Gulf Croaker – October 2022

October 2022

CELEBRATING BIODIVERSITY MONTH

FANTASTIC FINCHES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM pg. 11-14

WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP THE NORTHERN QUOLL pg. 23-24

CREATING SAFE HAVENS FOR NATURE IN THE NORTHERN GULF pg. 7-10

TURTLES IN TROUBLE

Feral pigs are a major pest in the Gulf — causing serious damage on environmental, social, cultural, and economic fronts.

They prey on wildlife, destroy habitats, compete for food resources, and damage wetland ecosystems. Even small groups of pigs can cause significant damage to the water’s edge in a very short space of time. By destroying vegetation, feral pigs can lead to higher rates of erosion and nutrient and sediment resuspension into the water column, impacting on water quality also.

Particular concerns have been raised about the impact pigs may be causing on freshwater turtle species in wetlands of the Gulf. As turtles need to aestivate—which means they will bury in mud and river sands during the dryer months when seasonal wetlands and watercourses have dried up—they are particularly vulnerable to predation from pigs, who root and forage for food in dry riverbeds and along the water's edge.

Gulf Savannah NRM is working in partnership with Tagalaka and Ewamian Traditional Owners to get to the bottom of this issue. While there is no evidence or data on the scale and extent of feral pig impacts on freshwater turtle numbers in the Gulf country, studies have been undertaken on sites in Lakefield National Park on Cape York Peninsula. There are conflicting claims about the

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extent of the damage from people living in the Gulf, and experience will vary depending on the exact area, the abundance of pigs and existing pig management on different sites.

Exclusion fencing could protect freshwater turtle habitats from feral pig foraging activities; however, the choice of which lagoons to fence should only be made with an understanding of their seasonal usage by freshwater turtles. It is clear more investigation is needed on what could be a widespread issue.

Gulf Savannah NRM has secured funding to conduct a freshwater turtle survey on Littleton National Park with Tagalaka Indigenous rangers, thanks to Queensland Government.

If the problem is as bad as we think it may be, we will be working towards a conservation program around selected wetlands in partnerships with Traditional Owners and pastoralists.

Thank you to the Wettenhall Environment Trust and the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science’s Community Sustainability Action Grant program for supporting these efforts.

05 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO The Northern Gulf is a place of diverse landscapes, from magnificent river systems to rich grasslands and open woodlands, and is home to many at-risk, vulnerable or endangered species.

We're celebrating Biodiversity Month with this issue of the Croaker and taking a look at some of the incredible species in our region, including our vulnerable Greater Gliders and the spotty, endangered Northern Quoll.

We can all play our part in helping our wildlife and landscapes stay healthy. On page 7, read about the Gulf locals creating safe havens for nature on their properties.

Litter Quitter

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Zoe Williams CEO Gulf Savannah NRM

ABOUT GULF SAVANNAH NRM We're a not-for-profit organisation working to promote healthy landscapes while supporting local people and enterprise. Come say hi at our offices in Georgetown, Croydon and Mareeba.

Fantastic Finches

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gulfsavannahnrm.org 4092 1088 admin@gulfsavannahnrm.org

Cover image Tagalaka Ranger James Beasley holding a turtle at Littleton National Park (photo taken by James Donaldson)

Grazing With Nature

GULF COUNTRY ART IN THE SPOTLIGHT Shenane Jago, a proud Kurtijar woman living and working in Normanton, is debuting her first solo exhibition which gives "a taste of the country in the Gulf". The exhibition will run at UMI Arts in Cairns until the end of October 2022.

KOWANYAMA GEORGETOWN'S GIANT PLANTER

MAREEBA KARUMBA NORMANTON GEORGETOWN

A new precision cotton planter built in Mareeba for Strathmore Station (near Georgetown) stretches 60 metres, making it one of the world's biggest.

Source: North West Star, May 2022

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD A new supermarket is opening in Normanton to address remote food prices and support neighbouring Gulf communities.

Source: North West Star, August 2022

G'DAY GULF: ABOUT OUR REGION 03

9,660 people live in the Northern Gulf

GULF SAVANNAH

ROUND UP KEEPING COMMUNITY SAFE Efforts are underway in Kowanyama to control loose dog numbers, reducing disease and helping to keep the community safe - but more work is needed.

Source: ABC Far North, August 2022

SUNSET FOR SALE Fancy yourself a potential publican in the making?

Karumba's iconic Sunset Tavern is up for sale after 16 years of ownership by the current managers.

Source: North West Star, July 2022

NATIVE TITLE RECOGNITION FOR THE KURTJAR PEOPLE The Gulf Country’s Kurtjar People will continue to protect their land and pass on their knowledge after an historic native title determination near Normanton.

Source: Queensland Government, July 2022

88% land use is grazing on native pasture

The area is 234,021 square kilometres

Over 196 reptile, 455 bird and 118 mammal species live here 04

QUITTING LITTER IN KOWANYAMA

NATARSHA BELL “Plastic is everywhere – hidden in plain sight in our pantries, laundries and wardrobes; from tea bags strings and waterproofing of cardboard to the nylon and polyester fibres in our clothing.

This makes reusing and recycling very important – but have you ever stopped to wonder about the complexities of recycling and waste management in a small, very remote, outback community?

