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Current & Recent Projects
 

IN THIS SECTION

Djungan Cultural Centre
Bar Barrum Cultural Centre
Irvinebank Landcare
Molloy Lagoon

Salvinia Removal at Mt Molloy
Bellyache Bush in the Catchment
Julatten State School Learning Garden - Q150 Grant
.Best Practice Irrigation Workshop
EnviroFund Projects in the Catchment
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Djungan Cultural Center - Wongoo

The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (MRWMG) assisted the Djungan community of Dimbulah in their successful application for Round 2 of the Commonwealth Government Community Water Grants.

This Community Water Grants project involves partnerships between the Djungan community, MRWMG and the Australian Agricultural College Mareeba Campus. As part of their Engineering Certificate courses, Indigenous students from the college constructed rain catchment shelters and bases for the water tanks under instruction and mentoring from college trainers and Djungan program officers.

Rainwater tanks and roof catchment structures have been installed at four sites at Wongoo near Dimbulah - each site being an existing training area for various Djungan training programs. The training programs are aimed at youth and include auto mechanics, horsemanship and cultural knowledge and support. The tanks and shelters at each site will provide drinking water and shelter, and also reduce the existing need to extract water from the Walsh river. The project will enable the collection and storage of approximately 467,700 litres of rainwater per annum and enable more reliable and extensive programming of training activities in the dry season.

Each site will include a sink that drains onto a small food garden next to it, ensuring smart re-use of any wastewater generated.

 

CURRENT PROJECTS

Julatten Mt Molloy Habitat Restoration - Small Grants Scheme

Preventing the Spread of Tilapia

 

 

 

 

 

Wongoo pic1
Community Water Grants project: site#1

Shown here are prepared tank bases ready for arrival of water tanks, and two Australian Agricultural College-Mareeba Campus students with a Djungan Program Officer constructing rain catchment shelters - April 2007.

 


wongoo pic 2
Community Water Grants project: site#1

Australian Agricultural College-Mareeba Campus students constructing rain catchment shelters - April 2007



 


Completed shelter and tanks
Community Water Grants project

Completed shelter and tanks- December 2008

 

Bar Barrum Cultural Center

The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (MRWMG) worked with the Bar Barrum people to secure grant funding for projects helping them in their ventures to better manage and connect with their country.

The Bar Barrum Community Water Grants project:

The installation of more rainwater tanks was made possible by a grant under the Australian Government Community Water Grants scheme. Five rainwater tanks with a total storage capacity of around 188,000 litres (approx 41,000 gallons) have been installed at three sites at the Bar Barrum Outstation near Petford - the two major sites being the Community Hall and the Cultural Centre. Combined, it is estimated that the tanks will reduce extraction from the near-by Emu creek by up to 375,000 litres per year and maintain fresh water sources for the Bar Barrum community. Members of the Bar Barrum community and the MRWMG also provided in-kind support during the course of the project.

Renovation of the Cultural Centre was a follow-on project carried out jointly by the Bar Barrum community, MRWMG and Green Corps. A picture below right, show volunteers from the three groups preparing and painting the Cultural Centre after the delivery and installation of a 10,500gal tank and a 6,500gal tank (photos of this also to the right).

Bar Barrum Cross-cultural Workshop

In November 2005 the Bar Barrum community received one of only 21 Community Awareness Grants from the Department of Natural Resources Mines and Water. This grant was used in conjunction with other sponsorship to run a Cross-Cultural workshop at the Bar Barrum Cultural Centre. Held over two days, it combined Indigenous science with Western science to help get Aboriginal youth back on country. The programs provided an exchange of knowledge on natural resource management, including issues such as fire management and biodiversity.

Special thanks to the following sponsors for making this event possible:

  • Cape York Sustainable Fire Project
  • CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
  • Department of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Policy
  • Department of Natural Resources Mines and Water
  • Mitchell River Watershed Management Group
  • Northern Gulf Indigenous Savannah Group
  • Northern Gulf Resource Management Group

Other Activites:

The Queensland Government's Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) provided $5000 to the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group for the purchase of a new  water tank for the Bar Barrum Cultural Centre at Emuford. Everyone involved in this project was excited to see the tank arrive on site on May 18, 2005.

In October 2005 the Bar Barrum community received funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) to buy a second water tank.

Also In October 2005 several community members completed a tourism course, and held a workshop in May which provided young people with skills to support a cultural tourism venture on Bar Barrum country.

