Natural Asset Management - October 2012

In regard to the ambitious timeline given to develop a transitional management strategy (December 2012) we expect that a two month extension out to Februaury 2012 will be granted by the Commonwealth.  Also made clear was that Siam weed would remain a declared Class 1 Pest under the Land Protection Act for the forseeable future. The question of funding, particularly in the current climate of resourcing in Queensland, is still the million dollar question.

In other goings on we have been working across Tablelands Regional Council, Hinchinbrook Shire Council and Cassowary Coast Regional Council to finalise their pest management plans.  In Wujal Wujal the Horse Management Program is in its first stage of inplementation.  We also prepared an application to the State Government's Everyone's Environment grants program for a collaborative revegetation project with South Cape York Catchments (here's hoping!). On the NRM front we have been workshopping the integration of pest management, biodiversity and natural asset management planning into the upcoming revision of the Wet Tropics NRM plan, and providing some feedback and advice on the design of a range of broader pest management initiatives with Northern Gulf RMG and Cape York NRM. On a project level the first workshop of the gamba grass technical working group was held in Mareeba and we made some great progress in refining our current knowledge of distribution across the project and management plan area.

FNQ Pest Advisory Forum

A reminder for those who have not done so to have a look around www.fnqpaf.com.au or subscribe http://www.fnqpaf.com.au/members.html to receive forum meeting invites and keep in touch with the latest alerts and news. Next meeting of the forum will be hosted by Tablelands Regional Council in the southern tablelands in November.

Upcoming events:

FNQ Pest Advisory Forum – November, Atherton Tablelands (TBC)

Natural Asset Managment Advisory Committtee – November, Atherton Tablelands (TBC)

Cape York Peninsula Pest Management Advisory Group - November 8-9, Coen