Southern Gulf Catchments Limited Annual Report 2012-2013 VISION STATEMENT Leaders in regional natural resource management

MISSION STATEMENT Enabling and engaging the community to manage and enhance, through best practice, the region’s natural assets for current and future generations. Contents SOUTHERN GULF CATCHMENTS LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT ...... 2 Brian Atherinos

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT ...... 3 Robert Wilson

PROGRAMS UPDATE ...... 4 Simone Parker, Operations Manager

CASE STUDIES ...... 7

Southern Gulf Catchments Limited key activities 2013

Date Event Location 3 March Clean up Day Mount Isa 11 March Prickly Acacia Task Force Meeting Julia Creek 5 May Gregory River Canoe Race Gregory 30 April – 2 May Xstrata Mining Expo Mount Isa 20 – 21 May North West Graziers Forum Cloncurry 31 May – 2 June Hughenden Show Hughenden 14-15 June Cloncurry Show Cloncurry 14-15 June Richmond Field Days Richmond 21-23 June Mount Isa Show Mount Isa 7 - 14 July NAIDOC Week Mount Isa 15-17 July 12th QLD Weed Symposium Hervey Bay 24 July Calotrope Field Day Nardoo Station 26 July National Tree Day – School Planting Mount Isa 28 July National Tree Day – Community Planting Mount Isa 9-11 August Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Mount Isa 3-5 September National Landcare Conference Sydney 5-6 October Richmond Fishing Classic Richmond 25-27 October Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic Mount Isa 7 November SGC 10th Anniversary/ Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce event 8 November Annual General Meeting Mount Isa

Page 1 Chairman's Report BRIAN ATHERINOS

2013 has seen the Board of Southern Gulf Catchments has again seen us successfully through the Audit Limited (SGC) concentrate on the consolidation of process. I am proud to say our Auditor’s report was Board operations and the ongoing development of favourable with only one low risk recommendation profi cient governance practices. We have continued noted. This is a credit to all involved and in particular to strive to build a strong Board foundation that Maree Berlin our Business Manager who has completed allows us to grow a healthy association between all fi nance requirements in a most accurate, thorough stakeholders, management and the staff of Southern and professional manner. Gulf Catchments Limited. I would like to give special thanks to our CEO, Bob It has been both a pleasure and privilege for myself Wilson, as he has fulfi lled his duties in a most admirable to have been given the opportunity to form part of manner whilst keeping the Board abreast of all relevant the SGC team. I was fortunate to follow on from the information required. Bob has completed works on great work of Alison Bohannan who dedicated much behalf of the Board with great effi ciency and expertise. time and eff ort to the Chairman’s role. There were It is with these comments I show appreciation to the further changes to the Board in the past year with the work of all staff at SGC and commend them on their departure of several Board members. Ken Isaacson, enthusiasm and dedication. These qualities and traits Julie Boyer and Tonya Murray all moved on to pursue which they have shown are something you cannot their own personal goals. I thank them for their time learn, but own. Well done. and dedication while they were with Southern Gulf Catchments Limited. Key Board focuses this year have been: • Reviewing, adopting and documenting Board Due to the reductions in core funding allocated to member responsibilities Natural Resource Management Groups throughout • Annual Board member work plans in 2013, it became apparent the • Full revision of the Strategic Plan (including importance for SGC to re-examine Board costs, workshops) effi ciencies and structure. The review conducted • Reviewing the current Natural Resource highlighted opportunities for the Board to continue Management Plan (including Water Management maintaining strong working relationships with our policy) sector and regions whilst remaining within new • Risk management identifi cation training and budgeted allowances. This was made possible by a implementation restructure of the Board and delegation of duties. Our • FAC Protocols, and Board members John Taylor, Megan Munchenberg, • Undergoing an organisational performance Shane McCarthy, Sophie Keily and Charlie Hawkins are excellence review. to be congratulated for their eff orts this year. These The above few points are by no means the limit to the Board members have not only fi lled the void from Board Board’s work this year but are the main agenda items vacancies but also contributed towards maintaining a which have been under the microscope. high level of professionalism and continued focus on core principles. Going forward, the year ahead will see the Board exercise fully the policies and planning documents Charlie Hawkins is also Chairman of the Finance and developed which will ensure the SGC Board adhere Audit Committee (FAC). This committee along with key to all obligations in a legal and ethical manner whilst members of the operations team are to be commended looking to ensure any opportunities to further assist for their eff orts ensuring fi nancial protocols have been Southern Gulf Catchments Limited and its stakeholders maintained. The committee’s active monitoring and are fully pursued. governance of our fi nancial and reporting processes

