NQ Dry Tropics NRM in Townsville, Queensland | Environmental conservation organisation

NQ Dry Tropics NRM

Locality: Townsville, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4799 3500

Address: 12 Wills Street 4810 Townsville, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.nqdrytropics.com.au

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• Agricultural service

25.01.2022 Drones are fast becoming essentials tools in agriculture. They extend a farmer's influence when mustering, assessing weed management programs and when performing a host of other on-farm tasks. Our Drone Field Day at Greenvale on 30 October presents anybody interested in learning about drones with plenty of opportunities, including the chance to win a DJi Mavic Mini combo drone. Register your interest now, call 4799 3500.

24.01.2022 TEAM IN FOCUS Today we profile Project Officer Thijs Krugers, from our Protecting Biodiversity team. Thijs manages the Protecting Beach Scrub Communities project, which works to protect 19 sites of threatened beach scrub also known as semi-evergreen vine thicket between Bowen and Crystal Creek. Thijs works alongside community groups, Traditional Owners, landholders, and local and state government bodies to deliver the project, which is funded through the Australian Govern...ment’s National Landcare Program Born in Amsterdam, Thijs moved to Australia nearly 10 years ago, and joined us in 2018 after a stint at Conservation Volunteers Australia, where he was team leader for their Creekwatch and Better Earth programs. He keeps bees and chickens, and likes to spend his free time outdoors, especially discovering areas of intact wilderness. He said working at NQ Dry Tropics enabled him to pursue his passion for environmental protection: The biodiversity of our environment is what sustains life on the planet, and our communities need sustainable natural resource management for their future survival, he said. Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Gudjuda Deck Cafe Gudjuda Ayr Mundy Creek Natureway Regeneration Project TropWATER Burdekin Shire Council

24.01.2022 Amateur shutterbug Anne Drummond's snap of two helicopters working together during a muster wowed her peers in the BBB at the LDC Community Update in Collinsville on Friday night. Her spectacular photograph was voted the winner of the "People's Choice" award on the night. Veteran newspaper and professional photographer Scott Radford-Chisholm judged the competition conducted by NQ Dry Tropics' Landholders Driving Change project. Here's part of what he said about Anne's photogr...aph: "Whether it was planned or not, the silhouette use in this image has worked perfectly. Not only has it drawn attention to the focal point of the whole image but it has framed it to perfection. For an amateur photographer, to be able to think ahead and plan for this has taken a great deal of thought." Scott awarded the photograph first place in the "Our Work" category. Congratulations, Anne! Look out for the October edition of The Grit due out next week for all the winners and runners-up. You will also be able to see every photograph entered in the competition. Queensland Environment Department Great Barrier Reef Foundation Reef Alliance FutureBeef AgForce Queensland Queensland Farmers' Federation #LDC2020 Photography By Scott Radford-Chisholm See more

24.01.2022 Our recent Working Dog School at Herveys Range, run by renowned educator Neil McDonald, was featured on 9 News North Queensland! Thanks to Des and Robbie Bolton for hosting the event, which was funded through the partnership between the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation FutureBeef Queensland Agriculture Land Queensland Water Queensland Queensland Farmers' Federation Reef Alliance Dalrymple Landcare Committee Southern Gulf NRM

24.01.2022 Leading industry experts Dick Richardson, of Grazing Naturally and Brian Wehlburg of Inside Outside Management will be among the presenters at an event next week targeted at younger graziers. They will be joined by landholder Bristow Hughes, who is hosting the event at his Strathalbyn property. A great learning and networking opportunity not to be missed! Details below.... The event is part of the Landholders Driving Change project, funded by the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality Program. Dalrymple Landcare Committee CHRRUP FutureBeef AgForce Queensland Queensland Agriculture Collinsville, Queensland Pit Pony Tavern AgForce North

23.01.2022 Contour banks constructed on Red Hill Station, near Charters Towers, aim to reduce sheet and rill erosion on a scalded red goldfields tableland. The banks will slow the flow of water and rehydrate the landscape to promote ground cover, and replenish the springs that flow from the base of the tableland. The work is funded through our Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program, which assists producers to address land in degraded condition ... The program is funded through the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program. Queensland Agriculture Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Fitzroy Basin Association Inc FutureBeef Charters Towers Regional Council AgForce Queensland AgForce North Robbie Katter MP Dalrymple Landcare Committee Chrrup Southern Gulf NRM Life on Red Hill

