The Bugle - 8 May 2009
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories
- Australia’s ‘cane toad brains trust’ sets its sites on pest
- Spotting weeds out west
- Students learn valuable NRM tips during visit to Goondiwindi
- Uni comes to Longreach
- Anglers haul in a mixed bag at Goondiwindi competition
- Reef rescued by agreement
- Learn how to write a winning grant
- Water quality improvement plan comments sought by BMRG
Government updates
- Rare opportunity for community to join high profile advisory council
- New deadline for exit grant is available to irrigators
- Damaged walking tracks in national parks are under repair
- Squeezing out the rabbits is a numbers game
- Fertiliser-free cane crops may be environmentally friendly
Reef updates
- School kids praised for protecting reef from climate change
- Rangers learn to rapidly access reef health
Natural resources news
- Fishers catching onto new Moreton Bay green zones
- ‘Temperamental’ humans and cows may share same genes
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Australia’s ‘cane toad brains trust’ sets its sites on pest
A forum touted as a meeting of 'Australia's cane toad brains trust' was held in Longreach in late April to share information and discuss the future of cane toad management as the pest invades further into the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB).
The cane toad forum attracted more than 20 experts from across Australia who collectively boast a long history and experience with ecology, biology, conservation, NRM and pest management.
The forum provided a valuable opportunity to share information and discuss future directions for cane toad management in the LEB with presentations looking at current and past research relevant to arid toad ecology and dispersal, trapping strategies and existing cane toad management programs.
Presenters included Australia’s leading frog expert Associate Professor Mike Tyler from Adelaide University, Professor Ross Alford and Associate Professor Lin Schwarzkopf from the School of Marine and Tropical Biology at James Cook University, and Professor Rick Shine, Professor in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Sydney and Federation Fellow of the Australian Research Council. The forum also featured presentations from state government agency representatives, the Queensland Frog Society, South Australian Arid Lands NRM (SAALNRM), and Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ).
The forum was co-hosted by SAALNRM and DCQ.
For further information visit the DCQ website.
Spotting weeds out west
Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) is conducting weed spotters workshops around their region from March through to June. The one day workshops are hosted by DCQ with Brisbane-based Queensland Herbarium Botanist Wayne Harris.
More than 30 people have attended four weed spotters workshops so far, three were held in Winton and one in Kynuna. The workshops provide background information about weeds in the region and provide skills in how to control them. The workshops also demonstrated how to collect and prepare weeds for identification, including tips on packing them safely and hygienically into a plant press.
Through these workshops DCQ is able to better inform the community about weed issues and help develop skills not widely available previously in the region. It also provides an opportunity for participants to talk about their experiences with weeds and control methods on their properties.
Attendees gain skills in how to identify problem plants when they are working or driving along the road. More people will be able to spot weeds and know how to deal with them, which will provide DCQ with more eyes looking for the weed menace in their region.
Future weed spotting workshops are planned in other towns including: Emerald, Jundah, Eromanga, Longreach, Tambo, Alpha, Barcaldine, Isisford, Muttaburra and Boulia. Overall DCQ expects at least 200 people to attend the field days.
For further information on the Weed Spotters Workshops visit the DCQ website.
Students learn valuable NRM tips during visit to Goondiwindi
The value of landscape scale NRM was the key message delivered to more than 20 university students during a tour of the Goondiwindi region last week.
Third-year Environmental Management and Agricultural Science students from the University of Queensland (UQ) took part in a three-day field trip to examine real life examples of landscape scale management of natural resources.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) Catchment Coordinator Julia Telford said staff spoke about salinity, biodiversity monitoring, weeds and pests, water and cultural heritage conservation which were just some of the issues the organisation worked in partnership with landholders to manage at a landscape scale.
MsTelford says, QMDC working together with landholders and community groups can make the difference on the ground and achieve change across the catchment. But without those partnerships, it would be very difficult to manage the natural resources of their region effectively.
“QMDC staff understand the importance of such field trips to develop the students’ knowledge and awareness of on-ground activities, and the value of the partnerships formed through these events,” Ms Telford said.
UQ unit coordinator Carl Smith said it was important students got a feel for the real-life catchment-scale problems and discussed how they might be managed. It was instilled into the students that many NRM problems cannot be effectively managed unless tackled at a catchment or landscape scale, with coordinated action among stakeholders.
