The Bugle - 25 July 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Successful clay pan management field day
- Developing collaborative NRM project bids across Queensland
- Kindon kids discover the fun of landcare
- Soil pits fill gaps for Mitchell landholders
- Spatial Imagery project double winner at awards
- New officer on the beat
- Bursaries available to attend Queensland Landcare Conference
- $28 million for landcare and sustainable farming projects
- 20 Indigenous rangers now protecting Queensland's wild rivers
- Women's symposium to focus on improving rural lifestyle
- Find of the century uncovered near Cloncurry
- Solar grants for schools
- Public comment invited on three new Queensland wild river proposals
- Registration opens for the Designer Carrots National Market Based Instruments Forum
- Act now to control toxic fireweed
- USQ aims to identify rural Qld's optimum energy source
- Northern Indigenous rangers lauded
- Australia's inaugural Young Environmentalist of the Year an "environmental leader"
- Only three weeks left for Arbor Day nominations
- Don't spread the weed seed, spread the word – about Weedbusters Week
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Successful clay pan management field day
More than 25 landholders gathered near Muckadilla last week to learn about how clay pans form in their area, and what management options are available for clay pans.
The field day was organised by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), the Maranoa Regional Landcare Association and the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW). Clay pans are hard, bare, unproductive areas which are a natural feature in some parts of the QMDC region. They occur in both cropping and grazing lands.
"The formation of clay pans is driven by a lack of ground cover," Andrew Biggs, NRW's senior soil scientist, said. "Without cover, the soil surface becomes more susceptible to raindrop impact—the physical action of raindrops hitting the soil surface is enough to 'sort' the soil so that the fine sand, silt and clay particles are re-arranged until they eventually pack together, filling the pore spaces at the surface, causing a surface seal that sets hard like concrete."
Any rain that falls can't infiltrate into the soil, and over time, evaporation brings any naturally occurring salts in the soil closer to the surface. Plants try to establish but can't, due to limited water and/or a hostile soil environment.
The field day involved visiting two properties in the local area that have been trialling different ways to remediate clay pans.
Andrew said, "Successful reclamation of clay pans depends on one key factor—improving the soil surface so that water infiltration is improved and plants can establish."
Clay pan management options include excluding grazing animals, promoting cover, mechanical disturbance of the surface, fence and forget, and shallow water ponding.
A series of eight information sheets describing how clay pans form, what management options are available, and clay pan sampling results from six local properties are available. For more information contact Alexis Wegener, QMDC, on 4622 6010.
Developing collaborative NRM project bids across Queensland
The Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective has coordinated a process with over 50 representatives from 25 organisations including regional NRM bodies, peak bodies, and government agencies to develop collaborative bids for the Caring for our Country Open Grants.
Participants came together at a workshop recently and worked in three groups to discuss state-level and cross-regional project briefs and identify potential linkages to existing projects and potential partners. Comments recorded from a peer review process were given as feedback to project managers. The projects were discussed under three different themes:
- biodiversity and natural icons
- coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
- sustainable farm practices.
The event was supported by the Department of Natural Resources and Water's Catchment Programs business unit (formerly Community Partnerships).
Applications for the Open Grants close on Friday 1 August. To download the guidelines and application forms visit the Australian Government's NRM website or call toll free 1800 065 823.
Kindon kids discover the fun of landcare
Students from Kindon State School, between Goondiwindi and Milmerran, have been very busy over the last few months learning about the natural habitat in and around their school grounds.
With the help of principal Jonathon Druce and school groundsman Alan Walsh, the fifteen students have been building homes for an array of animals in their school yard, including frogs, birds, lizards and worms.
Mr Druce said that the students have learnt about the habitat that exists in their school grounds. "They now understand features of the natural environment, and the ways in which their actions can preserve the environment for the future," he said.
All this knowledge will be put on show when the students take part in the annual Discovering Landcare Forum in Goondiwindi on 19 and 20 August.
Pip Bagshaw, from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), who is organising the forum, said "We're bringing this event to Goondiwindi to provide small schools, like Kindon, with opportunities usually only available in more metropolitan areas."
The Discovering Landcare Forum is part of QMDC's Learning Through Landcare program, and is supported by the Australian Government, as part of National Science Week, and the Queensland Government's Q150 celebrations.
Soil pits fill gaps for Mitchell landholders
Fifteen landholders from around the Mitchell district attended a Soil Characterisation field day held by Queensland Government and NRM staff recently.
Staff from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), Department of Natural Resources and Water, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and South West Natural Resource Management Group ran the field day on Laine and Neville Morris' property, south of Mitchell, last month.
