The Bugle - 21 November 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- SEQ Catchments wins environmental award
- Manual helps fight lippia invasion in the Murray-Darling
- Splatter guns join arsenal in fight to control lantana weed
- Kalkadoon training for the future
- Be on the lookout for foreign invaders
- Fund gives life to innovative ideas
- Climate change Minister to face farmers
- Understanding our northern oceans
- Lantana control methods on show at Mirani
- PNG and Queensland unite to improve regional biosecurity
- Department moves quickly to control late season locust swarm
- Operation clean sweep at Mapoon
- John Cherry departing QFF
- Hamish and Andy hug the arid lands
- Be on the lookout for 'time bomb' weed
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
SEQ Catchments wins environmental award
SEQ Catchments has been awarded the Environmental Planning Award for Excellence at the Planning Institute of Australia Queensland annual awards, held in Brisbane last Friday.
The award, sponsored by SKM, recognised the work done by the team from SEQ Catchments, University of the Sunshine Coast, and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, on the SEQ Catchments Ecosystem Services Project.
The project has developed a common framework for the description, identification and measurement of ecosystem services in South East Queensland. It is being used by local government with other stakeholders, leading best national practice, and attracting international interest and recognition.
SEQ Catchments CEO Simon Warner said, "Winning this award is a wonderful achievement and is a reflection of the great work being done right across the business. Awards like this are even more special as they are recognition of the work we are all passionate about, from people not necessarily in natural resource management.
"Following a recent presentation of our Ecosystems Services Project at a world congress in Barcelona by project officer Simone Maynard [as featured in The Bugle: 03 October], we have received a number of follow up calls from international and national agencies around the world," Mr Warner said.
The awards showcase the achievements of the planning profession in the last year and celebrate leading practice by Queensland's professionals. The awards also recognise individuals, companies, community groups and the public sector agencies in the planning profession.
Visit the SEQ Catchments website for more information.
Manual helps fight lippia invasion in the Murray-Darling
A comprehensive management manual to help landholders make effective control and management decisions on lippia is now available.
More than half of the manual's content is a collection of case studies of landholders experiences and successes with lippia management. The case studies cover a wide range of land types and land uses, from Rockhampton in Central Queensland to the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales.
Lippia causes serious environmental damage to creek and river banks that slump and fall into streams. It was introduced to Australia as a 'no-mow' lawn species in the early 20th century. Because of its extremely invasive nature, lippia has now colonised practically every creek and river system in South East Queensland and is a problem in floodplains and wetlands throughout the Murray-Darling Basin.
The manual was initiated by the National Lippia Working Group and funded by the Australian Government through several regional NRM groups, including the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), the Border-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority (CMA), and the Namoi CMA.
For a free copy of the manual contact the QMDC on 4637 6201, or North East Downs Landcare on 4691 1499.
Splatter guns join arsenal in fight to control lantana weed
Six splatter guns are now available for hire to help landholders in the fight to control lantana in the Boyne Calliope region.
The splatter guns were purchased through the Boyne Calliope Sub Region (BCSR) of the Fitzroy Basin Association to help landholders protect native scrub from the invasive weed.
BCSR field officer Sara Steel said the splatter guns were funded through the Rainforest Recovery Program which aims to enhance the management of native rainforests in the area.
"The splatter guns are an excellent tool for accessing lantana in difficult terrain as they can be used off horseback, quad bike, vehicle or by walking," Ms Steel said, "They provide a targeted, low volume, high concentration 'splatter' of glyphosate to lantana within a 10 metre radius of the operator. Less chemical is used, reducing herbicide costs, and over-spray is greatly reduced."
The guns can be accessed by the community through the Gladstone Regional Council who will hire them out for a nominal fee. Phone Darryl Saw at the Calliope office on 4975 8100 for details.
The splatter guns will also be demonstrated at the Lantana Control Field Day being held at the Yarrawonga property on Norton Road on Tuesday 2 December from 9.30am until 1.30pm, followed by a barbecue lunch.
For more information or to RSVP phone 4975 6555.
