1. Community leads Darling initiative
2. Sides ready for battle in Basin Property Planning Comp
3. Young Rural Leaders' Course now open
4. 2005 International River Health Conference to be ‘biggest & best'
5. Seminar gives overview of carp and how to control them
6. Temporary drawdown of weir pools at Euston, Mildura and Wentworth
7. New Industries Development Program grants announced
8. Study tour of the Lower Lakes and Coorong in South Australia
9. Sustainable Development Conference looks at best practice
10. Land & Water Australia's new Investment Plan issued
Community leads Darling initiative
More than 130 members of the Darling Basin community met in Moree on February 25 to discuss a common goal of forming a Darling Basin Initiative.
The meeting overwhelmingly supported the establishment of a community led initiative to guide the integrated management of the rivers of the Darling Basin.
Mrs Leith Boully, Chairman of the Murray-Darling Basin Community Advisory Committee, said “communities in the Darling Basin want to be well informed and able to influence their future and that of the important community and environmental assets of the Darling Basin.”
“Unlike many other initiatives which are lead by government there is now a real opportunity for communities to demonstrate a commitment to being proactive in relation to natural resource management challenges rather than reactive to new policies imposed from above” Mrs Boully said.
The forum nominated 13 people from the floor to further develop a proposal for a Darling Initiative in the next six-months including determining a process to involve the Darling Basin community in that initiative.
The Queensland Minister for Natural Resources Stephen Robertson, NSW Minister for the Environment Bob Debus, and South Australian Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald agreed to support the process and to provide access to the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council if required.
This generous offer is a respectful acknowledgement of the passion and commitment demonstrated by those attending the forum and demonstrates that community processes are valued, Mrs Boully said.
Working Group members are:
- Northern Rivers Indigenous Nations (to be represented by Allan Hall, Connie Twidale, Grace Whetherall, Richard Coleman)
- Peter Thompson – Environment, Coonabarabran
- Ed Fessey – floodplain grazier, Culgoa
- Sarah Moles – Environment, Allora
- Mark Ethridge – grazier, Wilcannia
- Michael Murray – irrigation, Moree
- Bruce Mc Collum – irrigation, Goondiwindi
- Jason Wilson – Aboriginal, Brewarrina
- Fred Barlow – Local Government/urban, Mungindi
- Stan Dineen – Local Government/urban Darling below Menindee
- Andrew Drysdale – NRM Regional Bodies, Queensland
- NSW CMA – to be advised
- SA – to be advised
For more information on the forum and the issues contact: Leith Boully, CAC Chairman phone: 0412 678 633, email: leith.boully@mdbc.gov.au
Sides ready for battle in Basin Property Planning Comp
Hundreds of senior agriculture students will focus intensely on a couple of properties in north western New South Wales this month as the 10th Property Planning Competition gets underway.
The Murray Darling Basin Commission is a major sponsor of the competition which is designed to help agriculture students develop planning skills using real properties in the northern part of the Basin.
The competition is organised by the Namoi and Border Rivers/Gwydir Catchment Authorities.
Participants will battle for championship status in social, economic and natural resource planning of a chosen working farm.
Running six months from March to June, the competition requires participants to plan a real life property, ensuring that it is economically and ecologically sustainable.
Participants work from an extensive resource pack and are also advised by technical experts
Last year the competition attracted about 600 students working in classes and groups.
“Student learning is first hand, on farm and from classroom work, assisted by a comprehensive CD resources pack including GIS materials and from library and web research,” says Bruce Browne, General Manager with the Namoi Catchment Authority.
“This is an exciting partnership between the students, sponsors and the newly formed Catchment Authorities of the area,” he said.
For more information contact col.easton@cma.nsw.gov.au
Young Rural Leaders' Course now open
Applications are now open for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) 2005 Young Rural Leaders' Course to be held in Canberra from 29 May-2 June 2005.
The course offers young rural people (aged from 18-35) an opportunity to benefit their industries by learning the skills needed to work with industry and government at the national level.
Organisers say the fully funded course will help participants to:
- gain a greater understanding of the complexities of rural Australia;
- build their skills and confidence to contribute to their industry and/or community;
- improve their ability to contribute to policy and program development; and
- have the opportunity to meet key stakeholders in rural industries policy development.