Page 2 Chief Executive Officer's Report ROBERT WILSON

Southern Gulf Catchments Limited (SGC) has continued The unfavourable dry year has made it hard for many to work hard over the past year to maintain and expand of our members and those we work with. I would like the regional partnerships created in the past few years. to thank them and indeed all our members for the Our partnership activities continue to make a signifi cant continued support and participation in our activities diff erence to the management of the 225,000 square over a year in which we all have faced a number of kilometres which makes up the Southern Gulf challenges. Catchments region. Lastly I would like to personally thank the passionate We are proud to have facilitated a broad range SGC staff , for all the hard work, extra hours, out of work of regional project achievements in 2012/2013, hours and focus over this past year. At times this places highlighted throughout this report. As an organisation strain on families and work/life balance. I recognise the we continue to demonstrate through our projects, commitment made. They are a pleasure to work with. that simultaneous regional and environmental I am sure many of you who have had dealings with improvements are possible by closely working with our them would agree they are dedicated to the continued Pastoral, Community, Conservation, Local Government, management of our region’s natural resources. I look Mining, Indigenous, Tourism and Other Industries forward to working with them over the coming year. sectors. I am confi dent that with the activities planned for Community involvement remains at the forefront of 2013/2014 we will see another successful year for how SGC delivers natural resource management in Southern Gulf Catchments Limited. the Southern Gulf region. Over the past year, we have been involved with our community through capacity building workshops, property visits, information/ fi eld days, on-ground works, cultural clearances, environmental awareness student schooling, shows and trade exhibits, tree planting, clean up days, as well as numerous discussion meetings with Local Government and regional community/industry groups.

“Caring for our Country” (Australian Government Program) competitive grants funding for 2013 to 2018 has been confi rmed and a number of joint projects are underway within the revised funding model. Queensland State funding programs should be confi rmed shortly.

I also would like to acknowledge and thank Charlie Hawkins, Chairman of our Finance and Audit Committee, for the work the committee has continued over 2012/2013. Thank you to Charlie and the team.

Our move in mid-December 2012 to our new premises has proved benefi cial for the general business operations, completion of projects and for member’s enquiries. It has also increased our visibility being in a prime position on the Barkly Highway in Mount Isa.

Page 3 Programs update SIMONE PARKER, OPERATIONS MANAGER

Southern Gulf Catchments Limited spoke about how they are implementing many best practice strategies in their commercial enterprise. (SGC) has continued to deliver National Tree Day and Clean up Australia Day: Once programs across the region with a again SGC were involved in these community events strong focus on projects with on- to gather volunteers together to improve and clean up their town. Both activities took place along the ground benefi ts. Tharrapatha-Way walking trail with great success on both days cleaning up the area and planting native This year has seen the end of funding programs trees. It was great to see so many families get involved including; ‘Caring for Our Country’, ‘Weeds of National and inspire the next generation to care about natural Signifi cance’ and Queensland Regional Natural resource management. Resource Management (NRM) Investment. Signifi cant eff ort has been spent fi nalising these successful projects and seeking ongoing funding for future works. Here is a summary of some of our key achievements:

Events & workshops North West Graziers’ Forum – May 2013: The North West Graziers’ Forum was held in Cloncurry over two days as a direct result from landholder feedback about what the region’s key issues are and the best method to deliver relevant information. Presenters discussed herd, business and land management issues including grazing strategies, recovery of degraded pastures and emerging weed issues. The forum closed with a very well received presentation from a landholder who

Page 4 Five Catchment Management Groups have been set up in the Flinders Shire to enable more local ownership of the various weed issues being encountered. A “Good Neighbour Policy” will be developed, in consultation with graziers, to introduce measures such as creating buff er zones on boundaries, stock routes, watercourses and roads, to reduce the spread of weeds from property to property.

SGC also had a presence at a number of regional events including the Richmond Field Day, Camooweal Drovers Festival, Mount Isa Mining Expo and the Hughenden, Cloncurry and Mount Isa Shows. We also now have a permanent display at Outback at Isa showcasing the work we do across the Southern Gulf region along with fact sheets and brochures available for the general public.

Completed projects Weeds of National Signifi cance - Prickly Acacia, Mesquite and Rubber Vine projects: The project commenced in 2011 to tackle these three Weeds Calotrope Field Day – Nardoo Station: SGC were of National Signifi cance (WoNS) over strategic proud to work with Biosecurity Queensland, Dow areas of north west Queensland. It also focused on Agrosciences and Meat and Livestock Australia, in their improving the knowledge and skills of land managers very successful Calotrope Field Day held on Nardoo and increasing participation in natural resource Station in July 2013. Over 40 people attended the management. In total the project reduced the impact fi eld day to learn more about the latest research and and spread of prickly acacia over 302,000 hectares, trial developments on calotrope (rubber bush). A key mesquite over 42,800 hectares and rubber vine across outcome from the day was the formation of a steering 33,200 hectares. committee to guide a regional approach to controlling the impact of calotrope across the and Barkly Tablelands. Continuing successes Primary Industry Advisory Group (PIAG) meetings: WEEDS PIAG is an advisory group to SGC and is made up of SGC is continuing its off ensive on weeds across pastoralists identifi ed as progressive, innovative and the region with funding from the Australian and who are proactive in promoting and implementing Queensland Governments, complemented by BHP sustainable land management practices. This group Billiton. These projects aim to reduce the spread and meets regularly to identify industry priorities, discuss density of weeds and are delivered by landholders and proposed projects and work with SGC to progress contractors with the assistance of our project offi cers. industry issues. Major weeds targeted by these projects are prickly Weeds Advisory Group: SGC is proud to be working acacia, rubber vine, mesquite, parkinsonia and bellyache with the Flinders Shire Council, local graziers, Desert bush, all Weeds of National Signifi cance. According to Channels Group and the Department of Fisheries and the terms of government funding, these projects must Forestry to create strategies and plans to prevent the address outlier infestations, maintain containment lines spread of noxious weeds from one property to another. and strategic management of core infestations.

