- water saving and efficiency
- water recycling
- water treatment - improving surface and groundwater health.
The vision of the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) is for 'enhanced community benefit through sustainable natural resource management'.
NRW plays a critical role in stewardship of Queensland's natural resources. The department manages and allocates the state's land and water resources; it manages native vegetation and the use and sale of native forest resources; and is responsible for managing the control of pest plants and animals.
www.nrw.qld.gov.au
The JSC was established in 2002 under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and Natural Heritage Trust extension bilateral agreements.
The JSC coordinates Queensland and Australian Government investment in regional natural resource management and recommends proposals and decisions to state and federal Ministers for approval.
www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au/about_new/news_events_publications/jsc/index.html
The Cape York Heads of Agreement is an agreement designed to ensure coexistence on Cape York and joint protection of the environment. This landmark agreement was first signed by the Cattlemen's Union (CU), the Wilderness Society (TWS), the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the Cape York Land Council (CYLC) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peninsula Regional Council on the 5 February 1996. It is an agreement designed to protect cultural heritage and environmental values while also providing for greater certainty and more effective management of the pastoral industry. The original agreement was revisited in September 2001 and has seen the State of Queensland join the agreement. An important element of the agreement is to establish a mechanism, including a ‘Ministerial Implementation Committee’, that will translate long-held aspirations for Cape York Peninsula into action.
Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements Project
www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=472
The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) was set up by the Australian Government in 1997 to help restore and conserve Australia's environment and natural resources by providing funding for environmental and natural resource management projects and activities at a community level, a regional level and a National/State level.
In 2006, the CYPDA took a new direction in its strategic plan with the signing of a contract with the Department of Natural Resources & Water to act as interim ‘Service Provider’ in the region, for the delivery of projects funded through the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) over the next two years.
Under this interim ‘Service Provider’ arrangement, the CYPDA is now responsible for the management and oversight of the delivery of projects to the value of approximately five million dollars, over the two year period 2006-2008.
CYPDA NHT projects
Projects managed under the NHT arrangement by CYPDA include:
Administered by CYPDA and funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, the Cape York Peninsula Sustainable Fire Management (CYPSFM) project aims to improve coordination and cooperation between land holders across all land tenures, and develop a sound basis for sustainable fire management strategies and practices. The project is directed by a steering committee, comprised of community and government representatives.
The project documents existing fire regimes to establish best practice fire management for sustainable pastoralism, biodiversity conservation, traditional Aboriginal approaches and broad community issues, including the reduction of large scale wildfires that can endanger communities and cause economic losses for business. This is achieved through analysis of detailed fire histories, vegetation plots, pastoral studies as well as Aboriginal and community consultation and the development of fire plans.
CYPSFM is based in the Cairns office of the CYPDA. It is an excellent example of how cutting-edge technology can be harnessed in a practical way to assist land managers to better understand the effects of fire and enhance the economic potential of their land. Training is being delivered to landowners on Cape York in use of the technology.
The project also has far reaching environmental impacts, some of which will not be realised for years to come. The CYPSFM project is being extended throughout Queensland as the Rangeland Fire Project (see below) and will have staff in Roma and Townsville.
Fire Management Project Objectives
Fire information, including hotspots, firescars and satellite imagery, is regularly being provided to land managers to assist them in managing fires more effectively. NOAA and MODIS hotspots for this region are also being used to track the daily movement of fires. Access to MODIS imagery has enabled the project to expand the area it is mapping for firescars to include the whole of Queensland, being mapped once to twice a week. A complete fire history for Queensland dating back to the year 2000 is currently being mapped using archived MODIS imagery.
The project is analysing fire management at a regional scale for Cape York and in more detail for the Laura Basin. CYPDA now has an 8-year fire history for Cape York Peninsula.
The greater detailed information collected in the Laura Basin will be used to determine the effects of fire on vegetation change at the sites. Woody vegetation change is also being examined using remote sensing to link the satellite mapped fire frequency history of Cape York Peninsula with measurements of woody change such as Foliage Projective Cover (FPC), fine-scale satellite imagery and aerial photography. It is planned to conduct ‘Before and After Fire’ fauna surveys to assess the impact of low and high intensity fires in different areas around the Cape York Peninsula.
A current study is collecting economic data that will be used to model and investigate the economics of fire management on Cape York Peninsula. Results will permit pastoralists to gain improved understanding of the overall relevance of fire to sustainable production and environments, while the CYPDA and natural resource management agencies covering the Cape York Peninsula will gain valuable economic information regarding the coordination of fire management on pastoral properties, conservation areas and Indigenous lands.
The Rangelands Fire Project is funded through Queensland State Government Strategic Reserve Funding, and builds on the Cape York Sustainable Fire Management Program.
