Action from an Australian rally. Photo: Bildagentur Kräling Rally through Mapleton National Park averted
Plans to include a national park on a Queensland rally route have been averted.
NPAQ was alerted to purported plans by the International Rally of Queensland (IROQ) to relocate its Sunshine Coast rally this year to a route that encroached upon Mapleton National Park.
The rally, which was set to take place in May, had been advertised and supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC). The event was thankfully cancelled, in the early stages of planning.
NPAQ has been informed that this year’s rally on the Sunshine Coast will now not be proceeding. The cancellation has also been reported in local media.
The rally has previously been held at Imbiland traditionally involves state forest roads This remains a concern to NPAQ, due to potential impacts on flora and fauna.
Despite advertising this year’s event as based at Nambour Showgrounds, and surrounding forest and shire roads, NPAQ understands that IROQ had not proceeded with permit applications to use the national park sections of the planned rally.
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) website initially indicated the rally had been cancelled due to a dispute with the SCRC. However, that statement was later replaced with a media release stating the event was “viewed to be financially not viable to run in 2017”.
Whilst understanding that people need places to participate in their recreation of choice, NPAQ considers it most disappointing that event planners considered a route including through a national park.
The Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Flickr/FarbenfroheWunderwelt via greatbarrierreef.org.au
Community consultation for setting new water quality targets
The community is invited to help set new water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland’s part of the Murray-Darling Basin and south east Queensland (SEQ) waters.
Submissions can be made through the department’s website www.ehp.qld.gov.au, the Queensland Government ‘Get involved’ website www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au, and through social media, by 31 May 2017.
Focusing koala conservation efforts in priority errors is among recommendations supported by the Koala Expert Panel.
Interim findings of independent Koala Expert Panel
The interim report by the Koala Expert Panel has been released. The panel was established last year by the Palaszczuk Government to explore ways to better protect koalas in the state’s south-east
The independent panel supported the development of new koala habitat mapping between Noosa and the Gold Coast, as well as areas west of Brisbane.
The panel also supported an improved monitoring program and recommendations for developing a strategy to focus koala conservation efforts in priority areas to ensure koala populations persist in the wild across the region.
The Great Barrier Reef is bleaching again, in its first back-to-back mass bleaching event. Photo: AAP/WWF Australia via theconversation.com
Year-on-year bleaching threatens Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status
The Great Barrier Reef has already been badly damaged by global warming during three extreme heatwaves, in 1998, 2002 and 2016. A new bleaching event is under way now.
As shown in a study published in Nature today, climate change is not some distant future threat. It has already degraded large tracts of the Great Barrier Reef over the past two decades.
The extreme marine heatwave in 2016 killed two-thirds of the corals along a 700km stretch of the northern Great Barrier Reef, from Port Douglas to Papua New Guinea. It was a game-changer for the reef and for how we manage it.
Early in the morning and late in the evening is when shorebirds escape disturbance on the beaches on which their survival depends. Photo: Arnuchulo via theconversation.com Contested spaces: saving nature when our beaches have gone to the dogs
There’s no doubt about it, Australians love the beach. And why not? Being outdoors makes us happy, and all beaches are public places in Australia.
Head to a beach like Bondi on Christmas Day and you’ll share that space with more than 40,000 people. But we aren’t just jostling with each other for coveted beach space. Scuttling, waddling, hopping or flying away from beachgoers all around Australia are crabs, shorebirds, baby turtles, crocodiles, fairy penguins and even dingoes.
Beaches are home to an incredible array of animals, and sharing this busy space with people is critical to their survival. But, if we find it hard to share our beaches with each other, how can we possibly find space for nature on our beaches?
Mangroves have died along a 1000km stretch of coastline in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Photo: NC Duke, via theconversation.com Extreme weather likely behind worst recorded mangrove dieback in northern Australia
One of the worst instances of mangrove forest dieback ever recorded globally struck Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria in the summer of 2015-16. A combination of extreme temperatures, drought and lowered sea levels likely caused this dieback, according to our investigation published in the journal Marine and Freshwater Research.
The dieback, which coincided with the Great Barrier Reef’s worst ever bleaching event, affected 1,000km of coastline between the Roper River in the Northern Territory and Karumba in Queensland.
