THE DIRT Issue 2 | Page 33

the same way throughout the reef catchments at different times of the year; and that some gully systems were too large for landholders to remediate by themselves was accepted, and is included in the Grazing Requirements fact sheets. POLICY ROUNDTABLE A roundtable was held in Townsville February 2019 to: • provide a platform to explore opportunities to influence existing and proposed regulations to better support water quality outcomes; and • discuss the intent of existing and proposed regulations, and the impact of these regulations on grazing operations. Grazier Bristow Hughes, of Strathalbyn Station, and Peter Webley, of Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy (DNRME). It brought together BBB graziers, representatives from NQ Dry Tropics, the Office of the G eat Barrier Reef (OGBR) - Department of Environment and Science (DES), the Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy (DNRME) - included directors from relevant government departments (Vegetation, Reef, Water and Protected Plants). A number of actions were prioritised, which led to two key outcomes: • Improvements to the ‘blue dot’ Protected Plants Trigger map associated with the Protected Plants legislation, and including additional information about protected plants in the Vegetation Management Property Reports. • Obtaining DNRME agreement to explore options for meeting reef protection measures and vegetation management requirements. Grazier Peter Anderson (left), of Glenlea Downs, with Jane Jamieson (middle), DNRME and Alex Brown (right), Department of Environment and Science (DES). BBB landholder, Bristow Hughes, of Strathalbyn Station, near Collinsville, who attended the LDC policy roundtable, subsequently submitted a proposal to OGBR highlighting challenges associated with improving land condition (weed control) to meet reef protection regulations at the same time as meeting vegetation management obligations. DNRME agreed to investigate. Representatives from DNRME, OGBR, Queensland Herbarium and NQ Dry Tropics will meet with Mr Hughes on-property, to better understand the problem and look for solutions. This is an excellent example of how LDC is facilitating landholder engagement in policy development, review, and implementation in the BBB. Susan Vail, Salisbury Plains (left) with Elisa Nichols, Department of Environment and Science (DES). 33