19.01.2022 FRIDAY FLICK Our Protecting Beach Scrub Communities project, funded by the National Landcare Program focuses on 19 sites of threatened beach scrub also known as semi-evergreen vine thicket between Bowen and Crystal Creek. This video highlights recent fauna surveys designed to establish the ecological health of the beach scrub and the animals living within it. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Gudjuda Deck Cafe Gudjuda Ayr

19.01.2022 Soil guru David Hardwick this week concluded a three-part course in Soil Health with a workshop enthusiastically received by a tight-knit group of sugar cane growers. Hosted by Glenn and Rhonda Pirrone on their Ayr farm, the workshop concentrated on making sense of soil analyses, and getting value out of them. David, assisted by Soil Land Food Extension Officer Simon Mattsson, explained how nutrients cycled through the soil to become available for plants to consume and grow, ...and eventually return to the soil when the plant died. Multi-species cover-cropping, pioneered by Mr Mattsson in Australia, was also a focus of the workshop. The group inspected a fallow paddock on the Pirrones' farm, noting the clearly-evident benefits of a short-term mixed species cover crop that left a covering of mulch to further improve the soil. The group discussed minimum-tillage strategies to prepare the paddock for planting, including using a mixture of molasses and prilled urea to accelerate the biological activity in the soil that would break down the mulch. Mr and Mrs Pirrone said the workshops had been invaluable. "It's new knowledge, it's so good for us to be able to have somebody like David Hardwick come and walk through our paddock, dig up the soil and give us advice," Mrs Pirrone said. "We learnt more from him than at any other agronomy meeting I have attended." She said repeat visits for similar workshops would have a knock-on effect for the environment and for the whole community. The workshop was organised by NQ Dry Tropics and funded through the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality Program as part of the Enhanced Extension Coordination program. CANEGROWERS Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Burdekin Shire Council AgForce Queensland AgForce North NRM Regions Australia Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland Reef Catchments Burdekin Local News The Burdekin Advocate

19.01.2022 Last week's federal budget announced a four-year National Soil Strategy aimed at ensuring Australia's soil resources are recognised and valued as a key national asset. For many years NQ Dry Tropics has promoted the critical role healthy soil plays in any productive enterprise. Back in 2019 we released a series of videos presented by soil expert David Hardwick of Soil Land Food focused on the different elements that contribute to soil health, and how to test them. Here's the ...first introductory video. You can view all the videos, and download a copy of the Rapid Assessment of Soil Health (RASH) Manual at this link https://www.nqdrytropics.com.au/rash/ Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment lLower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Dalrymple Landcare Committee Queensland Agriculture CHRRUP Land Queensland Water Queensland FutureBeef CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Foundation CSIRO Queensland Environment Department

18.01.2022 The Landholders Driving Change photography competition 2020 attracted some great entries, including this cracking pic by amateur photographer Bec Lathwell, who secured first prize in the "Our People " category. Congratulations Bec! Veteran newspaper and professional photographer Scott Radford-Chisholm judged the entries and here's an excerpt from his comments about the photo. "A very well composed image technically. Everything within the frame has a ‘connection that works’, f...rom the framing of the timber rails to the placement of the human element on the left offset by the horse on the right. Bonus points because the horse is trying to be a star too!! With the horse actually turned and looking on, it really connects with the main subject being the stockman." The October edition of The Grit is due out shortly, and will feature every photograph entered in the competition. Landholders Driving Change is a Burdekin Major Integrated Project funded through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program. Queensland Environment Department Great Barrier Reef Foundation Reef Alliance FutureBeef AgForce Queensland Queensland Farmers' Federation Photography By Scott Radford-Chisholm

18.01.2022 Let's celebrate National Ag Day by acknowledging the vital role played by primary producers across the country. We are proud to work alongside the ag industry to achieve more sustainable management of land, water, plants and animals in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region. Agriculture is critical to the economy, and building resilient enterprises will help to ensure regional communities continue to prosper. AgForce Queensland AgForce North Queensland Agriculture FutureBeef Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Growcom Australia Land Queensland Water Queensland Chrrup Dalrymple Landcare Committee Southern Gulf NRM Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Terrain NRM Cape York Natural Resource Management Queensland Country Life

