Sustainable Agriculture
Working with landholders to implement activities on their properties that improve land condition and productivity while reducing the threats of sediment loss, pesticide and fertiliser run off.
Sustainable Agriculture · TNQ Drought Hub
Soil Health
In the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region
Soil is the foundation of every productive landscape. It holds water through dry times, cycles nutrients, supports pasture and crops, and protects the waterways that flow to the Great Barrier Reef.
Reef Catchments works with landholders, agronomists and agricultural support services across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region to better understand our soils, and how to manage them for long-term productivity and drought resilience.
Why soil matters
Know what’s beneath your feet
Our region’s soils are as varied as its landscapes, ranging from cracking clays on the coastal plains to lighter soils in the ranges and grazing country.
Healthy soil isn’t just good for the land. It also helps businesses stay productive through a changing climate.
Understanding your soil helps you make better decisions about:
- Holding moisture and preparing for drought
- Maintaining ground cover and reducing erosion
- Managing nutrients and fertiliser use
- Improving pasture and crop performance
- Protecting water quality downstream
Practical, hands-on soil programs
Through the TNQ Drought Hub, Reef Catchments delivers practical, hands-on soil programs for the people who work on and support our agricultural landscapes.
Workshops and field days
Covering soil identification, classification, assessment and management, delivered in the paddock and in local communities.
Partnerships with soil scientists
Including Queensland Government specialists, bringing expert knowledge to a local context.
Practical tools and guides
Helping landholders assess and monitor soil health on their own properties.
Building local capacity
So agricultural and environmental advisors can support landholders long after a workshop ends.
Guides, tools and learning
Explore soil manuals, survey reports and workshop presentations from our soil health programs. New resources are added as they become available.
Guides and manuals
These publications are the primary source references for soils in our region.
ManualSoil manual for the Mackay-Proserpine regionQueensland Government reference manual for the soils of the Mackay and Proserpine districts.View manual
Soil survey · MCLSoil survey of the Mackay sugarcane landsSoil mapping and descriptions for the Mackay cane-growing district.View survey
Soil survey · PCSSoil survey of the Plane Creek areaSoil mapping and descriptions for the Plane Creek area, south of Sarina.View survey
Soil survey · WCSSoil survey of the Whitsunday Coast areaSoil mapping and descriptions for the Whitsunday Coast, including the Proserpine district.View survey
Guidelines · PDFSoil-specific nutrient management guidelines for sugarcane in the Mackay districtSugar Research Australia guidelines for matching nutrient management to soil type.Download
GuideTropical Soils GuidebookA practical guide to understanding and managing tropical soils.View guide
Soil survey · MCLSoil survey of the Mackay sugarcane landsSoil mapping and descriptions for the Mackay cane-growing district.View survey
Soil survey · PCSSoil survey of the Plane Creek areaSoil mapping and descriptions for the Plane Creek area, south of Sarina.View survey
Soil survey · WCSSoil survey of the Whitsunday Coast areaSoil mapping and descriptions for the Whitsunday Coast, including the Proserpine district.View survey
Guidelines · PDFSoil-specific nutrient management guidelines for sugarcane in the Mackay districtSugar Research Australia guidelines for matching nutrient management to soil type.Download
GuideTropical Soils GuidebookA practical guide to understanding and managing tropical soils.View guide
Workshop materials and presentations
Soils in Focus: Digging into our regional soils · Mirani, October 2026. Presentations from the one-day workshop delivered with Queensland Government soil scientists, in session order.
Session 0 · PDFRegional Soils Coordinator introductionHow the TNQ Drought Hub’s Regional Soils Coordinator program connects people, builds skills and supports practice change.Download
Session 1 · PDFOverview of the districtThe geology, landscapes and major soils of the Mackay district, plus the workshop agenda and learning outcomes.Download
Session 2 · PDFSoil description: landform and surface featuresDescribing landform pattern, slope, disturbance, surface condition and coarse fragments in the field.Download
Session 3 · PDFSoil description: soil profileHorizons, colour, mottles, texture and structure, and classifying soils with the Australian Soil Classification.Download
Session 4 · PDFSoil sampling designPlanning a sampling program around its purpose, good field practice and getting lab analysis.Download
Session 5 · PDFQueensland soils data and how to access itFinding and using soil data through QGlobe, the Queensland Spatial Catalogue and the government library catalogue.Download
Session 1 · PDFOverview of the districtThe geology, landscapes and major soils of the Mackay district, plus the workshop agenda and learning outcomes.Download
Session 2 · PDFSoil description: landform and surface featuresDescribing landform pattern, slope, disturbance, surface condition and coarse fragments in the field.Download
Session 3 · PDFSoil description: soil profileHorizons, colour, mottles, texture and structure, and classifying soils with the Australian Soil Classification.Download
Session 4 · PDFSoil sampling designPlanning a sampling program around its purpose, good field practice and getting lab analysis.Download
Session 5 · PDFQueensland soils data and how to access itFinding and using soil data through QGlobe, the Queensland Spatial Catalogue and the government library catalogue.Download
2027
Coming in 2027
Holistic Assessment of Soil Health (HASH) manual
We’re developing a regional HASH manual in partnership with Soil Land Food. The practical field guide steps landholders through six simple soil assessment procedures to understand and track the health of their soils over time. Landholder workshops will follow the manual’s release in 2027.
Get involved
Let’s talk soil
Want to learn more about soil health on your property, or hear about upcoming workshops?
Chanelle Barrett
Drought Resilience Coordinator
chanelle.barrett@reefcatchments.com
0461 433 450
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