Page 5 INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION This year SGC entered into an agreement with the Indigenous projects are ongoing with highlights being Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) recording Forestry to deliver the SavannaPlan program. The aim activities with Kalkadoon Community members and of this program is to engage landholders in property rehabilitation of Woodslake with Carpentaria Land management planning and to provide specifi c advice to Council Aboriginal Corporation rangers. support any identifi ed changes or improvements. Some of the issues that have been raised during this process The feature story on page 10 contains more information include alternative hay crops, planning for water and about the Mitakoodi Bush Medicine Book. other infrastructure to better utilise grazing areas, RIVERS AND MARINE stocking rates and grazing pressure, weed distribution Southern Gulf Catchments Limited contributed to and density and record keeping. establishing draft environmental values (EVs) for the waters of the Upper-Mid and Lower-Mid catchments. The project was delivered with What's new in funding... support from the Department of Environment and New projects funded this year include “NRM Planning Heritage Protection, Healthy Waters team. A survey for Climate Change” under the Clean Energy Futures was conducted with landholders and the community Program. This project will enable the review of the SGC in the region to determine the range and extent of Natural Resource Management Plan over the next three environmental values held for rivers and water assets. years and update this to incorporate climate change. Collated data now provides indicative environmental values for rivers and water assets. The survey responses Caring for Our Country “Regional NRM Delivery” have lead to recommendations for further work funding has been approved for the period 2013 to and follow up to guide the drafting of water quality 2018. This funding will allow SGC to continue its eff orts guidelines. in areas such as building resilience in critical habitats, ensuring Southern Gulf communities have the capacity PROTECTION OF THREATENED SPECIES to be involved in NRM decisions and activities, grazing Both state and federal governments have identifi ed land management, strategic weed management and areas and native species within the Southern Gulf delivery of the Regional Landcare Facilitator outcomes. region which are targeted for protection. SGC works with landholders to protect these priority areas Southern Gulf Catchments Limited has also submitted and species. Key outcomes delivered from these applications for Queensland Regional NRM Investment projects include the protection of habitat with known in conjunction with Northern Gulf Resource populations of signifi cant species including ‘threatened’ Management Group however the results of this funding species, such as the Gouldian Finch, and culturally round have not been announced at this time. signifi cant areas. I hope you enjoy reading about some of our featured PROPERTY PLANNING AND MAPPING projects in more detail over the following pages and Ongoing property planning and mapping support if you would like further information on any of our has been provided to landholders across the activities please contact us. region. Property infrastructure and the extent and concentration of weed infestations have been of particular interest. These mapping and planning sessions have assisted Landholder’s with information to make informed decisions for their properties and to prioritise weed control activities and infrastructure development.

Page 6 Case Studies

GLENCORE COMMUNITY PROGRAM [PAGE 10]

GOULDIAN FINCH HABITAT PROTECTION PROJECT [PAGE 11]

TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (TEK) PROJECTS [PAGE 10]

NORTH WEST GRAZIERS’ FORUM 2013 [PAGE 12]

SOILS4GRAZING UPDATE [PAGE 13]

WOODSLAKE (JILGARA LAGOON) RESTORATION PROJECT [PAGE 14]

CONTROLLING BELLYACHE BUSH IN THE SOUTHERN GULF [PAGE 16]

MAPPING [PAGE 17]

THE FIGHT AGAINST PRICKLY ACACIA IN THE LOWER GULF – A BATTLE ON MANY FRONTS [PAGE 18]

GULF COAST RUBBER VINE FIRE MANAGEMENT BY GANGALIDDA AND GARAWA RANGERS [PAGE 19] BEFOREBEFORE AFTAFTERER

“Our orchard is an important part of our education program. This is valuable learning for our students”. BOB GRANT, PRINCIPAL ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL CLONCURRY

