Grazing management and gully remediation benefit Swan ’ s Lagoon
Graziers Brenton and Peter Malpass purchased former cattle research station Swan ’ s Lagoon in 2014 , aiming to improve land condition and productivity .
Some sections of the 34,000 hectare property near Ayr had historically been overgrazed , causing widespread gully erosion delivering sediment to the Burdekin River and the Great Barrier Reef .
Senior Grazing Officer Joe O ’ Reagain and Soil Conservation Officer Bernie Claussen supported Brenton and Peter to develop and execute a plan combining grazing management improvements with gully remediation .
New fencing and water points reduced grazing pressure by creating smaller paddocks that could be regularly spelled to give native grasses a chance to seed and out-compete less desirable species .
Under a partnership with Indigenous employment group Three Big Rivers , Bernie trained a young crew to repair priority small gullies across the property .
Leaky weir made from hay .
They built leaky weirs out of hay to stabilise the gullies and placed fallen trees on contours to slow water down , hold up seeds and organic matter , and promote vegetation growth .
From left , Soil Conservation Officer Bernie Claussen , grazier Brenton Malpass , Senior Grazing Field Officer Joe O ’ Reagain .
PAGE 16 2021-2022 – NQ DRY TROPICS YEAR IN REVIEW