The Bugle - 14 May 2010
In news this week
Regional NRM group stories
- Still communicating 10 years later
- Tambo rural women’s network is up and running
- Thallon hauls in 576 kilograms of carp!
- Sustainability and wild dogs forum in the channel country
Government updates
- Caring for our Country and the federal budget
- Opportunities for young graziers to make a change
- New fisheries boats to patrol Queensland waters
- The green future of the sky - planes powered by algae
- Online networks to connect graduates, workers and employees anywhere
Natural resources news
- 2010 Queensland Landcare Conference
- Keeping on top of Siam weed
- TSRA Chair shares climate change impact with the UN
- National Waste Report 2010 launched
- Odour detection is a breeze for these canines
- Weather report
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Still communicating 10 years later
The annual regional NRM communication forum was held in Cairns last week hosted by Terrain NRM. The workshop provided a learning and networking opportunity, helped build ongoing collaborations between Queensland regional NRM groups and identified opportunities for future state wide communication efforts.
The communicators' forums have been running for the past 10 years. Regional NRM groups take turns to host the forum with funding support from the Q2 Coasts and Country program.
This year's forum provided the opportunity for regional communicators to showcase some of their great achievements. The work undertaken by the regional communicators was once again impressive and many of these great ideas will be taken onboard by other regions.
Topics and speakers included:
- Community engagement with youth case studies – Jennay Delacour and Ian Beeton, Northern Gulf Resource Management Group and Evelyne Lewiston, Terrain
- Knowledge Information Network (KIN) – Rueben Sinclair, Terrain
- Q2 Coasts and Country market research project– Carl Glen, Q2 Coasts and Country
- Community based social marketing – Katie Munkres, NQ Dry Tropics
- Corporate Sponsorship – Jane Turner, Reef Catchments
- Better value adding – Lisa Yorkston, QMDC
- How to really engage with urban and peri-urban audiences – Katie Munkres, NQ Dry Tropics
- RGC update – Samantha Morris
- Regional NRM communication update – Carl Glen and Ruthie Adams, Q2 Coasts and Country program.
Terrain, CEO, Allan Dale welcomed the communicators to the region and stated how important the communication role was to share the good news NRM stories with the community.
This year there was also an opportunity to meet briefly with the Joint Strategic Investment Panel (JSIP) which oversees the Queensland regional investment of Caring for our Country and Q2 Coasts and Country programs, as the JSIP were visiting the Terrain region.
The Queensland Government JSIP co-chair Fred Tromp said the communication and marketing function is integral to JSIP's investment in regional NRM groups to enable awareness building of programs and projects to the community. As executive editor of the Bugle, Mr Tromp said he knows first hand the daily juggling act of sourcing relevant information and keeping a broad audience well informed.
Mr Dale joined Mr Tromp in awarding the Bugle award jointly to Desert Channels Queensland and Fitzroy Basin Authority. Two encouragement awards were also presented to Northern Gulf NRM and to Terrain NRM.
The forum attendees will now progress a number of actions to be implemented in regional communication plans.
For further information email Ruthie Adams.Tambo rural women’s network is up and running
A strong network was formed between the attendees at the Tambo Naturally Resourceful women’s workshop held on 26 and 27 April.
Workshop organiser, Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) Industry Liaison Officer, Colleen James said the aim of the workshops was to work with the female landholder based community members to build on their resourceful nature while helping to build their skills, knowledge and understanding about NRM and personal development.
"We wanted to give rural women the opportunity to build networks and access information and training that is often difficult to receive in remote areas," said Ms James.
The group of 20 attendees, from 18 years to retirement age created a strong bond and built a valuable network.
Christy Bredhaven from Lambert Station said, "it was a very informative and interactive workshop giving women the tools they need to thrive in the bush and improve their business."
Over the two days, the focus was on issues faced by rural women.
Topics included; communication, succession planning, rural business analysis, biodiversity, grant writing and funding opportunities, arts, mental and physical health and well being.
For further information visit the DCQ website.
Thallon hauls in 576 kilograms of carp!
Anglers at the Thallon Carp Buster fishing event on the weekend caught a massive 576 kilograms of the pest fish.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) Weed and Pest Animal Technical Officer Lavinnia Fiedler said more than 230 anglers caught around 220 carp on 8 and 9 May.
"Despite the Thallon Fishing Club rescheduling this event because of floods during March, community support for the competition was still strong," she said.
"Numbers were slightly down but it was still a great turnout and everyone enjoyed themselves at the family-friendly event," said Ms Fielder.
The next Carp Buster event is scheduled in Bollon on 22 and 23 May. To find out more about the Bollon Carp Buster event or the Bollon Fishing Club, contact Chris Lindsay on 4625 6232.
