The Bugle - 20 February 2009
In news this week
Regional NRM group storiesGovernment updates
- Taking information to the community
- Road trip gives CQ group natural insight
- Soil information days underway!
- Bringing our Indigenous culture to the foreground
- Grant to aid south-east farmers
Reef updates Wetlands updates Natural resources news
- Thousands log on to access stream flow data during the big wet
- PM and Premier activate fodder drops for NW flood areas
- Planning for long-term recovery for Victorian farms
- Jabiru Island sand mine to become a community reserve
- Cattle deaths prompt prussic acid risk warning
- Wet weather closes tracks and floods campgrounds
- Water purchases open in the northern Murray-Darling Basin
- Controlled traffic opportunities for Lockyer Valley growers
- Lend a helping hand on 'Clean Up Australia' Day at Byfield National Park
- Cash incentives for landholders
- Rebates for rainwater tanks and greywater systems
- Riverprize 2009 now open for nominations
- One stop for natural resources information in the Burnett
- Call to help Queensland's threatened animals and ecosystems
- Grants program for our junior landcarers
- Documenting Queensland’s conservation heritage
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Taking information to the community
Beginning Monday 9 March Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC) in collaboration with Queensland Government agencies and researchers are undertaking a road show to bring up to date and topical natural and cultural resource management information to local communities.
Presentations will be from 9am until lunch, or early afternoon, after which, the Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries (DPI&F) Mobile Office will be open and all presenters available for one-on-one discussions.
There will also be an opportunity for people to ‘yarn’ about special places and people—the events, changes and challenges that shape lives and the country. So bring memories, stories and old photos.
Presentations will provide information on the Delbessie Agreement, Nature Refuges, Grazing Land Management and the Sustainable Agriculture Committee's achievements.
The roadshow will be in Hughendon on Monday 9 March. Tuesday 10 March Richmond locals can attend the show. It will be in Julia Creek on Wednesday 11 March, Cloncurry Thursday 12 March, Gregory Downs Friday 13 March and finally, the road show will finish up in Mt Isa on Saturday 14 March.
For more details about these events including times, locations and catering, or to RSVP to an event, please email Kate Masters from Southern Gulf Catchments or phone 1800 676 242.
Road trip gives CQ group natural insight
In a follow-up to Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) field days held across central Queensland, the Fitzroy Basin Association Inc (FBA) funded a group of 20 interested locals to learn more about NFS practices from guru Peter Andrew at his property Tarwyn Park, in Bylong, New South Wales.
NSF is a rural landscape management technique aimed at restoring natural water cycles that allow the land to flourish despite drought conditions. It offers a low-cost, widely applicable method of reducing drought severity and boosting productivity on our farms and landscapes. The technique is based on ecological principles, low input requirements and natural cycling of water and nutrients to make the land more resilient.
FBA Business Development Manager Mike Bent said the four-day trip was designed to enable local landholders to witness the principles of NSF in action.
Landholders John and Nancy Kunze, who run cattle on just over 300 acres west of Gladstone, said participating in the trip had confirmed the value of NSF principles, and they could clearly see the benefits.
Mr Kunze said while he believes the principles are sound, he felt that clearer guidelines, or a basic model, were required to enable local land managers to apply NSF to different properties.
Mike Bent said FBA hoped to work with landholders who joined the trip in future to develop a locally-relevant set of guidelines on how NSF could be implemented in the region, as well as possibly establish demonstration sites.
For more information contact the Fitzroy Basin Association on 4999 2800 or email Media and Communications Coordinator Jody McDonald.
Soil information days underway!
The Department of Natural Resources and Water's (NRW) leading soil scientists Peter Muller and Peter Burger, will be providing detailed information on soil types at three meetings to be held in the Desert Channles Queensland region.
Peter Muller has over 20 years soils experience throughout Australia with a wealth of knowledge of soil types and their properties that affect pasture production in central Queensland. Peter Burger will be demonstrating run-off characteristics of different soil types and ground covers through in-field rainfall simulation.
The information days will run from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm with the first kicking off Wednesday 18 March, Muttaburra, followed by the second in Longreach, Thursday 19 March, and finally in Jericho on Friday 20 March. Landholders are welcome to bring samples of soil from their properties for specific information on soil types etc.
