Archives for September 2012

Weed Watch: Giant Rat’s Tail grass

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G, R and T: three innocent letters that make up the acronym for one of the worst weeds in the State, Giant Rat’s Tail. GRT (Sporobolus natalensis) is currently a Class 2 declared weed in Queensland that causes significant amounts of damage to grazing lands and natural areas.

Originally from Africa, GRT was introduced to Australia for pasture evaluation. GRT spread through the contamination of pasture seed. Mature GRT leaf blades are tough, making it difficult and unpalatable for cattle to graze. In turn, this reduces animal feed intake and production. It also increases the pressure on other pasture species which in turn reduces competition which promotes further spread of GRT that degrades pastures.

In botanical terms, GRT is an erect, clumping and robust perennial grass that grows to a height of 1.7 metres. The leaf blades are flat or folded and linear from 25 to 50 cm long, whilst the width of the blade is approximately 2 to 4 mm wide. Basal leaf sheath margins are hairless. Seed heads are located on a spike that is 25-80 cm long and young seed heads are ‘rat tail’ shaped (hence the name), opening into a pyramid shape when mature with spikelets loosely spaced and fairly even. The seeds themselves are brown and incredibly tiny, 0.7 -0.8 x 0.4mm in size.

There are a range of GRT control options. Often the best results are obtained by combining a number of techniques including burning, chemical control (currently flupropanate or Glyphosate) and developing or maintaining vigorous, dense pastures. However management will depend on the size and density of the infestation, cost of control, access to the infestation, soil type and weather.

Reef Catchments encourages land managers to discuss with their neighbours best practices for GRT control. Any questions or comments? Head to the Reef Catchments Pest Management Forum and put up a post.

Good works on the Gregory River

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Since 2010 Reef Catchments has been working with the Gregory River community on a series of projects to improve the ecosystem health of the river. Despite the diverse land use, the Gregory River has retained moderate ecological value. However there are significant areas for improvement, including instream habitat and riparian vegetation.

Priority projects were directed by the recommendation of the 2008 Water Quality Improvement Plan. Over time, work in the Gregory River has focused on restoring and protecting riparian habitat, removing barriers for improved flows for fish, and collaborating with land managers for water management planning that can enrich stream productivity.

Reef Catchments recently met with Gregory River land managers who participate in the waterhole monitoring project launched last year. This was a chance to revisit the program aims and build on the community knowledge about water use and waterhole persistence.

As fate would have it, higher than average rainfall during the past two seasons meant that minimal irrigation was needed on the Gregory River cropping lands. However, our partner land managers in the waterhole monitoring project are still keen to gather data when irrigation becomes a priority on their paddocks in the future.  Ultimately the information these land managers gather will lead to a greater understanding of the relationship between waterholes, extraction, and in-stream habitat persistence.

One major barrier to fish migration remains on the Gregory River. By mid-2013 we should see this causeway redesigned and built to ‘fish friendly’ specifications. Once this final barrier to fish migration is removed, Reef Catchments plans to survey the fish in the Gregory River with a major point of interest of possibly finding Jungle Perch in the river system.

Furthermore, Reef Catchments is partnering with Whitsunday Catchment Landcare to work with Gregory River land managers for the development of property specific pest and land management plans.  Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) and Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus) were identified during a recent weed survey on the Gregory.

Currently in the works, the action plans will provide land managers with the necessary information to control these WoNS.  Site visits will be conducted on 15 properties and additional assistance provided with implementing the action plans through on-ground training and the provision of equipment.

For further information visit the River Restoration page.


Over $12 million invested into on-farm improvement through Reef Rescue

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More than 800 Mackay Whitsunday land managers in the sugarcane, grazing and horticultural industries have received Reef Rescue funding to improve the quality of water leaving their farms.

The Reef Rescue program is now in its fifth year. Over the years Reef Rescue coordinators have successfully engaged agricultural land managers to improve the water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from agricultural land. Improving the water quality of the lagoon will help the reef build resilience to other stressors such as climate change and increasing coastal development.

During year four 183 new and 145 repeat land managers from across the three eligible industries got involved in the program. Together they co-invested in on-farm improvements worth over $12 million. This included more than 68kms of fencing and the construction of 26 off-stream watering points on grazing land to prevent stock from entering waterways and allow for better management of stock during the wet season.   In the cane and horticultural industries a further 24,635 hectares of land came under improved management.

Reef Rescue incentives are also available to grazing and cane industry groups to ensure that program benefits are available through shared learning and deliverable services. For example, a current industry project is looking at developing guidelines for the application of mill mud on cane properties. Knowing the nutrient content of mill mud and the difference in nutrient content between mills will give growers confidence in the rate at which the mud is being applied and can calculate further nutrients (if any) that are needed.

This financial year is the last round of Reef Rescue.  We are encouraging all farmers and graziers to get in touch with the Key Contact person for their industry or contact us here at Reef Catchments to lodge an Expression of Interest. This year will be the biggest of all the years with more funding available than in previous years.

Coast carers launch into spring

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The spring calendar of Coastal Community Activities is now available.  Activities in the coming months will include weeding, watering, and rubbish collection to protect our coastal environments.

With the return of nesting marine turtles and migratory shorebirds to our beaches and foreshores, spring is an exciting season on our coast. Every year up to 23,000 migratory shorebirds—known as waders—visit the shores of the Mackay Whitsunday region between October and April.

While the shorebirds are here they are resting in order to build up their strength to make the long journey back to the northern hemisphere to breed.  These birds feed on the mudflats at low tide and gather to roost during hide tide, where they are most vulnerable to disturbance by dogs and other recreational activities.

To celebrate the arrival of the shorebirds and learn what you can do to help, come along to Welcome the Waders on Saturday 6 October at Sandfly Creek Environmental Reserve.  Between 1 and 4pm from the River Street boat ramp there will be guided walks through the Reserve, bird watching activities, and a free barbeque for all attending.  This event is being held in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia and Mackay Regional Council.

To get involved in the Coasts and Communities program, view and download the full list of upcoming Coastal Community activities or contact Noni Zahmel at noni.zahmel@rc2019.thedma.com.au.