Protected and repaired freshwater and marine systems

Related Content

• NRM Investment Programs

  

  Regional Extension Coordination collaborative agreement

  Regional Extension Coordination

  

  Natural Resources Investment Program 2018-2022

  Queensland is investing more than $61 million between 2018 and 2022 to ensure the state’s natural land and water resources are sustainably managed. This includes dedicated funds for Great Barrier Reef catchments. The Natural Resources Investment Program funding acknowledges the important role that the natural resource management bodies and the community play in repairing and improving Queensland’s unique assets for future generations.
  

  

  Cape York - Keep It Clean

  Organisations across Cape York are working together to launch a campaign to educate people about the need to deal with their rubbish responsibly when travelling around the Cape. Funded by the Queensland Government and coordinated by Cape York NRM, the campaign will target both locals and tourists and urge them to plan ahead for responsible waste disposal before they even hit the road.   

  

  AMRUN

  Purchase of 420kg Mixed Native Grass Seed. Establishment of Cape York community seeds, casual employment of Indigenous people collecting seed and payment by kg of collection. Tranining in collection and storage methods. Seed to be sold to RIO but also purchased by the Gully Remediation projects

  

  Natural Resource Management Investment Program 2017-2018

  The State has allocated $80 million to the regional natural resource management investment program over five years from 2013 to 2018, including $30 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef. The majority of the funding is being provided to support strategic projects delivered through Queensland's regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies. These organisations provide an important link between governments and communities. They also work collaboratively with volunteer and grass-roots organisations (e.g. Landcare), rural industry groups and landholders.

  

  Regional Land Partnerships

  The aim of Regional Land Partnerships is "to protect, conserve, and provide for the productive use of Australia's water, soil, plants and animals and the ecosystems in which they live and interact, in partnership with governments, industry and communities. Regional Land Partnerships is a major component of the second phase of the National Landcare Program. The investment for 2018-2023 will fund biodiversity projects focused on protecting rainforest, woodlands and coastal vine thickets as well as cassowaries and the golden shouldered parrot.

  

  Water Quality Outcomes for Cape York through Communications & Engagement

  1. Media for the Reef A media specialist will be engaged to produce approximately 2 x communications resources per month (11 months) about Cape York Water Quality projects and relevant information to educate the broader community about water quality issues and impacts for Cape York; and projects and program underway to Improve water quality (good news stories - what land managers are doing) 2. Case studies for communicating Short film/s show-casing the work of Indigenous and non-Indigenous land managers highlighting reef protection to be produced.

  

  Media Training for NRM Extension Officers

  1. Media Training for NRM Extension Officers in the six Great Barrier Reef regions

• Land Manager Stories

  

  Managing marine environments for wildlife conservation - Noise pollution

  Any activity that occurs under the sea has the potential to generate noise pollution that disrupts marine animals. The most significant sources of damaging noise are seismic surveys, blasting, construction and sonar devices. Animals that are the most sensitive to underwater noise are those that use echolocation or sonar for feeding and navigation. Dolphins appear to be particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises, such as those caused by pile-driving or drilling, and can be affected from distances of up to 1-2 km. Whales tend to be affected by deeper sounds.

  

  Managing marine environments for wildlife conservation - Marine debris

  Marine debris consists of discarded or lost unnatural objects that enter coastal and marine environments and persist over time, where they can affect marine life and accumulate on beaches. Debris commonly found in northern Australian marine waters includes plastic bags, bottles, ropes, fishing gear, medical waste, aluminium cans, buoys and thongs. The majority of this debris comes from the land via water runoff or stormwater drains, or has been blown or washed in from coastal areas. The remainder comes from garbage illegally disposed of at sea.

  

  Agriculture and water quality

  Cape York NRM delivered Sustainable grazing management and on-ground works: maintaining Cape York’s resource base for sustainable management and use – reducing pests and weeds, improving water quality
  in 2013-2016. The project was funded by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Natural Resource Management Investment Program. 

  The project had a broad impact over its three years of implementation, with signi cant outcomes in developing best practice frameworks, coordination, engagement, capacity building, on-ground works, planning and resource assessment. 

  

  Managing marine environments for wildlife conservation - Seagrass beds

  Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that have adapted to growing in muddy, near-shore environments. They form meadows wherever the ocean is shallow enough to allow the sunlight to reach the sea floor. Seagrass meadows are found in river estuaries, along the coast and, if the water is clear enough, way out to sea in waters up to 60 m deep. Recent mapping of the seagrass distribution along the eastern half of the Northern Territory coastline found over 70,000 hectares of intertidal and shallow sub-tidal seagrass beds.

• Newsletter Articles

  

  Q&A with peer to peer network facilitators

  Cape York NRM and Terrain NRM Enhanced Extension Coordination in Reef Catchments project aims to change land management practice in order to improve the water quality of the northern Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Traditional burning protects land, water and the Great Barrier Reef

  Words Bianca Barling-Seden | Photo Andrew Hartwig

  In recent years, traditional land and fire management has received widespread recognition, capturing government and private-sector interest.

