The Bugle - 17 April 2009
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories- Kalkie students win prize for protecting the Great Barrier Reef
- Award winning innovators share success
- QMDC meets with St George
- New home in Beaudesert for SEQ Catchments
- Soils are big news in the west
- Comments sought on the future of conservation
- New biosecurity vet is up to the challenge
- Celebrating the bridge over the river Mulgrave
- Winds of climate change for gassy cows
- Easy to find Queensland wetlands legislation or planning instruments
- Fishway team unlocks waterways in Queensland
- Sowing the seeds of success
- Time is running out to honour Healthy Waterways heroes
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Kalkie students win prize for protecting the Great Barrier Reef
Its’ been a big week for Kalkie State School, who won a cash prize of $1250 and were recognised with a certificate from the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) as well, for their efforts to help the Great Barrier Reef.
BMRG Chairman Russell Stewart said the prize under the Reef Guardian program recognised the hard work and commitment of Kalkie School during 2008 as one of the three best schools in the region.
The Reef Guardian program involves the whole school - staff, parents and most importantly, the students. The Kalkie School projects demonstrate their commitment to looking after the special areas of coral reef in the region for future generations.
Projects under the Reef Guardian program include incorporation of reef education units into the curriculum: conserving energy by turning off fans and lights in classrooms; checking water taps to ensure water is not wasted by leaking or dripping taps; propagating seedlings for the garden; operating a worm farm; reusing green waste as mulch on the garden; using compost bins for food scraps and picking up litter in the school grounds to ensure it doesn’t go down the drain and out to sea.
The cash prize was presented at a school parade by representatives of the BMRG and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
For further information visit the BMRG website or call 4812999 ext 205.
Award winning innovators share success
Producers from around the central west have a great opportunity to benefit from the experiences of the award winning Blackall BestPrac Group at the inaugural Blackall Innovations Forum in late April.
Blackall BestPrac Group member, Jack Banks said winning the Rabobank Agribusiness award for Most Outstanding Innovation at the Nissan Central West Excellence Awards, acknowledged the dedication of members to improve their industry and their achievements over a number of years.
The group won the award for their ability to work together, embrace new ideas and seek the most profitable and sustainable business practices.
The Blackall Innovations Forum will be held on 21 April and bring together a group of graziers with proven innovations to share experiences and showcase new technologies and management techniques to other graziers, including:
William Harrington – solar powered remote monitoring system enables graziers to check water on a property from anywhere in the world.
Steve Hussen – ‘world first’ e-sheep system developed by Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centres Association (CRC) to draft animals based on weight, age, sex or wool quality using automated gates, without the grazier leaving the house.
Simon and Christine Campbell – satellite photos to write the annual quantative feed budget, using satellite pasture monitoring and qualitative issues for feed budgeting.
Rick and Jenny Keogh – quantitative genetic selection balanced by stringent visual assessment to produce merino sheep for western Queensland. They also had some success controlling wild dogs along with 17 other properties in the Blackwater Dingo Trust.
Natalie and Glen Williams – implemented a development and change of management plan during the past 5 years, which resulted in healthier land and pasture able to carry more stock for longer, turning some fairly average forest country into a high quality resource.
During the day the Director of OBE Beef Pty Ltd and OBE Lamb Pty Ltd, Peter Schmidt will be available to answer questions in his capacity as a scientist, drought unit advisor and author, particularly to people interested in learning more about Organic certification.
The Blackall Innovations Forum is an initiative of the Blackall BestPrac Group Inc, Grazing BestPrac and Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) and is made possible by a Woolworths Landcare Grant and the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush program.
For further information visit the DCQ website or email Colleen James.
QMDC meets with St George
Tackling pest and weed issues through to improving on-farm water efficiency is all part of the broad range of NRM work carried out by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee’s (QMDC) operations in the St George area.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Chief Executive Officer Geoff Penton said they hold several meetings each year to provide member organisations with an opportunity for direct contact between QMDC executive and the local community to help build policies and develop future direction.
