Catching Up

In the Gold Coast Catchments

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2012

LOCAL NEWS and EVENTS

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AWARD 2012

SEQ Catchments has won the Environmental Sustainability category in the Australian Business Awards 2012, in recognition of its ground breaking work in the natural resource management (NRM) sector. The award recognises SEQ Catchments achievements in working with the community to protect and restore South East Queenslands unique natural environment and biodiversity. SEQ Catchments CEO Simon Warner said the award reflected the importance of NRM within the broader business community. ''It is especially gratifying to receive this prestigious award and to receive national recognition from the broader business community,'' he said. ''It demonstrates that NRM has come of age; that business recognises the importance of achieving the SEQ NRM Plan targets and the economic relevance of environmental sustainability across all sectors.''

Gold Coast City Council

offer a suite of activities under the Naturally GC program. Please click here

Dogs Breakfast Coming Soon to the Spit

A FREE dog walkers BBQ will held in October to meet fellow dog walker's and to raise awareness about local shore birds. A bird expert will be on hand to explain everything you want to know about the migratory habits of the birds that adorn your foreshore.

Soil Erosion Workshop

Country Paradise, Billabirra Crescent Nerang Sat 22nd September, 9am - 12pm, Please RSVP to Linda Durham (see pg 3) Free to all

2012 QLD STATE LANDCARE CONFERENCE

SEQ Catchments recently supported the 2012 QLD state Landcare conference by hosting two regional bus tours for conference delegates together with local community groups* and landholders. The Gold Coast bus tour visited two sites including Federation Walk located at Seaworld Drive on the Gold Coast spit and Austinville Valley. Conference delegates were given an overview of restoration work **. SEQ Catchments is proud to be a part of such terrific projects and will continue to support, where possible, both groups. Local Community Partnership Manager, Linda Durham, said both projects clearly demonstrate the strength of partnerships in looking after our regions natural resources.

Beachcare
Contact Naomi Edwards for a list of Beachcare events happening across the Gold Coast n.edwards@griffith.edu.au

Austinville Landcare with conference delegates in Austinville Valley

To register your local events send your details to Linda Durham at: ldurham@seqcatchments.com.au

*The Gold Coast bus tour was done in partnership with

Friends of Federation Walk (FOFW) & Austinville Landcare. **Restoration work was facilitated and undertaken by the respective groups, Gold Coast volunteers and Gold Coast Lyn Wright (FOFW) with conference City Council. delegates at Federation Walk

RESOURCES - GRANTS - EVENTS

SEQ Ecological Restoration Framework Project
The Ecological Restoration Framework was originally proposed by the Environmental Managers Technical Reference Group (EMTRG), a group of environmental managers representing SEQ Councils. It came about because of the high growth experienced in SEQ combined with the diversity of stakeholders undertaking ecological restoration. A standard was needed to ensure consistent ecological restoration delivery. It was subsequently endorsed by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) as a regional standard for undertaking restoration projects so that future ecological restoration projects delivered under the Framework will: Conserve and enhance biodiversity through increasing the extent and improving the condition of native vegetation; Ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability; and Ensure ongoing improvement and maintenance of ecosystem services. To obtain a copy of the SEQ restoration guideline manual please download it from http://www.seqcatchments.com.au/seq-ecological-restoration-framework or contact Linda Durham (see page 3)

Fireweed
Fireweed is one of the worst weeds of coastal pastures in south eastern Australia. When consumed it can cause liver damage and occasionally death in livestock, particularly cattle and horses. Fireweed is highly invasive due to its numerous wind-borne seeds. Learn to recognise fireweed and pull out plants by hand in new and small infestations when they are young and before they flower and set seed. Slashing can worsen the fireweed problem. Fireweed Links 1. Fireweed was recently declared one of 12 Weeds of National Significance. www.weeds.org.au/WoNS; 2. Best Practice Management Guide for Australian Landholders; http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/fireweed/resources/Fireweed_BPM_Guide.pdf; 3. Project bulletin for the UNE/CSIRO project Fireweed Control Research This bulletin summarises the findings of biological control research in South Africa, and fireweed ecology, impact and management research; http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/fireweed/resources/Bulletin_3_June_2012.pdf; and http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/fireweed/fireweed.htm

