Archives for September 2014

Book in now for Project Catalyst Burdekin Field Tour

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Canegrower in Mackay with machinery
Growers are encouraged to book now for the 2014 Burdekin Project Catalyst Field Trip.

It’s planting time in the sugar industry and for Reef Catchments this means there are a host of new trials being implemented for Project Catalyst, Game Changer and our Sustainable Agriculture program. 

Reef Catchments is working with NQ Dry Tropics and Terrain Wet Tropics to bring sugarcane farmers from the three regions together for a two-day innovation field trip to the Burdekin this October. The growers involved will view the early stages of Game Changer and Project Catalyst innovation trials as well as some long-term trials including:

Joe Tama’s farm

  • Drip irrigation – low cost alternative samples
  • One pass ratoon to plant implement

Willy Lucas’ Farm

  • Irrigation telemetry and automation systems
  • Variable rate fertiliser application combining soil test results, yield maps and EM mapping

Jurgens’ Farm

  • Purpose built broadcast mill mud spreader
  • Drip Irrigation and sub-surface Dunder applicator
  • Solid-state overhead irrigation system

Ayr Farming

  • Enhanced efficiency fertilisers with water quality monitoring

Chris Hesp’s Farm

  • Banded vs broadcast mill mud
  • Split N application in green trash system under lateral move overhead irrigation

The Game Changer and Project Catalyst sugar innovation programs bring together around 140 sugarcane farmers from Australia’s most productive sugar growing regions.

The Game Changer program is a part of the Australia Government’s Reef Programme and provides supported, on farm demonstration of practices that have been proven to have strong potential to drastically cut loads of nutrients and herbicides reaching the vulnerable Great Barrier Reef. Growers are supported to implement these practices on a farm block, gaining a greater understanding of how the practices work in a practical sense, as well as how to obtain the best possible economic outcomes.

The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Australian Government, Bayer and Syngenta support Project Catalyst. This is a true innovation program working with growers to develop new farm management practices that have positive water quality and economic outcomes.

Growers are encouraged to book now for the 2014 Burdekin Project Catalyst Field Trip.

Date: Wed 15 + Thurs 16 October 2014
RSVP: By 6 October. Growers from the Mackay Whitsunday region can contact Reef Catchments – Belinda Billing on (07) 4968 4200 or belinda.billing@reefcatchments.com

Tour commences at the Malpass Hotel in Ayr at 10:00am Wednesday 15th October and concludes at 1:00pm Thursday 16th October. Lunches, smokos and dinner provided.

For full details CLICK HERE.

 

Whitsunday Catchment Landcare has a new home

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From left: WCL coordinator Jacquie Sheils, Reef Catchments CEO Rob Cocco, WCL Chair Graham Armstrong and Reef Catchments Manager John Franklin celebrate new premises for Whitsunday Catchment Landcare in Proserpine.
From left: WCL coordinator Jacquie Sheils, Reef Catchments CEO Rob Cocco, WCL Chair Graham Armstrong and Reef Catchments Manager John Franklin celebrate new premises for Whitsunday Catchment Landcare in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Catchment Landcare Group recently relocated from the Whitsunday Regional Council Office to the Reef Catchments Office at 45 Main Street Proserpine. 

“Sharing an office with Reef Catchments makes perfect sense, both our organisations work with landholders, Council and other groups to look after the natural resources of the region,” said Graham Armstrong, Chair of WCL.

John Franklin, Manager of Reef Catchments Limited, is based in Proserpine and said being able to work more closely with Landcare would be a real benefit to Reef Catchments.

“We already contract Landcare to deliver revegetation, weed control and other activities for lots of our projects. Instead of picking up the phone I can now walk down the corridor,” Mr Franklin said.

He said the natural resources of the Whitsundays were vitally important as they sustained the farming, tourism, development and natural environment that made the area such a desirable place to live.

“Organisations such as Reef Catchments and WCL work with the community to ensure that together we are looking after our natural resources so that they continue to provide for us in the future.”

Reef Catchments CEO, Rob Cocco, said working together made the best use of  limited dollars for natural resource management.

