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Archived News Stories - 2006
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These archived news stories from 2006 are provided as a history of our organisation for your reference and are listed in reverse chronological order.
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| Also listed below are key stories from DCQ, shown in chronological order. Click on the title to view the full story. Older stories have been archived. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Just in time for Christmas Land-managers are eligible to apply for $600,000 in the latest round of funding available through Desert Channels Queensland, the regional Natural Resource Management body which covers the
Leanne Kohler, Executive Officer with Desert Channels Queensland says the money is a very welcome addition to continue further works targeting Natural Resource Management in our region. “We’re very pleased with not only the dollars we’ve been able to get for our region,” Ms Kohler says, “but with the response by landholders to our calls for applications.” “This is our sixth round of funding to the community since the beginning of 2005 and we have almost 250 properties involved in work that aims at keeping the country in good order for future generations.” Ms Kohler says that eligible activities include: group training; rehabilitation activities that prevent or reverse degradation and / or improve productivity; improved water infrastructure; improving water quality and usage; strategic weed control; improving and/or preserve the condition of endangered species or regional ecosystem. “To date, Desert Channels Queensland has funded projects like prickly acacia control, property management planning training, fencing to land type, riparian fencing to restore degraded areas of naturally occurring ecosystems, relocation and improvement of water infrastructure to ease grazing pressure, and the production of a plant field guide.” This latest round of funding from the Longreach-based group is open until the 2nd February and Ms Kohler is urging people from right across the region to submit an Expression of Interest and make the most of the opportunity to get some financial assistance for natural resource management works. Expression of Interest forms are available from Desert Channels Queensland on 4658 0600. Desert Channels Queensland is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. Airborne Reconnaissance finds Front Line Thirteen hours in a Robinson R44 helicopter has left
“We went well past the last plants and I reckon we’ve got a pretty good handle on the extent of the spread,” he says. Brett is the Project Officer for Desert Channels Queensland’s Cross-Catchments Weeds and Feral Animals Initiative, and he works with landholders and shire councils on what the community of the region has identified as its greatest land management challenge. The aerial survey, on the 21st and 22nd of November, located and mapped infestations of Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) in the braided channels of
Brett says that Queensland Helicopters’ Robinson R44 was a great choice for the job. “Queensland Helicopters are based in Longreach and have extensive knowledge of the area. “Not only that, but the R44 has great vision with the doors off and it’s is a 4-seater which meant we could have 2 spotters and even take the land-owners up for a ride. “It always helps to have an extra pair of eyes, even though Parkinsonia is relatively easy to spot; they have long, spindly, light-green leaves, unlike any native plant. They stick out like the proverbials.” According to Brett, having the landholder along also helps improve their awareness and knowledge of the spread of the weed on their place, and is a great way to demonstrate how important survey work is in control and monitoring of weed infestations. A handheld Garmin GPS was used to record the flight path and mark each plant or infestation as a waypoint. This information is then passed to relevant landholders to assist in planning and conducting control works. It is also entered into the DCQ weeds database and the state-wide PestInfo database to provide an accurate picture of weed infestation in the region and across the State. In line with DCQ’s close involvement with local government,
Brett says that the infestations south of Windorah can be best described as low density, scattered plants. “There’s not a lot there, but getting in to the plants on a quad bike or in a vehicle to spray them will be a big challenge; the channels are very difficult to cross in places.” Kyabra Creek was also flown and some remote, small infestations, mostly of 4 to 10 plants, were mapped. All but two of these had previously been mapped. The amount of work to control these plants is minimal but because of the distance between plants more time will be spent travelling between them rather than spraying. After receiving a report of Parkinsonia at a bore to the north of Windorah, a quick recce was done. It revealed about a dozen small, scattered plants that are easily accessible and treated.
“We’ve had great success in the past three or four years,” he says. “But it’s all about everyone doing their little bit in their own neck of the woods. That’s the only way we’re ever going to beat it.” Kids' Cure get Cap and Hand The six kids of the tiny school at Windorah won caps for themselves and two ‘hand’ chairs for their library with their innovative solutions to local land management issues.
