Natural Resource Management
Terrain NRM Annual Report 2013/14
Message from the Chair & CEO Dear Members, It has been a busy year yet again and we wish to thank Terrain’s members, partners and the Wet Tropics community for all their efforts across the landscape. The Board and Terrain staff have worked through a challenging year of funding and staffing upheavals, while keeping major planning efforts on track, providing local support, technical advice, grants and project funding and project outcomes. Welcome to our new look Annual Report. Keeping the document simple and published on line is a deliberate cost saving strategy approved by the Board. We have tried to provide you with information about how natural resource management (NRM) funding is structured for us, how it is spent and for what outcomes in the Wet Tropics. Funding arrangements can be a complex story to tell and we hope this report helps to illustrate that story. It is important for us to explain that funding is tightly structured against the priorities of government and this has impacts on capacity to focus on the wider range of matters concerning the Wet Tropics community. The start of the 2013/2014 financial year saw a completely new set of contractual arrangements with the Queensland and Australian governments for delivery of regional NRM outcomes. The lead up to this last year was a nervous one for us, with all existing programs coming to an end and a host of new arrangements to be negotiated. Terrain started a new organisational structure on 1 July 2013 and due to funding changes said a sad farewell to a range of staff. We then embarked on a process to channel more funding through to community, farmers and partner organisations. The challenge is now to ensure we have a viable team that can provide maximum and valued support across the Wet Tropics while also allocating funds directly to groups, partner organisations and landholders. With ongoing changes to funding, Terrain will continue to be challenged to support the Wet Tropics community with less resources. Indeed, Terrain learnt from the May 2014 Australian government budget announcement that further reductions will be implemented in the 2014/15 year and onwards. These funding changes will see further funds disbursed to the local community for priority
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
NRM projects. In the 2013/14 year, Terrain channelled 64% of its income directly to community groups, partner organisations and landholders. In this coming year, this percentage will increase as we introduce a new community grants program, with funding available to June 2018. This past year has seen the spotlight continue to focus on the Wet Tropics region for landuse impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. Terrain continues to respond to this challenge through a range of programs, such as Reef Water Quality Grants, preparing a Water Quality Improvement Plan and putting significant effort into government processes such as the GBR Strategic Assessment and Reef long term planning. The Terrain team has invested significant time into the early stages of the revised NRM plan to ensure it will be more than a document with a long list of actions. The new format NRM Plan will be ‘on-line’ and accessible, updateable and a key tool for tracking progress. We have learned a lot over the past years about NRM Plans and need to ensure it can work at different scales and focus our efforts on priorities. This will be even more critical, with funding constraints. The draft of the Water Quality Improvement Plan has required a major effort to synthesise all the available science on water quality issues in the Wet Tropics. Terrain has worked for many years to gain recognition of the importance of catchment health as part of water quality planning. One of the critical outcomes of the WQIP has been to integrate catchment health and management of pollutants such as nitrogen, pesticide and sediment. This means we have a complete picture of priority catchments and actions across the nine basins in the region. We look forward to a finalised Water Quality Improvement Plan in late 2014 and a draft NRM plan in May 2015, both important tools to help us work together in the coming years. We hope the plans will reflect the Wet Tropics community values and views and provide an important basis to influence government policy and funding. Terrain is working harder than ever both in the Wet Tropics and with Canberra and Brisbane to influence the long term decisions that impact our region. Regards, Mike and Carole
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Terrain Board Terrain's Board looks at the big picture, carries out regular assessment of Terrain's community based NRM delivery and performance and guides it towards achieving its goals. The Board of Terrain is appointed to: provide purpose, leadership, direction and a strategic vision ensure all legal and financial responsibilities are met and that finances are sound and compliant with legal requirements ensure appropriate risk management frameworks are in place select and oversee the performance of the Chief Executive Officer evaluate and ensure its own effectiveness The Board of Directors for 2013/2014 are: Chair - Mike Berwick Director Industry - Keith Noble Director Rangelands - Ken Atkinson Director Indigenous - Joann Schmider Director Conservation - Peter Rowles Director World Heritage - Russell Watkinson Director Catchment & Community- Ken Keith Director Indigenous - Stephen Purcell Director Local Government - Julia Leu Director Coastal and Marine - Ryan Donnelly Go to www.terrain.org.au for more information about our Board of Directors.
