The Bugle - 15 August 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories Government updates- The RegionalNRM website needs your help…again
- Burdekin cane farmer looking to future
- Cape York's amazing natural assets easier to find
- Fish traps provide a template for cultural heritage protection
- New mobile office on show at the Ekka
- Queensland water buyback for Murray-Darling rivers to open next month
- Great Artesian Basin takes centre stage
- Tree growth fast-tracked
- North Burnett youth to benefit from Landcare Conference visitor
- Calling all Landcare leaders, innovators and story makers
- New website a powerful resource for rural community
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Clearing the waters of aquatic weeds
Serious infestations of noxious water weeds in the South Burnett region have been almost totally removed.
During the past two years the South Burnett Aquatic Weeds Project, funded by the Burnett Mary Regional Group, has been highly successful with almost 100 per cent of the weeds being removed from the area.
However, there is still a threat that small pieces may have been missed and could re-infest.
South Burnett Regional Council's Jim Dunn said it had been a time consuming and expensive process to remove the water weeds, primarily salvinia and water hyacinth, which were choking both the recreation areas and irrigation pumping stations along the Barambah Creek and Stuart River.
He said that salvinia in the Stuart River posed a threat to the large recreational area around Boondooma Dam, but through the efforts of the council staff and land owners along the banks of the waterways, the dam is now clear and free from the weed.
"Council staff spent many hours control spraying from boats and clambering down steep banks to spray in near inaccessible locations," he said.
"We introduced the biological control agent - salvinia weevils, which were bred locally and distributed along both the main waterways to great advantage."
Waterways of the South Burnett are now in a usable and healthy state for wildlife and residents to enjoy.
For further information email Jim Dunn or phone 4169 2555.
Eureka Mackay researchers are award finalists
Three local researchers are heading to Sydney next week to see if they were successful in their bid to win a national science prize.
John Drewry, Will Higham and Carl Mitchell from Reef Catchments (formerly Mackay Whitsunday NRM Group) were announced as one of three finalists for the Land and Water Australia's Water Research and Innovation Prize. This is one of the 20 prizes on offer by the Australian Museum through their annual Eureka Prizes.
The trio have been nominated for their development of the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan, developed over the past two years with funding from the Australian Government's Coastal Catchments Initiative.
Development of the plan included research into water quality, farming and urban practices, fish and bug communities, mangrove health, social and economic implications of practice change and the uses and environmental values of waterways by local communities.
The Eureka Prizes are awarded annually by the Australian Museum to reward excellence in scientific research and innovation, science leadership, school science and science journalism and communication. This year the prizes will be awarded at a gala dinner on 19 August. The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are a unique partnership between the Australian Museum and 26 sponsors and supporters.
Government updates
The RegionalNRM website needs your help…again
Catchment Programs, within the Department of Natural Resources and Water, is revamping the RegionalNRM website and would like to hear from you about how it could be improved. Simply go to the online questionnaire and follow the prompts.
The questionnaire will take you a couple of minutes to complete and will close on 12 September 2008.
With your help we will improve the way the website delivers information. Thanks for helping us develop a better RegionalNRM website.
Burdekin cane farmer looking to future
Mulgrave district grower Peter Fiamingo is part of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' (DPI&F) demonstration farms initiative. As a second-generation Burdekin cane grower he believes the future of the district's industry lies in continuous improvement and he is backing his beliefs by allowing one of his paddocks to be used as a demonstration farm.
A total of 15 cane growers are involved in the initiative, with farms at Tully and in the Burdekin. These farms aim to showcase how to go about implementing improved management practices without compromising profitability.
DPI&F demonstration farm project officer Ian Durham said, "FutureCane and BSES are providing the innovative expertise on the ground, and work with our demonstration farmers and our comparison farmers to record what is being done when, so we have information to pass on to others in the district about what has been done at various times throughout the season."
All farmers involved will be able to look closely at their cost of production and the cost of implementing improved practices on the demonstration farm. Water quality samples will be taken regularly to monitor the downstream impacts of implementing these farming practices.