This efficiency is critical when Government has limited money and so many priorities to try and balance.”

Jacquie Sheils, Coordinator with WCL, said she would be working from the Main Street Office Tuesday to Wednesday and was looking forward to sharing an office with people working in the same field.

To contact Reef Catchments or Whitsunday Catchment Landcare come into the office or call John Franklin, Reef Catchments, 0438 115 086 or Jacquie Sheils, Whitsunday Catchment Landcare, 0408 187 944.

Reef Programme: Year one

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Canefield in Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region
Funding covers EC Mapping, soil testing (additional to regulation) and $500 per grower for initial precision agriculture planning improvements.

The Plane Creek and Mackay Productivity Boards, CANEGROWERS and Farmacist collectively worked with 239 sugarcane farmers across the Mackay Whitsunday region in the inaugural year of Reef Programme.

Reef Programme is the successor to the Australian Government’s very successful Reef Rescue program. Like Reef Rescue the program, facilitated by Reef Catchments, is designed to improve the quality of water leaving agricultural lands in the Great Barrier Reef Regions. In our region funding is provided to sugarcane producers and graziers to improve nutrient and chemical management.

While funding for this region is smaller than what was received through Reef Rescue, Reef Catchments has worked with the sugarcane industry to design a program that delivers more than a simple grants program.

Participating landholders are provided with a three-year property planning service that aims to improve nutrient and chemical efficiency on farm resulting in economic and environmental savings. Precision Planning Consultants within Plane Creek Productivity Services, Mackay Area Productivity Services, CANEGROWERS Proserpine, Sugar Services Proserpine and Farmacist are working with sugarcane growers to develop plans that are suitable for the individual growers.  Consultants also update farm plans and provide a range of agronomic advice and support.

As well as the planning service Reef Programme provides funds for EC Mapping, soil testing (additional to regulation) and $500 per grower for initial precision agriculture planning improvements – e.g. nozzles/ new tank / equipment.

Landholders who meet criteria will also be supported to apply for an additional second round of grants to fund equipment and on-ground activities.

For more information CLICK HERE.

To get involved contact Reef Catchments on 4945 2321 or fill out the EOI at https://reefcatchments.com.au/land/reef-rescue/

Working on Wetlands in Mackay-Whitsunday

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More prominence will be given to the restoration, construction and maintenance of critical wetlands in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, thanks to the good work of the Wetland Working Group.

Formed this year, the group aims to develop and share information on wetland activities that are happening locally, as well as seeking partnerships to add value to these programs.

Reef Catchments Program Leader – Land Water & Waterways, Adam Folkers, said wetlands (areas of the land where water covers the soil) were some of the most diverse and important environmental assets in the region.

“Wetlands can be both natural or constructed and deliver a realm of benefits.

Wetlands provide protection from the marine environment to the land and shore and reduce the impacts of floods.

“Wetlands are also critical sites for biodiversity, providing habitat for plants and animals, including many migratory, juveniles native fish species and some regionally iconic species such as the rare Black Necked Stork.”

Wetland types are diverse and can include rivers, swamps, lakes, lagoons, mudflats, mangroves and even coral reefs.

The current Wetland Working Group includes representatives from Reef Catchments, DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), GBRMPA, Regional Councils (Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac) and regional Landcare groups.

Two key projects being overseen by the group so far include the rehabilitation of De Moleyns Lagoon, a natural wetland located in the Pioneer Valley near Mirani, and a constructed wetland located at Blacks Beach, north of Mackay.

New video resources have been developed to provide an interactive overview of the projects and information regarding wetland construction and maintenance.

 

Your region, have your say

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Two people holding the draft Natural Resource Management Plan for Mackay Whitsunday Isaac.
The draft Natural Resource Management Plan for Mackay Whitsunday Isaac is now open for public review.

New Natural Resource Management Plan 2014-2024 open for Public Review.

A draft of the new Natural Resource Management Plan (2014-2024) for Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac is now available for public comment.  The plan provides the community and stakeholders an opportunity to have a final say on how our land, water, coasts and islands should be managed for the future.

The NRM Plan has been developed collaboratively with Reef Catchments, pulling information together on behalf of a multitude of stakeholders, including local governments, industry bodies and Traditional Owners.

