Wet Tropics – Far North Queensland

The Wet Tropics’

BackyardTerrain NRM - Annual Report 2011/12

One of the great things about working for Terrain is that it’s like being part of an extended family across the whole region. This annual report reflects the effort of many people and organisations across the Wet Tropics, without whom successful natural resource management (NRM) would not be delivered. Terrain and its partners combined to successfully deliver and in many cases exceed targets across more than 20 funding agreements with Australian and Queensland Governments and partner organisations. In addition to this we administered over 460 outgoing contracts and landholder agreements to deliver projects and implement water quality improvements. I would like to thank everybody for their efforts to deliver the wide range of projects.

Some highlights of this past year’s achievements are:

• Completed the Yasi recovery projects including work by Operation Clean Up crews and Green Armies at more than 119 properties, 210 ha habitat restoration, 44.5 ha control of WONS and 34,090 ha pig control.

• Delivering 2011/2012 Reef Rescue and preparing for 2012/2013 (the final year). The estimated total for all five years will be 911 grants for farm practice improvement and more than 1,700 farmers involved.

• Coordinating water quality sampling for the Herbert with more than seven partner organisations.

• Partnering with local government and River Improvement Trusts to deliver best practice waterway and coastal disaster recovery projects.

• 30 community groups supported, 19 community groups supported to work with schools, engaging 282 youth and assistance to 18 Traditional Owner groups.

• 1,525 pigs killed as part of a critical and coordinated pest management partnership in Cassowary Coast and Hinchinbrook between Terrain and local governments, land managers and government agencies.

• A reduction in the impact and spread of WONS over 360 ha.

• 150 ha increase in protection of endangered ecological communities.

• 28 landholders actively engaged in cassowary and mahogany glider habitat restoration.

• Partnership with Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils to deliver key regional outcomes with local government including the FNQ Regional Pest Management Strategy.

• Successfully sampling and monitoring cane and banana paddock management practices as part of the Paddock to Reef water quality project.

• Developing a draft framework for the Wet Tropics region Healthy Waterways Management Plan.

• Made submissions on draft national, state and local plans and policies to ensure Wet Tropics natural resources are recognised (e.g. National Wildlife Corridors Plan, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Reform, Queensland Biodiversity Strategy, Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy, and local government planning schemes.)

Please enjoy reading the highlights in each of the region’s catchments and more details of major programs later in this report.

While also delivering on projects, we have been working hard to ensure NRM investment in the Wet Tropics region, securing Queensland Government funding for 2012/2013, providing input to the new Caring for our Country program, working to secure funding to update the Wet Tropics NRM Plan and working with other NRM regions and industry organisations to secure a further five years of Reef Rescue.

In addition we embarked on a process of talking directly with interested community groups, organisations and staff about Terrain’s role in NRM. All of that information has been utilised to create Terrain’s Strategic Directions for 2012 – 2017. This document seeks to clarify Terrain’s mandate and ensure that the role we play improves community, economic and environmental outcomes. With a mission to inspire and most importantly enable landscape scale improvement, this will mean some changes to the way we work. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year to determine how we can best achieve our mission. An extract from the Strategic Directions is provided for your information.

RegardsCarole

Carole Sweatman

CEO’s Report

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In agreeing on its direction for 2012-2017, Terrain’s Board seeks to ensure that our legacy is a stronger and healthier community and landscape. Our mission is:

We aim to do this by:

1. Facilitating the prioritisation of NRM outcomes for the Wet Tropics. The primary mechanism is the Wet Tropics Regional NRM Plan, of which Terrain is the custodian on behalf of the community.

2. Building the strength and autonomy of a wide network of partners and organisations by garnering, directing and disseminating knowledge and resources based on NRM priorities, not necessarily on equal distribution.

3. Focusing effort to achieve the region’s priority NRM goals. This is based on a collaborative and well communicated NRM Investment Portfolio.

4. Monitoring, reporting and communicating the successes, failures and lessons learned from NRM activities as the basis for continuous improvement and innovation.

5. Working closely with Traditional Owners and communities to ensure that local Indigenous knowledge and cultures are respected and incorporated into NRM planning and implementation.

6. Providing appropriate support to enable diverse and strong local capacity to deliver on-ground priorities. Terrain only delivers on-ground where appropriate alternatives are not available.

7. Striving for the highest corporate governance standards and openly communicating results in financial, legal, human resource and business activities.

