A major problem in the Northern Gulf and other regions is the pest plant ‘cryptostegia giandiflora’
commonly known as Rubber Vine. When the seed pods open a tuft of long white silky hairs containing up to 450 brown seeds are distributed by wind and water over huge areas.

Control has proved extremely difficult as it often grows in inaccessible regions and the only access to it is by air. The Northern Gulf Resource management Group through the Etheridge Shire Council
recently brought experienced staff from Tasmania Forestry to conduct the training of 3 three local
helicopter pilots giving them the skills required to control their helicopters while starting fires in
Rubber Vine growing along river and creek beds.

Trial fires were ignited by a Heli-torch designed by Tasmania Forestry that ejects a flammable gel
directly onto the problem area. The gel is electronically ignited as it emerges from its container.

The helicopters fly close to the Rubber Vine and drip the gel through the most affected area.
The outcome of this method depends on the moisture content of the Rubber Vine. The area
selected for burning needs to be dry enough to ignite the Rubber Vine but wet enough to stop the

Since the first detection in Queensland of Myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) on Monday 27 December, investigations have confirmed the plant disease on a total of nine premises located throughout south-east Queensland (all sites inspected in North Queensland have been negative).

The infected properties include six retail nurseries and three production/wholesale nurseries.

Disease control measures have been put in place on each of the infected properties to prevent any further spread of the disease.

A Myrtle rust Control Group met on 4 January 2011 to provide an update on the disease situation and discuss the short term objectives of the response. This Control Group includes representatives from Premiers Department, the Department of Environment and Resource Management and Queensland industry bodies including:
• cut flower
• nursery and garden
• forestry and timber
• bee

Biosecurity Queensland has commenced trace back investigations to determine the source of the infected plants at each premise and trace forward investigations to try and locate any plants sold to the public or other retail nurseries.

Surveillance will also continue at green-life retail outlets in the Brisbane area over the coming weeks to determine if the disease may be more widespread. To date, no evidence of disease has been found.

Exotic fish are dominating native fish in the Ross River.

While it may seem kinder to free or flush ‘Willy’ into the river or toilet, one Willy can become thousands of pest fish.

It’s suspected that Townsville’s itinerant population is dumping aquarium fish.

The Ross River has the highest number of exotic or introduced fish in Queensland.

Willy may be a Swordtail, Guppy, Platy, or Sailfin Molly.

They are aggressive to native fish, eating their food, chasing them out of their habitat and stealing breeding sites.

Willy’s partner Wilhelmina can produce a larger number of young than her native competitor.

They can live in poor quality water allowing them to survive where our native fish can’t.

Diana O’Donnell from NQ Dry Tropics said for new residents it seems exotic to set up a tropical fish aquarium at home but releasing the introduced fish when moving on, leaves a terrible legacy for the environment.

“When moving arrange for friends to take your aquarium or return the fish to a commercial aquarium but please do not release them.” Diana said.

Aquarium enthusiasts can keep fish indigenous to the tropics of north Queensland, instead of from foreign waters.

Diana said, “The native archer fish, purple spot gudgeon and empire gudgeon, while not as flashy as gold fish, do look very attractive in an aquarium.

Community partnership to help flood recovery Four community-based organisations are banding together to help land managers across the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin as they start the long road to recovery.

Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) Chief Executive Officer Geoff Penton said the devastating floods might still be in force across much of the Maranoa-Balonne, Border Rivers, Darling Downs and South West but volunteers from QMDC, Landcare, Conservation Volunteers Australia, and importantly, Victoria’s BlazeAid were ready to help rural residents start the repair process.

“As everyone is aware, the region is in the grip of a major natural disaster and as community-driven and community-based organisations, we are all fully committed to flood recovery efforts,” Mr Penton said.

“The Basin Flood Recovery volunteer crews started work today, helping farmers on the Darling Downs but this effort will extend further into the Basin as more volunteers arrive, waters recede and access to impacted areas improves.

“This is a real team effort with volunteers from local communities already joining those from QMDC, Landcare Conservation Volunteers Australia and BlazeAid.”

The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology (AIAST) QLD Division Conference ‘Can Agriculture & Mining Co-Exist? – a science based perspective’ was held on 12 October 2010 in Toowoomba.

The event attracted well over 100 attendees and highlighted the challenge of co-existence for mining and agriculture.

Attendees heard from farmers, the Queensland Resources Council, and from scientists who were assisting with the development of sustainable agriculture and resource management policies for the Queensland Government.

Although all types of mining were under the spotlight, the focus of the conference centred on coal mining, and in particular coal seam gas (CSG) extraction.