Primary producers and Indigenous people are encouraged to apply.
Applications close Thursday 10 March 2005.
For more information and an application form call (02) 6272 5836, visit www.daff.gov.au/youngleaders or email youngleaders@daff.gov.au
2005 International River Health Conference to be ‘biggest & best'
Organisers are calling for participants in the third International River Health Conference, to be held from 16 to 18 October on the banks of the River Murray at Mildura.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is the major sponsor for the conference.
Organisers say this year's will be the biggest and the best ever for the students, teachers and all participants.
At all previous conferences organisers had to turn away between 30-50 schools after reaching the participant limit.
“It is vitally important that you register as early as possible. This does not mean we require payment at this time as an invoice will be sent to your school or sponsor approximately two weeks after your registration forms are received. You then have 1 month to pay your registration cost,” an organiser said.
Discount Early Bird Registrations opened on February 1 and close on June 1 with no extensions. Early bird registration and registration forms must be received by June 1 to qualify.
Discount Early Bird Registration cost is $187 per participant if accommodation is required and $99 per participant if accommodation is not required. Registration cost includes GST.
Full registration cost is $242 per participant if accommodation is required and $154 per participant if accommodation is not required. Registration cost includes GST.
Full registration closes on July 30th 2005 (There are no extensions to full registration and registration forms must be received by this date to qualify).
Numbers are strictly limited to 500 participants and registration will close early should this limit be reached prior to the official close of registration.
Due to increasing popularity, the limit was reached much earlier than the registration closing date at both the 2001 and 2003 events and it is highly likely that this will occur for the 2005 Conference.
For more information and to register go to: http://www.riverhealth.com/register.php
Seminar gives overview of carp and how to control them
A detailed overview of common carp in Australia, including methods to control them will be the subject of a seminar to be hosted by Narrandera's John Lake Centre.
The seminar, to be held on March 4, has been organised by the NSW Department of Primary Industries research staff.
Seminar guest speakers Robert Rolls and Leanne Faulks from DPI's carp research team based at Narrandera, will cover the biology of carp and their interaction with the environment.
“During the past year, Robert and I have been part of a major project on carp in NSW, which is anticipated to continue for another six or seven years,” Ms Faulks said.
“This work is a component of the ‘Daughterless Carp Project' underway in the Murray-Darling Basin.
“Our part of the project aims to assess the status and general population biology of carp throughout the State.”
This important information will help the Daughterless Carp Project, which is funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's Native Fish Strategy, choose the best locations for the release of the daughterless gene, to increase its likelihood of spreading quickly, and to improve the ability of researchers to monitor the success of the gene.
As the number of female carp decline, the populations should be reduced and eventually collapse.
For more information go to www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/gen/news/fb_05feb01_dpi.htm
Temporary drawdown at Euston, Mildura and Wentworth
River Murray Water (RMW) announced temporary drawdown of weir pools above Euston, Mildura and Wentworth Weirs in late February to facilitate completion of major works at Weir and Lock 9 at Kulnine downstream of Wentworth.
RMW General Manager, Mr David Dreverman said the program was aimed at mitigating the flow peak in the River Murray before it reached Lock 9 to enable major works underway at Lock 9 to proceed with minimal disruption.
“As a result of the heavy rainfall in early February, there have been significant rises in streamflow, particularly in the Ovens and Goulburn Rivers, which have led to significant rises in flow in the River Murray,” he said.
“Preliminary indications are that the peak flow further downstream in the River Murray may approach a level which would have a serious effect on works in progress for the reconstruction and re-arrangement of the navigation pass at Lock 9.”
The work is part of a long-term program to modify the navigation pass and install new fishways at weirs along the River Murray from Lock 1 near the Murray Mouth to Euston Weir near Robinvale.
At each weir, the weir pool level will be returned to near full supply level (FSL) within about three days of the passing of the flow peak. At Euston Weir, the pool level will be restored to full supply level, more than two weeks before the commencement of the Robinvale 80 Ski Race.
At Mildura and Wentworth Weirs, the water level of the weir pools may also be temporarily raised by up to 0.1 m above full supply level to provide additional mitigation of the flow peak if required.