The strategic focus for Terrain in the coming five years will be to:

A. Focus on the Big Picture

• to build a clear and common understanding of regional priorities and catalyse actions to achieve them

• that is visionary and embraces the challenge of finding new approaches to dealing with complex problems

• to influence government and decision makers on key issues

• while demonstrating best practice in natural resource management

• which recognises the interdependence of social, economic and cultural aspirations with landscape health.

B. Build Beneficial Relationships

• that are the foundation of NRM common ground between government, Traditional Owners, community and industry

• that recognise and respect Indigenous culture and land management practices

• that harmonise collective effort for improved landscape management

• based on mutual understanding of roles, goals and priorities

• that recognise Terrain as a legitimate partner in integrated NRM.

C. Champion Strategic Investment

• based on a collaborative and well communicated NRM Investment Portfolio

• that builds/expands the NRM funding base for the region

• that channels resources to achieve more effective outcomes based on strong science, traditional and local knowledge and learning

• that supports community initiative and innovation that contribute to regional priorities.

D. Demonstrate Organisational Excellence

• based on integrity, empathy and transparency

• based on good corporate governance and efficient and effective accountability

• that contributes to the wellbeing of Wet Tropics community.

2012-2017Terrain Strategic Directions

To make a difference by inspiring and enabling action to improve the health, wellbeing and lasting value of Wet Tropics landscapes and communities.

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A change of government in Queensland and a review of Regional NRM delivery by the Australian Government has demanded lots of meetings, reports and lobbying in Canberra and Brisbane.

In addition, Terrain has been looking hard at its own role and the way it works. This is never easy, and it puts both community and staff on edge, but it’s considered important to enable delivery on priority NRM and on community expectations across the region. It also puts us ahead of government’s investment expectations, and to ensure our core functions are secure where revenue sources are short term and/or insecure.

I believe the Board and staff have approached this task collaboratively, strategically and humanely. Our ideal world would be one where we regional bodies don’t need to exist because all land managers, community, non-government organisations, industry groups and Traditional Owners are well informed, committed, manage their natural resources sustainably and are funded for the ecosystem services they collectively deliver. We’re still a long way from that.

Our next big task will be the first redraft of our Wet Tropics Regional NRM Plan, funded by the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future program. Not only will the plan need to reflect community aspirations, it will need to meet the Australian and Queensland Government’s expectations. It will also need to work with statutory plans, land use plans, water resource plans, Reef Plan, industry changes and Traditional Owner aspirations for their country.

The ongoing, rapid decline in Great Barrier Reef health, the emerging port and coastal development driven by mining, and the UNESCO report threatening to declare the Reef as a ‘World Heritage in danger property’, have all combined to ensure we need to work even harder to help resolve these complex NRM issues. We are working hard to ensure funding for Reef Rescue for another five years. We think this type of program is delivering great results and helps accelerate practice change in the Wet Tropics, with local farmers contributing $1.30 for every government dollar.

Finally thanks to our staff for their skills and dedication and welcome to one new board member, Russell Watkinson.

Mike

Mike Berwick - Chair

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Chairman’s Report

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Mike Berwick – ChairMike was awarded the Order of Australia for Service to Conservation and the Environment through initiatives supporting the preservation of the Daintree Rainforest and Far North Queensland. He is involved in a wide range of local, state and national land management groups.

Julia Leu – Director Local GovernmentJulia is a Councillor with Cairns Regional Council, a Wet Tropics Management Authority Director and a National Sea Change Taskforce member. She has 15 years’ experience in community services, health, housing and Indigenous affairs. Julia and her husband live on a commercial certified organic exotic fruit farm in the Daintree.

Dave Hudson – Director Catchment and CommunityDave has been involved in community based on-ground NRM activities for over 20 years. He worked for Conservation Volunteers Australia from 1995 until 2012, when declining health forced his retirement from fulltime employment. He and his partner own a nature refuge property which is undergoing a long term rehabilitation program.

Peter Rowles – Director ConservationPeter has been a secondary school biology and marine studies teacher and is now spending time on his interests of natural history and the promotion of conservation and ecologically sustainable land management. He has a long history as a member of a number of community organisations.