Story sourced from the Gladstone ObserverKalkadoon training for the future
Kalkadoon Community Pty Ltd in partnership with Southern Gulf Catchments has been investing in the development of a team of professional and capable Kalkadoon cultural heritage rangers to assist Kalkadoon in meeting core responsibilities and obligations associated with the management of the region's natural and cultural heritage.
With funding obtained through Southern Gulf Catchments under the new Caring for our Country initiative a team of eight Kalkadoon trainees, supported by four Kalkadoon Elders, have been undertaking professional development and training.
Training to date has included Introduction to GPS and GIS and the partial completion of a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (specialising in Indigenous Land Management). Trainees were hosted by Birla Mt Gordon Mine, staying at the old Gunpowder School. The third phase of training, commencing in a fortnight, will see trainees undertake Introduction to Archaeology training.
Kalkadoon director Noeleen Dempsey said "Kalkadoon Community Pty Ltd Board of Directors is committed to ensuring the organisation has a sustainable future.
"It's critical that we fortify our participation in and share the benefits of government, non-government, and industry initiatives through the delivery of trained and skilled Kalkadoon professionals," Mrs Dempsey said, "it has been really important to give these trainees formal skills but also to have the Elders accompany them and share their knowledge."
"The support of Birla Mt Gordon and Southern Gulf Catchments has been fantastic and as we go from strength to strength we will be looking for new partnerships with government and industry that support us to care for the natural and cultural resources of the region for the benefit of the wider community," Mrs Dempsey said.
Find out more from Southern Gulf Catchments by calling 4743 1888.
Be on the lookout for foreign invaders
Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) is urging everyone in their region to be on the lookout for foreign invaders breaking out - their ability to spot and report invasive weeds is the frontline of defence against a full scale invasion.
With the wet season looming and recent storm rains that have fallen across Western Queensland, DCQ is urging the community to be vigilant in looking out for any plants that are out of the ordinary.
DCQ's pest management coordinator Brett Carlsson said this warning was prompted by the discovery of several new incursions of parthenium in the region by concerned members of the community.
"In the example of our most recent find, the plants were road-side and should've been easy to spot for anyone who knew what to look for, but they'd managed to grow into well established plants without detection. What's worse is that they were in a prime location for seeds to 'hitch-hike' on passing vehicles and stock," he said.
"That's why we're urging people to take the time to get familiar with what parthenium looks like and report any sightings. The sooner we can get on top of any outbreaks, the less likely it's able to spread," Mr Carlsson said.
If you find any plants you suspect are parthenium, don't remove them. Contact DCQ's Brett Carlsson on 4652 7823 (or your own regional body) for expert advice on how to handle the weed.
Fund gives life to innovative ideas
The Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) will fund nine successful projects under their Innovation Fund, designed to foster new ways of thinking in agriculture and NRM.
FBA chief executive officer Suzie Christensen said the projects would share in funding of more than $650 000 to conduct innovative trials, hold field days, and develop new technology.
"We were impressed by the quality and variety of the applications we received and believe the projects chosen will provide real insight and stimulus for the local agricultural community," Ms Christensen said, "Many landholders are interested in the potential of new practices and technologies but need more evidence or information on how it can be applied in the local area."
Ms Christensen said the Innovation Fund was created specifically to support 'out of the box' ideas that would not fit into normal funding streams.
"Some great ideas never get off the ground because no one is willing to back them, so we wanted to provide a pool of money that catered to untried project ideas we might not normally fund," Ms Christensen said, "We have an open mind about the outcomes of the projects, because it's all about expanding our knowledge and we can learn from both successes and failures."
Funding was provided for projects to:
- trial sequential cropping in the Dawson area
- organise a field trip to examine natural sequence farming techniques
- support a trial of automated subsurface drip irrigation, chemigation, and fertigation in pineapples near Yeppoon
- promote precision agriculture and remote sensing technologies
- investigate the potential of pasture cropping, biological farming and soil carbon sequestration
- investigate how Central Queensland can prepare for climate change
- hold a series of web seminars on agricultural issues
- hold a community forum in 2009 to share innovative ideas.
Government updates
Climate change Minister to face farmers
In the next phase of the protection of the endangered Great Barrier Reef, canegrowers and graziers will be able to put their case directly to the government in public meetings in local areas.