While this operation was aimed at reducing the flow peak to protect works in progress at Lock 9, it may also help conserve water in Lake Victoria and in building water reserves for New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia for the 2005/06 irrigation season.
“River Murray Water is closely monitoring the passage of flows along the River Murray. If the flow peak upstream of Euston Weir is in the lower band of the preliminary forecast range, it may not be necessary to draw down the weir pools to the maximum extent indicated.” Mr Dreverman said.
For more information read the full statement at: www.mdbc.gov.au/news_room/media_releases.html
Study tour of the Lower Lakes and Coorong in South Australia
The Murray Darling Association is calling for people interested in taking part in a study tour of the Lower Murray in South Australia from March 14th to March 16th, 2005.
The three-day, two-night tour will take in the Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and Coorong. It will incorporate the history, industries and challenges of this area and how the problems of salinity and water regulation need to be tackled from a regional perspective.
On the first day, the tour will travel to Tailem Bend, Lake Alexandrina, Poltallock Station Homestead and the Tauwitchere Barrage Fish Passages.
The second will take in the Coorong, including the Salt Creek South East drainage outfall, the Wilderness Lodge and Camp Coorong. The tour will then return to Murray Bridge via the Pink Lake.
The third day incorporates the lower Fleurieu regions, Wellington, Langhorne Creek, Milang and Clayton before moving onto the Goolwa Barrage, the Murray Mouth and Hindmarsh Island. The bus will return to Murray Bridge for the conclusion of the tour.
The tour costs $300 per person and covers all meals and accommodation on the tour.
For more information and to reserve a place, contact: Maurice Wilhelm at mwihelm@lm.net.au or Ray Najar at generalmanager@mda.asn.au
New Industries Development Program grants announced
A new round of grants from the Australian Government's New Industries Development Program (NIDP) provides up to $100,000 for small to medium agribusinesses for Pilot Commercialisation Projects (PCPs).
Projects need to be innovative, market driven, sustainable and aim to commercialise new agribusiness products, services or technologies.
No significant capacity must currently exist in Australia for the specified product, service or technology. That is, it derives less than $1 million total sales per annum from all Australian sources.
Applicants need to demonstrate the project's market success potential. As such, the initial market assessment and R&D stage should be completed.
Funding for PCP projects is provided on a matched dollar for dollar basis.
Applications close Friday 8 April 2005.
For more information call 1300 88 45 88, email nidp@daff.gov.au or visit www.daff.gov.au/agribiz
Sustainable Development Conference looks at best practice
This year's Victorian Sustainable Development Conference promises a wide range of award-winning best practice case studies.
Organisers say it will be a “unique and timely opportunity for all sectors of government, business and non-government organisations to evaluate progress towards sustainability.”
The conference, to be held 15-16 March at ZINC in Mebourne's Federation Square will see keynote addresses from the Minister for Environment and Water, the Hon John
Thwaites and the Minister for Resources, the Hon Theo Theophanous.
It will include presentations by 30 of Australia's leading experts and policy makers in sustainable development, including:
- Dr Ian McPhail, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability;
- Ian Porter, Executive Director, Sustainability Strategy, DSE;
- Greg Wilson, Deputy Secretary, Water Sector Development, DSE;
- Tricia Caswell, CEO, Victorian Association of Forest Industries;
- Professor Gary Jones, Director of the recently announced eWater CRC;
- Timothy Piper, Director, Vic AIGroup; and
- Marcus Godinho, Executive Director, Environment Victoria.
There will also be a presentation from representatives of Westpac, the Housing Industry Association Greensmart Program, Advanced Environmental Concepts and Global Renewables Ltd.
The Conference is supported by groups such as the Environmental Engineering Society, Environs Australia, the Banksia Foundation, and Greenfleet.
For more information go to www.halledit.com.au/conferences/vicsustainable
Land & Water Australia's new Investment Plan issued
Land & Water Australia recently published its new Social and Institutional R&D Plan.
The plan outlines the goals, research themes and strategies for the next five years, emphasising the importance of integrating the social and institutional context of natural resources management.
Copies can be ordered through Land & Water Australia's Products Catalogue at: www.lwa.gov.au/products.asp (product code: PR040805) or download it at www.lwa.gov.au/downloads/publications_pdf/PR040805.pdf
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