Traditional Owners and graziers unite to heal country
Under the Healing Country 2.0 project , First Nations environmental teams supported landholders to tackle small-scale erosion using non-mechanical methods such as leaky weirs ( porous check dams ), designed to trap sediment and help promote vegetation growth .
“ It makes me feel like I ' m doing something right for my culture , and I ' m very happy about that ,” Ethan said .
NQ Dry Tropics is proud to connect Traditional Owners with graziers as they work together to heal Country .
Leaky weirs are a cost-effective tool built from natural materials such as rocks , logs , sticks and vegetation , sourced from the immediate surrounds on-property .
One team partnered with grazier Dino Penna to tackle a troublesome erosion hotspot at Kangaroo Hills Station , south west of Ingham .
The Healing Country 2.0 project is funded through the Queensland Government ’ s Reef Assist program under the Queensland Government ’ s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program . It was delivered in partnership with Indigenous employment group Three Big Rivers , Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation , and Biodiversity Australia .
Team member Ethan Upkett-Neliman said working on the Healing Country project had strengthened his connection with Country .
Pictured is one of the Healing Country Teams ( from left ) Cade Wells , Tyresse Neliman , Ethan Upkett-Neliman and Lewis Kyle with Kangaroo Hills grazier Dino Penna .