Ryan Donnelly – Director Coastal and MarineRyan works at the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. Ryan’s background is in tropical fisheries research, management and marine conservation, mainly in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ken Atkinson – Director Upper HerbertKen is a fifth generation Mt Garnet beef producer and a commercial aerial mustering operator. He is currently a Director of the North Queensland Saleyards Company, and Fire Warden and First Officer of the Anthill Rural Fire Brigade.

Joann Schmider – Director IndigenousJoann is a Mamu person involved in Traditional Owner, cultural and regional development through planning and community capacity activities. She has a passion about communities sharing knowledge and stories across country and cultures. She is looking forward to living back in country in the Millaa Millaa Wooroonooran National Park area.

Keith Noble – Director Industry Keith is a tropical fruit grower from Tully, a Land Use Planner, and previously, a Director of Growcom, Troplinks, Australian Tropical Fruits, and Australian Tropical Marketing. Before realising his ambition to ‘go farming’, Keith spent 20 years working in natural resource management throughout Australia.

Troy Wyles-Whelan – Director IndigenousTroy is a Traditional Owner from the Warrgamaygan people in the Hinchinbrook/Herbert River district. He is a long-term member of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and on the Board of Directors for the North Queensland Regional Aboriginal Corporation Language Centre.

Russell Watkinson – Director World Heritage (appointed Nov 2011)Russell has held several Senior Executive positions in parks, fisheries, marine parks, conservation and NRM in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. He was previously a Wet Tropics Management Authority Executive Director, has qualifications in landscape ecology and has a passionate commitment to sustainable land use.

Peter Valentine – Director World Heritage (retired Nov 2011)

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Highlights:

• Successfully implemented one Reef Rescue 2011/2012 waterways project, focusing on improved water quality coming off cane farms.

• Secured funding for eight waterways projects in Reef Rescue 2012/2013 for sites at Daintree River, Douglas Creek, Bamboo Creek and Saltwater Creek.

• Supported Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation to carry out surveys and remove Pond Apple over approximately 4 ha of coastal reserves, undertake coastal rehabilitation and up-skill Indigenous staff for future employment.

• Connected community, government, and Traditional Owners by facilitating biodiversity forums to prioritise projects and strengthen linkages between groups.

• Supported Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Group to survey 20 ha of littoral native vegetation and remove Lantana at Bloomfield.

• Engaged four new volunteers in water quality monitoring and investigated potential point source pollutants in Port Douglas, in partnership with Cairns Regional Council and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

• Supported the Whyanbeel Action Group and volunteers to stabilise two eroded areas and link riparian vegetation with surrounding World Heritage rainforest by planting approximately 0.5 ha to connect 1.5km stretch of creek.

• Facilitated the successful application for one Community Action Grant in partnership with the Douglas Shire Sustainability Group.

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High priority repairs for Cassowary Creek Farmers along Cassowary Creek north of Mossman have formed the Cassowary Creek Catchment Group to work collectively on reducing sediment losses from their land, repairing degraded areas, increasing connectivity between fragmented hill slopes, and improving water quality in the creek’s upper reaches.

They’ve combined their efforts with those of Cairns Regional Council (CRC) and Terrain to plan for and implement water quality improvements in the catchment.

“I could see parts of the river bank being affected by erosion and felt it was time to do something about it. With the help of Terrain, the catchment group provides a forum for me and my neighbours to learn from each other, come up with solutions together, and apply for resources to enable this work to continue,” said Joe D’Addona, cane farmer and President of the Cassowary Creek Catchment Group.

All of the farmers in the group are actively using on-farm land management practices to minimise soil and nutrient losses from their paddocks as well as planting over 9,000 trees so far. Minor earthworks have also been carried out to stabilise a 300m eroding section of riverbank. All the native trees used were provided by the CRC’s Mossman Nursery.

John Anich helped plant 2,800 trees during a single planting in 2011. John is actively involved in the catchment group and has worked hard to maintain the riparian areas adjacent to his farm situated downstream.

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Highlights:

• Successfully implemented five Reef Rescue 2011/2012 waterway projects, three in wet grazing and two on multi-crop farms.

• Secured funding for two waterways projects in Reef Rescue 2012/2013.

• Coordinated the planting of 2,300 Mabi forest trees over 1 ha in partnership with Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands, Barron Catchment Care (BCC), Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) and the Department of Environment and Resource Management. The planting was the beginning of the rehabilitation of a large former grazing lease adjacent to Curtain Fig National Park.

