The Bugle - 17 October 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Little things make up the big picture for landholders
- BMRG partners present coastal and marine management
- Cooper's Creek science rep gets a major science award
- New national park for Townsville
- Bid to stop tilapia invading the Gulf and threatening fisheries
- Investigation clears Queensland property of Murray-Darling water breaches
- Water bill delivers on Murray-Darling Basin commitment
- Bush profiting from future focus of rural projects
- Dry in the south-east, wet in the north
- Scientists to study ocean acidification in Antarctica
- Next week is National Water Week
- The Challenge of Change comes to the Gold Coast
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Little things make up the big picture for landholders
Local landholders had the opportunity to look at land management from the roots up at a biodiversity workshop held on Monday at Peter and Raeleen Whip's property Bandon Grove in the Desert Channels region.
The Mitchell Grass Downs technical support workshop was presented by David Akers of the Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with Desert Channels Queensland.
David Akers said, "The aim of these days is for landholders to get an understanding of the biodiversity of their properties, how it works and all the pieces fit together."
Participants were able to share stories and observations from their properties and around the region and discovered they knew a lot more than they thought. There was also a chance to get out on the property to look at the different land types, work done on the property and to put what had been discussed into practice.
"We often find that what's good for your bottom line is good for your country," Peter said, "information and ideas that come from workshops like this help us make decisions that look after your country as well as make money for us."
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland call 4658 0600.
BMRG partners present coastal and marine management
Over the coming weeks Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) will be making presentations from their recent Partnership Showcase available for viewing online.
Each week there will be a focus on a particular NRM topic. The focus of this week is coastal and marine management and includes presentations about shorebirds, fore dune rehabilitation and turtle monitoring.
Slideshows and videos are available on the following topics:
- Feathering the Future of the Burnett Mary Shorebirds - engaging the community and local government to ensure successful long term management and protection of shorebirds
- Cooloola Coast Mapping Project and Rainbow Beach Foredune Rehabilitation- using new technologies such as Google earth to map and monitor vegetation whilst working with the community in coastal rehabilitation.
- Lady Musgrave Island Sea Turtle Monitoring - long term monitoring of turtle populations in the southern Great Barrier Reef.
Watch the presentations online.
Cooper's Creek science rep gets a major science award
Richard Kingsford is probably the best-known scientist on Cooper's Creek which flows through south western Queensland. He has been working on bird population studies for more than 25 years. He has played an active role in the Cooper's Creek Catchment Committee, the Lake Eyre Basin process, and with the Australian Floodplain Graziers Association.
Last month Richard's work was recognised with the presentation of the prestigious Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science in a ceremony at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The awards evening has been described as the Australian science equivalent of the Oscars!
Richard is an internationally respected scientist and academic who has become a friend to many in the Lake Eyre Basin. He is a passionate and dedicated supporter of Australian wetlands and inland rivers and floodplains.
For many years he was principal research scientist with New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife, becoming recognised across the world as an expert on migratory birds and the unique ecology of the rivers and wetlands of arid and semi arid regions of Australia. He has done extensive research particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin, Cooper Creek and the Macquarie Marshes.
He has more recently been appointed Professor of Environmental Science at the University of New South Wales. While his research, teaching and publications are well known, he is also a quietly persistent lobbyist for the practical protection of inland river systems and supremely generous with the time he gives to education of the general public through conference presentations and events.
To see more about the Eureka Awards visit the Eureka website.
Top.
Government updates
New national park for Townsville
In an historic move for the Queensland Government's Q2 Green initiative, Premier Anna Bligh and Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace have announced that up to 5000 hectares in the Bohle Plains area will be declared a new national park.
"This is a huge win for the environment and for North Queensland. Townsville residents will now have another significant national park right at their back door," Premier Bligh said. "Townsville will have a unique national park just 20 minutes drive from Dairy Farmers Stadium and just half an hour from the Townsville CBD."
Mr Wallace said the move followed a land study that recommended the state land between Hervey's Range Road and the Pinnacles be protected.
"The final report recommends that 4971 hectares of unallocated state land be declared a national park because of its significant conservation and scenic values," Mr Wallace said.
The new national park will help to protect the endangered black-throated finch and other important species such as the single-striped delma, the masked owl, echidna and peregrine falcon which are found in this area. It will also provide for the protection of a number of regionally significant ecosystems, particularly those associated with local rivers, and contribute to the protection and enhancement of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
"Gazetting it a national park, which will happen in the first quarter of next year, will provide a wildlife corridor and allow habitat protection for these species," Mr Wallace said.
Through Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland the Bligh Government has set targets to further protect Queensland's lifestyle and natural environment from the pressures of a growing population and climate change. The Queensland Government will play its part by protecting 50 per cent more areas as National Park and to secure Queensland's unique biodiversity.
Vist Queensland media statements online to read the full media statement.
