Archives for July 2012

Update from the CEO | On funding and new directors

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Both the Commonwealth and State government had reconfirmed their commitment toward regional NRM in 2012/13 via the provision of base and project funding toward Reef Catchments operations. Given the budgetary challenges seen in Queensland for 2012/13 this funding provision for 2012/13 is most welcomed.

July also saw an update in the Reef Catchments board with the additional of two independent directors to the board taking the total number of board members to seven as per constitutional allowances. Reef Catchments welcomes Mrs Lynda Pollock and Mr Craig Fraser to the Reef Catchments team.

Grants Help Graziers

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Local graziers benefit from Reef Rescue water quality improvement grants. The Muller family constructed 6.5 km of land type fencing and off-stream watering points on their Proserpine property using Reef Rescue funding over the last two years. These additions help the Mullers to better manage their cattle over varying land types, wet conditions and disease outbreaks.

For Mr Ken Muller the benefits of the land type fencing program go further than just being able to properly spell blocks, improve pasture condition and reduce sediment loss.

“The fencing also makes it much easier to control tick outbreaks and intestinal worms in my cattle, which leads to reduced chemical requirements, improved cattle management and a higher return on investment,” said Mr Muller.

Ken, Larry and Snow Muller own and manage the 5250 ha property, Mt Pluto Station, in the Proserpine foothills below the Proserpine Dam. They have been Reef Rescue graziers since 2010.

Any grazier in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region can apply for Reef Rescue grants, which are cash incentives of up to 50% of the total cost of implementing an eligible Reef Rescue water quality improvement activity.

Funding can be used for pasture management, riparian fencing, off-stream watering points, and land management, gully management, nutrient and chemical management, pasture rehabilitation.

It only takes a phone call for graziers to begin improving pasture management, nutrient loads or run-off. To apply, complete and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 1 October 2012.

Just released | Natural State quarterly edition for July 2012

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Every quarter Reef Catchments produces a comprehensive newletter, Natural State, on our many projects and intiatives. Highlights from our July 2012 edition of the Natural State include results of Year 4 of Reef Rescue, review of the Healthy Waterways Symposium, facts about the eradication of Mimosa pigra and our new business, Reef Catchments Solutions.

Download the PDF:Natural State Q2 2012.pdf

View online:

Funding makes environmental improvements possible

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Schools and community groups can work together to care for our local environment with help from the Reef Catchments Public Fund.

In 2010, the Pioneer Environmental Area Project (PEAP) was a Public Fund recipient.

PEAP is a joint initiative between Pioneer High School and community environmental groups. Together they repaired and restored a wetland lagoon adjacent to the schools grounds which is fed by an underground water system.

“We wanted this area to be safe, attractive and useful to the community, our students, and those in partnership with primary schools as part of their studies of the environment and environmental good practice,” said Mr Joel Buchholz, Pioneer High School Principal.

Through the Public Fund, phase two of PEAP was completed. PEAP used the funds to appoint contractors to remove trees, pump water, and remove vegetation from the lagoon.

“We aimed to re-establish this natural environment by improving the health of the local wetland which feeds into local waterways and ultimately the reef,” said Mr Buchholz.

Have a project in mind that needs funding? Applications for Round 2 of the 2011/12 Public Fund are due by Tuesday 31 July 2012.

Project applications need to focus on the sustainable management of a natural resource in Mackay Whitsunday Isaac and deliver a tangible difference the region. A natural resource can be land, water, plants and wildlife, coasts or marine asset.

Download the application form online.

Collaborating across boundaries: the Role of Ecological Knowledge, Landscape Values and Ecosystem Services in the Riverine River Restoration Programs

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In 2011, twenty-one land managers from the Gregory River catchment participated in a survey conducted by Reef Catchments to determine community perception of river condition and conservation priorities for their own properties. The program also sought to find preferred methods of improved conservation practices.

During 2012 the project has been expanded to the O’Connell River Restoration Program. Reef Catchments Healthy Waterways Project Officer, Melanie McSwiney and conservation planning consultant Dr Stephanie Januchowski-Hartley recently completed interviews with more than forty land managers directly adjacent to the O’Connell River. The surveys are designed to establish landholders willingness to participate in riverine restoration programs, priority restoration activities and establishment of spatially explicit conservation planning scenarios.