  Instructed by an Awu-Laya Elders fire management project in Cape York in 2004, traditional burning has flourished through the National Indigenous Fire Workshop, a community-led initiative supported by Cape York Natural Resource Management.

  The flow-on effects of traditional burning are seen from soil conservation and estuary protection through to reef health.

  

  Reef Phase IV gully remediation starts in Laura basin

  Gully remediation projects in the Laura basin will stop over 700 tonnes of sediment entering the northern Great Barrier Reef


  

  Action planning workshops a success

  Over the past several months, community members in south-east Cape York have come together during five interactive workshops to develop the Cape York Reef Community Action Plan (CAP).

  The workshops included community events held in Wujal Wujal, Cooktown and Hope Vale, as well as a school workshop at Endeavour Christian College and a school holiday session with young Reef enthusiasts, and were well attended by a range of community members including Traditional Owner Groups, land managers, scientists, local council members and ranger groups.

  

  That's a wrap - the Reef Alliance Cape York Grazing Project draws to a close

  Words Jessie Price-Decle and Juliana Foxlee | Photo Jessie Price-Decle

  The three-year project saw graziers make changes to their land and grazing practices to improve land condition and water quality outcomes.

  The project team, made up of Cape York NRM, South Cape York Catchments, and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries staff, worked across 20 properties over the life of the project.

  South Cape York Catchments Grazing Project Officer Jessie Price-Decle said the project made a difference to water quality and land condition.

  

  Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality

  Some great things have been happening on the land in Cape York during 2019–2020. Projects continued to roll out across the Cape despite the disruption of COVID-19 border closures and travel restrictions.

  Cape York NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality team supports Cape York people to enhance agricultural practices and improve the quality of fresh and marine water. The team and its partners have worked across a variety of projects during 2019–2020 including hazard reduction burns, gully remediation and streambank stabilisation.

  

  Soils and Weeds Solutions Field Day

  Cape York NRM hosted a Soils and Weed Solutions Field Day in Cooktown on 29 February.

  The hands-on event, aimed at growers and graziers, explored the latest thinking on sustainable solutions to the ongoing challenge of weed and soil management.

  The event brought together members of two Cape York agriculture and grazing networks—the Endeavour and Normanby Mixed Farming and Grazing communities.

  

  Mangroves on Cape York – the kidneys of the coast.

  Words Sandra Lloyd | Photo Tropical North Queensland

  Australia has 40 species of mangroves which cover around one fifth of our coastline, about 12,000 square kilometres. Cape York has all 40 of Australian species. Only Indonesia and Brazil have more species than Australia.

  

  Minister visits
 Springvale Nature Refuge

  ‘This project aims to substantially reduce the amount of sediment flowing into the Normanby, and as a result, improve water quality in the Northern Great Barrier Reef,’

  

  Working on the Wetland—Keatings Lagoon, Cooktown

  Wetlands on Cape York are very important because they are a filter for water flowing from land to the Great Barrier Reef, they are a refuge and a breeding ground for many different animal species, and also home to many aquatic species, both plants and animals. Some threats to coastal wetlands are feral animals, erosion, pollution, fire, and loss of oxygen in the water from aquatic weeds. Along with the threats comes the problems or issues caused, such as a decrease in native animal and plant species and a decline in water quality.

  

  Pig trapping Peer to Peer

  Words Juliana Foxlee | Photo provided

  A Cape York NRM project is asking farmers what changes should be made on their properties to support them and their businesses, and funding a number of their suggestions.

  Regional Extension Coordinator Oliver McConnachie explains:

  ‘I’m running a project to help farmers and land managers learn from each other through regular get-togethers, meetings and workshops.

  

  Gully transformation at Beefwood Park

  The day’s task is to push a lot of dirt around. The end result, however, will be a complete transformation of the landscape.

  At Beefwood Park, a 102-hectare property 20 kilometres west of Lakeland, Cape York NRM has supported the land manager’s challenge of turning an eroding mass of gullies into a productive landscape.

  Why? To restore the country to a healthy condition, to further the owner’s land management skills, and to keep the soil where it is supposed to be—on the land and not muddying up waterways.

  

  Better Soils, Better Water

  Words Sandra Lloyd

  The Cape York landscape has ancient and fragile soils which require careful management to ensure the long-term health of the land and connecting waters of Cape York.

  Lakeland horticulture producers recognise this and are improving farm management practices to help improve their soils, reduce runoff and improve the quality of water draining off their properties.

  

  Cape York NRM joins call for $4b land management and conservation package

  Cape York NRM has joined over 70 natural resource management, farming and conservation organisations in a call for a $4 billion stimulus package for the land management and conservation sector.

  

  Gully remediation in the Normanby catchment

  Gully remediation works are plowing ahead across the Normanby catchment through the Reef Trust IV Program.

  

  Native grasses initiative for the Mitchell River catchment

  Words Robyn May | Photo Cape York NRM

  Cape York land managers’ efforts to reduce the loss of valuable top soil, and increase grazing productivity, are being supported by a suite of native grass identification tools.

