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Coping with the Current Health Alert

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Reef Catchments Mackay staff during an online meeting.
COVID-19 has presented a significant threat to our friends, families and businesses in our local communities. Reef Catchments at this time has been actively working to reduce the threat on our staff and outcomes by postponing our face to face forums, public gatherings and events, even providing resources for our workforce to work remotely and come together via digital platforms.

By implementing these measures, we have been able to provide peace of mind to our staff, their families and the members of our communities.

Over the course of the past four weeks, we have been actively working with our wonderful community members and landholders, and working towards our strategic goals using alternative means. Our physical office may be closed for a little while yet, but we are all working closely together to maintain employee well-being and connectivity. Our meetings have become a time of togetherness and our Board of Directors are also participating in our Board and Committee Meetings using online face-to-face resources.

Read all about it

Offices closed

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Both the Mackay and Proserpine offices of Reef Catchments are closed following recent updates regarding COVID-19. All staff members will be working remotely and remain fully contactable via email and mobile phones.

The staff profiles here on this website provide full contact details for all members of the Reef Catchments and Healthy Rivers to Reef teams.

We look forward to returning to the office to continue to achieve our vision – Resilient ecosystems, engaged community.

What Reef Catchments has achieved

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Reef Catchments has worked alongside landholders and partner organisations since 2000. We are proud of our regional footprint – every goal achieved represents collaboration, commitment, time and energy from all involved.

Change is more than a one-step process and we think we’re heading in the right direction. Check out our key achievements below.

Eastern Curlew Storymap

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Here in Australia, many people are familiar with bush-stone curlews. Their eerie cries have been haunting campers nation-wide for many years. However, another species of curlew – the eastern curlew – is significantly less well-known and prevalent.

Eastern curlews are the largest wader bird in Australia. They have a very distinctive beak which is long and curves downwards, making them easy to spot. The birds can be seen stalking slowly through mudflats and wetland areas, foraging food from the surface or probing deep in the mud or sand with their long bills.

However, perhaps the most interesting thing that sets the eastern curlew apart from the bush-stone curlew is its massive migration. This species, and other migratory shorebird species, fly from northern China or Russia all the way through Asia across the Pacific Ocean to Australia, and sometimes even further, to New Zealand.

Eastern Curlew story map

Mackay hotel patrons vote with their butts to help the environment

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McGuire’s manager Richard Baxter with the butt voting bin.
McGuire’s manager Richard Baxter with the butt voting bin.
A well-known Mackay watering hole is using an unusual device to help keep pollutants out of our waterways.

Smokers at McGuire’s CBD Hotel can now use their finished cigarette butts to vote on a question put to them by the hotel management. In doing so, they ensure that their discarded butts, a major pollutant of Mackay’s waterways, are disposed of properly.

The burning question posed earlier this week was: who would win in a fight, a kangaroo or an emu?

The idea for this bin came from Sunshine Coast Council, but it is the first in Australia to be made almost entirely of recycled materials.

Cigarette butts can take at least eight to 10 years to break down in the environment. It is a common misconception that they are biodegradable, but the plastic in the filter prevents that. Unfortunately, here in Mackay, many thousands of cigarette butts enter our storm water regularly.

Reef Catchments has been auditing stormwater drains in the Mackay CBD, identifying that cigarette butts are by far our biggest pollutant. To try to combat this, Reef Catchments have installed the butt voting bin at McGuires, with the help of Cleanwater Group.

Other pollutants, such as plastic fragments and plastic food packaging have also been identified as high priority items.

Reef Catchments Coastal Project Officer Cass Hayward said: “The cigarette butt voting bins have been shown to reduce cigarette butt litter in other places around the world. I hope that Mackay can similarly benefit. It is hugely important to start reducing our impact on the oceans, and reducing the amount of waste that ends up there is a good first step.

“Many don’t realise that the stormwater drains wash straight into the ocean, so what you throw on the ground or throw out your window ends up there too.”

The ‘What a load of rubbish! Sorting out its source’ project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Communications

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This communications update, presented to the RCL July 2019 Board Meeting, noted numerous events which were organised and presented during the preceding two months.

The events, noted chronologically, included a rainfall simulation demonstration, the Mackay Marina Run, Seagrass monitoring, Mackay Show, Litter Trap Audit, St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend, a visit from the Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, and the Mackay-Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership report card launch.

