BMRG Weekly Bulletin

Field Day highlights reef sediment reductions

The Mary River Recovery Project reached its one-year milestone this month, with stakeholders and riverbank landowners receiving a vital update on sediment reductions into the Great Barrier Reef.

The consortium project between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) and Alluvium Consulting, will see 26,000 tonnes of sediment reduction over its four years – with the first year already reducing pollutants by 2,154 tonnes.

Guided by the Investment Strategy for the Mary River (2020), the project priority areas include a combination of works, including large-scale restoration of riverbank erosion areas, revegetation in river reaches to stabilise streambanks working in partnership with local landholders, and other partners such as Seqwater and councils.

With further project updates expected in January, this project is well underway and an exciting development for the catchment, reef and local landholders who will gain significant long-term benefits from the project outcomes.

ERVP Site Assessments

Over the past few weeks, our team has been busily conducting site assessments for prioritised applicants of the Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot (ERVP). Overall, the ERVP is focused on cost effective ways of engaging and rewarding farmers for improving biodiversity on-farm as part of the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Package. It’s a fantastic program and we’re very grateful for the immense support and interest received by landholders.
Read more

Soil Symposium

Held on Friday 18 February, the free full day soil symposium will be focused on ‘Living and Productive Soils’. Keynote speakers include Mark Sugars from the Department of Resources, Jack Milbank fromAgPro, John Moor from Growmoor Biological and Nadia Campbell from Goondicum Pastoral Co. These experienced presenters will cover several topics around soil health, biological function, and producer profitability.
Click here for more information about the Soil Symposium

Weed Management Workshop

Kickstart the new year by getting on top of weed problems on your land. South Burnett Regional Council and Biosecurity Queensland will be facilitating weed management workshops on 24 and 25 January, 2022, with morning tea and lunch included. After all the beautiful rain, weeds have unfortunately sprung up, and early management is crucial. Register your interest before 17 January.
RSVP here or visit their website here

Merry Christmas from BMRG

This will be our final bulletin issue for 2021. Our office will be closed for the Christmas break from Friday, 17 December and will reopen on Tuesday, 4 January 2022. Thank you to all our readers, and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A Reminder from our Turtle Carers

Summer is here and there’s no better time to go to the beach to enjoy the sun and sand. But remember, we aren’t the only visitors to the beach! Turtle season is still at its peak, and our rangers and volunteers ask that you remember to keep torches and other light sources off as much as possible, keep very still if you see a turtle coming up, and call Mon Repos Turtle Centre straight away. Thank you to all our turtle carers for your work!
More information

In case you missed it

Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot Making Progress

The Australian Government's Agricultural Stewardship Package announced a few months ago the start of the Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot, which multiple farmers and landowners applied for. This program has been seeking to reward farmers for improving the biodiversity on their properties, and so far, has been progressing well. Despite the heavy rain of recent weeks, BMRG project officers are unhindered and have been out in the field for the first site assessments, to gauge the overall condition of the land on which the Pilot will be taking place. Each property is showing excellent progress, and it has been great to see farmers eager to improve and regenerate remnant vegetation on their properties.
Read more about the Agricultural Stewardship Package here

Changes to Drought Assistance Program Requirements

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries recently announced the most recent reforms to the Drought Assistance Program, which will further help farmers impacted by drought in management and preparedness for the future. While producers will no longer need a drought declaration to receive assistance, a Farm Business Resilience Plan will instead be required. This Plan will outline methods of improving resilience on-farm, which will be valuable information when applying for grant money, and are to be submitted to the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).
More information

Learn Natural Sequence Farming at Murgon

From 9 am on 23 – 26 May, 2022, Stuart Andrews from Tarwyn Park Training is presenting a 4-day course on reading your landscape, rehydrating your land and maximising productivity. It will include how to build a contour, reconnect your farm's landscape and engage the community around you. Get in quick for the early bird rate, land managers in the Burnett Mary area will receive a special rate. Land managers of that area please contact Tarwyn Park Training for enrolment.
Click here to learn more about Natural Sequence Farming at Murgon and to enrol for the early bird rate

Biosecurity Highlights for 2021

Biosecurity Queensland has released their report for 2020-21, with all the most recent and relevant updates about invasive plant and animal species that have been handled by the Invasive Plants and Animals Research group from 2020-21. The report will summarise the research, provide information on management plans, and give insight into how the impacts of pest species throughout the state can be reduced.
Download the report here

Restoring our Precious Rainforests

Now is the time to revitalise our beautiful ecosystems. Barung Landcare Association is now inviting landowners, who are looking to carry out revegetation, to partake in the free Rainforest Revegetation Planning workshop on 15 December in Maleny. This workshop will help you organise your own rainforest revegetation projects near your home and will give you access to some native rainforest plants from the nursery as well.
Click here to register