autumn newsletter 2013 - granite borders landcare · right–don’t forget indian myna traps are...

Granite Borders Landcare Newsletter—Issue 81—Autumn 2013

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Above - Farewell for Jeff Lowien, DPI agronomist.

Below - Feral pig problem? Read about our co-ordinated control program on page 5.

Right–Don’t forget Indian Myna traps are available from the Landcare office.

Bottom Left– Graham Hall shares his knowledge of the world of beetles.

Bottom Right– The Landcare Adventure is on again. For details please refer to the

insert within this newsletter.

Left - Our display at the Tenterfield Show. Below - Visitors to the Tenterfield Community Gardens

on our open day in November 2012.

Autumn Newsletter 2013

Visit us online at www.graniteborderslandcare.com.au

PO Box 400 Tenterfield NSW 2372 Ph. (02) 6736 3500

Above-The Eastern Star Finch, an endangered bird species, is featured in the fauna profile on page 6.


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2013 Newsletter Advertising Prices

Promote your business or community event through the extensive membership base that receives Granite Borders Landcare newsletter.

Space is filling up quickly so if you wish to advertise with us in 2013 please let staff at the Landcare office know asap.

Sizes and prices (per insertion) are as follows;

Providing the files If the advertiser is providing their own layout and design, the file must adhere to the sizes above and the file must be either a jpg or pdf file type please.

If the advertiser requires GBLC to do the layout and design, a MS Word document containing the information will suffice. Please provide any logos or graphics to be used as SEPARATE jpg/tiff files attached to your email.

Send your files to [email protected] by the deadline.

Newsletter deadlines for 2013:

Advertisement Size

Dimensions

Price

Full page

PORTRAIT 190 mm x 267 mm

$350

Half page LANDSCAPE 190 mm x 130 mm

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One-sixth page PORTRAIT 60 mm x 130 mm

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If you require layout and design by GBLC, please contact us for a quote based on the following rate

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News-letter Edition

Copy Dead-line

On GBLC website

Hard copies posted

Autumn 2013

18th Feb 2013

From 1st March 2013

From 1st March 2013

Winter 2013

20th May 2013

From 3rd June 2013

From 3rd June 2013

Spring 2013

19th August 2013

From 2nd Sept 2013

From 2nd September 2013

Sum-mer 2013

18th Nov 2013

From 2nd Dec 2013

From 2nd December 2013

New Email Address..........

The new email address for Granite Borders Landcare is

[email protected] (not [email protected])

Granite Borders Landcare Farewell Dinner—Jeff Lowien

Tuesday 26th March 2013

You are invited to join Granite Borders

Landcare Committee, Staff & Member

Groups for a

Farewell Dinner for

Jeff Lowien—District Agronomist

At

Wallangarra Railway Museum & Cafe

Rockwell St,

Wallangarra QLD

Tuesday 26th March 2013

Time: 6.30 pm (QLD time)

Cost: $30 per person

(Includes a 2 course meal + tea/coffee—BYO

Alcohol only—$2 corkage/adult/group)

Bookings are essential. Please phone the

Landcare Office on 02 6736 3500 by

Thursday 21st March 2013

If there are sufficient numbers a bus will be

running from Tenterfield (for a small cost), please

indicate interest ASAP.

A brief Granite Borders Landcare General Meeting

will be held during the evening, so please be prepared

to report on the activities of your group if you are a

designated representative.

mailto:[email protected]


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MELLING MECHANICAL

Proprietors: Geoff & Elizabeth Melling

For all your professional car, motorbike and truck repairs.

Registration checks, Air-conditioning, Wheel Alignments, Servicing and Repairs.

444 Rouse Street P (02) 6736 3555 Tenterfield NSW 2372 F (02) 6736 4451

E [email protected]

In this issue…

Spotlighting with NSW National

Parks rangers

Publication review - Essential

Bushfire Safety Tips

Feral Pig Control Program details

Local Land Services summary

Fauna Profile - Star Finches

Northern Rivers CMA update

Clean Up Australia Day information

BLOG update

Biggest Morning Tea information

Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA update

Community Gardens summary

Weed Profile - Chilean Needle Grass

QLD Landcare Conference details

Autumn Editorial

Welcome to the latest edition of Granite

Borders Landcare newsletter. How quickly the

summer has past, and not without its fair

share of erratic weather......from heat waves

to hale storms and everything in between.

This year promises to be one of interesting

developments in the world of natural resource

management. In NSW the establishment of

the Local Land Services has certainly got

tongues wagging, particularly with the

uncertainty of funding for local Landcare

networks.

