February 2014 – ANGFA Queensland

Conservation group seeks to overturn reef dump plan

community, environment, government, waterways/wetlands

Feb 272014

Original story by Jessica Nairn, ABC News

An environmental lobby group says it has a strong legal case against the agency that oversees the Great Barrier Reef over the planned dumping of dredge spoil.

Abbot Point coal terminal in Queensland. The expansion of Abbot Point will generate millions of cubic metres of dredge spoil. Photo: ABC

The North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) is trying to overturn the approval to dump three million cubic metres of spoil in the marine park as part of the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority gave the go ahead last month.

Jeremy Tager from NQCC says they have taken the matter to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Brisbane, citing several concerns.

“The assessment undertaken by the marine park authority has failed to adequately look at alternatives at sea, dumping inside the marine park and that the impacts of dumping are far greater than the assessment,” he said.

Yesterday, construction firm Lend Lease withdrew its bid from the tender process for the Abbot Point expansion and allowed its partnership with rail company Aurizon to lapse.

Aurizon says it will continue with the tender process.

Walkabout Creek won’t become theme park

aquarium, Australian native freshwater species, community, environment, government, waterways/wetlands, wildlife

Feb 272014

Original story by Tony Moore, Brisbane Times

The Queensland government says it has ‘‘no intention’’ of reducing ranger-led activities in a $2.5 million revamp of the Walkabout Creek centre at The Gap.

Platypus in the wild at Walkabout Creek. Photo: Karleen Minney

Fairfax Media understands the state government has set aside $2.5 million for the stage one of a new centre on the site, which is in Premier Campbell Newman’s Ashgrove electorate.

This follows a Fairfax Media story yesterday questioning the marketing of the nature centre, which includes a rare chance to see a platypus in a natural setting.

However residents are concerned the master plan for the site – the regional headquarters for the National Parks and Wildlife Service – plans to wind back the animal enclosure at the centre.

In a statement issued late Tuesday afternoon, the government said there were ‘‘no plans to discontinue ranger-led wildlife encounters at the facility’’.

Enoggera Weir, behind the centre. Photo: Tony Moore

‘‘Certainly there are no plans to turn the location into a ‘theme park’,’’ the statement said.

The government has received 265 public submissions to its master plan for the site, which includes plans to use a ‘‘flying fox’’ or ‘‘zip line’’ to re-invigorate the area, beside Enoggera Weir.

The plan also recommends kayak and canoe trips on nearby Enoggera Weir.

Stage one of the upgrade includes the placement of the ‘‘flying fox’’, new playground equipment, picnic areas and barbeques.

Flying fox lines would go in the outdoor section of the wildlife enclosure, which now runs down to Enoggera Weir.

Some residents have questioned the impact of the extra noise from Enoggera Weir on local bird species, like the Red Browed Finch.

This area now houses the outside wallaby and wombat enclosure.

The majority of respondents have been supportive of the draft master plan for the centre, the government said in a statement.

‘‘The master plan seeks to expand nature-based opportunities for visitors and encourage them to explore national parks in the area,’’ it read.

‘‘To get out ‘into the bush’ and reap the health and wellbeing benefits that an active outdoor lifestyle offers.”

One of the submissions came from the Riverlife Centre at Kangaroo Point, which runs canoes and kayaks on the Brisbane River.

Manager Josh Wicks confirmed Riverlife was interested in being part of any revamped centre at The Gap.

‘‘But it comes down to what activities that they are willing to keep open,’’ he said.

‘‘My understanding is that they still have not got a firm understanding of what they are going to offer.

‘‘But I understand that is likely to come about June.’’

He said Riverlife would not run wildlife operations, but was interested in running canoe and boutique-type events from the site.

‘‘We obviously don’t have any say in what happens to that wildlife zoo, but we wouldn’t be saying that you would have to get rid of that,’’ he said.

Mr Wicks said a lot of locals were saying they wanted access to the weir.