Pictured is the Reef Catchments team of runners who took part in the Mackay Marina Run at the Mackay Harbour. The runners took part in the five kilometre corporate challenge and everyone who started also finished the course.

The quality of water

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Read all about it! The Water Quality Summary for 2017-2019 for the Bakers Creek repair site has just been released.

Bakers Creek System Repair Site – Water Quality Summary 2017-2019

Reef Catchments is undertaking a four year study of the water quality benefits of a constructed wetland treatment train at Bakers Creek. Treatment trains use natural processes to eliminate runoff pollutants like sediment and nutrients, ensuring cleaner water to the catchment, rivers and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef.

Constructed wetland treatment trains use multiple chambers to treat water as it moves through the individual structures or basins. Included within the structures is a shallow macrophytes zone where reeds take up nutrients for their own growth. A biofilm, similar to an algae around the reeds, and the reeds themselves, also use nutrients for their growth, removing excess from the water. Within the design can be a deep chamber which landholders can utilise to pump extra water to irrigate crops, providing good production benefits. A larger biodiversity wetland area also provides a native wetland ecosystem for fishing and  detains water on the property for as long as possible before entering the receiving waters.

This is a Reef Catchments initiative, made possible through funding from the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science.

Cane movie

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Movie about Reef Trust III.Click on this image to view the new movie about Reef Trust 3, a review of what Reef Trust 3 has achieved on the ground. Includes interviews with farmers and extension officers.
You can also visit the Reef Catchments YouTube page for a variety of videos on the work being done by Reef Catchments.

Wetlands working with the land

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Improving the relative ecological condition of freshwater streams and wetland in the Mackay Whitsundays.

Stewart and Sarah Borg’s grazing property “Marklands” in the Rocky Dam Creek sub-catchment is impressive. Home to wallabies, barramundi and more than three hundred bird species, the wetlands are an important habitat.

The ponded pastures serve primarily as cattle fodder, but the Borgs are proactive in aligning their grazing requirements with positive environmental outcomes.

“Financial farmers are environmentally sustainable farmers, and as the saying goes, it’s hard to be green when in the red,” says Stewart.

We aim to be at the forefront of environmental practices with carbon sequestration, containing sediment, and managing nutrients being our main priorities.

Wetlands on Stewart and Sarah Borg's property at Rocky Dam Creek.
Beautiful wetlands form part of the property.

Thanks to funding through the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investment Program (NRIP), local NRM group Reef Catchments is now working with the family to reduce threats to native vegetation, encourage regeneration and remove barriers to fish passage. Additionally, the installation of off-stream watering points will allow for periodic rest of wetland paddocks.

“These works translate directly to outcomes such as improved condition and extent of native vegetation and wetlands, improved aquatic connectivity and a reduction in sediment flowing into waterways,” said Reef Catchments wetlands officer, Jessica Sabatino.

“The Rocky Dam Creek area is a bio diverse and productive sub-catchment. It contains valuable agricultural land and the Ince Bay Aggregation, a DIWA nationally important wetland.”

The sub-catchment, about 70km south of Mackay, contains estuarine, riverine and palustrine wetlands (56km2, 16.4km2 and 14km2 respectively). It contains national parks and is part of the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. The vulnerable water mouse and near-threatened coastal sheath-tail bat can be found locally.

Fish ladder currently on the property.

Despite Stewart’s admission that he already contributes to healthy fish populations by being a less than average fisherman, the Borgs are looking to improve fish habitat and passage.

With one fish ladder successfully in place, the Borg’s are looking into the feasibility of installing an additional fish ladder through NRIP. Popular in the fish-focused region, these ladders promote fish connectivity and passage; in this case specifically into Rocky Dam Creek. They encourage healthy native fish populations by allowing important diadromous fish species to move between fresh and saltwater to breed and complete their lifecycle.

Cyclone Debbie and recent weather events have impacted the farm, however the Borgs have a substantial budget allocated for weed control, both pastural and riparian.

The wetlands project will improve native vegetation by assisting with threat management and by actively revegetating priority sites within the sub-catchment. NRIP funding will allow the Borg’s to enhance their wetlands without reducing productivity, an important factor in many natural resource management projects.

The Borg family.
Sarah and Stewart Borg with their children, Chelsea, Madelyn, and Heidi.

