government – Page 19 – ANGFA Queensland

Residents warned of weekend back-burning

Aug 022013

Original story by Alyse Edwards, ABC News

The Rural Fire Service says residents with respiratory problems in Captain Creek and Miriam Vale should keep their doors and windows shut, with hazard reduction burns this weekend.

Back-burning will be carried out along Fingerboard, Tablelands and Round Hill Road to reduce vegetation that has grown over the wet season.

Meanwhile, controlled burns will also be carried out on Fraser Island.

The Parks and Wildlife Service says residents can expect to see smoke around Eurong, Dilli Village and Lake Boomanjin.

Green groups call for stronger CO2 target

community, environment, government

Aug 022013

Original story by AAP at The Australian

TRIPLING the nation's short-term target for cutting CO2 emissions is a good start but environmentalists warn it won't do enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The federal government's climate advisory group is reportedly recommending Australia reduce its emissions by 15 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020 - three times the current bipartisan target.

Kellie Caught, WWF National Manager – Climate Change. Photo © Fiora Sacco

The report from the Climate Change Authority, leaked to some news organisations on Friday, also reportedly recommends slashing emissions by 90 per cent by 2050.

The independent authority is undertaking its first review of Australia's emissions reduction targets, and is due to present its draft recommendations to the government in October.

The World Wide Fund for Nature said the current five per cent goal was "way out of sync" with the world's major economies, and lifting the target would show Australia was willing to do its fair share.

"Anything less than that would imply that Australia expects other countries to do more, which is unlikely to be well received within the UN climate negotiations," the WWF's Kellie Caught said in a statement.

Other groups were pushing even harder.

"We're still advocating that Australia should step up to a 40 per cent cut by 2020," the Australian Conservation Foundation's Tony Mohr told AAP on Friday.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said developed nations had a responsibility to cut emissions by between 25 and 40 per cent by 2020 and she was alarmed the authority was considering a lower target.

She urged the authority to be guided by science, not politics, when it makes its final recommendations.

Yabbies caught in red tape

fisheries, government

Aug 012013

Original story by Gregor Heard, The Land

AFTER nine years struggling to win accreditation to operate his yabby farm, Patyah farmer Trevor Domaschenz is angry with the lengths he had to go to be able to operate his business.

“I’ve had two years in court to get what this Coalition government promised upon election then reneged on,” he said.

Mr Domaschenz has finally gained a licence to operate his farm and sell the yabbies for human consumption – but he is still upset, claiming industry regulator PrimeSafe and the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) spectacularly mismanaged the situation, all but shutting down what was a lucrative business.

“According to CSIRO projections, we should have a $6 million per annum yabby industry in Victoria, but there’s only the shell of an industry left.”

Earlier this month Mr Domaschenz and Bellbrae farmer Stephen Chara won a case with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

VCAT overturned a previous decision by industry regulator PrimeSafe not to grant the pair licences.

Mr Domaschenz, who farms near Edenhope in the west Wimmera, said Victoria was the only state to require licencing for the sale of live yabbies destined for human consumption markets.

He said the decision was the culmination of a fight that began in 2004 when PrimeSafe brought in a series of onerous regulations.

“We’ve had some rules in relation to purging of the live yabbies that no other yabby farmer in Australia has to adhere to.”

Mr Domaschenz also said current PrimeSafe requirements included out of date best management practices for the purging and storing of yabbies.

“They want us to purge the yabbies in a tub, rather than have them stored in prawn trays under fresh running water, which has been best practice for over 20 years.

“We would rather not purge at all - it is simply starvation.”

Aside from that, he said lines of communication had not been open with the regulator.

“When I was refused my licence by PrimeSafe I wasn’t told why, there was no explanation – I’d agreed to meet the standards they’d outlined in a meeting with them in Melbourne. The refusal was bizarre at best.”

Mr Domaschenz is so incensed by the performance of PrimeSafe and DEPI over the matter he is calling for a Royal Commission into its operation.

He is also running for an Upper House seat at next year’s State election as an independent, focusing on cutting unnecessary red tape.

“I’m not against rules and regulations, but there just hasn’t been any logical rationale behind what’s happening at PrimeSafe.”

For its part, PrimeSafe acknowledged VCAT’s decision.

“In relation to Mr Domachenz, VCAT set down conditions Mr Domaschenz was required to fulfill to be granted a Prime Safe licence, and Mr Domaschenz has fulfilled the VCAT conditions and is now licenced,” said acting PrimeSafe chief executive Brendan Ryan.