  

  Springvale Station sediment solution

  Words and photos Juliana Foxlee

  Springvale Station Nature Refuge is located 40km south west of Cooktown. Once a cattle station, the culturally – important property is now a refuge for a diverse range of vulnerable flora and fauna.

  The Palaszczuk government purchased Springvale Station in 2016 in a bid to reduce sediment flowing from the degraded paddocks into the Normanby River.

  The Queensland government is now investing in a new project which will support water quality outcomes and *Bama livelihoods.

  

  Welcome to Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter

  Welcome to our first newsletter for 2021. Some people will be glad to see the back of 2020, but there were many good things to come out of the previous 12 months. During 2020 Cape York NRM was able to restructure its operations and program support so that we are able to deliver the best on ground projects possible and we have an incredibly busy year planned for 2021. We welcome four new staff to the team and the Cooktown office is now bursting at the seams.

  

  Pest Animal and weed management survey

  The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is conducting a survey on pest animal and weed management. They are seeking assistance from owners/managers of agricultural properties to provide vital information about pest animal and weed management in Australia. 

  You are invited to complete the survey by 15 July 2019.

  

  Reef Water Quality Report Card encouraging

  Reef Water Quality Report Card shows encouraging progress towards achieving the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan targets.

  

  People on the land networking for positive practice change

  Producers on the Cape are developing peer relationships as they work together to cultivate advanced farming methods.

  Greater engagement amongst the producers on Cape York has been facilitated by Cape York NRM’s Regional Extension Officer, Oliver McConnachie, under the Queensland Government’s Enhanced Extension Coordination in Reef Catchments project.

  ‘The guiding principle of the project is that practice change is not to do with land—it’s to do with people. By focusing on the people, positive change in land management is being achieved,’ Oliver said.

  

  Welcome to the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter

  This edition of the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter highlights how the combination of solid planning and good on ground delivery combine to bring about great results.

  

  2019 Cape York Indigenous Fire Workshop

  Words and photo Robyn May

  ‘Manage landscape and all species benefit’ was just one of the many positive comments made during the feedback session following the 2019 Cape York Indigenous Fire Workshop.

  This year’s workshop was held in July at Mary Valley and coincided with the school holidays, so lots
  of kids were able to attend and learn an array of traditional fire and land management techniques while spending time on Country. This is critical as these children are the land and sea managers of the future.

  

  Coastal habitat protection for the eastern Cape

  The Communities and coastal habitats of eastern Cape York will benefit from the Australian Government’s Reef Trust funded, Catchments to Coral program. Running from 2021–2023, the project will invest in a broad range of activities that focus on improving the health and resilience of eastern Cape York catchments and coastal ecosystems.

  

  Millions of hectares on the mend

  Graziers across Cape York’s Joint Management Area (Palmer, Mitchell and Alice River Catchments) are busy delivering all sorts of exciting projects to improve native vegetation and soil health on their properties.

  Since the program began in 2018, graziers have been partnering with Cape York NRM and Gulf Savannah NRM to plan and deliver projects across 16 grazing properties in the region, spanning more than 2.3 million hectares.

  

  A decade of progress through the Queensland Government’s Paddock to Reef program

  Words Abbey Ernst and Robyn May | Photo Robyn May

  2019 marks a decade of successful operation for the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef program). 

  It is through the Paddock to Reef program that Cape York NRM has effectively continued its work with landholders in the Normanby catchment of the Great Barrier Reef.  

  

  Don your thinking caps for CAP projects

  Cape York NRM’s Community Action Plan (CAP) team will soon be heading to three communities in the south-east Cape to run workshops to develop the Cape York CAP.

  The Great Barrier Reef Foundation will compile input from six Queensland regions to create the state’s overall Plan that will identify shared goals for community Reef protection.

  

  Healthy farms healthy country on Cape York

  Cape York NRM’s Healthy Farming Futures project is working closely with Cape York’s pastoralists to help their businesses become more sustainable.

  Co-led by Cape York NRM’s Regional Agriculture Land Facilitator Andrew Hartwig, the project sees graziers in western flowing catchments in Central Cape York increase the amount of ground cover on their properties to help reduce erosion, sediment run-off and improve water quality in the Gulf.

  It also provides a pathway towards business sustainability.

  

  Reef Community Action Plan Released

  Strategies and prioritisation designed to deliver meaningful benefits to local catchments, rivers, beaches, important species, and the Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Water quality on Cape York

  Words Sandra Lloyd | Photo provided

  Cape York Natural Resource Management (Cape York NRM) has a range of projects focusing on water quality monitoring, grazing and horticulture, weeds and feral animals and gully erosion control. These projects combine to deliver a comprehensive approach to improving the sustainability of the industries and communities on the Cape along with protecting the natural assets and improving quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018

  The Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018, which assesses the results of Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (Reef 2050 WQIP) actions, was released in August this year

  

  River recovery: projects ready to run

  Three large projects to repair riverbank sites severely damaged by the 2019 monsoon trough will commence on the Endeavour River at the beginning of the 2021 dry season.

