Graziers helped design and steer the project as it evolved .
GRAZIERS HELPED DESIGN THE PROJECT
Project activities , designed to remove the social , financial and technical barriers to practice change , were developed from ideas suggested by local graziers during an intensive engagement process .
Their suggestions included gully remediation ; improving pasture cover ; education and training ; incentives to support better practices ; and forging closer links between landholders and policy makers . They also stressed that gully erosion wasn ’ t just a grazier issue , and other land users should be involved .
A Project Panel , comprising graziers , scientists , government officers and technical specialists , helped ensure project activities would reflect the advice of the local community ; reduce sediment runoff to the reef ; and help achieve enduring sustainable and productive land management in the Bowen , Broken Bogie catchment ( BBB ).
Mount Pleasant Station grazier Garlone Moulin said the project had given graziers a voice .
“ Sitting on the Project Panel has been a privilege ,” Ms Moulin said .
“ We ’ ve been seen , we ’ ve been heard , we ’ ve been listened to , and we ’ ve built relationships that are going to continue — and it ’ s pretty hard to put a price on that .
“ There ’ s been room for all sorts of folks to contribute ideas and solutions , the project has adjusted as it ’ s progressed , and there have been many successes .
“ As well as more traditional wire and water projects , there ’ s been all this other community-building , and idea-sharing made possible through avenues such as a Learning Hub , cluster groups and social events .”
Landholders Driving Change ( 2017-2020 ) was funded by the Queensland Government ’ s Reef Water Quality Program .
Between 2020 and 2023 , the project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation .
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS ( 2017-2020 )
• Prevented more than 10,600 tonnes of fine sediment from reaching the Great Barrier Reef annually .
• Completed 29 gully remediation projects and trials .
• Built trusted relationships with 91 per cent of large grazing properties in the BBB , covering more than 1 million hectares .
• Partnered with 63 organisations , and helped catalyse a commercial market around gully remediation .
• Supported 318 businesses and delivered $ 2.6 million worth of direct local employment .
• Supported local government , mining and utility sectors to adopt more sustainable practices .
• Established a community water quality program that validated sub-catchment pollutant loads and priorities .
• Leveraged more than $ 3 million in co-investment ( cash and in-kind ).
The initial Queensland Governmentfunded LDC project was delivered through five activity areas :
Grazier support — offered a flexible and tailored training and education service , including courses , workshops , field days , and peer to peer “ cluster group ” networks .
Landscape remediation — prioritised large and small-scale gullies for repair , and trialed the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a variety of interventions .
Influencing other land managers — engaged with non-grazing land managers in the catchment , including mines , utilities and all levels of government .
Exploring new incentives — looked at ways to address barriers to adopting improved grazing land management practices .
Policy engagement — linked landholders with policy makers through round table discussions .
2020 – 21 YEAR IN REVIEW 11