As part of Desert Channels Queensland’s School Landcare Competition, the Windorah students identified a natural resource management issue in their area and put together a plan on how to fix it. Landcare Coordinator with Desert Channels Queensland, Cameron O’Neil, said that while the many entries received were of a high standard, the Windorah one had that little bit extra. “You could see from the posters that the kids had put a lot of thought and work into the entries,” Mr O’Neil said, “and this made it hard for our judging panel.” “I think the thing that won it for Windorah was the detail to which they’d gone with their understanding of the problems, how they were going to fix them, and the fact that the solution was not just about better environment for native plants and animals, but for people as well.” The students identified that an area of their school yard was dry and inhospitable. There was no ground cover for lizards, insects and small birds, no trees for shade, and when something grew, it was usually burrs. “Their plan was to get rid of bare ground and prickles from a dry and dusty corner of their school yard and provide a more pleasant environment for themselves and native species by landscaping, planting grass and native trees.” According to Cameron O’Neil, the competition showed that, while the tiny schools miss out on a lot, they have just as much talent. “Second place in our competition was Jundah and third was Yaraka,” he said. On a recent road trip through the Barcoo Shire, Mr O’Neil personally delivered the prizes to the winning schools and said that the Windorah kids were so excited that there was a mad scramble to see who would be the first to sit in the bright green and blue, hand-shaped chairs. “The best part of this competition has been seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and their realisation that the hard work that went into their poster was well worth it.” Mr O’Neil said that Desert Channels Queensland hopes to turn the competition into an annual event and build on the obvious enthusiasm and awareness among the region’s students. Image caption: Ms Helen Commens with the winning entry and the proud-as-punch, Windorah State School students wearing their DCQ caps and sitting in their new ‘hand’ chairs Water Mix for Latest Threat Trials are currently underway in the Longreach area on the use of water-based chemicals for the control of an emerging economic and environmental threat to the region, cactus. As well as trying different chemicals, the trials include experimenting with the application rates and techniques. Desert Channels Queensland’s Weeds and Ferals Project Officer,
“Chemical is always dear,” he says, “but when you add in the rising cost of diesel, spraying cactus gets to be a big financial burden to landholders.” “And because you have to spray so much on each plant to get a kill, we’ve been looking at water-based chemicals to see if they are as effective.” These experiments are very timely given the wide geographic spread of cactus outbreaks and the numerous varieties identified. Cactus species, well-adapted to arid and semi-arid environments have the potential to be an economic and environmental disaster for the west. Desert Channels Queensland is working with landholders to develop strategic control projects aimed at nipping the problem in the bud. To date, the only cost-effective control method for this prickly pest has been spraying, and DCQ is keen to refine this even further.
“The most obvious difference we noticed in the trial was that mixing and handling water-based mixes was, by far, less messy and easier on gear: no blocked nozzles or leaking seals.” The trial was conducted on an infestation of Devil’s Rope cactus on the Longreach Town Common by Desert Channels Queensland and the Longreach Shire Council. Mr Carlsson says that as part of the trial, five transects where flagged and each sprayed with a different mix of chemical. “We’ve done cost comparisons,” he says, “and these show, in general, that it’s about half of the cost of mixing with diesel and sump oil. “Kill rate is the crucial thing now; we just have to wait a couple of months to see which mix is the most effective.” One thing is for certain: if these water-based mixes kill the plant, it will be a big step forward in the successful control of this emerging pest in the region. Further trials are planned on other species of cactus in the region. Mitchell Grass Dieback To anyone living in Mitchell grass country, the impact of severe drought conditions on this most hardy of grasses is as plain as the nose on your face. Vast areas of this icon pasture species appear to have little or no live tussocks to take advantage of rain, when it finally comes in falls good enough to promote growth. The big questions are: are there enough viable seeds in the soil to fuel regeneration; and will these ‘sunlit plains extended’ return to their former glory as the engine-room of western
One who has a close affinity with, and a deep concern for, Mitchell grass is Jundah district grazier,
“It’s so bad at the moment that a lot of country is now totally destocked and will need time to recover. “What we need is the right combination of seasons, and the financial and mental strength to wait and give the pasture time to fully recover before restocking. “And that combination of seasons,” he adds wryly, “could be a long time coming.” According to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Principle Scientist,
“There has been wide-spread death and weakening of Mitchell grass plants,” he says. “We’re working, in partnership with Meat and Livestock Australia, and Land Water and Wool, to get a handle on pasture loss across the region, assess the impact on profitability, and to help graziers in the recovery of their Mitchell grass pastures.” Preliminary studies have shown that approximately one third of Mitchell grass pastures are in poor condition, suffering reduced tussock density (from death) and poor response to rainfall. These studies were conducted in September 2005 and further study is planned to follow rain to gain greater understanding of the state of the Mitchell grasslands.
