The Bugle - 05 Decmber 2008
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Water quality test results available on website
- BDT chairman explains changes to regional NRM
- Funds flow to rescue reef
- BDT Community Engagement Team welcome Kym
- Rehabilitation of Burkedin’s billabongs and Bowling Green Bay catchments
- Farming soil and wetlands among targets for investment
- Caring for our Country road show coming to a town near you
- Jigsaw all but completed
- Great Keppel Island’s Lot 21 to be protected
- Traveston Dam put on hold
- Wyaralong Dam in the South East gets green light from Feds
- Bligh government WaterWise grant makes a difference at Nanango
- Help sought after dangerous weed traced to Mackay
- Have your say on laws covering zoos
- Indigenous cultural heritage grants on offer
- Backyard blitz on Asian honey bees
- Department recruits rural-industry expertise
- Reef Rescue investment process
- New frameworks for Marine Park protection
- Technology targets bleaching on Great Barrier Reef
- Top End cane toad fence to stop further invasion
- CottASSIST tools for cotton management
- Playing the market for natural resource management
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Water quality test results available on website
Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) is playing its part to identify water quality problems, and help develop solutions. FBA is part of the Technical Working Group established to examine water quality issues in Central Queensland.
Between 28–30 September, field officers from the FBA collected around 20 water samples, across the Mackenzie and Isaac rivers and tributaries.
Samples were processed through a nationally accredited lab, and were analysed for a host of ions and metals. The main concern from this round of sampling is the level of salts, or more specifically, sodium and chloride, for which drinking water guidelines set by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC).
Contaminated water was evident in the upper reaches of the Isaac and Mackenzie rivers, but at the downstream sites the sodium and chloride levels were well below the ANZECC guidelines for drinking water.
A map showing the sites tested and the full set of test results are available on the FBA website.
BDT chairman explains changes to regional NRM
At Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM (BDT NRM) annual general meeting Chairman of the Board, Mark Stoneman, spoke about changes that have impacted on the region during 2007–2008, and how BDT NRM are positioning themselves to best meet those changes.
“A new government at the federal level, the change from Natural Heritage Trust to Caring for our Country, development of the Reef Rescue package, and most recently, proposals for an overlay of regulatory controls for land managers in regions attaching to the Great Barrier Reef, have all had an impact on our operations,” he said.
Mr. Stoneman said these changes bring challenges, opportunities and disappointments, but also a growing recognition that regional bodies are an important partner for land managers developing solutions for sustainably managing natural resources that balance with community expectations and needs.
Key highlights for the year include:
- development of an Investment Strategy for 2008–2009
- internal restructuring to meet current and future business needs
- improved partnerships between community-based organisations
- change from a systems-based, catchment, community and regional focus, to an emphasis on a smaller range of national priorities under the Caring for our Country program.
Burkedin Dry Tropics NRM oversees or manages over 150 projects and there has been significant progress to program work in each of our key areas of business has been made.
For a full list of project work please visit the BDT NRM website.
Funds flow to rescue reef
Farmers, graziers and landholders in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region interested in participating in the five-year, $200 million Reef Rescue program are being asked to submit expressions of interest.
As part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program, over $3.5 million has been allocated for the remainder of this financial year to assist landholders to adopt best management practices to improve the quality of runoff water in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.
Funding and other support is being made available to:
- sugar cane and horticulture growers in the lower Burdekin and Bowen areas
- graziers within 10 high-priority catchments
- landholders wanting to improve the health of wetlands within the lower Burdekin.
The closing date for the expressions of interest is 15 December 2008.
The partnership in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region includes Canegrowers, Growcom, AgForward, BSES, Burdekin Productivity Services, CSR, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Burkedin Dry Tropics NRM (BDT NRM).
Further information and expression of interest forms can be found on the BDTNRM website, by emailing Reef Rescue, or phoning 4724 3544.