In early August, Gulf Savannah NRM's Natarsha Bell and Enviromart Australia’s Di Creasey visited Kowanyama for the final stop of our Litter Quitter project, talking to Council, Indigenous rangers and local business-people about the challenges and opportunities for managing waste in remote communities. Here's what they had to say about the trip.

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Di Creasey and I went on an adventure to Kowanyama to yarn about quitting litter and talk about the challenges and opportunities with the people there.

Di and I met with Kowanyama Indigenous rangers, who were interested in the opportunities to recycle ghost nets, as they recover these off their beaches several times a year.

Di shared her knowledge on phasing out single use plastics, and told us about the amazing recycling programs operating in other small communities such as Burketown, where the local Plastic Collective has brought a Shruber machine that breaks plastic down into pellets of different grades. Council’s Executive Officer Mr Kevin Bell is willing to investigate purchasing the same machine for Kowanyama. Removing broken down vehicles, separate bins for recycling and composting of organic waste are also pressing issues for Kowanyama.

What I have learnt is that, in our small outback communities, successful recycling programs need a champion. Someone who is passionate about rubbish collection to keep streets clean, about recycling and turning food waste into valuable compost.

Remembering that we are the traditional custodians of our homeland, we will keep striving to keep our country litter free because it is our responsibility for the next generation.

managed, and who told us that Containers for Change hadn’t failed due to a lack of support but a lack of organisation. Kowanyama Aboriginal Council are committed to getting it happening again and they have seen first-hand the litter piling up since it ceased. Only a week before our visit there was an announcement that Containers for Change would be returning to the community.

And this time, the Council will be employing someone to manage the program, to make sure it succeeds.

I’d like to thank Mr Kevin Bell, Beatrice Lawrence and John Brisbin from the Kowanyama Shire Council; Vicky from ABIS Supermarket; Finn Buckley from Kowanyama State School; Senior Rangers Fitzroy Lawrence and Anzac Frank; and the team from Parks and Gardens for making us feel so welcome in Kowanyama.”

Before leaving for Kowanyama, I had the pleasure of speaking with Louise Hardman from the Plastic Collective. She has built a machine capable of processing the plastic waste that has washed up on our shores, which she has used to successfully process ghost nets in Burketown. She has turned a waste problem into an asset for the community.

DI CREASEY “I was invited by Gulf Savannah NRM to deliver a series of presentations to introduce the new Queensland Government laws surrounding changes to plastic food packaging regulations.

My last stop was to be in Kowanyama. I'd been told that Containers for Change had been trialled here but that it had failed due to a lack of support, so I went to the community worried that my words might fall into the dusty brown earth and wash away into the Gulf along with the litter.

Many people have tried for years to find a way to utilise them and clean up our beaches, and she has done it with her Shruber machine. I am totally impressed! Her approach to the problem is simple but effective and underpinned by a commitment to working with local people to create employment and turn waste into profit.

There are many solutions to managing waste out there, just as there are passionate committed people to drive them forward. It was a pleasure to talk to some of those people in Kowanyama and share ideas for quitting litter.”

This project has received funding support from the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant program.

My hope was to reinstate support for Containers for Change, encourage composting of organic material, and create an awareness of plastic pollution and ways to reduce our dependency on it. This is not just a problem in Kowanyama, or the Gulf… it is a problem everywhere.

However, what we found in Kowanyama was a passion for change, a commitment to doing this for the environment, for future generations and because it is the right thing to do – not just because of the new laws.

We met with Council and Indigenous rangers who want to see water and plastic litter better Front, L to R: Beatrice Lawrence, Natarsha Bell, Anzac Frank Back, L to R: Kevin Bell and Fitzroy Lawrence

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SAFE HAVENS The Gulf properties providing a refuge for wilderness and prospering from it

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Have you seen the “Nature Refuge” signs as you travel through the Gulf and wondered what they are about? Are they private property, or something like a national park, and why would you have one?

As the name suggests, a Nature Refuge is just that—a place where nature is safe, nurtured and protected.

added to in 2012 with sections of the Gilbert River, and then in 2018 the whole property was declared a Nature Refuge.

They are created under the Queensland Government’s Private Protected Area Program, and Gulf Savannah NRM has been involved with their development over many years.

“The Nature Refuge agreement requires a management plan for our property. That outlines how we’ll manage the property to protect the amazing environmental and cultural values we have,” Lyn said.

A Nature Refuge is a voluntary agreement between a landholder and the Queensland Government which serves to conserve a property’s significant natural and/or cultural values.

The Government, upon declaring an area a Nature Refuge (subject to a few simple criteria) can then offer the landholder financial assistance to protect, maintain and improve it.

Within the Gulf Savannah NRM region there are now 26 declared Nature Refuges which cover some 410,000Ha. Across Queensland there are more than 550 Nature Refuges covering more than a third of the state’s total protected area, making it the largest program of its type in Australia.

It hasn’t changed what we do in a big way, but it has allowed us to access the expertise in the Government to write our management plan, and understand some of the technical details better.

“It has also allowed us to tap into some funding to bring forward plans we had for the country by many years. For us, this has included fencing, establishing tracks, making our property more drought resilient and making our fire management program—a must for our country to keep it in pristine condition,” she continued.