‘‘So we might be interested in running jazz-kind of events under the stars like we do down at Kangaroo Point, which the locals like,’’ he said.

‘‘And I’m not sure that there is the opportunity to do that type of thing – we have to wait until the government releases the master plan – but we are willing to look at that.’’

Tenders are expected to be offered in June.

Australia’s environment minister could soon be above the law

environment, government

Feb 272014

By Gregory McIntyre, University of Notre Dame at The Conversation

Earlier this month, a Senate inquiry paved the way for the Parliament to give Environment Minister Greg Hunt legal immunity against future legal challenges to his decisions on mining projects.

Greg Hunt, and all environment ministers past and future, could be protected from legal challenge over mining approvals.Photo: AAP Image/Alan Porritt

If it passes the Senate, the move will protect the government from being taken to court over the Abbot Point dredging scheme, the Curtis Island gas project, or any other environmentally contentious development in Australia.

More extraordinary is the fact that the government (with Labor’s help) has pushed the legislation through to safeguard an earlier blunder made by former Labor environment minister Tony Burke. Why? Because it will protect Greg Hunt from being challenged over deliberate or negligent decisions that do not comply with the law.

Trouble in Tasmania

In 2012, Burke approved a proposal by Shree Minerals to develop an iron ore mine in the Tarkine area of Tasmania. The Tarkine National Coalition, a local conservation group, took him to the Federal Court.

Three years earlier, the previous environment minister Peter Garrett had approved official conservation advice under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which set out threats to the endangered Tasmanian devil.

But Burke did not take this advice into account when approving the mine, which is in an area that is home to one of the few remaining Tasmanian devil populations not affected by the presently incurable devil facial tumour disease.

In 2013, the Federal Court ruled that Burke had failed to comply with the EPBC Act, which requires the minister to consider conservation advice provided under the Act.

The Coalition government has now licensed Greg Hunt (and retrospectively Tony Burke) to avoid compliance with the EPBC Act by passing the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2013 in direct response to the Court’s ruling against Burke.

The amendment retrospectively validates ministerial decisions – even if they did not comply with the EPBC Act when they were made.

Breach of legal principle

The problem with this approach is that it breaches internationally accepted legal principles, for no real reason other than to assuage misplaced nervousness in the mining industry following the Court’s decision.

Hunt says the amendment will provide certainty for mining companies that face repeated legal challenges to previously approved projects.

But there was no reason to pass retrospective laws following the Tarkine decision, because Burke granted a new, valid approval straight afterwards, this time making sure he took into account the conservation advice.

Burke’s decision did not need to be validated retrospectively. The court didn’t order him to reject the mine; it just told him to follow the environmental rules.

Legislative overkill

That’s why the new amendment is overkill. Not only does it validate an unspecified number of past decisions, but it will also apply to any future decisions that do not comply with the EPBC Act.

The new law might have been inspired by Burke’s tribulations in the Tarkine, but its impact will reach much further. It will apply to any proposed development in any environmentally sensitive area, anywhere in Australia.

That could include the Great Barrier Reef, which is under threat from dredging at Abbot Point as the port is readied for the export of $28.4 billion in coal reserves from the Galilee Basin.

Activist group GetUp!, among others, is attempting to mount a legal challenge against Hunt’s decision to allow the dumping of three million cubic metres of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

But the new amendment could protect the government from any such challenge. As such, it casts doubt on the integrity of the implementation of the EPBC Act itself.

Threatened species would be left effectively unprotected in the event that the environment minister either negligently or deliberately ignores approved conservation advice. Clearly this is not a good legislative outcome.

Future impacts

The Senate is set to debate the amendment again next month, having been advised by the Department of Environment that the new law will have only “minor” impacts in the future.

They will be far from minor unless the Senate heeds the Law Council of Australia’s advice to amend the legislation to ensure it does not cover future decisions (a recommendation backed by the Senate Environment Committee).

If they choose to accept this recommendation, then the only impact will be political. It will have achieved the aim of reassuring the minerals and energy lobby that the government is on its side – which appears to be the point of the entire bizarre exercise.