Ryan Ellis, from QMDC, said, "The field day was part of a Soil Characterisation Project, which involved agency staff identifying gaps in available soil information for the region.
"The day was full of presentations from various staff involved in the Soil Characterisation Project, sharing the findings of the project with local landholders," he said.
The Mitchell Soil Characterisation field day was one of several that have been held recently across the Maranoa-Balonne and Border Rivers catchments. More field days are planned across the region. For more information, contact QMDC's Roma office (4622 8446) or Goondiwindi office (4671 7900).
Spatial Imagery project double winner at awards
The Spatial Imagery Capture Project, led by the Regional Group Collective's (Collective) spatial imagery team, has won two awards at the Queensland Spatial Excellence Awards night.
The project won the People and Community category and, demonstrating the pre-eminence of this program, also won the prestigious JM (Mac) Serisier Award for Overall Excellence.
As award winners the project is now automatically entered into the national finals to be held at the Asia Pacific Spatial Information Conference in Canberra in November. The team has also been invited to deliver papers on their methodology to Australian and international spatial scientists at the conference.
The Spatial Imagery Capture Project is a joint effort across the spatial imagery staff of the Collective and Queensland's regional NRM bodies. The Collective has been coordinating the purchase of spatial imagery and training regional body staff and on-ground land managers to enhance the delivery of projects and programs.
A major component of the project is purchasing Spot5 imagery with license uplift providing improved technology for regional bodies and whole-of-government use. Natural colour mosaics have been delivered to regional bodies, who are distributing this imagery to landholders as requests are received.
The project was developed from an identified need for imagery capture coordination, capacity building amongst Queensland's regional bodies, and general information coordination between the regional bodies, stakeholders and government agencies. For more information visit the Collective's website.
New officer on the beat
Building on its track record of successfully engaging the community and partnering the delivery of strategic, effective and timely weed control, Desert Channels Queensland has expanded its pest management capacity. Joining the dynamic and energetic team to coordinate control projects is newly appointed pest management officer, Simon Jackson.
Simon, originally from South Australia, has been working in the cattle and sheep industry for the past fifteen years, the last five as manager of a cattle property near Boulia in the state's far west.
"Longreach is not as dusty as where I was before," says Simon, "but it has just as much flavour."
Simon is currently driving the control of two weeds that have been in the region for some years but are not yet widely spread: mother-of-millions in the Tambo area and rubber-vine in the north-east of the region.
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, call 4658 0600.
Bursaries available to attend Queensland Landcare Conference
Community-based NRM group, the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) will support eight private land managers from across the region to attend the upcoming Queensland Landcare Conference.
QMDC, one of the conference sponsors, will be looking for people managing private land in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin who have an interest in representing their community at the conference in September.
"Every year we support community members to attend the landcare conference in the hope that they will share information, learn something new, and create a network of contacts from across the state," said QMDC's Tricia Gowdie.
The bursaries will cover registration costs and contribute up to $200 toward travel and accommodation costs. Interested land managers must complete a nomination form by 25 August. Forms can be obtained by phoning the Toowoomba office, on 4637 6270, or by logging on to QMDC's website.
This year's Queensland Landcare Conference will be held in Monto, from 21 to 24 September. Visit the conference website for more information.
Government updates
$28 million for landcare and sustainable farming projects
Queensland's regional NRM bodies have shared in a $28 million landcare funding package announced by the Commonwealth Government.
The three-year package will fund 140 national landcare projects as part of the government's new $2.25 billion Caring for our Country initiative. Funding will be provided to a range of landcare groups, catchment management authorities, research centres, industry groups and NRM bodies.
Since the early 1990s, the landcare program has funded projects focused on improving the management of soils, water and vegetation at a farm and community level.
Projects to be funded include:
- $300 500 to the Torres Strait Regional Authority to promote sustainable horticultural practices in local communities
- $477 220 to the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group to develop best management practice and a code of practice for grazing in the Northern Gulf
- $135 000 to SEQ Catchments to roll out the Pineapple Sustainable Practices Project to all Australian pineapple production areas.
It is estimated that around three-quarters of Australian farmers are either involved in landcare activities or benefit from knowledge acquired through the landcare movement.
Commonwealth Government Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said, "The Commonwealth Government recognises that farmers are on the front line when it comes to the future impact of climate change.
"It is vital that we continue to invest in landcare projects which will lead to more sustainable farming and more resilient rural and regional communities in the future.
"Practical projects at a farm level will underpin a globally competitive agriculture industry," Mr Burke said.