NRM Plan coordinator Alice Spencer, said it was important for community and industry members to have a look at the NRM Plan draft to ensure their views were represented.

The plan will help to ensure future on ground activity address the community’s priorities.

“We have tried to do the best possible job of capturing the community’s values and visions for the future of the region via extensive consultation over the last 18 months,” Ms Spencer said.

“We are now asking people to go online, or give us a call, and let us know if we have represented their views accurately. This is a community plan, so we want the community to be the ones with the red pen marking this draft.”

Feedback will be assessed and incorporated into the Natural Resource Management Plan that will then be used to guide future planning and activity in the region.

“This is an essential part of the planning process. It has been our aim to involve people throughout the plan’s journey, and it is important stakeholders and the community are involved at the review stage to make sure they are represented in the final plan.”

The NRM Plan (2014-2024) DRAFT is available online from 15 September until 3 October – CLICK HERE to view the draft plan.

Alternatively please contact Alice Spencer to arrange a meeting – alice.spencer@reefcatchments.com or phone 0428 955 490.

All stakeholders are encouraged to visit the site, and share the link with others so that everyone is aware that they have the opportunity to comment.

Following public review, the NRM Plan draft will be returned to the NRM Plan Development Committee and Reef Catchments Board for final review and approval, ahead of a formal plan launch scheduled at the end of October.

Mackay’s youngest eco-warriors take to the beach

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Lending a helping Beach Clean Up hand are (from left) - Harper Shields, Asher Rogers, Danielle Overall, Harriet Shields, Jimmy Rogers, Alice Graham and John Atkinson (back).
Lending a helping Beach Clean Up hand are (from left) – Harper Shields, Asher Rogers, Danielle Overall from Conservation Volunteers Australia, Harriet Shields, Jimmy Rogers, Alice Graham and John Atkinson (back). The project was run on the day by Conservation Volunteers Australia.

A group of Mackay’s youngest eco-warriors came together recently to help clean up our local beaches and learn more about the importance of looking after the coast, waterways and marine environment.

Aged just four and five, what the group lacked in size, they more than make up for in passion. The team from the Mackay Kindergarten and Preschool have been focused on learning about the environment and how to look after it for the last 12 months.

Funding from Reef Catchments Public Fund allowed Pioneer Catchment Landcare Group and Conservation Volunteers Australia to support the group to participate in a recent Beach Clean Up Day at Mackay’s Far Beach, with many eager hands making light work.

The day was run on-the-ground by Conservation Volunteers Australia, who helped the children and their families collect and evaluate rubbish, thinking about the impact it could have had on the environment, plants and animals.

Mackay Kindergarten and Preschool Co-Director, Alice Graham, said teaching children about the environment from a young age was important.

“If children are learning about sustainability at a young age, it will help the next generation to be more aware of human impact and pollution, as well as possible solutions,” Ms Graham said.

“We have a real interest and passion for sustainability here, but our program always stems from the children’s interest. When we started recycling, it sparked conversations around ‘well, where does the rubbish go if it is not put in the bin?’

“We investigated and learned about the places rubbish can go, for example in the drain and into our environment, and looked at pictures of how our rubbish can impact our animals and wildlife. That really moved the children and they were very eager to learn more.

“Now, parents tell us their youngest are the ones driving change at home – for example, instructing parents and siblings about where to put their rubbish and recycled items!”

Funding through Reef Catchments Public Fund can be applied for by any community group or organisation with an environmental project, for matched funds of up to $2500.

Reef Catchments CEO Robert Cocco said the Beach Clean Up Day was the kind of project the Public Fund was been designed to encourage.

“The Public Fund is designed allow funds to go back into environmental projects and experiences in the Mackay Whitsunday region,” Mr Cocco said.

“It is open to schools, community organisations and not-for-profit groups as well as sole proprietors who have an environmental project they are passionate about and need support for.”

Pioneer Catchment and Landcare Group office manager, Wendy Eiteneuer identified the project as an example of how the public fund could help local projects move forward.

