Healthy Country Newsletter
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Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter The practice of caring for Country The lessons we learn Issue 28 Spring 2016 We’re a savvy lot on the Cape – we have to be. We readily share our knowledge and our lessons learnt, and we embrace new ideas and work hard to make them succeed. If they don’t work, we learn from that too. Successful land management is the result of adaptive land management and we are continually learning from the results of our actions. We look for how our management practices affect the land, the water and the ocean. We are not afraid to make the necessary changes that allow us to continually do things better, meaning they are better for our profits and In this edition better for the environment. Around the Cape The live beef cattle export from Weipa is one example of this. Graziers Page 2 from across the Cape have banded together to revive live export to make the beef cattle industry Cape York Keep It Clean sustainable and more profitable. The first boat in seven years left Weipa in mid-October. Page 3 White-bellied Crimson Finch The success of the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance is another example. Western Page 4 Cape ranger groups have forged ahead, increasing sea turtle hatchling success rates by working Gamba grass - Friend or Foe? together to share knowledge and resources. Page 5 Innovation solutions for North’s Traditional Owners and land managers from across Cape York have embraced the opportunities for tough environment gaining carbon credits using the savanna burning methodology. Additionally, Traditional Owners are Page 6 travelling to Cape York from across the Country annually, to learn and share traditional fire methods at 2016 Cape York Indigenous Printed on sustainably sourced paper the Cape York Indigenous Fire Workshop. Fire Workshop Page 7-9 Engineers, land managers and machinery contractors are working together to implement better ways NEW Cape Kids of making roads. Together with scientists and Cape York NRM, they are also implementing solutions Page 10 to the land management problems of the past, which have led to the massive gully systems that we Green Army graduation; see in many parts of Cape York. Wenlock Catchment committee This newsletter acknowledges and thanks you all – our savvy land and sea managers who are Page 11 Crocodile Researchers Tackle continually striving for a sustainable Cape York by constantly improving what you do. Climate Change We hope you enjoy reading about some of what we’ve learnt along the way. Page 12-13 Gully restoration commences at Emma Jackson Crocodile Station Chairperson, Sector Director - Primary Industries Page 13-14 Cape York Calendar Page 16 Cape York Fire Forum Within this newsletter Cape York Land Managers are invited to learn and share knowledge Cape York Natural of fire and carbon on Cape York. Resource Management is shortened to Cape York NRM 7-8 December, Paradise Palms, Kewarra Beach RSVP essential - 15 November Visit our website to find out more: www.capeyorknrm.com.au Around the Cape Walk raises awareness for Mental Health Over 100 people participated in a 42 kilometre walk in Cape York during October, battling heat and dust along the Peninsula Development Road to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention. Organisers were overwhelmed by the number of registrations for this year’s Conquer the Corrugations, which is only in its second year. The walk from Coen to Archer River attracted extensive support from Cape York businesses and organisations and was inspired by the loss of 19 year old Dillon Jackson from Wolverton Station in 2014. Suicide is a major issue for remote communities across Australia. Beef Cattle Boat Departs Weipa Around 1900 beef cattle departed for Indonesia in mid-October on the first live export ship to leave eipaW in seven years. Despite departure delays, the Cape York Peninsula Live Export Group (CYPLEG) spokesperson Emma Jackson (below) said the wait was worth it. She says it has opened the doors to new opportunities and a consistent market for Cape York’s Beef Cattle Industry. The cattle spent a month in holding yards in Weipa. During this time the cattle were cared for by CYPLEG and My Pathways employees, and gained around 20 kgs on average. Feral pig culling makes big impact on hatchling success rate for threatened sea turtles Three years of feral pig abatement near Flinders Beach at Mapoon has this year proven its worth with no predation of sea turtle nests by pigs. Hatchling success rates sit at around 70% on the beach which is in stark contrast to previous years, particularly before the abatement program began, which often saw over 90% of nests fully destroyed by feral pigs. The Mapoon rangers and community have been undertaking turtle monitoring on