  Rehabilitation of the sites will be aided by the use of proven techniques such as bank battering, rock armouring, and revegetation with appropriate riparian plants.

  One large river bend located at Scrubby Creek will be rehabilitated using lines of timber piles vertically driven into the reshaped bank to reduce the velocity of water as it moves around the bend.

  

  Skilling up to fight erosion

  Rangers from Normanby, Melsonby and Hope Vale were first in line to take part in a series of training programs designed to combat gully erosion in Cape York.

  Held in Normanby and hosted by the Normanby Land Management Group in October this year, the first course focused on learning how to operate machinery which can be used to help mitigate damage caused by erosion.

  The first round was “very well received,” according to Cape York NRM Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality Manager Michael Goddard.

  

  Coordinated burn in southern Cape

  Words and photo Jessie Price-Decle

  Late season fires can destroy habitat, threaten property and livestock, and scorch groundcover leaving country vulnerable to erosion. Fighting fires is also a significant drain on people’s time and resources.

  

  Sawfish research along the Mitchell River

  Since 2015, Sharks And Rays Australia (SARA) has been running regular expeditions to the Mitchell River in Cape York under the lead of Dr Barbara Wueringer, an expert on sawfish and other sharks and rays.

  In July 2020, when COVID-19 travel restrictions to the Cape eased, SARA, together with Cape York NRM and Northern Gulf RMG, ran a research expedition to sample for sawfish along the Mitchell River.

• Newsletter Editions

  

  Issue 44

  

  Issue 43

  

  Issue 45

• Podcast Episode

  

  MCYL S2 Vince Harrigan

  Vince Harrigan is a Traditional Owner and Ranger from Normanby Station in southern Cape York. The 31,400 acre property was returned to his family in the 1990s. The Harrigan brothers are caring for country and Vince says he can see Country becoming healthy again. 

  The Normanby River runs through the property into Princess Charlotte Bay – and Vince knows that work being undertaken on the property is having a positive impact the health of the reef. 

  

  MCYL S2 Jessie Price-Decle

  Jessie Price is a young mum, an environmental scientist, and the Grazing Engagement Officer with South Cape York Catchments - a community-based natural resource management organisation based in Cooktown.

  Jessie began her Cape York working life as a trainee with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, a spectacular introduction to the region she loves living in and working for.

  Jessie is passionate about conservation on Cape York, and understands first-hand the challenges of having a career and raising a family in one of Australia's remote regions.

• Projects

  

  Support for targeted vertebrate pest program-Mapoon at Skardon Beach

  This project is important to lower the predation rate of >90% by feral pigs and to protect against turtle nest predation/turtle eggs/hatchlings on Skardon Beach- Mapoon. The predation rate will be reduced to a measurable/ amount by conducting a turtle monitoring survey in the turtle season 2017 - August to November under the WCTTA / NTO project . The long term risk of doing nothing is not an option – we will lose this important turtle nesting beach to 100% predation

  

  Strategic Hymenachne Eradication Program 2014 -2015

  This project implements strategic and coordinated weed management actions to reduce the impacts of invasive species on the natural, agricultural and cultural values of Cape York. 

  Hymenachne works focussed on infestations in four catchments: - Laura/Normanby, Annan, Endeavour and Daintree. In the Annan catchment work was focussed on Hymenachne in Mungumby Creek which feeds into the Annan River, Cooktown water supply at Black Mountains and down through Annan River National Park.

  

  EC mapping program to improve soil mapping suitability in Lakeland Region

  A large portion of soils within the region are mapped at 1:900,00 scale that are not considered suitable for agricultural development particularly for complicated hazard assessments including landform, slope and variation due to soil type (e.g. erodibility, infiltration rates, soil water holding capacity. For this analysis to be meaningful the scale of soil mapping would need to be improved from 1:900,000 to 1:25:000 for all lands that have been identified as suitable for intensive agricultural development.

  

  Rubber Vine Spraying on the Lukin River

  The Rubber Vine Control project continues to carry out the established efforts to contain the Rubber Vine threat to by the method of spraying the rubber vine on Lukin River on Yarraden Station. This project runs in conjunction with the Rubber Vine Control project contracted to Wunthulpa Aboriginal Land Trust.

  Project activities include:

  

  Catchments to Coral - Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystems and species protection on Cape York

  Catchments to Coral—Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystems and species protection on Cape York is a program funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust that aims to improve the health and resilience of coastal habitats within the Great Barrier Reef catchments of eastern Cape York.

  

  Rubber Vine Control, Maintaining the Established Lukin River Containment Area

  Rubber vine's ability to quickly spread and colonise areas makes it a threat to many areas of northern Australia. This project continues on previous works on the Lukin River containmnet area to further contain rubber vine. The main objectives of this project included:

  

  Cape York east coast pond apple survey and control

  This project continues the pond apple control work in the Mt Amos and Cooktown area. In association with Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, South Cape York Catchments, Cook Shire Council and the Traditional Owners, this project builds upon work already undertaken and ensure we further encourage the return of biodiversity in our unique environment. Surveys will occur in areas to the north, south and west of these currently controlled areas to further reduce the pond apple seed spread.