BDT Community Engagement Team welcome Kym
Burkedin Dry Tropics NRM (BDT NRM) has a new staff member, Kym Lees, who will be working with the Community Engagement Team for nine weeks on a project titled Improving Knowledge and Understanding of Natural Resource Management Organisations and Groups in the Burdekin Dry Tropics Region.
Kym will be identifying and collating a wide range of information on NRM organisations and groups of the region. She will work with staff and stakeholders to ensure the latest information is available to enhance the effectiveness of community engagement.
The project will result in a central place for information on the region’s NRM organisations and groups for use by BDT NRM stakeholders and the wider community.
Kym will be contacting NRM organisations and groups over the next few weeks, to source information and to find out how the project can best meet their needs. For more information email Kym Lees or call on 4724 3544.
Rehabilitation of Burkedin’s billabongs and Bowling Green Bay catchments
The wetlands of the Burdekin floodplain have been degraded by a range of threats which will be addressed by training landholder, industry groups and the community in the latest knowledge about best management practices.
The Rehabilitation of Burdekin’s billabongs and Bowling Green Bay catchments project aims to raise awareness and to rehabilitate and protect priority wetland sites across the Burdekin floodplain, an important northern Queensland wetland directly connected to the Great Barrier Reef (a World Heritage area) and Bowling Green Bay (a Ramsar wetlands site).
The project will also implement on-ground works to address these issues at priority sites.
For more information email Diana Odonnell from the Burkedin Dry Tropics NRM or call on 4724 3544.
Government updates
Farming soil and wetlands among targets for investment
Improving soil condition on farming land and stepping up the protection of important wetlands are among the priorities of the Federal Government’s $2.25 billion investment plan for managing Australia’s natural resources.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett along with Agriculture Minister Tony Burke launched the inaugural Business Plan last Friday, setting out the Federal Government’s targets for the next year of Caring for our Country.
Business plans will be released annually to ensure the funding is targeted and delivers the best results for the environment and farming land.
Caring for our Country encourages projects that involve a range of partners, including large-scale projects with budgets of up to $20 million that cover multiple targets and outcomes. Other projects will be medium-scale with budgets of between $2 million and $3 million a year, or small-scale, with budgets of between $20 000 and $100 000.
The Business Plan also identifies 10 geographic areas across Australia, containing key environmental and productive assets, where large-scale investments could potentially be undertaken.
The Federal Government will provide an annual report card on progress under Caring for our Country. For more information visit the Federal Government NRM website.
Caring for our Country road show coming to a town near you
The Australian Government recently released its Caring for our Country Business Plan 2009–10 that sets out a new approach to protecting and sustainably managing Australia’s natural environment.
The Australian Government is now looking to work with partners across the country to help achieve the Caring for our Country five year outcomes on the ground. Investment will be linked to a series of targets to help achieve a real and measurable difference in protecting and managing our natural resources.
To find out more about the Caring for our Country investment priorities, what this means for organisations and how to submit an investment proposal, the Australian Government is running a series of Caring for our Country information sessions where people can find out more details about the 2009–10 business plan and ask questions of the Australian Government.
Information sessions are being held in the following Queensland locations:
| Date |
Time |
Location |
Venue |
RSVP |
|
Mon 8 Dec |
10am–3pm |
Brisbane |
Mercy Place Conference Centre |
Fri 5 Dec |
|
Wed 10 Dec |
1pm–4pm |
Cairns |
Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns |
Fri 5 Dec |
|
Thur 11 Dec |
1pm–4pm |
Townsville |
Holiday Inn Townsville |
Fri 5 Dec |
|
Fri 12 Dec |
9am–12pm |
Longreach |
Longreach RSL |
Wed 10 Dec |
|
Mon 15 Dec |
1pm–4pm |
Bundaberg |
Old Bundy Tavern |
Wed 10 Dec |
|
Mon 15 Dec |
1pm–4pm |
Mackay |
Azure Function Centre |
Wed 10 Dec |
|
Tue 16 Dec |
1pm–4pm |
Rockhampton |
DPIF Conference Centre |
Wed 10 Dec |
|
Wed 17 Dec |
9am–12pm |
Toowoomba |
James Taylor Room, Clifford House |
Wed 10 Dec |
|
Thur 18 Dec |
1pm-4pm |
Mount Isa |
Billabong Lounge, The Buffs Club |
Wed 10 Dec |
Please RSVP by email to Caroline Crawford by the dates indicated above. Before attending the information session, further information can be sought from the Caring for our Country business plan which can be found on the Australian Government NRM website.