A steering group for the project has been formed to provide information on how fire tracking technology can be utilised by land managers in Southern/Central Queensland rangelands to manage fire related risks to their properties.
The project encourages land holders to look beyond their own back yards to manage fires as they have no respect for property boundaries. Inland areas of southern and central Queensland lack a broad scale, regionally driven community process to identify fire management issues and determine priority actions. The Rangelands Fire Project seeks to redress a lack of baseline information to drive informed decision making - both in relation to wildfire response priorities and regional proactive fire management planning.
The project is a collaborative exercise between Regional Natural Resource Management bodies, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Environmental Protection Agency, Rural Fire Service, AgForce, local Councils and landholders.
A survey of landholders on the subject of fire use, woody thickening and satellite technology was conducted from August to November 2007 across the regional area of Queensland. The analysis and compilation of the results have now been completed and are contained in a report which can be viewed at http://www.cypda.com.au/files/Rangelands_Survey.pdf
CYPDA Inc. wishes to thank participants for their time and effort to fill in the survey. The results are extremely valuable particularly because the knowledge has come from the coalface. Your experience and knowledge is by far the best measurement towards best practice.
In cooperation with State Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service, Queensland, CYPDA has been engaged to install a number of radio communication towers to bring UHF coverage for Fire Management to the greater part of the Peninsula. To date 3 extra towers have been installed and 4 others will be installed before July 2007. Installing the additional UHF repeaters will result in increased UHF radio coverage, greatly increasing the effectiveness of fire management activity throughout Cape York Peninsula.
Fire information is available through The North Australian Fire Information (NAFI) website www.firenorth.org.au, which identifies fire hotspots, enabling land managers to respond rapidly to outbreaks and also provides fire history maps to assist with better managing fuel loads throughout the year to prevent highly destructive wild fires.
The Cape York Weeds and Feral Animal Program is the lead Natural Resource Management group with a focus on pest and weed issues within Cape York Peninsula, the program is based in Cooktown and hosted by the Cook Shire Council. The group undertakes a range of activities related to weed and feral animal control, including (but not limited to) pest management planning from a regional scale right down to the property scale, including local government. They also have staff that are qualified trainers and assessors and can deliver both formal and informal training in pest management.
CYPDA liaises with funding bodies and the Cook Shire Council to deliver some of the funding for the Cape York Weeds and Feral Animal Program. This funding is necessary to help with community capacity building throughout the Cape and improve the region’s overall biodiversity through the removal of pest plants and animals.
For further information please visit the group’s website at www.cyppests.com, contact them by phone on (07) 40695 020 or email at cywafap@bigpond.com
Cape York Marine Advisory Group (CYMAG) is a community group based in Cooktown that conducts marine and coastal natural resource management (NRM) activities across the Cape.
These activities include;
CYMAG members were contracted under NHT to write the Cape York Peninsula Marine and Coastal NRM Action Plan (June 2006). This Plan included a review of the current state of management of CYP marine and coastal natural resources and lists Priority Issues and Recommended Actions that were identified by members of the Cape York community and local, state and federal government representatives. These priorities provide the framework for current CYMAG NRM activities.
Download: Cape York Peninsula Marine & Coastal NRM Action Plan (June 2006)
Cape York Peninsula Marine and Coastal NRM Workshop - Feb 2007, Cooktown
The goal of the NHT funded workshop hosted by CYMAG was to promote open communication and co-ordination between organisations conducting marine and coastal natural resource management on Cape York Peninsula. Representatives from government and community NRM organisations were invited to present an overview of their current activities on the Cape. Workshop Discussion Groups identified issues and priorities for future marine and coastal activities relating to Water Quality, Biodiversity and Turtle and Dugong Management.
Outcomes from the Workshop Discussion Groups and Workshop Presentation abstracts are included in the Workshop Proceedings. Contact Details for Marine and Coastal NRM Organisations are listed at the end of the Proceedings.
Download: Proceedings from the CYP Marine and Coastal NRM Workshop 2007
The Turtle Nest Predation Monitoring Project is a new initiative that has determine which animals are preying on turtles and turtle eggs and levels of predation. The project, managed in-house by CYPDA, is a cooperative exercise involving Aboriginal and Islander communities at Mapoon, Injinoo, Aurukun and Napranum, the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, the Environmental Protection Agency and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
CYPDA is working with Cape York Community land managers to monitor the predation rate of turtle nests on western Cape York Peninsula. Indigenous rangers identify the tracks of species coming ashore, mark nests with GPS equipment, identify the nests with pegs and take photos of tracks. Predator species are identified by their tracks.
The data is being used to inform state and federal government of how the predation on turtle nests and hatchlings can be best managed.
Landcare Online
www.landcareonline.com
Landcare Queensland
www.landcareqld.org.au
Cape York Peninsula Landcare Program
The Cape York Peninsula Landcare Program is part of the national Landcare movement, providing Landcare support to community groups and land managers across Cape York Peninsula Natural Resource Management (NRM) region, from the Mitchell River north to the Torres Strait Islands.