Gregory McIntyre does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.

Qld’s coastal management under-resourced with volunteer shortage

community, environment, government, waterways/wetlands

Feb 252014

Original story by William Rollo, ABC News

Queensland researchers say environmental groups tasked with managing the state’s coastal ecosystems are critically under-resourced.

Reef Check Australia volunteer Deanna Hing with a sample of the rubbish collected in a land and sea clean-up. Photo: John McCutcheon/Sunshine Coast Daily

Australia’s coastal ecosystems are maintained by community-based natural resource management groups.

However, Alby Wooler from the Capricorn Coast Landcare Group says it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain unpaid workers.

“The volunteer base is not as good as it was eight, 10 years ago,” he said.

CQUniversity researcher Julian Reid is investigating the structures and functions of Government-funded coastal management groups.

He says most struggle with volunteer shortages and their resources are being over-stretched because of population growth, coastal development and climate change.

“The concern is how these environmental groups, if they’ll have the capacity to respond to these increased needs,” he said.

He says environmental conservation is among the least popular of volunteer activities.

Fish move into ‘motels’

Australian native freshwater species, community, fisheries, government, threatened species, waterways/wetlands

Feb 242014

Original story by Mark Mulcahy, The Border Mail

SCIENTISTS and river health teams are using reclaimed timber from a tornado in the Yarrawonga area to create a series of fish “motels” along the Ovens River.

Macquarie perch fingerlings released in the Ovens River.

New habitats for native fish are being funded from recreational fishing grants.

The North East Catchment Management Authority and representatives from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries attached to the Arthur Rylah Institute are involved in developing the new habitat.

The push for additional fish habitat coincides with a large number of recent fish stockings in the region.

The habitat structures are starting to be built between Tarrawingee and Everton today.

“Native fish look for snags and complex structures in a river when they are seeking shelter or it’s time to spawn (breed),” said Anthony Wilson, the catchment co-ordinator with the authority.

“Previous mapping of in-stream woody habitat in the Ovens River identified a lack of in-stream logs and timber for native fish species.

“That’s why we are creating these ‘motels’ for native fish.”

The fish motels are constructed by layering logs in a crisscross formation to form a tower-like structure that provides bulk and complexity for the fish species through differing water heights of the river.

The structures are then held in place within the river by large poles that are pinned into the river bed.

Mr Wilson said it was initially difficult to source native timber for the innovative fish habitat project.

“Streamline Environmental Project Management based in Yarrawonga helped us source the hardwood we needed to build these structures from tornado damaged areas,” he said.

“In doing so, we are helping to clean up storm damaged vegetation in the Yarrawonga community and offering environmental benefits for the Ovens River and its native fish populations.”

Earlier this month 5000 Macquarie perch were stocked in two spots along the Ovens River with another 33,000 released in five spots at Gapsted, Whorouly, Oxley Flats, Tarrawingee and Rocky Point last Wednesday.

About 20,000 Murray cod have been released into the Mitta River.

The North East Anglers Association with the department released 1400 catfish in Lake Moodemere near Rutherglen two weeks ago.

Fears NSW amnesty will endanger some species of fish

community, fisheries, government, threatened species, waterways/wetlands

Feb 242014

Original story by Nicole Hasham, Sydney Morning Herald

Fish species such as the much-loved blue groper will be at risk if the O’Farrell government permanently allows recreational fishing in sensitive marine areas, a former government scientist has warned.

At risk: The blue groper could be targeted by fishers. Photo: Sarah Speight

On Monday cabinet is due to consider making permanent an amnesty on recreational line fishing from beaches and headlands in so-called ”sanctuary zones” – marine areas that purportedly provide the highest level of protection for wildlife.

It is understood that cabinet is likely to allow line fishing in some of these zones. Under one option being considered, this would occur in about half the state’s sanctuary zones, which are designated in marine parks around Batemans Bay, Cape Byron, Jervis Bay, Lord Howe Island, Port Stephens and Solitary Islands. It would mean reinstating a ban on fishing in the remaining sanctuary zones.