Bid to stop tilapia invading the Gulf and threatening fisheries
Tilapia are considered one of the world's top worst 100 introduced species. Generally tilapia become established in new waterways by people moving them there. Fishers who catch tilapia must kill the fish humanely and dispose of them away from the water.
Drastic steps are being taken to remove the introduced fish species tilapia from Eureka Creek, 90 km north west of Cairns, to stop this damaging pest invading the Gulf. Eureka Creek is a tributary of the Walsh River, which flows into the Mitchell River and then the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) senior fisheries biologist Malcolm Pearce said, "After discovering tilapia in Eureka Creek earlier in the year DPI&F used electro-fishing to reduce tilapia numbers in these catchments, however this is a short-term solution."
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said, "This is the first time tilapia have been found in a western flowing waterway, and they would pose a major threat to commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf if large populations were to become established.
"For a pest as invasive as tilapia in a river system such as this, an equally invasive control method is necessary."
Mr Mulherin said DPI&F officers will be damming 5 kms of Eureka Creek, which flows into the Gulf, and then applying fish poison to the waterway to kill the tilapia.
"This is an environmentally approved control method. The fish poison, Rotenone, will only kill species which breathe through their gills and will dissipate within 12 hours.
"Before the fish poison is applied, large native species will be fished out and re-located to other parts of the waterway," Mr Mulherin said.
It is illegal in Queensland to possess tilapia alive or dead for any purpose. Fines of up to $150 000 may apply. To report anyone suspected of moving tilapia, or report any sightings of tilapia, contact the Fishwatch Hotline on 1800 017 116.
For more information visit the DPI&F website.
Investigation clears Queensland property of Murray-Darling water breaches
A Queensland Government inspection of a South West Queensland property has cleared the owners of any breach of the Paroo River Intergovernmental Agreement.
The property, located south of Eulo, has been the subject of intense media scrutiny following the release of the report A case study: floodplain development on the Paroo River.
The report raised a number of issues surrounding the management of water along the Paroo River and made several claims about illegal works on a property in the catchment.
Natural Resources and Water (NRW) Minister Craig Wallace said,"We took the claims of mismanagement of resources very seriously, and carried out a new inspection, even though the Department of Natural Resources and Water had inspected the property only last year.
"I sent a new team to the property to examine the claims, review the infrastructure in place and discuss the issues with the property's owner," Mr Wallace said.
The NRW team found there were no breaches of the Paroo River Intergovernmental Agreement.
"Indeed, investigators found that the property owner had taken steps and made investments to make more efficient use of his available water. This is something I would encourage every irrigator across the nation to do," Mr Wallace said.
Vist Queensland media statements online to read the full media statement.
Water Bill delivers on Murray-Darling Basin commitment
The Water (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2008 was introduced to the Queensland Parliament last week.
The Bill delivers on Queensland's commitment under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform, which was signed by the Premier Anna Bligh and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, as well as the Premiers of other Murray-Darling Basin states on 3 July this year.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said, "While 25 per cent of the basin is within Queensland and we take less than five per cent of the total water extracted each year, we recognise that all the basin states need to play their part to secure its long-term future."
The legislation allows for the referral of necessary state powers to the Commonwealth to put in place new management arrangements in the basin. The new Murray-Darling Basin Authority will manage the basin water resources replacing the current Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
It also allows for the extension of the Commonwealth Water Act to apply its rules consistently for water charges in the basin, and allows the Basin Plan to provide for critical human water needs.
The legislation also includes amendments that put into effect the Queensland Government's decision to gift 10.6 billion litres of unallocated water from Queensland Basin catchments to the Commonwealth.
Vist Queensland media statements online to read the full media statement.
Bush profiting from future focus of rural projects
Primary Industry and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said his department is helping producers with Blueprint for the Bush projects that focus on water efficiency, new export markets and innovative science.
"In today's changing environment, we are very conscious of the need to combine productivity with sustainable management of our natural resources," Mr Mulherin said.
This awareness has been translated into a number of the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (DPI&F) rural projects, such as the Property Management Systems Initiative which focuses on best practice management. Over the past year DPI&F has appointed officers to projects across the dairy, nursery and gardens, fruit and vegetables, grains and sugarcane sectors throughout Queensland.
A key achievement has been the implementation of farm management systems in a North Queensland nursery which led to a 300% improvement in water use efficiency.
Mr Mulherin said, "We've also seen the introduction of new techniques to get the most out of fertiliser and chemical use in the Burdekin and Isis areas thanks to a series of ASK GB company spray application workshops.
"Not only will these new farm management systems improve productivity, they will also benefit the environment through reduced run-off," he said.
Pest prevention has also been a key priority for the department to protect industry sustainability, and has been significantly supported through the Pest Offensive initiative.
Mr Mulherin said, "We are investing $11 million in regional community projects to improve management of high priority weeds and pest animals.
