October 2016 news from the Regional Landcare Facilitator

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Time is running out to complete the National Landcare Programme stakeholder survey

The Australian Government will be reviewing its $1 billion National Landcare Programme (NLP), which is due to finish in June 2018. The review will determine the future direction of the NLP, including how much funding is made available and where it will be directed.

It has been running a stakeholder survey to find out about the impact and results of this investment.
If you haven’t yet filled in the survey, please do so as soon as possible. The cut off date is
Friday 14 October, so there are only two days left to have your say. It is vital that you let the Australian Government know how this funding supports our community's efforts to protect our precious natural resources.
Where possible, please mention NQ Dry Tropics in your responses, to help us continue supporting the Burdekin Dry Tropics community to sustainably manage our land and water.
Thanks very much for your help with this.

Click here to complete the survey

Pest Management Grants 2016-2017 now open

NQ Dry Tropics is providing $70,000 in 2016-2017 to fund the strategic control of priority weeds in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.

Up to $7,000 (GST exclusive) is available for each project that has activities contributing towards outcomes of the Regional Pest Management Strategy for the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Region 2014-19.
Applications close soon on 25 October 2016!
For more information

Burdekin Horticulture Forum - Wednesday 19 October

Could the Burdekin Dry Tropics region be the next food hub? Is there potential for Indigenous food tourism? How can we cultivate a thriving and supportive sustainable horticultural industry? All these questions and more will be addressed at the region’s first sustainable producers network week in Giru.
Visit our website here for more information or download the flyer. Please rsvp to info @nqdrytropics.com.au to ensure adequate catering.

Regional Conservation Action Planning

NQ Dry Tropics enables and supports the Burdekin Dry Tropics community to protect, maintain and restore biodiversity through use of the internationally recognised ‘Open Standards for the Practice of Biodiversity Conservation’, otherwise known as the Conservation Action Planning (CAP) framework.

The first plan for the Burdekin Coastal Plains and adjacent Ranges sub region is complete and the conservation plan for the Upper Burdekin Rangelands is under development. As a consequence of the NRM community coming together to participate in this planning process, eight critical conservation strategies have been identified for the Burdekin Coastal Plains and Adjacent Ranges subregion and 13 projects have been developed. Two of these projects have been resourced with $200,000 from the National Landcare Programme funding and include:

Conservation of the Endangered Black-throated Finch: This project will establish an integrated management programme, focusing on priority areas where suitable habitat occurs and Black-throated Finch are consistently recorded.
Conservation of Endangered Beach Scrub (semi-evergreen vine thickets): This project will improve the condition and extent of endangered beach scrub regional ecosystems on the coastal plains.

Additionally, a project is being planned to protect threatened Scrub communities in the Upper Burdekin Rangelands. If you are interested in participating in either planning sessions or implementing projects please contact brett.king@nqdrytropics.com.au

Upcoming Events

19 Oct, Burdekin Horticulture Forum, Achacha Farm, Giru
28 - 30 Oct, National Biological Farming Conference & Expo, Cairns Convention Centre
3 - 4 Nov, EIANZ Annual Conference, Brisbane
7 - 13 Nov, National Recycling Week, Australia wide
7 - 10 Nov, The 5th Queensland Pest Animal Symposium, Rydges Southbank, Townsville
21 Nov, World Fisheries Day, Global
29 Nov - 1 Dec, Australian Wildlife Management Society Conference 2016, Auckland, New Zealand
7 - 8 Dec, Regenerative Farming with Darren Doherty, Wambiana Station, Charters Towers

Reef Alliance – Growing a Great Barrier Reef – Burdekin Sugarcane sub-programme

NQ Dry Tropics' Sustainable Agriculture programme is delivering extension, training and Reef Water Quality Grants as part of the Reef Alliance – Growing a Great Barrier Reef programme, funded by the Australian Government Reef Trust through the Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) and a partnership between CANEGROWERS, NQ Dry Tropics, Terrain NRM and the Burnett Mary Regional Group.

The Burdekin sugarcane sub programme will:

By 2019, contribute to a 10% reduction in DIN from sugarcane enterprises in the Burdekin sugarcane growing region.
By 2019, 294 cane farmers will have implemented improved nutrient practices over 44,100ha in the Burdekin sugarcane growing region.

Webpage link here

Amendments to CASA’s drone regulations
Amendments to Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, which regulate drones, or ‘unmanned aeronautical activities’ came into effect on 29 September 2016.
The changes to the regulations aim to cut red tape around the use of drones, particularly in the commercial context. In particular, the new regulations will make it significantly easier for farmers to invest in, and use drone technology, without the added cost and inconvenience of complying with licencing and certification requirements.

National Wild Dog Action Plan is available here
Also WildDogScan is a website and smartphone app for land managers, livestock producers, pest controllers and community members to record sightings of wild dogs, their impacts and control activities for their local area.