In the Stanley & Upper Brisbane Catchments

February 2012
LOCAL NEWS and EVENTS NED Landcare Group has arranged local bus trips to look at developing best practice landholder operations. Biological farming systems on the Darling Downs: 7 Feb 12 two visits to farms in the Quinalow/Peranga districts in conjunction with the South Myall Catchment Landcare Group. Join Ian Moss (F.A.R.M.) and Brian Johnson (D.E.E.D.I.) 18 Feb 12 two visits to farms in Jondaryan/Aubigny districts. For more details contact NED Landcare 46911499, 0409 058538, email owena@nedlandcare.org.au SEQC Follow Up Grazing PMP/ Workshop Fernvale 8th February If you are interested in being involved in future grazing and PMP Workshops please contact Bruce on 0427 013284 Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Community Grants that are now open. http://dlgp.qld.gov.au/grants-andfunding/brisbane-valley-rail-trailgrants.html http://dlgp.qld.gov.au/grants-andfunding/boonah-to-ipswich-trailgrants.html Community Partnerships Program is a grants program open to not-for-profit, incorporated community organisations, local governments and tertiary institutions along and associated with the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Closing date is the 27 April. Please note that volunteer contribution including time, labour etc is considered as a $ value toward eligible projects. If you have ANY questions or would like a member of the trails team to talk to your organisation, please do not hesitate to contact melanie.doheny@dip.qld.gov.au or view www.dip.qld.gov.au

A look back at the flood history of the Stanley & Brisbane Rivers, given the rainfall events that have taken place over the past year.
Looking back in time -The Great Flood 1893
The 1893 Brisbane flood, occasionally referred to as the Great Flood of 1893 or the Black February flood, occurred when the Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February 1893. These three major floods was named "Black February", with a fourth flood event also experience in June. The Brisbane river runs through the centre of Brisbane,with much of the population living in areas beside the river. The first flood on the 4th February was due to a deluge associated with a tropical cyclone, called "Buninyong", with record breaking falls in the Stanley River headwaters. A second cyclone struck on the 11th February causing relatively minor flooding compared to the first flood. When the third cyclone hit on 19th February, it was almost as devastating as the first, and it left up to one third of Brisbane's residents homeless. This time however the flood in the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge Brisbane River was largely from waters from the upper reaches of Brisbane River, rather than the Stanley River. During the first flood, Crohamhurst recorded The total damage caused by the flooding has been estimated at $4 914.4 mm of rain that fell in a 24 hour million (1893 figures), although no period. In the four days leading up to this official figures exist. flood, a total of 3092 mm (6.5 feet) or rain fell on the Crohamhurst property. The water surge was recorded on the Port Office gauge (now the City gauge) as being 8.35 m (27 feet, 5 inches) above the low tide level. The February 1893 floods were the second and third highest water levels ever recorded at the City gauge, the highest being the January 1841 flood at 8.43 m (27 feet, 8 inches). Some aboriginal history however suggests a flood level of nearly 12 m prior to European settlement. The southern regions of the city were most affected by the flood. Both bridges that crossed the river, the Victoria Bridge and the Railway bridge at Indooroopilly were destroyed. Of historical interest, the rainfall recorded for the month of February 1893 at Kilcoy Post Office was 1422.4 mm. The heaviest downfall being 373.4mm on 2 February and 307.3mm on 16 February. Esk Post office recorded 199.9mm on the same date and 252.7mm on 17 February, bringing the monthly total at Esk to 1036.4mm.