"So far the initiative has helped establish clean down facilities to reduce weed spread in the Far North, Gin Gin and Emerald, as well as committed over $2 million to mitigate the impacts of wild dogs and feral pigs across Queensland," he said.
Vist Queensland media statements online to read the full media statement.
Reef updates
New Short Attention Span Science Video Theatre website launched
The Short Attention Span Science Video Theatre is a new website that presents a unique combination of web technology and environmental science. It offers two to four minute Microdocs, streaming on the web, that deliver science one idea at a time.
Microdocs are written by leading scientists and are filmed on location across the world. The videos are eye-catching and full of the newest science. The style is direct and accessible and not loaded with technical language.
Watching TV online is becoming increasingly popular, a survey by Blinkx.com shows that 75 per cent of all internet users watch video online. At the same time, viewers want material delivered in shorter bursts, and they want control over the flow of the information. They want to be in command of the experience.
The Short Attention Span Science Video Theatre site accomplishes this by breaking 90 minutes of science documentary film into 30 plus stand-alone videos, each with links to all the others.
The simple site design allows the viewer to control the content flow and the sequence of topics. The videos are imbedded in a constellation website that allows a user instant streaming access to any video in any order. The videos are arranged in a hierarchy of topics, allowing instant jumping among topics and across hierarchies.
The site includes documentaries that cover critical green topics like:
- What is sustainability?
- What are sustainable ecosystems?
- How are they threatened?
- How do we fix them?
Access to the site is via the Microdocs website.
Natural resources news
Dry in the south-east, wet in the north
The drought in south-eastern Australia continues to break records, while northern Australia receives above average rainfall according to the latest climate statement issued by the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre.
The Bureau's Head of Climate Analysis Dr David Jones said the lack of rain over a number of years continues to be at, or near, record levels over many parts of southern Australia.
In south-eastern Australia, and particularly in Victoria and Tasmania, the past three years' rainfalls in many places are now at the lowest level ever recorded. This includes many areas critical for inflows into the southern part of the Murray-Darling system. In contrast much of northern Australia continues to experience well above average rainfall, with record high rainfall widespread about the Kimberly, Top End, and parts of the Cape York Peninsula.
Dr Jones said, "It's been eight years since we last recorded widespread, above-average rainfall across inland eastern Australia, including most of the Murray-Darling Basin. That was in the year 2000. And since the drought began, Victoria alone has missed out on nearly two years worth of normal rainfall.
"While similar periods of drought occurred in the middle of last century, this current period has also been the hottest drought on record, adding to the impact," Dr Jones said.
The full climate statement is available from the Bureau's website.
Scientists to study ocean acidification in Antarctica
Scientists have set sail for Antarctica, where they will study changes that may occur as a result of ocean acidification, a problem caused by increased carbon dioxide.
Dr Andrew Davidson of the Australian Antarctic Division said changes will occur in Antarctic waters first, because the very cold sea water holds more carbon dioxide.
Dr Davidson will be researching how the acidification will affect single-celled organisms, and says this will also help uncover how the problem will impact other marine species.
Link to full story, Scientists to study ocean acidification in Antarctica.
Sourced from ABC News
Next week is National Water Week
Next week is National Water Week, which has the theme, Clean Water: Essential for Life!
Check out the National Water Week website to find out ways you can help make National Water Week 2008 bigger and better than ever. By getting involved, you're helping to promote water education and encourage people to get involved in water-focused activities across the country.
National Water Week 2008 is being administered by the Australian Water Association, and is proudly supported by Smart Approved WaterMark and Sydney Water.
Visit the National Water Week website to learn more.
The Challenge of Change comes to the Gold Coast
The 2008 Queensland Regional Conference, The Challenge of Change, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast from 21-23 November.
The Australian Water Association (AWA) conference will provide valuable networking opportunities, speakers on a wide range of topics and a great range of trade exhibits.
The conference is focusing on change, the AWA website states that change is a constant in society today. There is cultural change, climate change, economic change and more, but no matter what socio-political interest we have, we are all affected by the changes in the water industry.
According to the AWA website, " Water, the essence of life, now occupies the thoughts of many of us, every day. We now see water mentioned at all political levels; local, state and federal, during election campaigns, policy launches and everyday press releases."
To encourage early bookings to the conference, AWA are offering to one lucky delegate a prize of two nights accommodation, continental breakfast and valet parking for two people at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove. To be in the draw for this wonderful prize your registration and accommodation must be booked by Friday 24 October and the winner will be announced at the conference dinner on Saturday night.
There are many sponsorship opportunities available, along with trade display options, and if you would like further information download the AWA conference registration form.
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/organisation: AgForward
Title: Principal Project Officer - Reef Rescue
Tenure: Further information including a full position description and selection criteria to be addressed can be obtained by emailing Rob Johnson or call on 3236 3100.
Salary range: Salary package in the range of $80 000 should be used as a guide
Location: Brisbane
Closing date: 20 October 2008.
Thought for the week
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Last updated 22 January 2009