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2015-16 State Budget supports protected areas
The State budget announced last week will assist in both the expansion and management of protected areas in Queensland. Major National Park, protected area and other environmental initiatives include:
- $7.9m for land acquisitions by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) including $4.3m for new protected areas under the Investing in our Environment Program and $1.6m to increase koala habitat.
- $5m to continue Nature Assist to secure nature refuges for lands with significant conservation and climate resilience value.
- $7.3m over 4yrs for the continued employment of 15 Indigenous Rangers to work on-Park in Cape York and the Gulf.
- $7.4m over 4yrs to manage 2.6m hectares of park estate on Cape York (including the employment of 7 additional Rangers).
- An additional $100m over 5yrs for water quality initiatives, scientific research and business transition to better protect the Great Barrier Reef.
- A ban on sea-based dumping of capital dredge spoil within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
- $20m over 5yrs to develop the North Stradbroke Island Economic Transition Strategy.
NPAQ commends the State Government for these initiatives and looks forward to continue working with DEHP and the Qld Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure national parks and other protected areas are selected strategically and resourced to protect the nature values that they were originally gazetted for.
Grazing in Nuga Nuga National Park
Information continues to emerge about the extent and impact of grazing in Queensland National Parks. The photos attached [view here] speak for themselves and were taken by an NPAQ member this year and last. Many thanks to those NPAQ members and supporters who continue to monitor, photograph and report activities such as grazing in national parks.
New National Parks Director General
NPAQ welcomes Tamara O'Shea as the new Director General of the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. Tamara was previously a Deputy DG in the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, has worked for the Department of Environment and Resource Management in waste avoidance and resource efficiency, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Australian National University in politics and environmental geography.
Notice of NPAQ Annual General Meeting
National Parks Association of Queensland Inc. invites members, supporters, and interested parties to the Annual General Meeting to be held at Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens Auditorium on Wednesday 16 September 2015 at 5:30pm.
On the agenda for the Annual General Meeting is the receipt of the 2015 Annual Report, receipt of the Auditors’ Report, election of the Association’s Council, appointment of an Auditor and reports from the President and Treasurer on the performance of the organisation in the 2014 – 15 financial year.
If you have any general business items you would like to raise at the meeting please notify the Honorary Secretary secretary@npaq.org.au by Wednesday 9 September 2015.
NPAQ Annual Dinner - Date Claimer
The NPAQ Annual Dinner will follow the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 September, at the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens Auditorium.
Details of dinner cost and RSVP date will be provided in a later edition.
NPAQ Council elections at AGM in September 2015
Included as a link to this article is a nomination form for the Council elections to be held at the Annual General Meeting on September 16. Please consider whether you might seek nomination yourself, or approach another member to see if they would be interested in being nominated [download the form here].
Council members must be adult NPAQ members who are able to attend monthly Council meetings (usually every third Monday evening of the month) and contribute to Council discussion, portfolios and projects based on related knowledge, skills and abilities, and who are committed to furthering the objects of NPAQ.
Specified roles (President, Secretary, etc) are for one year and other Councillor roles are for two years. Please talk to any of the Council members if you would like to know more – their names are on the inside front cover of Protected and Councillor contact details can be obtained from Jeannie on (07) 3367 0878.
This is an opportunity to contribute to promoting the preservation, expansion, good management and presentation of national parks in Queensland and to furthering our wider objectives that include experiencing National Parks, research and education.
Nomination forms should be submitted to the Honorary Secretary by close of business Monday 17 August 2015. Further details are on the linked nomination form.
Get involved and volunteer at NPAQ
Last year, more than 5,600 voluntary hours were contributed by over 100 volunteers to a range of tasks including monthly revegetation work, mail outs, assisting at events such as members meetings and organising or leading bushwalking activities.
Volunteers are a vital part of the NPAQ team. We are currently looking for volunteer writers and photographers to contribute to Protected magazine, bushwalking adventure presenters for Social and Topics of Interest Evenings, helpers for events such as the Annual Dinner, detailed workers for Data Entry, and leaders for our bushwalking Activities. Contact NPAQ today if you want to be more involved and help NPAQ.
Find out more at Get Involved: Volunteer
Advertise in NPAQs Protected magazine
Protected is the official magazine of NPAQ. Each full colour, A4 sized issue contains in depth news on national parks; and featured national park, walk and species articles.
Distributed bimonthly to 2,000+ readers and available for download on the NPAQ website, the magazine is an effective way to advertise your organisation or business to our readers.
Take a look at Protected and advertising rates
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