Revegetation projects have been carried out at three sites, two of which have been established to control Bellyache bush infestations (see related project article further down this page).

reveg siteBar Barrum Revegetation site 3


planting
Bar Barrum Revegetation site 1 - Tree planting.

 



culture_centre
Community Water Grants project site#2 - March 2007

After the delivery and installation of two rainwater tanks, Bar Barrum community members, Green Corps volunteers and MRWMG jumped into action to give the Cultural Centre a new lease of life with a scrub down, some light maintenance and a fresh coat of paint. The task took three days for which Green Corps and MRWMG members camped on site.



Bar Barrum Site1 Tank Installation Installation of tanks, site#1 - June 2007

Cultural Centre: at approximately 7 metres wide and 30 metres in length, the roof span on this building collects plenty of rainwater for storage in these 10,500 gallon tanks.



tank delivery photo
Delivery of water tanks to Bar Barrum site#2 - January 2007


water tanks
The first water tank funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund     

R-L: Rob, Lily, Max, Richie, Nikki, Kaylenna, Leewayne, Jermaine, Lester

graduation
October 2005 Bar Barrum Tourism graduates with lecturer Marcey Urken (L)

 

workshop
Bar Barrum Cross-Cultural Workshop

Eric Vanderduys (R) from CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems presents a captured lizard to children while conducting a survey at Bar Barrum Outstation.


Painting the cultural centre
Volunteers painting the Bar Barrum Cultural Centre near Petford.

 

Julatten-Mt Molloy Habitat Restoration - Small Grants Scheme

The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group has recently received additional funding from the Queensland government to provide grants for habitat restoration works in the Wet Tropics area of the upper Mitchell River catchment.  This funding will enable the recently completed habitat restoration grants scheme to be extended for 2009-10.

The $80,000 of grants awarded to landowners in the Julatten-Mt Molloy corridor in 2008-9 assisted them in restoring the habitat values of their land.  Individual projects have replanted rainforest on cleared land (including land used for grazing and sugarcane), restored the vegetation in riparian (stream bank) areas and fenced off wetland areas to exclude feral pigs.  Grants awarded between December 2008 and February 2009 have, to date, resulted in the planting of at least 13,000 trees on 6.5 hectares of previously cleared land on 12 different properties.  The efforts of landowners have both increased the habitat value of these properties and improved the connectivity between the World Heritage Wet Tropics sections either side of this valley.

Landowners are invited to apply for grants, typically from $2,000 to $6,000, for projects making a contribution to the biodiversity of the region through building habitat islands / stepping stones and removing barriers to movement of species between the protected areas of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.  However, requests for larger grants will be considered for projects having a significant outcome in key locations.

Grants can also be applied to the removal of barriers to fish movement and the restoration of wetlands and riparian vegetation to enhance biodiversity in the streams of the project area.  Applicants will be expected to make significant in-kind contributions in time and resources, if not expenditure of additional funds.

This project is supported by the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group, through funding from the Queensland Government’s Q2 Coasts and Country.

Contact Brynn Mathews by email at brynn@mitchell-river.com.au or by phoning 40533471 if you wish to lodge an application.

More information
Grant Application Form
EPA Map of Ecosystems
Map of Project Area


Best Practice Irrigation Management
- Plant & Soil Moisture Monitoring

Two workshops, funded by Northern Gulf Resource Management Group and organised by the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group, were held at Dimbulah and Mareeba on 24 June 2008. Presentations were given by George Russell from Growcom on the why and how of moisture monitoring and then by Fabian Gallo of HydroTech Monitoring on the technology available for moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling. Those who attended the Dimbulah workshop also heard from Berto Srhoj about the sophisticated computer controlled system he had installed in his citrus orchard. Berto then showed everyone the information about his crop he could access on his computer, from anywhere on the planet, before taking them for a look at the actual system installed in the orchard.

Bert Srhoj's citrus orchard, Dimbulah Explaining soil moisture monitoring
Berto Srhoj explaining his irrigation management system in his citrus orchard, Dimbulah


Irvinebank Landcare

Irvinebank Landcare Group was established in November 2004 and the community of the historic mining town of Irvinebank in far north Queensland is enhancing the natural environment of Irvinebank by creating a native garden. Natural Resources and Mines awarded Irvinebank Landcare Group $2500, through the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (MRWMG), to carry out a community rehabilitation project at Gibbs Creek, Irvinebank. The community with the support of MRWMG, Tableland Regional Council and QITE Work for the Dole program, established this native garden, now known as Moffat Gardens.