GLENCORE COMMUNITY PROGRAM NORTH QUEENSLAND

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT Educating students about the need WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED The Sustainable Schools program to manage our natural resources This year six Sustainable Schools helps educate school students and sustainably is vital for our future. As projects were completed ranging the wider community about the part of the new national curriculum from school food gardens to value of biodiversity, local food schools are compelled to teach NAIDOC Week events. The production, sustaining natural subject areas that cover sustainable Community NRM program involved resources and cultural heritage development. SGC can support fi ve projects ranging from native protection. This is achieved schools in teaching these subjects. tree plantings, weed control through off ering all schools in the activities to indigenous art/bush Another important aspect of region assistance with delivering tucker gardens. this program is the project work curriculum based environmental we do in the Community. Active presentations and activities. We For three years we have been and engaged community groups also help schools develop their working with St Joseph’s School contribute to a healthy, vibrant School Environmental Management Cloncurry. This has involved society and often need help to Plan. Devolved grants help schools the school receiving grants for achieve on ground outcomes achieve on ground outcomes that important projects around the relating to natural resource allow practical, hands-on learning school grounds including designing management. SGC are very experiences. and growing an orchard and art pleased to be able to assist them workshops to decorate buildings The Community NRM program with funding opportunities and with indigenous themed artwork. guidance to achieve their goals. helps community groups achieve their on ground outcomes, through project development, training and This program was funded building their capacity to spread through the Glencore Community the message about the importance Program North Queensland. of preserving our natural resources.

Page 8 GOULDIAN FINCH HABITAT PROTECTION PROJECT

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY Gouldian Finch identifi ed key threats IS IMPORTANT Gouldian Finches are listed as to the Gouldian Finch population as SGC is committed to working with endangered by both the state and inappropriate fi re regimes, grazing land managers to protect and commonwealth governments. impacts and potential threats from enhance habitats of threatened These colourful birds were once climate change. thought to be one of the most species without compromising commercial viability. Brussie common fi nches in northern WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED Spreadborough is the owner of Australia but within the last 100 With SGC support Brussie has Chidna Station and is passionate years populations have declined excluded cattle from a waterhole about protecting the fi nch severely. The fi nches were only where the fi nches frequent. populations and other species reliably recorded at a small number Alternate water points have been by minimising the impacts of his of sites in Western Australia and the equipped to encourage cattle pastoral activities and limiting and were rarely to move away from known fi nch impacts from other land uses. seen in the wild in Queensland. A habitats and fencing has been stable population was recorded on Gouldian Finches breed in hollows erected to allow for increased Chidna Station north west of Mount of smooth-barked gums found on control over cattle movements and Isa in 2009. rocky hills and within two to four grazing pressures. SGC and Brussie kilometres of small waterholes or are also looking at gathering more springs that persist throughout information about the Chidna the dry season. They are reliant on fi nch population so that future grasses which are also selectively management plans can be made grazed by cattle and horses making with the fi nches’ recovery and long them vulnerable to seed shortages term survival in mind. at the beginning of the wet season. The National Recovery Plan for the

Page 9 TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (TEK) PROJECTS

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THESE ACTIVITIES PROJECT 1 TEK projects are critical to ARE IMPORTANT Kar-kar: Mitakoodi Traditional preserving the traditional These projects enable the Medicinal Plant Uses of the Aboriginal ecological knowledge traditional owners to protect their Cloncurry Area and cultural practices, relationships cultural heritage, participate in and custodial responsibilities the preservation and restoration The Mitakoodi Traditional Owners for country. This recording of of the natural environment and Aboriginal Corporation released the knowledge and practices pass on their skills and traditional a new book aimed at sharing of the Aboriginal people assists knowledge to future generations. It traditional Mitakoodi knowledge in educating the broader also assists in managing and caring about medicinal plant uses society about ways of seeing, for country, identifying issues amongst Indigenous and non- understanding and managing the of concern and developing land Indigenous community members. management practices accordingly. natural resources of country. A variety of media was used to record knowledge and data including written notes, transcripts of oral interviews, digital/audio recordings, photographs and GPS data.

“The country around The book has been distributed Cloncurry comprises the through schools, community groups, public libraries and traditional lands of the government departments across Mitakoodi People. In this the Southern Gulf region. It is also book, Mitakoodi Elder Pearl available for purchase through Connelly teams up with the Mitakoodi Traditional Owners archaeologist Lynley Wallis Aboriginal Corporation (p. 07 to provide an overview of 4743 4711) and Southern Gulf the local plants that are Catchments Limited. used to treat a range of ailments and illnesses.” Funding for the book and data collection was provided by Southern Gulf Catchments Limited through the Australian Government's Caring for Our Country initiative and Xstrata Copper's Ernest Henry Mining Operation.

Page 10 PROJECT 2 Some of the impacts of tourism Indjalandji-Dhidhanu are Indjalandji-Dhidhanu knowledge include: gathering for the • Damage to trees through cutting the traditional owners of for fi rewood and compaction of the Camooweal area and Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation the soil around their roots have many cultural links completed a project to explore • Litter left around the sites the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu Peoples • Movement of stones to create to the Georgina River and traditional and contemporary fi replaces cultural practices, relationships to associated waterways. and custodial responsibilities for country surrounding the Georgina River near Camooweal.