With various meetings scheduled in the

coming months to discuss implications and

changes to delivery of NRM to local

communities it is too early to be making

assumptions or drawing conclusions. Public

opinion is a valuable tool in voicing concerns

and I encourage everyone to complete the

questionnaire at http://

engage.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices

Right. Enough said so please enjoy the

articles within this edition. As always your

contributions are a welcome addition and

keep us informed of the latest in the world of

NRM so please send them in to us.

Granite Borders Landcare Staff Contact Details

Elizabeth Melling Office Manager

(02) 6736 3500 [email protected]

Amanda Craig Project Manager

0438 894 556

[email protected]

Mark Thomas Schools & Urban Landcare

0404 892 696 [email protected]

GBLC Membership

This is a final reminder to everyone in the Landcare community that membership of Granite Borders Landcare for 2013 closes on Sunday 31st March. Membership can be for an individual, family or group and application forms are available from the Landcare office. This is an important time for Granite Borders Landcare (and Landcare in general) and your support is very much appreciated.


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Publication Review

Essential Bushfire Safety Tips Third Edition

Joan Webster OAM Paperback - $29.95 CSIRO Publishing

By the author of the

acclaimed The Complete

Bushfire Safety Book,

this new edition of Joan

Webster’s Essential

Bushfire Safety Tips has been revised and

updated. The book deals with people's fears

and concerns following Victoria's 2009 Black

Saturday bushfires and a maze of new

official safety policies. Its concise and

straightforward style clears a path of

understanding through the tangle of

conflicting opinions and misconceptions.

Included are new chapters on township

protection; shelters, refuges and bunkers;

as well as new information on choices of

safe home bushfire strategies; protective

house design, furnishings and gardens;

protection of animals; and first aid.

Set out in easy-to-access dot-point one-

liners, it demystifies bushfire behaviour,

explains how to prevent a bushfire from

destroying houses, details the safe way to

act at each stage of threat, describes

weather factors and safe burning-off, details

the benefits and hazards of staying, non-

defensive sheltering, and evacuating, and

how to make the decision on which course is

best for you.

Local Land Services

Local Land Services is a new customer-focused

way of delivering Government-funded agriculture

and natural resource management services,

advice and information in NSW.

Local Land Services will be regionally-based, semi

-autonomous, statutory organisations, which are

governed by locally-elected and skills-based Board

members.

From January 2014, Local Land Services will

deliver functions currently provided by Catchment

Management Authorities and Livestock Health &

Pest Authorities and agriculture advisory services

of Agriculture NSW, part of the Department of

Primary Industries.

The new Local Land Services will be operational in

January 2014. Landowners will still be able to

access existing services from DPI, LHPAs and

CMAs in the interim.

Improved services:

The new Local Land Services will deliver:

agricultural advice

plant and animal pest control and

biosecurity

natural resource management

emergency and disaster assessment and

response.

Local Land Services will:

integrate advisory services

enable strong representation by local service

users

reduce administrative costs

improve management of region-specific issues

enhance transparency and accountability

deliver better outcomes for State and regional

priorities.

Go to http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices

for more information.


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Border Landcare Organic Group

Events for the start of 2013 have not been finalised, but will include the following;

a presentation by Ray & Sam Palmer

Stanthorpe Community Gardens

Marten Stapper soil health workshop

plus lots more....... For further information contact one of the committee members listed below. Rex Maddocks 02 6736 4259 Douglas Fox 07 4685 3130 Dell Tierney 02 6736 3056 John & Julie Lindsay 07 4681 2729 Anne & Kevin Jones 07 4685 3379

Mary Baillie & Glen French 07 4681 4662

Community Gardens Update

The Tenterfield Community Gardens have been progressing well over the past few months. The open day in November last year was an opportunity to showcase the site to the community and encourage more members to get involved. It was well attended and also enabled us to promote the Men’s Shed and the Horticultural Society. Thank you to everyone that assisted on the day.

We have received garden edging materials (donated by Craig Brown-many thanks) and are looking at scheduling a working bee to install edging to ‘formalise’ the gardens and keep the grass at bay!

The hailstorm in January left a devastating path of destruction but it is a pleasure to see that many of the damaged crops are bouncing back and producing a second crop for harvest.

Before long we will be planting out crops for the cooler months and will enjoy a break from the intense weeding and mowing that have been required over these warm, wet months.

As always, volunteers are welcome to join us on Saturday mornings from 9am-12pm and share your love of productive gardening. Contact the Landcare office for more information.