Irvinebank Landcare Group members have prepared eight garden beds, installed an irrigation system at the site and since April 2005 have planted more than 350 native trees. The community chose the site at Gibbs Creek, formerly an old rubbish tip, as it was an entry point to the township and the site was covered in weeds and rather unattractive.

"The planting will beautify the area while helping to raise awareness of the role riparian vegetation plays in the health of rivers and creeks, including stabilising creek banks and reducing erosion," Irvinebank Landcare Group Chairperson Donna Meade said.  "It will also help local residents and visitors appreciate the diversity of plant life native to the Greater Irvinebank area". Irvinebank is regarded as a botanically important area and is known among plant enthusiasts for some of its  endemic species, including Acacia purpureopetala and Grevillea glossadenia.

The Landcare Group,through the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group, was approved for project funding in the 2005 round of grants from the nationwide Bundaberg Rum Fund. $2505.00 of funding has been provided to repair and protect Gibbs Creek. The Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund is in its second year and is a joint initiative with Landcare Australia to help protect and repair Australia's rivers and waterways.

The principal aim of this project (stage 2 of a broader project) is to remove a major infestation of the weedy succulent Agave sisalana (Sisal) and later revegetate the site using a range of suitable native plants to meet both aesthetic and environmental objectives. A report has been compiled by Simon Gleed for the Irvinebank Landcare Group and the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group titled Revegetation Guidelines & Recommendations For Gibbs Creek, Irvinebank (2005) Compiled By Simon Gleed 
Click here to view an article about Irvinebak and Sisal on the Northern Australian Land Manager web site.

Weedbuster week is a national program that aims to raise awareness and increase public understanding about the problems weeds cause.

The students of Irvinebank school showed their enthusiasm for tackling environmental issues  when Andrew Congoo (NR&M Land Protection Officer) visited the school to talk about weeds. Andrew and the kids (along with their teacher Belinda, and Donna from Irvinebank Landcare) walked around the school grounds and identified what weeds are there. Using this information, they will develop a  plan to address the weed issues. One of the school’s worst weed problems is Mother of Millions.

The Irvinebank Landcare Group is also part of the Keep Australia Beautiful, Adopt-A-Road program.



 



cleanUpAustDay pic
Clean Up Australia Day - 04 March 2007


MOFFAT GARDEN

Photos below show the transition of the site so far.
moffat gardens 1

Project site in November 2004

moffat site 2
Project site official opening
2 September 2005

moffatt gardens 3
Project site June 2006

moffatt sign
Project site February 2007

 

OTHER IRVINEBANK PROJECTS

Other activities, projects and events
IrvinebankPlanting
Working Bee planting 26 Feb 2007


studentsIrvinebank State School students during Weedbuster week activity October 2005
moffat

Botanist Simon Gleed among sisal,
Agave sisalana
, on Gibbs Creek

 

Molloy Lagoon

This lagoon area was very neglected with lots of rubbish and weeds. The MRWMG obtained funding through the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group devolved grants for Wetland Management to rehabilitate the site.

A volunteer work crew cleaned up old fencing, scrap iron and general rubbish. Sickle pod and lantana were removed from the area. QPWS provided a truck to remove rubbish and the area was fenced to keep out stray horses by a team from the Mareeba campus of the Australian Agricultural College. The Julatten and Mt Molloy Association of Residents and Ratepayers (JAMARR) nursery at Mt Molloy provided 120 tree seedlings to thicken up the remnant open forest/woodland vegetation on the site. The tree seedlings were rock mulched, rather than with straw, to protect them in the event of grass fires and not attract pigs.

Paperbarks at the northern end of lagoon have ANT PLANTS, Myrmecodia beccarii, a species listed as vulverable under the EP&BC Act. The area was recovering well when a controlled burn in the adjacent National Park went through the area and destroyed the poly-pipe irrigation system. Subsequently the area has been further degraded by dirt-bike riders and a three day rave party. The area is also subjected to uncontrolled camping with fires being lit, stray horses are still a problem in the area and the declared weed Olive Hymenachne has also been found upstream from the lagoon. This is an unfortunate example of how a project can get off to a good start and suffer due to poor care and maintenance by the property manager.