But wouldn’t a nature refuge restrict what a landholder can do with their private property?

Not if it marries up with a landholder’s business.

Indeed, it will actually improve said business, whether it be carbon farming, sustainable beef production or ecotourism. Importantly, Nature Refuges do not change the access to a property; they are not a National Park.

A good example of why you would choose to have a Nature Refuge is that of Gilberton, approximately 130km south of Forsayth. The property has been in the family for seven generations. In 2005, Rob and Lyn French had a section surrounding a natural spring (some 800Ha) declared as a Nature Refuge. This was Above: Solar pump at Gilberton (photo supplied by Phil Bourke) Left: Lake Fred (photo supplied by Phil Bourke)

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“We run a diversified business, with both beef and a successful five-star luxury eco-tourism venture. The Nature Refuge system fits well with our operation, and provides only up-sides for what we want to achieve. We are not greenies, but have always seen that if we look after the country, it’ll look after us and our businesses. We learnt from the local traditional people, the Jana people, who lived with our family for over 30 years, living and learning together.

"Looking back, we have no regrets about having our property declared as a nature refuge, and I’d recommend other properties get involved where it suits their business, and what they want to do.

The funding available is not big dollars, but it helps get things done faster than you otherwise might be able to.

That helps better manage the country and make your business more sustainable. It is a win-win.”

Below: Sandstone bluff on Gilberton (photo supplied by Phil Bourke)

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It was also a win-win decision for Townley Station owners Lucy and Major Elgey, who established South Head Nature Refuge in 2013. Covering some 14,500Ha, the refuge is part of the business, with sections of the area still sustainably grazed as part of their overall property management.

They tapped into some funding through the Government’s NatureAssist scheme for stock management fencing and stock water points at Southhead, which included fencing a couple of natural springs to exclude stock.

“It enabled us to fence out the more rugged areas of the block which contain the springs we wanted to protect, and enclose an area of some 3-4,000Ha to put cattle on,” said Major.

The Elgeys also put down two bores set up with solar pumps to replace the use of the springs and sections of the river.

“We could never have justified the expenditure… so entering into a NatureAssist gave us the

Lyn French looking for koalas along the Gilbert River (photo supplied by Phil Bourke)

funding to do what needed to be done to make a basic plot for future expansion of the cattle breeding business while protecting and enhancing some of the natural and cultural aspects of the property—hopefully allowing family members to enjoy their lives there.”

Acting Program Coordinator with the Private Protected Area Program, Sarah Jess is eager for more success stories like those of Gilberton and Southhead.

assessment of a property. If it meets criteria, they will visit on-site to do a field assessment, at no cost to the landholder, then develop an agreement with them.

“The whole process can take 18 months to complete, especially for larger properties or complex sites,” she said.

As well as the NatureAssist funding incentive, the Nature Refuge Landholder Grant scheme is also available.

“We have a target of 17% of the State to be protected area (public and private) and we are currently at about 8%, so we are keen to work with large properties in the Gulf Savannah NRM area,” she said.

Want to set up a Nature Refuge? The team at the Private Protected Area Program is a great place to start.

Based in Charters Towers, Sarah has worked with many landholders to help them achieve a declared Nature Refuge and access funding.

Simply email naturerefuge@des.qld.gov.au (with some basic details on property location, lot or plan numbers, area size or general questions).

You can also call 13 74 68 and ask to talk to the team.

Initially the program team will do a desktop

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BLACK-THROATED FINCH Tan finch with blueish/grey head, grey bill and short square-cut tail.

Prominent black bib under beak and onto chest which gives this finch its name. Lives in dry savannah country and open woodlands right across the Northern Gulf region. Will sometimes take seeds direct from grass heads, either perched on adjacent stems, or landing on the stem and pushing it to the ground.

Photograph © Barry Deacon 2021

DOUBLE-BARRED FINCH Small stout finch, mostly white on the chest with two very distinct dark bands (hence the name!).

One across the chest, and other across the throat and wrapping round the face. Quite common right across the Northern Gulf area, usually in dry, grassy, and open areas. These finches are generally never too far from water. They typically feed on grass seeds on the ground, mostly found in pairs or small flocks but can be in flocks of up to 40 birds.

Photograph © Mark Horvath 2019

AND FANTASTIC WHERE TO FINCHES FIND THEM 11

MASKED FINCH Small tan finch with prominent long pointed tail. Its face is black with a bright yellow beak and distinctive white rump. Found in Southern and mid Cape York, south to about Georgetown in dry savannah country. Typically feeds on the ground for grass seeds in pairs or small flocks, sometimes together with other finch species such as Double-barred and Black-throated.

Photograph © Michael Seyfort 2009

RED-BROWED FINCH Small grey finch with olive wings. Easy to identify by the unique bright red beak, eyebrow and rump. Often feeds with other small birds, generally not far from dense vegetation where they will dart to when disturbed. These finches are typically found in the wetter, eastern parts of the Gulf Savannah region, with a small, isolated population around Kowanyama, especially in pandanus habitat near waterways.

Photograph © Mark Horvath 2019

STAR FINCH Easily distinguished finch with bright red face and beak. Has overall fawn/yellow appearance, with white dots on chest which give the bird its name. Were found right across the Northern Gulf region, but now very rare except in isolated populations around Kowanyama and Karumba. They prefer low dense damp grasslands around watercourses, and open savannah grasslands and eucalypt woodlands with good grass cover.