Mitchell grass scientist with DPI&F, Lyndal Rolfe says that like graziers, she and her fellow researchers are hanging out for some decent rain. “In January this year we sent out Mitchell grass information kits throughout the Central West and
“Hopefully we’ll get some decent falls and people can use these kits to guide their grazing management to help drought-affected Mitchell grass plants recharge and make the best use of summer rain.” Future work includes an economic analysis, soil seed bank surveys and collation of historical property records and producer experiences. Lyndal Rolfe says that the results of their research will be made available to landholders through information and training packages such as Grazing Land Management. The Grazing Land Management project is managed and jointly funded by Longreach-based community group, Desert Channels Queensland. Indigenous Cultural Heritage The protection, restoration and management of significant Indigenous sites in the region has the strong support of Longreach-based Desert Channels Queensland with the release of $150,000 under its Indigenous Cultural Heritage Program. The program has been developed with Indigenous culture and obligations to ‘country’ in mind and will focus on developing partnerships between the Indigenous community and individual landholders. Desert Channels Queensland’s Indigenous Program Facilitator, Mr Dave Thompson is a local Aboriginal leader and is quite excited by the program as a whole and the funding in particular. “This is positive stuff for my people,” he says. “This program will fund specific on-ground works like; fencing off bora rings, caves and other areas that potentially can be damaged by livestock; erecting plaques that inform the public of the significance of a particular place to the local Aboriginal people; and formally recording a site’s significance with the assistance of professionals, like anthropologists and the like.” Mr Thompson says he will be available to assist people in completing their applications, and that they close on the 24th April. “Applications won’t get a look in if they don’t adequately show collaboration and support. Aboriginal people have to speak with the landholder to gain their support and vice versa. This means we have the support of all parties involved in the project and everybody is very aware of what the other party intends to do. It also sets the path for forming good, long-term relationships.” In allocating the funds, the Board of Desert Channels Queensland expressed its optimism about producing real on-ground results for the Indigenous community of the region. Board Chair, Mr Peter Douglas says that, in addition, the program will foster greater understanding across both the landholder and the Indigenous communities. “We’re seeing it already,” he says. “In the eastern part of the region, Dave Thompson has brokered an understanding between a landholder and the local Aboriginal groups.”
“The gratifying thing about it is that the landholder approached us wanting to protect some cultural sites, and we were able to put them in touch with the right people and help with some expertise and funding.” “The landholder’s happy, the local Aboriginal people are happy, and the sites are being protected. It’s win, win.” More Money for the West Land-managers are eligible to apply for $300,000 in the latest round of National Landcare Community Support announced by Desert Channels Queensland this week. The funding is part of a 3 year, $1.2 million package that the community-based group successfully obtained from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust.
“We’re very pleased with not only the dollars we’ve been able to get for our region,” Ms Kohler says, “but with the response by landholders to our calls for applications.” “This is our 4th round of funding to the community since the beginning of 2005 and we have almost 200 properties involved in work that aims at keeping the country in good order for future generations.” Ms Kohler says that eligible activities include: group training; rehabilitation activities that prevent or reverse degradation and / or improve productivity; improved water infrastructure; improving water quality and usage; and strategic weed control. “To date, Desert Channels Queensland has funded projects like prickly acacia control, property management planning training, fencing to land type, riparian fencing, relocation and improvement of water infrastructure to ease grazing pressure, and the production of plant field guide.” This latest round of funding from the Longreach-based group is open until the 21st April and
South American Invader The South American pest plant, coral cactus, is consolidating its spiky foothold in the region after ideal winter rain in 2005.
This wickedly quilled garden escapee may be relatively unknown but, according to Brett Carlsson, that will all change if we don’t get on top of the problem before it gets out of hand. Brett is a project officer with the Longreach-based Desert Channels Queensland and he deals with pest plants and animals. He says that coral cactus (Opuntia cylindrical) is like a lot of pest species, quietly adapting to local conditions and waiting for the opportunity to colonise. “You’ve only got to look at the Athel Pine in central
“We can’t afford to let that happen with another plant so it’s really important that we get on top of the coral cactus outbreaks in the region.” According to Brett Carlsson, coral cactus infestations pose a significant threat to our region. “It’s difficult to kill; spreads easily; has no natural predator; and is potentially devastating to our native flora,” he says. “This is why DCQ is sourcing and providing funds to assist landholders to take a preventative approach to manage the problem. “We currently have $60,000 earmarked for cactus eradication across the Desert Channels region. “If landholders know of any infestations, big or small, they can give me a call on 4652 7823 to discuss funding and control options.” As well as coral cactus, other species of cactus established in the region are: common prickly pear (Opuntia stricta); wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta); tree pear (Opuntia vulgaris); tiger pear (Opuntia aurantiaca); devils rope pear (Opuntia imbricate); snake cactus (Harrisia spp).