The project will operate for a minimum of three years, thanks to a $600 000 grant from the federal government. It is just one of DPI&F's activities under the Queensland and Australian Governments' Reef Plan to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
For more information please contact DPI&F's Ian Durham on 4722 2511.
Cape York's amazing natural assets easier to find
Finding the great spots to visit on Cape York will be made easier thanks to $150 000 of funding allocated for a signage project.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced the new project at a meeting at the Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA) office in Cairns.
CYPDA president John McDowall said, "There has been a long-term identified need for signage throughout the Peninsula, and addressing this issue is included in the framework and actions of the Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan.
"This signage project is targeted to define the key drive-tourism routes, encourage better access to significant historical, environmental and cultural sites through directional signage off the arterial roads, and reassurance signs along the tracks and remote markers at the sites," Mr McDowall said.
"The project will deliver a combination of gateway, directional, interpretive, regional, markers throughout the Peninsula, and a Torres Strait Gateway at Seisia.
"It is hoped that this signage will increase visitor satisfaction and length of stay as well as provide economic and social benefits, and will help build Cape York Peninsula visitor numbers and the capacity of our local communities," Mr McDowall said.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Fish traps provide a template for cultural heritage protection
Ancient indigenous fish traps on the Bulloo River in south western Queensland will be protected through a milestone cultural heritage agreement between local traditional owners, the Mardigan, and pastoralists Jack and William Tully.
The Tully's Piastre Station is 80 kilometres south west of Quilpie and archaeological evidence at the site suggests the inland fish traps on Piastre Station were occupied between 200 and 5000 years ago.
A degraded sand dune discovered close to the fish traps also shows evidence of extended occupation of the area by Aboriginal people and there are numerous artefacts that required protection along with the fish traps.
A search of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage database shows the Piastre fish traps are one of just 20 recorded inland fish trap sites. The agreement between the Tully family and the Mardigan people, represented by Owen Murphy, triggers a cultural heritage management plan for the site.
South West NRM and the Department of Natural Resources and Water were heavily involved in helping to devise the management plan for the Piastre site. This plan will guarantee access for traditional owners to the site, formalise how the 20 hectare site will be managed in the future, and ensure ongoing protection of the cultural heritage on the site.
This agreement may become a template for other similar efforts to protect Queensland's unique cultural heritage.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace visited Piastre Station and thanked the Mardigan people who have agreed to share the cultural wealth of this site with the wider community and also paid tribute to the Tully family who recognised the significance of the site and actively looked for a process to hand this parcel of land back to the traditional owners.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
New mobile office on show at the Ekka
Primary producers visiting this year's Brisbane Ekka can drop into the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' and the Department of Natural Resources and Water's new mobile office for advice on all things agricultural.
Over the past month, it has toured southern Queensland, visiting towns such as Crows Nest, Chinchilla, Cecil Plains, Stanthorpe and Warwick.
The mobile office is fully equipped to provide a wide range of quality products and services, including beef extension and industry services; QRAA information; environmental and resource management; farm financial counseling; biosecurity and fisheries legal requirements; National Livestock Identification System information and training; property registration; drought assistance; and internet training.
The mobile office has wireless capability allowing access to real-time lodgment and processing of applications and enquiries. It will also deliver educational and training tools in areas such as biosecurity and legislative requirements.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Queensland water buyback for Murray-Darling rivers to open next month
The federal government has announced a new tender to purchase water in the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin to return to the rivers.
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said the tender will be the first part of a $350 million commitment to purchase water in Queensland announced at last month’s Council of Australian Governments meeting.
"The Rudd Government started purchasing water earlier this year with a $50 million tender securing 35 billion litres in water entitlements which means rivers and wetlands will get a greater share of water when it is available," Senator Wong said.
Funding for the Queensland water purchase is part of the $3.1 billion Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program which aims to improve the health of the Basin’s rivers by buying back water entitlements.
Further information on the Queensland buyback including program guidelines will be available next month on the federal enviroment website. The buyback will be widely advertised prior to commencement.
Great Artesian Basin takes centre stage
A Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) road show promoting the diverse water resource planning activities across the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) has been planned for August and September.
