Summary of upcoming events over the next two weeks:
15 June: Science and Innovation Awards for Young People
17 June: World Day to combat drought and desertification
18 June: RSVP for Dalrymple Landcare Committee Good Land Management Awards, 22 June
22 June: Closing date for registration, Community Water Grants Round 3
22 June: Dalrymple Landcare Committee Good Land Management Awards, 2-4pm, Charters Towers
25 June: Recovering Rainforest - Queensland Rainforest Forum
26 June: Biodiversity: Balancing Conservation and Production – case studies from the real world.
29 June: Nominations close, Queensland 2007 Smart Women - Smart State Awards
30 June: Last day, “Old Phones, New Trees” campaign
30 June: Closing date for applications for Nuffield Scholarship

Recent additions to our “What’s On” web page:
14 June: AgForward Computer Mapping Workshop, Prairie
14 June: Closing date for Survey: grazing livelihoods in the Upper Burdekin
15 June: AgForward Computer Mapping Workshop, Pentland
18 June: Burdekin Solutions Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting
29 June: Nominations close, Queensland Landcare Awards
29 June: BBIFMAC General Meeting, 9.30am to 12.00noon
04 July: Online applications close, Community Water Grants Round 3
02-04 September: AgForce North Regional Meeting

For more information on the events above and more, go to www.bdtnrm.org.au/news/on/index.html

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1. A new look for Burdekin Bites
2. World Environment Day – The Way Forward for Climate Change
3. BDTNRM Sponsorships for Queensland Coastal Conference
4. Coastal Community Group Forum: Developing applications for the Coastal and Marine Envirofund
5. BDTNRM Local Government Support Officer
6. CoastInfo Web portal
7. New Program: Fish Passage Assessment
8. Pesticides and the Sugar Industry Forum
9. Desert Uplands Landscape Linkage Stewardship Success Story
10. BDTNRM Out and About in Our Region
11. Savanna CRC Survey invitation: grazing livelihoods in the Upper Burdekin
12. Developing seasonal forecasts, Upper Burdekin Region
13. John Chamberlain, 25 years service DPI&F
14. Added to our non-government web links page: Birds Australia North Queensland Group
15. Added to our government web links page: Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading
16. BFIMAC’s Enviro News
17. CERF Environmental Funding
18. Burdekin To Brisbane Pipeline Scoping Study
19. Water for Profit program
20. Desert Channels Receives Funds to Fight Parkinsonia and Prickly Acacia

A new look for Burdekin Bites

Our web designer, BoaB Interactive along with Kim Pritchard and Deb Cavanagh, the Bites editors, have been plotting to develop a new format. We are always keen to hear your thoughts, please let us know what you think about this new look, contact deb.cavanagh@bdtnrm.org.au.

World Environment Day – The Way Forward for Climate Change

Professor Robert Miles, co-founder of the Australian National Climate Centre, was the keynote speaker at the Environment Day public forum (on 5 June) addressing the Challenges of Climate Change for North Queensland, sponsored by BDTNRM and hosted by Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc. To see a copy of the presentation go to www.bdtnrm.org.au/index.html

BDTNRM Sponsorships for Queensland Coastal Conference

BDTNRM are going to sponsor 2 lucky coastal community group members to attend this conference covering their travel, accommodation and registration. These people will be selected at the Coastal Community Group Forum, being held in late June (see below). BDTNRM is also sponsoring the Conference Satchel for all conference delegates.

Coastal Community Group Forum: Developing applications for the Coastal and Marine Envirofund

The purpose of this forum to be held in late June is to assist Community NRM groups (Coastcare Groups) in developing projects for the Coastal and Marine Envirofund Round which is currently open. This round closes on the 20 July and BDTNRM has secured funding through Envirofund to employ a part-time Coastcare facilitator to assist groups in developing their applications. Conservation Volunteers Australia will also give presentations at the forum about how they can assist by providing capacity to groups for projects and valuable information in regards to risk assessment and workplace health and safety.
Contact Rachel Allan, Programme Coordinator for Coastal and Marine for more information regarding the forum: rachel.allan@bdtnrm.org.au  

BDTNRM Local Government Support Officer

BDTNRM is pleased to announce that Leonie Maddigan is renewing her contract as our Local Government Support Officer. She will be based within our Townsville office working specifically with our coastal local governments including Townsville, Palm Island, Burdekin, Bowen and Thuringowa. She will be supporting them with coastal management in many ways such as helping them become Reef Guardian Councils, facilitating the development of Shoreline Erosion Management Plans with EPA, and assisting in the development of negotiated agreements for on-ground works to rehabilitate and protect our valuable coastal buffer zones.
BDTNRM will soon be advertising for a second local government support officer specifically for the Bowen and Burdekin Shire Councils and this person will be hosted with them. Check our web site for a position description www.burdekindrytropics.org.au/opportunities/employment/employment.html or contact the Programme Coordinator for Coastal and Marine Rachel Allan: rachel.allan@bdtnrm.org,au

CoastInfo Web portal

BDTNRM has contributed $10,000 to the development of a CoastInfo Web portal which is intended to be a ‘one stop shop’ for all Coastal Management in the State of Queensland. The EPA are contributing the majority of funds with all Coastal Regional Bodies contributing as well. Stay tuned for an update regarding when it will become operational.