Terrain’s Mission To make a difference by inspiring and enabling action to improve the health, wellbeing and lasting value of Wet Tropics landscapes and communities.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
Terrain Staff Terrain's key role is to support implementation of the Regional NRM priorities by supporting action, facilitating funding and integrating effort to achieve sustainable communities and ecosystems in Far North Queensland. The Terrain team for 2013/2014 were: Chief Executive Officer, Carole Sweatman Manager Corporate Services, Michelle Nusse Manager Community Partnerships, Penny Scott Manager NRM Strategy, David Hinchley (to Mar) Corporate Communications, Kathryn Dryden Corporate Services Team Kelly O’Kane Colleen McIntosh Vicki Marmara Marin Haldane Bronwen Hickman Community Partnerships Team Peter Bradley Steve Bailey Evizel Seymour Jacqui Richards Bob Stewart Tony O’Malley Lyle Johnson Bart Dryden Michael Nash Fiona George (Regional Landcare Facilitator) Reef Team Deb Bass Deb Harrison Maureen Colgrave Michael Waring Bruce Corcoran NRM Strategy and Policy, Water Quality Planning Gary Searle Ian Sinclair Fiona Barron Gavin Kay Steve McDermott Sharlene Blakeney Projects/Short Term Alex Knott, Evelyn Maitland, Di Mauloni, Sue Medway, Don Pollock, Sam Shaw, Neil Sing, Claire Tierney.
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The Wet Tropics Region
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Community Financials 11.3%
25
34
287
64%
Overhead
Incoming investor contracts
Outgoing contracts with partners
Grants to landholders & community groups
Expenditure to Community Groups, Partners & Landholders
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Program Delivery Australian Government National Landcare Programme, Regional Delivery The Australian Government Regional Delivery investment in the Wet Tropics funds projects which meet the National Landcare Program objectives across both the Environment and Agriculture portfolios. Funding for 2013/2014 was $437,700 Agriculture projects and $1,021,000 Environment projects. This is the first year of a five year program. The five funded projects also meet the five year goals for Terrain outlined in its Strategic Plan and the established NRM priorities for the Wet Tropics region and its community. Terrain’s approach is to work with the community and partners to come together on land use planning, water management, biodiversity conservation, culture and knowledge and the future sustainability of industries like agriculture, tourism, fisheries and forestry. Highlights from 2013/2014 are summarised in the table below.
Agriculture Portfolio Innovative and Sustainable Agriculture in the Wet Tropics Supported 61 farmers across the region in relation to improved management practice adoption and innovation. 12 innovation trials designed and/or implemented in collaboration with various research and extension partners across the region. Assessed progress and raised awareness of new techniques at the Cassowary Creek erosion control trial site field day with an international consultant and 20 local stakeholders.
Regional Landcare Facilitator (RLF) Assisted 834 landholders and community group members through 20 events. Engaged 200 people in activities/events coordinated directly by the RLF. Facilitated the inaugural two-day Soil Health Forum in Far North Queensland, in partnership with Northern Gulf Resource Management Group– attracting more than 200 farmers, many of whom provided exceptionally positive feedback. Supported five community members to the attend State Landcare Conference.
Participated in 10 policy/planning, advisory activities and scientific forums. Continued to build strategic relationships on innovation with researchers and industry including Herbert Cane Productivity Services, SRA, JCU, QDAFF, CSIRO, with Eco-Ganics (Eco Bananas), Greenbelt Fertilizers, MAI Australia, Kiko Technology, Regen-Ag, Mas Humus, Natural Grow, King Brown Technology and SITA. Initiated and convened a multi-stakeholder Innovative Agriculture Steering Group, bringing together industry, farmers, researchers, extension professionals and agronomists.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Australian Government National Landcare Programme, Regional Delivery Environment Portfolio Conserving and protecting Wet Tropics species and ecosystems Developed a management map for Turbina in Mabi area and coordinated multi-partner onground survey and eradication program. Brokered partnership with Queensland Trust for Nature to enable community acquisition and protection of Lot 66, a 24.5 ha parcel of land in a strategic cassowary corridor – this achievement is the culmination of nearly seven years of planning and engagement in the Mission Beach area.