Jigsaw all but completed
Queensland’s regional NRM bodies have welcomed the newly released business plan under the Australian Government’s $2.25 billion Caring for our Country program.
Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective CEO Andrew Drysdale is pleased overall with the business plan, which acknowledges the value of regional delivery more evidently than earlier this year.
“Unfortunately in these types of programs there are winners and losers but Queensland appears to be eligible for much of the prioritised funding which can be interpreted as a good or bad thing. It is good that we may attract funding, however on the other hand it could be interpreted as Queensland’s resource condition being at risk,” Mr Drysdale said.
“Finally the 14 Queensland regional NRM bodies are able to plan further for the future of their regions. Now we are just waiting on the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle, the regional funding allocations,” he said.
For more information see the Qld Regional NRM Groups Collective website.
Great Keppel Island’s Lot 21 to be protected
The Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) has completed its assessment of Lot 21 on Great Keppel Island and determined that the most appropriate use and tenure of Lot 21 is as a protected area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as manager.
There was compelling evidence of significant environmental and cultural values, including the presence of rare, endangered and vulnerable species present on the land.
The public showed overwhelming support for the protection of Lot 21 with the department receiving over 300 public submissions on this study. Over 97 per cent received were in favour of protection.
A comprehensive submission in relation to a development was received from Tower Holdings, the current lessee, as well as a detailed submission from the EPA.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace has told Parliament the resort operators will not be able to use this parcel of land which has significant environmental value. The decision does however, allow Tower Holdings to progress with the redevelopment of the existing resort site.
Traveston Dam put on hold
Premier Anna Bligh has put the development of the controversial Traveston Dam project on hold for 'several years' as the State Government performs work to give it a chance of gaining federal environmental approval.
Ms Bligh has told State Parliament the site near Gympie would need significant environmental mitigation work before federal approval could be gained and construction could begin.
"It has been identified that the Mary River catchment, including the dam location, has suffered significant disturbance as a result of clearing and cultivation practices over many, many years," said Ms Bligh.
"The Coordinator-General has raised concerns about the impact on habitat and achieving necessary rehabilitation and offsets for threatened species including the Australian lungfish, the Mary River cod, the Mary River turtle and the southern barred frog,” she said.
While no official decision has yet been made, the Coordinator-General has formally advised Queensland Water Infrastructure that he believes a number of mitigation measures to minimise impact on flora and fauna should be undertaken prior to construction of the dam.
Sourced from Qld Country Life
Wyaralong Dam in the South East gets green light from Feds
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has given a conditional green light to the Queensland Government's development of Wyaralong Dam in the south east.
In addition to the environmental protection requirements placed on the project by the Queensland Coordinator-General, Mr Garrett has required extra conditions to ensure commitments to protect matters of national environmental significance were implemented and monitored.
"My additional conditions require the proponent to carry out extensive monitoring of the downstream environment, to ensure that the operation of the dam does not impact on the Moreton Bay wetlands," Mr Garrett said.
The 103 000 megalitre dam will be located on the Teviot Brook within the Logan River catchment about 14 kilometres northwest of Beaudesert.
Wyaralong Dam, which will link into Queensland’s SEQ water grid, was assessed under a bilateral agreement between the Queensland and the Australian Governments.
Bligh government WaterWise grant makes a difference at Nanango
Two groups at Nanango will save hundreds of thousands of litres of town water annually with the help of Lifestyle WaterWise grants from the Queensland Government.
