News

Regional NRM groups welcome $80m budget allocation

Posted on June 5, 2013
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Media Release

Queensland’s Regional Natural Resource Management Groups have welcomed today’s budget announcement of $80 million for a five year natural resource management program.

Andrew Drysdale, CEO Queensland Regional NRM Groups’ Collective said to receive this level of funding in such tight financial times was particularly welcome.

“This commitment indicates the importance the Newman Government places on keeping Queensland’s landscapes viable, productive and sustainable,” Drysdale said. Continue Reading…

Queenslanders invited to have their say online

Posted on May 21, 2013

Queenslanders can now have their say on shaping the long-term future of the state through The Queensland Plan website.

Six questions, collaboratively developed at a summit held in Mackay, are now online for all Queenslanders to answer. Continue Reading…

Protecting biodiversity by improving connectivity

Posted on May 21, 2013

By Samantha Hobbs, South Cape York Catchments

In fragmented landscapes, wildlife corridors that connect healthy ecosystems are necessary to maintain biodiversity. They allow populations to interbreed which improves long-term genetic viability; they provide access to larger habitats which ensures a wider range of food sources and shelter; and they provide an avenue for animals to move or shelter in times of stress, during wild fires and climate change impacts.

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Hard work heals the landscape on ‘Wahroonga’

Posted on May 21, 2013
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Repeated flood events have left a legacy of scars across Queensland’s farming landscape but you would have to look pretty hard to find any on Robyn Brosnan’s Millmerran cattle property.

During the past two years Robyn has been working alongside QMDC’s soil conservation officers and Millmerran Landcare to remove all trace of a six-metre deep gully which rapidly progressed on ‘Wahroonga’ after the January 2011 flood. Continue Reading…

Looking after the future of the Rangelands

Posted on May 21, 2013
8. 2012 Fire Photo

Northern Gulf Resource Management Group has drawn together a report that addresses some of the many complexities facing our rangelands and communities when addressing fires as an outcome of the recent wildfires in the region.

The North Queensland Wildfires Report 2012-2013 outlines the extent of the fires, the rescue efforts and the ongoing challenges and needs of the community.  A conservative analysis on the economic impact for the 26 most affected properties for 2013 was undertaken estimating that there is, at a minimum, over $2 million loss from stock death, $6.5 million loss of productivity, and a minimum $1.6 million loss of infrastructure. Continue Reading…

Fire management on track for endangered mahogany glider

Posted on May 21, 2013
7. Terrain - Mahogany Glider Mungarru Lodge Sanctuary copyright David Dickson Wildcard Art

2013 looks set to be a promising year for the conservation of endangered mahogany glider habitat with the Wet Tropics’ Terrain NRM hoping to exceed the target that was set for fire management in habitat by the Federal Government’s Caring for Our Country Habitat Incentives Project.

The endangered mahogany glider is only found in a very restricted area, a 110 kilometers narrow band from Ollera Creek (40 kilometers south of Ingham) up to Hull River near Tully, in Far North Queensland. Continue Reading…

One hop away from extinction

Posted on May 21, 2013
6. Taudactylus pleione Kroombit Tinker Frog 1(L Rolfe)

The Kroombit Tinker frog, found only in the rainforests south of Gladstone in Central Queensland is in a precarious situation.

These critically endangered frogs are pretty sensitive – they need to live at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level or higher. So the Kroombit Tops National Park and Kroombit Forest Reserve are the last places on earth they exist.

Continue Reading…

Soils4Grazing sites established

Posted on May 21, 2013
2. Crocodile seeding creates a seed bed and drops seed as it is towed

Soils4Grazing is a joint project between Southern Gulf Catchments Limited and the Queensland government’s FutureBeef team to assist producers recover pastures on degraded but otherwise productive land types.

The project is investigating the use of mechanical treatments to restore productive grazing land, increase vegetation cover and promote storage of carbon in the soil.  It aims to identify the most suitable methods for different land types.  Continue Reading…

Local wildlife to flourish with community planting

Posted on May 21, 2013
Battersby family with Cr Julie Talty at planting day at Homestead Park

Local wildlife will benefit from a community planting day held on the 23rd March at Homestead Park, Mt Cotton.

Community volunteers helped plant over 800 native trees. This will contribute to more than 12,000 trees being planted in the park to provide koala, wallaby and other wildlife corridors between existing bushland areas.
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Continued funding for regional NRM confirmed

Posted on May 21, 2013

Australia’s 54 Regional Natural Resource Management organisations (NRMs) will share in $669 million to continue their work to enhance and maintain our biodiversity and environment over the next five years through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. This funding will help support natural resource management, planning and prioritisation and brokering partnerships to facilitate the development of, and access to, knowledge and skills to deliver on-ground activities in regional communities and includes support for Regional Landcare Facilitators.
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