"This is really exciting as the Bollon Fishing Club has only just started, thanks to seed money provided by the Bollon Aboriginal Corporation, so we’re looking forward to anglers from across the Bollon district dropping in a line at the Carp Buster event this month," said Ms Fielder.
The remaining competitions in the seven-event 2010 Carp Buster series includes:
- Bollon Carp Buster – 22-23 May
- Mungindi Carp Buster – 26-27 June
- St George Carp Buster – 25-26 September
- Dirranbandi Carp Buster – 16-17 October
- Thallon Carp Buster final – 19-20 March 2011.
Points are awarded throughout the competition for participation and the number of carp caught, with anglers competing for a $3000 prize pool. For further information visit the QMDC website or a local fishing clubs.
Sustainability and wild dogs forum in the Channel Country
Achieving sustainable use of our landscape is the key factor to maintaining long-term financial viability and the key message of the Channel Country Sustainable Grazing Forum being held in Jundah on the 26 and 27 May.
"This will be an opportunity for landholders to learn about and share their grazing management techniques and access information on current issues from leading experts in a range of fields," said event organiser, Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) Industry Liaison Officer, Colleen James.
The forum will cover topics including Channel Country landforms and the processes that shape them; Sustainability in the Channel Country; Sustainable grazing; Flood plain management; Managing feral pigs and Wild dog behaviour and Ecology. A field trip to Haugton Vale and Glen Valley stations is also planned.
A BBQ dinner at the Jundah Hotel will wrap up day one with the chance to network and speak with presenters including Dr Jerry Maroulis - University of Southern Queensland; David Phelps - Agri-Science Queensland; David Rankine - Bunuro Station; Gerry Roberts - GR Consulting; Darren Marshall, Feral Pig Project and Tony Townsend - Dog Trapper.
The Wild Dog Forum will draw on the experiences of John Cuskelly - the State Wild Dog Coordinator; Peter Lucas - Queensland Dog and Paroo Wild Dog Chairman; Mandy Cartwright - AgForce South West Regional Manager and Murweh Wild Dog Advisory Group Secretary and the Barcoo Shire & Diamantina Shire Rural Lands Officer - Peter Pidgeon.
For further information and to register email Colleen James, phone 4652 7826 or visit the DCQ website.
Government updates
Caring for our Country and the federal budget
The Australian Government handed down the 2010-11 federal budget this week with cost savings amounting to $81.3 million for Caring for our Country over four years. It is expected these savings will be achieved through administrative efficiencies and minor adjustments to the program. The savings have been phased over the coming four years in order to manage current commitments and the 2010-11 business plan process.
Funding for the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia will be reduced by $70.4 million and funding for Landcare by $10.9 million. The Caring for our Country program will still provide funding of more than $1.6 billion over the next four years.
Base-level funding for regional NRM bodies will be maintained at current levels, funding to Landcare facilitators will not be affected, and the Community Action Grants will continue. The Australian Government remains committed to achieving the election commitments that are being delivered through Caring for our Country, such as Reef Rescue and employing Indigenous rangers to work on country. There will be no reductions in funding to currently contracted projects.
The 2010-11 budget demonstrates the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to Caring for our Country and the work of the thousands of people across Australia who give their time and energies to deliver Caring for our Country projects.
For further information visit the Caring for our Country website.
Opportunities for young graziers to make a change
An exciting initiative from the Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), is the 'Beef and Sheep producers of the future unite to tackle Climate Change' project which begins on 14 May.
The project team are looking for 30 young graziers who want to learn new skills to help them shape a healthy future for their industry.
DEEDI FutureBeef Industry Development Officer Tim Emery said participants will develop skills to help their businesses and communities grow and respond positively to future challenges.
"We’re looking for people who are 18-30 years of age, not necessarily property owners or managers, but who are actively involved in the grazing industry," he said.
"At least two project groups will be formed and participants will come away with the knowledge and confidence to be a driving force in their field," said Mr Emery.
A group of DEEDI staff with a range of skills will provide the participants with networking and learning opportunities and coordinate a series of professional face-to-face and online training activities over the next 12 months.
Group members will also have the chance to play an active role in the Young Beef Producers forum at Roma in November later in the year.
Numbers are limited so please register by emailing Tim Emery or phone him on 0408 707 155 or email Alex Stirton or phone him on 0428 109 620.
New fisheries boats to patrol Queensland waters
Two new vessels are patrolling Brisbane and Townsville waters as part of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) efforts to protect Queensland's valuable fisheries resources.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the new boats, named ‘Tempest’ and ‘Paluma’ were a valuable $500,000 upgrade that would boost the existing patrol fleet.
