A
Busy Year – Chairman Speaks at AGM
At the NQ Dry Tropics Annual General Meeting the Chairman of the
Board, Mark Stoneman, spoke about the work carried out by the
organisation and how it is positioning itself for the future.
The last financial year marked the end of the Australian
Government’s previous funding arrangement called the National
Heritage Trust and the beginning of a new funding program called
Caring for our Country. This was a major milestone for NQ Dry
Tropics.
During the past three and a half years, investment in our region
through NQ Dry Tropics totaled approximately $30 million, delivered
through more than 160 individual projects, involving over 80
external organisations. Despite many challenges and the magnitude
of the task, NQ Dry Tropics ended up within two per cent of our
financial targets, and achieved in excess of 95 per cent of all our
contracted work.
NQ Dry Tropics’
2008/2009 Annual Community Report is also available on our
website for viewing.
Christmas Office Closure
Our office will be closed from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 23 December
and will reopen at 9 a.m. on Monday, 4 January.
Reef Rescue
Applications have now closed for the grazing component of Reef
Rescue. We expect to hold another funding round for grazing grants
early in 2010.
In the sugar industry, the majority of the landholder agreements
have been finalised and work has commenced on over 90 projects in
the region. This strong demand for funding highlights the
commitment of the region’s sugar industry to adopting new
technologies to improve the quality of water leaving sugar cane
lands.
NQ Dry Tropics is finalising agreements with landholders in the
horticulture component of Reef Rescue. The region’s
horticulture producers also responded positively to the grants,
despite a poor season with low prices for most products.
For further information, visit the
Reef Rescue section of our website.
Regional Pest Management Strategy
If you haven’t received a copy of our region’s pest
management strategy please call our office.
The strategy includes all or part of the local government areas
of Townsville, Charters Towers, Burdekin, Barcaldine, Flinders,
Etheridge, Hinchinbrook, Isaac, Palm Island, Mackay, the
Tablelands, and the Whitsundays.
To get a copy please contact our office on (07) 4724 3544.
Duey the Dugong Christmas Appeal
NQ Dry Tropics has launched a Christmas appeal where staff and
Duey the Dugong will visit the Townsville Hospital on 21 December
to hand out donated presents to sick children in the
children’s ward.
To donate any funds or gifts please contact our office on (07)
4724 3544.
Bushland Beach Tree Planting and Barbeque
Coastcare Week will be celebrated from 7-13 of December this
year. This national event celebrates Australia’s beautiful
beaches and recognises the dedication and hard work of those that
look after them.
This year NQ Dry Tropics will hold tree planting and a free
barbeque for the Bushland Beach community on Sunday, 29 November
from 4 – 6 p.m.
For further information or to RSVP contact NQ Dry Tropics on
(07) 4724 3544.
Increasing Volunteer Numbers
NQ Dry Tropics and community land and water management
organisations are working together to develop strategies to
increase volunteer numbers for land and water management activities
in the region.
Earlier this month a workshop was held to get expert advice from
groups who successfully work with volunteers. Two focus groups will
be held later this month with community members.
NQ Dry Tropics will develop and implement strategies for a
regional level and for individual groups. Some essentials
identified so far are: keep it fun, keep it easy, and keep it
safe!
Traditional Owner Knowledge
Later this month, Wiri Traditional Owner group will have a new
Microsoft Access database system to help them better capture and
store traditional ecological and cultural knowledge.
Members of the group will spend a week learning the ins and outs
of the system, which is being successfully used by a number of
other Traditional Owner groups across the region.
Over the next six months, NQ Dry Tropics plans to have three
more Traditional Owner groups up and running with the new
system.
Landcare Group Members
NQ Dry Tropics Landcare Facilitators, Amanda Laurie and Jenny
Russell, will shortly be contacting Landcare group committee
members.
We would like to make sure we have the right contacts for your
group. We would also like to ask some questions on land and water
management issues such as important issues facing your group and
landholders in general.
Your time would be greatly appreciated.
Biodiversity Presentation
An NQ Dry Tropics staff member, Jenny Russell, will present
information on biodiversity at the ‘Best Track – Best
Prac’ workshop on Tuesday, 1 December.
Commencing at 8:30 a.m., the presentation will be held at the
Alpha Town Hall.
The biodiversity presentation will include topics such as: why
biodiversity is good for production - landholder stories; how to
create a farm dam that encourages biodiversity; the real value of
trees; local biodiversity; and NQ Dry Tropics biodiversity
resources.
Young Conservationists Award
This award aims to recognise and raise awareness of the
outstanding contributions made to the management of protected
areas, and leadership shown, by young conservationists. It also
seeks to encourage young professionals and help them develop
networks by inviting winners to attend one of the global
conservation events and become a member of the Young
Conservationists Global Community.
Nominations, which are open to people under the age of 35, close
on 1 December. Read
more…
2011 State of the Environment Committee
Work on the next five-yearly national State of the Environment
report has commenced in earnest with the formal appointment of the
2011 State of the Environment Committee.
The Minister is required to table a report every five years on
the national State of the Environment. The report is a
comprehensive assessment of the environment in terms of its current
condition, the pressures on it and the drivers of those pressures.
In the past, the committee has been pivotal in ensuring the
independence, scientific credibility and overall quality of the
reports. Read more...
Landholders Required for Documentary
Series
A television production company is looking for interested
candidates for a new half-hour series about landholders who are
facing impossible farming challenges but who are willing to do
everything they can to create a successful enterprise.
Landholders must be happy for the production company to film
them, their partners and families. The process provides landholders
with the opportunity to enjoy hands-on advice and mentoring from
some of the country’s most successful farmers who have beaten
the odds.
To find out more or register your interest email: TheEdge@australiandocumentaries.org
or contact Kylee on (02) 9413 8735.
Dalrymple Landcare End of Year BBQ
On Saturday, 5 December, Dalrymple Landcare Committee will host
its annual general meeting and barbeque.
A guest speaker from Life Source will be available to outline
the ongoing work that Life Source has been undertaking to represent
primary producers in Queensland. NQ Dry Tropics Chief Executive
Officer, Bob Frazer, will speak at the general meeting
afterwards.
The AGM, general meeting and barbeque will be held from 2
– 5.30 p.m. at Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries in
Charters Towers. Please RSVP to (07) 4761 5170.
Christmas Break
The next edition of Country to Coast news will be in January
2010. From all at NQ Dry Tropics, we wish you a merry and safe
Christmas.
This edition, can be found on our website:
http://www.nqdrytropics.com.au/resources/
NQ Dry Tropics produce Country to Coast News and this
edition was compiled and edited by Lesley McMahon. Your feedback
and contributions are welcome.
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