differently , but have the same end goal in mind ,” she said .
“ I don ’ t think we can underestimate the power of connection with each other .”
Involvement with the Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions ( GRASS ) program supported more detailed property planning , and funding for on-ground works .
“ GRASS helped us identify the five priority areas of scalded country we wanted to work on first , and enabled us to put our key project into place , a big system of contour banks ,” she said .
“ It ’ s only been in place for 12 months and seen one wet season , but has already made a world of difference .
“ We ’ ve noticed a lot of growth in areas where we didn ’ t have any last year , and the land is already starting to heal , with grass coming into some of the worst bits of erosion .”
Last year the Strettons signed up to the Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project , to help them remediate gully erosion , while improving grazing management on a large paddock
of degraded land lower down the watershed .
“ We want to split it up and get more contours , and more watering points in to try and ease that grazing pressure ,” she said .
Additional on-ground support has come through the Healing Country project , a partnership between NQ Dry Tropics and Indigenous employment group Three Big Rivers . A team of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders spent several days on Red Hill constructing leaky weirs in gullies to slow water and improve pasture growth .
Ms Stretton said working with NQ Dry Tropics helped them face up to challenges and accelerate their long-term plans .
“ We ’ re probably two or three years ahead of where we thought we would be ,” she said .
The GRASS project is funded through the Queensland Government ’ s Reef Water Quality Program .
The Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project is funded through the partnership between the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation .
REEFWISE PROJECT WRAPS UP
The three-year Reefwise Grazing of Burdekin Rangelands project wrapped up this year .
Graziers from 12 properties undertook on-ground management changes supported by targeted incentives , formal education , and extension .
Achievements
• Developed water quality plans for 12 properties covering 250,000ha .
• Established 36 pasture monitoring sites .
• Supported 12 participants to compile comprehensive FORAGE and VegMachine records .
• Delivered 15 formal training sessions on subjects including regenerative grazing , business management , and erosion control .
The project was funded through the partnership between the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation .
Kylie Stretton ( left ) and NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Caralea Hensler .
2020 – 21 YEAR IN REVIEW 13