Welcome to North East Downs Landcare Group Inc

North East Downs Landcare (or NED as we are affectionately known in the catchment area) was formed in 1994 as a management group for Landcare activities across the north- eastern Darling Downs area. NED is based at Oakey, 30 kilometres from Toowoomba.

The NED region covers approximately 7000 square kilometres. NED has 450 members within their twelve sub-catchments. Our goals for the future are to work towards assisting people adapt to climate change and recognising opportunities to further enhance their lives for the better. One of our goals is to update the catchment plans for our twelve subgroups taking in to account current climate change issues and adoption of improved land management practices.

We are actively working with young Landcarers in schools to educate and encourage them to work with the environment to protect and improve it. We look forward to continuing this work in the future. NED will continue to work with Landholders to embrace and use new technologies such as improving soil carbon. We are now trying to enhance the capabilities of women in the Ned area and extend this invitation to the whole of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Landholder Profile

Ashley Volz Ashley and his family run a mixed cropping and cattle enterprise on their property at Peranga. Ashley has been aware for some time of the need to better utilise his pastures to maintain carrying capacities throughout the year. Having attended a Mick Alexander Grazing Best Practice workshop, Ashley identified an opportunity to implement a rotational grazing system.

A paddock roughly 1000 acres in size was split permanently into six sections. This allows Ashley the flexibility of moving a herd through the six sections consecutively at a fixed time interval, ensuring more even grazing pressure across the paddock and more importantly allowing time for the pastures to recover.

Read the full article.

Weeds of Southern Qld

Weeds of Southern Queensland (3rd ed.).

This third edition of a very popular and user-friendly book has been developed by a working group of Weed Society of Queensland members. Between them they represent local government, state government agencies, research and development companies and regional natural resource management bodies and have a great depth of weed management experience across Southern Queensland.

The 64-page A4 size book contains photos and information for 132 weeds present in Southern Queensland, along with details of control and treatment methods. Weeds of all types are covered including woody weeds, cacti and succulents, vines, groundcover and herbs, grasses, and aquatics. There is an extensive section on weed management techniques and weed hygiene. Declared weeds are listed, together with a page on landholder obligations for control of these Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 weeds.

This popular weed identification and treatment guide was designed for use by the widest possible audience, from council weed control officers through to people keen to remove weeds from their rural retreats. The book includes details of a range of techniques that can be effectively used by everyone, including information on the herbicides registered for use in different situations.

Copies of the book can be obtained from your local council. Learn more about the Weed Society

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2012 Chairman

Welcome to all Landcarers and residents to this autumn edition of the Newsletter. How can we summarise the weather patterns throughout the recent summer? We are aware of the extreme events across the Western region, and the Coastal fringe, however, in between; the high variability in the current seasonal conditions is symptomatic of a true patchy and stormy season. I have seen some extremely dry areas in recent travels where fire has been and continues to be a real concern, yet others have great native and improved pastures, though low surface water. I believe that the majority of summer cropping has been good.

It is pleasing to see the excellent ground cover on grazing and cropping country which will be good insurance should any heavy rain events occur.

The reduced risk of serious soil erosion is one aspect of risk management for Landholders and the Landcare bodies.

The harmonisation of the WH&S laws at the start of 2012, reminds us to review and reassess our approach to Health and Safety. All of us have a role to play in Health and Safety, so I encourage you to attend Workshops on this topic at the first opportunity.

Website: NED circulates Newsletters and information on Projects, Field days and Workshops on a regular basis, so we endeavour to keep you up to date and informed. However, I also wish to refer you to the North East Downs Landcare Inc website. We believe that it is evolving into an informative site with links to the latest research news and topics. Many of you may be current viewers, however, if not, just google North East Downs Landcare, and go surfing.

Best wishes to all,

Graham Cooke