Better Burnett

Free teleconference outlines North Burnett funding opportunities

Katie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:09:15 +0000

A free teleconference hosted by BCCA, will outline new funding opportunities for North Burnett landholders. Better Catchments is an initiative of the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) and will be coordinated in partnership with BCCA in the Burnett.

Over the last 18 months the BCCA’s Better Burnett program has provided valuable support to Burnett graziers. Better Burnett activities have assisted landholders with workshops, trialling new methods and financial incentives to improve properties and catchment health. As a mark of the success of Better Burnett, the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) has committed the new round of investment.

Better Catchments is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Caring for our Country Program. The program aims to provide incentives to landholders to implement activities that will assist in property improvement and also benefit catchment health within priority subcatchments. Within the Burnett, these priority subcatchments are the Nogo River, Three Moon Creek and Upper Burnett River subcatchments.

This program requires rapid rollout and all on-ground activities must be completed by April 2009. The BCCA is keen for landholders in the priority subcatchments to participate in the teleconference. The ultimate aim is of course to find suitable on-ground activities that meet funding guidelines and provide a benefit to landholders and the catchment.

The teleconference will be held on Thursday 27 November at 8pm, and will provide all the information need to complete an Expression of Interest. Landholders in the 3 priority subcatchments (Nogo River, Three Moon Creek, and Upper Burnett) can hear from a past recipient of Better Burnett with some funding tips and also learn how to take advantage of the current funding round.

To register for the teleconference and to receive a free property map in the process, call (07) 41653 551 or email admin@burnettcatchment.org by 25 November.

More information can be found at www.betterburnett.com/better-catchments.

Interested in Regenerative Agriculture?

louise — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:58:47 +0000

‘Regenerative Agriculture’, a Healthy Soils workshop, will demonstrate some of the cutting edge strategies on how to create healthy soils, grow more grass and increase profits. If you’ve ever been interested in learning more about the application of bio-char, compost teas, carbon management and/or microbes to a grazing enterprize then this is a chance for your questions to be answered.

Presented by Grazing BestPrac, the workshop will be run over two days Wed 3rd and Thurs 4th December 2008 at ‘Stowe Park’ at Calliope. Soil nutrition specialist, Ray O’Grady will be sharing his practical knowhow and experience to help land managers and interested people learn more about the benefits of healthy soils!

For more information or to register please call Mick at Grazing BestPrac on 0438 395 255 or email mick@grazingbestprac.com.au. The workshop covers some very thought provoking topics and you’ll come away with many ideas for your soils!

BCCA - Newsletter October 2008

letetia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:39:53 +0000

Current Newsletter avaliable for download: October 2008 - Newsletter

BCCA Annual Report

letetia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:33:52 +0000

Now Available for download is the association’s Annual Report: Annual Report 2007/2008

SuperGraze Launch Invite - 6 November 2008

letetia — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:50:56 +0000

Supergraze is here!!! SuperGraze is a joint initiative of the three Regional Bodies and their partners, that is funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. It amis to benefit landholders across the three regions by helping to identify and implement imporved land management processes that increase productivity, while helping to sustain our landscapes. For more information download the following pdf invite. SuperGraze Launch Invite

DPI&F Feedlot ‘New Investor’ FREE Seminar - Dalby

letetia — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:02:30 +0000

For more information about this free seminar - Wednesday 19 November 2008 Dalby RSL Warrego Highway from 9am to

4pm. Numbers are limited please download the following flyer: DPI&F Feedlot New Investor Seminar Dalby

Regulation Risks Reef Rescue

dean — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:13:43 +0000

On Friday, Industry and Natural Resource Management Groups quietly celebrated the formalisation of partnerships that would see delivery of incentives to landholders in Queensland Reef catchments including the Burnett. At a Reef Summit in Brisbane on the same day, the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh indicated that the Queensland Government would pursue regulation to improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. Agforce and Queensland Farmers Federation have spoken out against the move.

Since it’s inception in 1995, the Burnett Catchment Care Association BCCA, has supported a voluntary approach to improving catchment health and sustainable agriculture. We have found best results can be achieved by focusing on activities that improve production and catchment health. Fortunately there are plenty of examples of on farm activities that achieve both a lift in water quality, biodiversity, environmental health and productivity. However changing management practices can be expensive and it can be risky.

Farmers are not currently paid for the ecosystem services their good management provides, nor does the market pay the “true cost” of food production. The BCCA believe it is appropriate that the Australian public share the risk (particularly in the changeover or flux period) and the expense of changing management practices that improve water quality for the Great Barrier Reef.