Cutting farm costs – better for the back pocket, and our backyard

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Graeme Blackburn in a cane field.The cost of fertiliser, chemicals, fuel, and power are four costs which are seriously compromising our local cane farmers.

In light of this, a group of growers is moving toward what they hope will be a more efficient future – one that helps the environment and our ‘backyard’ as much as their back pocket.

Through Reef Catchments and the Australian Government’s Reef Trust program, 244 growers (farming 35,587 ha of cane) in Mackay, Sarina, Proserpine, and the Whitsundays are taking steps toward change, particularly nutrient and herbicide management.

“The days of putting on too much fertiliser are long gone – it’s very expensive if you don’t get the tonnes per hectare,” said Graeme Blackburn, a cane farmer based in Mirani who this year harvested 90,000 tonnes.

Graeme and his family are looking ahead to try and see where cost and environmental savings can be made.

“For me it’s the future – we want to grow the cane as efficiently as we can and remain viable.”

Traffic renovator.He said that meant making hectares work smarter. Thanks to co-funding from Reef Catchments via the Australian Government’s Reef Trust 3 program, Graeme this year decided to match funds and purchase what is known as a bed renovator.

The renovator essentially can turn an old farm (with narrow rows) into a more modern controlled traffic based farm with wide rows.

“In a matter of two passes, Graeme can convert old ratoons and change 1.5m rows to 1.8m rows, for example ready for a soybean fallow,” said Reef Catchments sustainable agriculture officer Ian Brooks.

Mr Brooks said a wider row and GPS controlled traffic farming system were “incredibly important” to improve production and water quality to the Reef across the state.

“This idea of row conversion is really getting traction. There are still a lot of narrow rows out there.”

Graeme said they were already seeing some major benefits from the renovator since June this year.

“With this bit of equipment we can do up to 28 ha – 30 ha a day. Using the same amount of horsepower in a tractor, you’d only do half of that. So it’s less fuel to the hectare and we’re going twice as wide as what we’d do normally.

“It’s tidy, it’s all on GPS and it’s all repeatable. So in five years, ten years time we’ll know where that row will be.”

Graeme said cane farming had undergone big changes over the years.

“I know that when it comes to fuel, twenty years ago I might have used up to 200,000 L for 40,000 tonnes of cane. Now, to produce 90,000 tonnes I’ll use about half that around 100,000L – 120,00L. We’re seeking efficiencies wherever we can.”

But he said change took time.

“Our next big project will be a soybean fallow crop, put in on beds made by the renovator. What we’re hoping is this will help soil nutrition, put more organic matter into the ground and it should lead in time to better crops.

“Once you’ve got a better crop, you’ve got more trash on the ground, you can equip yourself better for drought.

“And as you go on and on you find more benefits.

“I’m hoping we’ll be able to get away with less chemical. My soil tests are saying we need a bit less nitrogen here or a bit less phosphorus here. We’re still learning all this and it takes time. But for me, it is essential.

“Even before we purchased the renovator I started with a one-row system that was homemade. You can start from something in your backyard that you can modify.”

Graeme is part of the wider Reef Trust program in Mackay and surrounds. The program saw farm extension officers work with hundreds of growers to improve nutrient and herbicide management.

Through Reef Trust 3, more than $800,000 has been locally distributed to assist with equipment upgrades to fast-track practice change. Small grants ($1500 p/grower) were additionally provided for spray equipment, soil tests, EM mapping and G-Dots.

Examples of equipment upgrades include

  • Spray rig upgrades and high-rise tractors that reduce the use of residual herbicide
  • Variable rate fertiliser controllers that target the actual yield on individual cane blocks e.g. late harvest and late ratoons

Interested growers can read the case studies.

Annual Report RCL 2017-2018

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Reef Catchments is pleased to present its Annual Report for the 2017-2018 Financial Year. We invite you to view some of the fantastic Natural Resource Management (NRM) projects and achievements in our region.

With thanks to our funders, stakeholders and local community

Because the best NRM outcomes are achieved together, always. Resilient ecosystems, engaged community – Reef Catchments is your Natural Resource Management (NRM) group for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region.

View 2017-2018 Annual Report

Collection of logos.

Oaky Creek Disaster Recovery Project

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Oaky Creek community consultation – working with impacted stakeholders.