For more information please email Liaison Officer Colleen James or phone Desert Channels Queensland on 0428 580 998.
Free registration smoko and lunch provided.
This project is an initiative of Desert Channels Qld, funded by the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush Program and is partnered with the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
Bringing our Indigenous culture to the foreground
There has been more attention given to the Indigenous culture within the Mackay Whitsunday region thanks to a combined initiative between Reef Catchments, Marissa Deshong and Yuibera Traditional Owner Gary Mooney.
Reef Catchment’s Indigenous Project Officer Samarla Deshong said, “The surrounding areas along the coastline are rich in remnants of a culture which has survived from before pre-European contact.”
“We have the highest concentration of Stone Fish Traps along the central east coast of Queensland along with Shell Middens,” she said.
“A lot of these are situated in national parks; so we have been working together to monitor human impact, and have new interpretive signage to not only educate the many visitors that go on the walks and trails but to preserve and protect our Aboriginal history," Samarla Deshong said.
For more information email Project Officer, Aboriginal Culture Samarla Deshong or phone 4968 4213.
Grant to aid south-east farmers
Farmers in the Rathdowney area are set to benefit from SEQ Catchments south-east Queensland Sustainable Trees on Farms project, which has just been awarded a substantial grant from the Federal Government.
SEQ Catchments received the $106,500 Caring for our Country grant through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts.
Sustainable Trees on Farms aims to demonstrate to local farmers the benefits of integrating tree-growing into existing farming enterprises which include creating additional income streams, and an increase in overall production and profitability.
It is anticipated two demonstration sites will be established to showcase methods and practical aspects for sustainable management of trees on farms at Rathdowney and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
For more information on Caring for our Country grants visit the Australian Government—NRM webpage.Government updates
Thousands log on to access stream flow data during the big wet
More than 50,000 people have logged onto the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) website in the past month, to check river heights and flow information for waterways in Queensland.
NRW operates stream monitoring networks on rivers throughout Queensland, and this data is provided directly to the Bureau of Meteorology for flood warning purposes.
The Minister for the Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said NRW operates a statewide network of around 400 monitoring stations that collect, manage and deliver data on the quantity and quality of freshwater in Queensland's streams and aquifers.
"For example, residents can access the latest data from the Burdekin River at the Burdekin Falls Dam - which shows that by midnight last night the river had reached a daily volume of 1.2 million megalitres,” Mr Wallace said.
The data can be found on the NRW website.
Users can search by region, catchment, stream or water resource plan. Rainfall and water quality is also available at selected sites.PM and Premier activate fodder drops for NW flood areas
Fodder drops for flood-stricken stock in the north west will begin immediately under special Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) agreed today between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.
The Premier said, "Hotspots in the Croydon-Normanton Flood Zone - the lower reaches of the Norman, Flinders and Cloncurry River systems - are experiencing on-going flooding - and they will be our priority ."
The Prime Minister said, "Today's agreement will enable us to address the considerable animal welfare concerns caused by the severity of these floods."
Ms Bligh said that many towns remain isolated and floodwaters have damaged roads, boundary and internal fences and farm infrastructure across the region. However, the extent of this will be better known when floodwaters recede, but the need now is for targeted helicopter fodder drops for animal welfare reasons. On-going flooding means aircraft, fuel and fodder are needed to help feed flood-stricken stock
Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin last week announced that the State Government is offering concessional loans and freight subsidies to help primary producers recover from recent flooding in the North West.
Mr Mulherin said concessional loans of up to $250,000 at a current interest rate of 4% will greatly assist eligible primary producers with carry-on needs, stock replacement and essential repairs. The NDRRA have been activated to help primary producers in the Burke, Doomadgee, McKinlay, Carpentaria, Croydon and Etheridge local government areas.Planning for long-term recovery for Victorian farms
The Federal Government has announced that more than $5 million of uncommitted funding from Caring for our Country will be used to support bushfire recovery projects in Victoria.
In addition, NRM groups across Australia now have extra time to lodge investment proposals for 2009-10 under Caring for our Country.
Groups have an extra four weeks—to Friday 3 April 2009—to lodge proposals, which will assist those in both fire and flood-affected areas who may have difficulty completing the paperwork.