• Supported TRC and landholders in the development of five property management plans to control weeds and rehabilitate threatened areas.

• Supported TRC to develop and implement a public awareness campaign about invasive species.

• Formed and facilitated the Mabi Action Group which connects government, community and research partners to better manage Mabi forest. This collaboration has already resulted in more than 40 ha of weed management and the establishment of a CSIRO research project around Mabi forest planning and restoration.

• Supported BCC to produce their new website.

• Assisted 100 school students to get involved in environmental rehabilitation through BCC.

• Engaged one Green Army team which provided Indigenous employment and training opportunities.

• Supported Eacham Landcare to secure a Small Farmers’ Field Day grant.

• Supported TRC in Disaster Recovery activities including coordinating response initiatives and restoring waterways.

• Supported BCC to link community groups, Cairns Regional Council, Conservation Volunteers Australia, and Cairns Airport to build capacity and achieve a variety of on-ground outcomes via the Barron Delta Community Engagement project.

BARRON DAINTREE/MOSSMAN

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Atherton State High School students and teachers along with community

volunteers at the Mazlin Creek site.

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Brought back from the wild!An overgrown rundown space that encouraged anti-social behaviour near a school and residences on the Tablelands, has been transformed into a clean and well-used recreational area, as well as a place for students to study the environment.

Over 100 Atherton State High School students learnt about water quality, biodiversity and the environment at Mazlin Creek by getting dirty and wet, picking up rubbish and planting 400 trees over two hectares of creek bank. The high school will now use the site for science classes, including monitoring water quality and other issues.

One volunteer said, “By cleaning up the area and claiming it, we hope it will reduce the negative issues.”

The long term vision for this area is to connect to other walking tracks within Atherton, and provide a place for people to enjoy the beauty of the area.

Catchment

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Local history and knowledge… at hand when neededTerrain’s Mulgrave Coordinator Bruce Corcoran, recognises the need to share the successes and lessons learned from Mulgrave Landcare and Catchment Group’s (MLCG) partnership with Terrain on long-term, on-ground activities. He and MLCG members hosted four tours in the catchment for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the International Coral Reef Symposium, the National Water Commission and the (NRM) Regional Groups Collective.

The tours showcased the many success stories of the MLCG, including schools partnerships, long-term community riverside restoration, larger scale riparian plantings, on-farm Reef Rescue partnerships, Landcare owned & demonstrated agri-BMP (best management practice) equipment, ‘range-to-river’ creek restoration and proactive cane growers who are key members of the MLCG.

These projects and partnerships are also the subject of one of only two case studies presented by the Australian Government to an international OECD forum on effective community natural resource management.

National Water Commission members learning from the knowledge and experience of local Landcare group members and Terrain staff.

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CatchmentHighlights:

• Implemented a complex, Reef Rescue 2011-12 waterway project involving multiple farms, revegetation and bank stabilization. Secured two 2012-13 Reef Rescue projects – innovative sediment trap design and a reconstructed wetland with riparian repair linking two creeks.

• Assisted Mulgrave Landcare and Catchment Group (MLCG) to maintain a regular weekly presence at local schools, providing practical activities and information, and mentoring of students in biodiversity, sustainability and science projects.

• Supported MLCG in securing a six year $740,000 Biodiversity Fund project, for corridor restoration and Weeds of National Significance (WONS) control in the catchment.

• Implemented a $20,000 Community Action Grant (CAG) project agri-BMP (best management practice) project and secured a new $10,000 CAG for community area restoration.

• Assisted two Traditional Owner groups with technical advice on water monitoring programs using Indigenous knowledge and bio-indicators.

• Contributed to the development of the Wet Tropics Healthy Water Management Plan for the Mulgrave Catchment, and the draft Environmental Values for the Mulgrave River.

• Supported MLCG to trial narrow native revegetation corridors, connecting a total 2.25 ha over 15 sites.

• Coordinated planting of 2 ha revegetation, 1.3km of riparian enhancement, 2 ha of WONS control and 1.2km of stream bank stabilisation.

• Worked with two farmers to encourage innovative farm practices as part of Project Catalyst.

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Small group aims big onlineWith support from Terrain, a smart and informative website has been launched by Russell Landcare and Catchment Group (RLCG), seeking to reach out to the community and connect with people who care about the area’s natural values.