Oaky Creek was a torrent of water as flooding associated with Tropical Cyclone Debbie ripped down the channel and spilled over the banks. Multiple landslides at the top of the catchment added gravel loads into the creek which were then spread across adjacent cane land. 

Oaky Creek channel.

At some sites the creek moved more than 10 meters, taking away arable land and leaving vertical drops of more than six meters. The movement and changes of the creek has landholders and stakeholders concerned for their farmland, infrastructure, and the safety of operations around the creek. The remaining bare and unstable riparian areas are highly prone to future erosion if they are not stabilised.

To assist in stabilising the creek, Reef Catchments was successful in obtaining National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement (NDRRA) funding to remediate and build resilience into Oaky Creek. Alluvium Consulting was engaged to undertake a stability assessment and hydrological modelling of a priority nine kilometers length of Oaky Creek.

Three community consultation events were held to engage with landholders and stakeholders and to draw out information on the history, current uses, and future requirements of the creek.

The consultation and assessment highlighted that more than 60,000m3 of sediment has been lost along the creek during the past nine years, with historical flood-driven straightening of the channel, and vegetation loss from disease along sections of the creek during the past 50 years.

Alluvium’s assessment has provided prioritised sites for rehabilitation including bank re-profiling and rock reinforcement. Alluvium has also recommended a comprehensive and structurally diverse revegetation program to complement other works to join up and improve riparian vegetation along Oaky Creek. Once vegetation has become established it will help to bind sediments, buffer water flowing past, and reduce future erosion.

“The right catchment vegetation and riparian management can reduce the speed and volume of water entering the river system and the speed at which water drains from an area. This greatly reduces flood heights and speeds in downstream catchments.” Ref Qld Gov Wetland Info.

Works, planned to begin during the coming months, are to be completed before the end of December 2018. The project is expected to see up to 4 000 tonnes of rock armouring and 50 large woody debris structures built to stabilise the channel and more than 10,000 plants will be planted along the creek.

For any project enquiries please contact Olivia Brodhurst or phone 0409 677 117.

 

Project Catalyst Video 2018 Forum

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Reef Catchments and growers in the Mackay Whitsunday region are part of Project Catalyst – a leading sugar innovation program. Watch this video to find out more. This video features numerous interviews with growers who discuss questions such as new innovation including drones, succession plans, and the importance of technology. This Project Catalyst 2018 Forum was held in Townsville and was attended by growers from all over Queensland. The forum provided growers with the chance to mix with others and to discuss common problems and innovations.

Tour of eco-friendly farm

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Freckle Farm tour.
Join us for the Freckle Farm tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 25 where you can see, first hand, how local farmers produce eco-friendly, chemical free, and hormone free produce. The tour will include a drone demonstration and lunch is free, but bring your own chair.

Landholders, Rob Bauman and Deb McLucas began Freckle Farm with a few hens and pigs and over the years the set-up grew. Today they have a sustainable farming system where they have a mission to educate, connect, and inspire everyone in the farming, food, and local community space.

The tour will provide an opportunity to ask Deb and Rob all about soil health, biosecurity, branding and marketing. Please RSVP to Deb Wilkinson.

Please read the flyer for additional information.

Community responds in a big way! Operation Target Tilapia

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Eager anglers – Tim and Bowen Ey pulled up a catfish at Operation Target Tilapia. To view a full photo album from the day, please click on the image above.

Native vs. pest fish – Operation Target Tilapia at Mackay Gooseponds

The ‘cane toad’ of Queensland’s waters was the target for eager young anglers at a recent family fishing event designed to raise awareness of what’s happening in our waterways.

Community response to Operation Target Tilapia was overwhelming with 300 people of all ages flocking to the Mackay Gooseponds to take part.

The Reef Catchments event was funded through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Eight Tilapia were caught and recorded, with prizes awarded as part of the day’s fishing competition. Congratulations go to Jack Bennett for first Tilapia caught and for the most Tilapia caught. Ashley Carter scooped the pool by catching the biggest Tilapia.

Tilapia are known as the ‘cane toad’ of the water due to their capacity to dominate the aquatic ecosystem, knocking out our natives.

Reef Catchments event coordinator, Cass Hayward, said it was time to set the score straight.

“We want our native fish to thrive and flourish in healthy local waterways. This event is designed to help people better understand how to identify pest fish and the impact they have on our aquatic ecosystems,” she said.

