbourne's 'Savings in the City – Green Hotels' program; and Queensland's Moreton Bay Regional Council's 'e-Team Environmental Education Program' were also finalists in this category.
Darwin set to host the Coast to Coast Collaboration: Crossing Boundaries conference
Darwin is set to host Coast to Coast 2008, Australia's biennial national coastal conference to be held at the new world-class, waterfront Darwin Convention Centre, adjacent to the coastal tropical wetlands of Darwin Harbour.
Coast to Coast 2008 will bring together coastal workers from all platforms to focus debate, discussion and learning across the full range of coastal and marine issues and challenges - at international, national, state, regional and local levels.
This four-day conference includes 12 keynote speakers plus sessions, symposia and workshops covering the range of coastal and climate change issues affecting Australia.
Specialist symposia/workshops include:
- Tropical Rivers & Estuaries: Maintaining Connections
- NRM Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Coastal, Estuarine & Marine NRM
- Managing the Environmental Impacts of Dredging
- Technology Tools for Coastal-Marine Ecosystem-Based Management
- Indigenous Coastal & Sea Country Planning & Management
Coast to Coast 2008 will also see the launch of both the national Australian Coastal Society (organised by Professor Bruce Thom) - including nomination and selection of office bearers; and the national OzCoasts' web-based coastal atlas (by the National Land & Water Resources Audit and GeoScience Australia).
The conference is on from 18-22 August. Registrations are now open; to find out more visit the conference website.
Climate change in regional NRM report released
A new report on climate change for Australia's 56 regional NRM bodies has been released by the federal Department of Climate Change.
Managing Australian landscapes in a changing climate - a climate change primer for regional natural resource management bodies 2008 covers the climate change implications for regional NRM (and specific issues), how regional bodies can address these issues and build climate change into their NRM plans, and the observed and projected changes in Australia's climate.
To download a copy of the report visit the Department of Climate Change 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.
Upcoming workshops include:
- 22 July: Camooweal - Computer mapping
- 22 July: Georgetown - Vegetation management workshop
- 23 July: Georgetown - Computer mapping
- 24 July: Hughenden - Computer mapping
- 24 July: Georgetown - Vegetation management (one-on-one assistance)
- 29 July: Daintree - GPS essentials
- 30 July: Daintree - Vegetation management
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').
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 or NRMjobs 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: Landcare Queensland
Title: Senior Project Officer
Tenure: Full-time Senior Project Officer to manage a range of projects, events and campaigns within the landcare community.
Location: Brisbane
Closing date: 30 June 2008
For further information or to apply, email Chloe Tanner at Lancare Queensland.
Organisation:Mapoon Land and Sea Centre
Title: Natural Resource Management (NRM) Coordinator
Tenure: Until 31 December 2008
Salary: $65 000 per annum (pro rata), in addition to which there is a 12% superannuation contribution paid by Council. There is also a remote area tax allowance and subsidised, furnished housing provided at the rate of $40 per week with this appointment.
Location: Mapoon
Closing date: 7 July 2008
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council is seeking a suitably qualified person to fill the temporary position of NRM Coordinator in its Mapoon Land and Sea Centre. The goal of the Land and Sea Centre is aboriginal management of their land and sea country by Mapoon people.
Any enquiries about this position should be made to Jim Monaghan on telephone 0438 715 916 or mobile 4090 9124.
Thought for the week
Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles.
David Suzuki
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Last updated 02 July 2008