The students travelled from Inglewood to Goondiwindi and Nindigully for the tour and they will use the information gained to better equip them for their journey into NRM and environmental employment fields in the future.
For further information visit the QMDC website.
Uni comes to Longreach
School was in at Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) recently when it partnered with Rangelands Australia to host the graduate diploma course, Sustainable Rangeland Production Systems and Regions in Longreach.
The course attracted a diverse range of students – from producers and government agencies, through to local government and regional body officers – coming from as far away as Charleville and included a visiting overseas student from Oman.
Rangelands Australia, part of the University of Queensland (UQ), provides remote training in rangelands management across the outback of Australia. Professor John Taylor said the Rangelands course is about taking education to the people in the Rangelands to improve accessibility to relevant education while also accommodating students’ commitments, such as work and family, and finally, minimising the cost of education.
Professor Taylor said the Rangelands course is unique as it offers recognition for prior learning, so students with little or no formal qualifications have a good chance to gain entry if they can demonstrate a solid background in land management.
The structure of the course includes group work, short presentations and helps students find confidence in their own knowledge and insights. It also strengthens relationships with other participants, so they not only learn from the lecturer and the materials provided, but also from each other.
UQ aims to offer more courses in the future and encourages anyone interested to contact Rangelands Australia.
DCQ recognises the value of delivering practical courses in land management at the university level either through remote learning or local face-to-face courses which have been recognised by both government and industry.
For further information visit the DCQ website.
Anglers haul in a mixed bag at Goondiwindi competition
The importance of continuing efforts to control riverine pests was highlighted at the Goondiwindi leg of the Carp Buster 2009 fishing competition in late April.
As well as the European carp caught during the weekend event hosted by the Goondiwindi Fishing Club, one angler also hooked a 250mm goldfish, demonstrating the ability of any species to both survive and thrive in the region’s waterways.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) Weed and Pest Animal Technical Officer Lavinnia Fiedler said it’s really important people don’t simply dispose of unwanted pets into our rivers and ensure their backyard ponds cannot discharge into waterways.
The large goldfish was very capable of breeding and was one of a number of wild goldfish and hybrids caught during the Goondiwindi Carp Buster event. Goldfish come from the same family as carp and escaped into waterways from ornamental aquaculture stocks.
The anglers also caught carp ready for breeding. One female carp caught was carrying 500 grams of eggs; just under a quarter of her total body weight. Female carp may produce more than one million eggs each year which they normally shed on fibrous plant material in spring to early summer, during which time they can spawn several times.
Carp Buster Coordinator Nikki Pilcher said the event at Goondiwindi attracted 199 anglers who caught 256 carp during the two days, weighing in at more than 300kg.
The six fishing clubs involved in the 2009 Carp Buster Series are offering a prize pool of $3000 with points awarded for the number of carp caught as well as the number of events entered. Two more events have already been held in Surat and Thallon.
The remaining dates for the 2009 series are:
- Mungindi Carp Buster – August 22-23
- St George Carp Buster – September 26-27
- Dirranbandi Carp Buster – October 17-18.
For further information contact Nikki Pilcher on 0428 981 224.
Reef rescued by agreement
NQ Dry Tropics regional body has recently formalised 53 landholder agreements relating to sugar, totalling more than one million dollars and covering over 11,000 hectares of land under the Australian Government's Reef Rescue program.
Around 30 expressions of interest were received for the grazing component of Reef Rescue.
Many of the horticultural projects are underway with 27 landholders accepting funding of almost $440,000. Some of the improved practices adopted involve changes to nutrient and pesticide application methods, alternative irrigation systems and adoption of precision in-crop operations.
Nine expressions of interest were received for wetlands and types of work will include: fencing for improved stock management to increase groundcover and to better control ponded pasture species; weed management to improve the function of the wetland; and the design of a constructed wetland for improved trapping of nutrients and pesticides.
NQ Dry Tropics has submitted a proposal to the Australian Government to build on these achievements under Reef Rescue from 2010 to 2012.
For further information visit the NQ Dry Tropics website.
Learn how to write a winning grant
NQ Dry Tropics is running a training course for project staff and volunteers from community NRM groups who have an interest in the topic, writing winning grants.