  

  Kimba Plateau and Crosbie, Mound Springs & Wetlands Pig Management Program

  This project will initiate a joint cooperative feral pig management program to address pig populations that are degrading important spring, wetland and culture sites on the Kimba Plateau and Crosbie Mound Springs.
  
  These springs are currently relatively weed free, but this is rapidly changing due to feral animals. The project will control pigs using aerial shooting and on ground baiting (pig grain hoppers) as a trial cooperative program to reduce pig populations. It will build from regional experience controlling pigs and work directly with QPWS.

  

  Pormpuraaw Hymenachne Aerial Control

  Containing and reducing the further spread of established Hymenachne at Pormpuraaw through control works and mapping of treated areas. 

  Hymenachne infestations are a physical barrier for aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, restricting their territorial movements and breeding activities. Hymenachne has been recognised as a Weed of National Significance.

  

  Fencing of Riparian Vegetation and Billabong Wetland

  This project was targeted to improve the water quality of Cameron Creek, part of the Endeavour River system, and the Billabong Wetland. This also assisted in protecting the rare and endemic Livistona concinna (Cooktown fan palm), and ecology of surrounding forest and wetland.
  Fencing the outskirts of riparian vegetation and wetlands guaranteed conservation and preservation of these areas for generations to come. 

  The project’s key activities assisted in:

  

  On-ground Pig Management WCTTAA

  From 2015, the Kowanyama Rangers will commence a turtle monitoring and protection program in conjunction with Traditional Owners and the Department of Environment and Heritage protection. This will include beach monitoring and nest protection programs to assess and react to the required management needs of nesting marine turtles

  

  Cape York Community Action Plan

  Cape York Peninsula is one of five Queensland regions to develop a Reef Community Action Plan for the community to take part in meaningful local action to benefit the Reef and local environment.

  Across 2020 and 2021, Cape York NRM and South Cape York Catchments ran seven workshops in Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Cooktown for Traditional Owners, youth and community members to contribute their ideas, aspirations and priorities for Reef protection.

  

  Strategic Hymenachne Eradication Program 2016-2017

  This project contains and reduces the further spread of established Hymenachne in the Normanby and Annan catchments through control works and mapping of treated areas.

  

  Traditional Owners and students rehabilitating waterways on Country

  Weeds, feral animals and fire in and around our aquatic ecosystems are a major threat to biodiversity. This project will address these critical threats across 3 key environmental areas; the upper Normanby Wetlands in the Northern Wet Tropics Word Heritage Area at the headwaters of Rinyirru NP (Salvinia) 2 Normanby Lagoons (feral pigs and cattle) and the Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor adjacent to the NWTWHA (Late season fires, Lantana and Gamba Grass)

  

  Aerial Control of feral pigs for turtle protection on Wik Country

  This project forms part of a broader pest management program delivering on a strategy of integrated aerial and on-ground feral pig control measures involving shooting, trapping and baiting to reduce pig numbers to a target of 70 percent each year over an area of more than 820,000 hectares.

  Control measures include aerial control of feral pigs by aerial shooting by expert marksmen trained in platform shooting. This project is an initial phase of an integrated pest management program to be undertaken in the land managed by Wik Projects.

  

  Lukin Rubber Vine Control Yarraden 2017

  Rubber vine decreases biodiversity and prevents access to both stock and native animals. It generally invades waterways first, where the seeds germinate in moist silt layers after rain.

  This Rubber Vine Control project continued to carry out the established efforts to contain the Rubber Vine threat by the method of spraying the rubber vine on Lukin River on Yarraden Station. This project ran in partnership with Willstock Cattle and Wunthulpu Aboriginal Land Trust. 

  

  Support for Violet Vale Station Wetlands Feral Cattle Muster

  This project will see a muster carried out of these wetland areas with an estimate to catch 100 head of feral cattle and thus reduce impacts on these important wetlands.

  

  Protecting the cultural and ecological values of the permanent terrestrial wetlands of Balcultha Creek

  The Ayapathu Traditional Owners have a rich cultural history in the Balclutha Creek Area. The Balclutha Nature Refuge area of Balclutha Creek catchment has very high ecological values (the unique permanent terrestrial wetland at “Dead Finish”) and cultural values (high density of “scar trees”).
  

  

  Containing and reducing the further spread of Gamba grass 2017

  Rangers from the Injinoo Ranger Base will implement Gamba grass control activities over and area of 50 Ha over 2017.

  

  Dawnvale Station Weed Control

  This project occurs over 3 stages and controls areas of environmental weeds on Dawnvale Station, including Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia).

  

  Pormpuraaw Nest to Ocean- Round 1

  This work will complement activities already being conducted for ‘Project CY072: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Pormpuraaw’ and as part of activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).