The boats are fitted with modern navigation equipment, internet access and other electronic and technical capabilities to allow more efficient and effective patrolling. The new vessels are state-of-the-art, rigid hull inflatable boats, known as RHIBs.
The new vessels demonstrate Fisheries Queensland's continued efforts in encouraging fisheries compliance for commercial and recreational fishers. There are currently 102 Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers working from offices throughout the state.
"In 2009, officers carried out 43,687 fisheries inspections which resulted in a total of 1094 fines being issued or prosecuted for illegal fishing. A further 670 people were cautioned. These figures reflect the fact that Queensland has a very high compliance rate within the fishing sector at nearly 97 per cent," said Mr Mulherin.
For further information on the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol visit Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation website or phone 13 25 23.
The green future of the sky - planes powered by algae
A world-first green fuel initiative could slash greenhouse gas emissions by fuelling planes with algae.
Premier Anna Bligh recently attended the world's biggest biotechnology conference, Bio 2010 - recently held in Chicago, USA and announced a research consortium that will locate a major aviation biofuel project in Brisbane.
The consortium - led by the University of Queensland - brings together some of the biggest names in global aviation including Boeing and Virgin Blue along with major US green energy company, Amyris.
Queensland partners in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative include Mackay Sugar, Brisbane-based IOR Energy, James Cook University and Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Queensland is set to become the home for cleaner, greener, renewable jet fuel. The aviation industry accounts for around two per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and that may grow to three percent unless further action is taken to reduce emissions."
"We're leading the way on aviation biofuels research. With a growing focus on making our skies greener, this is big business and good for jobs and the environment. "
The Queensland Government has injected $2 million into the project through the University of Queensland's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) which will research the production of aviation biofuels.
Boeing has committed $450,000 to the project and Amyris is investing more than one million dollars in it. Ms Bligh said the AIBN Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative, led by Professor Lars Nielsen, was a world first and could have a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry.
Professor Neilson said there were already 18,000 aircraft in operation worldwide and another 25,000 were expected to enter service in the next 20 years. For a copy of the media release visit the ministerial media statement website.
Online networks to connect graduates, workers and employees anywhere
Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson recently announced nine online portals to help Queenslanders build networks in their field of professional interest.
"The new training industry portals will give workers, employers, graduates, educators and trainers access to online networking opportunities and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
The portals have been established for the childcare, business, sustainability, trades, health, retail, creative, and sport and tourism industries.
"Through news, blogs, forums, a jobs boards and a business listings directory, people from these industries can connect and share knowledge, seek employees, look for work and generally find support and encouragement from other Queenslanders with a similar professional interest," said Mr Wilson.
A key function of the training industry portals is to illustrate the pathways to higher level qualifications in associate professions and trades.
By investing in training and developing their workers, industries can help to ensure they have a skilled and sustainable workforce which is ready for future challenges. Mr Wilson said the launch of the portals was the start of a new era in life long training support for Queensland.
For further information about training portals and a copy of the media release visit the ministerial media release.
Natural resources news
2010 Queensland Landcare Conference
The 2010 Queensland Landcare Conference will be held in Caloundra from 14 to 17 September and will provide an opportunity for Landcare groups to demonstrate their projects and display their work. This year will focus on the sharing of land management ideas, information and experiences between on-ground land managers.
The Landcare Conference will provide:
- keynote presentations by leading land management practitioners
- open forums to share knowledge and experiences
- workshops led by keynote speakers and panel members
- reports and displays of successful local Queensland Landcare projects.
The Landcare conference encourages Landcare groups throughout Queensland to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to present a project report and display at the conference to help share local knowledge and experience with a broad audience.
The aim of the Landcare Project Report section of the conference is to present 18 projects, each dealing with a different aspect of landcare, from Landcare groups representing as wide a geographical distribution across Queensland as possible.
Groups wishing to submit an EOI project should consider providing:
- A 15 minute presentation on each project
- Posters for display from 14 to 17 September
- Involvement in a 25 minute question and answer session.
Please note EOI due date has been extended to 15 June. For further information and an EOI package, visit the Landcare Queensland website.
Keeping on top of Siam weed
Rural landowners from Mackay to Cape York should be on the lookout for Siam weed from late May through to July. This attractive weed will be in its flowering period and easy to spot. Siam weed quickly invades and smothers native vegetation, out-competes pastures, crops, and native vegetation and poisons stock.
Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) is a Class 1 declared pest plant in Queensland and therefore subject to eradication from the state. Landowners must take reasonable steps to keep land free of Class 1 pests and be aware that there are penalties of up to $80,000 that apply.
Siam weed is considered one of the world's most invasive weeds. As it quickly invades and smothers native vegetation, it out-competes pastures, crops and native vegetation. Siam weed also causes health and skin problems to humans, increases the frequency and intensity of bushfires and has the additional disadvantage of poisoning stock.