A former scientist at the now-defunct Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre, Kevin Rowling, said the move could devastate stocks of some fish species including the blue groper, red rock cod and eastern blue devil fish. ”Recreational fishing can have a major impact,” he said.

”There are millions of [fishermen] and it all adds up.

”A lot of the fish that live [around rocky headlands] … are slow growing and there are many species we don’t know the biology of.”

The state’s most recent update on fish species status was conducted in 2008-09 and he questioned how fishing could be allowed when stock levels were unknown.

”They could be overfished … or they could be wiped out in particular areas,” he said.

The designation of sanctuary zones has been highly politicised. The Coalition accused the former Labor government of establishing new protection zones in the Jervis Bay and Solitary Islands marine parks before the last election to attract Greens’ preferences.

But the Opposition and the NSW Greens said the government had bowed to the Shooters and Fishers Party by opening sanctuary zones to fishing in March last year.

Save our Marine Life Alliance spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said sanctuary zones around popular Wategos Beach and the Pass, near Byron Bay, were likely to be permanently opened to line fishing despite the presence of a dolphin nursery.

”Recreational fishers already have 93 per cent of the state’s waters in which they can fish … no other government in the world has wound back sanctuary zones in this way,” Ms Faehrmann said.

President of the NSW Amateur Fishing Clubs Association, Sydney branch, Carlo Dicello said the impact of recreational line fishing was ”minimal”.

”The ocean looks like a big place, but unfortunately the good fishing spots are very small and confined. The [sanctuary zones] are our prime spots,” he said.

A spokesman for Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel carried out a risk assessment during the amnesty which ”thoroughly considered ecological, social and economic values”.

A department spokeswoman said fish assessment was carried out each year.

Fish industry supports artificial reef plan

community, fisheries, government, waterways/wetlands

Feb 242014

Original story at Macquarie Port News

A PORT-based fishing charter business operator says she expects industry consultation on plans for an artificial reef off Port Macquarie.

Carolyn Wagstaff, who owns and operates Deep End Fishing Charters, based at the Port Macquarie Marina, says the reef plan sounds good.

“I read the article in the Port News and we are expecting to be contacted by the Department of Primary Industries,” she said.

“It is early days, but I’d expect the department would want some feedback from us. There would also be a detailed environmental assessment required along with discussions with commercial and rec fishers.

“We … hope that the department would be talking to us. But I think it will be wonderful. Anyone who fishes in Port Macquarie would be pleased with this news.

“Not that we are lacking in fish numbers but you want to be sustaining your stock levels.”

Mrs Wagstaff also called for a restriction zone to be included in the plan.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to have that zone around the site. This would enable more fish to breed,” she said. “We pay fishing licences and, being a rec fishing charter, we are allowed to take locals and tourists out fishing and they don’t need to purchase a separate fishing licence.

“It is good to see our money being spent well. I’d definitely give it the thumbs up.”

Another supporter of the project is Ned Kelly’s Bait ‘n’ Tackle owner Jason Isaac.

He described the plan as a fantastic idea and a brilliant concept.

“This is a terrific scheme they have going,” he said. “What they look at doing is creating something out of nothing. Off Port Macquarie, we have large tracts of sand which are baron as far as rec fishing is concerned.

“But we need to give this time to implement and time for growth.”

Mr Isaac said once the structure was in place, weed growth would be visible within a month with six to 12 months required to attract enough growth to attract bait fish.

“This would then attract predatory fish,” he said. “And the longer the better. This is a tremendous attraction for off-shore fishos.

“Once established, the vast majority of off-shore fishos would visit this area. Visiting anglers will certainly fish the area … I think it would be an extremely well-patronised area.”

Mr Isaac also said the project was fishing licence money being put to good use.

The state government on Thursday announced the $900,000 investment to create the artificial reef.

