This update represents just a handful among the hundreds of NRM projects happening across Australia, which are made possible through funding from the Australian Government and respective State governments.
‘Fish Homes and Highways’ project creates superhighways – Terrain NRM, Queensland
Over the past year, Terrain NRM has been working with OzFish Unlimited, Catchment Solutions and Australasian Fish Passage Services to build six fishways between Tully and Crystal Creek near Paluma to remove barriers for juvenile fish. The project, funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, has opened more than 100 kilometres of creek and river systems.
Fishways are a series of underwater stairs for fish with deep pools between each step for fish to rest. They are built by strategically placing rocks at a gradient that will slow water flow and are also able to withstand floods.
“Of the 80+ species of native fish we have in the Wet Tropics region, up to half need to move between salt and freshwater habitats to complete their lifecycles. Barriers like weirs, pipes, culvert crossings and weed chokes can stop these species from thriving.” said Terrain NRM’s Deb Bass.
Fences up- pest animal control works underway – Western Local Land Services, New South Wales
As part of their work with landholders to build their capacity, knowledge and adoption of biosecurity and sustainable agricultural practices, Western Local Land Services has funded fencing for landholders to exclude feral pests.
Following a competitive expression of interest process, nine landholder projects were selected to receive NSW government funding to install targeted fencing and coordinated pest animal control. Landholders also received support to prepare for, and reduce, emergency animal disease outbreaks.
A total of 350km of the 376 km of exclusion fencing has been erected, with 331,170 hectares of property to be enclosed at completion of the project.
As they turn to the next task - feral pig control - landholders are already reporting improvements to their primary production, biosecurity and on-farm biodiversity from the fencing.
Read the Western newsletter and Fencing biosecure production zones project page.
Revitalising the Condamine Headwaters – Southern Queensland Landscapes, Queensland
Southern Queensland Landscapes (SQL), funded by the Australian Government, are coordinating the Blackfish Project to improve the habitat values of the Condamine River headwaters. Blackfish in this area are under threat from sedimentation and habitat degradation, along with warmer water conditions - blackfish can only survive in temperatures below 28◦C.
The project extends beyond scientific research. A collaborative approach with local landowners, and incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the Githabul Nation people, has been adopted to foster strong community connections and support for the work.
Read more here and the project page.
Collaborating with Aboriginal communities – Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, South Australia
The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is working collaboratively with Aboriginal communities through an Indigenous Participation Plan. The Plan outlines ways to support Aboriginal communities to maintain connection with Country, while also achieving sustainable outcomes for the Eyre Peninsula region.
“Understanding the deep bond between our Aboriginal communities and the land, sea, and water is crucial to preserving the sustainability and well-being of the Eyre Peninsula” said Aboriginal Engagement Officer Monique Anderson.
Land Management Champion video series – Greater Sydney Local Land Services, New South Wales
Greater Sydney Local Land Services (LLS) have produced a series of four short videos highlighting remarkable stories of individuals who have successfully restored their properties to enhance and protect biodiversity.
The films feature private landholders and an Aboriginal Elder and aim to encourage and inspire others to adopt similar sustainable land management methods, make positive changes, and understand the benefits of long-term environmental stewardship.
Pipeline wetlands get a health check – Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Victoria
The Wimmera, Mallee, and North Central catchment management authorities and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder are giving the Wimmera Mallee wetlands across north-western Victoria a major health check. The check comes a decade after water for the environment was introduced to save the wetlands from drying up.
The 52 Wimmera Mallee Pipeline wetlands are natural depressions that provide key drought refuges and habitat for plants and animals. The local First Nations people also have strong cultural connections to these landscape areas.
The review will look at the health of all wetlands on both public and private land and evaluate how they have responded to environmental watering over the past 10 years.
Major Natural Capital Accounting project completed – Perth NRM, Western Australia
An advance for WA farmers seeking to assess and manage natural capital has been made with Perth NRM’s “Measuring On-Farm Natural Capital in Western Australia” project.
Delivered in partnership with Integrated Futures and funded by the WA Government and the Commonland Foundation the work involved 645 natural capital surveys across 20 farms, covering a total area of 30,968 hectares.
Through the project a comprehensive NCA reporting methodology and an interactive database platform (allowing farmers to evaluate, monitor and manage their natural capital) have been developed. The work provides valuable insights for natural capital management and sustainable farming practice.
Keith Pekin, CEO at Perth NRM, “By providing farmers with the tools and knowledge to better understand their natural capital, we are enabling a more sustainable approach to agriculture that benefits both the environment and the community.”