Minister for Climate Change, Sustainability and Innovation, Andrew McNamara said, "I know that the government's move to regulate run off into the Reef has caused concern in the farming community.
"I want to hear about those concerns directly from those working on the land - and to hear their solutions to the pressures facing the Reef," Mr McNamara said.
There will be three public meetings:
- 23 November: Home Hill
- 30 November: Ingham
- 14 December: Proserpine.
Issues to be discussed will include nutrient and pesticide water pollution from canefarming, riparian and wetland degradation, as well as nutrient water pollution from cattle grazing on slopes, gullies and soil run off.
Read the full media release on the Queensland Government media statement website.
Understanding our northern oceans
A comprehensive report on the biodiversity, ecosystems, and social and economic uses of Australia's northern oceans is now available.
The North Marine Bioregional Profile brings together the best available information for the North Marine region. It consolidates knowledge of the unique shallow basin and shelf communities and habitats of the Arafura and eastern Timor Seas, including the area's natural features and values and the ways in which the community uses and enjoys them.
Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett said, "Marine profiles such as this will help to address our lack of knowledge of ocean biodiversity, especially the species and ecosystems of the more remote and deeper areas.
"These information gaps have presented challenges in developing effective strategies to manage both the large and small scale impacts of change in ocean ecosystems, such as climate change," he said.
"The North Bioregional Profile is the starting point for developing a Marine Bioregional Plan for the Region, which will be released in 2010," he said.
"This is one of five plans that together will identify the conservation values across more than seven million square kilometres of Australia's oceans and the actions we need to take to protect them, including the areas we will look to include in the national marine protected area network," Mr Garrett said.
The North Marine region includes Commonwealth waters stretching from the Northern Territory/Western Australian border in the west, to the Torres Strait in the east, including the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The North Bioregional Profile can be downloaded from the Australian Government's Environment website.
Lantana control methods on show at Mirani
A Mirani district field day in December will demonstrate to Mackay-Whitsunday landholders how a mix of mechanical and chemical control measures can be a cost-effective control for thick lantana infestations.
Queensland's Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said lantana was listed as a Weed of National Significance infesting more than four million hectares of Queensland and New South Wales grazing lands.
"This is a weed that costs the Australian grazing industry an estimated $104 million and represents an on-going threat to the environment," Mr Mulherin said, "If lantana was allowed to spread to its invasive potential, it could cover more than 35 million hectares.
"The Mirani district field day will demonstrate to landholders the most effective control measures to combat lantana, one of Australia's worst weed pests," Mr Mulherin said.
Biosecurity Queensland land protection officer Corey Bell has teamed with Isaac Regional Council pest management officer Graeme Wehmeier to highlight an integrated management approach to controlling lantana.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries field day will be held on Tuesday 2 December at a site on the Mt Ossa Road, six kilometres from the Mirani turnoff, from 9 am to 1 pm.PNG and Queensland unite to improve regional biosecurity
Queensland biosecurity experts have joined forces with their Papua New Guinea (PNG) counterparts to implement systems for animal disease surveillance and control in the villages of Australia's northern neighbour.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal project officer Dr Robert Hedlefs leads the $975 000, four-year project funded jointly by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Queensland's Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
The main aim of the project is to establish a village-based system for recognising diseases, and in doing so improve the supply of safe and sustainable food for villagers. A second consideration is to stop the spread of disease beyond PNG borders, which would affect Queensland's agricultural trade and food production.
Dr Hedlefs and another Townsville-based veterinarian, Dr Glen Kenneally, travelled to PNG to work with that country's chief veterinary officer Dr Nine Kapo to develop 'train the trainer' programs.
"To reduce the language barrier problems, we have been training PNG government officials and volunteers, who then travel into villages and explain why keeping a close eye on their livestock is a good idea," he said.
"We have also developed a diagrammatic check sheet to assist villagers in what they should be looking for, for example lameness or blisters in a pig, or discoloured combs in chickens," Dr Hedlefs said.
Early detection of diseases such as avian influenza, swine fever, and screw-worm fly in PNG could assist in local control or eradication, as well as increase vigilance in bordering countries.
For more information about the work of Biosecurity Queensland, visit the DPI&F website.