Phone: 07 4069 5046
Fax: 07 4069 6896
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3
Cooktown QLD 4895
Mitchell River Watershed Management Group Inc.
deborah@mitchell-river.com.au
Phone: 07 4043 4142
Postal Address: 646 N
Cairns QLD 4870
Southern Cape York Catchments
Southern Cape York Catchments deliver NRM services to the Annan and Endeavour Catchment. Other catchments the Group support include the Bloomfield and Laura Normanby.
Email: catchmentcooktowns.com
Address: PO Box 546
Cooktown QLD 4895
Weipa Catchment Coordinating Group Inc
Email: wccg@bigpond.com
Phone: 07 4069 4158
Fax: 0740696896
Postal Address: P.O. Box 4874
Weipa QLD 4874
Funding is available from various Queensland State and Australian government departments, local government and philanthropic organisations throughout the year. CYPDA is currently funded by Queensland State Development and through Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust funded projects which is administered in Queensland by the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
GrantsLINK
This website helps you find funding available under a variety of grant programs for individuals, businesses and communities to help you to develop solutions to local and national problems, fund ideas and initiatives or provide assistance in times of hardship.
http://www.grantslink.gov.au/
Natural Heritage Trust
The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) was set up by the Australian Government in 1997 to help restore and conserve Australia's environment and natural resources. Since then, thousands of community groups and organisations have received funding for environmental and natural resource management projects.
For further information contact Deb Pople, CYPDA's Strategic Regional NRM Facilitator on 07 4031 3432
http://www.nht.gov.au/
Australian Government Envirofund
The Australian Government Envirofund is the local action component of the Australian Government's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust. It helps communities undertake local projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource use.
Community groups and individuals can apply for grants of up to $50,000 (GST inclusive) to carry out on-ground and other actions to target local problems.
For further information contact Deb Pople, CYPDA's Strategic Regional NRM Facilitator on 07 4031 3432.
www.nht.gov.au/envirofund/index
Community Water Grants
The Australian Government's Community Water Grants programme offers grants to help local community organisations save, recycle or improve the health of their local water resources.
Grants are available for projects related to:
For further information contact Deb Pople, CYPDA's Strategic Regional NRM Facilitator on 07 4031 3432.
http://www.communitywatergrants.gov.au/
Working on Country
This programme provides funding for Indigenous people to deliver environmental services on country. The programme is funded under the Australian Government's initiative A better future for Indigenous Australians: Building an Indigenous workforce in government service delivery, and has two main objectives:
to provide the means for Indigenous people to undertake environmental work on country that meets both their aspirations for caring for country and the Australian Government's environmental responsibilities
to provide a mechanism through which Indigenous people, including those involved with the CDEP programme, can move into jobs.
Preference is given to longer term projects and funding is available for projects up to 3 years in duration. Round 2 is now open and has a closing date of 5pm on Friday 19 October 2007.
For further information contact Barry Hunter, Indigenous Land Management Facilitator on 07 4019 6221 / or the Working on Country team in Canberra on
02 6274 2939
www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/workingoncountry
Threatened Species Network Community Grants
The Threatened Species Network (TSN) is a partnership between WWF-Australia and the Australian Government. The TSN has people on the ground across Australia working with community groups and other conservation partners to help stop the declining numbers of our native plants and animals, particularly those listed by Australia's state and federal governments as threatened. Managed by the Threatened Species Network (TSN), the grants program was established to support and inspire communities to conduct on-ground work for the ongoing health of our natural environment, specifically targeting the needs of nationally threatened species and ecological communities. Funding is provided for activities such as:
Fire management
For further information please contact the TSN Grants Program Officer on
02 8202 1233 or Rebecca Richardson, Threatened Species Network (Queensland), WWF-Australia on 07 3012 7574.
wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/tsngrants/
rrichardson@wwf.org.au
AusIndustry
AusIndustry is the Australian Government's agency for delivering products, services and information that support industry, research and innovation. Australian government programs and grants for Australian businesses.
http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/
Queensland Government Find a Grant
www.qld.gov.au/grants
Queensland Government Blue Print for the Bush funding
Blueprint for the Bush is a 10-year partnership plan between the Queensland Government, AgForce and the Local Government Association of Queensland to foster and support sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural communities in Queensland. The Blueprint introduces new strategies for rural infrastructure and services, and strengthens existing measures that are working well.
www.nrw.qld.gov.au/blueprint
Gambling Community Benefit Fund
The Fund provides one-off grants of up to $30,000 to Queensland based not-for-profit community groups. The closing dates for the grant rounds are: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.
http://www.gcbf.qld.gov.au/