Progress Performance Report | November 2018
We have been working in partnership with Cape York Natural Resource Management Limited, as a part of our QFPIR2 # - Sub Program 1, Sub Program 2 & Sub Program 3.
Now that we have our program up and running, we have been able to complete certain sections of Milestones 1-16.
Progress Report 02/06/2018 to 01/11/2018
Subproject One: Landholder Best Management Practice Capacity Building
• Had steering committee meetings held at Cooktown with participating committee members, CYWAFAI_INC staff and Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator, to schedule projects and develop operational works plans.
• We have scheduled a fully accredited AC-DC course to be held from 3rd til 5th December 2018
• We have also continued working with the 15 signed up landholders.
• This has consisted of helping them with their weed control on their properties. We have helped build up tremendous capacity within the landholders.
• As it is very dry, there was no point in trying to do control work on properties where nothing was actively growing.
• We managed to build the capacity of one landholder before it got too dry, providing them with capacity to actually control the declared weeds on their own property.
• Individual graziers and horticulturists have been commenting on how much better prepared they are to be able to make their weeds and feral animal control more effective.
• They were impressed that it has actually saved them money and has helped make their land more productive.
• We promoted the project through attending several community events, including Cooktown Bull, Barrels and Broncs Event - Promotion
• We promoted our project at Bromely Rangers AC-DC Training at Hopevale.
• The QFPI- Project was also promoted at the Cape York Local Marine Advisory Committee meeting, held on the 20 / 09 / 2018.
• Promotion was done at the Cape York NRM Annual General Meeting.
• We took the delegates to the actual program Pond Apple Work sites to show them the project success and how we have progressed.
We have regularly promoted the project on our social media sites
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-York-Weeds-and-Feral-AnimalsInc/805555096154233
Website: https://cywafainc.weebly.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cywafa
• Overall, the completion dates listed in the contract project milestones are underway and planning is on track for successful delivery.
• Conducted the Steering Committee meeting for the Project via phone hook-up on 31 October 2018.
• By actually working with the landholders, we completed their Property Pest Management Plans.
• We built up the experience and capacity of the Landholder to carry out Weeds ID and Chemical and non-chemical control methods for the weeds identified as a priority on each of their pest management. This included the Declared Weeds under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• Before it got too dry, we managed to provide capacity to one of the landholders.
• This was Charles Lamb- Horticulture
• . CYWAFA conducted on ground capacity building with the landholder Charlie Lamb on the 29 and 30 August 2018.
• . A Property Pest Management Plan Was established with the landholder.
• . Weed ID and weed control was conducted with the landholder.
• . Major weed species present were Sickle Pod, Lantana, Bauhinia, and Rats-Tail Grass.
• Minor weed species present were Pink Burr, Chinese Burr, Sensitive Weed, and Calopo
Subproject Two: QFPI-Landholder —AC/DC Herbicide Training
Proposed Course Three 03/12/2018 -05/12/2018
As it has been very dry, and people have been busy with other work, it has not been practical to conduct any more AC-DC courses in the short term. We have scheduled the next AC/DC course to be conducted in Cooktown from 3rd til the 5th December 2018.
• This course is being conducted as a part of the Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals, Incorporated, and cape York NRM Queensland Feral Pest Initiative Project.
• Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Program are working in conjunction with individual properties as a part of the strategic control of locally declared and other declared weed infestations in the South East Cape York Area. This includes all the productive land areas within Laura Valley, Cooktown, Endeavour Valley, Mt Amos and Rossville.
• The main objective is to strategically eliminate weeds and to improve the productivity of their properties, located in Cape York Peninsula.
• The secondary goal is to reduce the spread of this species down the river systems and along road networks. Because of the increased vehicular traffic due to traditional owner movement, tourism and various causes, the biggest challenge is to reduce weed seed spread into previously clean areas.
• Weeds such as Sicklepod, Lantana, Singapore Daisy, Gamba Grass etc art also being spread throughout the roads and river systems of these farming systems.
• The main aim of the AC/DC training will be to give the Graziers and Horticulturists the necessary kills to be able to strategically target all the weeds that have been identified in their pest management plan, as well as their core land management responsibilities.
• The graziers and horticulturists are to be commended on their efforts and their willingness to help. They were keen to work as a team.
Subproject Three Pond Apple Progress report
Progress Report for 02/06/2017 - 01/11/2018
• As a part of our contract with Cape York NRM, we were to expand our Pond Apple survey and control area.
• Having had a wet season, we started on the project as soon as we could access all areas.
• We conducted the expansion of the project in conjunction with our normal control programs.
• We completed three full trips which contributes to the Expanded QFPI-Pond Apple Project.
• Liaised with local landholders along all Pond Apple areas.
• We have yet to complete a survey and control trip with the Jabalbina Ranger T/O group.
• We also surveyed areas to the north, south and west of each coastal Pond Apple area, to see if any new Pond Apple could be found.
• Met up at the CYWAFA_INC office where we went through risk assessment, workplace health and safety, toolbox talk.
• Met up at the beginning of the Pond Apple infestation near the Racecourse on Two Mile Creek which was the location of our Expanded Pond Apple Project Area.
• We also found extra Pond Apple seedlings at our Cedar Bay Pond Apple areas along the East Coast of Cape York Peninsula.
• We then continued the control work along Two Mile until we reached the end of the swampy area.
• We conducted Pond Apple control using 'cut stump' and basal barking methods.
• Finished up in the afternoon with revision of herbicide mixing ratios and data sheet filling.
• The last area to be worked on was the Mt Amos infestation.
• We further surveyed the area for any pond apple that was out of water and controlled what we could.
• Mapped all of control work. The data and herbicide usage sheets were also completed.
• Approximately 1.8ha of the expanded Pond Apple area was controlled and further 80 ha of area was surveyed.
• Very little was found outside of the recently discovered areas.
• Photos were taken including photo points along the various treatment sites.
• All areas of control work have been mapped using the GIS systems, and put on to QGIS maps.
• The data and herbicide usage sheets were also completed.
• The Pond Apple Control Program was extremely successful considering it was reasonably wet in the swampy areas.
• The Weeds Control Program was extremely successful, due to the fact that a smaller number of regrowth seedlings are being controlled each time.
CYWAFA_INC, Cape York NRM, and Traditional Owners, are to be commended for their professionalism and willingness to get the job done.