Citizen science projects are a way to contribute to science from your own backyard. Photo: Shutterstock via theconversation.com
What our backyards can tell us about the world
This article in The Conversation highlights a number of projects that you can become involved in – from the comfort of your own backyard!
Our backyards are home to many scuttling, slithering and scampering creatures, which are often the subject of fascination. But they can also play a key role in tracking the changes in the world around us – for science.
Science is a vital tool to monitor the world, but scientists can’t do it all alone. Ordinary citizens can help by getting involved in a citizen science project.
People are spending weekends with their friends and families learning more about their backyards and gathering data that would otherwise be inaccessible to scientists.
They’re helping to manage invasive species, tree death, diseases and animal health. And it’s a way to take responsibility for the environment, urban areas, farmland and the creatures that visit our gardens.
The inhospitable mountains of the Owen Stanley Range along the Kokoda Track in south-eastern Papua New Guinea. Photo: kokodatrack.net Queensland rangers leave to work on Kokoda Track
Five Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers have flown out from Cairns and Brisbane to work on the historic Kokoda Track.
The Queenslanders will work with rangers from Papua New Guinea and local villagers to help prepare the famed track for trekking season, in the 75th Anniversary year of the Kokoda Campaign.
On behalf of all members and supporters, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Fred McKie.
Fred brings excellent experience and skills – sixteen years of editorial positions on newspapers and magazines, journalism, graphic design and photography. Aside from running his own photography business, Fred has worked for News Limited, Rural Press, and Lymington Times.
Fred has won several awards, including AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards, AIPP Queensland Professional Photography Awards, International Loupe Awards, International Pano Awards, NEWSCentral Layout of the Month Award, NEWSCentral Star Performer of the Month and Quest Community Newspaper’s Editorial.
Fred’s passions include bushwalking, nature and the environment, fitness and health, and travel.
Welcome to our new Conservation Officer On behalf of all members and supporters, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to Laura Hahn.
Laura brings excellent experience, qualifications and skills – following over 25 years in environmental management. Laura holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours), Environment & Resource Management and Joint Honours in Biology, from the University of Waterloo, Canada; and is a Member of the Environmental Institute of Australia & New Zealand.
Laura’s work has involved biodiversity and environmental offsets, terrestrial and aquatic ecological impact assessment, management planning, conservation negotiation and strategic planning.
Previous employers include Lorax Pty Ltd, Minto Group, Mary Maher & Associates, Woodward – Clyde (AECOM), Resource Integration Systems (Canada), Ontario Ministry of the Environment (Canada).
Laura is passionate about conservation and enjoys cycling and walking in the bush.
NPAQ’s Annual Easter Camp will be at a private campground known as Yandilla, in Mt Kilcoy, adjacent to Conondale National Park. The campground has flushing toilets and hot showers available.
The property provides opportunities for walkers, photographers and bird watchers alike, with several waterfalls on the property, interesting flora and fauna, and a bird list of 160 species, not to mention the features of the nearby Conondale National Park.
Cost: $92.50 per person camping fees + $8 NPAQ Extended Activity fee. Kids under 14 years are free.
Sites are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment! Payment is required at time of booking.
Birds in Backyards Birds in Backyards is a research, education and conservation program focusing on the birds that live where people live. Get involved by becoming a member and taking part in our online surveys. Learn how you can create bird-friendly spaces in your garden and local community. Find out more about Australian birds and their habitats.
Feral Scan
Help map feral animal sightings in your local area.
Feather Map Ongoing
Become a citizen scientist today by collecting wetland bird feathers you find on the ground or in the water and help our researchers create the first ever Feather Map of Australia.
Weed Spotters Network Queensland
Prevention and early intervention are the most cost-effective means of dealing with potential, new and emerging weeds in Queensland.
The Weed Spotters' Network Queensland aims to find, identify and document those new occurrences of potential weeds at an early stage so that preventative actions can be taken.
It seeks to continue a community-based weed alert system in Queensland, based on the model developed by the previous Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management.
Wildlife Spotter Ongoing
Become a citizen scientist and assist researchers by looking for animals in wilderness photos taken by automated cameras around Australia. Anyone can join in and you can do it all online.
WomSAT
WomSAT (Wombat Survey and Analysis Tools) is a resource for communities to record sightings of wombats across the country.