The course will be delivered by the Australian Institute of Community Practice and Governance in two north Queensland centres during May.
There is no charge for NQ Dry Tropics community NRM members to attend these courses.
NQ Dry Tropics advise that the course will run in Charters Towers on 21 May at the Primary Industries and Fisheries office (MacPherson Street) and in Townsville on 22 May at the Metropole Hotel conference room.
Bookings need to be made through NQ Dry Tropics by 20 May 2009.
For further information email Peter Arthofer.
Water quality improvement plan comments sought by BMRG
The Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) is releasing three draft Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIP) for feedback, after three years of planning.
Together, the three draft plans cover the majority of waterways in the Burnett Mary region. The WQIPs cover the following catchments:
- Burnett Baffle WQIP– Baffle Basin, Burnett and Elliott
- Burrum WQIP – Burrum, Isis, Gregory and Cherwell
- Mary WQIP – Mary
A WQIP describes current condition and water quality issues / sources of pollutants (such as sediments, nutrients and pesticides), sets realistic water quality targets and outlines how these will be achieved.
The draft Burnett/Baffle Water Quality Improvement Plan was developed by BMRG in consultation with its stakeholders. It contains the environmental values identified by the community during public meetings throughout the catchments which were collected in a process undertaken jointly by BMRG and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). A report on the outcomes of the workshop, as well as other supporting documents for the Burnett/Baffle WQIP, is available on the website.
The draft Burrum WQIP was developed by Wide Bay Water Corporation in partnership with the BMRG and the draft Mary WQIP was developed by the BMRG. These plans are based on the environmental values and water Quality objectives that were scheduled for these catchments by the DERM in 2007 under the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy.
BMRG is seeking input and advice from the community and key stakeholders by close of business 29 May and intend to release the final WQIP’s later this year.
For further information, to view the draft plans, see supporting documents for the draft Burnett/Baffle Water Quality Improvement Plan or a feedback form, visit the BMRG website.
To request a copy of the CD phone 4181 2999.
Government updates
Rare opportunity for community to join high profile advisory council
The Ministerial Advisory Council for Biosecurity Queensland (BQMAC) is requesting advisors from the community to join them and provide valuable insights.
Members of the community are encouraged to tackle this first ever opportunity and have a say in the future of Queensland’s biosecurity, however applications close on 29 May.
Biosecurity Queensland’s role is to coordinate efforts to prevent, respond to, and recover from pests and diseases threatening the state's economy and environment.
BQMAC will provide independent advice on the strategic direction, priorities and balance of effort for biosecurity in Queensland. They will also assist government to identify new and emerging pests and diseases.
BQMAC will have an independent Chair and membership will include nine nominees from stakeholder groups including primary industries, conservation, seafood, local government, indigenous, parks and animal welfare groups.
Nominations are also being sought for the position of Chair and for four positions with expertise in communication, education, agribusiness, science, food safety, transport, tourism, community interests or human health.
For application forms and details visit the website at Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries website or phone 13 25 23.
New deadline for exit grant is available to irrigators
More irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin can apply for the Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package under revised guidelines announced recently.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong said the revised guidelines reflect the changes approved by Parliament during negotiations over the Australian Government's economic stimulus package in February.
Under the revisions, the package has been extended to irrigators with farms between 15 and 40 hectares.
To be eligible an irrigator needs to comply with one of the below requirements:
- on 20 September 2008, ownership of up to 15 hectares of farm land and at least 10 megalitres of tradeable water entitlements
- on 13 February 2009, ownership of more than 15 hectares and up to 40 hectares of farmland and at least 10 megalitres of tradeable water entitlements.
Irrigators must sell all their water entitlements to the Australian Government to be eligible for the package. The expansion of the Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package provides increased opportunities for irrigators to exit the industry while remaining in their own homes and communities.
The package comprises of an Irrigation Exit Grant of up to $150,000, up to $10,000 for advice and re-training, and up to $20,000 to help remove permanent plantings and production-related infrastructure. However, application forms must be lodged with Centrelink by 30 June.
For further information visit the Australian Government Environment website or telephone 1800 218 478 or contact Centrelink on 1800 050 015.