18.01.2022 The Mulloon Institute Tony Coote AM 2020 Memorial Lecture next Wednesday will be presented by Allan Savory! Tickets are free for this online event, but you'll need to book to access the presentation. AgForce QueenslandAgForce NorthDalrymple Landcare CommitteeFutureBeef Chrrup Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc

17.01.2022 TEAM IN FOCUS: Today we profile Shakira Todd, who just took up a new position with our Wetlands Team working on the Restoring Bowling Green Bay Wetlands project, funded by the National Landcare Program. A self-described RAAF brat, Shakira spent her childhood moving between Queensland, Victoria and Northern Territory. In 2005 she settled in North Queensland, going on to complete a Zoology degree at JCU: James Cook University, Australia. ... She joined NQ Dry Tropics in 2017, spending three years in the Sugar Team supporting cane growers to reduce nitrogen inputs without reducing yield as part of the Reef Trust Tenders Burdekin project. As part of her new role, Shakira will be working with a range of partners landholders, community groups, Traditional Owners, industry, and local government to improve the condition of Bowling Green Bay, recognised as internationally-important habitat for a variety of species, including threatened migratory shorebirds. Shakira loves the Burdekin Dry Tropics region’s beautiful climate and native wildlife, and enjoys exploring, travelling and camping with family and friends. She said: NQ Dry Tropics’ work matters because we contribute to conservation of landscapes and waterways, and support landholders to adopt improved land management practices. Shakira is passionate about wildlife conservation, and is establishing Wildlife Surrounds Conservation Centre on her 40 acre block adjacent to a National Park. She said: "The centre aims to provide a community hub for wildlife education and collaborative research. Currently it is home to four dingoes, reptiles, and occasional rescue wildlife (currently an echidna). The dingoes are educational ambassadors for their species and help educate the public on the importance of conserving top order predators in Australian ecosystems, and ways in which predator-friendly farming can benefit graziers." PHOTO: Shakira spending quality time with Jarli, one of the dingoes at Wildlife Surrounds Conservation Centre. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Burdekin Shire Council Gudjuda Ayr Gudjuda Deck Cafe

15.01.2022 Clare cane grower Heath Salter is delighted with the decision to fully automate the irrigation system on his parent's Ayr cane farm. It saved him heaps of time, lowered water and electricity costs, and reduced runoff. The Salters more than halved the duration of each irrigation event, reduced water use by 3.2 megalitres per hectare, and reduced pump energy usage by 224 kW.h/ per hectare. This was achieved with support from a Reef Water Quality Innovations Grant, under our Ree...f Alliance project, funded through the Australian Government's Reef Trust. The Salters were one of several growers who achieved economic, social and environmental benefits through the grants program. Read more about their story here https://bit.ly/3igZCt4 Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Burdekin Productivity Services Farmacist Pty Ltd Dale Last - Member for Burdekin Burdekin Shire Council Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

15.01.2022 Biodiversity Month is a good time to shine a light on our Restoring Bowling Green Bay Wetlands project, funded by the National Landcare Program. Bowling Green Bay (BGB) is one of only five wetland sites in Queensland listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar is the name of the city in Iran where the convention was signed to recognise wetlands around the world that were especially important according to a range of criteria, such as sup...porting habitat for water birds and endangered species. BGB is home to nearly 500 species of animal, such as the northern quoll and flatback turtle, and more than 500 species of plant such as the Mt Stuart Ironbark. It is key habitat for migratory shorebirds, such as the eastern curlew. Read more about the project here https://bit.ly/2FOlJKg Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Burdekin Shire Council Townsville City Council Land Queensland Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

15.01.2022 The 2021 Greenvale Campdraft finished up on Sunday. NQ Dry Tropics was proud to be a major sponsor of this important event in the upper Burdekin community calendar. Congratulations to the organisers and competitors. ... Thanks to Judy Hawkes Photography for providing images. Campdraft Central CampdraftAus Australian Campdraft Assoc Campdrafting Greenvale Roadhouse & Fuel Supplies Northern Miner Charters Towers Regional Council Dalrymple Landcare Committee

15.01.2022 September is biodiversity month, and here's one of our region's most iconic critters - the frilled neck lizard! (Chlamydosaurus kingii). This fellow was found during a fauna survey in areas of beach scrub. These surveys aim to establish baselines of fauna populations, to help indicate the ecological health of the beach scrub sites. Our Protecting Beach Scrub Communities is funded by the National Landcare Program Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Reptiles Townsville Snake Catcher TSV Snakehandler