Photograph © Chris Young 2019

ZEBRA FINCH Small finch with orange beak, fawn coloured wings and black and white short tail. Male has prominent chestnut cheek patches, white flecked chestnut flanks and black barring on chest. Quite common in open grasslands in southern parts of the Northern Gulf region.

Forages on ground for grass seeds in pairs or small flocks, but will occur in large flocks at times, especially at water.

Photograph © Michael Hamel-Green 2022

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS SOURCED FROM BIRDLIFEPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG.AU

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BLUE-FACED PARROT FINCH Striking finch, and one of Australia’s rarest. Cobalt blue face, emerald green wings and underparts, bright red tail and black beak. Distribution is not well understood, but it occurs in the far east of the Northern Gulf region, especially around Julatten in wetter areas. Feeds on tall grasses by perching on the seed heads (rarely on the ground), often with Red-browed finch. They will also eat some insects and small fruits (figs). They may migrate to elevation (such as Mount Lewis) during the summer, and lower altitudes during the winter months.

Photograph © Peter Valentine 2016

CHESTNUT-BREASTED MANNIKIN Robust finch, grey beak, black face, chestnut chest separated from white belly by black band. Brown wings with long tail. Occurs across much of the north and east areas of the Northern Gulf region, but more common in the east and in wetter country, or in thicker vegetation along waterways.

It feeds by perching on stems and feeding directly on seed heads, aided by long toes and claws.

Rarely feeds on the ground.

Photograph © Keith Fisher 2020

PLUM-HEADED FINCH Most plain coloured of the Australian grass finches. Robust large finch with long black tail, black beak. Wings are dark brown with white spots, with brown barring on chest and flanks. Plum coloured cap, which gives the bird its name. Male has a black spot on chin. Dry Savannah grasslands and woodlands. Typically found in the southeast of the region, and more common in winter as birds migrate from the south.

Forages for grass seeds on the ground, but will also climb stems and feed direct.

Photograph © Christopher Nixon 2014

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS SOURCED FROM BIRDLIFEPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG.AU

PICTORELLA MANNIKIN Easily distinguished finch with bright red face and beak.

Has overall fawn/yellow appearance, with white dots on chest which give the bird its name. Were found right across the Northern Gulf region, but now very rare except in isolated populations about Kowanyama and Karumba. They prefer low dense damp grasslands around watercourses, and open savannah grasslands and eucalypt woodlands with good grass cover.

Photograph © Mark Lethlean 2019

GOULDIAN FINCH One of Australia’s most striking finches, with green wings, purple chest, yellow underparts and blue pointed tail tipped with black. Can occur with a black (most common), bright red (about 25%) or yellow face (rare). Were once quite common across region, but now quite rare. Quiet call and cryptic nature also make it surprisingly difficult to spot for such a colourful bird.

Photograph © Keith Fisher 2020

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MAKING A PLAN FOR OUR PART OF THE PLANET

Gulf Savannah NRM is currently developing the next 10-year plan for the region. This is a good opportunity to look into just how this fits into what an NRM does, what an NRM Plan is and what it means for our communities.

Who are we? Gulf Savannah NRM is a not-for-profit natural resource management (NRM) company and registered charity. We seek to balance social, economic and cultural interests and maintain environmental values and healthy ecosystems.

We began in 2003 as Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, rebranding to Gulf Savannah NRM in 2021. Our projects include regenerative farming, food security, Indigenous partnerships, landcare, new technologies for agriculture, grazing business resilience, community engagement and more.

Our role is to support those that manage the natural resources of the region, encourage best-practice management, and reflect the view of the community, with a long-term view for the collective benefit of all.

Just what are natural resources?

Everything that is not made, grown or bred by people is a natural resource— including soils, water, air, minerals, nutrients, animals, plants, biodiversity and landscapes. This resource base is the foundation on which our communities and economies are built.

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What is an Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan? Our NRM Plan looks at what natural resources we have in our region, their current condition and trend, what threats there are to these resources (or what opportunities there are to improve) and then how we’d manage these threats/opportunities.

The aim is to bring all this information into a single, concise document and to take a big-picture view right across our region (which is big, about 109,000km2, almost as big as the whole state of Victoria). At a very broad scale, we are also trying to prioritise what actions need to happen first. We ask what are the big threats that impact more of our environment, businesses and communities than others, and which ones can we move on quickly.

Importantly, the NRM Plan is not just a work-list for Gulf Savannah NRM. It’s an outline of what needs to be done and when for the region, and work might be done by many different stakeholders. It is our go-to list when we try to influence funding, actions by other stakeholders or the policies of State or Federal government departments.

Direct impacts

Assets

Pressures

How can I get involved? We’ve taken what we know from the 2017-2022 Plan, updated it and made a start, but we don’t know as much as our community. We need your input to get our 2022-2032 NRM Plan right, practical and worthwhile.

Our draft 2022-2032 Plan will be on our website in October for feedback: gulfsavannahnrm.org

What's happening with the new NRM Plan? In the development of our current NRM Plan (2017-2022), we did a very extensive body of work. Many people reading this from our region would have been involved. Our starting point this time around has been to revisit this work, update the science and data, see what actions are still relevant and use this as a basis for our next plan.