Damaged walking tracks in national parks are under repair
Full-scale work is about to start on upgrading and repairing damaged walking tracks at Springbrook and Lamington National Parks caused by massive landslides.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said there were a lot of repairs to be done however the Warrie circuit should be finished and ready for visitors by the end of this year and the full Purling Brook circuit could be open by next January.
The work is valued at $5.5 million and provided under the Commonwealth's Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement. The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) recently employed 10 temporary ranger staff to carry out the work.
The rangers will work at Lamington, Springbrook, north and south D'Aguilar Range and Lockyer Valley over the next year. DERM is also in the process of engaging contractors with specialist skills in walking track construction to help with the repair work.
Rangers started work on repairing the Warrie Circuit immediately after the storm in January 2008 that caused major landslips and tree falls. However since then, the work has been delayed by ongoing extreme wet weather conditions.
For a full copy of the media release visit the media statement website.
Squeezing out the rabbits is a numbers game
Queenslanders are being called to action in the biggest ever coordinated effort to track the number of rabbits in Australia.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the RabbitScan project, marks the 150th anniversary of the introduction of rabbits into Australia.
Rabbits cost Australia's agriculture industries up to one billion dollars per year and RabbitScan challenges communities and landholders to get out there and record sightings of rabbits and rabbit warrens in their area throughout May.
Results from RabbitScan will help scientists gain a clearer understanding of where rabbits are in Queensland to better target its research and control programs to reduce the cost.
Previous research shows control programs have had a significant impact on the number of rabbits when targeted to a particular area. Rabbits are a Class 2 declared pest in Queensland requiring landholders to control the pest on their own properties.
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries in conjunction with local governments have invested millions of dollars into rabbit research and control since the 1950's when rabbit numbers were at their peak.
For further information visit the QPIF website, phone 13 25 23 or join the challenge by visiting the RabbitScan website.
Fertiliser-free cane crops may be environmentally friendly
Innovative trials on two Cairns cane farms could create new ground breaking farming techniques and lead to a substantial reduction in fertiliser use without compromising sugar production.
The trials are being conducted on two Aloomba district farms and involve using mill mud, ash and legumes instead of artificial fertiliser. Unlike artificial fertiliser, the mill mud, ash and legumes contain organic matter, provide a wider range of nutrients and break down more slowly into the soil.
Mill mud contains a range of nutrients and is rich in phosphorus and ash is high in potassium. Legumes can absorb nitrogen from the air – a fully grown crop can contain 100-300kg of nitrogen per hectare depending on the legume species and the size of the crop.
Nutrients placed into the soil are released more slowly and naturally than artificial fertiliser.
The costs of applying mill mud and growing legumes could be similar to fertiliser costs, but there were other benefits farmers may also find attractive. The additional organic matter improves soil structure and drainage and provides food for beneficial microbes, while legumes provide more nitrogen and are an important pest and disease break.
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries senior agronomist Derek Sparkes said the trial crops at Aloomba were so far looking good. The real acid test will be at harvest time. If the two crops prove to be comparable, then growers can make an informed decision to take up the zero-fertiliser option.
A recent visual inspection of the trial paddocks showed no difference between the cane grown with and without fertiliser. At the same time, leaf analysis indicated no lack of nutrients in the area without fertiliser.
For the full media release visit the media statement website.
Reef updates
School kids praised for protecting reef from climate change
Queensland students are helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef (Reef) from climate change and many of them have been recognised for their outstanding environmental effort.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Chairman Russell Reichelt recently announced awards for 30 schools from GBRMPA’s Reef Guardian Schools program. The awards acknowledge the schools’ good environment work and provide funding to expand onground projects aimed at reducing human impact on the Reef.
Mr Reichelt said the Great Barrier Reef is a natural treasure and it was fantastic to see future generations helping protect this great Australian icon. Students have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to safeguarding the Reef and it was inspirational to see school students getting their schools and communities onboard.
The awards recognise the important contribution young people are making to environmental initiatives in Australia. The 'r-Amp It Down’ Award for reducing energy use is among 10 awards where the winning school receives $1000 from GBRMPA. An additional 20 ‘Ripples of Change’ funding grants provide $500 to support future environmental projects in schools during 2009. Russell recognised the Reef Guardian Schools program was playing a large part in fostering environmental awareness and outcomes in school communities.