Construction of Somerset Dam

RESOURCES - GRANTS - EVENTS

Healthy Waterways has launched a Waterway Litter Program which includes Community Waterway Litter Cleanup Grants and a targeted cleanup program removing litter from flood affected catchments. This program aims to tackle litter from the January 2011 flood which has been resuspended in many waterways across South East Queensland. The Healthy Waterways Community Waterway Litter grants are aimed at supporting catchment groups, schools, landholders and the general community in undertaking on-ground, litter cleanup activities in their local creek or waterway. Each grant will provide $500 to a South East Queensland based waterway litter cleanup project and up to 20 projects can be supported through the grant scheme. To apply, simply download and fill in the application form and return to Rachael Nasplezes by 5pm Friday 10 February 2012: E rachael.nasplezes@healthywaterways.org PO Box 13086, George Street Brisbane QLD 4003 Sunshine Coast Council Landholder Environment Grants Landholder Grants will be open for expressions of interest from February 6-24, 2012 Private Landholders on the Sunshine Coast can apply for assistance to carry out natural resource management projects such as: fencing to restrict stock access to significant vegetation, creeks and rivers installing off-stream stock watering points and stock crossings revegetation of degraded areas or to establish vegetation corridors soil conservation works, sediment and erosion control control of environmental weeds to rehabilitate native vegetation areas restoring habitat for rare or threatened species modification of existing fencing to make it more wildlife friendly. Priority will be given to projects with high ecological value. Contact : Alan Wynn | Conservation Partnerships Officer Sunshine Coast Regional Council T: 5439 6477 | M: 0417 774 278 | E: alan.wynn@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Seqwater offer free water learning experiences for children in years K-12, either onsite at your school or at one of their dedicated Learning Centres. Information for teachers of all year levels and subject areas is available from Michael G Fiechtner, Team Leader Community Education The program is aligned to the new Australian Curriculum and the SEQ Water Grid Learning Programs are available at facilities across the South East Corner. Learning experiences can be arranged around a number of water themes and issues being studied to maximize curriculum outcomes. For more details email mfiechtner@seqwater.com.au or see Website www.seqwater.com.au Four Day Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture Date: March 26th-30th 2012 Location: NTS Seminar Centre, Yandina Flier:Click here To Book: info@nutri-tech.com.au a FarmReady subsidy maybe applicable

UBRCN - GROUPS CORNER Meetings - Functions - Events News

Upper Brisbane Region Catchment Network Group www.upperbrisbanecatchment.com.au

BARUNG LANDCARE Ph: 5494 3151 The

Barung Landcare Resource Centre is located at: Shop 3 Riverside Centre Maleny Qld 4552. Barung Landcare Nursery 135 Forestry Road, Landsborough

BELLTHORPE PROGRESS ASSN/ENVIRO GROUP Ph: 5496 5002 Enquiries

contact : bellthorpe@gmail.com

BRISBANE VALLEY-KILKOY LANDCARE Ph: 5497 1253. Next Meeting

7.30pm on Wed 8 Feb 12 at The Hub Kilcoy

CROWS NEST CREEK CATCHMENT GROUP Ph: Frank Burgess 4698 4161 EMU CREEK CATCHMENT LANDCARE GROUP Ph: 4698 4748. FEAT (Friends of Earth, Animals & Trees)
Ph: 4170 0555. FEAT now has 2 special interest groups: A Wildlife Carers' Network and a Bushcare Group.

RAVENSBOURNE & DISTRICT LANDCARE GROUP Ph: 4697 8047.

meetings held bi-monthly on first Wednesday followed by field day on following Sunday Field day 5 Feb 12 Tree planting at Perserverance Reserve. Next meeting 4 Apr 12

ROSALIE NORTH LANDCARE GROUP

Ph: 4170 0158.

UPPER BRISBANE REGION CATCHMENT NETWORK

Next Meeting : General Meeting 9th February 2012 commencing 9 am at the RSL Kilcoy .

SEQ Catchments Office - Upper Brisbane The Hub, Shop 1, 47 Mary St, KILKOY 4515 Ph: 54220516 Fax: 54220515 Bruce Lord - Community Partnerships Manager E : blord@seqcatchments.com.au M: 0427 013 284

Ronda Williams - Engagement Support Officer E: rwilliams@seqcatchments.com.au Cheryl McLeod Community Water Quality Monitoring Officer E: cmcleod@seqcatchments.com.au M: 0400919250