Siam weed is the target of a nationally funded eradication program.
For further information visit Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation website.
TSRA Chair shares climate change impact with the UN
The impact of climate change on vulnerable Torres Strait communities is now a significant challenge for future preservation and growth of the Torres Strait's culture and identity, TSRA Chairman Toshie Kris recently told the United Nations (UN) in New York.
In a statement to the UN meeting, Mr Kris said "this is compounded by the effort to secure required resources from governments to take appropriate measures to mitigate adverse environmental, economic, cultural and spiritual impact caused by this issue.”
"Torres Strait communities are already feeling the impact of rising sea levels and now every year during the summer when king tides are prevalent, our people's homes and sacred sites are inundated by the sea,” he said.
"Damage is being recorded on basic infrastructure, such as sea walls, roads, housing, sewerage, crops, and also has begun to wash away tombstones and graves – it is as if our history is being washed away in front of our eyes," said Mr Kris.
Mr Kris was a member of an Australian delegation which attended the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in April where he had the chance to present a three-minute statement which generated international recognition of the Torres Strait and its issues.
Sourced from the Torres News
National Waste Report 2010 launched
The recent release of Australia's first comprehensive national assessment of trends in waste and resource recovery was welcomed by Federal Environment Protection Minister, Peter Garrett.
The National Waste Report 2010 is a key component of the National Waste Policy, agreed by Australian, State and Territory environment ministers last November, and will help guide future action in Australia.
"The policy and this report represent a fundamental shift in our approach to waste and complement broader government policies on climate change and sustainability," said Mr Garrett.
"We want to reduce the generation of waste and encourage a culture of recovery where waste becomes a valuable resource,” he said.
"The Government is already taking action to tackle e-waste with a new industry-run national collection and recycling scheme for computer and television waste set to commence next year. Work is also underway to deal with used tyres and spent fluorescent light tubes and this report will help guide future actions," Mr Garrett said.
The National Waste Report details trends in waste and resource recovery and is the first step in providing baseline data to inform policy, and will be updated every three years.
For further information including the key findings in the report, visit the National Waste Report website and for a copy of the media release visit the Federal Minister’s website.
Ant odour detection is a breeze for these canines
Biosecurity Queensland's detection dogs are trained to sniff out fire ants and are able to find nests hidden from the human eye, including underground nests.
Fire ants and electric ants release a special scent that is unique and the dogs are trained to recognise this pheromone. Pieces of cloth are placed in a box with live ants so the scent covers the cloth. These pieces of cloth are made into dolls used in training the dogs to recognise the scent.
Biosecurity Queensland Control Centre (BQCC) detection dogs come from the Animal Welfare League and the Australian Customs Service. Dogs that show potential undergo a rigorous training routine where they work with a handler to recognise the fire ant scent.
During training, the dogs learn to ‘drop’ when they pick up a scent, so there is no danger of the animals getting stung. After this training program, the dogs have to pass the test of finding ants in tubes that have been strategically placed and hidden.
Its hard work being a dog! BQCC’s detection dogs work up to four hours a day. Every 10–40 minutes, the dogs are rewarded by their handlers with playtime. During the day, the dogs clear sites where there has previously been an ant infestation and clear sites that are inaccessible to humans and wear a GPS device to track the area they cover each day.
For further information visit the Biosecurity Queensland website.
Top
Cape York Regional NRM body – CEO
The position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Cape York Regional NRM body, which is expected to be formed at the end of the month, will be advertised this weekend. The position would best suit a person with exceptional financial management, governance and negotiation skills to lead this new NRM organisation with an initial appointment of three years.
Reporting to a new Board, the CEO will be primarily responsible for delivering the regional body’s programs and services to maximise social, economic and environmental outcomes for the people of Cape York.
Additional tasks include: development of an appropriate legal structure and constitution for the organisation; strategic planning; building relationships with partner organisations including state and federal agencies; facilitating investment proposals for 2011 – 2013 financial years; developing policies, procedures and protocols and developing a strong public brand for NRM in the Cape.
Advertisements will appear in The Weekend Australian, The Courier Mail, The Cairns Post and on the NRMjobs website. Applications close on 28 May.
For further information and supporting documentation contact the Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective on 4699 5000 or email Lane Pilon.
Get a job in NRM!
Are you interested in working within Queensland regional natural resource management? Then head to the Environment jobs, Queensland Government jobs and careers, 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:The Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA)
Title: Biodiversity Coordinator
Salary range: $63,117 - $76,656
Contact: Sheree Press on 4999 2808 or vist the FBA website.
Closing date: Monday 31 May
Thought for the week
Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.
Napoleon Hill
Last updated 18 May 2010