The Nanango Agricultural, Pastoral and Mining Society, which is responsible for the local showgrounds, is saving 477 500 litres of town water a year thanks to a $30 000 grant. Nanango State School is saving 283 000 litres annually, thanks to the efforts of the school's Parents and Citizens Association in securing a $29 989 grant.
The Nanango Agricultural, Pastoral and Mining Society used the funds to install two 125 000 litre rainwater tanks while Nanango State School used its grant to install four 8600 litre rainwater tanks. Both groups connected their tanks to their irrigation system.
The groups are two of almost 600 not-for-profit organisations to receive funding from the $10 million Lifestyle WaterWise grants program, which assists sporting clubs, churches, schools and parents and citizens groups to implement water-saving measures.
Other successful projects include improving watering systems, replacing existing water amenities including toilet cisterns, providing alternative water sources such as rainwater tanks, and installing swimming pool covers and rollers.
For the full media release visit the media statements website.
Help sought after dangerous weed traced to Mackay
Mackay residents can help locate a dozen Mexican feather grass plants which have been sold in Mackay.
Mexican feather grass is a pest weed that has the potential to cause severe environmental damage to native grasslands as it is a low protein fibrous grass which has no grazing value and would make pasture lands virtually worthless.
Mexican feather grass was recently discovered in Brisbane and investigations found that a number of the plants had come in from Victoria.
Primary Industry and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin reports that biosecurity officers around the state have been busy chasing leads, mapping possible distribution paths, visiting properties, analysing and removing the plants. They have discovered that 12 Mexican feather grass plants were sent to a Mackay retail outlet in April.
"They have since been sold and the business has no records that would allow identification of the purchasers. Biosecurity officers are appealing to anyone who bought a grass feature plant to check whether they have in fact purchased Mexican feather grass. They were mistakenly labelled as Stipa capriccio by an interstate supplier,” he said.
Mexican feather grass is a wiry green tussock grass up to 70cm in height with pale coloured feathery seed heads. If you believe you have one of these plants do not remove it yourself, but please call the Mackay Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) office on 4967 0724 or the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
For further information and photographs of Mexican feather grass, visit the DPI&F website.
Have your say on laws covering zoos
Queenslanders are being invited to have their say on proposed legislation covering animals on show including those at zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, safari parks and circuses.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin has released the Exhibited Animals Discussion Paper and is seeking public feedback.
Native and exotic animals have long been used for exhibitions, educational and entertainment purposes across Queensland. Currently native animal permits are issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and exotic animal permits by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
A review by the Service Delivery and Performance Commission has identified problems with having the industry administered by two different government agencies. They have recommended that DPI&F be solely responsible for regulating the industry under a single piece of legislation.
The discussion paper seeks community feedback on regulating exhibited animals and proposals for a single piece of legislation. DPI&F's Biosecurity Queensland will lead this process and the new legislation will address the issues raised in the review.
The discussion paper is on the Biosecurity home page on the DPI&F website.
Indigenous cultural heritage grants on offer
The Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) are offering grants of up to $15 000 to help protect Cape York's Indigenous cultural heritage.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said funding under the Cultural Heritage Grants Program was available to any person or organisation seeking to protect and preserve heritage sites and objects.
"These can be rock shelters, carved or scarred trees, engravings, paintings, shell middens, fish traps, grinding grooves, earth and stone arrangements and other artifacts," he said.
Separate funding is also available to cultural heritage bodies under the Cultural Heritage Bodies Grants Program to help them with equipment costs, such as mapping programs, GPS or computers.
Minister Wallace said that grants of up to $10 000 could be obtained by registered groups acting as the first point of contact between a land user lawfully seeking to address cultural heritage issues and the appropriate traditional owners.
A total of $100 000 has been set aside for Queensland's Indigenous cultural heritage bodies and individual projects.
For details visit NRW website or phone 3238 3839.
Backyard blitz on Asian honey bees
Biosecurity Queensland are aiming to find and destroy as many Asian honey bee nests and swarms as it can, before the wet season sets in as rain makes surveillance more difficult.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said that if the bees are not eradicated, they will breed up over the summer and be a bigger problem next year.