For the full story visit the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts media room.Jabiru Island sand mine to become a community reserve
A former Jabiru Island sand mine will become a new community park after the Gold Coast site was registered with the State Government as a reserve.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said the new 1.3 hectare reserve will provide more open space for the local community and will complement the existing 18 hectare Phil Hill Environmental Park on the island in the Coomera River near Paradise Point.
The state-owned site was previously leased for sand mining but is now registered as a reserve, with the Gold Coast City Council as the trustee.
“Grass and turf are being replanted at the site and what was previously off-limits and unusable land for visitors will be transformed into an ideal recreation spot – a real natural community asset for future generations to enjoy,” Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said the land transfer involved complex and lengthy negotiations which included the surrender of land and water leases.
For the full story visit NRW's media statements.
Cattle deaths prompt prussic acid risk warning
Prussic acid poisoning has been blamed for the death of 14 cattle that were grazing on moisture stressed forage sorghum regrowth at Gracemere on 7 & 8 February.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Biosecurity Queensland senior veterinary officer Dr David Pitt is warning Queensland stockowners to avoid grazing wilted or stressed forage sorghum if it is young and under one metre in height.
Symptoms to look out for in affected cattle include increased rate and depth of breathing, frothing at the mouth, muscular twitching, staggering, convulsions and coma before death.
Graziers should observe a few basic rules when managing sorghum fodder crops:
- don´t graze hungry stock, particularly if the crop is wilted or stressed, and fill them up with hay or roughage first to reduce their sorghum crop intake
- watch cattle for the first hour, and then check them twice daily
- supply the stock with a sulphur lick (10%), or provide access to molasses as sulphur is required in the diet to detoxify cyanide in the rumen and liver
- keep a supply of sodium thiosulphate (hypo solution) on hand as cattle can be saved if drenched with 56 grams in 500ml of water hourly until the animal recovers.
Dr Pitt said cutting and baling stressed forage for hay is not an option as prussic acid remains in the hay. Baling only relocates the problem from the paddock to the shed.
For more information visit the DPI&F website.
Wet weather closes tracks and floods campgrounds
Visitors to far north Queensland’s national parks and state forests should expect some track and campground closures due to rain damage and inundation.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Manager Wolf Sievers said many areas were still inaccessible and rangers would be out checking on damage over the coming weeks.
The Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk outside Innisfail has suffered damage to the ground-level track, and a large tree has come down across part of the elevated walkway. The walkway is still 90 per cent open and should be fully repaired shortly.
Lake Tinaroo is up and water is going over the spillway, which means the Danbulla State Forest campgrounds will be affected. Campers should pitch tents well back from the water in case levels rise further. Conditions will be soft, boggy and slippery.
Torrential rain and strong winds have been experienced in many areas and EPA staff have not been able to check the condition of all walking tracks. Walkers should ensure they are prepared for very wet conditions, fallen trees, and interrupted access at some parks and forests.
Check the EPA website to find out what tracks and campgrounds are open.
Water purchases open in the northern Murray-Darling Basin
A second round of water entitlement purchases in the northern Murray-Darling Basin has opened and will run until 30 June 2009.
Irrigators upstream of Menindee Lakes are again invited to submit offers to the Australian Government to sell their water entitlements.
It follows the first round of purchases in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, which closed on 19 December 2008 after attracting 263 applications. These applications are still being assessed, and the purchase amount will be publicised once trades are confirmed.
The new purchasing round is the next step in the Federal Government's commitment to allocate $400 million to water purchases in the northern Basin.
Detailed program guidelines are available at The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Art website.
Lend a helping hand on 'Clean Up Australia' Day at Byfield National Park
Residents and visitors are encouraged to don the gloves and clean up Byfield National Park on 'Clean Up Australia' Day, Sunday 1 March.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ranger in Charge Frank Mills said the clean up would be held from 8am until lunchtime, when a BBQ lunch would be provided.
Participants need to bring gloves, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water and insect repellent. Rangers will supply rubbish bags. The clean up will include Waterpark Creek and surrounds, access roads to the national park and coastal beaches.
Access to the national park is by 4WD, however, those who don’t have access to a 4WD can still collect rubbish around Waterpark Creek.
Volunteers are encouraged to register early via the Rockhampton EPA office on 4936 0511, or alternatively, on the day between 8 am and 11 am at Waterpark Creek Forest Park.
