Grazier Bristow Hughes ( Strathalbyn Station ) and
Grazing Project Officer Rod Kerr
STOMPING OUT SEDIMENT IN THE BURDEKIN
Our Stomping out Sediment project continued supporting grazing properties in the Bowen , Bogie , Don and East Burdekin catchments to improve landscapes for long-term productivity , build soil health , restore gully erosion and reduce sediment loss . This included trials of highdensity grazing practices , reflecting our ongoing commitment to exploring innovation .
There is significant grazier interest in this project , illustrated by the excellent turnout of more than 50 people for a two-day field trip to demonstration sites in May .
One project on Strathalbyn Station , Bowen River , focused on gully remediation and pasture recovery on black soil plains . The visiting group observed a trial on neighbouring paddocks , one grazed with high numbers of cattle for short periods , and the other from which cattle had been excluded .
Respected soils ecologist Dr Christine Jones noted the soil from the grazed site appeared to have a healthier structure with better root penetration and biological activity . This was attributed to the apparent diversity and biomass of groundcover in the grazed paddock . Stomping out Sediment is funded through the Australian Government ' s Reef Trust .
LANDHOLDERS DRIVING CHANGE
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING SOLUTION TRANSFORMS GULLY SITE AT MT WICKHAM
Some severe gully erosion requires major engineering work . Our Landholders Driving Change ( LDC ) project aims to improve land condition and productivity while reducing sediment runoff from grazing properties in the Bowen , Broken , Bogie catchment around
Collinsville . Piloting innovative ways to tackle gully erosion is a key aspect of the project . One such example this year took place at Mt Wickham Station , Bowen River . Described by consultant Dr Glenn Dale ( Verterra ) as “ an amphitheatre of erosion ,” the gully site was transformed in a little more than six months by a combination of reshaping the landscape and planting a range of pasture species . LDC is funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program .
Mt Wickham before ( left ), after ( right ) following the wet season
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