We have spoken with a range of community members, stakeholders and researchers to develop a consultation draft of the 2022-2032 Plan. This is just a platform to start the next important stage, checking in with our community to see if we have it right.

Have we got the right assets, pressures and priorities? Are the actions proposed the best approach?

Are there others we should include, some we should remove?

What do the assets, pressures and priorities in our region look like so far? We have grouped our assets across the region into large buckets.

While this loses some detail at this high level, it helps us look at the big picture.

Our main asset buckets are land, water, biodiversity and biosecurity.

We have then looked at the broad groups of pressures that are impacting these assets, again grouping these into buckets to give us the big picture view.

Lastly, we have tried to look at the priority for action on these pressures.

We’ve asked ourselves, by 2032 if we continue on the same trend as current, what impact will these pressures have on our assets? We’ve ranked this from 1 (very high priority) to 5 (medium priority).

This is very much a best-guess approach and intended to be a discussion starting point as part of our consultation draft.

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Gulf Savannah NRM officers Keerah, Taylor and Leah in the field establishing monitoring plots.

GRAZING WITH NATURE

Understanding how grazing practices influence biodiversity

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We know that grazing practices have a big impact on land condition as well as the beef business’ bottom line... but how does it influence the abundance and diversity of wildlife across the grazing landscape?

Using a combination of motion sensor cameras, bio-acoustic recording and ants as an indicator, the team at Gulf Savannah NRM is on a quest to find out. They are running trials on six cattle stations throughout the Etheridge shire, which will attempt to quantify biodiversity and its relationship to land management practices.

“This project aims to quantify biodiversity in a broad sense and is not trying to identify any specific animals. We are only looking at the general level of biodiversity by quantifying how many types of animals are in the trial plots,” says Marcus Mulholland, Environment Team Leader at Gulf Savannah NRM.

Their hypothesis is to consolidate the findings from the Wambiana Grazing Trial: that moderate stocking rates and better land condition are not only better for profitability, but also support higher biodiversity.

"Two trial plots will be set up on each participating property, marked by star pickets which will be equipped with specialized monitoring equipment—camera traps and acoustic recorders."

Demonstrating that conservative cattle management promotes biodiversity can benefit graziers in several ways. Not only does it support the beef industry’s social license to operate, but it can also position beef businesses to take advantage of emerging environmental markets.

This includes environmental sustainability frameworks and Agriculture-Biodiversity Stewardship packages, that may provide additional income streams for pastoralists in the future.

An array of small ant traps will also be placed centrally in the plot.

This project will run for 2 years, collecting biodiversity data each year at the end of the wet season, and then again at the end of the dry season.

This project has received funding support from QRIDA and the Australian Government.

Trials are being run on six cattle stations throughout Etheridge Shire (see map below)

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THE GREATEST OF GLIDERS The vulnerable and unique species seeking shelter on our doorstep

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Photo by Denise McGregor, James Cook University

Australia's largest gliding arboreal (tree-dwelling) marsupial, which weighs up to 1.1kg—about the size of a cat—can cover up to 100m in a single glide, steering through the air with a half-metre-long tail.

Savannah NRM area along its eastern boundary: Mount Lewis National Park, Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve, Undara Volcanic National Park and Blackbraes National Park. These populations comprise the most north-western distribution of the species, with only one further north at Mount Windsor National Park.

Up to the late twentieth century, Greater Gliders (Petauroides volans, meaning ‘flying ropedancer-like’) were thought of as one common species of gliding possum, distributed along Australia's far east from Bundaberg to Victoria.

In 2020, advanced genetic taxonomical research revealed that what was previously thought to be one species was actually three distinct species: Southern (P.volans, east Victoria and east NSW), Central (P.armillatus, southeast Queensland) and Northern (P.minor, northeast Queensland) Greater Gliders. The genus is not closely related to the Petaurus genus that contains all other Australian Gliders, and shares its sub-family with only the Lemuroid Ringtail Possums.

Significant logging in Victoria, New South Wales and southeast Queensland—resulting in the removal of vast swathes of hollow-bearing trees that Greater Gliders depend on—combined with increased frequency and intensity of bushfires and higher night-time temperatures due to climate change, has caused the species to decline by almost 80% in some areas.

Southern and Central Greater Gliders have recently been declared ‘Endangered’ under both State and Commonwealth legislation. Northern Greater Gliders have recently been listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under Queensland legislation as well as nationally.

Due to the genus’ steep decline outside of northeast Queensland, the sub-montane northern wet sclerophyll forests in our region now represent important sanctuaries.

There are four populations of Northern Greater Gliders in Protected Areas within the Gulf

Blackbraes National Park field trip, September 2022

With funding support from the Queensland Government, Gulf Savannah NRM recently took a group of local school students on a field trip to Blackbraes National Park to complete nightly fauna surveys for the Northern Greater Glider.

Waiting for nightfall, the students took part in a range of educational and cultural activities, including a presentation on bush first aid with Ewamian elder Lewis who shared how to use bush plants to cover wounds.

We were fortunate to spot four Northern Greater Gliders and several possums during our two nights of surveying.

Have you seen a glider in the wild? You can help scientists and conservationists by reporting sightings to the Queensland Glider Network. Visit wildlife.org.au/queensland-glider-network to get involved.