The reef will be the third of its kind in New South Wales and is expected to further cement the Hastings’ reputation as a tourism mecca.

Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson made the funding announcementduring a visit to Port Macquarie, selling the project as a win for local tourism, fishing and the environment.

“This will be an absolutely fantastic asset for the city of Port Macquarie,” Ms Hodgkinson said on Thursday.

Sea floor life survived extinction

Interest, research

Feb 242014

Original story at SBS

Lowly bottom-feeders survived the biggest mass extinction in history, according to a study by scientists at the University of Plymouth.

Hippocardia cunea: Rostroconchs are the only class of mollusks in the fossil record that are extinct today. They lived from the Early Cambrian until Late Permian as marine filter feeders partially buried in sediment. Source: Falls of the Ohio State Park

Lowly bottom-feeders survived the biggest mass extinction in history to rescue life in the world’s oceans, a UK study has found.

Globally, the Late Permian extinction 252 million years ago wiped out 90 per cent of all marine species but creatures living on the sea floor fared better with almost 40 per cent surviving.

Scientists at the University of Plymouth made the discovery after compiling a database of 22,263 individual fossil marine invertebrates belonging to 1770 families of organisms.

The researchers worked out how each species moved, fed, and affected the ecosystem.

They learned that after the extinction, driven by volcanic eruptions and climate change, 38 per cent of benthic – or sea floor – life survived.

“Crucially, not one of the key ecological groups of animals that lived on or within the sea floor, and which keep ecosystems functioning, were completely eliminated,” said lead scientist Professor Richard Twitchett.

Colleague William Foster said: “The fact that none of the key benthic ecological groups were completely eliminated globally during the biggest known extinction recorded in the fossil record was unexpected and demonstrates a certain level of resilience that had not been appreciated before.”

The findings reported in the journal Nature Geoscience may help scientists better understand the fate of life in the oceans as a result of climate change today.

“We might predict that the present changes will not cause complete elimination of these key functional groups, unless future extinctions turn out to be more severe than that experienced 252 million years ago,” said Mr Foster.

“However, our results also clearly show that some ecosystems do completely collapse, especially tropical ecosystems, in particular reefs.”

Prof Twitchett said: “In this case, the global oceans in the extinction aftermath were a bit like a ship manned by a skeleton crew: all stations were operational but manned by relatively few species.”

Reef audit finds big fish lost

fisheries, pest species, research, waterways/wetlands

Feb 212014

Original story by Andrew Darby, Sydney Morning Herald

The world’s first continent-wide survey of reef sea life has found big fish gone around much of the Australian coastline.

Exhaustive: Jemima Stuart-Smith collects data for the first continent-wide survey of reef sea life which ended in Hobart. Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith

A year-long circumnavigation of Australia ended in Hobart on Wednesday with a trove of data from 700 coral and rock reef sites surveyed by volunteer divers for the Reef Life Survey Foundation.

It’s not just over-fishing, it’s the spread of invasive species.

Program co-founder Graham Edgar, of the University of Tasmania, said the first comprehensive study of any continent’s reef systems found biodiversity losses, compared to earlier local counts.

”Virtually all of our coastline has had all the larger predatory organisms reduced – from the big fishes to the lobsters,” said Professor Edgar, from the UTAS Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies.

”It’s not just over-fishing, it’s the spread of invasive species and problems such as pollution when you get near metropolitan areas.”

His 14-metre catamaran Reef Dragon served as dive platform on a 12,000 nautical mile circumnavigation while 75 trained divers examined the life on reefs up to 400 nautical miles offshore. The odyssey took the divers from the pitch dark waters of Port Davey in south-west Tasmania to spectacular Osprey Reef, a sheer-walled coral atoll off far north Queensland.

Pioneering collections of biological information were made in the Coral Sea and off the North-West Shelf on the way down the West Australian coast and back to Tasmania, where Reef Dragon docked in a Derwent River marina.

Professor Edgar said the final report card was ”a mixed bag”.

