EXTENSION PROJECT STRENGTHENS CAPACITY OF BROADER NRM NETWORK
Our Enhanced Extension Coordination project , funded by the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program , is helping extension staff from a range of organisations promote water quality messages in a more targeted and coordinated way .
Part of the project ’ s purpose is to develop a regional extension plan and enhance the skill set of the region ’ s extension providers . Following a survey to determine the training needs of extension officers , we organised two digital photography workshops attended by staff from Sugar Research Australia , Farmacist , Canegrowers Burdekin , and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries . The workshops helped participants capture better images with their smart phones when out in the field and at events .
Our staff also attended a two-day Reef Extension Think Tank , at which more than 100 extension officers from across the state met to discuss ways of promoting best practice land management – to support profitable primary production , while minimising impacts on waterways and the Great Barrier Reef .
Stacey Heidenreich ( CHRRUP ), Sharon Cunial Regional Extension Coordinator - Grazing ,
Sara Jeppesen ( CHRRUP ) at the Reef Extension Think Tank
Digital Photography Workshop
DRONE TRAINING HELPS STAFF REACH NEW HEIGHTS
Drones have become an integral part of our work in recent years . We use drone technology to assist with property planning and mapping , elevation modelling , gully remediation works , feral pig and weed impact assessments , and wetland restoration works . Drone imagery also enhances our promotional videos .
Thanks to training undertaken earlier this year , we now have eight fully-qualified CASA licenced pilots among our staff . Together they have logged 135 hours of flight time over 40 properties , and mapped a total of 2667ha .
Drones offer many advantages over traditional mapping methods . We can :
• cover far greater areas in much shorter times ;
• access areas of a property that are inaccessible on foot or by vehicle ; and
• survey areas where access by foot or vehicle would have a negative impact , such as potentially spreading weeds , disturbing livestock , impacting cropping lands , or impacting on native animals .
Elevation model used to identify gullies requiring remediation work
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