 



molloy lagoon
Sicklepod at Molloy lagoon June 2004

site pic 2
The same site Dec 2005

 



Molloy Lagoon tree plant Sept06
September 2006 - Marcus Achatz joining in the tree planting

Stone Mulching Molloy Lagoon
Rupert Russell of JAMARR stone-mulching juvenile trees - October 2006



 

Preventing the spread of Tilapia

• Work has been ongoing on this issue for several years with much of the initial groundwork undertaken by the Barron and Mitchell Groups, further efforts by the Mitchell Group finally achieved some positive outcomes.

• During 2002-2003 meetings were held with Minister Robertson and the CEO of Sunwater, Mr Peter Noonan regarding the issue of noxious fish, Tilapia escaping from Lake Tinaroo and infesting the Mitchell River and other Gulf Rivers.

• After demonstrating the legal implications Sunwater agreed to give this project their full support and has spent approximately 1.2 million dollars to install mesh screens and associated infrastructure to prevent the escape of Tilapia into the Mitchell River system through the irrigation channel that transfers water from the Tilapia infested Barron River catchment to the Walsh (and Mitchell) catchment.

• Sunwater, DPI Fisheries and the MRWMG formed a Tilapia Working Group to address engineering and biological aspects of the stainless steel mesh fish exclusions screens.

• The screens were installed in November 2004 and are now operational.

However, this has only controlled one of the pathways for Tilapia to get into the Mitchell catchment and, in January 2008, a regular monitoring program by DPI Fisheries officers found Tilpia in Eureks Creek west of Dimbulah. Whilst this stream is right at the end of the irrigation channel system the location, number and age distribution of the Tilapia suggested they may have been transported as live bait from the Barron River or Lake Tinaroo and dumped in the creek. After extensive public consultation a successful eradication campaign was carried out in October 2008 by dosing a five (5) kilometre section of the creek with Rotenone. This also killed all the native fish in this section of the creek, but they have very successfully recolonised it since. See the Tilapia articles on the "News and Issues" page and "Home" page for more information.

 



screens
Fish exclusion screens on the West Barron irrigation channel at Walkamin

 

Salvinia Removal at Mt Molloy

The introduced water weed Salvinia grows annually in the lagoons in the park on Little Street in Mt Molloy. Salvinia reproduces vegetatively and it's control in these lagoons is an important part of limiting it's spread down the Mitchell River catchment. Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (MRWMG) is working with the local community to physically remove the weed and Tablelands Regional Council has been introducing the weevils that act as a biological control for Salvinia. Thirteen dedicated weedbusters got wet and muddy on Friday July 4th 2008 and cleared Salvinia from these lagoons, including one that was completely covered and two with minor amounts around the edges.

MRWMG has received a grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for the purchase of a trailer which will greatly assist this, and other, weed removal work. Kenny Hill of Vision Products & Services, our neighbours in McCormack Street, Manunda, very kindly donated two pool leaf scoops with telescopic handles which were invaluable in getting the Salvinia out of the lagoons in Mt Molloy.

FRRR Logo

If you see Salvinia anywhere else in the Mitchell River catchment please report it to MRWMG on (07) 40532856

 

Salvinia removal Mt Molloy
Mt Molloy, 4 July 2008 - Lagoon with total Salvinia cover

Young volunteers removing Salvinia
A very different school holiday activity - young weedbusters

 

Bellyache bush (BAB) in the Mitchell catchment

There are two infestations in the Mitchell catchment and the Group has worked with landholders and government and Council staff, assisted by funding from the Australian Government, to try and control these outbreaks before they infest the whole river system. So far these infestations are only within the high banks of the waterways but BAB is happy to grow in most soil types and pasture covers and quickly out-competes native vegetation. It impacts on our biodiversity, the native flora and fauna.

In Queensland its area of infestation has increased 70% in the last two years. It is a huge problem in the Burdekin. BAB is poisonous to stock and people.

The Queensland government Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) has produced a Bellyache Bush Management Manual (2009) and copies can be obtained by email or phoning (07) 3225 1398.

Bellyache bush -The Mitchell Group was successful in gaining a $15,454 dollar Envirofund grant in Round 4 for the Palmer River and $7818 from Round 5  for the Walsh River to work on the noxious weed Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) to prevent it spreading further into the Mitchell River system. 

The Group worked with Council Pest Management Officers, landholders and students from the Mareeba Environment College.   Students have already helped spray the weed out on the Walsh River infestation.

Cook Shire Council, the Cape York Weeds and Ferals Program and staff from the Tropical Weeds Research Centre are also supporting the Palmer River project and Cook Shire have provided equipment for loan as well as spray to work on management. Control of existing outbreaks is critical, but so is good weed control hygiene practices by people moving earth-moving or mining equipment out of the areas where BAB occurs to prevent new infestations.

