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Burdekin Bites 19 October 2007

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What's happening in our region :

  1. Our thanks to Lesley Marshall
  2. Funding: MBI Incentive Scheme
  3. Coastal and Marine Envirofund Round 10, Successful Projects
  4. Healthy Soils Workshop, Bowen, 15 November
  5. Healthy Soils Workshop, Clermont, 13 November
  6. Black-throated Finch Count
  7. Land and Sea Conference at Cardwell a great Success
  8. Water Quality Survey Results Coming Soon
  9. BBIFMAC Annual General Meeting, 2 November
  10. Desert Uplands Committee AGM
  11. National Lantana Field Days
  12. Participants Requested for NRM Survey
  13. Knowledge for Regional Natural Resource Management
  14. Nominate for McKell Medal
  15. Vacancy, NRM Coordinator, Kowanyama, Western Cape York Peninsula
  16. 31 October: Earlybird Registration Closes, EcoEDGE 2 Conference
  17. Environmental Stewardship Programme Strategic Framework

Our thanks to Lesley Marshall

Bob Frazer and Jenni Edmonds attended Lesley Marshall's farewell dinner held in Barcaldine on 16 October. The dinner was held in honour of Lesley Marshall who was a founding member of the Desert Upland Committee. Lesley was tireless in her dedication and resourcefulness in working towards the Desert Uplands Committee vision "That the people of the Desert Uplands will, through sustainable economic and environmental development, progressively increase their standard of living and quality of life". Hannah Whiteaker and the Desert Upland staff did an outstanding job organising the night.

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Funding: MBI Incentive Scheme

BDTNRM is implementing an innovative scheme for all cane growers in the Lower Burdekin and graziers in the Haughton River, Barratta Creek, Stone Creek and Landers Creek catchments. The scheme, worth up to $600,000, offers rewards for farmers for undertaking verifiable actions towards improving water quality. Any activity that will lead to an improvement in water quality leaving the farm will be considered for funding. All proposals will be assessed in terms of the water quality improvements they offer and cost effectiveness. Proposals that offer permanent benefits and/or holistic improvements in the farming system will be given additional weighting. Proposals can be submitted by individual landholders or a group of neighbouring landholders.

Landholders who submit an expression of interest will receive a call from BDTNRM staff, and normally followed up by a property visit (on a ‘first in, first served’ basis) by technical extension officers from BSES or DPI&F and the project officer from BDTNRM. The visit will provide landholders with information and assistance needed to formulate a submission.

Visit our web page: www.bdtnrm.org.au/watertender for further information (including examples of types of activities) on this Lower Burdekin Water Quality Improvement Tender.

Submissions close 31 October with successful landholders notified by early February 2008.

Any queries, please contact Project Officer Duan Biggs on 4724 3544 or duan.biggs@bdtnrm.org.au

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Coastal and Marine Envirofund Round 10, Successful Projects

Establishing Community Capacity for Reef Check Monitoring in the Indigenous Community at Palm Island, Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation for CDEP
This project to establish capacity within the Indigenous community at Palm Island, to monitor reef health, will be achieved through an established, rigorous education and data collection system developed by Reef Check Australia. It will provide training and participation opportunities for coral reef education and marine monitoring, to both diving and non-diving participants from Palm Island Community, Coolgaree Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP), Bwgcolman Community School, and Manbarra Traditional Owners. Outcomes will be measured by levels of community interest and participation as well as successful snorkel and scuba surveys.

BDTNRM are providing funding for $20,000 to support the project facilitation and coordination and assist with scoping the project.
Congratulations to all groups that got their projects funding including, Alva Sports Recreation and Community Association Inc, Magnetic Island RSL Sub Branch Inc, Reef Check Foundation Limited, Creek to Coral and Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation for CDEP.
For more details of the projects in our Burdekin region please see the Envirofund web site.

For any groups that didn’t receive funding, please contact our Coastcare Facilitator Adam King on 4721 4077, Mobile 04 2941 8884 or aking@cva.org.au, for details of BDTNRM Coastcare Grants currently on offer.