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Fauna Profile Star Finches

(Neochmia ruficauda)

This century had marked a serious decline in the

Star Finch population. The causes are probably

disturbance to its habitat – rank streamside grass

and reeds in scattered eucalypt woodlands – as

well as trapping.

Habitat

The Star Finch range once extended right across

northern Australia to New South Wales. Today the

bird has withdrawn almost completely to pockets

in the northeast, from Bowen in North Queensland

to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

Diet

Star Finches flock to feed, drink and roost, in

small groups of up to 20, sometimes larger. Apart

from the occasional insects taken on the wing

during breeding, they feed mainly on ripe and

green seeds from heads of tall grasses. The birds

rove agilely among the stems, clinging and holding

down a flower spike to pick out seeds. Only when

the grasses dry off do they forage on the ground.

Breeding

The Star Finch breeds between December and

August, but mainly March – April. They build a

rounded dome nest, with no entrance tunnel, of

coarse grass or dried grass lined with wool and

feathers. Both sexes choose a nest site with an

elaborate ceremony of bowing deeply with tails

twisted in grass tussocks or in small bushes about

6m up. Both sexes also incubate the 3-6 eggs for

12-14 days

Further Information

Go to www.environment.gov.au

Final draft of the Northern Rivers

Catchment Action Plan The final drafting of the Northern Rivers Catchment Action Plan 2013-2023(Draft CAP) was completed in January 2013. Over the last few months of 2012 NRCMA officers have worked hard on incorporating feedback from stakeholders into the Draft CAP. Approximately 80 submissions provided feedback to the NRCMA on the Draft CAP. This was received from Web based forum comments, through to formal written submissions, in addition to 18 road show events. “The NRCMA in particular, would like to thank all of the many individuals and organisations who contributed valuable comments on the Northern Rivers’ Draft CAP during the public consultation period,” said Royce Bennett, NRCMA Program Manager for Terrestrial Ecosystems. “The great participation and comprehensive comments received from the community has helped us immensely. Feedback analysis and consideration in finalising the Draft CAP has better aligned the plan with community aspirations, and current best practice for sustainable natural resource management,” he said. The Draft CAP was presented to the Minister for Primary Industries at the end of January, 2013. Once the Draft CAP is considered and approved by the Minister after March 2013, the new CAP will transition into operation. Mr Bennett said, “The upgraded catchment action plan, when approved, will provide the strategic framework for collaborative action, and sustainable natural resource management throughout the region.” “The Draft CAP seeks to consolidate, and build on the considerable achievements that the Northern Rivers’ community has made in natural resource management; to provide sustainable, resilient and productive natural systems into the future.”


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Funding Opportunities

There are several funding opportunities that Landcare members are encouraged to participate in at present. GBLC staff and committee members are seeking ideas and suggestions from the community for potential natural resource management projects. Grants open include; Caring for our Country ‘Community

Landcare Grants’ - between $5-50,000 for community groups, sustainable agriculture focus, closes March 20.

Biodiversity Fund (Round 2) - specific

target areas, closes April 10, more information is available at http://www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/biodiversity-fund/round-2/index.html

Grants in the near future include; NSW Environment Trust - various

opportunities available throughout the year, more information is available at http:/www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm

Caring for our Country - ‘Sustainable

Environment Stream’. More information will be made available in the coming months.

Linking the Boomi to the Barwon -

Murries Plant Wildlife Corridor

at Mungindi

The Murries on Barwon (MOB) crew will plant a 10,000 tree wildlife corridor on the Mungindi property, Glanville, this summer, creating an ecological link for native species between the Boomi and Barwon Rivers.

Glanville, owned by the Mungindi Local Aboriginal Land Council, is bordered by both the Barwon and Boomi Rivers. Native trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted on both sides of a 1.85 km long former wheat paddock on the property. These strips of habitat and shelter will reconnect the native plant and animal communities that live along the Barwon and the Boomi.

"Many remnant areas of natural habitat across the State have been left stranded by urban expansion and agricultural development, disconnected from related vegetation communities and breeding populations of endangered species," explained Harry White, Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority MOB Project Manager.

"One of the key aims of the Glanville project is to reconnect important areas of vegetation in the Mungindi region, so that birds and animals can migrate freely, particularly in times of stress such as drought, flood and fire, increasing the likelihood of their long term survival," said Mr White.

Natural ecosystems also provide beneficial ecological services to agriculture. They act as a nursery for native predators such as bats and insects that eat damaging agricultural pests and pollinate important crops like cotton, grain, and sunflowers.