Department moves quickly to control late season locust swarm
The opening shots in this season's war on locusts have been fired with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) undertaking control of spur-throat locust swarms west of the Belyando River.
Biosecurity Queensland officers have completed spraying of almost 400 hectares to control the pest. Senior land protection officer Duncan Swan said it was unusual to find spur-throat locusts still swarming at this time of year.
"Spur-throat locusts usually swarm during the winter, and then disperse when the weather warms up in spring as this is part of their life-cycle," Mr Swan said.
"We have been lucky to catch these locusts still swarming at this time of year, and acted quickly to control them before they are able to migrate to the central highlands cropping areas and disperse into the crops.
"As spur-throat locusts only breed once a year, it takes several years for numbers to breed up. However, these locusts are a particular problem, as even at relatively low densities they can cause extensive damage to crops over time, particularly sorghum. But at low densities they do not present good targets for aerial control, which is very expensive," Mr Swan said.
Landholders are encouraged to report all sightings of locusts to the DPI&F on 13 25 23.
Story sourced from Queensland Country Life
Reef updates
UQ celebrates International Year of the Reef
Help celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Moreton Bay region at the University of Queensland's (UQ) Moreton Bay Research Station's UQ Reef Fest 2008.
Manager of Research and Education at the Moreton Bay Research Station Dr Kathy Townsend said 2008 had been declared International Year of the Reef.
"UQ Reef Fest 2008 is about raising awareness of the beauty, value and importance of coral reefs," Dr Townsend said, "Reef Fest is a good opportunity for people to see what is located right on their front door step.
"Dolphins, sea turtles, dugong, fish, whales and over 140 species of coral are all found in Moreton Bay Marine Park. The diversity is surprisingly high considering how close we are to one of the fastest growing cities in Australia," Dr Townsend said.
UQ Reef Fest 2008 will be held tomorrow, Saturday 22 November, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Moreton Bay Research Station, corner of Flinders Avenue and Fraser Street, Dunwich (North Stradbroke Island). Entry is free.
For more information contact the research station on 3409 9058 or visit the UQ website.
Natural resources news
Operation clean sweep at Mapoon
Another operation clean sweep has been carried out by the Carpentaria Ghost Nets Program.
Mapoon, on the western side of Cape York, was the target during September. A total of 491 ghost nets were removed from the beach, measuring a combined length of approximately 2500 metres.
The Carpentaria Ghost Nets Program is funded by the Australian Government to help ranger groups around the Gulf of Carpentaria pick up 'ghost nets'. Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been accidentally lost, deliberately discarded or simply abandoned at sea.
'Operation clean sweep' involves an intensive clean up over two weeks utilising Conservation Volunteers Australia to help the rangers get rid of ghost nets over a particular stretch of beach.
Over two weeks in September, Ghost Net project officers, Conservation Volunteers Australia, and the Mapoon rangers cleaned up an area between the Skardon River and Namaletta Point near Mapoon. Every day the group set off in the ranger's barge and headed over to the stretch of beach that was the cleanup site. In total, eight days were spent removing, processing and identifying nets with 491 ghost nets being removed from about 12 kilometres of beach.
This is the second 'operation clean sweep' undertaken. The first one was in June this year on Pennefather Beach near Napranum, again on Cape York, where 470 nets were removed from 13 kilometres of beach with a total length of approximately 3600 metres.
These concentrated efforts show immediate results, removing a huge amount of ghost nets from the coastline in just a short amount of time. The rangers in these two areas will now find it easier to remove any new nets that get washed ashore and prevent them from becoming death traps for marine wildlife.
John Cherry departing QFF
Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) president Gary Sansom has announced that QFF chief executive John Cherry has resigned effective 12 December after three and a half years in the role.
Mr Cherry will take up the position of executive director of the Council of Mayors SEQ, having joined QFF in July 2005 after serving four years as a senator for Queensland.
Prior to that, he worked as a journalist in North Queensland, an industrial advocate in Brisbane, and an economic policy advisor in Canberra.
His family has been farming in the Albert River Valley for five generations. Mr Sansom said Mr Cherry has made a significant contribution to the policy development and profile of QFF in his time as chief executive.