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Healthy Soils Workshop, Bowen, 15 November

BDTNRM is hosting a free workshop at DPI Conference room, Bowen.
The workshop is part of the Land and Water Australia Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms Project. Greg Paynter from Biological Farmers of Australia will discuss the importance of developing healthy soils for maintaining viable agricultural enterprises. The workshop will provide useful information for graziers, horticulturalists, and sugar cane producers.

Lunch and morning tea will be provided. For more information and to register, contact Peter Arthofer on peter.arthofer@bdtnrm.org.au or Mob: 0407 317 463

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Healthy Soils Workshop, Clermont, 13 November

CHRRUP is also taking registrations for this workshop (format as described above for Bowen) at Tarvellon Station, Clermont, starting at 9:00 am. For more information and to register, contact Bronwyn Roberts on 0428 776 249 or bronwyn@chrrup.org.au.

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BDTNRM Out and About

Rachel Allan and Leonie Maddigan will be attending the Reef Guardian Council Launches for both Townsville City Council and Burdekin Shire Council on the 17 and 31 October respectively. These events recognise the commitment both councils have made to preserving our Great Barrier Reef.

Leonie Maddigan, Neil Pemberton, Peter Arthofer and Paul Wuth will also be attending the Local Government NRM forum on the 17-18 October. Judy Warner has organised this biannual meeting, to be hosted by BDTNRM for the first time. Leonie, Neil and Paul will deliver presentations on BDTNRM’s local government engagement.

Peter Arthofer will be at the Healthy soils for sustainable farms workshop on the 15th of November at the DPI&F research station conference room in Bowen.

BDTNRM recently sponsored a float in the Burdekin water Festival.

Bob Frazer and Jenni Edmonds attended the retirement farewell at Barcaldine for Lesley Marshall, Desert Uplands.

What's On

October

21-27: National Water Week

22: Funding submissions round closes, Our Place, Our Future: resourcing rural capacity

27-28: Black-throated Finch Count

29: North Queensland Economic Development Conference

31: Expression of Interest closes, Lower Burdekin water quality improvement tender

31: Earlybird registration closes, EcoEDGE 2 Conference

November

02: BBIFMAC Annual General Meeting

05: National Recycling Week

13: Healthy Soils Workshop, Clermont

13-14: APEN National Forum, Canberra

15: Healthy Soils Workshop, Bowen

16: Nominations close for the McKell Medal

 

For more information on the events above and more click here

Black-throated Finch Count

Join the Recovery Team from Birds Australia North Queensland Group to survey key habitat in search of the BTF. For more information phone Tony Grice on 4725 7201 after business hours or email birdsaus@birdsaustralianq.org. More information about the Recovery Project can be found on: www.savanna.org.au/all/ar_btfinch.html, and BDTNRM’s webpage on the Black-throated Finch: www.bdtnrm.org.au/bio/bio/pgm/bio/btf2.html.

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Land and Sea Conference at Cardwell a Great Success

More than 5000 visitors mingled with locals and 600 delegates from all over the country for the National Indigenous Land and Sea Management conference and Girrungun cultural festival at Cardwell.

Noel Pearson, Professor Mick Dodson and Peter Yu, three of the most powerful indigenous personalities in the country, were among guest speakers over the three day conference. Changes to environmental management, the Great Barrier Reef, and cultural changes were among the many topics discussed at the conference, partly sponsored by BDTNRM.

Weekend festivities included entertainment by the nationally renowned traditional performers Boney M, Archie Roach and Banawurun.

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Water Quality Survey Results Coming Soon

The results of the five year water quality survey of the Burdekin catchment funded by BDTNRM and conducted by the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR) are expected to be released to coincide with National Water Week.

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BBIFMAC Annual General Meeting, 2 November

The AGM will be held at 9.30am, Queens Hotel, Tuscan Room, Ayr: nominations are being called for the BBIFMAC Management Committee.

For more information and to RSVP for catering purposes, please contact Linda Kirk on 4783 4344 or secretary@bbifmac.org.au.