Further it is the position of the BCCA, that regulation undermines a spirit of cooperation and shared effort for a shared benefit. Just as the “Tree Clearing” laws lead to panic clearing and a reluctance to cooperate, there is a risk that the suggestion of further regulation may lead to a lack of trust, disengagement, and a major setback in achieving the aims of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.

In summary

the BCCA does not support a regulatory response to improving water quality, where the legislation aims to address diffuse farm based sources of nutrient, sediment or registered agro-chemicals.
the BCCA is keen to continue to work with the Queensland Government, the Federal Government and any other partners who wish to improve agriculture and catchment health in the Burnett
the BCCA know that Burnett Primary Producers are the most adaptable, innovative and resilient in the world and with appropriate support will continue to improve catchment health and sustainable agriculture

Ironically this week, BCCA staff will begin the process of engaging graziers in the lower Burnett, Kolan, and Baffle to facilitate distribution of incentives through Reef Rescue funding. Will the Premier’s announcements undermine the potential of this initiatives as has been suggested?

Hopefully these landholders will see that beyond the threat of regulation, is an opportunity to attract investment to make improvements on their properties. Adjustments that will improve their operations and improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. Improvements that will demonstrate that improving Great Barrier Reef Water Quality can be done very successfully through cooperative non regulatory means.

Anyone wishing to stay abreast of Reef Rescue updates can subscribe to the BCCA’s Reef Rescue updates though the form below or in the right hand margin.

PFSQ Native Forestry Field Day at Monogorilby

dean — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:09:39 +0000

Last Wednesday, a group of landholders gathered in a patch of Spotted Gum and Narrow Leaf Ironbark forest to hear about what opportunities exist for forestry on private land – and how to go about cashing in on those opportunities!

The field day out at Monogorilby, hosted by Burnett Catchment Care Association BCCA together with Private Forestry Southern Queensland PFSQ was all about where private forests fit in with the closure of our local State Forests and some local mills. Sean Ryan from PFSQ describes this as a crucial time for landholders to embrace their remnant vegetation and forest blocks to take the first steps in managing their forests, and investing in the future. The demand for timber will soon exceed the supply so by undertaking appropriate forest management practices, private landholders can soon be the major suppliers of timber to our state and our nation.

More than 60% of the timber harvested in the Burnett comes from private land – but where will the remaining 40% come from once the State Forests close? Private land. There is a million dollar opportunity for landholders in the Burnett and Mary Catchments to invest in their timber. The two catchments host the largest amount of remnant forests in Queensland, and will be looked to heavily to supply the rest with its timber.

If you’re interested in learning from native forest experts on how to manage your remnant vegetation with cattle production, the Vegetation Management Act and Forest Code of Practice as well as learning about marketing and treatment regimes, PFSQ are hosting a 5-day workshop running over 6 weeks to cover this and more. Workshop will start at Slacks Hardwood Sawmill, Reids Creek, Gayndah on Wednesday 12 November, from 9am to 3pm. To register for this, or for more information contact the BCCA office 4165 3551 or PFSQ office 5483 6535.

Position Vacant - Waterways Coordinator

letetia — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:28:22 +0000

The position for the Waterways Coordinator is now available. Applications close on Tuesday 11 November 2008 close of busniess 5pm.

For details please use the following link: www.burnettcatchment.org/employment

MLA Chair Calls for Calm

dean — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:44:22 +0000

Meat and Livestock Australia MLA Chair Don Heatley has said in an interview with Agmates, that beef producers should remain calm in the global credit crisis.

Our meat industry is 65% reliant on exports and we really just have to wait for any affect to flow back through the global supply chain. Having said that people should remember that a third of the market for our meat is domestic. That market is strong.

Earlier spoke to Damon Whittock from MLA who indicated there may be some benefits to exports via a weaker Australian dollar. To read the full interview with Don Heatley click here or for Damon Wittock’s update .

Sooner or later we are all bound to feel the pinch of the economic crisis. As certainly as markets go up markets come down and rain becomes scarce and well sometimes we get a fair bit of it too. That is part of the uncertainty we deal with living on the land.

At present BCCA is negotiating to secure investment for primary industries across the Burnett. While the Rudd government have called 2008/2009 a transitional year with arrangements and funding somewhat uncertain, there appears to be an earnest effort to get funding on the ground. The Better Burnett team hope to be in a position to announce opportunities for assistance for primary producers in the near future.