GULLY MAINTENANCE
On site at Havilah, pictured from left are: Civil IQ Level 1 Operative Blake McLean and Managing Director Mark Hausfeld, Halloran and Sons Earthmoving Managing Director Anthony Halloran and NQ Dry Tropics Civil Works Coordinator Damian Flintham.
Ongoing maintenance is key to long-term gully remediation success.
Ongoing maintenance is crucial for maintaining the longterm integrity of gully interventions that aim to reduce sediment runoff. While initial remediation work, like reshaping gullies and installing rock chutes, can make a big difference, natural forces like heavy rainfall, erosion, and vegetation growth can still impact effectiveness.
Regular maintenance ensures erosion doesn’ t creep back in, structures like rock chutes stay in place, and that vegetation is healthy enough to provide ground cover and prevent further soil loss. It also helps to identify and address any issues early, like small cracks, rills or tunneling that could cause bigger problems later on.
It’ s about keeping the system working at its best and ensuring sediment control remains effective for years to come. Without that follow-up care, the work could lose its impact, and erosion might start to accelerate again.
HAVILAH GULLY MAINTENANCE SITE USED TO TRIAL BIODEGRADABLE MESH SOLUTION
At the end of 2024, gully maintenance work took place at Havilah, near Collinsville, ahead of the wet season. The focus was to test biodegradable mesh as an alternative to hay, which had been used during revegetation. The goal was to see if the mesh could withstand high wind and heavy rainfall, especially during the wet season.
While hay had worked well in the past, Civil IQ, the project manager, was eager to try the mesh and evaluate its performance. The mesh was installed on embankments and batters to help stabilise the soil, accompanied by a specially selected grass seed blend approved by the land manager. The mesh also helped to trap soil and seeds blown by the wind, encouraging natural revegetation.
This work was funded through the RTP BBB Water Quality Program.
Biodegradable mesh is being trialled at Havilah Station to see how it compares to traditional hay mulch under windy and wet conditions. The first two photos show the mesh after installation, while the third photo shows vegetation beginning to grow over it following the wet season.
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