The QFF board, council, and staff have been very appreciative of his efforts and wish him well in his new role and look forward to interacting more significantly with the Council of Mayors.
Hamish and Andy visit the arid lands
Celebrity funny men Hamish and Andy visited the South Australian Arid Lands NRM (SAALNRM) Board offices in Port Augusta late last month as part of their two week Caravan of Courage road-trip from Melbourne to Darwin.
The two comedians and their entourage spent an hour chatting with SAALNRM staff about some of issues dealt with by the board, including pest management projects such as feral camel control and dingo management. A highlight of their trip, the boys were able to see first-hand some of the collars, lures and traps used in research and control of dingoes in the pastoral zone.
The pair was also introduced to projects undertaken by the board to help manage feral camels in the arid lands.
They are hoping to spot as many camels on their trip as possible, so were keen to get a taste for the pest and its impacts in the rangelands.
Hamish and Andy's light-hearted adventure helped promote the arid lands region and many serious issues managed by the SAALNRM Board, such as dingo and feral camel control. Their road-trip, broadcast nationally, involved travelling in a caravan through the outback to meet people living and working in the region.
The SAALNRM Board is delighted to have been a feature of Hamish and Andy's trip. The impact of the visit will, no doubt, linger just as long with Hamish and Andy, as it will for the delighted staff at the SAALNRM Board offices.
Be on the lookout for 'time bomb' weed
Queensland gardeners, landscapers and horticulturists are being called on to help find the devastating pest weed Mexican feather grass which has recently invaded Queensland.
The exotic weed was discovered in landscaping on a Brisbane street just over a fortnight ago. Mexican feather grass, a Class 1 declared weed under the Land Protection Regulation 2003, is a low protein fibrous grass which has no grazing value and would make pasture lands virtually worthless.
Biosecurity Queensland's investigations discovered Queensland landscapers and retail nursery outlets innocently purchased the Mexican feather grass plant for use in landscaping or sale to the general public.
The weed plants were mistakenly labelled as Stipa capillata and Stipa capriccio by an interstate supplier who sold the stocks to a Queensland production nursery, who then sold the plants to retail outlets.
The plants have gone to locations throughout Queensland including Algester, Aspley, Kenmore, Springfield, Redlands, Noosaville, Kawana, Sippy Downs, Gympie, Biloela, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Kingaroy, Longreach, Mackay, Monto, Pialba, Surat, Urangan, Warana, and Yeppoon.
If you think you have spotted Mexican feather grass, do not move it or dump it. Please contact Biosecurity Queensland immediately on 13 25 23.
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.
AgForward and AgForce have launched AgEssentials. Participants who successfully complete an AgForward/AgForce workshop receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. The skills from AgForward workshops can be used to gain a Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management through the AgEssentials program.
Upcoming workshops include:
- 9 December: Eromanga - GPS essentials
- 10 December: Thargo - GPS essentials
- 10 December: Muttaburra - Computer mapping
- 11 December: Eulo - GPS essentials
- 11 December: Barcaldine - Computer mapping
- 12 December: Ilfracombe - Computer mapping
- 16 December: Rosevale - GPS essentials
- 16 December: Nebo - Computer mapping
- 16 December: Ivanhoe Downs - Complex PMAV Field Day
- 17 December: Boonah - GPS essentials
- 18 December: Esk - GPS essentials
- 18 December: Calliope - Computer mapping
To register for the workshops contact Bree Robertson on 3238 6039. To register for the AgForests Field Days 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/organisation: Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC)
Title: Marine campaigner
Tenure: Two-year contract, full-time
Salary range: $50 000
Location: Cairns
Closing date: 1pm, Monday 1 December
The CAFNEC marine campaigner will work exclusively on the Ocean Legacy campaign in close collaboration with supporters and campaign partners. The successful applicant will need to use a range of advocacy and communication tools to secure government, business, and community support for this significant regional and national campaign.
A full position description is available on the CAFNEC website, by calling CAFNEC on 4053 3779, or by emailing the group.
Thought for the week
Only when the last tree has been cut down, Only when the last river has been poisoned, Only when the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
Cree Indian prophecy
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Last updated 20 November 2008