ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This project has been managed by NQ Dry Tropics and funded by the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust Phase IV ( RTIV ) and through grazier and other in-kind and cash contributions , including support from a range of NQ Dry Tropics , Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries ( DAF ) officers ( in particular Bob Shepherd , Charters Towers , Jim Fletcher , Mackay , and Paul Jones , Emerald ), and Brett Abbott , CSIRO Townsville .
NQ Dry Tropics sincerely thanks landholders for participating in this project and for providing many helpful and considered insights into management options for the project . Particular mention to the Cormack family ( Johnnycake and Desmond ), the Howard family ( Hellsgate ), the Hughes family ( Wentworth , Strathalbyn and Tabletop ), the O ’ Sullivan family ( Glenalpine ), Jamie Gordon and Garlone Moulin ( Mt . Pleasant ), the Murphy family ( formerly Tabletop ), the Perkinson family ( 5 Mile ), the Pepper family ( Terry Creek ), Jo Travers and Paul Thorogood ( formerly Sutherland ), and Rod Barrett ( Salisbury Plains ) who were important players in the inception , design and implementation of the concepts and practices for this project . Also in memory of the cooperation of the Swartz and Tighe families , of Sutherland Station , who lost their lives in tragic circumstances in August 2022 .
DISCUSSION
The five-year Stomping out Sediment project took an unconventional approach to gully management , testing and evaluating livestock as a tool to remediate some gully types , as well as implementing more conventional gully remediation approaches . The project offered an opportunity to build an increasing commitment in an engaged group of graziers , to improve their landscapes to ensure long-term productivity , to restore historical and contemporary gully and streambank erosion sites , and to make a real contribution to a reduction in sediment loss from the region .
Sixteen projects across nine properties were completed ( June 2017 to June 2022 ), resulting in total sediment savings calculated at 1,886 tonnes per annum . The properties were : Desmond , 5 Mile , Glenalpine , Hellsgate , Johnnycake , Strathalbyn , Sutherland , Tabletop and Terry Creek . Mt . Pleasant was used as a monitoring reference site .
Total project expenditure was $ 2,039,110 plus in-kind contributions from other programs , staff time , and grazier cash and in-kind contributions totalling approximately $ 372,000 .
This delivered considerable economic activity to the Bowen and Collinsville area and beyond . Expenditure on construction materials such as quarry products , fuels , fencing materials , piping , water tanks and troughs , fertiliser , grass seed , vehicle hire , accommodation and meals , catering for field events , venue and equipment hire , and the provision of services by local contractors ( e . g . fencing contractors R . E . Whalan and K . Whalan Fencing , Wild Country Fencing , T . J . Russell Rural Contracting and for earthworks construction and maintenance through Colls Earthmoving , Searles Transport and Coalfield Services ) provided considerable benefit to local and regional economies .
Major contractors and service providers engaged included the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries , Grazing Naturally , Inside Outside Management , Neilly Group Engineering , Fruition Environmental and Rock-It Science Pty Ltd ., TJO Grassroots Consulting , Illing Seeds , Outdoor Cameras Australia , Griffith University , the University of Southern Queensland , as well as specialist services e . g . for acquisition of LiDAR .
A “ community of practice ” grazing group was developed through the delivery of 16 training and extension events , with many graziers , station managers and station hands attending . A total of 300 people attended . Feedback from attendees was that management practices were changing and the economic and environmental benefits of improved practices were now observable , making change to attitudes possible . 4