13.01.2022 Tomorrow morning join Tangaroa Blue and other volunteers on a clean up of Alva Beach, which is important bird and turtle nesting habitat. Lunch provided. Details provided below. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Burdekin Shire Council Canegrowers Burdekin Limited Dale Last - Member for Burdekin

11.01.2022 Two recently-completed fishways in the lower Burdekin have improved fish connectivity by opening up 15 km of additional river habitat for iconic species such as barramundi, mangrove jack and mullet. The rock ramp fishways will help more juvenile fish born in the ocean to reach freshwater areas where they can grow safely away from predators - boosting stocks for recreational and commercial fishers. The structures are designed to slow down water flow during rain events to enab...le the juveniles to swim upstream without running out of energy. Local firm Pio Burelli Constructions built the fishways, and the technical specifications were overseen by fisheries biologist Matt Moore from Catchment Solutions in Mackay. The fishways are located on Saltwater Creek next to two automated gates newly-installed by Lower Burdekin Water that will improve the efficiency of water delivery to local farms and the aquifer. We have partnered with Lower Burdekin Water to deliver a total of seven gates and fishways on Saltwater Creek within the past three years. This work was delivered as part of the Reducing Burdekin Sediment project, funded through the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Investment Program. Land Queensland Water Queensland Great Barrier Reef Foundation TropWATER Australian Institute of Marine Science Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Queensland Environment DepartmentQueensland Agriculture

11.01.2022 This 360 photo shows gully remediation work on Caerphilly Station, on the Cape River 200km south of Charters Towers. The gully in shot downstream was created by poorly designed road drains on a public road that was pumping high volumes of fast-flowing water off the roadway and into the drainage line. The cost-effective solution involved constructing two diversion banks to take the water off the road, slow it down and divert it to a more resilient part of the landscape, where... it can infiltrate and promote pasture growth. Caerphilly graziers Emma Robinson and Mick Duckett also implemented a rotational grazing system, which together with the contour banks will help the land continue to repair itself over time. This work was funded by the Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program, funded through the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality program and delivered by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource ManagementFitzroy Basin Association and NQ Dry Tropics. Queensland Agriculture I believe in a sustainable CQ Dalrymple Landcare Committee Chrrup Greening Australia The Mulloon Institute

11.01.2022 The Mount Elliot section of Bowling Green Bay National Park features rugged, rainforest-topped mountains rising from the wetlands, saltpans and mangroves of the coastal plain. Mount Elliot dominates the landscape, reaching a height of 1,210 metres. Majors creek, a tributary of the Haughton River, flows from this area, and is home to fish including sooty and barred grunters, mangrove jack, and barramundi. A lesser-known inhabitant, however, is a species of crayfish - Euastacus... bindal - named after the Bindal Traditional Owner group. This 3cm crayfish is only found above 850m altitude on Mt Elliot, and is listed as critically endangered under the Australian Environment Protection 1999 and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1992. It’s natural range is restricted to cool water, a relic of previous climatic eras when the region was cooler and wetter. Mt Elliot is popular with off-track bushwalkers, but before entering this pristine area, it is important that visitors thoroughly wash their boots to avoid accidentally introducing diseases such as amphibian chytrid fungus or tree dieback. NQ Dry Tropics’ From the Land to the Sea project is working to protect important habitat from the impacts of recreational activities and other threats. The project is focusing on the Black, Haughton and Don catchments, which contribute to the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. It is funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and delivered through the National Landcare Program Regional Land Partnership agreement. Photo credit: Rachael Payne Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Townsville City Council Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc Queensland Environment Department

11.01.2022 JCU student Jessica Pollard is coming to the end of a placement at NQ Dry Tropics, as part of her five-year double Bachelor of Law with Zoology and Ecology. The internship has enabled Jess to put knowledge gained from her double degree to good use, both at the office and in the field. Her main focus has been writing a report on the Landholders Driving Change Project’s Policy Engagement activity area, which aims to facilitate better landholder engagement in relevant policy de...velopment and implementation in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie (BBB) catchments around Bowen and Collinsville. Jess said that, having grown up in Bowen, the assignment enabled her to engage with activities and programs being run in her own backyard that have benefited graziers and government policy-makers alike. But she has also been out and about at a range of events and site visits around the region, which she said had resulted in a varied and memorable experience. I have been so fortunate to be able to complete my placement here at NQ Dry Tropics. I have loved being able to attend field trips and workshops, which enabled me to practically apply the theory learnt in the university classroom," Jess said. "Building ‘leaky weirs’ on a property near Charters towers and engaging with weed management projects in beach scrub near Ayr have been particular highlights. "I have had countless opportunities to collaborate with local landholders, government members and experts in resource management regarding the application of relevant environmental laws and policies in the region. "I wanted to learn and experience as much as I could before I graduate, and these past few months have enabled me to do that. It has been a pleasure hosting Jessica at NQ Dry Tropics, and we wish her luck with the next step of her career path! JCU: James Cook University, Australia Queensland Bowen Townsville Bulletin Collinsville, Queensland Bowen Independent