Mr Mulherin said the public can help find swarms and nests of the Asian honey bee by checking their trees, shrubs, outbuildings and under roofs for any bee activity.
DPI&F local controller Pat Kalinowski said recent publicity about the bees in the city had created huge interest in the community with many people supplying specimens or photographs of what was in their backyards.
Operations manager for the response Ian Rodger said two infestations in Bungalow in the past week indicated it was likely more nests were in the city area.
If you see any bee activity, please contact Biosecurity Queensland as soon as possible on 13 25 23. Every phone call will be followed up.
Department recruits rural-industry expertise
Industry perspective will be strengthened within the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) following the appointment of Brett de Hayr to the position of Executive Director, Sustainable Agriculture in the Strategic Directions business unit.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said Mr de Hayr will join the department in February on secondment from AgForce, where he is currently chief executive officer.
Mr Mulherin said, while Brett brings knowledge and good relationships with industry groups and central government agencies developed during his time at AgForce, it must be emphasised that Brett will not be representing the views of AgForce in his new position. He will be helping to develop and implement government policy that supports the food, fibre and fishing sectors.
"He will be responsible for developing sustainable agriculture policies as well as policies to guide the department's obligations in whole-of-government initiatives around the Reef Plan, climate change, regional planning and Caring for our Country," Mr Mulherin said.
AgForce president John Cotter said Brett's secondment to the department would facilitate the development of policies that integrate an industry perspective into government priorities.
For the full media release visit the media statements website.
Reef updates
Reef Rescue investment process
The Australian Government’s Reef Rescue is part of the Caring for our Country initiative. The $200 million that is committed over five years will reduce the decline in water quality by providing assistance to land managers in the reef catchments to accelerate the uptake of improved land management practices.
The process and timeline of Reef Rescue in the Caring for our Country Business Plan 2009–10 reflects the need to undertake a scientific analysis for the identification and prioritisation of investment activities. The outcomes and targets under Caring for our Country for the Reef Rescue component are detailed in the business plan.
The Australian Government will be undertaking a rigorous analytical process to identify the priority locations, activities, delivery mechanisms and delivery agents that will best deliver the outcomes the government is seeking. It is acknowledged that there may be activities and opportunities outside the current Reef Rescue delivery arrangements that may improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef from its catchment.
All stakeholders seeking to be considered as delivery agents for this component of Caring for our Country will need to submit a brief expression of interest that outlines their organisation’s history of achievement and ideas for the delivery of the Caring for our Country Reef targets by 11 December 2008.
For more information please see the Caring for our Country business plan 2009-10.
New frameworks for Marine Park protection
After a review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 in 2006, a series of changes were proposed to strengthen the management and long-term protection of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP). Further information on the review can be found in the report titled Review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
These changes were implemented predominantly through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Act 2007, which commenced on 1 July 2007 and related to governance, accountability and transparency in the management of the GBRMP.
In particular, the amendments provided for:
- a five-yearly, peer-reviewed 'Outlook Report'
- enhanced processes in the developing zoning plans for the Marine Park
- zoning plans to be 'locked down' for a minimum of seven years
- the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to be subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997
- the Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee to cease operation.
A second amendment, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008, will put in place a modern, future-focused regulatory framework for securing the long-term protection and ecologically sustainable management of the GBRMP.
An Amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 fact sheet is available.
The final change is a new inter-governmental agreement for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area being developed between the Australian and Queensland Governments. This aims to enhance coordinated, collaborative approaches between these jurisdictions for the long-term conservation and protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
Technology targets bleaching on Great Barrier Reef
Climate forecasts have the potential to assist in the monitoring and management of coral bleaching events on reefs, according to new research published in the Coral Reefs journal.