  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Community Action Plan Leader

  Across 2020 and 2021, Cape York NRM and South Cape York Catchments ran seven workshops in Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Cooktown for Traditional Owners, youth and community members to contribute their ideas, aspirations, and priorities for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. These ideas resulted in the development of the South-east Cape York Reef Community Action Plan (CAP), which includes priority strategies to benefit local catchments, rivers, beaches, important species, and the Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Wenlock Catchment Management Group Consultancy

  The Wenlock River requires good management, an effectively targeted work program and coordinated stakeholder and community participation to maintain these values and to reduce the impacts of populations.

  

  Investigating mussel population declines in Yuku Baja Muliku Sea Country

  This project directly addresses Yuku Baja Muliku (YBM) concerns that their mussel stocks are declining.

  

  Violet Vale Station Wetland Surveys 2017

  This is the second survey of aquatic fauna of the expansive floodplain wetlands on Violet Vale Station. Typically, wetlands are diverse ecosystems that support high levels of biodiversity and perform essential ecosystem services. Importantly, wetlands act as nursery grounds for a number of commercially important fish species such as Barramundi; sustaining natural recruitment and also recreational and commercial fishing industries.

  

  Traditional Owners and community working together to address threats to biodiversity

  This project meets three of the CFOC Environmental stream targets. Works focus on controlling 6 x weed species with 3 Traditional owner groups within 3 key environmental areas:

  • Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor site adjacent to the Northern Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
  • Aligator Creek an endangered coastal wetland environment also including weeds of Waymbuurr country in Cooktown
  • Rainforest isolates adjacent to Mt Web National Park at Starke.

  

  Containing and reducing the further spread of established Pond Apple at Hopevale and South Cape Bedford

  Pond apple (Annona glabra) threatens coastal wetland landscapes through the Wet Tropics bioregion of Far North Queensland with isolated occurrences on eastern coast of Cape York. This weed of National Significance presents a threat due to its ability to colonise and transform intact natural ecosystems, forming mono cultural thickets effectively displacing native ecosystems, the native habitats of turtles, dugongs and native birds.

  

  Griffith University Component of the Reef Trust Gully Erosion Control Project

  The project is assisting in the delivery of the main outcome of the Reef Trust Gully Erosion Control Programme; to reduce sediment loads from gully erosion by 50% in the highest priority subcatchments in the Normanby Basin. In this specific project of the Programme the remediation sites are Crocodile Gap, Granite Normanby, and the West Normanby Bridge.

  

  Sicklepod and Rubbervine Control in Palmer River Catchment

  This project will control Sicklepod and Rubber vine in the Palmer River, to stop these introduced plants advancing further along the Palmer River and out into pastures.

  Sicklepod and Rubber Vine are declared Class 2 pest plants under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Rubber vine’s ability to quickly spread and colonise areas makes it a threat to many areas of northern Australia. Due to this ability, rubber vine is listed as a Weed of National Significance.

  

  Temple Bay Pand Apple Survey and Eradication Program

  This project delivers capacity building and mentoring to the Kuku yu people, with Pond Apple survey and control within the Temple Bay area. This is done in two phases, phase one is a week long training component run at the Chuula homelands with empathies given to OH&S, Quad and Chainsaw training. The second phase is two weeks at Temple Bay with the last component of training delivered as Apply Chemicals under supervision, then a ground, Aerial and water survey done of the area to map the Pond Apple in the first week.

  

  Improving native vegetation and soil condition of grazing lands within the Joint Management Area

  Project purpose

  This project aims to improve waterway/wetland health and reduce soil loss to downstream freshwater and marine environments by improving land managers skills and knowledge in native vegetation and soil erosion management.

  Project description

  

  Guide to Grasses of Quinkan Country

  This project will produce a series of fact sheets for 30 species of grasses found on Quinkan Country.

  

  Dawnvale Station Weed Control Stage 2

  This project occurs over 3 stages and controls areas of environmental weeds on Dawnvale Station, including Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia).

  

  Mapoon Nest to Ocean- Round 1

  This work will complement activities already being conducted for ‘Project CY069: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Mapoon’ and as part of activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).

  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Mitchell River Fan Aggregation: Hymenachne amplexicaulis Eradication at Kokoberra Swamp

  The objective is to eradicate Hymenachne to prevent its spread by birds, cattle, pigs and floods to adjacent and downstream Wetlands of National Significance, (cattle exclusion fence) and managed for weeds for the next ten years as part of the KALRNMO Weed Management Program.

  The Hymenachne area at Kokoberra Swamp will be quarantined by installing 

  

  Annie River Rehabilitation

  This project at supports rehabilitation of the Annie River System at Lilyvale Station river system, which feeds directly into Princess Charlotte Bay.