More information on the project is available from the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority’s website http://brg.cma.nsw.gov.au


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Weed Profile

Chilean Needle Grass

Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) is a Weed of National Significance (WONS) and is considered to be one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasive nature, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts. Named for its sharp, pointed seeds, it affects pastures and native grasslands in south-eastern Australia through to north-eastern New South Wales. The grass recently has been found on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland.

Heavy infestations displace desirable pasture species and the productivity of infested pastures in southern states has decreased by as much as 50%. The long, sharp seeds can cause injury to animals and downgrade lamb and sheep meat, wool, skins and hides. Chilean needle grass reduces natural biodiversity by replacing native species within native grasslands, grassy woodlands and riparian areas. It tolerates drought, heavy grazing and periodic inundation.

Description and general information

Chilean needle grass is a spear grass. Native to South America, it is a perennial tussock grass that grows in dense clumps, sometimes together with other grass species. It can also form pure stands. When not grazed or mowed, the erect foliage can grow up to 1 m tall. Leaves are 1–5 mm wide, flat and strongly ribbed on their upper surface, with leaf edges that are rough to touch. Before flowering, the grass is very hard to differentiate from many other tussock grasses.

Flowering generally occurs during November to December but the grass has the capacity to flower year-round if conditions are favourable. Visible flowers develop on long stalks above the foliage. Grazed and mowed plants will develop shorter flowering stems. New flowering heads have a 60 mm long pale green awn (tail) at the end of the seed and a windblown horizontal appearance. New flowers also have a characteristic dark red colour produced by the bracts (glumes) encasing the seeds. On closer inspection the awn is curved or bent and the seed has a characteristic raised reddish corona between the body of the seed and the awn.

The 8–10 mm long seeds are pale brown when mature. The dried straw-coloured flowering head can remain on the plant even after seed has dropped.

The grass reproduces from seeds that are produced high on the flowering stems and also from self-fertilised seeds at the joints and base of the flowering stem. The ‘stem seeds’(cleistogenes) account for up to 50% of annual seed production and enable the plant to reproduce despite grazing, slashing or burning. Stem seeds can be produced very early in the life of the plant. This grass species can produce more than 20 000 seeds per square metre. The resulting soil seed-bank can persist for many years. Seedlings have a high survival rate and they can flower and produce seeds in their first season.

Spread

Chilean needle grass, unlike many other weeds, has little ability to spread on the wind.

The main method of spread is human-assisted. Chilean needle grass seed adheres to clothing, livestock, vehicles and farm machinery can be found in contaminated seeds or fodder is transported by slashers and earth-moving equipment.


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Distribution Chilean needle grass has become a major pest in

Victoria and New South Wales. Isolated

infestations have also been recorded in South

Australia and Tasmania.

Infestations of the grass have been recorded in a limited area of the Darling Downs region of Queensland. The grass is climatically suited to South East Queensland and has the potential to become a major pest in cooler parts of southern Queensland, primarily areas around Stanthorpe, Warwick and Toowoomba. Chilean needle grass has the potential to spread further in sub-humid, cooler parts of South East Queensland.

Control Management strategies

Hygiene practices

Good hygiene can be effective in preventing human-assisted spread of Chilean needle grass. Cleaning of vehicles, machinery, equipment and other material are very important in preventing further spread, as is controlling the movement of livestock from infested to clean areas.

Feed stock in controlled areas to minimise the risk of seed spread and to limit the area requiring control. Reduce the risk of introduction of this and other weeds by requesting a Weed Hygiene Declaration from suppliers confirming that the material and livestock brought onto the property does not contain weeds or weed seed.

Land management

Chilean needle grass, like many weeds, is symptomatic of prolonged grazing, which tends to eliminate palatable plant species and allow unpalatable species to multiply without restriction. Sustainable land management practices result in systems that are naturally more resilient to weed infestation.

Unfortunately, Chilean needle grass is difficult to detect in the field and some degree of skill is required to differentiate it from other grasses, particularly when not in flower. Report suspected infestations to your local government pest management officer or your local Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) office, who will advise on action to take. If you think you may have found a plant of Chilean needle grass, please send a sample to the Queensland Herbarium for positive identification. The process for collecting and sending plant specimens can be found on the Queensland Herbarium website.

Physical control

Small infestations should be manually removed before they flower and set seed, and then destroyed by incineration. Flowering or seeding plants should be bagged on removal to avoid spreading seed. Slashing or mowing before the grass sets seed will remove the bulk of the seed but will not remove basal seeds.

Chemical control

Always carefully read the label or permit before using any herbicide. All herbicides must be applied strictly according to the directions on the label and in accordance with the directions and conditions stated in an APVMA permit.