 


bellyache

Bellyache bush Jatropha giossypiifolia

..
Bellyache bush on the Palmer - the low dark
plant among the tall trees


..

Bio-control agent Agonosoma trilineatum (Jewel bug)

 

Julatten State School Learning Garden & Bush Tucker Trail- Q150 Grant

Q150 logo

Mitchell River Watershed Management Group is helping the Julatten State School with their Learning Garden project by auspicing a Queensland Government Q150 grant, a grants program set up to celebrate Queensland's 150th Birthday. The project will provide signage for the bush tucker native species they have planted, install interpretive signs on the natural and cultural heritage of the area, install community artwork, and publish a brochure to guide visitors through the Learning Garden. These enhancements will involve the local community and will help to inform visitors of the natural and cultural values of the area.

Julatten State School will hold an opening ceremony for their Bush Tucker Trail as a part of the Q150 celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Queensland. The event will be held at Julatten State School on 7 December 2009 from 10am. Those interested in attending should contact Claire Law via claire@mitchell-river.com.au or details listed on the contacts page.

Julatten School students in garden

Julatten State School: students working in their vegetable garden

Julatten School Learning Garden and Gazebo

Julatten State School: Learning Garden and Gazebo

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Special Feature:
EnviroFund Logo
 
EnviroFund Projects in the Catchment
 

Envirofund was an Australian Government funding programme that helped community groups and individuals to undertake on-ground environmental activities. This programme was introduced as a part of the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) but was absorbed into the Caring for Our Country program in 2008.

There have been many successful projects in the Mitchell Catchment that have been funded by the Envirofund Programme. Three current successful projects are described below.

 

These projects aimed to enhance the environmental conditions of the Mitchell Catchment, and would not have been possible without the support of the Envirofund programme. The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (MRWMG) supported many successful applicants for the Envirofund programme and has attempted to replace this funding source with our own Julatten-Mt Molloy Habitat Restoration Small Grants Scheme in 2008/9 (see above).

 

Ken Brown's EnviroFund planting day
13 January 2008
10 friends and neighbours plant some of the 8000 young trees planned for this revegetation site.

Tree Seedlings July 2008
4 July 2008
Planting well established.

 

Ken Brown - Planting Native Species for Habitat Enrichment in Julatten, North Queensland

Ken Brown’s property in Julatten borders a seasonal creek and is located just meters from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The area has significant biodiversity values, located within the boundary zone between the Wet Tropics bioregion and the Mitchell River and Einasleigh Uplands bioregion. The project will plant 3000 trees of mixed species to restore native vegetation and increase the biodiversity of the site. Ultimately, the property objectives are to reduce run off of sediment on the property into the nearby creek, and provide habitat for the local fauna through vegetation corridors to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Ken has already removed the weed vegetation and commenced planting with the help of friends and neighbours, some of whom are seeking to start their own revegetation projects.

More rainforest tree planting
More planting of rainforest species


 

Mulching at Mt. Molloy Copper Smelter
August 2007
Rolling out hay during a mulching working bee.

PLanting Day at Molloy Smelter
January 2008
Revegetation begins with the first of a number of planned planting days.

 

Peter Brown - Rehabilitation of Mount Molloy Copper Smelter: Revegetate Land Damaged by Old Copper Smelter Operations

This project will control erosion through the construction of swales along the edge of terraces and stabilise soil by planting 2500 local native plants. Contaminated sediment from the old copper smelter site has previously been entering Rifle Creek and this project will control this by limiting erosion and collecting any sediment that does escape from the area.

CVA Work crew 23 April 2008

Conservation Volunteers Australia work crew preparing new plants on site in April 2008


 

Wetherby Station - wetland with hymenachne control

Wetherby Station, June 2008 - Wetland under development showing hymenachne control measures (Right centre of photo)

John Colless - Revegetation, Wetlands Enhancement and Erosion Control on Wetherby Station, MountMolloy

John Colless has initiated this project to revegetate and repair a part of Wetherby Station on Rifle Creek which was previously used to grow sugar cane. Stock has been excluded from wetlland areas, weeds (including hymanachne) controlled and native trees planted. The restoration of wetlands within this part of the Mitchell River catchment using endemic species will help increase biodiversity, develop fauna corridors and control erosion. John will achieve this through the construction of 1.59km of fencing, planting 2550 endemic trees, controlling weeds, and correcting bank erosion.