New Program: Fish Passage Assessment

This program focuses on identification of fish barriers in all Burdekin region catchments. Barriers include:
inappropriate size or shape of road and rail culverts, etc; weirs, dams and sang walls; choking aquatic weeds.
Key objectives are:

• To identify, map all ecologically and regionally significant fish barriers in the Burdekin Region,
• Prioritising fish barriers for removal or modification, based on ecological economic and social considerations.
• Look at the feasibility and risks associated with a removal or modification program for priority fish barriers
• Establish costs involved in removal or modification

An essential component in this project is to engage the region’s communities in the process through presentations, map based information exchange and media opportunities
Meeting with community groups will begin in early July. More information will be provided as soon as dates and venues are set. Please contact Diana O'Donnell at BDTNRM if you are interested in attending, or would like us to meet with your group.

Pesticides and the Sugar Industry Forum

This forum, held in Townsville on 6 June, provided a unique opportunity for local cane growers, agricultural chemical suppliers, researchers and other key sugar industry players to get together and discuss current practices and options for improving pesticide management into the future in our region, with a particular focus on water quality. Organized by BDTNRM and Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES) in collaboration with Canegrowers Ltd, the forum aimed to raise awareness of the issues and find a way forward to reducing pesticide losses from cane farms into our waterways.The program included the presentation of data collected on pesticides from the Lower Burdekin, industry perspectives, management practices and incentives to adopt these practices.

Desert Uplands Landscape Linkage Stewardship Success Story

The Landscape Linkage stewardship tender funded by BDTNRM, and run by Desert Uplands Committee, is the first trial of an environmental stewardship program in Central Western Queensland.
A multiple-round tender process was used – with landholders competitively bidding to provide ecosystem services over volunteered areas of land in return for annual incentive payments. Fifteen landholders signed two year management agreements to maintain or improve the condition of selected areas. This now conserves over 85,000 hectares in the southern Desert Uplands. These protected linkages areas ensure that biodiversity and land condition is of high enough quality to maintain the natural flora and fauna values of these ecosystems for the duration of the agreement. These agreements only reward land management that is above legal ‘duty of care’ requirements - payments are made annually on the provision of evidence of the maintenance or improvement of condition at the end of each dry season.

Funding for Future Stewardships programs is being sought by the Desert Uplands Committee as the local response to this initiative was so strong. Good biodiversity management in many instances parallels nicely with good production systems. Biodiversity stewardship programs give landholders the recognition they deserve when it comes to delivering tangible benefits for the environment. The tender process also ensures public funds are spent getting good value for the services provided.
For more information, contact Hannah Whiteaker: hannah.whiteaker@desertuplands.org.au

Savanna CRC Survey invitation: grazing livelihoods in the Upper Burdekin

Upper Burdekin residents are invited to participate in an online survey on the factors affecting Grazing livelihoods in the upper Burdekin. The survey should take about 15 minutes. Responses are confidential, however if you wish to be updated on the outcomes of the research, you can register your details at the end of the survey. Please forward responses by 14 June 2007.
CSIRO staff have designed this online survey, with support from the Tropical Savannas CRC, to help understand the factors affecting livelihoods in the upper Burdekin region and to develop better approaches to understanding key issues that affect Burdekin landholders. The research team invites your contribution to help understand the factors which influence sustainable livelihoods in the upper Burdekin. (Note: 'livelihood' refers to a means of living including income and employment, along with family, social networks and personal interests). Survey location: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=336513474463