Mr Domaschenz said Mr Ryan’s interpretation obscured VCAT’s decision, saying VCAT had not set out any new conditions and had in fact thrown out PrimeSafe's astonishing conditions.

“VCAT granted me the license PrimeSafe had refused me, they ordered PrimeSafe to issue a licence to me with the same conditions I applied for and that they refused previously.

“They said PrimeSafe could not refuse the licence if I applied the same way I had before.”

For its part, VCAT questioned PrimeSafe’s purging regulations and questioned why it had never sought independent advice on food safety standards.

Mr Domaschenz said the victory was somewhat hollow, as all other yabby farmers had been forced to exit the industry since the PrimeSafe regulations came into effect.

“There were over 60 licences across Victoria selling yabbies for food plus another 150 odd supplying those licences - now there is only me."

Mr Domaschenz said he was also disappointed the VCAT ruling did not constitute a legal precedent for others going for a licence to sell yabbies for human consumption.

“It’s a been a long road, literally, I’ve had two years of trips up and down to Melbourne.

"And even though we’ve got there (in the end), why did I have to go to Melbourne eight times to get less than what the minister for ag promised me two years ago?"

Looking at the positives, Mr Domaschenz said he was pleased to have the certainty to take orders for the busy Christmas period.

“We’ll have yabbies to sell by the end of the year.”

Weed Alert: Red witchweed situation update

government, pest species

Aug 012013

Biosecurity Queensland has placed movement restrictions on four out of the five properties in the Mackay area that originally reported red witchweed. This includes the initial affected property.

Biosecurity Queensland is now extending the surveillance area to check properties further out to see if the weed has spread.

Mature red witchweed (Striga asiatica) plant with roots parasitizing maize. Photo: D. L. Nickren

Surveillance further afield has been based on potential high risk pathways for the weed to spread, such as the movement of machinery.

To date, Biosecurity Queensland has not found any weed outside of these properties but this work is continuing.

Biosecurity Queensland will continue to work with the owners and industry to ensure there is some business continuity.

Properties placed under movement restrictions can not move equipment, soil or plant material on or off an affected property without approval from Biosecurity Queensland.

Advice for producers

Producers are urged to follow good biosecurity practices to reduce the potential spread of this weed including actions like appropriate wash down of equipment.

If producers suspect they have red witchweed they must report the weed immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

Producers must not attempt to remove any flowering plants, as this may allow the weed to spread tiny, dust-like seeds.

Seeds are primarily spread within the soil and can be moved over long distances. The weed has a complex underground root system which can be retained even if the flower is removed. Therefore, keep the weed in place until Biosecurity Queensland can investigate.

Do not spray the weed with herbicides without direction from Biosecurity Queensland as intact samples are required to identify red witchweed.

Producers should mark or clearly note the location of the weed, and where possible take photos that may be used to help with identification.

If red witchweed is suspected, soil, machinery or products that might contain soil should not be moved off-site until a Biosecurity Queensland officer has given approval.

Identifying red witchweed

Grows 20-40 cm tall. Attached to roots of its host.
Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. Leaves are 6-40 mm long and 1-4 mm wide and have a tapered pointed tip.
Flowers are 5-20 mm long.
Seeds are very small and remain viable in the soil for up to 15 years.

More information

For more information on red witchweed, visit www.daff.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

Follow Biosecurity Queensland on Facebook and Twitter (@BiosecurityQld).

Chief scientist warns Australia is falling behind

government

Aug 012013

Original story by Bridie Smith, The Age

Without a strategic approach to the key areas of science, maths, technology and engineering, Australia will find itself at the back of the pack, Australia's chief scientist has warned.

Chief Scientist Ian Chubb says recent cuts to higher education would not have happened if Australia had a science and technology strategy. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Launching a position paper at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Ian Chubb said education and innovation were key to improvement in the subjects - but added that long-term goal setting and unwavering government backing was also needed.

Without a plan, he argued, Australia's ability to secure a bright future in a competitive and sometimes hostile world would be compromised.

"We need to inject a sense of urgency in our national approach to science, technology, engineering and maths so as not to fall behind," Professor Chubb said. "The back of the pack is no place for a nation that presently produces just 3 per cent of the world's research output."

Referring to the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and maths as STEM, Professor Chubb highlighted that similar countries were already taking a strategic approach in the area.

Canada aims to increase the number of doctoral degrees in science and engineering – and Professor Chubb pointed out this is a country which already boasts 20 per cent more science and engineering doctorates than Australia.

