This month, the dust has been settling across the state following the October election. While we are reaching out to our new MPs, uncertainty remains around several policy pieces of importance to us, including our energy transition and the path to treaty.

The urgency for climate action has never been higher, with North Queensland getting an early taste of summer. This month, Mount Isa recorded 11 consecutive days over 40 degrees and 64 power poles were burnt beyond repair in recent bushfires in our region.

We know that avian bird flu is affecting poultry and egg production in Australia, but what are the risks to native birds, and what can be done to stop the spread? 

The information below has been shared by Ingrid Marker from Cassowary Keystone Conservation. 

What do Michelle Dyer (social scientist and stand-up comedian), Liz Downes (2020 Queensland Volunteer of the Year), Les Bandt (the man who invented the ute in 1933), and the Aquapella world music choir all have in common? 

Answer: they were all part of NQCC’s 50th anniversary celebration “Stories of the Wild North” held at the Drill Hall Studio on Friday the 23rd of August.

Photo sourced from QPWS

The rugged, mountainous Bowling Green Bay National Park on the land of the Bindal people, is set to expand by two hectares after the Queensland Government acquired three islets off the coast of Townsville.

Native animals including the white-bellied sea-eagle and black-naped tern are set to benefit.

Photo credit: AMCS/HSI/N.McLaughlan

Help North Queensland Conservation Council and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) to urge Queensland's Fisheries Minister Mark Furner to abandon shark culls within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and to instead move to non-lethal methods. Sign this petition to help reach 10,000 signatures! *Warning: graphic image below*

On Friday the 21st of June, NQCC celebrated our biennial Fundraising Postcard Art Auction for 2019! 

Approximately fifty art/environment lovers attended the event at Umbrella Studio (Townsville City), where each of the seventy works generously donated by artists from near and far were auctioned off for prices ranging from $10 to $105. The pieces were postcard-sized (though some were a little larger) and environment-themed. This event saw our five-week long exhibition, titled "Insights Into Our Environment" come to an end. Luckily for you, the artworks are still available to peruse in our online gallery.

SEE THE GALLERY HERE!

Guest post by Tiffany Kosch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at James Cook University

Southern corroboree frogs (Pseudophryne corroboree) are considered Australia’s most iconic amphibian due to their bright black and yellow coloration. What most people may not realize is that this frog is nearly extinct in the wild. Surveys conducted this year at Kosciuszko National Park found less than 50 frogs remaining. This beautiful frog is susceptible to the amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). The chytrid fungus was introduced into the corroboree frog habitat in the 1980’s causing this species to decline steadily until the present day where it would be extinct if not for human intervention. Luckily for corroboree frogs, their declines were noticed right away by scientists, and a captive breeding and reintroduction program was initiated by the Amphibian Research Centre, Taronga Zoo, and Zoos Victoria. Earlier this year, the corroboree frog captive breeding program released over 2000 eggs into the wild.

Southern corroboree frog. Photo: Corey Doughty

Here is a directory of different groups providing volunteer opportunities with on-ground conservation or environmental projects in the local region:

Conservation Volunteers Australia projects in Townsville region – check this website to confirm correct dates, meeting location and contact details. Projects include Creekwatch (water quality testing and surveys), Friends of Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station and native revegetation nursey.