Caring for our Country funding announced
Business plan 2009-10 successful projects base-level funding
The table below lists the base level funding for regional NRM organisations within each state. Each state and territory also received funding through the Business plan 2009-10 competitive process.
| Queensland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region / NRM organisation | Project description | Funding approved from July 2009 |
| Burnett Mary Regional Group | The Burnett Mary Regional Investment Strategy will protect and enhance the regions threatened ecologically community, RAMSAR and HCVE areas, improved skill levels regarding best NRM practices in the Burnett Mary Queensland. The region extends to all lands drained by the Mary, Kolan, Burnett, Auburn, Boyne, Elliot, Gregory, Isis and Burrum rivers and their tributaries. Significant areas such as the World Heritage-listed Great Sandy Straits, Fraser Island and the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are included in the region's boundaries.The population of the Burnett Mary region is estimated at 289,000, the majority concentrated on the coastal fringes. The population is expanding rapidly and is estimated to reach 350,000 by 2026. The regional assets identified in the plan include biodiversity, coastal and marine resources, land resources, lifestyle and people, natural and cultural heritage and water resources. | $4,056,000 (over 2 years) |
| Cape York groups | The Cape York Peninsula region, which covers an area of 137,000 km², has exceptional conservation assets, with relatively intact and extensive coastal dune fields, wetlands, rainforest, heathlands and river systems which support high levels of endemic biodiversity. The region supports two large towns and a number of small Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Traditional Indigenous cultural practices still persist in some areas, although much traditional knowledge is being progressively lost. The major economic activities in the region include mining, the largest sector, together with grazing, fishing, horticulture and tourism. The major environmental threats in the region are weeds and feral animals, particularly pigs and cattle. Inappropriate burning regimes which are not tailored to good ecosystem outcomes are also a major concern. In recognition of the very significant Indigenous population in the region, this proposal has a strong emphasis on building capacity across a number of communities to address environmental issues and to retain and incorporate traditional knowledge into mainstream management. This proposal will complement Working on Country ranger program investments in Cape York. | $1,530,000 (over 1 year) |
| Condamine Alliance | This Regional Investment Strategy will provide a regional coordination point for natural resource management efforts in the Condamine catchment that will assist with providing strategic direction for effective and efficient natural resource outcomes at landscape scale and linking with relevant State and national plans. The maintenance of community interest and involvement in natural resource management is paramount to continued efforts to protect and enhance the nation's natural resources. This proposal will continue and enhance the involvement of Condamine catchment stakeholders by supporting local efforts and continuing to develop and apply novel engagement approaches such as the aquatic Demonstration Reach concept and visitor engagement options. The involvement of farmers and other land managers in the protection of the nation's natural resources is an important part of achieving landscape change. | $1,982,000 (over 1 year) |
| Desert Channels Queensland | This Regional Investment Proposal will enable deliver against key Caring for our Country priorities and targets for the region in the areas of Biodiversity and Natural Icons, Sustainable Farm Practices and Community Skills, Knowledge and Engagement, and provide ongoing support to the community to sustainably manage the natural resources of the Desert Channels. Almost one-third of the area of Queensland, the Desert Channels region is one of the world's unique semi-arid to arid landscapes, ranging from the eucalypt woodlands, spinifex pastures and Mitchell grasslands of the upper catchment through the channel country and mulga lands to the dune fields of the Simpson Desert. Predominant land-use is rangeland grazing of cattle and sheep, which sustains a decreasing population in the non-urban areas. Urban communities are increasingly sustained by tourism, government and other service industries. | $3,086,000 (over 2 years) |
| Fitzroy Basin Association | The Fitzroy NRM region covers more than 156, 000 km2 of land area in Central Queensland, including the catchments of the Fitzroy River, adjacent coastal waterways, and the Boyne and Calliope rivers. Much of the inland parts of the region contain open woodlands that include significant areas of remnant Brigalow as well as native grasslands (such as Bluegrass). Coastal ecosystems include important wetland, salt marsh and mangrove communities. Pastoralism and mining, particularly coal extraction, are the major economic drivers of the Fitzroy Basin. The regional population is approximately 200, 000, the major town centres being Rockhampton and Gladstone. The region also includes the Shoalwater Bay Military training area. The Regional Investment Strategy places considerable emphasis on WONS threats, providing incentives for vegetation, coastal habitat and Ramsar wetland protection contribute to targets for coastal and critical aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Protection of threatened native grasslands which have their main distribution in the region are also given priority. Good governance, planning, community capacity, technical support, access to information for community groups, and regional coordination/facilitation are all elements critical to successful implementation of on-ground activities in the Fitzroy and are accorded appropriate levels of resourcing. | $4,608,000 (over 2 years) |