“The Beach Clean Up Day was a n educational opportunity we were proud to participate in,” Ms Eiteneuer said.

“We are thankful for Reef Catchments Public Fund support. In addition to this, the Public Fund has agreed to provide funds for two habitat restoration projects that wil enable us to extend activities beyond what we previously could – a great opportunity for us.”

Public Fund applications forms are available for download online at: https://reefcatchments.com.au/public-fund/

Marine Classroom brings aquatic environment alive for students

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Students take part in the Mackay Marine Classroom program
Students from Sarina State High take part in the Mackay Marine Classroom program.

A marine adventure on the high seas isn’t your average school day. But for 63 high school students from the Mackay region, time spent on the water has been an educational highlight this year as part of the Mackay Marine Classroom Program.

As the new program reaches the end of its first 12 months, it has been hailed a resounding success by the students and teachers involved, offering a way to deliver a meaningful and hands-on learning experience for young adults.

Funded by Reef Catchments and delivered on the ground by Wild Mob, the program has allowed 63 high school students from four different schools to reconnect with the marine environment and to build a real life understanding of science and ecology.

From coral and algae data collection, to snorkelling and sea cucumbers – Reef Catchments Coastal Manager, Kerri Woodcock, said the activities offered by the Mackay Marine Classroom had been developed to align with senior marine science studies and biology, earth science and geography syllabuses.

“This ensures the program is relevant and can be integrated easily into the school calendar year,” she said.

“Reef Catchments came on board to fund the project to allow students from all schools and backgrounds to be able to participate, because we believe this kind of learning opportunity is something local students in Mackay and the Whitsundays should be able to access. The Great Barrier Reef and its islands offer just about the best marine studies classroom in the world.”

Teachers have agreed the fact the program is subsidised is a major benefit.

“The fact this trip was subsidised meant that every student could attend and it was within his or her budget. This was crucial in our decision to participate,” said Gerri Sticklan, Head of Social Science, North Mackay State High School.

Mr Ray Donohue, Social Science Teacher from Mackay North State High, said he had never had such positive feedback from students regarding an excursion.

“Every student found it rewarding and educational. Students were talking about the trip weeks later and were already asking if they could go again the next year.  Making assessment relevant and real life encouraged all the students… they had ownership of their learning and really valued that,” Mr Donohue said.

Schools participating in the program over the last 12 months included: Mackay North State High School, Sarina State High School, Mackay State High School and Pioneer State High School.

General Manager of Wild Mob, Andrew Elphinstone, said there was already a waiting list of schools lined up for the next 12 months of the program.

“The program does rely on funding to ensure it can be rolled out with minimal cost to the students. We are currently planning a sponsorship campaign to support even more schools in the coming year and would welcome expressions of interest from any businesses or organisations keen to be involved,” Mr Elphinstone said.

He said as well as providing a learning experience, the program also delivered important environmental outcomes.

“For example, in the past 12 months, students have removed over 650kg of weeds and more than 70kg of plastic this year from our fragile island ecosystems,” Mr Elphinstone said.

The Mackay Marine Classroom is offered to schools at a subsidised rate, so it is affordable for any student. For this to continue into the future, the program relies on support from businesses and organisations in our community. Please forward this to your contacts as the program is currently seeking funding to sponsor students in 2015. To see the benefits and the student experience, please click the video link at the top of this page.

For more information on the Mackay Marine Classrooms Program contact Kerri Woodock, email: kerri.woodcock@reefcatchments.com

Be a part of something bigger at Reef Blitz 2014

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Coral, part of the Great Barrier Reef
Reef Blitz 2014 will take place on Friday 24th October and Saturday 25th October 2014, at Cannonvale Beach, in Airlie Beach.

Residents and visitors in the Mackay and Whitsundays have a unique opportunity to discover, identify and record the plants and animals living in and around our Great Barrier Reef.

 Those wanting to get involved in Reef Blitz 2014 this month will play an essential role in reef management, contributing meaningful data and findings from a day of surveying.

Importantly, data collected with the community as part of Reef Blitz enhances the scope and scale of existing science and management monitoring efforts that aims to preserve and restore the Great Barrier Reef and its adjoining habitats.

