Regional Showcase items posted to the Regional Groups Collective

Reef Rescue: fact sheet and newsletter

Samantha Morris — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:05:41 +0000

Two new Reef Rescue publications will be available in March, helping to spread the word about the unique Queensland program. A fact sheet provides an overview of the program, the role of industry and regional NRM groups and how funding can be accessed by land managers across reef catchments. A new quarterly newsletter provides industry and regional groups with an avenue for sharing news about how their work is contributing to improving the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The first newsletter features stories about a new DVD produced by CANEGROWERS, managing for fire across Cape York and how Reef Rescue has given new graziers a hand in the NQ Dry Tropics region. Both publications, produced in partnership by Queensland Farmers Federation and Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective are available online at www.rgc.org.au from 10 March 2010 or by contacting Lane Pilon on 07 4699 5000. The deadline for the next edition of the newsletter is Tuesday 30 April and contributions can be sent to sam@wombatcreative.com.au.

Terrain partners with Traditional Owners to improve Indigenous engagement

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:54:08 +0000

Terrain NRM has spent the last five years building partnerships with Indigenous communities across the region to improve Indigenous engagement and participation in conservation activities.

The establishment of Terrain’s Traditional Owner Advisory Committee in 2004 has been a key component of these activities, addressing Traditional Owner aspirations for managing country in the region. The Committee’s work has recently resulted in the establishment of a devoted Traditional Owner engagement program within Terrain, and the appointment of a second Indigenous Director to Terrain’s management Board. This has enabled Terrain to provide significant financial and staff support to many Indigenous projects across the region, despite a significant lack of funding from State and Federal Government programs.

Inaugural Salt to Dust Western Queensland Traditional Owner Workshop

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:50:29 +0000

Traditional Owners and Indigenous land managers from across western Queensland came together recently for the Inaugural Salt to Dust Western Queensland Traditional Owner Workshop.

Held at Dugalunji Camp, Camooweal in June 2009, this workshop was the result of collaboration between Southern Gulf Catchments, Desert Channels Queensland and South West NRM, bringing together Traditional Owners and providing a forum to build capacity, network and learn from a diverse range of presenters about issues, initiatives and research that support Traditional Owners’ participation in and decision-making about country, culture and community.

Indigenous protected area co-management project for Mackay Whitsundays

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:46:50 +0000

Traditional Owners and protected area managers in the Mackay Whitsundays region have implemented an Indigenous Protected Area Co-Management Project, running over two years (2008-2010). This is the first co-management arrangement to be negotiated in the Mackay Whitsunday region and will target several key protected areas, including Cape Hillsborough and Cape Palmerston National Parks.

The project will form a working group with Traditional Owners and relevant government agencies to manage the National Parks in partnership, and employ more Indigenous Rangers to work on country.

The working group has so far partnered with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management to establish protocols for Indigenous use of regional National Parks, and for greater involvement in Park management.

Traditional owner collaboration across North Queensland

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:43:25 +0000

"In two years we finished 15 projects, which speaks for the relationship we have with Traditional Owners," said Leah Saltner, organiser for the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group.

This Management Group represents 15 Traditional Owner groups across northern Queensland, and Leah’s job is to help the Group access information and funding for land and sea activities that are important to them. When the group started six years ago, it wanted to be the hub for Indigenous people interested in managing land and sea. Since that time, it has worked well towards this objective, supported by natural resource management group, NQ Dry Tropics, and continues to enjoy strong community support today.

Northern Gulf Indigenous Savannah Group conservation graduates

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:38:55 +0000

Tuesday, 1 September, was a momentous occasion for the Northern Gulf Indigenous Savannah Group as they watched their first group of trainees graduate with a Certificate III in Land Conservation and Management. The course, run by the TAFE Cairns campus, was specially adapted for Indigenous conservation knowledge capture, and traditional conservation of Indigenous country.

Ricky Archer, Traditional Knowledge Project Manager for the group, mentored and assisted with on-site training. “The students of this course picked it up easier than in other training I have been involved in,” said Ricky. “This is because it was tailored to be done on country, with a hands-on approach.”

Fitzroy Basin: Preserving culture and nature at ‘Gawula’

natasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:35:05 +0000

GPS training for indigenous land managers is helping guide better management of a significant site in Central Queensland.

Fitzroy Basin Association Inc and Fitzroy Basin Elders Committee supported six people identified by the Gawula Aboriginal Land Trust Committee to undertake GPS training. These participants will put their new skills to use conducting a cultural heritage survey of Gawula, a parcel of land on the Central Queensland coast managed by the Trust, which will support the development of a cultural heritage plan.

Trust Chairperson, Sally Vea Vea, said that the training and cultural heritage plan would build on an existing natural resource management plan developed by the Trust for Gawula, which was launched in early 2009. She said the Trust was committed to maintaining the natural values and environmental sustainability of Gawula.

Desert Channels: Crossing the Bridge

natasha — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:02:35 +0000

A Cross Cultural program run by Desert Channels Queensland and the Longreach State High School with year eight students met with great success, with attendance rates in classes at an all-time high.

The program, funded through the Federal Indigenous Cultural Heritage program, worked with year eight students in Longreach to create a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, said Jeff Poole, DCQ’s Indigenous Engagement Officer.

“When a year eight student doesn’t want to miss a class, it is a pretty good sign that a program is working,” he said.

Thinking outside the Matchbox

natasha — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:57:55 +0000

The recent wild fires at Gaeta west of Bundaberg are a reminder that fire is a part of our rural landscape. Fire can have a devastating affect on vegetation, property and infrastructure or if well planned, can play a vital role in renewal and regeneration of our native vegetation. Many scientists are predicting an increase in fire as an impact of climate change.

To assist property holders in making decisions about the use of fire on their property, the Burnett Mary Regional Group have organized a Fire and Science forum to be held in Maryborough on the 5^th November. To assist with catering registration is required.

Reflecting on disaster recovery – Terrain NRM and Cyclone Larry

natasha — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:49:58 +0000

Terrain NRM, the regional body for the Wet Tropics region of Queensland, has marked three years since Cyclone Larry decimated much of the central and northern Queensland coast with a reflection on the response effort.

Terrain CEO, Allan Dale, was appointed to the Operation Recovery Industry Action Taskforce, and said of the group’s involvement in the recovery process, “Our participation in taskforces and other teams made sure that NRM issues were considered and represented in plans for industry and infrastructure recovery, which was very important.”