Burdekin Bites 8 December 2006

  1. The SPOT Scene of the Week Reedy Brook Springs
  2. 9 December Desert Uplands meeting cancelled
  3. 10 Dec – 2 March Clarke River and East Burdekin Project
  4. 10 December Coastcare Celebrations at Alva Beach
  5. 11 December Burdekin Solutions Board of Directors Meeting
  6. 11 December International Mountain Day
  7. 12 December 12pm CCI Talk at Museum of Tropical Queensland
  8. 18 Dec to 2 Jan BDTNRM Office Closed
  9. 26 January Goldfield Ashes
  10. 6,7,8, February RCG GIS/GPS trial/worship in Claremont
  11. 12 February Burdekin Solutions Board of Directors Meeting
  12. 14 February Climate Change Forum, Ayr
  13. 10 to 22 March 2007 Northern Beef Research Update Conference
  14. BDTNRM Land Management Advisory Group
  15. Burdekin Solutions Partnership Panels
  16. Local Government Partnership Panel Endorsement
  17. Marie Vitelli farewell
  18. Status of the Plum Headed and Double Barred Finch in Mazeppa National Park
  19. BDT Region maps on the internet
  20. Keep imported raw prawns off your fishing hooks
  21. State of the Environment Report 2006
  22. Rural R&D Drought Portal
  23. How safe are your trees in a cyclone?
  24. BDT Recipes
  25. Perspectives on managing grazing country

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The SPOT Scene of the Week

Reedy Brook Springs the home of the Reedy Brook Ashes - south west of the Valley of Lagoons http://webgis.bdtnrm.org.au/SpotScenes.htm

9 December Desert Uplands meeting canceled

The Desert Uplands committee meeting and Christmas breakup that was to be held this Saturday the 9th of December has been cancelled. We will be having a get together after the first meeting in the New Year and everyone will be welcome to come and have a Barbie and a drink then.

10 Dec – 2 March Clarke River and East Burdekin Project

The project’s primary purpose is to co-fund on-ground works to enable the adoption of sustainable management activities which will result in improvements in water quality and biodiversity.  Project funding opportunities are now available. For more information: June.Brundell@dpi.qld.gov.au, Ph 07 4754 6112 or Fax 07 4787 4998.

10 December Coastcare Celebrations at Alva Beach

Contact Leonie.Maddigan@burdekin.qld.gov.au

11 December Burdekin Solutions Board of Directors Meeting

11 December International Mountain Day

12 December 12pm CCI Talk at Museum of Tropical Queensland

Dr Ian Dight of the Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management will present information about the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan which identifies threats of pollution from agricultural sources within Great Barrier Reef (GBR) coastal catchments. MTQ’s Discover More Talks are held on the second Tuesday of every month from 12pm to 1pm and are designed to promote the work of experts in fields relevant to North Queensland. http://www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au 

18 Dec to 2 Jan BDTNRM Office Closed

26 January Goldfield Ashes

Friday, 26 January 2007 (12:00 AM) - Sunday, 28 January 2007 (12:00 AM)
In 2006, 180 teams took part in this unique event
http://www.goldfield-ashes.com

6,7,8, February RCG GIS/GPS trial/worship in Claremont

For more information contact Dustin.Edge@bdtnrm.org.au

12 February Burdekin Solutions Board of Directors Meeting

For more information contact Gloria.macdonald@bdtnrm.org.au

14 February Climate Change Forum, Ayr

For more information contact Paul Wuth Paul.Wuth@burdekin.qld.gov.au

10 to 22 March 2007 Northern Beef Research Update Conference

The conference is being organised under the auspices of the North Australia Beef Research Council. This conference is an opportunity for beef industry researchers, extension officers and producers to get the latest technical information from some of Australia's best researchers on both recently completed and ongoing research projects. For more information go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/30_3376_ENA_HTML.htm

BDTNRM Land Management Advisory Group

The Land Management Advisory Group (LMAG) was established to provide grazier community input, advice, and guidance into the Land, Soils and Agriculture Programme. We have held two meetings with LMAG since September. BDTNRM staff are learning ‘really awesome stuff’ from the LMAG while the LMAG participants are finding the meetings very informative as they are learning a great deal from each other, as well as BDTNRM. We hope that together we will be able to make our programmes even more targeted, effective and integrated into the grazing system. For more information contact Kate.masters@bdtnrm.org.au

Burdekin Solutions Ltd. Partnership Panels

Burdekin Solutions Ltd. is establishing four Partnership Panels to provide input regarding the Company’s strategic direction. The Local Government and the Traditional Owner Panels are already operating, while the inaugural meetings of the Industry and Community Panels were held this week. These Partnership Panels will continue the Burdekin Solutions philosophy of strong community engagement to ensure our strategic direction reflects community goals and expectations of NRM in the Region. For more information contact Burdekin Solutions Chair Mike Cannon via jody.johnston@bdtnrm.org.au

Local Government Partnership Panel Endorsement

Health and Environmental Services Regional Organisational Council (HESROC) endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Terms of Reference for the HESROC (Northern Cluster) Local Government Partnership Panel with BDTNRM at their meeting on Wednesday 1 November. The MoU was subsequently signed by the Chair of HESROC, Cr Ann Bunnell and BDTNRM CEO Bob Frazer. For more information contact Burdekin Solutions Chair Mike Cannon via jody.johnston@bdtnrm.org.au