Visit the Get Involved page of the Clean Up website to find other activities in your area, or for more information on organising your own activity, visit the Clean Up website.
Controlled traffic opportunities for Lockyer Valley growers
Growers from Lockyer Valley recently attended a workshop in Gatton to evaluate the potential for adapting controlled traffic farming (CTF) systems for horticulture that could in turn improve vegetable production and farm returns.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Senior Extension Officer Julie O´Halloran said the workshop was an initial step to gauge interest in controlled traffic farming (CTF) for horticultural systems.
DPI&F has funds available through the Healthy Country FarmFLOW project to assist local growers who wish to identify options, and trial if CTF is suited to their horticulture enterprise.
Ms O´Halloran said CTF machinery operations could significantly reduce machinery and fuel costs, while improving soils, yields and better utilise rain and irrigation supplies.
Lockyer Valley farmers interested in finding out more about future CTF work in the region are asked to email Julie O’Halloran or phone 5466 2228.
Cash incentives for landholders
NatureAssist is a competitive market-based incentive scheme that is offering landholders throughout rural Queensland the opportunity to tender for financial assistance to help them sustainably manage their property.
Landholders may tender for any tangible, on-ground activity that contributes to the protection and management of the conservation values on their property. Past activities that have been funded through NatureAssist include:
- fencing to control stock access to creeks
- establishing alternative off-stream watering points for stock
- revegetating areas to stabilise soils and improve water quality
- identifying, protecting, and managing cultural heritage resources
- controlling weeds and pest animals.
NatureAssist is jointly resourced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW), through the Blueprint for the Bush initiative. The EPA is aiming to open the expression of interest period for round three in late February.
For more details please visit the EPA’s NatureAssist webpage.Rebates for rainwater tanks and greywater systems
Australian households will be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 each for the purchase of a rainwater tank or a greywater system under the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative to help save precious drinking water.
The National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative makes up part of the Australian Government’s $12.9 billion Water for the Future program, which aims to secure long-term water supplies.
Rebates are available for the purchase and installation of a new rainwater tank, which is connected for internal re-use of the water for toilet and/or laundry use, or the purchase and installation of a permanent greywater treatment system.
A $400 rebate is available for a 2 000-3 999 litre tank, and a $500 rebate is available for a tank greater than 4 000 litres.
The guidelines and application form for the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative are available from The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website or by calling 1800 808 571.
Reef updates
$500,000 Reef Rescue boost for coastal wetalnds
As part of the Reef Rescue initiative, under Caring for our Country, the Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett announced a $500,000 funding boost for wetlands along the Great Barrier Reef coast.
The Minister said Reef Rescue was helping NRM groups, government and non-government organisations, industry and farmers in the reef's catchment to work together to protect and improve local wetlands.
Wetlands in coastal catchments are vital to the health of the Great Barrier Reef and as many are situated on private land the Federal Government will continue to support landholders in managing wetland systems.
Other wetland activities funded by the Federal Government through Reef Rescue include projects in the Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Burnett Mary regions, delivered in partnership with peak agricultural industry groups and non-government organisations, such as Wetland Care Australia.
These projects are helping land managers to integrate wetland management activities into their farm management systems.
For further information go to the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country—Reef Rescue website.
Wetlands updates
Queenslanders swamped by new Wetlands Program products
A suite of products, including maps and wetlands rehabilitation guides to further protect the future of the state’s wetlands, have been released by the Queensland Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara to celebrate World Wetlands Day.
The Queensland Government has invested $6 million in mapping wetlands and is the first state in Australia to achieve this on such a large scale, mapping 173 million hectares of land. Queenslanders now have access to information on all of the state’s 140,000 wetlands.
Another key part of the suite of wetlands products is the rehabilitation guide, which is designed to help the community better manage wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. The guidelines have detailed information on how to plan and carry out wetland rehabilitation and manage any threats to wetland health.
The products were delivered through the Queensland Wetlands Program as part of a $23 million commitment by the Queensland and Australian Governments to protect and restore wetlands. The rehabilitation guidelines were prepared on behalf of the Queensland Wetlands Program by WetlandCare Australia, a not-for-profit non-government organisation dedicated to supporting the community to protect and repair wetlands.