Indian myna
Have you seen Indian Myna birds in your area ? The Indian myna is a medium -sized bird native to the Middle East, India and Asia. In Australia they are an introduced pest that impact on our biodiversity, primary producers and our urban landscapes. They are brown with a glossy black head, neck and upper breast; bright yellow bills, eye skin, legs and feet; and an upright posture. They are sometimes confused with the native noisy miners; however, native noisy miners are grey rather than brown in colour and have flesh-coloured legs rather then the bright yellow legs of the Indian myna. For more information on the Indian myna please visit: http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/documents/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/IPA-Indian-Myna-PA28.pdf MynaScan is a new community website that allows you to map myna bird sightings, myna damage and control activities associated with mynas in your area. Anyone can use the MynaScan website anywhere in Australia. The MynaScan website will assist communities, local government, and pest controllers to control myna birds and reduce the damage/problems they cause http://www.feralscan.org.au/mynascan/

For more information about local community myna bird projects please contact: Currumbin Creek Carers on thanass@ozemail.com.au

SEQ Catchments Community NRM Support Grants 2012 - released

Many grants available today don't allow community groups to purchase or repair equipment, provide training or purchase signage and/or other tools. We have tried to fill these gaps by providing groups the opportunity to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to purchase these items. For more information or to obtain a copy of the EOI please contact Linda Durham (see page 3).

Catchment Network Groups

Gold Coast Region Austinville Landcare Australian Coastal Society Beechmont Landcare Coomera River Catchment Group Currumbin Creek Carers Elanora Wetlands Bushcare Environmental Alliance Friends of Crane Creek Friends of Currumbin Friends of David Fleays Wildlife Park Friends of Federation Walk Friends of the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens Gecko Environmental Council Gold Coast Catchment Association Gold Coast City Council: Beaches to Bushland programs & Bushcare working bees Gold Coast Seagrass Watch Wal.Mayr@terranean.com.au qld@australiancoastalsociety.org.au craigandelizabeth@bigpond.com peterd16@optusnet.com.au thanass@ozemail.com.au tomjiggs@bigpond.com secretary@gecko.org.au friendsofcranecreek@gmail.com secretary@friendsofcurrumbin.com.au friendsoffleays@yahoo.com.au info@federationwalk.org secretary@fbcbg.org.au secretary@gecko.org.au info@goldcoastcatchments.org srobinson@goldcoast.qld.gov.au goldcoastseagrasswatch@hotmail.com www.fleayswildlife.com.au/ www.federationwalk.org/ www.fgcbg.org.au/ www.gecko.org.au/ www.goldcoastcatchments.org/ www.gcparks.com.au/parks.aspx?page=96 www.seagrasswatch.org www.griffith.edu.au www.australiancoastalsociety.org/

Griffith Ctr for Coastal Management Beachcare n.edwards@griffith.edu.au Guanaba - IPA Hinterland Regional Park Bushcare Loders Creek Catchment Association Miami Bushcare Nerang River Keepers Ngarang-wal Gold Coast Aboriginal Association North East Albert Landcare & Catchment Gp. Numinbah Valley Landcare QLD Wader Study Group Gold Coast Qld Water & Land Carers South Stradbroke Island Landcare S/brook Catchment Management Landcare Surfers to Burleigh Landcare Inc. Surfrider Foundation Gold Coast Tamborine Mountain Landcare Tarrabora Reserve Bushcare Water Quality Monitoring - become involved! Wildlife Preservation Society of Qld tony_dillon@hotmail.com grahamcd14@bigpond.com jeanniefw@hotmail.com srobinson@goldcoast.qld.gov.au carclinic@bigpond.com.au Ngarang-wal@bigpond.com s.durance@bigpond.com gcfcjf@bigpond.com b.goldcoast@gmail.com Register your group, insure or incorporate katebiggs@optushome.com.au cdunlop@onthenet.com.au mel@melaniejbrennan.com.au adam@surfridergct.org cjlmeesters@bigpond.com ginaygoa@gmail.com jsigley@seqcatchments.com.au joan@computrix.com.au

www.loderscreek.org/

www.waders.org.au/queensland-wader-studygroup-news/news www.qwalc.org.au/

www.surfrider.org.au/ www.tamborinemtnlandcare.org.au/ srobinson@goldcoast.qld.gov.au Ph: 0400 910 678 www.wildlife.org.au/

SEQ Catchments Office - South

PO Box 7388, Southport Park, QLD 4215 Ph: 5552 9090 Fax: 55528722

For changes to Catchment Network Groups please contact: Ben Barton

Engagement Support Officer E: bbarton@seqcatchments.com.au

Linda Durham
Community Partnerships Manager (Gold Coast region) E : ldurham@seqcatchments.com.au M: 0400 910 679