10.01.2022 Project Officer Thijs Krugers reckons beach scrub is a pretty special coastal habitat. In this short video, Thijs explains how we can minimise impacts on these threatened ecosystems, so they can be enoyed by current and future generations. The Protecting Beach Scrub Communities project is funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Gudjuda Deck Cafe Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc Burdekin Shire Council

10.01.2022 NQ Dry Tropics MERI Officer Barb Colls joined Graduate Engineer Sheyanne Frisby (SMEC Australia) to deliver a presentation at the Australian Water Association Queensland conference last week. They spoke to a sizeable in-person and online audience about gully remediation efforts as part of the Landholders Driving Change project. They focused on the range of treatment methods applied across different sized gullies, as well as the importance of working with landholders and imp...roving land condition above gully sites. Gully remediation improves water quality by reducing the amount of fine sediment entering waterways and flowing to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Landholders Driving Change is a Burdekin Major Integrated Project funded by the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality Program. TropWATER CSIRO JCU: James Cook University, Australia Land Queensland Water Queensland FutureBeef

07.01.2022 Kinrara Station, south of Mt Garnet and surrounding Kinrara National Park, sits on an extraordinary landscape, the handiwork of Australia's youngest volcano, Mt Kinrara. Owners Shane and Robyn O'Brien recognise the extraordinary value of the biodiverse wildlife supported around the spring-fed lake on their property and have used that part of their land in a way that protects and nurtures the ecology of the area. An NQ Dry Tropics project - Linking Landholders to Frontage Coun...try - funded under the Queensland Government's Natural Resources Investment Program has supported the O'Briens to protect the ecologically sensitive areas by helping them construct a firebreak along the eastern side of the National Park, watering points, and riparian fencing. The springs on the property are widely recognised as the major source of the Burdekin River, the water making its way to the river via the Valley of Lagoons as it disappears underground into basalt rocks, the remnants of laval flows, only to reappear to form another lagoon. For seven months of the year, the O'Briens, together with Shane's brother Callum, run an eco-tourism venture on the edge of the lake (Kinrara Expeditions), so cattle are excluded and native flora and fauna thrive. Project manager Chris Poole said the O'Briens had placed a value on the biodiversity on their property and were developing it as another income stream for the business. It's a beautiful place to unwind and Callum has developed a brilliant opportunity for people to unwind and commune with nature. Queensland Environment Department Kinrara Expeditions Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium North Queensland Register Queensland Country Life Cairns Post Townsville Bulletin Land Queensland Queensland Agriculture

06.01.2022 Breeder management expert Dr Ian Braithwaite made a sweep through properties in the NQ Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management region last month. The visits to five properties participating in NQ Dry Tropics' Reefwise Grazing of Burdekin Rangelands project followed on from his Breeder Management and Pregnancy Testing workshops. Dr Braithwaite spent a day at each property looking at heifer management, 12-month rebreed rates and reproductive diseases. He linked fundamental prop...erty decisions around finance and grass to breeder herd performance. NQ Dry Tropics Grazing Team Leader Linda Anderson said conversations like that helped set up strategies for managing grass and cattle in each business. Ms Anderson and Dr Braithwaite visited The Brook, Ewan Hills, Clothes Peg, Gregory Springs and Six Mile. The project, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, aims to help graziers adopt practices that will deliver more profitable businesses and more resilient landscapes. Great Barrier Reef Foundation 6 Mile Creek Station Clothes Peg Station Ian Braithwaite BVSc Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment FutureBeef See more

