This update represents just a handful among the hundreds of NRM projects going on across Australia, which are made possible through funding from the Australian Government and respective State governments.
Growing Resilience at Mt Elsa – Fitzroy Basin Association, Queensland
As part of the Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program funded by the Queensland government, the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) are working with graziers to improve poor and degraded land to limit soil loss and sediment run-off to waterways that flow to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
At Mt Elsa station, the landholders and FBA have developed and implemented a tailor-made Land Management Plan which maps out the actions to improve and maintain ground cover and protect the riverbank by installing fencing and creating waterpoints away from the river. While reducing soil loss and improving outcomes for the GBR, these actions also will increase production for Mt Elsa station.
Read the case study here.
Good news for threatened Australian Grayling – Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Victoria
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) recently helped facilitate a week-long fish survey along the Gellibrand River. The survey focused on River blackfish and the threatened and rarely seen Australian Grayling, both of which were caught. Since 2010 CCMA has been restoring fish passage by taking out migration barriers and putting in fish ladders, meaning that the Grayling has been able to migrate downstream to the estuary to spawn, leading to increased observations of the species.
The survey is part of the annual Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research survey, which provides a snapshot of the native fish communities in Victoria’s waterways.
Read more here and CCMA’s Facebook post.
Water infrastructure responses needed following improved land management – Central Tablelands Local Land Services, New South Wales
Despite higher-than-average rainfall over the past 3-4 years, many Central Tablelands farmers are struggling to water livestock, as widespread adoption of improved ground cover management and minimum till cropping practices have led to decreased runoff into dams. Central Tablelands LLS are working to support farmers who have livestock on land with good pasture, but no water.
Mandagery farmer, Luke Dunn of Reedy Creek Partners has been working with Central Tablelands LLS to prioritise water security improvements to their mixed farming business in response to this issue. You can watch the video of Mr Dunn here.
Waterway health and flood resilience for Kedron Brook – Healthy Land & Water, Queensland
Healthy Land and Water (HLW) has been funded under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to undertake the Kedron Brook Flood Recovery project. The project will restore riparian vegetation along a 2km section of the river in Brisbane’s northern suburbs that was devastated in the 2022 floods. The waterway is close to high value vegetation and potential habitat for endangered and vulnerable wildlife, as well as community facilities and recreational areas.
Read the Stage 1 and Stage 2 updates or explore the project overview here.
Restoring the iconic Eucalypt Woodlands – Northern Agricultural Catchment Council, Western Australia
The Northern Agricultural Catchment Council (NACC) is working with landholders to improve the condition of critically endangered Eucalypt Woodlands in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Woodlands in the area are under pressure from altered hydrology, intensified land use, and habitat loss through land clearing and fragmentation.
The 5-year project offers incentives to support practice change, and will target high priority areas in the region. NACC will also consider direct funding requests from landholders that are hoping to restore woodlands on-farm.
Read more here or in the latest project update.
Northern & Yorke Catchments to start Waterwatching following citizen scientist funding boost – Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, South Australia
Northern and York Landscape Board will join in on established Waterwatch and Waterbug BioBlitz activities already undertaken in the Murraylands and Riverland, and the Hills and Fleurieu regions, through new funding from the South Australian Government’s Citizen Scientist program
The expanded project will be delivered by the landscape boards in partnership with Peramangk, Ngarrindjeri and Ngadjuri First Nations peoples with support from the Department for Environment and Water.
Read more here.
Healing our Rivers – Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Western Australia
Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) in partnership with the Wilman (Dryandra) People Corporation, and with assistance from the Shires of Wandering and Williams, are conducting riverbank rehabilitation on the Hotham and Williams rivers. This will stabilise sections degraded from overuse to support the river’s natural function while still allowing community access.
Local elders from the Wilman (Dryandra) People Corporation Inc. were integral to the consultation and development of the project and have been present during the rehabilitation monitoring for any potential artefacts - a commitment made through the cultural heritage management plan developed for the sites.
Read more here.