Marie Vitelli farewell

Over 150 people turned out for a great night in Charters Towers to farewell Marie and Jo Vitellie who are moving to Brisbane. Marie has made a remarkable contribution to Landcare over the past six years and she is an asset to her community. Marie will be sorely missed. BDTNRM presented Marie with a gift to show our appreciation and Marie sent us this note:

Thank you for all your good wishes, support and the interaction we have had over the last few years. I was overwhelmed by your farewell gift which is going towards my Graduate Diploma studies through Gatton College. HECS & other uni costs certainly add up & I appreciate this assistance. Only two more subjects to complete the diploma ! Wishing you all the success in the future to roll out the rest of the RIS and all the other NRM business that is happening through the regional processes.

Can you please direct any of your future landcare queries to John Nicholas email: john.nicholas@dpi.qld.gov.au . John is taking over the National Landcare Programme "SPIRAL" project. For more information about SPIRAL go to http://www.burdekindrytropics.org.au/initiatives/spiral.html

June Brundell email: june.brundell@dpi.qld.gov.au is working on a new BDTNRM/National Action Plan project for two focus catchments in the Upper Burdekin. For more information about the Clarke River Project go to: http://www.burdekindrytropics.org.au/projects/nap0021.html

Status of the Plum Headed and Double Barred Finch in Mazeppa National Park

In response to last week’s spot image of Mazeppa National Park in which the Plum Headed and Double Barred Finches were described as being ‘rare’, John and Lyndy Heeland of “Pasha” in Clermont wrote, “we don't know where your information was obtained but I do not think you can rate the finches as being rare. They are common over a large area”. This sparked an enthusiastic search here in the office resulting in the following from our Coast and Marine Coordinator, David Reid “Doug’s info came from the EPA didactic for the National Park – I’m sure it meant locally rare as so much of their surrounding habitat has been cleared’.

BDT Region maps on the internet

GIS Manager Doug Willis has posted a number of Map Graphics which can now be viewed over the internet. They show various features of our region including our wetlands, the various catchments, electoral districts, average rainfall and more. You may download these images for your own use. http://webgis.bdtnrm.org.au/MapGraphics.htm

Keep imported raw prawns off fishing hooks

Recent sampling conducted by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries reinforces the concerns that imported raw prawns (often sold as 'green' or uncooked prawns) pose a risk of introducing exotic viruses into the marine ecosystem that could have a devastating effect on some Great Barrier Reef marine life and our fishing industry. If you're unsure what baits to use, follow the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries guidelines, read raw seafood labels carefully, avoid the use of imported green (uncooked) prawns as bait or berley and don’t dump prawn shells or other prawn scraps overboard. For further information go to the Hot Topics section on http://www.affa.gov.au

State of the Environment Report 2006

The Australia State of the Environment 2006 is the third in a series of studies prepared every five years for the Australian Government by an independent committees of experts. This report is a great resource for government, industry and the community. The report tracks changes in a range of areas including atmosphere, biodiversity, human settlements, inland waters, coasts and oceans, natural and cultural heritage and the Australian Antarctic Territory. To see the report go to http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/index.html

Rural R&D Drought Portal

Rural R&D have opened a new Drought Portal to enable cross-industry access to a range of practical tools and research results to help manage the effects of drought. Topics address Climate Change, Water Use Efficiency, Pasture Management and Feeding Livestock.  The Drought Portal will be updated on a regular basis so producers from different industries can access both short and long term research benefits from the Rural RDCs. To see the portal go to http://www.ruralrdc.com.au

How safe are your trees in a cyclone?

Earlier this year northern Australia bore the brunt of two Category 5 cyclones: Larry which crossed the coast at Innisfail in north Queensland on 20 March, then a month later on 25 April, Cyclone Monica crossed at Maningrida, tracking inland towards Jabiru. Go to the ABC website to find out about Environmental scientist Dr Greg Calvert’s research of the impacts of cyclones on mine-site rehabilitation, natural ecosystems and the resilience of trees in the wake of cyclone. Greg is also planning a book on how to minimise damage to house and property through good plant selection and gardening practices in northern Australian gardens.

visit http://www.abc.net.au/northqld/features/radioscience.htm

BDT Recipes

Amanda Laurie has given me some recipes for Brownies and Anzac Biscuits. I’ve made a recipe page on our website so have a look at Amanda’s recipes and I encourage you to send in any of your own favourites for us all to share.

http://www.burdekindrytropics.org.au/resources/recipes.html

Perspectives on managing grazing country

Four CRC Savannas books describing natural resource management as currently practiced by successful graziers and pastoralists in four regions of northern Australia are now available. The set covers the following regions:

  • Cape River Catchment near Charters Towers
  • Queensland’s northern Gulf
  • Victoria River District
  • Sturt Plateau

Each book is available for $15 from the CRC at http://www.savanna.cdu.edu.au/publications

Your contributions and feedback are welcome. Please contact Deb.Cavanagh@bdtnrm.org.au

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