06.01.2022 TEAM IN FOCUS Today we profile Senior Grazing Field Officer Chris Poole, from our Sustainable Agriculture team. Joining NQ Dry Tropics two years ago gave Chris the opportunity to combine his passion for the region, the environment, and the grazing community. Chris focuses primarily on our Reef Trust Grazing project, which supports graziers to improve land management, promote ground cover and reduce sediment loss. He works closely with landholders, and extension delivery part...ners such as Dick Richardson (Grazing Naturally); David Hardwick (Soil Land Food); and erosion control expert Darryl Hill (Soil Save). Born in Townsville, Chris came to the role with extensive grazing experience he managed a cattle station in Muttaburra, near Longreach, and his dad owns a property in Mount Garnet. Chris said: Graziers are my kind of people, and they are great conservationists which isn’t necessarily widely appreciated. I love supporting them to develop innovative ways to increase productivity while reducing environmental impacts. I’m especially interested in working with groups such as The Mulloon Institute to design landscape rehydration projects." In his spare time you’ll find Chris fishing, mucking around with horses, or chasing cows. As long as he’s outdoors he's happy: I love the extreme diversity of the Burdekin Dry Tropics, from black soil downs to basalt to marginal lancewood and wattle scrubs. I reckon it’s the best part of the world to raise kids there’s never a dull moment, he said. The Reef Trust Grazing project is funded through the partnership between the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation AgForce Queensland AgForce North Queensland Agriculture FutureBeef Southern Gulf NRM I believe in a sustainable CQ

05.01.2022 The October edition of The Grit is out now and available here https://bit.ly/3l3BUCp As usual, it features plenty of photos and news about our Landholders Driving Change project, which aims to improve land condition and water quality in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie catchment, around Bowen and Collinsville. This edition includes the photography competition entrants and winners, which were announced late last month.... Landholders Driving Change is a Burdekin Major Integrated Project funded by the Queensland Environment Department through the Reef Water Quality Program. CSIRO AgForce Queensland AgForce North Whitsunday Regional Council Burdekin Shire Council Isaac Regional Council Pit Pony Tavern Glencore TropWATER Reef Alliance NRM Regions Australia Great Barrier Reef Foundation Griffith University

05.01.2022 Around forty graziers attended a Landscape Rehydration Field Day hosted by graziers Matt and Sally McKeering at Carinya Station near Alpha earlier this month. Presenter Sam Skeat from The Mulloon Institute described how managing land to reinstate natural water flow can increase soil health and pasture cover - extending the growing season and increasing drought resilience. The event, supported by Chrrup was part of the Burdekin Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator project, funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program FutureBeef Queensland Agriculture AgForce Queensland Dalrymple Landcare Committee Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc

04.01.2022 Save the date! We are holding a field day at Mt Pleasant station - between Bowen and Collinsville - focused on the many practical uses for drones on-farm. Get in touch to register your interest in the event, part of our Landholders Driving Change project, funded through the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality Program. FutureBeef AgForce North Reef Catchments Queensland Farmers' Federation Great Barrier Reef Foundation Reef Alliance Mt Pleasant Learning Hub

03.01.2022 FRIDAY FLICK Healthy soil is critical to a productive enterprise. We produced a series of seven videos presented by soil expert David Hardwick of Soil Land Food focused on the different elements that contribute to soil health, and how to test them. The seventh and final video in the series addresses how to assess soil ph, using a simple field kit. Soil ph influences the type of pastures that will thive, and how nutrients cycle in different land types. The videos were delivere...d by the Landholders Driving Change project, funded through the Queensland Environment Department Reef Water Quality program. Reef Alliance I believe in a sustainable CQ Queensland Farmers' Federation The Mulloon Institute AgForce Queensland AgForce North Dalrymple Landcare Committee Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc Chrrup Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc

02.01.2022 Friday's Indigenous Round NRL match resulted in a nail-biting victory for the Cowboys versus the Warriors. Prior to the match, NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Caralea Hensler joined Three Big Rivers LTD Director Thomas Holden and a group of young environmental workers to promote the Healing Country project to fans at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Under the project, five members of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Team are gaining practical on-gr...ound skills working on NQ Dry Tropics projects across North Queensland, while undertaking an accredited environmental training program. Healing Country is delivered in partnership between NQ Dry Tropics and Three Big Rivers, and is funded through the Queensland Government’s Reef Assist program. Team members participating in another Reef Assist project delivered by Three Big Rivers and Townsville City Council were also in attendance. Our Mob on Country Country Needs People National Indigenous Times Queensland Environment Department