The website, along with the Group’s Twitter and Facebook pages, contains maps, plans, scientific reports and awareness raising information, and acts as an interface so locals can find information about their ‘backyard’. It also encourages conversation and involvement in the Group’s activities. Innovative initiatives to attract new interest in the Russell Catchment included a photo competition on Facebook where many amazing images of the catchment and associated wetlands are displayed, helping connect people to the website.

Cairns Regional Council works with RLCG on many project sites, and their Pest Management Officer, Matt Birch commented on the competition, “The Eubenangee Photo Competition resulted in some fantastic shots of biodiversity and the importance of these local areas.”

To take a look at the website, go to www.russellriver.org and/or Facebook RLCG.

Photo by Brett Smith – one of the many beautiful images featuring aspects of

the Russell Catchment submitted on the Group’s Facebook page.

Highlights

• Facilitated the implementation of two Reef Rescue 2011/2012 waterway projects, focusing on stabilising priority reaches of Babinda Creek.

• Supported Russell Landcare and Catchment Group (RLCG) to address coastal littoral rainforest issues at Bramston Beach.

• Supported RLCG to obtain a Community Action Grant (CAG) of over $18,000, of which approximately $3,000 was allocated to build the profile of the group in the community, raise awareness of the catchment, and promote the work being done to manage it.

• Assisted RLCG in obtaining a Community Action Grant to raise awareness and prompt works on coastal reserves and adjacent wetlands.

• Supported RLCG to raise its profile within the community, resulting in the group attracting two regular community volunteers to support the operations of the office and group.

• Coordinated the finalisation of management actions for Environmental Values relating to the draft water quality guidelines for the Russell River.

• Contributed to the draft Russell River Healthy Water Management Plan.

Catchment

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JOHNSTONE

Highlights:

• Supported the delivery of nine Reef Rescue 2011/2012 waterway projects in both the Upper and Lower Johnstone, including sediment traps, two major riparian restorations and gully revegetation.

• Secured funding for five Reef Rescue 2012/2013 waterways projects.

• Supported an alliance between Traditional Owners, Johnstone Region Landcare, Ella Bay Resorts and Cassowary Coast Regional Council to improve nesting for marine turtles.

• Provided technical support for the development of the North Johnstone River Management Plan.

• Assisted Malanda Landcare to engage with Tablelands high school students about sustainable farming and World Environment Day.

• Coordinated the finalisation of management actions for Environmental Values relating to the draft water quality guidelines for the Johnstone River.

• Supported Johnstone Ecological Society in repairing and enhancing remnant rainforest and cassowary habitat around Bulguru Wetland.

• Contributed to the draft Johnstone Healthy Water Management Plan.

• Provided technical advice and support to the Johnstone River Improvement Trust to undertake works in waterway recovery.

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Catchment

There’s nothing like dedicationAfter 18 years, the Johnstone Ecological Society (JES) continues to put in a great effort to rehabilitate Bulguru swamp from an old dump site, to an area of great biodiversity and public amenity, with rare and native plant species, as well as birds and wildlife.

The old Johnstone Shire Council (JSC) landfill site covers approximately 27 ha of scattered mounds where trucks previously dumped their loads of rubbish on the ground. Those mounds are now thick with vegetation and a bird hide has been established.

JES member Elaine Ridd said, “Lying at the headwaters of Ninds Creek, the swamp marches to the north and west with coastal rainforest to the east. With its permanent and ephemeral wetlands, the area had potential for connectivity which is so important to native fauna.”

A Priority Corridors Small Grant of $5,000 from Terrain, helped JES reopen many tracks at Bulguru. Selective herbicides are being used to control weeds and encourage natural regeneration, and more tree plantings will continue to take place into the future.

Elaine said, “There is still a lot of almost impenetrable Guinea grass to be removed but already the site is improving. Cassowaries and groups of spoonbills have been seen using the tracks to get from water hole to water hole. That is just the encouragement JES needs to start applying for more grants to continue the restoration work at the old dump site.”

Members of the Johnstone Ecological

Society enjoying a walk through Bulguru

Swamp.

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Highlights:

• Removed 775 feral pigs over 180,000 ha in partnership with various industry and government groups.

• Due to the major post Yasi projects, there were no Reef Rescue 2011/2012 waterways projects. However, Reef Rescue 2012/2013 will see the implementation of four waterways projects.

