
News
Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary: A New Era of Sustainable Agriculture
Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary is now well underway with 20 businesses selected to join the program. There was an overwhelming number of graziers that applied to join the program, which includes business operations support by BMRG and education courses valued up to $25,000 per business.
Volunteers Shine in Woongarra Turtle Conservation
BMRG was proud to take part in the wrap-up event for the 2024-2025 Woongarra Coastline Turtle Monitoring Program on 8 March, celebrating another successful season of dedicated conservation efforts.
Artificial Roost Boosts Shorebird Survival on Barubbra Island
Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) Project Officers Mauricio Montoya and Benjamin Hoekstra recently visited Barubbra Island to assess shorebirds as part of the ongoing monthly monitoring of the floating artificial roost, a project managed by BMRG with the support of Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC).
BMRG Staff Trained in Land Condition Assessment Tool (LCAT)
Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) staff recently completed an intensive two-day training on the Land Condition Assessment Tool (LCAT), led by its developer, Rob Hassett. The session combined theory with hands-on fieldwork, equipping all attendees with valuable skills in land condition assessment.
Bundaberg Sugar Burnett River Site – Supporting Reef Protection Efforts
In February, Rachel D'Arcy and Ben Hammill from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI) visited the Burnett River site at Bundaberg Sugar, where Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) and Gidarjil Development Corporation are working together to revegetate 18.7 hectares under the Reef Assist 2.0 initiative.
Mapping the Future: How BMRG Uses GIS to Drive Conservation and Sustainability
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a transformative technology that enables the collection, management, analysis, and mapping of various types of data. At Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), we leverage GIS to enhance environmental conservation efforts, support landholders, and drive sustainable resource management.
Highlights from the Regenerative Agricultural Forums
As the Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary forums came to a close, we were filled with gratitude for the remarkable community that came together over the two days. With over 600 attendees, the energy, enthusiasm, and engagement from everyone made these regenerative agricultural forums an inspiring and transformative experience.
Insights from the Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) Program
The Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) Program was delivered by Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) and Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) to primary producers across 23 Local Government Areas in Queensland that were impacted by the 2021-2022 flooding events in southern, central, southeast and western Queensland.
Protecting Our Rivers, Preserving Our Future: Tackling Erosion in the Burnett Mary Region
Erosion is a natural and essential process in river systems, shaping the landscape over thousands of years through the movement of water, sediment, and soil. Rivers carve out valleys, form floodplains, and create fertile land that supports agriculture and biodiversity. However, …
Farmers Unite for a Night of Resilience and Celebration
The Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer Program has come to an end. Over the last 18 months, Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) project officers have been supporting primary producers across the Burnett Mary Region to develop flood management plans, as a result of being impacted by the 2021-2022 high rainfall flooding events.
Streambank Remediation Following Flood Impacts
A consortium of partners tackling Mary River flood recovery and riverine restoration, including Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) and Alluvium Consulting, recently completed three major streambank remediation sites on the Mary River and its tributaries.
New Research Reveals Urgent Need to Protect Australia’s Freshwater Fishes and Threatened Species in the Mary River Catchment
In a significant contribution to Australia’s conservation efforts, researchers Tom Espinoza and Dr David Sternberg of the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) have co-authored a new journal article on the conservation status of Australia’s freshwater fish species.
Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary
The Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) is excited to announce the “Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary” project. With a funding amount of $1.1 million, this project will run for two years and is part of a suite of projects being delivered by BMRG as part of a drive towards sustainable agriculture in the Burnett Mary.
The Mary River Recovery Project - Watson’s Property Case Study
Peter and Elke Watson are dairy farmers in the upper Mary River region. When they first began their farming journey three decades ago, they were often seen as the ‘weirdo greenie’ neighbours for fencing off their river from livestock and emphasising environmental priorities.
Landholders Gain Invaluable Insights at GRASS Workshop
Last week, Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) project officers organised a Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) Workshop in Bororen. The workshop outlined the GRASS program and covered a range of topics including the Reef Protection Regulations, methods to assess ground cover and land condition, and funding opportunities.
Planting Bulberin Nut (Macadamia jansenii)trees at Thornhill Station
Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) staff recently had the privilege of joining Associate Professor, Dr Alison Shapcott from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) for the planting of Bulberin Nut (Macadamia jansenii) trees at Thornhill Station.
Galangoor Gira – Cool Burn
In September 2024, the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) collaborated with Butchulla Traditional Owners to conduct cool burns on K’gari as part of the Galangoor Gira project. These burns took place on their ALA land, known as Oysterman’s Lease.
BNTAC Rangers and BMRG Staff Unite to Rescue Stranded Milbi
During a recent reconnaissance trip, BNTAC Land and Sea Rangers Tilly, Kaile, and Mitch, along with BMRG staff Dave and Keira, embarked on an unexpected rescue mission.
Reviving Korrawinga: Restoring Great Sandy Strait’s Ecological and Cultural Heritage
The Healing Korrawinga project is a significant initiative aimed at restoring both the ecological and cultural integrity of ten priority islands within the Great Sandy Strait Ramsar Site.
Pest Control Success: Safeguarding Turtle Habitats from Feral Threats
Bush to Bay Weed Control has recently completed significant pest control efforts as part of the ongoing Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program that the Burnett Mary Regional Group is coordinating.