”Some of the reefs are doing really well, particularly off the North-West Shelf where there are good numbers of large fish,” he said. ”Elsewhere coral reefs are seriously degraded by bleaching. There have been some massive changes out of sight in the marine environment.”

Data collected on this, and other surveys, is making its way into what the New York Times said in an editorial this week was eye-opening work by Professor Edgar and other Tasmanian researchers.

According to a study published this month in Nature, the best protection for marine life comes in reserves that are likely to be ”no-take”, well-enforced, more than 10 years old, more than 100 square kilometres, and isolated by deep water or sand.

The New York Times said: ”Marine-protected areas are clearly a positive trend, a reflection of the growing awareness of governments across the globe that the oceans and their bounty are not limitless or indestructible.”

Australia’s 3.1 million square kilometre system of marine reserves is in doubt after the federal government’s decision to scrap most of the network’s management plans and no-take zones. An expert scientific panel will examine the science behind the reserves, and advisory panels are to be chosen to improve stakeholder consultation.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt is yet to announce membership of the panels.

Parched inland Queensland soaks up more rain

community, waterways/wetlands

Feb 212014

Original story by Chrissy Arthur and Donna Field, ABC News

Thunderstorms are expected to bring more welcome rain to drought-stricken parts of Queensland’s interior today.

The flooded Belyando River crossing on Carinya station, north-east of Alpha. Photo: Sally McKeering

Major flood levels are being recorded at Jericho, east of Longreach, where more than 250 millimetres of rain has fallen.

The Barcaldine council is monitoring river rises in the Jericho area.

Barcaldine council spokesman Rob Bauer says it has limited information on river levels near the town.

He says graziers will welcome the rain but he is hoping there is no damage.

“If we can get away with no major damage to livestock, plant and equipment, I am sure they are rejoicing with the rain,” he said.

“It is just unfortunate in this world that we live we seem to have droughts and floods to end droughts and then in the meantime bushfires.

“It is just something we put up with in this part of the world.”

Mr Bauer says the Belyando River is still about a metre over the Capricorn Highway east of Alpha and he expects the road to be cut for most of the day.

Alpha residents rejoice with rain relief

A band of very heavy rainfall has delivered 200 millimetres at Rebecca Comiskey’s property at Alpha.

“You can’t help but quote Dorothea McKellar can you – I love a sunburnt country,” she said.

“It’s a perfect poem for where we live.

“Lots of before and after shots in my mind of a dry dam and dams that are well and truly full – it’s unbelievable.”

She says many properties in the drought-declared area were having to cart water because there was nothing left.

“When you’re sort of approaching the end of the growing season for grass, we only had sort of eight or so weeks left of growing time for grass,” she said.

“We were starting to plan our next de-stocking moves, so eight inches is a lot of rain.”

After such prolonged dry weather, the sound of rain on a tin roof is one of the most positive morale boosting sounds you’ll ever hear.

AgForce CEO Charles Burke

She says the rain has saved her from making some tough decisions

“We’d already had to make quite a few tough decisions in terms of selling classes of stock we normally wouldn’t like to,” she said.

“But the water situation was our biggest drama and we’re very thankful to have our water supplies replenished.”

Rain creates ‘atmosphere of hope’

With much of Queensland in drought, peak rural lobby group AgForce chief executive officer Charles Burke says this rain will be uplifting.

“That’s what this rain will do for a lot of people it creates an atmosphere of hope and it lifts morale and it lifts spirits,” he said.

“It’s quite amazing for those people who’ve never experienced this that after such prolonged dry weather the sound of rain on a tin roof is one of the most positive morale boosting sounds you’ll ever hear.”

But Mr Burke says the rainfall has been very isolated.

“There is just on 70 per cent of Queensland drought declared and by the figures that we have gathered, that represents about 6,500 properties,” she said.

“If you look at the map it’s basically everything west of the Great Dividing Range.”

Meanwhile, it is expected the Federal Government will announce details of a drought assistance package for Queensland and New South Wales soon.

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