• Contributed to the Wet Tropics Paddock to Reef Water Quality Monitoring Program, including monitoring, paddock runoff, and undertaking data management, analysis and reporting.

• Coordinated the finalisation of management actions for Environmental Values relating to the draft water quality guidelines for the Tully and Murray Rivers.

• Supported 235 ha of post-cyclone revegetation, improving six nature refuge properties.

• Facilitated the ‘Crazy About Cassowaries’ partnership of community groups, landowners, Traditional Owners, and government to prioritise corridors for revegetation.

• Secured funding from Rainforest Rescue to deliver a cassowary corridor revegetation project.

• Assisted Mission Beach Tourism to develop signs promoting special places where reef and rainforest World Heritage Areas meet.

• Facilitated two workshops with vegetation experts from research, government and Traditional Owner organisations to improve mapping of endangered littoral rainforest.

• Coordinated the inaugural community intertidal fauna survey to share marine biodiversity knowledge.

• Contributed to James Cook University’s report on traffic impacts on cassowaries and mitigation strategies.

TuLLY/MuRRAY Catchment

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Wet Tropics endangered species get an $825K boostAfter years of community engagement and planning, Terrain NRM has been successful in securing $825,000 from the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Open Round for a project to save mahogany gliders, cassowaries and littoral rainforest.

The project will work directly with landowners and agencies to increase and improve habitat by supporting on-ground action including revegetation, weed and pig control, fire management and fencing. A large component of this project is being delivered in the Tully/Murray catchment areas, which has both cassowary and mahogany glider habitat. Additional work is being undertaken in the Herbert Catchment.

Terrain has collaborated with many partners over the past three years to develop a program which builds resilience in the landscape, supporting some of the region’s most iconic places and animals.

This project signifies the importance and scale of the threat to the region’s biodiversity, including the impacts of development and natural disasters.

Partners include the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Girringun Aboriginal Rangers, CSIRO, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Wet Tropics Management Authority and Conservation volunteers Australia.

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Tania Simmons (Terrain) and Daryl Dickson (Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland) unveiling the first of four new interpretative mahogany glider signs at the Cardwell golf course.

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Data to guide dollars = Herbert Water Quality MonitoringTerrain is playing a part in building trust between the farming industry and government in a project that will steer future investment to meet water quality goals.

Coordinated by Terrain, the project provides industry leaders and NRM managers with scientifically robust water quality data which informs decisions about best practice farm management techniques and improved water quality.

The project is essential to provide the level of data required to help Terrain and partners target extension efforts and develop management strategies to improve the long-term sustainability of the Herbert River Catchment.

After only one year of data collection, partners have already used the information to improve water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon by targeting improvements to land management practices.

Funded by Queensland Government, local councils and the Australian Government through the Sugar Research and Development Corporation, partners include Canegrowers Herbert River, Herbert River Catchment Group, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council and Terrain NRM.

Highlights:

• In total, Reef Rescue is currently funding seven waterways projects.

• Engaged 10 new canefarmers in Project Catalyst. The project aims to boost innovation in north Queensland cane farms to improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

• Partnered with Hinchinbrook Shire Council (HSC), Herbert Cane Productivity Services, Forestry Plantations Queensland, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to remove 750 feral pigs over an area of 80,000 ha.

• Coordinated the Herbert Water Quality Monitoring on behalf of multiple investors.

• Supported HSC to undertake awareness raising and mapping of Weeds of National Significance.

• Engaged with landholders to improve mahogany glider and cassowary habitat, linking important vegetation corridors.

• Facilitated changing landholder practices through the Herbert Water Quality Monitoring Program and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Extension and Education Pilot.

• Engaged a Green Army team to assist with on-ground restoration works for a range of partners after cyclone Yasi.

• Contributed to the Wet Tropics Paddock to Reef Water Quality Monitoring Program.

• Coordinated the finalisation of management actions for Environmental Values for the Herbert River Healthy Waters Management Plan.

• Provided technical and coordination support to the Ingham Earth Smarties Program, engaging students and teachers in water quality monitoring.

Michael Nash (Terrain) taking water samples with Sergio Fighera (landholder).

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REEF RESCuE uPDATE

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TEThe $200 million, five year Australian Government Reef Rescue

program seeks to reduce the amount of nutrients, chemicals and sediments entering the Great Barrier Reef. This is achieved by helping farmers and graziers in Reef catchments to adopt land management practices that improve the quality of the water leaving their properties and entering nearby waterways.