  

  Fish surveys of the Jardine River catchment

  This project involves developing a rapid assessment of the fish fauna of freshwater habitats in the Jardine River catchment and nearby streams. A mix of survey methods including netting and observational approaches are used. Baited underwater cameras in dangerous waters (i.e. crocodiles) and snorkelling in small waterways provides a means of rapidly assessing the composition of the fish fauna at a range of sites. Netting is also used to verify records of species and to collect species unlikely to be seen by the visual techniques (e.g. nocturnal species).

  

  Rubber Vine control, targeting the Established Lukin River Containment Area

  The Rubber Vine Control project continues to carry out the established efforts to contain the Rubber Vine threat to within and south of the Lukin River in regards to the Cape. This project runs in conjunction with the Rubber Vine Control project contracted to WiIllmann Pastoral Co on Yarraden Station. 
  Project activities include:

  

  Hopevale and East Coast Pond Apple Control

  In association with Hopevale Council, Hopevale Congress Rangers, and the Traditional owners, this project will continue Pond Apple control work that has been ongoing in the Hopevale, South Cape Bedford, Alligator creek, and Cooktown areas for the last twenty-four years. The project will build upon work already undertaken and ensure we further encourage the return of biodiversity in our unique environment. It is also proposed to survey areas to the north, south and west of these areas to further reduce the Pond Apple seed spread.

  

  Lukin Rubber Vine Control Yarraden 2015

  This Rubber Vine Control project has continued to carry out the established efforts to contain the Rubber Vine threat to by the method of spraying the rubber vine on Lukin River on Yarraden Station also carried out in 2014. This project included 20 days of on-ground control works in conjunction with the Rubber Vine Control project contracted to Wunthulpa Aboriginal Land Trust. 

  Project activities included:

  

  Riparian Fencing on Kimba Station

  Alice River runs through Kimba Station very close to the northern boundary. Cattle have open access to a section of river from the old fence. This causes erosion of bed and banks, spreading of weeds, fouling of waterholes and higher grazing pressure in the riparian area adjacent to the river.
  This project will fence 10 kms of the southern bank of the Alice River thus creating a fenced corridor along the river where grazing can be controlled. One dam inside the fence will be needed to supply water to the cattle when excluded from the river.

  

  Development of a Carbon Prioritisation Spatial Framework

  This project facilitates and develops a carbon prioritisation spatial framework for Cape York now and into the future. The project uses existing models, such as those being used by April Reside and Bob Pressey of James Cook University, and adapts and populates them with data for Cape York. The data might include fire, soils, vegetation, wetlands, culture, management regimes and land use. The project aim is to model different outcomes for Cape York based on different, mostly policy, scenarios. A number of maps reveal different opportunities based on different settings.

  

  Working with land managers to reduce the economic and environmental impacts of high priority weeds

  This project will deliver priority feral pest and weed management activities with Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc will coordinating delivery of this project. The project which will address priority weed and pest animal management in rural areas where they have a significant economic and/or environmental impact. In many cases landholders will make significant cash and/or in kind contributions to the project.

  

  Rubber Vine Control, Targeting the Established Lukin River Containment Area 2016

  The continuation of the Rubber Vine Control works on Lukin River Containment line has shown a targeted approach which continues to reduce the threat of Rubber Vine extending past the containment line. The control works continue to be a success, building on the previous 3 years of on ground works to contain and reduce Rubber Vine along the Lukin River. The areas controlled in 2016 cover a total area of approx 784 ha with 28 km of River.

  

  Violet Vale Station Wetlands Fencing Project

  Violet Vale Station contains 1,896 hectares of wetlands that are listed as wetlands of National significance in the Department of Environment’s Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

  

  Nest to Ocean Support Rnd 2 - Napranum

  Cape York NRM have received funding through Round 2 of the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program (NTOTPP) to support the on-going work of the Napranum Ranger Program to protect marine turtles nesting on coastal areas managed by the Napranum rangers. This work will complement activities previously conducted as part of ‘Projects CY071: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Napranum’; ‘CY097: Nest to Ocean Round 1 Support - Napranum and activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).
  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Combatting Litter and Illegal Dumping Partnership with UMI Arts

  This project is being delivered by a collaborative partnership between Cape York Natural Resource Management and UMI Arts with the goal of instilling awareness of the effects and creating a personal sense of responsbility within the community of littering and illegal dumping.

  Targeting and educating perpetrators of littering and dumping, community members, visitors and the general public across Cape York about the impact these issues have on their envorinment.

  

  Chilli Beach - Weeds Infestation Control, Esplanade Revegetation, and Beach Dune Restoration

  This project included the control of weed infestations and the protection of natural beach and dune flora near Chilli Beach as well as the revegetation of the area surrounding the esplanade. The repair of dune degradation from vehicle access was also an integral part of the project.

  

  Guide to Grasses on the Kimba Plateau

  This project will produce a series of fact sheets for 15-20 species of grasses found on the Kimba Plateau and adjacent areas (Cape York Peninsula). These fact sheets will assist land owners and managers to identify grasses in the Kimba Plateau area, especially grasses of concern to the management of endangered Golden Shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius). 
  This project follows and builds on the Guide to the Grasses of Quinkan Country project toward a future guide to the grasses of the entire Cape York Peninsula.