Flinders Beach in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Heritage, since around 2002. This year, the rangers started monitoring Skardon Beach to the north of Mapoon and found most nests were predated by feral pigs. This feral pig abatement work is a collaborative project through the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance. It is supported by Cape York NRM with funding from the Australian Government and Queensland Government. Page 2 Campaign launched - Cape York Keep It Clean Organisations across Cape York are working diseases to come and take up residence.” together to educate people about the need to deal People who are planning a trip on the Cape are with their rubbish responsibly when travelling reminded to plan ahead, take minimal plastics and around the Cape. Funded by the Queensland non-biodegradables, choose cans rather than bottles Government and coordinated by Cape York NRM, and use bulk water containers. Taking plenty of sturdy the campaign targets both locals and tourists and rubbish bags to transport rubbish back home is also urges them to plan ahead for responsible waste recommended. disposal before they even hit the road. About Thoughtful Travelling Cape York Thoughtful Travelling Cape York spokesperson Jason Carroll said that there is limited waste disposal Thoughtful Travelling Cape York is an alliance of infrastructure on Cape York, which makes waste Cape York organisations working together to reduce disposal difficult, but travellers could help reduce the damaging environmental impacts caused by rubbish by planning ahead and making sure they people travelling on Cape York. Rubbish, spreading know where waste disposal stations are located. weeds, illegal dumping, unplanned fire and illegal access can all create longer term problems for the “If travellers make a few simple choices like packing environment. minimal plastics and choosing cans, which can be crushed, rather than bottles, they can keep their The key organisations currently involved in rubbish to a minimum and transport it back home with Thoughtful Travelling Cape York include: Cape York them,” he said. Natural Resource Management, South Cape York Catchments, Tangaroa Blue, Cook Shire Council, Weipa and Western Cape Tourism spokesperson, Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc, Weipa Aimee Robinson, said the number one reason people and Western Cape Tourism, Lama Lama Rangers, travel in Cape York is to experience its remote and Yuku Baja Muliku Land Trust, Tourism Cape York, pristine natural environment but that increased Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, littering and illegal dumping were becoming a Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, Queensland problem. Parks and Wildlife Service, Steve Irwin Wildlife “We all want to enjoy the natural environment of Reserve, Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Cape York, whether it’s for fishing, camping or other Alliance, Wenlock Catchment Management Group, activities, but arriving at your destination and finding Protect Cape York and Regional and Remote it spoilt by plastic packaging, bottles, cans and even Newspapers. toilet paper, is not what any of us want. Reporting and Fines “This campaign is about ensuring that travellers The Queensland Government encourages travellers have the practical information they need to deal with to report illegal dumping incidents online at https:// rubbish disposal responsibly and encouraging them report-littering-dumping.ehp.qld.gov.au/ or to the Litter to be considerate of other travellers who will visit that and Illegal Dumping Unit on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or spot afterwards” she said. by emailing [email protected]. Fines Cape York NRM’s Conservation Sector Director Barry start from $1884. Lyon said littering didn’t just look unsightly. “When To find out how your organisation can get involved call travellers are thoughtless about leaving rubbish Lyndal Scobell at Cape York NRM on 0488 656 690. behind it can have devastating affects not only for the local wildlife and environment but also on public This project is supported by the Queensland Government’s health. By adding your rubbish to piles that may Litter and Illegal Dumping Community and Industry Partnerships already be gathering, you are inviting mosquito-borne Program. KEEP CAPE YORK LITTER FREE #CapeYorkKeepItClean @ThoughtfulTravelling This project is supported by the Queensland Government’s Litter and Illegal Dumping Page 3 Community and Industry Partnerships Program Surveying White-bellied Crimson Finches at Kowanyama By Ray Pierce and Pam Schultz A recent survey of threatened White-bellied Crimson Finches (Neochmia phaeton evangelinae), near Kowanyama has found them to be common in the area, with nearly two birds per hectare being found at surveyed sites. The survey is