“As part of the day’s activities, we tagged and released 250 baby barramundi, which are a natural predator able to withstand the Tilapia species.

“As well as being a fun day out, this event helps our local community learn more about what they can do to protect our waterways from invasive species and stop the spread of pest fish.

“It’s the first time the event has been held since 2015 – it got a great response then, and we are very excited to see it back this year!”

This event was run in conjunction with a wide range of community groups, business and sponsors who provided their time and energy – a truly collaborative event. A big thanks to:

BCF Mackay
Blue River Mackay Lions
Catchment Solutions
Compleat Angler
Cruise Whitsunday
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association
Mackay Christian College
Mackay Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC)
Mackay Recreational Fishing Alliance
Mackay Regional Council
Mackay Regional Pest Management Group
North Mackay Bowls Club
Pioneer Catchment Landcare
Queensland Government (Be Crocwise, Department of Environment and Science)
Southern Cross Austereo
Tackleworld Mackay

Pest fish caught on the day were counted and reported to Fisheries Queensland.

This Reef Catchments event was supported through funding from the Australian Government National Landcare Program.

Click here to view the photo gallery. 

31,000 fish all in a day’s work

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Tens of thousands of fish have been recorded flowing through constructed fishways in Mackay.

Fisheries ecologists say the soaring numbers are proof the fishways are playing a vital role in providing clear passage through a formerly disconnected aquatic ecosystem.

Recent monitoring (funded by local NRM Group Reef Catchments and the Australian Government) show fish streaming through the underwater environment in droves.

The fish count is above published figures for previous fishway monitoring in the Murray and Burnett rivers, prompting researchers to ask if it could be among the highest recorded in Australia.

“The results have shown unbelievable numbers of fish migrating through the system,” said fisheries ecologist Matt Moore, from Catchment Solutions (fisheries research consultancy contracted to deliver the monitoring).

“We thought our initial catch was pretty good, with 3,653 fish recorded successfully ascending the fishway at the Mackay Gooseponds wetlands.

“However, this was trumped the following day at the same site with over 18,000 fish captured in four hours in the morning, and over 13,000 fish in the afternoon – bringing the total to over 31,000 in 8 hours.

“This is by far the most fish we have ever recorded in any local fishway, and would be up there with the highest ever recorded in Australia that we know of – fishways in the Murray River have recorded up to 4,415 fish per day and in the Burnett River 4,500 fish per day.

“These are exciting results that demonstrate the importance of facilitating connectivity past fish barriers, particularly the first barrier located upstream from the estuary, even on small ordered streams.”

Thanks to the fishway, the Mackay Gooseponds constructed wetlands (located in the Mackay urban area) is now better connected to Janes Creek and the wider Pioneer River Basin.

Some of the species recorded included juvenile barramundi, red scat, crescent perch, sea mullet and empire gudgeon – all valuable environmental and socio-economic species.

Significantly, further monitoring at Boundary Creek wetlands captured 43 barramundi fingerlings, including the smallest barramundi ever monitored locally at 30 mm.

“These little guys must have moved out of their coastline habitats behind the mangroves and then migrated upstream to the wetland via the fishway,” Mr Moore said.

“This is extremely significant because small fish possess weaker swimming abilities than larger fish… at 30mm they have only just started swimming, as opposed to hitching a ride with the currents and tides prior to this”.

“This demonstrates that the fishways provide suitable conditions for weaker swimming juvenile fish species. This is great news for Queensland’s most important commercial inshore net fish species.”

Reef Catchments general manager Katrina Dent said it was essential organisations like Reef Catchments could continue to fund environmental monitoring.

“These are fantastic results that really contribute to our knowledge of the aquatic ecosystem, both in Mackay and nationally.

“Reef Catchments is pleased to have helped drive this research. These are the kind of figures we need to continue to secure funding to construct more fishways in priority areas.”

This project was supported by Reef Catchments and delivered by Catchment Solutions, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

Conservation dog sniffs out a pest!

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It’s not everyday you employ an English Springer Spaniel to tackle the big jobs.

But that’s just what Reef Catchments has done, in a win-win for the environment and local landholders.

Rocky, a specially trained conservation detector dog, has assisted Reef Catchments, Queensland National Parks, and local property owners (Mackay region) to locate fox dens throughout the Slade Point and Cape Palmerston areas.

Reef Catchments Officer, Cass Hayward said while they kept a low profile, foxes were a significant threat to the many species in our region.