As a result of the project, a report was compiled which: • recorded cultural knowledge Indjalandji-Dhidhanu and practices Traditional Ecological Knowledge Project • identifi ed issues of concern Georgina River, Camooweal about the health of the Georgina North West Queensland River system including impacts “We are worried about

from historical and modern land the impacts from Our Vision – Managing River Countryry uses tourism, cattle, weeds • proposed strategies and future and feral animals and projects to minimise these impacts. how they are aff ecting the natural and cultural This project was supported values of the river’” by Southern gulf Catchments ANTHONY SALTMERE Limited through funding from INDJALANDJI- the Australian and Queensland DHIDHANU Governments' Caring for Our TRADITIONAL OWNER Country initiative.

Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation 2012

Page 11 “You cannot aff ord to be an average producer, the average beef producer in Northern Australia is unprofi table”. IAN MCLEAN NORTH BUSH AGRIBUSINESS WEST GRAZIERS' FORUM 2013

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED Beef producers in the north west IS IMPORTANT Despite being a very busy time for faced incredibly tough times during One of SGC’s key roles in the the industry, 88 people attended the past year including ongoing region’s pastoral industry is one or both days of the forum. ramifi cations from the live export assisting producers with access Attendees ranged from large ban, the outbreak of Johne’s to relevant information and agricultural companies and private disease, drought, a high Australian professional advice, allowing pastoral properties to rural service dollar and the ever increasing cost them to make informed decisions providers from within and outside of production. The North West about their own properties and the SGC region. Graziers’ Forum was one of three businesses. industry forums/meetings held in The two days were fi lled with Engaging landholders in extension the region in as many months by presentations and interactive events is an ongoing challenge in diff erent organisations, each aiming panel discussions with industry the SGC region due to the distances to assist land managers in diff erent representatives, scientifi c experts, involved, time constraints and in ways. and case studies from local some cases the lower priority of graziers, plus networking and Working closely with our Pastoral land management when faced with social opportunities. A total of 17 Industry Advisory Group (PIAG) signifi cant external pressures. As a speakers presented on subjects we hosted the inaugural North result PIAG recommended having including: West Graziers’ Forum in May one large event that covered • What is the position of the North which provided an opportunity multiple topics, to attract as many West Grazing Industry? for producers to access expert attendees as possible. The format • Herd Management information and strategies directly and topics were also chosen to • Land Management applicable to their businesses highlight the linkages between • Protecting your livelihood – here in the north west. The multi- land management and viable legislative updates topic forum was aimed at assisting businesses. • The people behind the business producers focus on core business • Improving Land Condition, and The event also provided a great and management activities which • Bringing it all together for a opportunity for information sharing they could directly infl uence, rather productive grazing business and networking for landholders than the external pressures which who attended. One of the most well they could not. received presentations was from a landholder sharing his story about the management practices he has implemented and the strategies behind these.

Page 12 SOILS4GRAZING UPDATE

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED Improving land condition IS IMPORTANT Three trial and demonstration sites across the Southern Gulf region Opportunities for commercial have been set up on commercial remains a key priority for SGC. beef properties in north west cattle properties across the Soils4Grazing is a three year Queensland to participate in the Southern Gulf region: project demonstrating the use of Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) are • Rosevale, Hughenden mechanical treatments to improve generally limited. Information from • Granada, Cloncurry land condition across severely Soils4Grazing has the potential to • Herbertvale, Camooweal degraded pastures and potential be developed into methodologies Each site will be assessed twice a linkages between land condition for local producers to participate year for three years to see what and soil carbon storage. in the CFI. In the event the changes occur in soil carbon levels, CFI is discontinued the project infi ltration of rainfall, land condition, SGC have partnered with the also provides producers with and potential carrying capacity. ’s information and locally relevant “FutureBeef“ team to assist case studies to show what can be Site works have been completed at producers recover pastures achieved through restoring land Rosevale and Herbertvale and the on degraded but otherwise condition. fi rst two rounds of land condition productive land types through the and water infi ltration data have Soils4Grazing project. been collected, as well as soil carbon samples. Granada has only had the baseline data collected as site works were postponed due to lack of rain. This site will be treated as soon as the season breaks in 2013. Carbon sampling is scheduled for Granada in October 2013.

Information on the project has been shared through two fact sheets and three posters which have been promoted at numerous fi eld days and related information “If we can demonstrate that these was presented by Bob Shepherd at changes have signifi cant benefi ts the North West Graziers’ Forum. for their businesses, we hope other graziers in north-west Queensland Soils4Grazing is funded through will adopt the new practices.” the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, EMMA HEGARTY QUEENSLAND Fisheries and Forestry as part DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY (QDAFF) of its Carbon Farming Futures – Action on the Ground program.

