Natural Asset Management - June 2013

The format for the forum was simple enough; a three day celebration of our triumphs and tribulations in managing pest animals and weeds across the tropical north ... one day of animals; one of weeds and one of workshops and accredited training.  Proceedings were opened by Mayor of Tablelands Regional Council, Rosa Lee Long and QPWS representative John Clarkson (long term member of both forums) provided the keynote address to get our brains into gear.  Barbara Waterhouse of DAFF/AQIS (who understands pre-border weed risks and pathways inside out) delivered the keynote address on day two.  The theme was 'getting out there and getting the job done'.  As a result, regardless of whether the presenter was a practitioner or a researcher, the proceedings had a very applied and practical edge and detailed conversation around implementation flowed throughout.

This inaugural event aimed to test the water and see what level of participation we would get.  Numbers are always on your mind with these sorts of events and we were enthused by the turnout.  We had a jam packed agenda with 37 presenters on the bill and attendees from right across the region.  We could have filled an additional day if time and resources allowed it but were conscious of keeping it simple.  On day one we had 117 people attend, day two 137 and about 65 people in training on day three; overall more than 200 individuals filed through the doors across the three days.  In due course all presentations from the event will be available online at www.fnqpaf.com.au.

Congratulations to Dylan Ray from Cassowary Coast Regional Council on being awarded the FNQPAF Pest Manager of the Year for 2012. T he prize which acknowledged Dylan's outstanding contribution to pest and weed management was presented by Quikcorp.

Special thanks to the FNQPAF committee Michael Graham, Bart Dryden, Col Dollery, Matt Buckman, Campbell Clarke and Shane Campbell and sponsorship and support from QPWS, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Weed Society, Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Program, Tablelands Regional Council, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Quikcorp, Gulf Catchments Pest Taskforce and to QDAFF for the venue.

From left, Dylan Ray of Cassowary Coast Regional Council was awarded FNQPAF Pest Manager of the year, Bart Dryden (Terrain NRM) demonstrates bait presentation devices and a cassowary exclusion gate for a pig trap, Brian Wienert (TRC) takes participants through the finer points of soft jaw traps for wild dogs, John Clarkson QPWS provided keynote introductions to the forum.

Upcoming dates:

Pond Apple Working Group - 19 June 2013, Cairns

Gamba Grass Technical Working Group - early July, Mareeba

Queensland Weeds Symposium – 15-18 July, Hervey Bay

Queensland Feral Animal Summit - June 27, Toowoomba

Next NAMAC & FNQPAF – August 22 & 23, Wujal Wujal 

More information on pest animals and weeds or want to sign up for meeting notices?  Head to www.fnqpaf.com.au.