Coal mining has expanded rapidly in Queensland both in the Fitzroy Basin and in the Surat Basin. Open Cut coal mining has been a major activity in Central Queensland while CSG extraction has proliferated in the Surat Basin.

A very informative Post-Event Report has been written by David Hamilton, one of our AIAST QLD Division members.

The Post-Event Report can be found at http://aiast.com.au

A global soft drink manufacturer and an environment group are getting behind north Queensland sugar cane farmers.

Project Catalyst supports farmers who are developing practices that improve the quality of water leaving farms.

Project Catalyst was born in the Mackay Whitsundays area and is expanding to the Burdekin region in north Queensland. The initiative is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and Mackay Whitsunday natural resource management group Reef Catchments.

It’s expanding into north Queensland with the support of local natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics. NQ Dry Tropics CEO Scott Crawford said the initiative has already seen changes in the Mackay area. He says, “In the first year of Project Catalyst it improved soil, nutrient, pesticide, irrigation and storm water management on almost 5,000 hectares of farms.

“It’s greatly reduced pollutants running off farms and into nearby waterways.”

Farmers in the Burdekin are experiencing cash flow issues because of the impact extreme weather has had on harvesting.

The region’s natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics is responding to these unusual circumstances by making sustainable land management changes affordable.

Small grants are available until the end of April to sugar cane growers in the Burdekin. They’re quick and painless to apply for and

Paul Duncanson from NQ Dry Tropics said, “We’ve already had response to the grants from farmers who aren’t familiar with getting help to pay for farm equipment.

“They’re pleased to see how easy it is to apply.

“Offering small grants is a great way for us to get in touch with growers we haven’t spoken to before and for them to learn how we can help them.” Paul said.

The small grants are made possible through the Australian Government’s Reef Rescue initiative. In a new approach to delivering grants NQ Dry Tropics is working directly with local businesses to make it easier and quicker for growers to get.

Items include chemical storage and spill prevention equipment, farm

For more information visit nqdrytropics.com.au or call Paul Duncanson on 4724 3544.

A forum to be held on 14 and 15 April at Maryborough Town Hall will give the community a chance to learn about opportunities for Indigenous organisations working in the environment and natural resource management sector. 

The Natural Resource Management Business & Indigenous Employment Forum has been organised by Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) and international conservation organisation Fauna & Flora International with support from the Qantas Foundation and the Department of Environment and Resource Management. 

Chris McCarthy, BMRG’s Murri Engagement and Projects Officer, said the forum will be an opportunity for people who want to engage with and learn from Indigenous organisations in the environment and natural resource management sector. 

“The forum will provide Indigenous individuals, groups and organisations with an opportunity to identify and discuss contracting needs, recruitment and employee retention challenges, opportunities for employers and employees, training needs and business management issues,” Mr McCarthy said. 

The forum will host a number of guest speakers from a number of organisations including the Bunya Mountains Murri Rangers Group and Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. 

Campers, beach-goers, and holiday makers are reminded to dispose of their rubbish appropriately over the Easter break. 

Mary-Alice Swan, Burnett Mary Regional Group’s (BMRG) new Coastal and Critical Aquatic Habitats Coordinator, said plastic, cigarette butts and other rubbish all have the potential to kill coastal and marine animals such as fish, shorebirds, turtles and dolphins. 

“When enjoying our unique beaches, rivers and beautiful bush over Easter, we should try to leave them in a better state than we found them,” Ms Swan said. 

“Put your rubbish back into your esky or bag; don’t leave it there to be washed into the waterways and the oceans.” 

“The recent floods and rains were a reminder of how litter and all sorts of things can be swept into creeks and rivers, even from urban areas, so it’s best to dispose of rubbish properly.” 

A UN study in 2006 revealed an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of the ocean. The health of coastal and aquatic habitats is of large concern to Ms Swan, whose responsibilities in her new role at BMRG include reducing threats to coastal systems. 

The Staaten River Wild river rangers answered the call for help recently following the devastation of Cyclone Yasi. The rangers provided assistance not only closer to home but also in the worse affected areas around Cardwell. Tully Heads The new Senior Ranger, Steven Wargent was employed in early February and his skills were tested early in his role when he had to coordinate the rangers’ response and quickly prioritised work tasks.

The Girringun Aboriginal Corporation provided a much needed camp ground and despite the last of electricity and water the young rangers set up camp and coordinate their activities. 25 Rangers from Burketown, Cooktown, Girringun and Ewamian all worked together in providing much needed help and back-breaking labour for 3 weeks. Much of the work involved cleaning up debris, chain sawing fallen trees and generally cleaning up. Ranger Coordinator, Mr Jimmy Richards said “it was an incredible feeling that we were really helping people”.