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Graziers and the Reef benefit from ‘Reef Rescue’ program
The Australian Governments ‘Reef Rescue’ plan is beginning to deliver funding
for
on-ground projects. The Burnett Mary Reef Partnership has been providing incentives to
farmers and graziers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment to improve farm
management practices, mainly to keep their fertiliser, soil and chemicals on
farm.
The Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA) was involved in delivering the
grazing component of Reef Rescue for the Burnett Mary Regional Group.
‘The on-ground activities implemented through the Reef Rescue Grazing program
will not only account for a reduction in sediment export from the land, benefiting
the Reef, but they will also provide a benefit for the producer, enhancing their
sustainability,’
said Leeanne Witcher, Reef Rescue Grazing Extension Officer for BCCA.
John Bell, Turkey Station, is a Bororen grazier who received funding through
the Reef Rescue program to assist in the implementation of additional fencing
and water
infrastructure that will allow paddock rotation, and therefore the ability to
spell the
pasture. The spelling of the pasture helps maintain adequate ground cover, which,
during a rainfall event, will reduce the amount of sediment loss from the paddock.
Last year, we divided a large paddock into two, allowing us to rest the pasture
in these two paddocks. This year, Reef Rescue funding was available, which allowed me to install
additional fencing and water points. This additional infrastructure has given me the ability to spell my pastures,
along with making it easier to manage the herd’, said John Bell.
There were a range of on-ground activities undertaken by landholders within the
Baffle, Isis, Elliot, Lower Kolan, Gregory, Burrum and Lower Burnett catchments. These
activities included erosion control, fencing of different landtypes to allow
for better
grazing management, installation of additional stock water points and revegetation
of riparian areas.
Interested graziers need to contact the Burnett Catchment Care Association for
an
Expression of Interest form on (07) 41653551 or admin@burnettcatchment.org.
Grazier John Bell
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