For the full list of projects visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry landcare website.
20 Indigenous rangers now protecting Queensland's wild rivers
Two more indigenous rangers will start work across the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula regions to protect and promote Queensland's wild river systems.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace and Member for Cook Jason O'Brien said the Queensland Government had delivered on its commitment to employ 20 indigenous rangers in the first phase of the wild river rangers program.
"We are making use of the traditional land management skills of indigenous people to manage Queensland's wild rivers," Mr Wallace said. "The skills these rangers develop will be passed on to the next generation and will ensure the Cape and Gulf’s unique ecologies are better managed and preserved."
The two new rangers, the first female rangers in the program, will work with the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation (based at the Wenlock Outstation), bringing the number of rangers in the area to three.
Mr O'Brien said the locally employed rangers would work with elders to preserve wetlands and ecosystems of high biodiversity or cultural significance.
"The program not only provides protection for the world-class natural values of the Gulf and Cape York but also creates much-needed full-time employment in remote Aboriginal communities," Mr O'Brien said. "Being locally employed, the rangers already have many skills and links with the country they will be caring for."
The wild river rangers program is being delivered within the Looking After Country Together framework, a whole of government policy aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in the management of land and sea country.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Women's symposium to focus on improving rural lifestyle
Issues affecting women in rural and regional Queensland will be on the agenda for discussion at the inaugural Rural Women's Symposium, to be held in Roma.
Premier Anna Bligh will officially open the 4 September event and will also attend the pre-symposium dinner to hear from attendees first-hand the issues they face in rural and regional Queensland.
"This symposium is an exciting opportunity for the State Government, through the Blueprint for the Bush, to give women a greater say in the future of our rural and regional areas," Ms Bligh said.
"Women have always played a vital role in rural areas and the forum, along with the consultation workshops that have preceded the forum, will ensure their active involvement into the future.
"Also, by developing closer ties with women and their families in the bush, the government can tap into their ideas for improving the liveability and sustainability of our regional communities," Ms Bligh said.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the symposium would focus on what could be done to improve the lifestyle opportunities for women and children living in rural communities.
Expressions of interest to attend the symposium as a community delegate have now closed and key discussion themes are being finalised. These symposiums will be held each year for three years in various regional centres.
Find of the century uncovered near Cloncurry
A potential clean energy basin has been discovered in one of the world's richest mineral resource regions in north-west Queensland.
Premier Anna Bligh said the newly discovered Millungera Basin, about 100 kilometres east of Cloncurry, could hold geothermal or hot rocks, energy potential to rival that of the Copper Basin on the South Australian border.
Geothermal energy is produced from heat generated and captured from deep inside the earth and could mean cheaper energy for Queensland households in a carbon constrained future.
The underground resource, which geologists found using cutting edge new technology, could also hold huge amounts of low emission coal seam gas.
The Premier said the discovery was one of the most exciting resource finds this century. "A new energy source for the North West Minerals Province is important to the future development of the region. The added bonus of a potential new water source would be the icing on the cake," she added.
"Geothermal energy has the potential to generate one fifth of Australia's total electricity needs over the next 25 years without producing any carbon dioxide emissions."
The Millungera Basin is around 300 kilometres long and between forty to fifty kilometres wide. The age of the rocks could be up to 540 million years old.
The basin was uncovered through the State Government's Smart Mining and Smart Exploration programs in collaboration with the federal government's Onshore Energy Security initiative.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Solar grants for schools
Commonwealth Government Environment Minister Peter Garrett has reminded Australia's 9000-plus schools that they now had the opportunity to become solar schools thanks to the National Solar Schools Program.
Grants of up to $50 000 are available for the installation of solar power systems and a host of energy and water saving measures.
Mr Garrett said the program would provide schools with an unprecedented opportunity to take practical action to help tackle climate change while saving money, energy and water.
"Schools with mains power supply may also be able to sell surplus solar power from weekends and school holidays back into the grid – making these schools 'mini' renewable power stations."
Mr Garrett said the National Solar Schools Program replaced the Green Vouchers for Schools program, and provided schools with greater freedom to choose from a wider range of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
"Every school, every home and every community is different. The National Solar Schools Program provides the flexibility schools need to find sustainable solutions that suit their individual needs. We will be encouraging schools to undertake a sustainability audit to help them determine what delivers the best results for them," Mr Garrett said.
"Rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, upgraded lighting, insulation, small wind or hydro power generators, awnings – there is a long list of water and energy efficiency measures that schools can choose from to improve their sustainability. Schools will decide what is best and the government will provide the backing," Mr Garrett said.