Supporting Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples Provided support and advice to 13 Traditional Owner (TO) groups across the Wet Tropics. Provided technical assistance and support to Girringun Aboriginal Corporation to secure and deliver a five-year mahogany glider monitoring program with Powerlink Queensland. Brokered meaningful TO participation in the review of the Great Barrier Reef Strategic Assessment and the Cassowary Coast Planning Scheme. 30 individuals from 15 organisations attended a workshop, half of these from TO groups.
Undertook ‘Fire needs analysis of mahogany glider habitat’ to determine the opportunities for improving ecological fire regimes, including building a geodatabase for analysis.
Provided facilitation and logistic support to Buru Aboriginal Corporation to run two community planning meetings aimed at identifying living and working on country opportunities.
Supported review of the Mahogany Glider Recovery Plan including developing a strategic framework for the recovery plan actions, a five year implementation plan and record keeping and reporting tool to enable the group to document actions and evaluate progress.
Supported five TO groups with local planning processes to realise on-country aspirations.
Supporting the Wet Tropics community
“The network that Terrain provides gives us a great opportunity to start sharing skills and knowledge around working on country between groups right across the Wet Tropics. I am always interested in what I can learn from other groups and how I can use this in my own area.”
Provided technical assistance and support to 31 community NRM groups and local alliances. Hosted workshop by Ian Ploughman on Community Group Knowledge, Health and Succession, with five groups participating. Developed and trialled Group Health Diagnostics tool for self-administration by groups seeking to identify their goals, strengths, and areas requiring improvement. Coordinated and facilitated an inaugural meeting of the Cardwell/Murray Alliance, which brings together the relevant stakeholders for information sharing and planning.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Queensland Government Natural Resource Management Program The Queensland Government Natural Resource Management Program invested $815,000 in the Wet Tropics during 2013/14 across three projects shown below. The Program is funded by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Terrain’s focus is to bring partners and community together to maximise the outcomes from this funding, securing additional local investment and adding value to existing strategic initiatives and targets. This is the first year of a three year investment program from the Queensland government into NRM in the Wet Tropics. In the 2013/14 year Terrain directly funded 17 community groups and partners totalling $382,140. Projects were focussed on weed and pest management and water quality projects.
Water Quality
Sustainable Agriculture
Improving Water Quality from the Wet Tropics Rivers to the Great Barrier Reef is the subject of a range of funding programs. This project is focused on waterway and wetland restoration through devolved grants to the region’s Traditional Owners. Achievements for 2013/14 were:
This project works directly with farmers to improve farm efficiency, resilience and innovation. During 2013/14 Terrain delivered an intensive extension and shared learning program called “Digging Deeper”.
Funded eight Traditional Owner water quality projects, totalling $255,440, delivering a range of on-ground works over the coming three years including: 10.4 hectares of riparian revegetation. 2kms of cattle exclusion fencing protecting 10 hectares of riparian habitat. 12 hectares of management of invasive species in wetland and riparian areas.