02.01.2022 We're marking National Threatened Species Day by shining a spotlight on this little fella, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). The smallest of the quoll species, it was once found across northern Australia, but is now restricted to fragmented populations within our region. You may be lucky enough to spot one in dry sclerophyll forests (typically populated by eucalypts, wattles and banksias), woodlands, riparian woodlands, or rocky and hilly areas. Primary threats inc...lude cane toads, dogs and cats. Males commonly only live for around a year, with the females' lifespan a little longer at 2-3 years. Thanks to Wildlife Surrounds Conservation Centre for the photo! Threatened Species Commissioner Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Queensland Environment Department Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc Mundy Creek Natureway Regeneration Project

01.01.2022 As the weather changes, it's time for graziers to evaluate the success of wet season grazing programs and prepare for the upcoming dry by calculating available feed and planning grazing strategies. This is what members of four Burdekin peer-to-peer grazier groups did earlier this month, supported by NQ Dry Tropics grazing staff and Dick Richardson from Grazing Naturally . What has proven to be an almost ideal season, combined with planned and observed stock management, has al...lowed participating graziers to grow more grass than ever, build a greater depth of pasture diversity, capture and store more rainfall in soils and improve the quality of water leaving their property. With feed budgeting completed and dry season plans on the table, these graziers are now gearing up to achieve the best results from their dry season grazing, whether that be building their breeder herds or trading profitably through local cattle markets. These workshops were jointly supported through funding from the Enhanced Extension and Coordination project, funded by the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program, the Reefwise Grazing of Burdekin Rangelands project, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; and the Linking Burdekin Landholders to Frontage Country project, funded by the Queensland Government Natural Resources Investment Program. Land Queensland Queensland Agriculture Queensland Environment Department AgForce Queensland AgForce North Dalrymple Landcare Committee CHRRUP RCS - Resource Consulting Services Inside Outside Management FutureBeef Southern Gulf NRM Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

01.01.2022 Back in February 2019 at Ayr's Lilliesmere Lagoon, more than 150 barramundi measuring one metre plus were lost during a mass fish kill caused by depleted oxygen levels in the water. Last Sunday, an NQ Dry Tropics community event held at the lagoon highlighted ongoing efforts to prevent a recurrence by improving local water quality and wetland habitat. The event was part of the Reducing Burdekin Sediment project, funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investm...ent Program. Eddie Smallwood, Chairman of the Gudjuda Reference Group, kicked off proceedings with a Welcome to Country, during which he highlighted the cultural and environmental significance of wetlands and waterways. This was followed by presentations and demonstrations from project partners and participants Burdekin Shire Council Burdekin Shire Rivers Improvement Trust, TropWATER, Burdekin Fish Restocking Association, and OzFish Unlimited. NQ Dry Tropics Wetlands Team Leader Scott Fry said work to improve the health of Lilliesmere Lagoon wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of these organisations, as well as groups including Lower Burdekin Water Bbifmac Inc Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc and local farmers. He said activities such as removing aquatic weeds, revegetating creek banks with native trees to provide shade that cools water temperatures, and monitoring water quality all helped to keep the waterway in good condition and reduce the likelihood of fish kills. Thanks to all of the presenters and attendees, and also to the team from Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin who cooked up a tasty sausage sizzle. Gudjuda reference Group Gudjuda Deck Cafe Land Queensland Water Queensland Queensland Environment Department Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

01.01.2022 FRIDAY FLICK: When tackling soil erosion on grazing lands, it's vital to treat the cause as well as the symptoms. We work closely with landholders on strategies that promote better pasture cover, and help rehydrate landscapes by retaining rain on property, slowing it down, and spreading it out across paddocks. This video showcases five different techniques we have used to remediate eroded gullies, but all of them consider the bigger picture by incorporating improvements in la...nd management. Our thanks to the graziers who participated in the film and in our projects: Shane Watts (Sonoma), Keith Atkinson (Camel Creek), Paul Rowe (Riverview), Owen Howard (Hell's Gate) and Chris LeFeuvre (Worona). These projects were funded through Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Reef Trust. FutureBeef AgForce Queensland AgForce North Great Barrier Reef Foundation Queensland Agriculture Queensland Farmers' Federation Reef Alliance Queensland Country Life Griffith University Greening Australia JCU: James Cook University, Australia I believe in a sustainable CQ Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management The Mulloon Institute Chrrup Dalrymple Landcare Committee