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MEET MARCUS Marcus Mulholland is our Team Leader Environment, based in Mareeba.

Tell us about yourself and where you come from? Born on the Mornington Peninsula, I moved to the northern beaches of Cairns at 13, where I spent my formative years before travelling around Australia. I spent nearly 6 years living in remote communities in the NT. Because my wife is a Remote Area Nurse, we've worked in nine remote communities, the most notable being the Tiwi Islands. This was a highlight of my life so far; we spent a lot of time on country with Traditional Owners and they gave me a really good appreciation of their connectedness with country, which also gave me a deeper appreciation of the environment around me.

What made you want to work at Gulf Savannah NRM? When I finished uni, I worked in consultancy wearing a tie and living in the city. It just didn’t feel right; I didn’t fit in. The opportunity to work for Gulf Savannah NRM in Georgetown came up through word of mouth, and my wife was working

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there at the time—so I decided to come work in Georgetown. I really enjoy having a job which involves time in the office and outdoors.

If you had a super power what would it be? I'd like to be able to clone myself and my family, so we could travel the world while the clones do all the hard work getting educated and earning money! I just want to travel the world, there are so many places I don’t know, and the only way to fix that would be to go and see them. So the other super power I’d like would be being able to fly!

Where did you go on holiday as a kid? We only ever went to one place as a kid, and that was Yarrawonga on the Murray River. We used to water ski—loved it, looked forward to it every year. Early on, that place gave me a grounding in loving the natural environment.

What's your favourite music? Music is my number one passion outside of work; I like almost every genre. I’m going through a bit of an indiefolk stage; because I'm getting older, I'm getting more chilled in my tastes. My most formative band would definitely be Midnight Oil, which I've been listening to since I was 12 or 13.

A Field Study of the Eucalypts of North-east Queensland Eucalypts are the lords of forest, woodland, savanna and scrub in so many Australian landscapes, often growing in fickle climates and clothing infertile soils with a protective olive-green carpet. This comprehensive field study covers species present in north-east Queensland – from a little north of Townsville to Cooktown including islands, inland to Chillagoe and Georgetown, and south to Cobbold Gorge, Lynd Junction and Paluma. nqnhg.org/eucalyptsneq

Retelling the story of humans and nature DAMON GAMEAU AT TEDXSYDNEY

Ecological collapse is one of the greatest challenges of our times. We've long looked to science, politics and business for solutions, but perhaps we also need to be looking to storytelling. Can we tell a new, but old, story about humans and nature that will reshape our world for the better?

Watch filmmaker Damon Gameau's TED talk on YouTube: https://bit.ly/TEDgameau

The story of mammals, how they coexisted with dinosaurs for 225 million years and survived when dinos couldn't THE SCIENCE SHOW PODCAST

The Science Show is an ABC podcast that gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms. Listen to this episode to learn about the magical world of mammals.

LISTEN WATCH READ

DONALD C. FRANKLIN

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NORTHERN QUOLL

Surviving or thriving on Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary?

Northern quoll numbers dropped dramatically when cane toads spread through northern Australia.

Only found in the north of our continent, the quolls have disappeared from most of their range in Queensland and over half their range in the Northern Territory, while fast disappearing in Western Australia as well. Populations have also been affected by feral cats and habitat loss and change.

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A new project will trial conservation methods to address this at Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary near Mt Carbine on the Mitchell River, with grant funding from the Australian Government’s Environment Restoration Fund.

Five organisations will work together on activities including artificial dens for quolls, genetic research and controlled burn programs. Gulf Savannah NRM has teamed up with Terrain NRM, Western Yalanji Traditional Owners, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and James Cook University to deliver this project.

“Like a range of other native animals, quolls eat

cane toads and are poisoned, and with their short life span and their annual male die-off the population is particularly vulnerable,’’ Dr Andrew Dennis said. “Some populations, like the one at Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary, have managed to survive cane toads. It’s possible they’ve learned not to eat them. Now we want to foster their recovery in these areas and expand their home ranges.”

Artificial dens, previously only used when rehabilitating mine sites, will be installed just beyond known quoll home ranges, and surveillance cameras will be set-up.

“If the dens are successful in drawing quolls back out into flat savannah land, they may be a useful tool to reconnect isolated populations of quolls,” Dr Dennis said.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy wildlife ecologist Dr Manuela Fischer welcomed the opportunity to research one of the remaining populations of a species that has declined significantly since the introduction of the cane toads.

“It’s great to be collaborating on a project that will enable us to better understand the northern quoll population on Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary and across Far North Queensland,” Dr Fischer said.

“AWC will commence the first genetic testing on the population in the coming months, which will inform options and strategies moving forward for the conservation of the species. We also hope it will give us a better understanding of how this population has persisted despite the presence of cane toads.”

Western Yalanji Traditional Owners will also be working with Australian Wildlife Conservancy on regular fire management, blending traditional and western methods, to improve habitat quality.

Gulf Savannah NRM CEO Zoe Williams also welcomed the new project.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to harness the knowledge and skill sets of many different people,” she said. "It will bring together a mix of traditional knowledge, ecological skills and genetic research capabilities to support the recovery of the northern quoll.”