“Foxes are smart, and they’re difficult to manage. They are known to prey on native birds and mammals, turtle eggs, human rubbish… anything they can get their paws on! Knowing where they den gives us the best possible chance to trap and remove the animals,” Ms Hayward said.

In just one day throughout Slade Point headland Rocky found 13 fox dens, all with multiple entrances. He also visited Cape Palmerston National Park, where rangers had noticed fox prints along the beaches.

“At the moment, we don’t think there is high density of foxes in the region. However, armed with detailed information about den locations, land managers can now carry out more effective trapping programs to protect local wildlife,” Ms Hayward said.

It’s not just foxes this clever canine can find – Rocky can locate a wide range of animals in a landscape, including dingoes and wild dogs, rabbits and even cats.

Rocky’s handler Tom Garrett (Queensland Murray-Darling Committee) said Rocky had assisted farmers, landholders and conservationists throughout his career, with an impressive list of achievements to his name.

“Farmers have enlisted Rocky’s help if livestock is predated, and conservation groups if native animals are declining. If a landholder has already taken control action (e.g. baited or trapped), Rocky will be able to check the impact by detecting if lairs, warrens and dens remain active,” Mr Garrett said.

“This provides a measure of success. During the 90’s in Mon Repos, Bundaberg, up to 70% of turtle populations were being lost to fox predation. Since bringing Rocky on board to help find dens, they now report no predation in that area at all.”

Rocky has also recently detected at the Mt Etna bat caves near Rockhampton, home to the endangered ghost bat (Macroderma gigas).

“There are plenty of signs of foxes in the area, but not in the bat cave itself. What you often see is foxes eat all the other food and small mammals that would generally support our natives, which can also knock populations down,” Mr Garrett said.

He said foxes could often be present in areas people didn’t suspect, including urban and peri-urban environments, as they only require a den in the breeding season and otherwise freely move about.

Ms Hayward said the success of the project in the Mackay region had been thanks to the willingness of local landholders, QLD National Parks, QLD Bulk Ports and the Mackay Regional Council.

“Without their assistance and permission for Rocky to detect on their land, we wouldn’t have been able to gain this level of insight into local fox activity,” she said.

For more information, please contact Cass Hayward at Reef Catchments on cass.hayward@reefcatchments.com or (07) 4968 4206.

If you are interested in engaging Rocky, please contact Tom Garrett from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee or 0427 291 155.

This project was supported by Reef Catchments, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Get-together for Landholders on May 8

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Lots of people in a paddock.
Soil science can be fun and interesting! Come along to the Innovative Grazing Network, Neighbours Unite, on 8 May for a get-together of extension staff, community groups, and landholders from neighbouring NRM regions.

If you are wondering how drones can assist you, wonder no more as Whitsunday Regional Council will demonstrate how drones can help in both mapping and treating weeds.

Reef Catchments and NQ Dry Tropics are collaborating with this free day to help landholders and community groups to build their knowledge of soil health and innovative technologies.

Agronomy expert, David Hardwick, will be on hand to talk about assessment of soils and the importance of multi-species pastures.

Lunch will be provided at the event at 2713 Peter Delemonthe Road. Please RSVP by 1 May.

More information is here..

This event is proudly supported by Reef Catchments through funding
from the Australian Government National Landcare Programme,
and with support from event partners NQ Dry Tropics.

Learn about those weeds!

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Homebush weed workshop.Having trouble with weeds? Land managers can learn all about pest and weed management methodology at a free event at Homebush on 26 April. The workshop, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will enable you to identify weeds and to learn about managing soil to turn weeds on and off.

What does Queensland Biosecurity legislation mean for weed management on your property? If you’d like to find out more, please RSVP by April 23.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Please wear enclosed shoes, sun smart clothing, and a hat and bring water. You can read more here.

Thanks to event partners, Mackay Regional Pest Management Group.

This event is funded through the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines Natural Resource Investment Program.

Grassroots for Graziers – EOI

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Graziers within the Fitzroy and Mackay Whitsundays regions are invited to express their interest in the Grassroots Project.

Graziers who are accepted to take part in the project will be provided with funding and support to develop farm management capacity, to grow property production, and to improve the condition of the land.

Places are strictly limited and the cut-off date for applications is 2 March 2018.

If you are interested the application information is available here.

Cows.