Several topics were covered in St George in early April including: the sub-catchment planning activities in the Maranoa-Balonne, QMDC’s work with landholders to fund private parthenium wash-down facilities, the Carp Buster 2009 Series and the imminent release of a salinity technical report for community consultation.
Mr Penton said the salinity report, based in part on the technical assessments funded by the Bureau of Resource Sciences in 2006-07 of the lower Balonne, would be released to the public in a few months.
The report identifies key areas at risk of salinity and possible management options to avoid salinity developing.
Another major focus for QMDC into the future will be water-use efficiency. In early March QMDC released an independent technical report outlining the positive opportunities for agriculture, regional communities and the environment available through large scale water-use efficiency measures. A massive potential for water-use efficiency programs was identified to minimise the social and economic impacts as irrigators are faced with reduced access to water in the future.
It is estimated up to 200 gigalitres of water can be saved through $200 million worth of investment in best management practice across the QMDC’s irrigation areas as part of a proposed six-year plan. QMDC’s aim was to support continued productive agriculture within the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin while also meeting environmental outcomes and increasing the social and economic viability of the region’s communities.
The proposed project had the potential to enhance food production, increase environmental flows and downstream river benefits, sustain rural communities, generate real jobs in the region and reduce salinity risks in priority areas. River health could also be boosted through specific projects that control aquatic pests and weeds, protecting riparian areas and promoting fish.
For further information visit the QMDC website.
New home in Beaudesert for SEQ Catchments
The SEQ Catchments team has recently moved to a new home in the centre of the Beaudesert township with a more visible presence to the local community and upgraded facilities to more easily host community groups and in-house training sessions.
Logan and Albert Community Partnership (LACP) manager Steve Lyngcoln, said the previous office at the showgrounds was proving a little cramped. This is the first time they have had an office able to host members of the community instead of having to hire a hall.
Working alongside Steve in the new office at Post Office Square, 115 Brisbane Street, Beaudesert are the LACP project coordinator, Brad Rickard, and regional community water quality monitoring manager, Joadie Hardy.
One of SEQ Catchments roles is as an eco-broker to generate business investment in tangible, community driven programs that produce mutually beneficial corporate, social and environmental outcomes.
The organisation targets these investment funds according to ‘protect, manage and restore’ principles to safeguard pristine areas, preserve areas of existing natural values, or rehabilitate degraded areas. They invest in projects that achieve multiple benefits across the landscape and a range of natural assets while taking advantage of localised interest, innovation, action and investment.
For further information email Anthony Hill or call 3503 1425.
Soils are big news in the west
For the first time in the west more than 70 local landholders had the opportunity to gain expert advice on the issues, limitations and benefits of particular soil types at three soil information days hosted by Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ).
DCQ Industry liaison officer Colleen James said a knowledge gap in relation to soil and pastoral production was recognised after speaking to landholders. By bringing experts out to the region, DCQ aimed to provide the most up-to-date information on how soil type and health can affect production.
All members of landholder-based community groups with an interest in production were invited to the events which offered a unique opportunity to gain information that isn’t often available locally.
Soil information days were held at Kenya Station in Muttaburra; Bandon Grove in Longreach and Ightham Station in Jericho.
Presenters included Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management’s (DERM) leading soil scientist Peter Muller. Peter provided detailed information on soil types at each location and took core samples of over a metre deep at selected sites.
Pasture agronomist and specialist in managing soil health Ray O’Grady shared his knowledge of soil carbon and methods of improving carbon cycling. His presentation drew on his experience with innovative landholders to implement regenerative land management techniques that enhance biodiversity, increase biological activity, sequester carbon, activate soil nutrient cycles, restore water balance, improve productivity and create new topsoil.
Participants also headed out into the field with DERM’s Scientist Peter Burger who demonstrated run-off characteristics of different soil types and ground covers through an in-field rainfall simulation. The highlight of the day was the rainfall simulator.
Attendees asked lots of questions and were thrilled to have such great expertise and experience as well as the opportunity to have their own soil samples, tested on the day.
For further information visit the DCQ website.