He also highlighted the US, which earlier this year released its five-year plan with goals of funding and producing 100,000 new STEM teachers and 1 million STEM graduates in the coming decade.

China, India, the UK, Japan and Taiwan are among numerous countries with strategic plans outlining national goals and priorities in the sciences.

"We've spent too long talking about it," he said. "We need certainty, we need predictability and we need some comfort in knowing we are taking a strategic approach to what is important for this country."

Professor Chubb acknowledged that Australia couldn't do everything but said this was an opportunity to decide what needs and skills to focus on - both within Australia and when collaborating with peers overseas.

He said if a strategy existed when the cuts to the higher education sector were made to fund Gonski earlier this year, it would have enabled government to see the repercussions in the context of national priorities.

A neuroscientist by training and former Australian National University vice-chancellor, Professor Chubb said he hoped the release of his position paper would generate discussion about the country's goals and priorities.

The Australian Academy of Science has already backed the call for a plan, describing the issue as urgent and important.

Following discussion the paper, STEM in the national interest: A strategic approach, will go to the government later in the year in the hope they will act on it.

Townsville Sea Simulator centre opens

aquarium, environment, government, pest species, waterways/wetlands

Aug 012013

Original story by David Chan, ABC News: Townsville Sea Simulator centre opens, targets coral-killing crown of thorns starfish

National Sea Simulator in Townsville

Scientists say the National Sea Simulator, which is being opened in north Queensland today, represents a quantum leap for marine research.

The $35 million federally-funded research aquarium, also known as SeaSim, is based at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville and scientists will use it to recreate ocean conditions for their experiments.

It will give researchers precise control over variables including temperature, salinity and water quality.

The institute's chief executive, John Gunn, says SeaSim represents a quantum leap for marine research in Australia.

"This facility allows us to look at the multiple different factors, what we call the cumulative impacts, of human use in the zone of reefs and inshore areas," he said.

"So this is going to be a nerve centre of an advance that I think will be unparalleled globally."

Mr Gunn says research facility will help scientists study the long-term effects of climate change, ocean acidification and dredging.

"It allows groups of scientists from AIMS, from universities such as James Cook [University] and all around the world to come together some of the big questions," he said.

Researchers to target killer starfish

Crown of Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster plancii) in the Townsville Sea Simulator display aquarium

Crown of Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in the Townsville Sea Simulator display aquarium

Combating the crown of thorns (COT) starfish, one of the biggest killers of coral of the Great Barrier Reef, and considered a major threat to the world-heritage listed site, will be one of the centre's main priorities.

AIMS research director, Jamie Oliver, says scientists are hoping to learn more about the starfish.

"We're very keen to replicate some of the original experiments which strongly suggest that for instance, nutrients are a major factor in causing COT outbreaks but we need to be able to replicate that work under much controlled and detailed circumstances," he said.

He hopes the research will also lead to more effective ways of controlling the predator.

"We can do that through for instance seeing whether there are special chemicals called pheromones which may attract crown of thorns starfish together," he said.

"If we can attract them together we may be able to use it as a way of putting out baited traps and collect much larger number of COTs."

Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr says he hopes SeaSim will help authorities and businesses better understand the impacts from things such as ocean warming and acidification.

"Our standards of living depend on having viable industries, including fishing, exports of our gas and mineral resources, as well as sectors like tourism but it is equally important we look after our marine resources carefully and responsibly," Senator Carr said.

"Public science and research agencies such as AIMS are the most invaluable assets we have in terms of getting this balance right based on the best available evidence."

Fish farm fallout review delivers a favourable finding

fisheries, government, waterways/wetlands

Aug 012013

Fish farm pens at Huon Aquaculture in southern Tasmania. The report gives the salmon industry a clean bill of health, despite some nutrient release. Photo: Conor Duffy, ABC News

Original story at ABC News

Scientists say the latest report on salmon farming in southern Tasmania shows the industry is healthy and sustainable.

Researchers at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies have been monitoring the release of nutrients by fish farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon estuary between 2009 and 2012.

The study also reviewed the effectiveness of the Government's monitoring program.

Professor Colin Buxton says the report gives the salmon industry a clean bill of health, despite some nutrient release.

"It's very clearly demonstrated that there are no adverse consequences for the environment," he said.

"So the nutrient load that's coming into the system through salmon farming is at an acceptable level and certainly below the cap that the government set for them."