FAST FACTS Northern quolls are listed nationally as endangered, with the last population estimation at 100,000 with rapid ongoing decline.

They are the smallest of four Australian quoll species, with a body length of 25-37cm, a reddish brown fur, cream underside, white spots on their backs and rumps, a blackish tail and pointed snout.

Dying for sex: During the mating season (around June to September) males, which are sexually mature at one year of age, expend so much energy seeking access to females ready to mate they do not survive to breed a second year. Females live for two or three years and captive males can live to six years when not covering 100 to 200ha searching for mates.

They are nocturnal predators of invertebrates but also opportunists that eat small mammals, reptiles, birds, carrion and fruit.

The northern quoll’s habitat usually includes rocky areas and tree hollows for dens, with surrounding vegetation for foraging.

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Participants at the food groves workshop in Croydon

A FOOD CRISIS

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD “Fresh seafood would be nice. A choice of leafy greens, of ice creams.”

This is just one response of many to the Croydon Food Security Survey run by Gulf Savannah NRM in the last few months.

These people aren’t asking for much it seems— however, inland from flourishing coastal regions of FNQ rests Croydon, a remote community of approximately 258 people where residents are struggling to source nutritious and affordable fresh food.

Growing up in Croydon, Jacy Hughes (Community Engagement Officer, Gulf Savannah NRM) vividly recalls the drives his family took out east, particularly the long seven-hour journey.

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“As a child, it never occurred to me the necessity of driving this great distance on a regular basis,” says Jacy. “Now I've returned home and find myself in the thick of it.”

Since the Croydon General Store—one of the oldest stores in Australia—sadly caught fire and ended its 128-year reign, there now only remains two possible places to buy food for another 150km. This lack of competition and isolation forces prices upward, with common household

foods being close to double the standard prices in large grocery chains.

This leaves residents with a tough choice: either they've got to pay a premium for fruit and vegetables or travel large distances to access household groceries from neighbouring areas— adding the price of fuel to their grocery bill.

In response to this, Gulf Savannah NRM has been investigating strategies to food affordability, availability and security for the residents of Croydon. After initial community engagement, the not-for-profit has been supported by the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) to develop strategies to secure better, cheaper and more nutritious food.

"As part of this project, I jumped in the car and drove out to Croydon to survey 23 households—over 10% of the town's population—to get to the root of the issue and hear directly from the locals,” says Jacy.

"Indigenous elder Patrick Wheeler has set up an aquaponic system built from recycled materials, and the Tagalaka PBC set up a second aquaponics facility in town.”

More support for the region is still needed. As the Croydon Food Security project comes to a close, Gulf Savannah NRM is now appealing to businesses in the wider Gulf and Far North region to consider extending their service or delivery route to Croydon. If your business is interested in getting involved, get in touch by calling (07) 4092 1088 and we will do what we can to support you.

This project is supported by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

Food groves workshop with Michael and Lindy Alba in Croydon

There was a great response to the survey, with in-depth insight provided into the types of produce residents are lacking in Croydon, strategies that households are already using to bring down the cost of groceries, and ideas for what solutions would be most helpful for improving food security in the remote town.

Gulf Savannah NRM has also delivered a series of free food-growing workshops with support from FRRR, to support increased food self-reliance in the region. This has included workshops on backyard aquaponics, beekeeping and worm farming, as well as a recent session with north Queensland gardening gurus Michael and Lindy Alba who shared practical tips on how to create a backyard food grove in the hot Croydon climate.

“There are also a few promising projects in the community that have taken off,” says Jacy.

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PROJECT UPDATES Gulf Savannah NRM is delivering a range of projects in regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, fire and drought management, community resilience, and more. Stay up to date with our monthly online newsletter: bit.ly/gsnrm-news

E-BEEF TECHNOLOGY TRIALS It's a wrap! After two years, our E-Beef Smart Farming project with Southern Gulf NRM, Desert Channels and Queensland's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is now complete. As part of this project, we worked with Gulf producers to trial a range of new technologies for improving the accuracy and timeliness of livestock performance and pasture data. Head over to futurebeef.com.au to watch a series of webinars about the trials.

SOIL HEALTH SUPERSTAR VISITS MAREEBA Ninety people joined us in August for a sold-out workshop with Dr Christine Jones. Christine shared practical advice on boosting productivity while reducing inorganic input costs, and explained how employing plant diversity is the most efficient and cost effective way to build soil organic carbon and improve soil structure, waterholding capacity, and nutrient availability. Participants also enjoyed a field trip to Jennings Farm in Mareeba.

This project is funded by the Australian Government.

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GRAZING FOR SOIL HEALTH In September, graziers gathered at Lanes Creek Station for a free session with Judi Earl (Agricultural Information and Monitoring Services). Judi shared the importance of micro-organism activity in soils, and talked about why the goal is to create as much activity underground as possible to improve soil health for better grazing outcomes.

Participants also received a copy of their property map, identifying different land types and what they can expect from their soils.

This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Smart Farms Program.

RESILIENT FUTURES FOR OUR REGION Our new Resilient Futures for Queensland's Gulf Savannah project is kicking off this month, starting with two webinars in October which will introduce the project and provide information for landholders on planning for and recovering from disasters and natural hazards.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

MEET YOUR NEW RALF Say hello to Leah Nugent, your new Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator (RALF) for properties in the Northern Gulf region. If you're interested in adopting new and innovative sustainable agriculture practices, Leah can help you out. Get in touch on 0412 383 758 or email leah.nugent@gulfsavannahnrm.org.

