Welcome to the SEQ Catchments quarterly news update. Click on the links below or for the latest news from SEQ Catchments, visit www.seqcatchments.com.au.

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SEQ Catchment Updates

SEQ Catchments 2011 AGM
SEQ Catchments and the SEQ Catchments Member Association (SEQCMA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 25th November at the Park Regis Hotel in Brisbane. Read more

Swamp Tea-tree Forest Conservation Project Update
Round 3 of the Swamp Tea-tree forest conservation project is underway, with SEQ Catchments offering assistance to landholders to manage remnant or regrowth Swamp Tea-tree forest on their properties. Swamp Tea-tree forest is unique to South East Queensland and critically endangered (only 8% remains). Read more

SEQ Catchments lead successful cattle nutrition sessions for beef producers
Cattle nutrition workshops run by SEQ Catchments had a successful turnout last week, with over 80 landholders attending three workshops across the western catchments of South East Queensland. Read more

Straddie’s Beaches Respected by Four Wheel Drivers
Some of South East Queensland’s most beautiful beaches are often explored with a four wheel drive vehicle, but without adequate training this can often result in injury or badly impact upon wildlife and vegetation. Read more

Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Tour in the Lockyer
SEQ Catchments were joined by Jagera Traditional Owners in October on an Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Tour with local landholders in the Lockyer Valley. Read more

Protecting Flying Fox Habitat on Coochiemudlo
Works were underway at a property on Coochiemudlo Island at the end of October, to control the spread of a number of weeds within a wetland area with the aim of improving the habitat of a large colony of flying foxes. Read more. Watch out for a more in depth article in the next Land for Wildlife newsletter!

SEQ Catchments Working with Youths to Support Land Care Groups
SEQ Catchments’ Regional Landcare Facilitator, Apanie Wood, is supporting the Landcare movement through a new partnership between young business students and local Landcare groups. Read more

Other NRM Updates

2011 Healthy Waterways Report Card released
The 2011 Ecosystem Health Report Card was launched on Wednesday 19 October, providing insight into the health of South East Queensland’s waterways and Moreton Bay following the January 2011 flood. Come along to a Report Card Community forum in December to find out more. Read more

Using “elastocoast” for Gully Erosion Control
Elastocoast is a polyurethane product used in Europe and developed by BASF principally for coastal seawall protection. It is used to bind hard rock aggregate together to form a solid surface. In 2009 it was introduced to Australia for the first time for erosion control purposes in South East Queensland (SEQ). Read more

Cow cockies concocting climate change considerate cattle
The cattle industry has been around for a long time, but new and innovative Sustainable Farming Practices still continue to be welcomed in the industry. Rathdowney producers Matthew Arkinstall and Warren Drynan have been behind the creation of a sustainable and highly efficient Feed Test Station in Running Creek, which recently won the Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) 2011 Queensland Landcare Awards at Government House. Read more

Government Updates

Government announces 5 year vision for Flinders Karawatha Corridor
On the 9th November, the Queensland Government and Minister Nolan released an announcement regarding the plan to secure the long-term protection of the Karawatha-Greenbank-Flinders Peak corridor. Read more

Lockyer Valley protected under Australia’s first bill to shield Strategic Cropping Land
The Queensland Government has taken an historic step becoming the first Government in the nation to introduce a bill to parliament which will protect strategic cropping land in the Lockyer Valley. Read more

$7 million investment in community groups who are caring for our country
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, today announced $7 million in Community Action Grants as part of the Caring for our Country initiative. Download the list of projects funded in the SEQ region here. Read more

Upcoming Events

Managing horses on small acreage, Pinjarra Hills, Sunday 4th December, 9-11.15am. For more information click here

Property Management Planning workshop, Fernvale, Wednesday 7th December, 9am-3.30pm. For more information click here

Healthy Waterways 2011 Report Card Community Forum. Three remaining forums in December will be held on the Monday 5th (Brisbane), Wednesday 7th (Nerang) and Monday 12th (Jimboomba). For more information click here

Pasture Field Day, Bridges, (Near Yandina), Friday 9th December, 9am-12:30 110 Ben Williams Drive. For more information click here

Grazing Workshop, Beaudesert, Thursday 15th December, 9am – 3pm. For more information click here

For more events visit our events calendar.