| North Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd | This Regional Investment Strategy (RIS) provides the opportunity to deliver on key national priorities and targets, outlined in the Caring for our Country Business Plan, through improved land condition, landscape connectivity and resilience in the Northern Gulf Region. The Northern Gulf region covers an area of approximately 194,000 square kilometres. Its landscapes range from mountains, plateaus and high plains to dissected hill country and plains running down to the coast. The region is based on the catchments of the Mitchell, Staaten, Gilbert and Norman rivers, all of which drain into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The region spans parts of the Gulf Plains, Einasleigh Uplands and Cape York Peninsula bioregions, and includes all or part of the Carpentaria, Croydon, Etheridge, Mareeba and Cook Shire councils. The main population centres are Karumba, Normanton, Croydon, Georgetown, and Chillagoe, and the Aboriginal community of Kowanyama. | $3,173,769 (over 4 years) |
| North Queensland Dry Tropics (formerly Burdekin Dry Tropics) | The Burdekin Dry Tropics region is located in north eastern Queensland, covering an area of approximately 133,432km² and is primarily defined by the catchment area of the Burdekin River. The region has a population of approximately 190 000 which is predominantly urban with up to three quarters based within major population centres including the twin cities of Townsville-Thuringowa, Ayr, Bowen and Charters Towers. Away from the major centres, the region is very sparsely populated. The region contains 12 Weeds of National Significance, together with numerous other significant and emerging weed species. The Regional Investment Strategy focuses on strategic control of major WONS species within and without current containment lines. A number of infestations which threaten the ecological character of the Ramsar wetlands of Bowling Green Bay including Hymenachne, Salvinia and Cabomba, will also being addressed. Important Brigalow habitat is contained within peri-urban and semi-rural areas surrounding Townsville and neighbouring communities. Efforts will be directed towards providing this group of landholders with relevant knowledge and skills critical to sustainable land management and the protection of critical habitat. Nationally threatened Beach Scrub communities will also be targeted for restoration and protection. | $3,686,000 (over 2 years) |
| Queensland Murray Darling Committee | Funding in this Regional Investment Strategy will deliver Caring for our Country targets in priority areas and achieve outcomes through delivering coordinated and integrated NRM on-ground action. On-ground activities identified will contribute to numerous Caring for our Country targets, while also contributing to the Regional NRM Plan. The funding will enable the QMDC and the regional communities it supports to add value/build on NRM activities and achievements over the past 15 years whilst shifting direction to the new Caring for our Country targets. Key features of the proposal include building the capacity of land managers to identify and manage ecological risks, coordinating a strategic approach to managing the impacts that weeds, pest animals, and land management practice have on the natural assets across the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin, supporting and encouraging innovation in natural resource management, and enhancing the community's knowledge of emerging innovations, and continue to ensure sound governance of the regional NRM organisation and the wise investment and management of public funds. | $2,489,000 (over 1 year) |
| Reef Catchments | The Reef Catchments Regional Investment Strategy 2009-2011 will protect and enhance the regions native habitat through the provision of high priority natural resource management projects. The proposal aims to improve over 240,000ha of native habitat, target more than 42,000ha of weeds and improve natural resource management knowledge and skills. A wide range of training guides, planning tools and coastal restoration factsheets will be prepared and made available through a web-based coastal management interface. The provision of core operating and management costs will ensure best practice governance and quality project management systems are maintained to support our partners and subcontractors to deliver in a timely and efficient manner. | $2,066,000 (over 2 years) |
| SEQ Catchments | Landscape-scale change will be achieved in the 2009-11 period through SEQC's Regional Investment Strategy. This strategy will support and coordinate over 50 local-level projects involving multi-stakeholder collaborations to secure strong co-investment. These projects will improve over 2,500ha of habitat and improve sustainable farm practices while addressing the threats to coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats. The Strategy will also build land manager skills, knowledge, engagement and practices, through over 40 training events and the coordination of local-level projects. Free comprehensive NRM information and advice will be supplied through a network of hubs and staff, in combination with training and mapping support for place-based planning approaches for over 120 landholders in areas of high target confluence. The provision of core operating and management costs will ensure best practice governance and quality project management systems are maintained to support our partners and subcontractors to deliver in a timely and efficient manner. | $4,608,000 (over 2 years) |