Some herbicides permitted or registered for Chilean needle grass control have withholding periods and significant ongoing management requirements in grazing and dairying situations. All land managers that have or may have dairy or beef cattle on their property at any stage in the future should carefully consider these requirements when determining the suitability of these herbicides for use on their property.


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24th Annual Queensland Landcare Conference 27 – 29 September 2013 Warwick

It’s months away, but Warwick residents are already preparing for hundreds of landcarers who’ll be visiting the district for the 24th Annual Landcare Conference in September this year. Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group has been announced as the 2013 Queensland Landcare Conference host, bringing together hundreds of land managers, extension staff and researchers finding solutions for balancing healthy habitats and profitable production.

Andrew O’Dea, President Condamine Headwaters Landcare said the event was a unique opportunity to showcase the best of the Southern Downs and surrounding districts. “We’re going to be bringing hundreds of land managers to Warwick, from across the State,” Andrew said. “As well as offering exceptional speakers, workshops, skills sessions and field trips, we’re also going to make sure that people have adequate time to explore the district and all it has to offer.”

The theme of the conference is healthy habitats … profitable production and the group expects to attract between 250 and 300 delegates. “There will be special packages to encourage local land managers to attend and our field trips will look at farming practice, land use and environmental challenges across the Downs.”

“As well as the obvious education and community benefits of having this event in Warwick, the Conference always provides a valuable economic boost to the local economy. We’re now seeking sponsors to ensure we put on a good show.”

The event takes place 27 – 29 September at St Mary’s Upper Campus and the program will feature a mix of keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, social functions, field trips and a Junior Landcare component.

Further information is available at http://tinyurl.com/landcare2013 or by contacting Condamine Headwaters Landcare on 07 4661 9909 or [email protected]. Registrations open in April.


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WFI: Community & the Environment

WFI (previously Wesfarmers Federation Insurance) recognises it’s corporate responsibility towards both the environment and the community in it’s various roles as insurer, investor, employer and consumer.

Importantly WFI contribute 7% of the value of every insurance policy held by a local Landcare member to Granite Borders Landcare Committee! Please support your local Landcare Network by supporting your local WFI and be sure to tell them you are a Landcare member!

Contact David de Ferranti for more information – Phone 0267 221 755 Mobile 0412 328 911 [email protected]

Good People to know.

Industrial Freezers Wanted!!!

Required for wild dog control. Please contact the Landcare office

on (02) 6736 3500 for more information.

Resources for sale!!!

Just a reminder of what resources Granite Borders Landcare have for sale

at the moment.

Rabbit/fox soft jaw traps - waxed,

dyed and tensioned, including stake $30 each

Peter Andrews publications -

including Back from the Brink and

Beyond the Brink both $20 each

Soil pH test kits - $5 each

Landcare Hats/T-shirts - $10 each

Plant book - Native Plants of the

NW Slopes of NSW Traprock Country - $36 each

Plant book - Eucalypts of the

Northern Tablelands - $15 each

Contact the Landcare office for more

information on more products available.

mailto:[email protected]


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Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of GBLC or its employees. While every effort is made to publish accurate information, GBLC and its employees do not accept responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in this newsletter

Granite Borders Landcare Committee

PO Box 400

Tenterfield NSW 2372

www.graniteborderslandcare.com.au

Granite Borders Landcare Committee is

generously supported by Tenterfield Shire Council.

POSTAGE

PAID

AUSTRALIA

Inside:

Newsletter of the Granite Borders Landcare Committee Incorporated

Supported by

Granite Borders Landcare

Newsletter – Autumn 2013

Upcoming Events:

Sunday 3rd March: Clean Up Australia Day, Landcare office, Tenterfield

Tuesday 5th-Thursday 7th March: Water Education Conference, Sydney

Tuesday 19th-Wednesday 20th March: NENW Landcare Adventure, Bingara

Tuesday 26th March: GBLC General Committee Meeting & Farewell to NSW

DPI district agronomist Jeff Lowien, Wallangarra Railway Station

Friday 12th April: Wildlife spotlighting, around Tenterfield

Thursday 23rd May: Biggest Morning Tea, Tenterfield

Wednesday 19th June: National Indian Myna Conference, Canberra

Thursday 26th-Friday 27th September: NSW Environmental Education

Conference, Dubbo

Friday 27th-Sunday29th September: QLD Landcare Conference, Warwick

autumn newsletter 2013 - granite borders landcare · right–don’t forget indian myna traps are...

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