Global warming is potentially a serious threat to the future of coral reefs, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, with scientists predicting that bleaching will increase in both frequency and severity as the climate warms. Coral bleaching is most often triggered by high sea surface temperatures (SST), which are more likely to occur with global warming. Bleaching has been observed on the Great Barrier Reef since 1982, with severe bleaching events occurring in the summers of 1998 and 2002.
According to one author of the new research, Dr Claire Spillman from the Bureau of Meteorology, computer forecasts are a tool that could be used to assist reef authorities better manage the impacts of coral bleaching.
“Seasonal forecasts from coupled ocean-atmosphere models can be used to predict anomalous SST months in advance. While forecasts of tropical Pacific SSTs have been routinely produced by forecast models since 2002, this research shows that these same models can also be used for the prediction of regional SST over smaller areas such as the Great Barrier Reef,” Dr Spillman said.
“Bleaching itself cannot currently be prevented, but by focussing management efforts on areas of the reef under threat and decreasing other stresses, recovery times and reef resilience to bleaching can be improved,” Dr Spillman said.
For further information contact the Bureau of Meteorology’s Dr Claire Spillman on 03 9669 8105 or Dr Oscar Alves on 03 9669 4835.
Natural resources news
Top End cane toad fence to stop further invasion
An anti-cane toad group in the Northern Territory is working to stop the spread of the cane toad, by building a toad-proof fence.
The toadbusting group, Frogwatch, has received an Australian Government Caring for our Country Open Grant to help stop the pests in their tracks. Frogwatch coordinator, Graeme Sawyer says the $180 000 grant will fund a trial where toad fences, traps and mustering are combined to create a toad free zone.
"We're going to try to create an area cane toads can't get to because they have to pass through a buffer zone to get there and they'll get taken out during that process," he said.
Mr Sawyer said the group recently caught 52 000 cane toads in one fortnight near Timber Creek.
"Sadly cane toads have almost completely covered the Northern Territory, the Top End. They're only a couple of kilometres off the WA [Western Australian] border as we speak," Mr Sawyer said.
Mr Sawyer said the knee high fence will not be a risk for native animals.
Story sourced from ABC news online
CottASSIST tools available for cotton management
Cotton managers now have free access to a new generation of web-based extension tools called CottASSIST.
To promote and support the adoption of best-practice in cotton crop management the improved tools provide users with access to the latest research findings.
The CottASSIST website has been significantly upgraded to improve its functionality and security, CottASSIST includes all previously available online tools, but has more features and is more user-friendly.
The research project’s team leader, CSIRO Plant Industry’s Dr Michael Bange says “Cotton managers monitoring their crops can utilise CottASSIST to assess their crop progress and to assist with complex decision making so that crops are grown efficiently.”
The CottASSIST website went ‘live’ in November and enhancements to existing tools will be completed within a year.
Playing the market for natural resource management
The Australian Knowledge Exchange (AKX) has been set up by CSIRO to test whether trading knowledge online can work for natural resource management.
CSIRO economist Dr Stuart Whitten says that the AKX works like a futures market.
“This study has been set up to find out whether traders can combine their knowledge to predict dam levels in the region, in much the same way as stock market traders predict future prices of commodities like oil,” he said.
“Interested people can register online, get $100 000 play money and start trading predictions. At the end of each month for three months, the trader who has predicted the dam levels most closely will win a small cash prize,” Dr Whitten said.
To register and start trading visit AKX website or to read the full story visit the CSIRO website.
AgForward workshop update
The AgForward team present a range of workshops to landholders, including GPS essentials, computer mapping, vegetation management, and AgForest's native forest field days.
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:
- 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: Queensland Murray Darling Committee
Title: Vegetation Technical Officer
Tenure: Full-time
Salary range: Attractive salary package
Location: Roma
Contact: Email Tanya McKechnie at QMDC or call on 4637 6201.
Closing date: 15 December 2008
Thought for the week
"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision."
Ayn Rand
We welcome your contributions and feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions for The Bugle please contact Carl Glen or Shona Strachan.
Last updated 05 December 2008