Landscape Remediation
Erosion on grazing properties reduces productive land and leads to sediment runoff when it rains . NQ Dry Tropics worked with landholders to manage smaller gullies through adopting best-practice grazing land management , and undertaking low-cost remediation works , while substantial gully systems required more complex engineering solutions delivered by specialist contractors .
The long-term success of landscape remediation work relies on maintenance and monitoring , combined with ongoing grazing land management to rest land .
LANDSCAPE REMEDIATION PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS , 2023-24
4676T
OF SEDIMENT PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LAGOON
25
478
28KM
LARGE AND SMALL GULLIES REMEDIATED
LEAKY WEIRS CONSTRUCTED
OF PROPERTY TRACKS IMPROVED BY EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES
Major gully remediation work complete on Belmore Downs
Remediation work ( pictured , right ) carried out at Belmore Downs , near Collinsville , on seven active gullies covering 19ha , was completed in December . It ’ s been a big job and is expected to significantly benefit land condition and reef water quality .
Designed and constructed by Neilly Group Engineering , the project was delivered entirely by local contractors . It was the sixth large-scale gully remediation project delivered under the Landholders Driving Change project .
The gullies had been expanding fast , sending an estimated 4617 tonnes of sediment downstream every year . Remediation activities combined reshaping the gullies , installing rock chutes , and revegetation .
The project team constructed 12 rock chutes , together with a series of bunds to divert water and prevent further gully growth . They subsequently revegetated the site using a range of pasture and legume species to promote ground cover , and also used mulch and bagasse on disturbed areas . Fencing around the site area is ensuring stock is excluded until groundcover is fully established .
Long-term monitoring of the site will determine the effectiveness of this work . Expected benefits include :
� improved vegetation , ground cover and biomass , and soil condition ;
� reduced erosion and gully retreat rates ; and
� improved water quality due to reduced sediment runoff from the site .
The Landholders Driving Change project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation .
22 NQ DRY TROPICS | YEAR IN REVIEW 2023-24