Pests and Weeds Pest and weeds and are one of the greatest threats to the natural assets of the region and the productivity and viability of primary industries. The project delivers local, targeted action on priority pests and weeds of the Wet Tropics. Achievements for 2013/14 were:
The project completed six full day on-farm training sessions and follow up extension support. The on-farm training focused on the needs identified by the farmers themselves. 27 famers from a wide range of industries (cane, tropical fruit, bananas, beef, cut flowers) participated in the program with 3,581 ha adoption of improved practices. “Thanks! It was a great day again and I learned a lot in what was a very important subject for a sustainable horticulture business in our part of the world.” (Digging Deeper farmer)
Seven local action weed control projects which have delivered 79 hectares of on- ground weed control (Hymenachne, Thunbergia, Giant Sensitive Weed, Singapore Daisy, Navua Sedge, Turbina, and Pond Apple). Co-investment in three feral pig management programs, over a total of 145,000 ha with 1,123 pigs removed. Surveyed 15,000 ha in the Upper Herbert for Siam weed, mapping locations for targeted treatment. 240 ha of surveillance for Hiptage to enable planning for treatment in coming period. Support to dedicated task force in Mossman to undertake control activities focusing on outliers to minimise spread.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Australian Government Reef Programme Water Quality Grants and Extension In April 2013, the Australian Government announced the Reef Programme, funding land management practice change to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. In partnership with landowners, industry bodies, government, researchers and other Reef NRM regions, Terrain NRM coordinates the delivery of the Reef Programme for the Wet Tropics region. Total funding for the three years 2013 - 2016 is $16,500,000. The funding is to provide incentive grants, training and extension to farmers aimed at reducing the discharge of nutrients, sediment and pesticides into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The Programme works directly with landholders within the Great Barrier Reef catchments to increase voluntary uptake of improved land management practices. During 2013/2014, the following grants were awarded across the Wet Tropics. In addition, contracts for training and extension across cane, bananas and grazing were being finalised for delivery in 2014 – 2016.
Catchment Daintree/Mossman Barron Upper Barron Mulgrave and Trinity Inlet Russell Johnstone Tully/Murray Herbert Total
Banana
28
18 30 25 61 171
Grants Total (exc GST)
$401,093 85% $14,324
% funded Average Grant
1
2 17 8
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
Cane
Dairy
8 2 8 19
Multicrop 11
Total 8 13 9 19
4 6
14
20 50 35 65 219
$2,536,484
$51,574
$241,686
3,230,837
70% $14,833
75% $8,595
100% $17,263
72% 14,752
2
1 2
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Australian Government Wet Tropics Natural Resource Management Plan Funding of $607,639 over three years (2013 – 2016) has been provided by the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Fund to review the Wet Tropics NRM Plan. The funding is to incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into the Plan. Terrain has taken the opportunity to more comprehensively review the NRM Plan, ensuring it is action-oriented and flexible, and will provide tools to enable the Wet Tropics community to better plan for NRM and manage the impacts and opportunities associated with climate change. The new on-line plan is due to be launched in May 2015.
NRM Plan Logo Competition Terrain held a competition for the NRM Plan logo to encourage engagement and community ownership of the NRM Plan. Yungaburra’s Gabi Sturman inspired the design of the final logo. It is the image we hope people will associate with the NRM Plan.
Highlights for 2013/2014 Worked with James Cook University and CSIRO to complete the synthesis of climate change issues and impacts in the Wet Tropics. This provides the foundation for climate adaptation actions and mitigation in the NRM Plan. Development of an adaptive evidence library as the core for the NRM Plan. Thorough review of background documentation, technical information and existing plans. This information builds the core of the NRM knowledge hub. A Strategic Offsets Investment Corridors (SOIC) project (funded by the Queensland government and supported by the NRM Planning team) provided a comprehensive basis for ongoing NRM spatial prioritisation work.
“My design visually represents the interconnectedness of the rainforest, land, rivers and ocean, nestled within a pair of caring hands. The seedling is representative of growth and refers to rainforest, revegetation and agriculture alike. The brown ripples radiating from the seedling signifies the land and the blue represents rivers which flow to the sea.
Completion of stage one of the Community Engagement Strategy including establishing an NRM Plan website, flyers, media releases, radio interviews, social media and direct consultation.
Gabi said, “This landscape is held within a pair of cupped hands, a universal symbol for caring and community.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Australian Government Reef Programme Water Quality Improvement Plan The Australian Government Reef Programme invested $963,585 to develop a whole of Wet Tropics Water Quality Improvement Plan. Terrain is working with research organisations, government agencies, traditional owners, industry and other regional stakeholders to develop the Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP). The WQIP will be finalised in late 2014. More than 50% of the funding will be used to further refine existing science and undertake new work to fill critical knowledge gaps for the WQIP process. WQIPs are a vital part of the Australian and Queensland Government's Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). The 2013 Reef Plan states that its long term goal is “to ensure that by 2020 the quality of water entering the reef from broad scale land use has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.” A WQIP is designed to identify the main issues impacting waterways and the coastal and marine environment from land-based activities, and to identify and prioritise management actions that will halt or reverse the trend of declining water quality within a region.