Page 13 WOODSLAKE (JILGARA LAGOON) RESTORATION PROJECT

THE BIG PICTURE lands. During the past year SGC WHY THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT Combining Indigenous ecological supported CLCAC in the Woodslake Large areas of top soil are being knowledge with science to restore Restoration Project near Burketown. the natural and cultural values eroded from the surrounding of a freshwater wetland near Woodslake is also known as Jilgara landscape through extensive sheet Burketown. Lagoon and Traditional Owners erosion and deep gully heads. This once relied on this freshwater sediment is being deposited into Carpentaria Land Council wetland as their water, food, Woodslake causing the wetland to Aboriginal Corporation (CLCAC) cultural and recreational source, but become shallower and narrower. represents the rights and interests within living memory, condition The rate of erosion has been of Traditional Owners whose of the lake has severely declined. monitored by the CLCAC rangers lands and waters are located in CLCAC viewed the rehabilitation of and is increasing every year. the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Woodslake as a priority project and Key causes of erosion were CLCAC Land and Sea Rangers in partnership with SGC and Burke identifi ed as major and minor roads undertake a number of projects Shire Council works commenced in and tracks, reduced groundcover to protect and manage natural 2013. resources on their traditional in the surrounding mixed tenure paddocks and heavy visitation and use by the local community. In the case of Woodslake the location, mixed land tenure and impacts from major regional infrastructure, meant that the actual causes would be extremely diffi cult to address in a timely and cost effi cient way. Therefore, minimising the impacts of infrastructure and land use on the wetland was identifi ed as the most appropriate option.

Page 14 WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED the top priority site as it funnels Dr Hugh Pringle was contracted vast amounts of water through a by CLCAC to work with Rangers concentrated area during the wet Overall the project was a great and Traditional Owners to season and is the primary causing success for the CLCAC Rangers and prepare a restoration plan for of a large and rapidly expanding project partners. Dr Pringle was Woodslake including techniques gully. particularly impressed by the local for erosion control. Dr Pringle is knowledge of the Ranger group a landscape ecologist who uses Under the project management and their obvious enthusiasm to the Ecosystem Management of Head Ranger Billy Jackson, get started in restoring Woodslake. Understanding (EMU™) process guidance from Dr Pringle and He stated “Their work in the to guide land managers through earthworks specialist Mark “Sharkie” initial week of restoration work visually identifying issues and Fran, the following achievements was consistently of a very high developing management options were completed: standard and they are clearly ‘quick using a combination of mapping • 100m of gully from the culvert learners’. They also came up with overlays, aerial imagery, on-site was opened, graded, reshaped innovative ideas for dealing with visits, fl ights over the area and local and battered to spread the water specifi c problems, such as fi ltering knowledge. Traditional Owners over a wider and deeper area gully fl ows to slow down the water retained leadership and project which reduces the force of water and drop sediment before fl ows direction through the compilation • Two drop structures to further reach the Jilgara. I feel that with a of their historical, local and cultural reduce water force and catch small amount of additional outside knowledge supported by Dr sediment support, the Rangers will take on Pringles detailed understanding of • Four ‘whoaboys’ and a check all aspects of the restoration of the landscape and hydrology. Based bank on either side of the old Jilgara themselves. It is do-able, but on the level of impact 17 areas detour road to slow and control will take a few years of concerted were prioritised for erosion control overland water fl ow eff ort”. activities. • Contour ripping the perimeter of the entire site and some minor SGC provided fi nancial assistance gullies to the northwest, and to CLCAC to complete stage one • The fi rst ‘fi lter’ traps was installed of the erosion control activities with many more required at during 2012/2013. The fi rst culvert strategic points along the gully gully on the main road west out running into Woodslake. of Burketown was identifi ed as

