Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Managing land in the good and the bad times
Farmers in the drought stricken mulga lands of South West Queensland are developing sustainable strategies for managing their lands through good and bad times.
A Grazing Land Management education package evolved as part of Meat and Livestock Australia's EDGEnetwork helps property managers better understand grazing land ecosystems and how to manage for the long term.
"This is an innovative package that I've helped customise for the mulga lands," said Jane Hamilton, grazing lands scientist with the Charleville office of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
"As part of this package, graziers in particular districts attend a series of workshops over four days after which they can develop projects for their properties."
They may then go on to apply for funding assistance for eligible projects.
Funding
The Australian and State Governments have contributed nearly $400,000 to this initiative in the mulga lands. South West NRM Ltd, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Meat and Livestock Australia have also been actively involved.
Activities
Twelve farmers from seven grazing enterprises attended the four day workshops in the Bollon sub-catchment in late 2006. This was one of five workshops run in the mulga region.
Jane said priorities identified for the Bollon area included creek bank and wetland management, repairing scalds, fencing to land types, weed control and managing for biodiversity.
Gabrielle and Michael Davis were among those who took the lessons of the Bollon workshops back to their property, 'Callabah'.
"Our goal is - and always has been - to take grazing pressure off the hard mulga country watering points and our unique soft mulga sand-plains," said Gabrielle and Michael. "We will do this by establishing ten additional watering points with the funding help.
"We're aiming to promote long term sustainability and viability through protecting the environment as well as our grazing profitability."
Achievements
"These workshops open the door to the best available local information and give farmers an understanding of sound processes underlying grazing and land management," Jane said. "They are an excellent forum for landholders to exchange local knowledge and motivate one another.
"The workshops help people assess the condition of their paddocks and realistically determine their carrying capacity. And they provide an insight into issues like fire management, how to balance trees and grass, ways to restore pasture quality and weed management."
More information
- Jane Hamilton, grazing land scientist Charleville DPI&F: (07) 4654 4200 or
- Gabrielle and Michael Davis: 'Callabah' landowners: (07) 4654 0340
See also
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