The theme for the road show is Talking With The Outback, and it will take in key GAB communities and provide a forum for everyone to understand what is going on with water resource planning, and how they can play their part in preserving the basin.
NRW wants to hear the views of pastoralists, community leaders, business operators and the public with regards to water resource planning and how NRW can further protect the basin aquifers. They also hope to more closely align their activities with those of regional NRM bodies to provide greater natural resource outcomes.
In recent years, the GAB has had its water resource plan and resource operations plans finalised. The state government has also been an active participant in the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) which is working to cap free-flowing bores across the basin.
Since GABSI started in 1989, around 542 bores have been capped and 9500 kilometres of open bore drains have been piped. Today, around 161 000 megalitres of water is being saved every year thanks to GABSI.
The road show program will feature half-day seminars in each town. NRW staff have designed the program to coincide with local community events where possible.
Dates and venues:
- 23 August: Hughenden, Australian International Arid Lands Festival, Diggers Entertainment Centre Meeting Room
- 25 August: Richmond, Richmond Civic Centre
- 27 August: Georgetown, Georgetown Town Hall
- 2 September: Charleville, Charleville RSL Conference Room
- 4 September: Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Centre, Landsborough Highway.
For more information visit the Department of Natural Resource and Water's website.
Reef updates
Reef Rescue program will help farmers
The Reef Rescue program will help farmers adopt and implement land management techniques to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef.
In 2008/09, $23 million will enable Queensland farmers, NRM regions and peak industry groups to work together to deliver land management practices essential to improving reef water quality in the catchments which flow into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
The funding comes from the $200 million Reef Rescue program, part of the federal government's $2.25 billion Caring for our Country initiative.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett said, "The fact that organisations such as AgForce, the Queensland Farmers' Federation, CANEGROWERS, Growcom, Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation, Cotton Australia, natural resource management bodies along the Reef coast and the World Wildlife Fund are combining their significant knowledge and resources to mount this large-scale, coordinated approach to protecting the Great Barrier Reef gives me real confidence."
The Reef Rescue package is all about supporting farmers to build upon their successful efforts to date to reduce nutrients, chemicals and sediments leaving their lands. Results from earlier projects show that setting up buffer zones, improving fertiliser efficiency, strategic fencing and repairing riverbanks and wetlands reduces nutrient, sediment and chemical run-off from the land.
The Reef Rescue package provides the funding to help protect the reef but this work would not be possible without the willing assistance of farmers, agricultural industries, local conservation and Indigenous groups, fishing and aquaculture industries—their work is fundamental to the success of Reef Rescue.
The Australian Government is working with the Queensland Government to implement Reef Rescue. Reef Rescue funding will also research, develop and trial new land management technologies and apply better monitoring techniques to the government's Reef investments.
For more information visit the Caring for our Country website
Natural resources news
Tree growth fast-tracked
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) is about to fast-track the development of a technology which hopes to tackle climate change head on by speeding up the production of fast-growing Queensland tropical and subtropical trees.
The Queensland Government announced funding of $1.9 million for the university to lead a collaborative forestry project which will use world-leading biotechnology to turbo-charge production of trees that are best able to absorb carbon from the air.
USC associate professor Helen Wallace said species showing the most promise included teak, spotted gums and other types of eucalypt. Benefits expected from the program include climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration (trees are the most cost-effective way of sequestering carbon), increasing forestry investment in Queensland, and building rural and regional industries.
The project will bring together key players in forestry in northern Australia and the researchers will be looking at existing CSIRO and Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries tree planting in Queensland to help determine very quickly which ones are best in terms of quality and fast growth.
Ms Wallace said she expected a massive increase in plantation tree planting in Queensland as a result.
"I would hope we'll be cloning trees through tissue culture by the time the project finishes in three years," said Ms Wallace.
For more information visit the USC website.
North Burnett youth to benefit from Landcare Conference visitor
Fay Jackson is a multi-award winning national motivational speaker, educator and advocate for mental health and she's coming to Monto as a keynote speaker for the 2008 Queensland Landcare Conference.