Terrain is responsible for delivering the program for the Wet Tropics region on behalf of the Federal Government.

Reef Rescue delivery is a partnership with landowners and industry groups in the region including Canegrowers, Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation, Growcom, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Mossman Agricultural Services, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, BSES Ltd, AgForce and the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Wet Tropics regions’ landholders are demonstrating increasing interest in Reef Rescue grants and water quality improvements as shown by demand for Reef Rescue incentives. The following summary gives the five year overview of the grants component of Reef Rescue.

Reef Rescue Project Statistics for the Wet Tropics

Round 1 2008/2009

Round 2 2009/2010

Round 3 2010/2011

Round 4 2011/2012

Round 5 2012/2013 TOTAL

Number of Funded Projects 109 132 206 188 276 911

Number of Applications 264 299 279 313 427 1,582

Grants Approved $2,539,724 $2,809,852 $4,038,387 $4,569,689 $4,878,321 $18,835,973

Total Project Funding $5,962,213 $6,380,272 $9,621,519 $9,523,848 $12,024,606 $43,512,458

Results so far.....While we are still delivering the final year of Reef Rescue,

preliminary results for the whole program have been provided to give you an overview of the significant results being achieved:

• $18.8 million has been invested in the region over five years to improve farm management to reduce water quality impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.

• $24.6 million has been invested by farmers and graziers to improve their land management practices.

• 1,582 applications received over five years from Wet Tropics landholders for grants, aimed at improving land management practices, of which 911 were funded, reaching 1,196 landholders. This represents 45% of landholders in the Wet Tropics region.

• 1,702 farmers participated in Reef Rescue via grants and training (excluding the number of farmers who will be participating in training during round five). This represents 64% of landholders in the Wet Tropics region.

• Estimates made at the end of 2011/2012 suggest:

» a 21% reduction in human induced nutrient load entering the Great Barrier Reef from fertiliser application

» at least a 17% reduction in pesticide loads entering the Great Barrier Reef

» at least a 2.5% reduction in sediment loads from agricultural practices entering the Great Barrier Reef.

Note: Results for nutrients and sediments are measured much more accurately over a 20 year period. The results listed here are only estimates against modelled load data, which is frequently updated by research. These are calculations of what the impact might have been using reasonable assumptions. Not all pesticides are monitored. The Paddock to Reef project data is likely to provide better information for estimating impacts. These estimates will be available at the end of 2012.

Sam and Steven Lizzio have worked on reducing sediment runoff from their banana farm.

Update

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Category five Tropical Cyclone Yasi hit parts of the Wet Tropics in February 2011. By the end of the year, working with a wide range of partners, Terrain Clean Up teams had completed:

• 210 ha restoration to priority habitat areas.

• 44.5 ha control of WONS in critical habitat, corridors and waterways.

• 34,090 ha pig control in high priority habitat areas.

• Stream bank and wetland restoration on 21 properties.

• Restoration of fencing on 10 Nature Refuge properties.

• Fire risk assessment and planning on more than seven properties.

• Terrain’s Operation Clean Up and Green Army teams worked on 119 properties over a six month period.

The Clean Up teams were supported by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government’s ‘Skilling Queenslanders for Work’ initiative.

In addition, Terrain has also focussed on capturing and sharing the “Lessons from Yasi” to:

• Capture personal stories and identify innovative strategies that farmers, communities and government had put into practice after Cyclone Yasi, which were included in the documentary, ‘Living in Cyclone Country’.

• Develop a Cross-Sectoral Resilience Strategy, addressing the more formal aspects of recovery.

• Provide input into Codes of Practice and Recovery Guidelines to ensure that the “Lessons from Yasi” are integrated into disaster response policies and procedures.

The delivery of this project was greatly enhanced by Terrain’s extensive network of partners including local government, Queensland Government agencies, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Traditional Owner groups, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Conservation Volunteers Australia and a range of local community groups.

Terrain’s documentary ‘Living in Cyclone Country – what we learnt from Yasi’, is available for viewing on the Terrain website.

Terrain continues to support cyclone recovery in the Wet Tropics through the Waterway Restoration and Review Project. The project supports four river trusts, three regional councils and Conservation Volunteers Australia to stabilise and revegetate priority waterways and beaches using best practice methods.