More information about the program, including the funding guidelines, is available from the Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts website.
Public comment invited on three new Queensland wild river proposals
The Queensland Government is seeking public comment on three new proposed wild river areas on Cape York Peninsula.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said declaration proposals were released this week for proposed wild river areas covering the Archer, Lockhart and Stewart river basins.
Mr Wallace said the government would consult the community extensively on the three new wild river proposals. "Our Wild Rivers team will hold face to face meetings with landholders, traditional owners, local councils and industry representatives and information packages will be sent to interested people," Mr Wallace said.
"The package will include maps along with the formal declaration proposal, an overview report to clearly explain the proposal and a submission form for people wanting to provide comment."
Mr Wallace said the declaration last year of Queensland's first six wild rivers - Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet, Gregory River and Staaten River, in the Gulf, and Hinchinbrook and Fraser Islands – was an event of national and international environmental significance.
A copy of the declaration proposals and overview reports for the three basins can be obtained from the Department of Natural Resource and Water's website or by contacting a Wild Rivers Coordinator on 4039 8283 or 4039 8332. Formal submissions close on 21 November 2008.
Registration opens for Designer Carrots National MBI Forum
Whether its carrots or sticks that you use for natural resource and environmental management, the Designer Carrots National Market Based Instruments (MBIs) Forum has the right incentive for you. The forum is the finale of the one-year National MBI Capacity Building Program.
The forum has been specifically designed for policy makers, MBI implementers, and researchers to come together to share ideas and lessons, and to help set the future direction of MBIs in Australia. It will include an interesting mix of keynote speakers, panels, facilitated discussions, workshops and a debate.
The forum has two broad themes – big picture issues and issues relevant to specific applications of MBIs, or environmental problems – each with a number of topics and themes for discussion.
The forum will be held in Brisbane on 30 September and 1 October 2008 at Rydges South Bank in Brisbane, close to the river and the city centre, and in the heart of the lively South Bank precinct. There is no charge to attend.
The forum is being organised by the Department of Natural Resources and Water (Queensland) for the Designer Carrots Program, and is funded by the Australian, state and territory governments through the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
For more information about the program visit the Designer Carrots website to register online or email or phone Claire Heath on 3239 3875 or Carl Glen on 3239 3884.
Reef updates
Crown-of-thorn starfish less prominent in Reef 'green zones'
Researchers have found crown-of-thorn starfish infestations are much lower in Great Barrier Reef green zones, or no fishing zones, than in uncontrolled areas.
Doctor Hugh Sweatman from the Australian Institute of Marine Science is predicting that the next outbreak will not be as destructive.
He says scientists believe they have worked out the pattern but are still trying to find out why they occur.
"There's a southward progression of the waves, presumably because the larvae are carried from reef to reef by the east Australian current," he said.
"What this suggests is that now the area ... of green reefs has been greatly increased the next wave of outbreaks, when it occurs, if it occurs, should be much less destructive than the last few."
Story sourced from ABC Online
Natural resources news
Act now to control toxic fireweed
Landowners need to be on the look out for fireweed, a serious class 2 weed, which can harm cattle and is currently actively growing throughout South East Queensland.
Clyde McGaw, Biosecurity Queensland's principal land protection officer, said the best time of the year to control fireweed is now, before it establishes and spreads, and adequate pasture is still available to stock.
"Although it looks pretty, fireweed is toxic, and it can cause poor conditioning in cattle that graze on it over time and even death," Mr McGaw said.
"It also grows very quickly, dominating pastures and readily establishing itself, especially in disturbed areas such as over-grazed paddocks and along roadsides - which only further increases its spread.
"Practicing good farm hygiene, such as washing down machinery after use in infested areas, is also critical to preventing further spread," Mr McGaw said.
A branched herb that grows up to about 60 cm high, fireweed has serrated leaves up to 6 cm long and small, yellow, daisy-like flowers approximately the size of a $2 coin.
More information about fireweed and its control is available from local government authorities, the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries' (DPI&F) land protection officers or online from the DPI&F website.
USQ aims to identify rural Queensland's optimum energy source
The deputy head of electrical engineering at the University of Southern Queensland says one of the goals of a newly funded project is securing stored energy from renewable energy sources.
A new three-year project is aiming to identify the best energy options for remote Queensland communities.
The project will consider different energy supplies like solar power, batteries and diesel generators to identify which one is the most suitable.
Dr Tony Ahfock says energy storage will become critical in the future as rural and remote communities come to rely more on renewable energy.
