June 2000. (No.32).

IMPOUNDMENT FISHING PERMITS READY TO GO!

It is hard to believe that after all these years of fighting for this permit, and all the stops and starts we have been through, that this is now all set to go on the 12/July/2000. Obviously this could never have happened without the cooperation and support of all the stocking groups. The great result we had with over 800 responses from individual stocking group members to the recent RIS was an example of these high levels of cooperation. Support from both Sunfish and ANSA was certainly another critical factor. Last but not least, we are indebted to the commitment and determination of Bernadette Kerby (QFMA). Bernadette was going to make this happen, come hell or high water.

IMPOUNDMENT FISHING PERMITS. MEDIA COVERAGE AND SIGNS.

The Warwick group initially raised concerns with the lack of media coverage approaching the introduction of the permit scheme. Following this up with the Ministers office, FFSAQ got the impression that there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm to publicising the fact that a permit would soon be in place. A little judicious prodding from the Warwick group and FFSAQ finally resulted in a media release. This may be the only media release that there is going to be. We would advise the stocking groups on the schedule, to generate their own media coverage in the last few weeks leading up to the 12/July/2000. Another concern raised by a number of groups has been the lack of any signage informing anglers that they need a permit to fish a particular impoundment. We understand that the QFMA are presently distributing these signs to the Boating and Fishing Patrol who will be responsible for erecting the signs. We are all well aware of how thin on the ground patrol officers are, especially in inland Queensland. We would suggest that the groups on the schedule contact their local Boating Patrol office and offer their help with erecting the signs.

FAREWELL TO BARRY POLLOCK.

We were sorry to hear of Barry Pollock's resignation from DPI. We have had our battles with Barry on a number of issues over the years. However overall, his interest and commitment to the advancement and development of the freshwater recreational fishery has contributed very significantly to our progress. We wish Barry every success in his new position managing the tuna fisheries of the Solomon Islands. From the frying pan into the fire? We understand that Barry is still in Brisbane waiting for the shooting to subside! We understand that Jim Gillespie will be taking over Barry's position. We look forward to getting the same level of support and commitment to the development of the recreational fishery from Jim as we had from Barry.

FRESHWATER/MAC. RESIGNATION OF PETER ROCHE/APPOINTMENT OF DES CHARLES.

In our last newsletter we mentioned Peter Roche's resignation. This left us with a vacancy on the FreshwaterMAC and also on the FFSAQ executive. At our last executive meeting in June, the executive elected Des Charles to both these positions. Des is presently the President of the Hinze Dam stocking group. He was an original member of the steering committee set up to form FFSAQ following the demise of the old AFFSAQ. and also served as one of the two southern group representatives on the Freshwater MAC for a couple of the early years. Presently Des runs a successful freshwater charter fishing business based on Hinze Dam. Congratulations on your appointment Des and welcome back.

FFSAQ REPRESENTITIVE FOR THE NORTHERN GROUPS ON THE FRESHWATER MAC.

While on the subject of FFSAQ representatives on the FreshwaterMAC. There appears to have been some confusion in the north on this issue. A number of the groups in the north believed that there was a vacancy on the MAC for a northern representative. This was not the case. John Mondora is the northern representative and has held this position ever since the MAC's first started some six years ago. To clarify the issue of representation on the Freshwater MAC: FFSAQ have three representatives. Two represent the 53 odd stocking groups in the south, and one represents the 17 odd stocking groups in the north. Our FFSAQ representatives on the MAC at this time are Les Kowitz, Des Charles, and John Mondora.

DPI MONTO WORKSHOP.

This was a well run and productive workshop. All issues of concern to our stocking groups were adequately addressed. The Cania stocking group, who hosted the workshop put in a magnificent effort with the catering, providing gourmet smokos, an excellent BBQ lunch, and a magnificent roast dinner. One highlight of the workshop was an interesting session on how to catch silver perch, by a couple of local experts. This may put to rest the myth that adult silver perch are uncatchable!? Overall the Monto group set a high standard, which will be quite a challenge for other groups hosting the next workshop.

CHARTERS TOWERS WORKSHOP.

Another very successful well organised workshop. A number of Southern group members attended this workshop including Les Kowitz (President FFSAQ), Neil Schultz (Somerset/Wivenhoe group) and Gordon Turner, .(Hinze group).

SOOTY GRUNTER FOR PETER FAUST.

After a long and procrastinated battle with the QFMA, we are pleased to report that the Peter Faust DAM group have at long last won their battle to stock sooty grunter. Good on you the Peter Faust group. An example of where a long term commitment and well thought out and rational arguments has paid off in a positive result.

LOW WATER LEVELS-WARUMA DAM, MUNDUBBERA AND GAYANDAH WEIRS.

WEIRS. In spite of a generally good wet summer season and some reasonable winter rain, parts of the Burnett system have missed out, and are now facing chronic water shortages. These conditions always raise concerns as to what extent the DNR intend to drain the storages. As mentioned in the last newsletter a reasonable agreement has been reached with the irrigators, DNR, and the Wurama Dam stocking group. Rod Cheetham (DPI Kingaroy) and the Mundubbera and Gayndah stocking groups are presently negoiating a similar outcome in regards to the Gayndah and Mundubber weirs. Allowance for siltation is these negoiations is a critical factor. The DNR tend to significantly underestimate siltation build up. This was a major problem at Wuruma in 1995, when the supposedly three meters depth of water left in the dam was in reality only about one meter due to silt build up.

DPI/QFMA RESTRUCTURE.

We understand that this the amalgamation of the QFMA into DPI will be completed by the beginning of July. As of this date there will be only one Government fisheries organisation in Queensland, and this will be known as the QFS (Queensland Fisheries Service). Of critical interest to FFSAQ is wether this restructure is going to have any benefits to the stocking program in the way of better services to the stocking groups? We have written to the DPI specifically in regards to this issue, and await their response with interest.

TILAPIA IN BOONDOOMA DAM.

A recent DPI electrofishing survey collected 2 tilapia in the Boyne arm of Boondoomba. More recently, another tilapia has been caught by a local angler in approximately the same locality. These fish have been identified by the Queensland Museum to be the same species as the tilapia in North Pine (Lake Samsonvale), and Somerset Dams. The significance of this find is that Tilapia now has access to the Burnett system as a result of overflows from Boondooma. Potentially tilapia may also gain access to Bjelke Petersen via the pipeline to the Tarong Power Station, and then via the cooling tower water fed into Barkers Creek. Unfortunately we will probably never know how tilipia got into Boondooma in the first place!

ABN NUMBERS.

At both workshops the DPI raised the concept of providing stocking groups with grants so that the groups can buy their own fingerlings rather than being allocated fingerlings as in the past. There was general support for this initiative. For this to work groups MUST have an ABN number, otherwise the DPI will have to retain 48.5% of any grant.

NEW GROUPS.

Welcome to two new stocking groups, the Jennings/Wallangrra, and the Atkinsons group. The former stock Beehive Dam and the local streams, and the latter Atkinson, Dam.

NEXT MEETING. Sat July 29/ 2000 at Kev Horsey's Residence. 110 Aspinall St, Leichhardt. 9.00 am start. All Welcome. Please phone Kev: 07 3281 9203 so that he can organise smokos and lunch.

FFSAQ Inc.
PO Box 2025
Brighton Qld 4017
Fax: 07 3869 0385