Data is collected on important plant and animal species across many habitats, including seagrasses, mangroves and fringing reefs.

Surveying for Reef Blitz 2014 will take place on Friday 24th October and Saturday 25th October 2014, at Cannonvale Beach, in Airlie Beach.

The site composes a range of ecological communities and habitats such as mangroves, seagrass, rocky intertidal platforms, reef flats and beach. This makes it an ideal location for a wide range of flora and fauna surveys.

ReefBlitz offers you the opportunity to participate in a range of activities, including:

  • Guided walks through seagrass, mangroves, reef flats and rainforest
  • Talks from scientists and citizen scientists
  • Getting your hands dirty while surveying and collecting data on Reef habitats

You could volunteer as a survey leader or an assistant. You could help out at Basecamp with species identification, data entry, uploading photos, presentations, or a range of other activities. Your citizen science group could showcase their work or lead a survey. Or you can come along and participate in a range of surveys on the day.

To get involved or for more information please contact the Great Barrier Reef Foundation on (07) 3252 7555 or Mrodgers@barrierreef.org

Turtle group takes out Highly Commended

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A turtle on the sand in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac area
The MDTWA were awarded ‘Highly Commended’ at the National Landcare Awards, 2014.

Reef Catchments would like to congratulate the Mackay and District Turtle Watch Association (MDTWA) who recently took out ‘Highly Commended’ at the National Landcare Awards in Melbourne. 

The MDTWA were one of just nine groups selected to represent Queensland at the prestigious awards, after winning the Queensland State Coastcare category.

The well-deserved national Highly Commended title is in recognition of the tireless work and lifelong passion for the MDTWA team, including founding Mackay members Fay and Ken Griffin.

The team will continue to work to protect the region’s iconic and threatened sea turtles – monitoring nests, helping stranded marine animals, running education activities, collecting data on hatchlings, implementing turtle friendly lighting and more.

The MDTWA has been working in the Mackay region for 21 years. Their work covers beaches from Repulse Bay in the north of the region, to Stanage Bay in the south.

Well done to the team and all involved, whose invaluable efforts will help make sure turtles can continue to share our shores well into the future.

Turtle season upon us again

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Sign up now for the Mackay Turtle Talk and Beach Walk – for details CLICK HERE 

Newly hatched baby turtles
Giving our turtles the space they need is critical during nesting season, and helps ensure they can keep returning to our shores.

It’s an exciting time of year for turtle-lovers in Mackay and the Whitsundays, as female marine turtles make their way up our local beaches to nest.

Six of the seven species of sea turtle found throughout the world live in Queensland waters, with many calling Mackay home.

To mark the occasion, Reef Catchments is coordinating a ‘Turtle Talk and Beach Walk’ for those interested in learning more about these unique marine creatures.

The walk will be held on Saturday, November 15 at Ball Bay. The evening includes a presentation by the Mackay and District Turtle Watch Association (MDTWA), followed by a free barbecue for hungry walkers.

Places are limited – please contact Reef Catchments to reserve a spot.

Reef Catchments coastal project officer, Claire Bartron, emphasised this was a critical time of the year for turtles.

“Understanding the cycle and making sure we don’t disturb them as they come to shore to nest is crucial to their nesting success,” she said.

“We would encourage anyone wanting to learn more about the marine turtles in our region to take part in the Turtle Talk and Beach Walk and gain insight into how to better share our beaches with our much-loved turtle visitors.”

To book a spot on the walk contact Claire Bartron on M: 0429 155 841 or E: claire.bartron@reefcatchments.com

For a full list of Spring Coastcare activities please CLICK HERE

Mackay Regional Council and Reef Catchments focus on our Coast

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The Coasts and Communities program, and pictured from left are MRC director of community and client services Gerard Carlyon, Reef Catchments Kerri Woodcock, Mel Millen from Adrenalin Rush Sports and kite surfer Alex Petrov.
The Coasts and Communities program, delivered in partnership with Reef Catchments and Mackay Regional Council, helps action on-ground coastal projects – including the construction of this new beach access stairway from recycled materials at Town Beach, Mackay. Pictured from left are – Mackay Regional Council director of community and client services Gerard Carlyon, Reef Catchments’ Kerri Woodcock, Mel Millen from Adrenalin Rush Sports and kite surfer Alex Petrov.