Page 15 CONTROLLING BELLYACHE BUSH IN THE SOUTHERN GULF

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED Bellyache bush (Jatropha IS IMPORTANT In the Gregory Catchment the gossypiifolia) was declared a Weed The Gregory River is recognised for its following achievements have been of National Signifi cance in 2013 high biodiversity and environmental made since the project commenced which recognised its potential values. It is an integral part of in 2012: to have signifi cant detrimental traditional and current culture for the • Surveyed 65 kilometres of impacts worth billions of dollars to Waanyi People, a popular tourism otherwise inaccessible river via Australia’s productive capacity and and recreation area, as well as being canoe natural ecosystems. a productive beef region. Blitzing • Assessed two GPS mobile bellyache bush on the Gregory monitoring systems for long Whilst currently limited to relatively River is a three year project funded term use small areas including along through the Australian Government’s • Treated 1000 hectares of the Gregory and Stawell Rivers Clean Energy Future Biodiversity bellyache bush across seven sites bellyache bush has the potential to Fund designed to support the on- • Established nine permanent photo spread across virtually all gulf river going work by private landholders monitoring sites in treated areas to systems devastating biodiversity and previous investment by SGC check success of treatments and productivity across the region. along the Gregory River. • Established six permanent photo monitoring sites outside The Stawell River is a major of treatment area to monitor tributary to the Flinders River spread of bellyache bush which is the largest catchment • Mapped the current distribution within the Southern Gulf region. In of bellyache bush in the Gregory 2012, bellyache bush was recorded Catchment during an aerial survey conducted • Mapped the potential by SGC and Flinders Shire Council. distribution of bellyache bush in Staff and ground surveys confi rmed the Gregory Catchment, and a 64 kilometre infestation. Bellyache • Hosted a chemical training bush density varies from isolated course with 29 attendees or scattered plants to extremely Along the Stawell River infestations dense patches particularly on sand have been mapped using data islands within the river. Funding collected during the aerial survey, from Queensland Governments ground surveys and from treatment Q2 Coasts and Country program activities. A contractor was engaged enabled a contractor to begin and treated 32 kilometres of heavy treatment along stretches of the infestations which have since shown river in May-June 2013. clear signs of ill health. A further 32 kilometres with lesser infestations are still to be treated and follow up work will be required at all sites.

Page 16 “Property mapping is proving to be a very important part of the management process. It also assists with identifi cation of important cultural sites, abandoned mines and ecologically important hot spots”.

MAPPING

THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED Recording and using spatial IS IMPORTANT SGC has a dedicated GIS Project information including GPS points Mapping allows land managers Offi cer whose role is to collect and maps is at the core of natural to view all the elements of their information and create maps for resource management as it records property as one system including SGC projects, property managers what, where and how much. It can boundaries, infrastructure, and other groups in the region. also reveal trends over time. SGC waterways, grazing pressure, Achievements in the last 12 months use maps to plan and monitor land types, weed infestations and include: projects as well as assist land biodiversity hotspots. Maps are • 60 property/paddock maps managers to develop tailored used to assist land managers make produced property management plans. informed decisions and planning • 24 land managers assisted in for property management. mapping and GPS training Most land managers have a plan Many funding bodies, including support or idea of how they are going SGC, require a clear property to manage their properties and management plan prior to the A number of regional scale or businesses for the future. Property application or to be completed as catchments scale maps have been management planning is not a part of the project. produced for groups including new idea but new technologies are local governments, other NRM allowing the process to become groups, Traditional Owners, more visual and adaptable. weed advisory groups and Property management plans can producer groups. Mapping across be developed or presented in any property boundaries encourages format with mapping and overlays collaboration and strategic becoming an increasingly popular planning to manage natural and useful way to record, plan and resources at a landscape scale. monitor land management.

Page 17 Left: 21 June 2012; Lower Gulf property Inverleigh West - Bore Paddock abutting Inverleigh, pre-treatment at tank site THE FIGHT Centre: 14 April 2013; Armraynald Woodys Paddock – treated prickly acacia regrowth with AGAINST PRICKLY next lot of regrowth needing follow-up treatment. Right: 29 May 2013; Inverleigh West Bore ACACIA IN THE Paddock, post-treatment at tank site using LOWER GULF – A tebuthiuron pellets BATTLE ON MANY FRONTS

THE BIG PICTURE interfering with mustering, stock over very large areas, paddocks Prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica) is movements and access to water. are being re-treated for fi ve to a Weed of National Signifi cance eight years until the seed bank is which covers around seven million WHAT WE HAVE ACHEIVED exhausted. For example, a 6346 hectares of semi-arid Queensland The greatest achievement over the hectare paddock in the lower gulf with 48% occurring in the Southern past four years on this large scale has had all seed trees and all known Gulf region. Prickly acacia outlier project has been the increase in regrowth killed each year: control in the Southern Gulf is participation and commitment to • 10,962 PA specimens killed in 2009 a project designed to manage the fi ght against the aggressive • 3,890 PA specimens killed in 2010 isolated and outlier infestations spread and thickening of PA in the • 2834 PA specimens killed in 2011, away from the National Prickly highly vulnerable lower gulf sub- and Acacia Containment Line in the region. • 2120 PA specimens killed in 2012. higher rainfall zones of the lower gulf. The primary aim of the Other achievements include: Other positive weed management previous four years was to stop the • 15 properties in the lower gulf practices are being promoted and spread and reduce the density so completed PA management in many cases adopted, including that infestations could be managed operations (12 for the fourth ensuring that cattle brought onto by station resources. successive year) the property do not spread PA • Over $1 million dollars seeds from other areas by spelling WHY THIS ACTIVITY received from state and federal in a holding paddock and then IS IMPORTANT governments since 2008 for PA treating the paddock, or only Despite funding support, strong control, and bringing in cattle from ‘clean’ areas. commitment and ongoing eff orts • 15 Property Weed Management Cattle movement from infested in the lower gulf big wet seasons plans produced for SGC funded properties to clean properties is between 2009 and 2012 saw an properties. considered the primary way gulf ‘explosion’ in weed spread and properties were originally infested. density, particularly prickly acacia Despite previous big wet seasons, (PA). Damage caused by PA is whole paddocks under this Virtually every property in the extensive and has devastating program are reducing in PA entire lower gulf sub-region is on eff ects on both the environment density. Annual follow up work board and committed to the war and long term viability of cattle is always required and will need against prickly acacia. Not all the businesses. Key impacts include to continue for at least the next battles so far have been won but transforming natural grasslands into fi ve years. Management practices there have been no disastrous thorny scrubland which promotes are changing so that instead of losses either and more dedicated soil erosion and dense thicket spreading expenses and resources follow-up work will continue.