Recovery

UpdateFor over twenty years, Rainforest Aboriginal peoples have

been heavily involved in the cultural and natural resource management of the Wet Tropics region.

The Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples’ Alliance (RAPA) was established in 2009, combining two separate Traditional Owner advisory groups to form one body, which now represents Traditional Owner interests to both government and non-government organisations.

The RAPA held a Cultural and Natural Resource Management Summit in 2010, at which over 60 Traditional Owner representatives pledged support for the Strategic Regional Alliance. Membership includes more than 55

cultural and natural resource management legal entities, three registered cultural heritage bodies, 11 prescribed and/or registered native title body corporates, and other unincorporated bodies and individuals within the Wet Tropics rainforest region across 20 Traditional Owner groups.

Terrain NRM is named as a key partner to RAPA and has assisted in the development of a Business Plan (2012), a Strategic Plan (2012 – 2017) and other ongoing projects.

For information, contact rapacoordinator@gmail.com or Like ‘RAPA coordinator’ on Facebook.

Highlights:

THE RAINFOREST ABORIGINAL PEOPLES’ ALLIANCE

One of Terrain’s Clean Up teams in action.

Ter ra in NRM - Annual Repor t 2011/2012 19

Community Financial Report

This report aims to provide an overview of Terrain’s funding sources and activities for the 2011/12 Financial Year. Readers are referred to the complete Terrain Audited Financial Statements 2011/12 for detailed financial information. The program allocations and breakdown by funding source are shown in the first two charts below. The expenditure by activity and the work completed by Terrain staff are illustrated in the charts at the bottom of the page.

Terrain Statement of Expenditure 2011/2012 Terrain Staff Activity 2011/2012

Terrain Funding by Program 2011/2012 Terrain Programs by Funding Source 2011/2012

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Biod

iversi

ty

Susta

inable

Farm

Prac

tices

for W

ater

Qua

lity

Indig

enou

s Lan

d and

Sea P

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ams

Wet

lands

, Wat

eran

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stal

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rnan

ce an

dKn

owled

ge M

anag

emen

t

Disa

ster R

ecov

ery

Carb

on

Australian Government Caring for our Country - Regional Investment Strategy

Queensland Government Q2 - Regional Investment Strategy

Australian Government Reef Rescue

Australian Government Reef Rescue - Paddock to Reef Monitoring

Australian and Queensland Government Disaster Recovery

Other Programs

2011/12

Employee Expenses28%

Unexpended andCommittedGrant Funds

11%Board Expenses

and Fees1%

ProjectDelivery

Costs7%

PartnerContracts

for OngroundDelivery andExtensions

14%

Partner Contracts for ProgramPlanning

5%

Grants to Landowners34%

Ter ra in NRM - Annual Repor t 2011/2012 14

Sustainable Farm Practicesfor Water Quality

59%

Biodiversity11%

DisasterRecovery

12%

Carbon2%

Wetlands,Waterwaysand Coastal

7%

Governanceand Knowledge

Management5%

IndigenousLand and Sea

Programs4%

Catchment Coordinationand Field Teams

38%

NRM Planning16%

DisasterRecovery

22%SustainableFarm Practices

12%

Project DeliverySupport

12%

GR

EA

T

B

AR

RI E

R R

EE

F

WO

RL

D

H

ER

IT

AG

E A

RE

A

TABLELANDS REGIONAL

CAIRNS REGIONAL

WUJAL WUJAL

COOK

YARRABAH

CASSOWARY COAST REGIONAL

HINCHINBROOK

PALM ISLANDPALM ISLAND

ETHERIDGE

CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL

TOWNSVILLE CITY

Cairns

Mossman

Innisfail

Babinda

Gordonvale

Ingham

Daintree River

Mossman River

Barron River

Mulgrave River

Russell River

Johnstone River

Tully River

Murray River

Herbert River

Towns

Terrain NRM Office Locations

Terrain NRM Region Regional Council Boundaries Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

Catchments

KEY

Contact us:

Terrain NRM 2 Stitt Street, Innisfail QLD 4860 PO Box 1756, Innisfail QLD 4860 Email: info@terrain.org.au

This publication was printed on recycled paper

which was derived from well-managed forests,

controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre.

Terrain NRM

Phone: +61 7 4043 8000 Fax: +61 7 4061 4677 Web: www.terrain.org.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/TerrainWT Twitter: twitter.com/terrainNRM

Region