Government updates
Comments sought on the future of conservation
The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, on behalf of the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments, is encouraging community comment on the recently released draft Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2020.
The consultation draft has been developed collaboratively by all levels of government with advice from both the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology.
An important national policy document, the aim of the strategy is to guide how governments, community, industry and scientists manage and protect Australia’s plants, animals and ecosystems over the next 10 years.
This is particularly critical in the face of threats to the environment from climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation and invasive species.
The draft strategy sets out six priorities for change: building ecosystem resilience, mainstreaming biodiversity, knowledge for all, getting results, involving Indigenous people and measuring success.
Public information sessions are being held around the country between 30 March and 30 April as part of the consultation process. The closing date for submissions is 29 May 2009.
The revised draft has been developed to replace the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, agreed in 1996.
For further information on the draftstrategy or public consultation sessions visit the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website
or call 1800 990 192.
New biosecurity vet is up to the challenge
A new veterinary officer, keen to hone her skills in managing the risk of disease outbreaks such as avian influenza, has recently been appointed by Biosecurity Queensland.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said Dr Amy Burroughs will be based in Rockhampton and work in Central Queensland to further develop her skills in emergency animal disease preparedness.
Dr Burroughs has an interest in zoonotic diseases – animal diseases that can spread to humans – like the Hendra virus. Dr Burroughs has an interest in emergency disease response capability and is keen to develop a better understanding of animal disease prevalence and disease management requirements in central and western Queensland.
Dr Burroughs will work with senior veterinary officers Dr Rick Whittle and Dr David Pitt, two of Primary Industries and Fisheries most experienced veterinarians within the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.
Dr Burroughs said it provides a valuable opportunity to draw on Dr Whittle's 29 years of experience as a principal veterinary scientist, a major role in overseeing Queensland's Animal Health Surveillance program. She will also work with the region's Biosecurity officers and private vets to build support and communication networks to improve disease investigation capability.
Dr Burroughs previously worked in the Northern Territory with vets and stock inspectors and plans to focus her career on livestock production industries.
For the full media release visit the media statement website.
Celebrating the bridge over the river Mulgrave
The Gordonvale community in North Queensland had the opportunity to walk across the new Mulgrave River Bridge earlier this month to commemorate its completion.
Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace, Federal Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour and State Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt attended the community fun day which included a range of free activities for the whole family.
Representing the Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Mr Turnour said this vital piece of infrastructure was delivered months ahead of schedule to improve flood immunity and accessibility between Cairns and Townsville.
Several activities were organised by the Department of Transport and Main Roads with support from bridge contractor BMD Albem Joint Venture including primary school bridge-building and poetry competitions. The competition winners led the way across the bridge in a vintage car.
The community fun day was an opportunity for the public to experience the bridge up close and gain a unique, first-hand perspective of their new $48 million bridge.
The Mulgrave River Bridge is 480-metres-long, five metres higher than the existing bridge and located on a better road alignment, about 30 metres upstream from the existing highway. Open to traffic next month, it will reduce the duration of closures in the wet season, caused by flooding.
For further information visit the media statement website.Winds of climate change for gassy cows
Livestock ‘burp’ serious quantities of methane which contributes up to 14 per cent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions which affects the earth's temperature and climate system.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin recently announced his department and the University of Queensland were successful in obtaining three of the Federal Government's 18 emission reduction projects, aimed at minimising methane emissions belched out by cattle and sheep.
Almost one million dollars has been allocated to these projects, which aim to be completed in the next three years. Primary Industries and Fisheries senior principal research scientist and UQ associate professor in animal nutrition Dr Athol Klieve leads the projects.
Dr Klieve said one project will focus on using viruses that attack methane-producing microbes in the gut of cattle and sheep. The team are sure these viruses exist but still have to isolate them.
Another project will investigate boosting livestock feed by adding lipids (oils). Improving feed quality with lipids automatically improves the condition of the animal and cuts the amount of methane produced. It also reduces the organisms in the gut that produce methane.