This project is funded by the Australian Government.

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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY COOK SHIRE Mount Carbine Rodeo Association Facebook: Mt Carbine Bull & Bronc Ride mtcarbinerodeo@gmail.com

CROYDON SHIRE Croydon Rodeo and Campdraft Association Facebook @poddydodgers poddydodgers@gmail.com

CARPENTARIA SHIRE

ETHERIDGE SHIRE Georgetown Campdraft Association and Horse & Pony Club Facebook @georgetowncampdraft

The Hub Chillagoe admin@chillagoehub.com.au chillagoehub.com.au

Georgetown Golf Club Facebook @georgetownqldgolfclub 4062 1157

Dimbulah Community Centre Facebook: Dimbulah Community Centre dmbcc@bigpond.com 4093 5444

Georgetown Progress Association Facebook group: Georgetown Progress Association Inc. Georgetown Rodeo Association Facebook: Georgetown Rodeo Association rodeogeorgetown@gmail.com

Normanton Swimming Club Facebook group: Normanton Swimming Club

Forsayth All Sports Club Facebook @forsaythallsportsclubinc forsaythallsportsclub@gmail.com

Normanton Rodeo Association Facebook: Normanton Rodeo normantonrodeo@outlook.com

Einasleigh Rodeo Association Facebook @easterateinasleigh

Normanton Gun Club Facebook @normantongunclub 0428 878 614 Normanton Bowls Club Facebook @normantonbowlsclub normantonbowlsclub@outlook.com Normanton and Karumba Athletics Club Facebook @normantonathletics normantonathletics@gmail.com

KOWANYAMA SHIRE Kowanyama Sports and Recreation Association Inc. www.kowanyama.qld.gov.au

MAREEBA SHIRE

Einasleigh Horse Sports Facebook: Einasleigh Horse Sports krcowan@skymesh.com.au Mount Surprise Sports and Recreation Club Facebook: Mount Surprise Sports & Recreation Club Oak Park Race Club Facebook @oakparkraces deborahwoodhouse@bigpond.com www.oakparkraces.com.au

Dimbulah Horse and Pony Club Facebook group: Dimbulah Horse and Pony Club Inc. dimbulahhpc@gmail.com Dimbulah Soccer Club Facebook: Dimbulah Soccer Club 4093 5272 Irvinebank Progress Association irvinebankprogress@gmail.com 4096 4020 Julatten Community Centre Facebook @julattencommunity centre familysupport@jiginc.com 4094 2037 Julatten and Molloy Association of Ratepayers and Residents (JAMARR) secretary@jamarr.org.au 0407 471 565 www.jamarr.org.au Walsh River Community Sports Club and Fire Brigade crystal@isustainaustralia.com.au 4096 3000 Facebook @walshrivercommunity centre

There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. — Margaret J. Wheatley

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LET'S GET SOCIAL 12–18 OCTOBER

22–30 OCTOBER

25 NOVEMBER

Legends of League

Children's Week

Info kowanyama.qld.gov.au Location Kowanyama

Info kowanyama.qld.gov.au Location Kowanyama

Christmas Night Markets Info Wendi 0447 180 154 Location Georgetown

28 OCTOBER–6 NOVEMBER Being Neighbourly Community BBQs Info Vickie 0439 443 906 Location Koah, Emerald Heights, Irvinebank, Watsonville, Biboohra

5–7 OCTOBER Improving Pastures, Profits and Production Register online www.gulf savannahnrm.org/events Location Almaden, Georgetown and Einasleigh

7 OCTOBER Resilient Futures Webinar Register online www.gulf savannahnrm.org/events Location Online

8 OCTOBER Bake Make Grow Market Info Find it on Facebook Location Mareeba

9 OCTOBER The Turtle and the Lamb Trail Run Info adventuresportnq.info Location Davies Creek

28–30 OCTOBER 13 OCTOBER Improving Production Through Healthy Soils Field Day

Flat Creek Station Annual Finch Count Info Find it on Facebook Location Georgetown

Register online www.gulf savannahnrm.org/events Location St Ronans Station

Georgetown Horse Sports Info Find Georgetown Horse Sports on Facebook Location Georgetown

15 OCTOBER

31 DECEMBER–1 JANUARY

Spring Market

Goldfields Hotel New Years Eve & Recovery Session on New Years Day

Info Pat 4748 7131 Location Anzac Park, Croydon

21 OCTOBER

29 OCTOBER

Disaster Support Webinar

Day of the Dead

Register online www.gulf savannahnrm.org/events Location Online

10 DECEMBER

Info visitforsayth.com.au Location Forsayth

Info Contact Croydon Shire Council: 4748 7100 Location Croydon Rodeo Grounds

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Meet your neighbours and local fire brigade for a free community BBQ LATE OCTOBER–EARLY NOVEMBER Koah, Emerald Heights, Irvinebank, Watsonville and Biboohra Food provided For more information, contact Vickie: 0439 443 906 or vickie.mylrea@gulfsavannahnrm.org

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government