For more information visit the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website or alternatively, visit EPA's WetlandInfo webpage.
Natural resources news
Riverprize 2009 now open for nominations
Community groups, catchment authorities and individuals working on restoration of rivers, lakes and wetlands across Australia and around the world are invited to submit their applications for International Riverfoundation’s prestigious Riverprize.
Entries close at 5pm AEST on 30 April 2009.
Australian river and catchment management groups may enter both the national and international categories. International groups are only eligible for the international award. Previous entrants are encouraged to apply again.
Information and nomination guidelines for the 2009 Riverprize are available from International Riverfoundation's website.
One stop for natural resources information in the Burnett
A trailer funded by the North Burnett Regional Council and the Bundaberg Regional Council will take the message of both councils on the road when it tours agricultural shows, fair days and other community events throughout Central Queensland.
North Burnett Regional Council NRM officer Lee Dorahy said the trailer will be stocked full of leaflets and information pamphlets about NRM.
As well as the printed information, the trailer also holds a small television so groups can watch informative DVDs.The trailer was launched at the Healthy Habitat Wildlife workshops at Paradise Dam recently, with representatives from both councils and NRM groups, including Burnett Mary Regional Group, on hand to inspect the plentiful information on offer.
More information can be found by phoning the North Burnett Regional Council on 1300 696 272, or the Bundaberg Regional Council on 1300 883 699.
Call to help Queensland's threatened animals and ecosystems
CSIRO Publishing are producing a comprehensive and practical guide to Queensland’s threatened animals and ecosystems, including a two-volume book set with CDs and a supporting website.
The editorial team are currently seeking Landcare groups to be featured in the upcoming books and website due to be released August 2009.
The goal of the project is to provide vital information and resources that are easily accessible to a variety of NRM stakeholders, as well as assist philanthropic foundations and other recovery efforts to identify potential recipient species and ecosystems.
Interested Landcare groups, or CSIRO partners, are encouraged to submit information on any projects they are currently undertaking, or plan to carry out in the future, that have anything to do with Queensland’s threatened species.
A short questionnaire will be sent to groups that express interest in having their work featured in the resource guides and the answers will appear in the book, CD, and on the website. Featured groups will then be contacted periodically for any updates to their information.
Please email expressions of interest to the Queensland CSIRO Publishing Project Coordinator Lee Curtis or phone 4095 3155 for more information.Grants program for our junior landcarers
Under the Junior Landcare Grants Program, any school or organisation that would like to involve their students in landcare projects, in conjunction with local landcare groups, can apply for grants to assist them with the cost of their projects.
The program targets major issues relevant to our natural environment including:
- water quality
- waste reduction
- school gardens
- biodiversity & land.
These grants are issued on a quarterly basis, with the next round of applications due on 6 March 2009.
For more information or to download an application form visit the Landcare Australia website or contact Sarah Harris on (03) 9662 9977
Documenting Queensland’s conservation heritage
Queensland’s peak conservation organisation, Queensland Conservation turns 40 this year and will mark the occasion with an innovative oral history project to document the state’s diverse conservation heritage.
The project, funded through Q150, will capture and exhibit stories, photographs, maps and documents related to Queensland’s conservation leaders, campaigns and organisations.
Members of the public, NRM organisations, volunteers and public servants are welcome to participate in the project by contributing stories, photographs and historical documents.
The organisation is also calling for expressions of interest from experienced and passionate historians, or history enthusiasts, to manage the data capture and exhibition components of the project. A budget is available for wages and expenses.
Applications should be submitted no later than Tuesday 10 March by emailing Project Coordinator, Samantha Morris.
For more information on the project or the available position contact Samantha at Wombat Creative on 5538 5109.
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: Powerlink GreenWorks (community and environmental program)
Title: Program Manager, Powerlink GreenWorks
Tenure:Temporary part-time, four-year appointment
Salary range: Attractive salary package commensurate with level of experience
Location: Southern Queensland
Contact: Phone Kiara Bowles on 3866 1385 or visit the Powerlink website
Closing date: COB Friday 6 March 2009
Thought for the week
The more you say, the less people remember.
François Fénelon
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© The State of Queensland 2009.
Last updated 19 March 2009