The third project will investigate the value of microbes that turn the methane in the gut back into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
For the full media release visit the media statement website or call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.Reef updates
Amazing discovery unearthed by deep-sea mapping
A rugged underwater landscape along the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef has recently been discovered using deep-sea mapping technology by scientists from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, in collaboration with other government agencies.
James Cook University Marine Geologist Dr Robin Beaman said a program of deep-sea mapping had been conducted using advanced echo-sounder technology over the past few years.
Deep-sea mapping has uncovered some amazing landscapes which look similar to many of the ridges and gullies that drain the highlands of Queensland. More than one kilometre deep, huge undersea landslides have left scars and slump deposits on the abyssal seafloor which border the Great Barrier Reef shelf. Sediment cores recovered from the base of these canyons have revealed they are the conduits for shallow coral rubble to be transported into the deep basin.
An area in the Coral Sea offshore from Cairns holds a cluster of huge blocks which have been colonised by cold water corals. These corals are very different to their shallow-water cousins as they not only exist in perpetual darkness, but also under incredible pressure.
Dr Beaman also said that offshore from Townsville the continental slope becomes gentler in gradient and the canyons begin to disappear. The upper continental slope holds a veneer of live algae and extensive soft corals.
It is hoped these exciting discoveries and the detailed 3-D maps will be used to target future research projects and be used by marine park managers to better understand the diversity of seascapes under the Great Barrier Reef.
The surveys were funded by the Marine National Facility and the National Geographic Society.
For further information about deep-sea mapping visit the James Cook University website.
Wetlands updates
Easy to find Queensland wetlands legislation or planning instruments
The Queensland Wetlands Program has developed an electronic toolbox to navigate around the range of policies and legislation relating to wetlands in Queensland. The toolbox was developed at the request of stakeholders who identified the need as a key to addressing wetlands management in the state.
The Wetlands Planning and Legislation Toolbox enables people to customise searches for relevant legislation, policies and planning instruments.
It guides people through a series of check boxes to search by any combination of criteria including: geographic location, wetland system, tenure and management situation.
A concise summary of search results links the user to appropriate policies and legislation, responsible agencies and related information. Furthermore the toolbox is underpinned by a database which can be updated as new legislation or policies come on line – keeping information current.
The Wetlands Planning and Legislation Toolbox should not be treated as a substitute for expert legal advice.
The Queensland Wetlands Program is a joint initiative of the Queensland and Australian governments to protect and restore wetlands across the state.
For further information visit the Wetlandinfo website.
Fishway team unlocks waterways in Queensland
Barramundi, mangrove jack and mullet are among the 70 native fish species that have benefited from the construction of 20 fishways on central and north Queensland streams and wetlands in the past year.
Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation senior fisheries biologist Tim Marsden, based in Mackay, leads the Northern Fish Community and Fishway Monitoring team.
Over the past 10 years the team has made huge advances in the design, construction and monitoring of fishways to promote fish habitat rehabilitation and increase fish communities, opening up hundreds of kilometres of fish habitat previously blocked by man-made barriers.
New design experiments trialled low cost technology culminating in Australia's first successful construction of a pre-cast concrete cone fishway. The first one, installed on Flaggy Rock Creek weir, opened up 50km of fish habitat and was one of 10 fishways successfully completed under the Mackay-Whitsunday fish passage restoration program funded by Reef Catchments.
Recent sampling of the fishway has highlighted the success of the design, with a large number of fish successfully accessing habitat upstream that was previously blocked by the presence of the weir.
The team plans to construct fishways throughout eastern and northern Queensland, including the Gulf, Burdekin, Whitsunday and Fitzroy areas in the near future. Thousands of kilometres of river habitat will be opened up to fish, assisting in the long term sustainability of fish communities.
The most recent fishways have been built in the Mackay Whitsundays Region (funded by Reef Catchments), Burdekin Catchment (funded by NQ Dry Tropics NRM) and in the Gulf of Carpentaria (funded by Southern Gulf Catchments).
For the full media release visit the media statement website.