Page 18 WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED GULF COAST RUBBER In November 2012 the Burketown VINE FIRE MANAGEMENT based Rangers undertook late season aerial burning to control BY GANGALIDDA AND rubber vine on sand islands along GARAWA RANGERS the Gulf coast from Tully Inlet to Cliff dale Creek on Wentworth Station and Aboriginal properties Troutbeck and Bundella. A THE BIG PICTURE WHY THIS ACTIVITY helicopter with gel torch was IS IMPORTANT Rubber vine (Cryptostegia contracted for 17 hours to establish Rubber vine smothers riparian grandifl ora) is a Weed of National monitoring sites, surveying the vegetation and forms dense Signifi cance which threatens areas to be treated and apply thickets. Infestations expand the major river systems in the the treatment. The ranger team outward from waterways, hillsides SGC region. The main aim of the reported the project to be very and pastures, and infestations Australian Government funded successful after ground checking. decrease biodiversity and impede “Stop rubber vine reaching the Further inspection of the stock and native animal movement. Northern Territory” project was to Wentworth site west of Massacre Seed is spread by wind, waterways, prevent the westward spread of Inlet occurred in September 2013. birds and animals. If rubber rubber vine into Boodjamulla (Lawn The Gulf coast fi re-managed area vine were to reach the coastal Hill) National Park and the Northern was approximately 5,000 hectares woodlands and forests of the gulf Territory. and funding of $20,000 resulted in in the Northern Territory (NT), eff ective control work over a broad Activities were concentrated Arnhem Land and Kakadu National area. within the 100 kilometre Northern Park then the environmental Territory/Queensland buff er zone eff ects would be devastating. It is Photos taken after the burn which includes the Southern Gulf currently known to occur a mere indicated a 90-95% average burn coast, Lawn Hill Creek and the 20 kilometres from the NT coastal of targeted areas. The photos upper Gregory River. One major border. recorded that the rubber vine had component of the project was the been adequately treated with Fire is used in a number of ways in engagement of Carpentaria Land fi re, achieving a good reduction the Gulf of Carpentaria including Council Aboriginal Corporation percentage. (CLCAC) Gangalidda and Garawa for improved biodiversity and Rangers in a fi re program to reduce availability of fl ora and fauna, A post fi re survey was also carried the spread along coastal dunes. protection of infrastructure and out by the Ranger team and it was sacred sites, encouraging new grass found that the kill rate from the growth and weed control. The treatment was 90% successful and CLCAC Rangers have a long history with further herbicide treatment of using fi re as a management tool the reduction would be closer to in the gulf coastal area. 100%. However, this Gulf coastal area will need to be closely monitored over the next seven years to manage any rubber vine regeneration from re-invasion or seed bank.

Page 19 Robert Wilson Simone Parker Chief Executive Offi cer Operations Manager Our Team

Victoria Corner Maree Berlin Tori Taylor Communications Offi cer / Business Manager Administration Project Offi cer Executive Assistant

Mick Brady Charles Curry Steve Cobbin Community Environment Project Coordinator GIS Coordinator / Mapping Project Offi cer

Larissa Lauder Sustainable Grazing Pam Schultz Project Offi cer Cultural Heritage Offi cer

Page 20 The Southern Gulf Catchments Environment Fund was established to assist the practical combination of research, education and on ground partnerships already underway within the Catchment. As an organisation, Southern Gulf Catchments Limited is committed to building and maintaining a sustainable healthy vibrant environment. Being a tax deductable gift recipient fund allows for tax deductable donations over $2.00 to assist our work in specifi c environmental projects. For further information please contact us.

Pat Fennell SGC Environment Fund committee member Thank you for your ongoing support

Contact

ADDRESS 43 Barkly Highway, Mount Isa Q 4825 POST PO Box 2211, Mount Isa Q 4825 PHONE 07 4743 1888 FREECALL 1800 676 242 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.southerngulf.com.au FACEBOOK Southern Gulf Catchments Limited TWITTER @southerngulf

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