WQIPs are non-statutory natural resource management plans. They are not a set of rules or regulations; they are a plan to help guide specific actions and investment, based on the latest science. They also incorporate aspirations from and inform the revision of community-based catchment plans. Water Quality Improvement Plans help to protect catchments, wetlands and marine environments. A decline in water quality can have impacts on water for human consumption, tourism, agriculture, fishing, industry and recreation. The WQIP will help to provide solutions to address issues of poor or declining water quality in the region with clear goals and objectives for managers from many sectors, with benefits for the whole community in the longer term. WQIPs also help build long-term partnerships necessary for the implementation of the Plan.
The Wet Tropics’ WQIP will: describe the current state of water quality issues in the region identify the priority water quality and ecosystem health issues for the region (in terms of pollutants, sources and hotspots for generation and delivery) define end of catchment pollutant load targets to maintain the coastal and marine values of the region, and incorporate an implementation strategy for managing water quality in the region and achieving the proposed targets The WQIP will also support the identification, and ultimately implementation, of actions that will aim to address these issues in consultation with government, industry and community groups.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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Australian and Queensland Governments Flood Recovery This project provided $505,000 to undertake waterway restoration work in response to damage associated with Cyclone Oswald in the 2012/13 wet season. The project contracted via the Queensland government had the primary aim of delivering projects through the Cairns, Cassowary Coast and Herbert River Improvement Trusts to conduct stream bank stabilisation, riparian restoration and remove debris from waterways to improve water flow and prevent bank damage. Achievements were: 345 metres of stream bank was stabilised through engineering work. 3 hectares of revegetation was undertaken. debris removed from over 2 kilometres of stream bank to improve stream flows.
Other Programs Queensland Government – Practice Change and Innovation Terrain was supported during the 2013/14 by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAFF) to lead and develop a Wet Tropics wide approach to agricultural training and extension. Funds for 2013/14 were $50,000. Terrain is facilitating a QDAFF funded project to validate variable rate technology with two vegetable growers on the Atherton Tablelands. The project will be to validate/optimise efficacy of crop sensing technology and yield monitoring. Funding of $110,000 over 18 months. This funding will be provided directly to landholders.
Herbert Water Quality Project The Herbert Catchment Water Quality Monitoring Project is funded by multiple investors implementing a regional integrated water monitoring program. With more than 16 stakeholders directly engageed in the process, including industry bodies, government, researchers, local government and landholders, the project measures the impact of practice change on water quality and promotes knowledge sharing and partnerships. Funding for 2013/2014 was $215,000, with the majority of funds providing technical support and monitoring.
Project Catalyst and Game Changer Terrain is works in partnership with Reef Catchments NRM, NQ Dry Tropics NRM and the Cane industry to deliver two projects working directly with cane growers to test, trail, validate and adopt new and innovative practices to improve water quality. Project Catalyst is in its fifth year and partners with WWF and the Coca-Cola foundation. The ‘Game Changer’ project is supporting twenty growers to develop: crop, nutrient and weed management plans and on selected projects, undertake Rainfall simulation and Economic analysis. In partnership with Herbert Cane Productivity Services, Tully Productivity Services and Mossman Agricultural Services.
Feral Pig Management Program The Integrated Feral Pig Program came to a close in 2013/14, which is a disappointing outcome for a highly successful program. The Australian, Queensland and local governments, industry bodies and landholders worked collectively to reduce the impacts of feral pigs on the local economy and landscape. It provided a strategic and sustained approach to control methods, research and coordination. Terrain will continue to work with partners to re-establish the funding for the program. Income in 2013/14 was $167,000 of which 86% went to contracted pig control.
Terrain NRM – Wet Tropics Annual Report 2013/14
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