Newcastle Sport anglers oppose new fish bag limits

community, fisheries, government

Aug 012013

Sports anglers are concerned that proposed changes to catch limits could see them more fishers exposed to fines and is just revenue-raising. Photo: ABC News

Original story at ABC News

Newcastle sports anglers are up in arms about proposed changes to fishing rules that would see their catch limits reduced substantially.

The Department of Primary Industries says there is increasing community concern the current bag limits are excessive and is proposing to cut them by about half.

But vice president of the Newcastle Sport Fishing Club Tom Kendall says there is no reason for recreational anglers to cut their catch.

He says they rarely reach their bag limits.

"Then they've put out all these proposals to reduce the bag limits by 50 to 60 percent, why?," he said,

"There's no science, there's no rigorous science in there to say there's any problem with the stocks.

"There's no reduction in commercial catch, none of the species are under threat, otherwise there would be some reduction in commercial catch or some significant science coming out and saying look these species are under risk."

There is also concern that the proposed change to their catch limits could see them more fishers exposed to fines and is just revenue-raising.

Mr Kendall says recreational anglers do not have any impact on fish stocks and he does not see why they are being targeted.

He says reducing the limits would have other effects.

"I just wonder whether it's a sneaky way of revenue raising," he said.

"If you reduce the bag limits, there's more likelihood of anglers accidentally exceeding their bag limits and they're open to a fine."

Qld NRM Minister rules out more Channel Country irrigation

community, environment, government, waterways/wetlands, wildlife

Jul 312013

Original story by Melinda Howells and Francene Norton, ABC News: Qld Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps rules out more Channel Country irrigation

The Queensland Government says it will not release more water for irrigation, as it winds back Wild Rivers declarations in the state's Channel Country.

A new management framework for the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper Creek will replace the Wild Rivers declarations.

Some graziers had raised concerns that new irrigation projects would cause environmental damage.

However, Queensland Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps says no new licences will be issued.

"We'll be not allowing any further water to be released for irrigation purposes from the Georgina, Diamantina rivers or from Cooper Creek," he said.

Queensland's channel country rivers. Georgina River, Diamantina River, Thomson River, Cooper's Creek, Barcoo River and Warburton Creek feeding Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South. Longreach, Charleville and Mount Isa. Image at The Wilderness Society.

"The existing licences that are in place will be allowed to continue their operations and we'll not be buying or removing any of those existing licences."

The State Government has also approved oil and gas developments near protected rivers in the area, but says they will be subject to strict environmental conditions.

Mr Cripps says open-cut mining will not be allowed in the region but oil and gas developments will be, but under strict conditions.

He says mining developments will face a tougher approvals process than in other parts of the state.

"We recognise the unique environmental values of those western rivers means that we need to ensure that the conditions under which these petroleum and gas projects proceed are very high," he said.

"We will be making sure that they are assessed on a site-by-site and project-by-project basis."

White-necked Heron and Intermediate Egrets fishing on Coopers Creek. Photo by Glenn Walker at The Wilderness Society

But environmental groups have slammed the announcement.

Pew Charitable Trust spokesman Rupert Quinlan says Mr Cripps has gone against community advice.

"Advice from that panel said there should be no weakening of protections against mining in Channel Country - he's ignored that," Mr Quinlan said.

"He's also ignored calls from AgForce that there should be a moratorium on all oil and gas activities in Channel Country.

"He's ignored his local MP Vaughan Johnson and lastly he's ignored Aboriginal leaders."

However, Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer Michael Roche says the Government's decision is an important opportunity for jobs and investment.

"The news coming out of the companies that are exploring that part of the country, mostly as I say happening on the South Australian side of the border, talk about billions of dollars of potential production that can be generated in that part of Queensland," he said.

Push to boost ecotourism in Qld national parks

government, wildlife

Jul 312013

Tag-along tours are one of the many types of tours available that offer visitors a great Fraser Island experience. Photo: Queensland Government

Original story by Francene Norton, ABC News

The Queensland Government says strict protection measures will remain in place as more national parks are opened up to ecotourism.

It has launched a new ecotourism framework to cut red tape, and extend operators' permits to 15 years instead of three.

National Parks Minister Steve Dickson says having more World Heritage areas than any other state gives Queensland a competitive edge in the tourism market.

"The benefits hugely outweigh the risks because we have huge problems within a lot of our protected areas at the moment," he said.

"We've got a couple of million cats running around killing wildlife every night of the week.

"There's a lot of implications that are affecting our national parks and protected areas.

"Having these people out there, they're going to be our eyes and ears.

"They're going to see things that we may not see on a day-to-day basis."

Older Entries Newer Entries