Brett Carlsson says the team at DCQ is keen to assist landholders to manage all aspects of our natural resources to be more productive, our landscapes more attractive and to ensure our kids have a future in this region. Making Good Investments Desert Channels Queensland continues to make good investments in the region by channelling money directly to land-managers from the Australian Governments Natural Heritage Trust. To date, Desert Channels Queensland has funded projects on almost 200 properties across the region as part of the plan it drew up in consultation with the community in 2004. As a result of that plan, and the subsequent investment approval by the Commonwealth, DCQ has $1.7 million per year for the region, plus whatever else it can secure. In the last 18 months, this amounted to more than $3 million which was more than matched by contributions from land holders. This is a major investment in the future of the region, an investment that land-managers, DCQ and Government funders need to know is aimed in the right direction and is achieving worthwhile results for the outlay. During 2004, the community clearly stated that it wanted assistance to tackle: weeds and feral animals; vegetation, water and land management; and total grazing pressure. As a consequence, these are the focus areas of DCQ’s activity. The only way to assess the results of these projects, and to justify further investments in the area, is to monitor, the work being done, evaluate the effects of that work, and report on the resulting changes to the resources being managed. This is called Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting, or MER, and provides progress and final reports on projects so that funding bodies can clearly see what their combined investment with land-managers has achieved. It also makes them more confident about continuing investment. To this end, Desert Channels Queensland has employed a specialist Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer,
According to Dr Ferdinands, monitoring, evaluation and reporting is a vital part of any successful project. “It basically keeps an eye on all angles of a project,” he says “Initially, MER sets up a design for a project that says what we’re going to measure, and how we’re going to measure it, to show how well the project is going. We record all this information and check it out to see if we need to fine-tune the project.” He says that monitoring may include things like sampling water and soil, aerial surveys, counting animals or plants, determining GPS coordinates and measuring areas and lengths. “Once a project is finished, it is evaluated to see if the goals were reached in the allocated time, the money spent effectively, and all the data collected has been analysed. “This is where we find out if the project was effective and if it was value for money. “It also shows the trends of the resource that we’re managing: things like whether water quality is improving or pasture growth benefiting from weed spraying. “Even if a project falls flat on its face, the information we’ve collected can show us what to avoid in the future, be it seasonal conditions, inappropriate methods or plain bad luck.” Dr Ferdinands says that the third and final part, the reporting, draws it all together. “At the end of a project, we produce a final report that contains a detailed explanation of the goals, methods used, results, accomplishments and a financial statement. It may also contain recommendations,” he says. “This is what convinces our funding bodies that their investment in our region is worthwhile; that every dollar they invest in the management of our natural resources is at least matched by land holders; and that DCQ projects are really getting good results. “It shows they’re making good investments.” Dr Ferdinands has taught statistics and environmental sciences at Monash and Swinburne universities and more recently worked as an Environmental Monitoring Officer for Goulburn-Murray Water. He says he is fascinated by the
Getting Smart with Water More than one hundred years of water use wisdom was tapped into at a recent information gathering day in Longreach for the innovative WaterSmart project.
“We had a huge range of ages and experiences represented,” said Cameron O’Neil from Desert Channels Queensland. “They were there to learn more about the latest techniques and technologies while at the same time sharing what they’ve learnt from life on the land.” WaterSmart is about gathering information on current practices and matching that with the most advanced technologies in stock water storage and delivery on pastoral properties. The goal of the project is to improve, stock management control, total grazing pressure and overall condition of arid and semi-arid pastoral country. “It was exciting to see so much information and wisdom on water management being shared, not only from around this region, but also across State borders,” said Mr O’Neil. More than a dozen key cattle & sheep producers from the shires of Longreach, Blackall, Tambo, Winton,
Mr O’Neil said that the focus of the information day was to gather information on regional water management issues and incorporate these views into the fundamentals of the project. “We want to make sure WaterSmart delivers what pastoralists need and not what someone else thinks they do,” he said. “Ultimately we’ll be setting up demonstration sites for new technologies and techniques so local producers can see, first hand, what works and how they can use it.” The WaterSmart Pastoral Production Project information day held in Longreach was the first of three to be held across the project area. The others will be in Alice Springs and the
“Our first information day exceeded initial expectations with the producers who attended providing the project with some fantastic information on the stock water issues facing pastoralists in the Desert Channels region,” said Mr O’Neil. “We’re really looking forward to seeing what comes out of the other information days and to getting our trial sites set up so producers can see new ideas in action.” WaterSmart is a three-year partnership project between Longreach based Desert Channels Queensland, the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resource Management Board, and Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre at
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