The survey provided land managers with a list of possible riverine restoration actions and asked them to rank the priority of each action on their own property. The actions included stream bank stabilisation, invasive species management, riparian revegetation, riparian vegetation maintenance, water quality and waterhole monitoring, improving fish access and fencing the waterway from cattle.

They were then asked to identify what public and private benefits, if any, they would expect to achieve after undertaking the actions. Lastly, participants identified incentives they would expect/require in order to undertake each of the seven riverine restoration actions on their property.

Such conservation planning programs can have excellent on-ground benefits including:

  • Identifying property scale priorities for riverine restoration to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services including water management strategies
  • Collecting and assimilating ecological and socio-economic data that will inform property scale prioritisation
  • Developing frameworks that are transferable and may be used in resource management to identify priorities with consideration to conservation value and socio-economic constraints that influence the success of restoration actions
  • Provide data analysis (spatial, social, cost)  for spatial prioritisation across land manager units to contribute to catchment and region scale knowledge improvement in natural resource management for improved biodiversity condition, connectivity and habitat resilience

The overarching aim of these types of spatial prioritisation scenarios is to maximise the number of ecosystem services per length of river requiring action, and to minimise the cost by considering both implementation actions as well as the willingness of landholders to implement proposed actions on their land.  Read more about the River Restoration Program.

Ball Bay and Halliday Bay communities brave the weather to help their beach

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On Saturday 7 July volunteers braved the rain to help improve the condition of the local beaches at Ball Bay and Haliday Bay as part of Coastal Community Activities.

28 bags of weeds were removed and over 100 plants fertilised by volunteers over a two hour session. By weeding and planting native species, volunteers help to stabilise the dunes, replace invasive weeds and protect endangered coastal vegetation.

Ball Bay and Haliday Bay are important sites for nesting marine turtles. Through weeding and planting, volunteers help to maintain turtle habitat.

Coastal Community Activities provide opportunities for the local community to learn about the coast and make a meaningful contribution to coastal management initiatives. The activities are also a great way to meet neighbours and enjoy the outdoors.

For more information or the full list of winter Coastal Community Activities visit our events calendar. Alternatively, contact Ms Noni Zahmel at noni.zahmel@rc2019.thedma.com.au or 4968 4215.

Mackay Coastal Community Activities are an initiative under the Coasts and Communities Project, which is supported by Mackay Regional Council and Reef Catchments through the Natural Environment Levy and Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.

 

Care for our coasts? Volunteer at Ball Bay and Haliday Bay this weekend

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On Saturday 7 July, volunteers can help with the maintenance of revegetation sites at Ball Bay and Haliday Bay, including weeding and watering, as part of the winter series of Coastal Community Activities.

While the beaches at Ball Bay and Haliday Bay are loved by residents and visitors, they are also important habitats for nesting marine turtles.

Volunteers can help to protect these habitats by attending Coastal Community Activities.

“The revegetation work being conducted along the dune front aims to reduce light pollution by creating a continuous zone of coastal vegetation on our sand dunes. This reduces the impact on nesting and hatching marine turtles,” said Ms Zahmel, Reef Catchments Project officer.

Coordinated by Reef Catchments and Mackay Regional Council, Coastal Community Activities aim to improve the condition of our coastal environments while allowing for appropriate recreational use.

“There is always room for more volunteers at the Coastal Community Activities. We are looking to spread the word and get more locals to join their neighbours in looking after our beaches,” Ms Zahmel said.

Can’t attend volunteer sessions on 7 July? There are plenty of other ways that you can help care for our coasts, such as using pedestrian access tracks, composting garden waste or disposing of it at a Council waste facility, and enjoying walking on the beach and leave cars and motorbikes for use on the roads.

The full program of Coastal Community Activities can be found on www.rc2019.thedma.com.au. Alternatively, contact Ms Noni Zahmel at noni.zahmel@rc2019.thedma.com.au or 4968 4215.

Mackay Coastal Community Activities are an initiative under the Coasts and Communities Project, which is supported by Mackay Regional Council and Reef Catchments through the Natural Environment Levy and Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.