It’s good news for our Coast – work being done to stabilise the coastline and keep our beaches at their best has been strengthened thanks to funding from the Mackay Regional Council, with more than $800,000 invested into coastal works across the region.

The program is also supported by Reef Catchments through the Australian Government, with a focus on protecting Nationally Significant coastal assets and improving water quality and habitat in urban coastal centres.

Reef Catchments Coastal Program Manager, Kerri Woodcock, said the investment highlighted the importance of on-ground activity.

“The Coasts and Communities program continues to grow with support from the Mackay community, because it delivers real benefit to the long term sustainability of our region,” she said.

“We are continuing to work towards maintaining and improving the condition of our coast and beaches so that future generations will be able to enjoy them, as we are lucky enough to be able to.”

The program aims to rejuvenate and restore more than 20 of the Mackay region’s much-loved beaches. Individual plans for 25 beaches are also being developed to help map out a path for their long-term sustainability.

For more information visit: https://reefcatchments.com.au/coasts-marine/coasts-amp-communities/

Community ‘Tilapia Watch’ best way to slow the spread

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Tilapia in Mackay
Tilapia have two reliable identifying features: they have a single complete dorsal fin with no dent or gap; and they have pointed dorsal and pectoral fins, whereas most native fish have rounded fins.
Matt Moore and Trent Power from Catchment Solutions electrofishing for Tilapia.
Matt Moore and Trent Power from Catchment Solutions electrofishing for Tilapia.

They are an exotic fish that are considered to be one of the worst pest species in Australia and they are on the move.

Since January this year, the pest fish Tilapia have been recorded in the Mackay Gooseponds as well as further south at locations in lower Fitzroy near Rockhampton and to the west around Moranbah. Tilapia are a cichlid species native to eastern Africa.

Catchment Solutions aquatic ecologists recently headed south to conduct electrofishing and assist with eDNA surveys to determine just how far and fast Tilapia are spreading.

Ecologist Trent Power reinstated the most effective way to slow the spread of tilapia was to get the public on board.

“The more eyes out there, the better – what we need is a community ‘Tilapia Watch’,” Mr Power said.

“If we can get the public to be aware of how to identify tilapia, to keep an eye out for them and to report sightings, then we have a much better chance of controlling the spread.”

Tilapia have been declared harmful to the environment, posing a particular threat to our native fish species.

“Tilapia highly competitive fish and have the potential to displace native fish species, which is why it is important we have an accurate gauge of their movement,” Mr Power said.

“Unfortunately, people moving tilapia from one waterway to another has been  a major component in their spread. Unknowingly, people often take tilapia to use as bait or as a pet fish to put in aquariums at home.

“If more people understand the threat and know how to recognise the tilapia, they will be less likely to spread the fish. Keeping tilapia out of unaffected waterways is the best way to protect our native fish species in the face of this pest, which has been likened to the cane toad of the water.”

Tilapia have two reliable identifying features: they have a single complete dorsal fin with no dent or gap; and they have pointed dorsal and pectoral fins, whereas most native fish have rounded fins.

“If you sight or catch a Tilapia, we are asking people to ring Queensland Fisheries as a first port of call to report the find,” Mr Power said.

“If caught, Tilapia should be humanely killed and disposed of away from the waters edge – for example by placing the fish in an ice slurry then burying on site. It is illegal to take tilapia for consumption.”

Mr Power said most people were also not aware substantial fines may also apply for anyone found with Tilapia.

“This fish is declared noxious in Queensland and penalties of up to $200,000 apply. It is illegal to place or release fish alive or dead in Queensland waterways,” he said.

What you can do

  • Learn how to identify Tilapia
  • Report Tilapia sightings to Fisheries Queensland phone 13 25 23
  • Don’t spread Tilapia between waterways
  • If you catch Tilapia, dispose of humanely away from waterways

For more information visit: www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries/pest-fish/noxious-fish/tilapia