Reef Guardian Schools are demonstrating exemplary environmental ethics and leading the way forward to achieve positive outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef. Currently in its seventh year, this action-based education program has more than 61,000 students in 150 schools across Queensland developing on-ground projects to help protect the Reef.
For further information visit the GBRMPA website.
Rangers learn to rapidly access reef health
The trained Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) staff find it easy to notice differences in the health and condition of the National Parks above the water, but this job is made more difficult when the park is underwater.
Marine Park rangers from across Queensland recently participated in training on how to recognise key health indicators for coral reefs, as a first alert system for their protection.
The training and delivery of this Rapid Assessment Monitoring Program (RAMP) was organised by the Field Management Coordination Unit, jointly funded by the GBRMPA and the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
RAMP is a basic health assessment that seeks to ensure a number of important factors are observed, counted and to some extent quantified.
Before getting into the water to do the training surveys, rangers learnt from coral experts about reef ecology and important topics like identifying the impacts of crown-of-thorns starfish. In just two and a half days, the rangers took to the water to practise recently learnt skills, assessing and recording the health of the North Keppel Island corals as part of the course.
Information gained from RAMP enhances knowledge about the reefs and how they deal with the impacts they face as well as the effectiveness of many of GBRMPA’s management actions.
For further information visit the GBRMPA website.
Natural resources news
Fishers catching onto new Moreton Bay green zones
The majority of fishers are staying clear of the new 'no-go' fishing areas in Moreton Bay and repeat offenders are being warned they will be fined.
The new zoning plan for Moreton Bay took effect on 1 March and marine park rangers have been ensuring compliance through education. Thousands of fishers visit the region each week and only 64 fishers and crabbers had been given verbal warnings for breaching the new green zones.
The green zone plan protects 16 per cent of Moreton Bay. Fishing is allowed in the other 84 per cent of the park, but not permitted in the green zones however snorkelling and scuba-diving is permitted. Fishers who break the rules risk a $500 fine after 30 June 2009.
Since the zoning plan came into force on 1 March staff have provided:
- 65,000 copies of the Marine Park User Guides
- information about the new Zoning Plan to 780 people on the water
- verbal warnings to 64 people for breaching the Marine National Park Zones - 25 were crabbing, nine were bait netting and 30 were fishing.
Moreton Bay is home to 750 species of fish, 120 species of coral, an abundance of dolphins, migratory whales and the world's largest population of dugong next to a capital city.
For further information visit the Department of Environment and Resource Management website.
‘Temperamental’ humans and cows may share same genes
Some of the genes thought to cause behavioural problems in humans may also cause temperamental behaviour in cattle. A new $1.35 million research project will look at how to switch that gene off in a bid to boost the beef industry, worth $3.7 billion a year.
Exciting, ground-breaking research by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) scientists could literally change the character and quality of the beef herd, providing a huge boost to Queensland's beef industry.
Even though cattle and humans are separated by 60 million years of evolution they may both share many of the same genes. The genes thought to cause behavioural problems in humans are also found in cattle.
The association between the temperament of cattle and the tenderness of the meat - the more temperamental, the less tender, is already known. The question scientists hope to answer is how to switch off the ‘irritability’ gene in cattle and produce more tender meat.
This five year cutting-edge research project is lead by Dr Brian Burns, a Rockhampton-based QPIF principal research scientist specialising in genetics and animal breeding.
Dr Burns said his research project centres around the new field of 'epigenetics' - the study of modifications to genes other than changes in the DNA sequence itself. Dr Burns said they were working closely with national and international partners on expanding our knowledge of 'epigenetics'.
For further information about the Beef industry visit the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Queensland Primary industries and Fisheries website or for a copy of the full media release visit the media statement website.
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 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 Inc (QMDC)
Title: Regional Landcare Facilitator
Tenure: Full-time position is based on a 12-month contract
Salary range: Salary package up to $100,100 pa
Location:The location for this position will be negotiated and within the QMDC region.
Contact: A position description including selection criteria can be obtained from QMDC website emailing Rod Kerr or phoning QMDC on 5494 3326.
Closing date: 5pm Friday, 15 May 2009
Thought for the week
Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognise them.
Ann Landers
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© The State of Queensland 2009
Last updated 07 May 2009