Natural resources news
Sowing the seeds of success
As the world grapples with a financial meltdown and dark clouds envelop many industries, a Walkamin nursery is shining as a beacon of optimism as it embarks on an exciting venture into the United States of America (US).
Yuruga native plant nursery, owned for 30 years by Peter and Ann Radke, is breaking new ground in the hybrid plant and propagation industry and is on the brink of cracking the massive US market.
More than 1000 species of native plants from the bush, never before grown out of their natural environment, have been propagated by the nursery. The nursery is also mass producing trees for forestry and agricultural use through tissue culture and cutting. The Radkes’ Clonal Solutions business specialises in mass propagation work in their newly built tissue culture laboratory.
Nurseries all over Australia use cuttings as a method of propagation – tissue culture is a science still based on cuttings but in a sterile environment. Tissue culture is used for plants that will not take from cuttings or are slow growing.
Yuruga was recently granted the exclusive production and marketing rights for Saltgrow a eucalypt hybrid which produces a good quality timber and bred for salty soils and low rainfall areas. More than one million Saltgrow plants were produced between 2000-2004.
These trees produce fantastic timber and over a period of three or four years can help drop the water table and lower the salt in the ground. Over time other crops can be grown in the ground, making the land valuable again.
The huge US market beckons, and as its not possible to export cuttings to the US, tissue culture to propagate the plants provides an excellent export opportunity for this Queensland based enterprise.
Sourced from the Tablelands AdvertiserTime is running out to honour Healthy Waterways heroes
The annual Healthy Waterways Awards are open for a short while longer. The awards recognise the outstanding contribution of groups and individuals working to improve the health of South East Queensland’s waterways and catchments. Entries close on 22 April, so get your entry in today.
South East Queensland Healthy Waterways partnership director Di Tarte said the growing public interest in the nine year old Healthy Waterways Awards, reflected the critical focus on the condition of Queensland’s waterways.
The Awards aim to encourage communities, government, industry and individuals to implement programs which will help maintain and improve the quality of waterways in Queensland. This year award entries can be made online, making entry even simpler.
The prize money is not only a valuable injection for the winner’s projects, but the Awards are recognition for hours of hard work and provide a marvellous boost for morale.
A total of $22,000 in prize money is available, with the individual category winners each receiving a cheque for $1500 and a Healthy Waterways trophy. The category winner deemed to be the most innovative by an independent judging panel will be awarded the $10,000 Minister’s Grand Prize.
Last year’s winner of the Minister’s Grand Prize, Noeleen Rowntree of Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre, was delighted to be the recipient of the Award and was appreciative of the recognition for their centre. She said the Awards win supported and promoted all the great efforts of so many people who work selflessly to improve the health of waterways.
Entries close on 22 April with winners announced on 20 May 2009.
For further information or to enter the 2009 Healthy Waterways Awards visit the Healthy Waterways website or call on 3403 9427.
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: Technigro
Title: Project Officer, Natural Areas
The role of the Project Officer will focus on the continued growth of our Natural Areas business through the ongoing development of our Natural Areas teams and the strong working relationships we have with our clients and industry partners. This position will be based on the Gold Coast.
Preferred qualifications and experience required:* Current 'C' class driver's license is essential.
* Relevant academic qualifications in the fields of Environmental or NRM.
* Relevant expertise in the fields of Environmental or NRM gained through industry experience.
* ACDC license.
* Construction Blue Card.
* Current Senior First Aid & CPR certificates.
Salary range: $45k-55k + Super + Bonuses + Professional Development
Location: Gold Coast based, Queensland
Contact: Please forward CV to Lucy Clark: lucy@technigro.com.au
Closing date: 4 May, 2009.
Thought for the week
Everyone has inside him a piece of good news.
The good news is that you don't know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish and what your potential is!
Anne Frank
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We welcome your contributions and feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions for The Bugle please contact Carl Glen or Ruthie Adams.
The Bugle is a weekly newsletter published by Catchment Programs, the Department of Natural Resources and Water, highlighting regional NRM activities around Queensland.
Last updated 24 April 2009