He says they will have to overcome weather problems associated with some sources.
"As we go into the future we will be relying more on renewable energy sources and renewable energy sources are intermittent - that makes stored energy more important," he said.
Dr Ahfock also says the project team will investigate how to extend the life of deep-cycle batteries because under certain conditions the batteries do not have the lifespan they are meant to have. "We are going to investigate the use of those batteries together with what we call super-capacitors," he said.
"These super-capacitors will smooth the load on those batteries and extend their lives."
From ABC Online
Northern Indigenous rangers lauded
A new initiative by indigenous rangers to protect threatened dugongs and turtles in north Australian waters has been recognised at a national awards ceremony.
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance won the top prize in the indigenous category at the Banksia Awards.
The Alliance's Joe Morrison says the award recognises the important work of 50 new land and sea rangers from Western Australia's Kimberley to the Torres Strait. He said the ranger programs had allowed remote communities access to environmental expertise and scientific knowledge to more effectively care for their land.
Mr Morrison said the award was unexpected, but well deserved. "It was very much a surprise because I believe we were up against some tough competition," he said.
"I think it's just been such a large project overall because it's going from one end of the country to another. We have managed to establish a number of new ranger groups. Everyone is talking about getting ranger positions on country in northern Australia."
The Banksia Awards are hosted by the Banksia Environmental Foundation and are regarded as the most prestigious awards program of their kind in Australia.
Australia's inaugural Young Environmentalist of the Year an "environmental leader"
Larissa Brown has been named the inaugural Young Environmentalist of the Year at the Banksia Environmental Awards in Melbourne.
Commonwealth Government Environment Minister Peter Garrett said, "It is terrific to present Larissa Brown with the first Young Environmentalist of the Year Award and celebrate her fantastic achievements to date - they show her great potential as an environmental leader."
Mr Garrett said Larissa set a wonderful example for her peers in establishing the Centre for Sustainability Leadership at the age of 24. The centre's flagship program, Future Sustainability Leaders, brings young environmentalist together with leading thinkers and influencers to create the next generation of environmentally responsible leaders.
"As an environmental leader whose generation is next in line in taking up the fight against climate change, Larissa's leadership and dedication to our environment sets a great example and bodes well for the future of our country," Mr Garrett said.
The Banksia Awards are hosted by the Banksia Environmental Foundation and are regarded as the most prestigious awards program of their kind in Australia.
Only three weeks left for Arbor Day nominations
There's only three weeks to go before nominations close for this year's Queensland Arbor Day Awards on Friday 15 August.
The Awards are for any individual, community group, private business, local council or school who has been caring for our environment by planting or maintaining vegetation and helping to create shade.
It's simple to enter and you could win $2500 or a number of other prizes. It's a great opportunity to promote the work of a business or organisation. You can even nominate yourself!
All you have to do is mail or email a description of your project by 15 August 2008 – the details are on the Queensland Arbor Day website. If you have any questions, ring 3902 4404.
It's a great way to say 'thanks' to someone you know who is caring for our environment.
Don't spread the weed seed, spread the word – about Weedbusters Week
Weedbusters Week is on again from 1 to 7 September, one month earlier than in previous years.
The 2008 theme Grow Me Instead continues the promotion of understanding weeds and their impacts, and the idea of growing suitable native species instead of invasive plants.
Every Weedbuster activity, no matter how big or small, is helping spread the message about the damage weeds are causing to Australia. Previous events include onground activities, such as weeding or planting at local creeks, bushland, parks or wetlands; weed displays with native alternatives; and field trips.
In the coming weeks, state and local government agencies, other organisations, community groups, schools and individuals involved in the management of weeds will be sent information on Weedbusters and invited to participate.
To register your event for Weedbusters Week, or to find out more, visit the Weedbusters website.
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:
Regional body: Queensland Murray-Darling Commitee
Title: Regional Water & Wetlands Projects Officer
Tenure: 1 year, full-time
Location: Toowoomba
Closing date: Monday 4 August
The Regional Water Officer will provide support for wetland and ground water quality and water use activities for landholders, NRM officers and industry groups of the Border Rivers and Maranoa Balonne catchments.
For a position description or more information contact Tanya McKechnie, QMDC, on 4637 6201.
Thought for the week
We are here just for a spell and then pass on. So get a few laughs and do the best you can. Live your life so that whenever you lose it, you are ahead.
Inscribed on the Will Rogers (American humorist and entertainer) Memorial Building in Claremore, Oklahoma.
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Last updated 25 July 2008