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Desert Uplands Committee AGM

Held earlier this week, the new Committee for 2007-2008 is:
Robyn Adams (Chair), Bruce Currie (Deputy), Peter Whip (Treasurer).
General Committee Members: Rebecca Arnaboldi, Anne Cocking, Phil Cook, Margaret House, Frank Lawrence, Glenys Lawrence, Frank Manwaring, Loretta McKeering, Serg Pelizzari, David Thompson, Bronwyn White , Juliana McCosker (EPA Representative), Lew Markey (DPI Representative), Damian Arthur (NRW Representative), Peter Klem (NRW Representative). 

Founding member and chair for 8 of 13 years, Lesley Marshall has retired from the committee and over 60 people attended the farewell dinner held in her honour. She will be much missed from the organisation.
Jane Dickson resigned from the committee.

 

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National Lantana Field Days

These Best Practice Integrated Trials will showcase the latest research on lantana, recent control work undertaken and ways to integrate lantana controls; and provide the opportunity to speak with representatives from the National Lantana Management Group council, government, herbicide companies and local contractors; and pick up a copy of the booklet Using Herbicides with Lantana. Maps will be provided upon receipt of RSVP.
Part of the National Lantana Weeds of National Significance project, led by Biosecurity QLD, QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries with support from Eacham Shire Council and QLD Environmental Protection Agency, the field days will be held on:

  • 13 November: Malanda (Small scale works in the Atherton Tablelands, 10.00am to 2.00/3.00pm).
  • 14 November: Glen Ruth Station (Large scale works south east of Mt Garnet, 11.00am to 2.00/3.00pm).
  • 15 November: Abergowrie State Forest (Control works in a rainforest margin/national park, 10.00am to 2.00/3.00pm).
Interested attendees are welcome to attend more than one day, please RSVP by 2 November, lunch will be provided. If interested in displaying or demonstrating equipment, please email as soon as possible.
Contact Daniel Stock, daniel.stock@dpi.qld.gov.au or (07) 3206 2099.

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Participants Requested for NRM Survey

Econnect Communication is researching the needs of regional natural resource management bodies for seasonal forecast tools and information on the internet, on behalf of the national Managing Climate Variability program (see www.managingclimate.gov.au) and in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology.

The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete, provides natural resource managers with a chance to influence the Bureau's product development, and can be accessed until 5pm, 22 October at www.nrmseasonalforecast.net. Participants who complete the survey may choose to enter a draw to win a case of wine or an ABC Shop voucher valued at $150.

If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the project, please contact Melanie McKenzie at melanie@econnect.com.au or 07 3846 7111, mobile 0405 488 045.

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Knowledge for Regional Natural Resource Management

The objective of this Land & Water Australia programme funded by the Natural Heritage Trust is to facilitate better linkages between regional NRM bodies and knowledge providers, and to assist regional NRM bodies to better manage their knowledge.

Their October newsletter includes information on: the NRM Toolbar, an NRM-specific search engine; the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit, an interactive wiki management tool; and the Regional Knowledge Leaders training programme (cost-assistance provided).

Follow the link from our NRM links page: www.bdtnrm.org.au/links/nrmbodies.html

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Nominate for McKell Medal

The McKell Medal is the most prestigious Australian award for excellence and achievement in natural resource management.

The medal is sponsored by Australian, state and territory government agencies engaged in agriculture and natural resource management through the NRM Ministerial Council. Applications close 16 November and are assessed by an independent panel.

For further information and application form visit: www.daff.gov.au/natural-resources/landcare/mckell

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Vacancy, NRM Coordinator, Kowanyama, Western Cape York Peninsula

The closing date for applications is 5.00pm, 9 November. Further details about this position including a position description may be obtained from: Viv Sinnamon, The Manager, on (07) 40605187 fax: 07 40605250, email: viv.klco@bigpond.com.

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Earlybird Registration Closes, EcoEDGE 2 Conference

Discounted tickets for this conference end 31 October. On 14-16 February 2008 in Melbourne international sustainability experts will address the economic, aesthetic and ethical dimensions of making sustainable cities.

For more information and to register, visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ecoedge2

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Environmental Stewardship Programme Strategic Framework

The Environmental Stewardship Programme Strategic Framework has been released. This document sets out the overarching principles, approaches and governance arrangements for the Programme. It is available at: www.nrm.gov.au/funding/local.html#esp

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



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