As well as addressing delegates in plenary and workshop sessions, Fay will also deliver a special mental health forum for young people and their supporters in Monto on Tuesday 23 September.
The Youth Forum is targeted at people 15 years and older, and will cover recognising the signs of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self harming, bipolar and schizophrenia; what it's like to live with mental illnesses; how to deal with mental illnesses; how to have the best chance of saving someone who is suicidal; self help strategies; and growing a mentally healthy community.
As well as young people, conference organisers are hoping to attract teachers, youth workers, doctors, professionals, farmers, clinicians, homemakers, parents, grandparents and anyone else with an interest in helping young people stay mentally healthy.
The Landcare Conference, being held in Monto from 21–24 September has the theme Sustainability by Design and is expected to attract 300 people.
Hosted by North Burnett Regional Council and Queensland’s regional NRM groups, the event is addressing topics such as permaculture, peak oil, sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, soil carbon, low carbon living, wetland management, education and awareness raising and much, much more.
For more information about the free youth forum (which takes place at the same time as conference field trips), contact the event manager Samantha Morris at Wombat Creative or call her on 0421 709 519.
Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice is assisting with catering and coordination of this forum.
Calling all Landcare leaders, innovators and story makers
Landcare Queensland has announced their 2008 Landcare Leadership Bursary and SKM Landcare Innovation Award as well as a new award, the Landcare PlaceStories Monitoring and Evaluation award, calling for nominations to be submitted by 11 September.
The Landcare Leadership Bursary is awarded biennially offering funds for education, travel, study or cultural exchange that contributes to personal and professional development, career advancement and increased diversity and understanding in Landcare.
The Landcare Innovation Award is a biennial award for an innovative approach to environmental issues in Queensland with a prize package worth $12 000.
The new award announced for 2008 is the Landcare PlaceStories Monitoring and Evaluation award which will reward the community group or individual who produces the best Caring for our Country (previously National Landcare Program) monitoring and evaluation story using the digital story telling software, PlaceStories, with a sponsorship package for the 2009 Queensland Landcare Conference, valued at over $1000.
Selection criteria and guidelines are available now and nominations close 11 September. The winner will be announced at the 2008 Queensland Landcare Conference on 23 September to be held in Monto.
For more information or a copy of the guidelines and criteria, contact Landcare Queensland on 3211 4413 or visit the Landcare Queensland website.
New website a powerful resource for rural community
The Queensland rural community will now have access to some of the most comprehensive information about what is happening in the world of agriculture in Queensland.
The Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) has launched its revamped website, which includes all the latest information on the work of the organisation.
President Gary Sansom said the new website provides the Queensland rural community, as well as those living in urban areas, a better understanding of farmers and rural communities.
"As a peak rural organisation representing intensive agriculture, QFF works together with its 11 industry organisations to seek positive outcomes on issues of common interest which impact on farmers and their rural communities," Mr Sansom said.
Rural industry resources are pooled to ensure powerful representation and effective strategy development on important common issues.
Check out the new QFF website for more information.
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:
- 19 August: Cunnamulla - GPS essentials
- 19 August: Taroom - AgForests essentials
- 20 August: Eulo - GPS essentials
- 21 August: Charleville - GPS essentials
- 21 August: Warwick - AgForests essentials
- 26 August: Belyando Crossing - GPS essentials
- 27 August: Mt Coolon - GPS essentials
- 27 August: Bowen - GPS essentials
- 27-29 August: Bundaberg - QRWN Conference - AgForward staff will be presenting at this event
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:
Regional body: Queensland Murray Darling Committee Inc.
Title: Land management technical officer
Location:Roma, Queensland
Email QMDC's Tanya McKechnie or call on 4637 6201 for a position description.
Closing date for applications is COB, 8 September 2008.
Thought for the week
Thanks to David Murphy for suggesting the thought for the week. It is a great quote by Sir Peter Scott (one of the co-founders of the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the son of explorer Robert Falcon Scott)
"We shan't save all we should like to, but we shall save a great deal more than if we had never tried."
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Last updated 15 August 2008