  

  Facilitating engagement in the Mitchell River Catchment Area

  This project builds on previous engagement with landholders from the “Your Climate” planning project undertaken from 30 March-30 July 2014 period in the Mitchell River catchment area. Full project proposals are developed with assistance of Mitchell River Watershed Catchment Management Group Inc

  

  Building Traditional Owner capacity to maintain water quality on traditional lands

  This project will protect wetlands along the Morehead River in Cape York. It will build the capacity of Traditional Owners to achieve improved water quality outcomes by fencing cattle away from the river frontage. In addition to learning how to build and maintain fences, participants will be trained in weed control, wetland monitoring and fish surveys, and cattle management across the property.

  

  Support for targeted vertebrate pest program- NPARC/Apudthama Land and Sea Rangers

  NPARC/Apudthama Land and Sea Rangers will undertake activities to target predators of turtle nests, eggs and hatchlings. As part of the West Coast Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance, these activities represent part of the on-going efforts to reduce the potential impacts of feral pigs on nesting marine turtles.

  

  Traditional Owners and trainees rehabilitating waterways on Country

  Weeds, feral animals and fire in and around our aquatic ecosystems are a major threat to biodiversity. This project will address these critical threats across 3 key environmental areas; the upper Normanby Wetlands in the Northern Wet Tropics Word Heritage Area at the headwaters of Rinyirru NP (Salvinia) 2 Normanby Lagoons (feral pigs and cattle) and the Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor adjacent to the NWTWHA (Late season fires, Lantana and Gamba Grass)

  

  Monitor water quality characteristics in the Wenlock River system

  The 300 kilometre long Wenlock River is a system of major ecological and cultural importance with high scenic values, and holds evidence of evolutionary connections with New Guinea. It provides food sources for locals, is used recreationally by anglers, campers, and naturalists, as well as by commercial fishers.

  

  Strategic Pest & Weed Management July-Dec 2014

  This project is part of a 3 year program that implements strategic and coordinated pest management actions to reduce the impacts of invasive species on the natural, agricultural and cultural values of Cape York. The project implements landscape scale containment and control of specific invasive weeds on Cape York through improved prevention, response capacity, surveillance and detection of weeds and helps establish a better baseline to monitor emerging weed problems. 

  Project activities include:

  

  Normanby and Annan Catchment Strategic Hymenachne Eradication Program 2017-2018

  This project contains and reduces the further spread of established Hymenachne in the Normanby and Annan catchments through control works and mapping of treated areas. It includes negotiation of control works with relevant land managers by further surveying of existing infestations and implementation of appropriate control measures, mapping and photo points of treated areas and provision of these data sets.

  

  Improving the quality of water entering the GBR lagoon project

  This project contributes to improvement to water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef by enabling landholders on priority grazing properties in the Laura-Normanby catchments of Cape York to tackle high risk issues impacting water quality in the GBR Lagoon. This is achieved via delivery of a recipient run grants program delivered by Cape York Sustainable Futures through partnerships with Cape York NRM, industry, community, government agencies and research organisations.

  

  Controlling Amos Bay Pond Apple Infestation

  This project will increase the level of protection against pond apple for coastal ecosystems on the east coast of Cape York, including mangrove, paperbark swamp and coastal littoral forest vegetation types as well as a number of Wetlands of National Significance. At a local level, the project will allow natural rehabilitation of the project area, an unusual coastal springs environment fed by groundwater flowing from the adjacent 900m Mt Amos.

  

  Support to the Cape York WQIP for GBR Catchments

  South Cape York Catchments worked together with Cape York NRM develop the Cape York Water Quality Improvement Plan for the Great Barrier Reef Catchments. This project had two components aimed at producing outcomes central to the water quality improvement plan:

  

  Portland Roads Road Verge Weed Management

  This project ensured the performance of a comprehensive spraying program using Glyphosphate and Conqueror along roads around Portland Roads and Chilli Beach. This project was enacted with assistance from the Cook Shire Council and numerous other organisations.

  

  Ethnobotany with Muunthiwarra Traditional Owners

  Muunthiwarra Aboriginal Corporation have commenced a small grant project with Cape York Natural Resource Management to support communities managing landscapes within waterways, wetlands and springs on country. Munthiwarra traditional owners have elected project activities to include recording of ethnobotany and sharing of traditional knowledge of botany of the lakes with traditional owners.

  

  Catchment Solutions

  Three rainfall simulations will be undertaken at each of four different land use combinations as soon as possible after the wet season (plus 3 demonstration/field days). Simulation runs could include:

  

  Scaling up Normanby basin gully and stream bank remediation in priority areas

  Primarily at sites situated around the Laura and Normanby Rivers of the Normanby catchment, the program involves land management improvement and the active remediation of gullies. Funded by the Australian Government's Reef Trust over five years (2017 to 2022), Cape York NRM is working with land managers, contractors, and engineers to design and deliver best practice gully remediation projects in the Normanby catchment.