| Southern Gulf Catchments Ltd | The Southern Gulf Catchments region in north-west Queensland, based in Mt Isa, encompasses an area of 195,000 sq km comprising six defined river catchments plus the Wellesley Islands Group and three major bioregions, with a population of approximately 30,000. The region comprises a range of native habitats and ecosystems in an often harsh landscape. Most of the region's wealth comes from mining and extensive cattle and sheep grazing. Investment activities will contribute towards the achievement of ten Caring for our Country targets and five of the six national priorities. Areas of investment contribute to the social, economic and environmental aspects of the region and include increasing engagement with members of the community and promoting involvement and participation in NRM. On ground investment in control of pest plants and protection of high priority wetland springs, riparian areas and endangered regional ecosystems from damage will secure these critical habitats. | $3,142,500 (over 4 years) |
| South West NRM | South West NRM Ltd (SWNRM) Regional Investment Strategy (RIS) will protect and enhance Threatened Ecological Communities, Ramsar and HCVAE areas, widespread biodiversity values and habitats in South West Queensland. The region of 18,000,000 ha is home to many critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species and communities. SWNRM will draw together the knowledge of technical advisors and scientists with responsibility in the South West and combine these skills with the drive, energy and experience of regional and local stakeholders to produce improved environmental and profitability outcomes for South West Queensland. Issues adversely impacting on the environmental assets of the region will be reviewed to ensure that focused and prioritised plans of action are implemented throughout the region. Inclusive and strategic plans will be developed involving all stakeholders. Actions will be supported with technical, physical, logistical, organisational, and on occasions, financial assistance through competitive devolved grants. The RIS represents a holistic program of activity focused on achieving strong community and land manager engagement. The plan will utilise educational workshops, field days, demonstration sites, multimedia contact, information tours and extension by regional staff to encourage and support participation from relevant stakeholders to achieve impact. | $2,780,000 (over 2 years) |
| Terrain (Wet Tropics region) | This Regional Investment Strategy outlines the foundation investments required in the Wet Tropics to enable effective progression of a wide range of Caring for our Country relevant national outcomes and Business Plan targets. The proposal establishes foundation investments in Biodiversity, Weeds of National Significant, Sustainable Farm Practices and Community, Skills, Knowledge and Engagement. It makes the most critical investments needed to achieve on ground outcome and to secure the institutional foundations required in the region for the integrated delivery of this strategic approach. These institutional foundations include building the region's strategic approach to integrated natural resource management, maintaining critical partnerships in delivery and key delivery activities and ensuring the region has the governance to achieve the required results and to report effectively on progress. This application is the first year investment in the region's proposed four year investment program under Caring for our Country.The Wet Tropics region represents one of Australia's most critical and complex landscapes. It has been identified as a biodiversity 'hotspot' of global significance. The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas bear testimony to its international values. However a number of threatening processes affect the region, including unsustainable land use practices, invasive pests and weeds, habitat fragmentation and high levels of urban and peri-urban expansion. These processes are decreasing the ecological resilience of the region's World Heritage Assets | $1,459,000 (over 1 year) |
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | Torres Strait is a unique natural resource management (NRM) region, predominantly marine, which is crossed by an international shipping channel. It consists of the marine area between the tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea and the 200 or so islands scattered throughout this area. The Australian Government has jurisdictional responsibility over most of the marine area while the Queensland Government retains responsibility for the islands. Most of the region's 9,000 inhabitants live on 15 islands. Eighty-five percent of these residents are traditional owners who maintain a strong traditional culture. Almost all of the islands are subject to positive native title determinations. Much of the region is also covered by the Australia-Papua New Guinea Torres Strait Treaty, which includes clauses about the management of some natural resources. Much of the land catchment for the region is also in Papua New Guinea. The region is the only Australian NRM region with an international border as one of its boundaries. The activities to be funded under this Regional Investment Strategy will directly complement the priority issues the TSRA will be responsible for delivering under the Environment Program of the Torres Strait Development Plan. | $822,000 (over 1 year) |
| Total for Queensland | $39,488,269 | |