BDTNRM Out and About in Our Region

• BDTNRM representatives attended the Ayr Show on the 28th and 29th May.
• Leonie Maddigan has been selected to give a presentation at the Inaugural Queensland Coastal Conference held in Bundaberg in September 17-19. For more information about this conference go to our What’s On page: www.bdtnrm.org.au/news/on/index.html
• Diana O'Donnell attended the Nutrient Shadowing: Water Quality Monitoring Workshop on 29 May. This was one of a series of workshops held around the state for those involved in water quality monitoring and was aimed at determining suitable equipment and processes and to allow networking. A range of tests including FRP, nitrate as N, NOx as N, ammonia as N, DO, pH, EC, turbidity, and temperature were measured on the day, providing up to 5 results for each parameter: this is shadow testing and demonstrates repeatability.
• Ecofiesta – BDTNRM congratulate Townsville City Council for another outstanding event in Queens Gardens which many BDTNRM staff attended with their families. Whilst BDTNRM was unable to hold a display this year, various merchandise was available through Townsville City Council’s Environmental Management Services stall and BDTNRM intends to participate more fully next year.
• Amanda Laurie attended the Stakeholder Grader Grass Field Day on June 12-13.
• Bronwyn Houlden represented BDTNRM at the Northern Gulf’s Grazing Land Management Session on June 6, she was especially interested in participating in discussion on “duty of care”, ecosystem services and stewardship. Other topics covered guest speakers from NT, WA and DPI discussing how graziers are improving their land management; whether family grazing businesses need to form a cooperative to deal with legislative issues, keep on the front foot with external issues that have future impacts, and access grants for their properties.
  

Developing seasonal forecasts, Upper Burdekin Region

A large-scale survey is currently underway in the Upper Burdekin Region to ascertain how graziers currently cope with climate variability and how seasonal climate forecasts could be developed to be especially useful. The researchers wish to extend a warm thank-you to all those graziers that have been involved in the study – nearly 60, so far. They feel they are getting a rare insight into the concerns that people have towards managing in the face of uncertainty and towards technologies such as seasonal climate forecasts. They hope that they can use the information given to them to ensure that new technology can maximise profit in good seasons and minimise losses in bad seasons. For the study to be truly comprehensive of the region they are still keen to interview more graziers and their families. Liz, Deion and Nadine are currently in the region making appointments.
Please contact Nadine Marshall at CSIRO to find out more on 4753 8537 or 0407 134562.

John Chamberlain, 25 years service DPI&F

John is DPI&F’s Clermont-based extension officer in grazing land management. Some notable achievements include his practical approach to the management of parthenium weed (including co-authoring a book on the subject), and he is one of the Department’s authorities on the high protein leguminous fodder plant, leucaena.  John worked on the AP 3 Project, Understanding Dryland Salinity in the Belyando Suttor (Jan 2005). The findings from this project have been used in our new salinity project being undertaken by Sinclair Knight Merz - for more information on this go to: www.bdtnrm.org.au/initiatives/dryland_salinity.html

Added to our non-government web links page

Birds Australia North Queensland Group
Go to: www.bdtnrm.org.au/links/nongovernment.html

Added to our government web links page

Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading
Go to: www.bdtnrm.org.au/links/government.html

BFIMAC’s Enviro News

The latest issue covers their current projects: Evaluating Alternative Irrigation, Upper Haughton Water Balance Study, and On Ground Support for the Coastal Catchment Initiative. An item on the Biochar presentation presented in early June includes diagrams of the process and portable equipment.
For more information on this newsletter, contact secretary@bbifmac.org.au

CERF Environmental Funding

The Australian Government will invest $9.8 million into economic and scientific research to help address Australia’s major environmental and water challenges. $7 million would be used to establish an Environmental Economics Research Hub, through the Australian Government’s $100 million Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) Programme. www.environment.gov.au/minister/env/2007/pubs/mr22may207.pdf

Burdekin To Brisbane Pipeline Scoping Study

A scoping study for a Burdekin to Brisbane pipeline has begun. Engineering consultant GHD Pty Ltd has been appointed to prepare the concept plan for the pipeline from the Burdekin to Brisbane. The plan will investigate whether a 12,00km pipeline linking the Burdekin and South East Queensland is feasible and what other centres would potentially benefit by linking the regions. Other considerations will be whether the pipeline should be able to move water in both directions (so the north could receive water if it was in drought and there was a surplus in the south), and the needs of the current and future populations of the Burdekin Basin including Townsville and Thuringowa. The Concept Plan is expected to be completed later this year and cost $350,000.

Water for Profit program

HORTICULTURE organisation Growcom has thanked horticulture growers involved in this program which has notched up about $250 million in water savings and increases in productivity since it began in 1999. The program which aims to assist horticulture producers to maximise farm water use efficiency will be extended under the Rural Water Use Efficiency (RWUE) Stage III program for another two years, funded by the Blueprint for the Bush state government program.
For more information go to: www.growcom.com.au/land&water/waterforprofit.html

Desert Channels Receives Funds to Fight Parkinsonia and Prickly Acacia

Desert Channels Queensland have been given $300,000 of Federal Government funding to fight Parkinsonia and Prickly Acacia weeds in Western Queensland.

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