Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Determination deters salinity in the Wimmera
Climate change and a prolonged drought are putting stress on much of the Australian landscape and those who make their living from it. For the Hindmarsh area within the Wimmera region, matters are even more difficult - it's a low part of the landscape and, being at the end of the Wimmera river catchment, it's also prone to salinity.
Funding
The farmers of the Wimmera are working to halt the impact of salinity and are intensively planting trees through the Hindmarsh Salinity Control Project. Thanks to $650,000 over three years from the Australian and State Governments, over 100,000 saltbush and 20,000 native plants are being established annually.
Activities
"We began in 1999 by planting about 45 hectares per year with saltbush and trees, but since 2003 we've had a target of replanting about 150 hectares per year," said Don McKenzie, who manages the project for the Hindmarsh Landcare Network and is a local farmer himself.
"We're focusing on areas already suffering from salinity, areas becoming saline and areas not yet affected.
"Our aim is to make the land as productive as possible for farmers, especially the high risk areas. Saltbush isn't very pretty but it's easy to establish and maintain, and actually provides quite good protein as stock feed."
Greg Barber from the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA) said about 56,000 hectares of the Wimmera was at high risk of salinity, and just over one per cent is visibly affected to some degree. The CMA believes the region's wetlands, streams and lakes are most at risk, together with farming land and infrastructure such as roads and railway lines.
Achievements
"The Hindmarsh Salinity Control project helps landholders to 'live with salinity' by restoring some productivity to salt-affected areas," said Greg, who oversees a Wimmera region-wide salinity response.
And it's the farmers who are the driving force.
"We go onsite and let farmers tell us what it is they want to do. We're getting farmers who are involved year after year. It's a brilliant community-driven project," said Don.
"There's visual proof too that the project is a success - with areas that were an eyesore farmers are now saying they look a lot better and are productive. It's just so much more appealing and a lot better than what was there before."
More information
- Naomi Brick, Hindmarsh Landcare Coordinator: (03) 5391 2172 or lcc@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
- Hindmarsh Shire Council website: www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
- Wimmera Catchment Management Authority website: www.wmca.vic.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window