Queensland NRM Groups Win National Awards

Currently Turf Queensland is working with a considerable number of Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups and Landcare groups throughout Queensland, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) protection group promoting nutrient and sediment movement off farm and erosion control methodologies utilising the benefits of natural turf grass.

• In the Southeast Queensland area NRM groups such as; Southeast Queensland Catchments (SEQC), Sun Coast Landcare and the Mary-Burnett Regional Group are working with Turf Queensland on erosion and nutrient/sediment movement through programs such as Healthy Waterways and FarmFLOW.
• In the central and northern areas of the State the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Protection), NQ Dry Tropics (Townsville) and Terrain NRM Group (Atherton) are all working with Turf Queensland.

They are all supporting Turf Queensland’s efforts with regards to nutrient and sediment movement off farm and erosion control and it is pleasing to note their recognition and awards accordingly.  This is also an indication of the potential of natural turf grass to improve our environment and reduce erosion.

The Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, The Honourable Andrew Cripps advises that several recent awards have highlighted the work done by Queensland’s regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups to protect and preserve natural resources.  Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the awards demonstrated that Queensland’s 14 regional NRM groups were leading the way in natural resource management.

Groups to receive awards include:

• The Condamine Alliance has won the 2012 Australian Riverprize and the 2012 Banksia Environmental Award for Water, for its flagship Dewfish Demonstration Reach program
• SEQ Catchments secured top honours in The Australian Business Awards 2012, winning the Environmental Sustainability category for their efforts in working with the community to protect and restore south east Queensland’s unique natural environment and biodiversity
• SEQ Catchments also won an Australian Government NRM Award in Queensland at the 2012 Queensland Landcare Awards and two National Landcare awards
• The Bunya Mountains Murri Ranger and Elders Council, supported by the Burnett Mary Regional Group, has won the National Landcare Indigenous award
• The Northern Gulf Resource Management Group has won the Environment and Landcare category at the Regional Achievement and Community Awards on the Sunshine Coast for their Ghostnets Australia program

Turf Queensland’s extends their congratulations to these groups on the work being done.