A $5.58 million Palaszczuk Government funding boost is being channelled into Queensland’s 13 independent natural resource management groups.

Healthy Land and Water will receive an additional $375,000, on top of $1.4 million in initial project funding, to improve the regions’ soil health and water quality.

“Healthy Land and Water is working hand-in-hand with local landholders to strengthen land management practices aimed at improving the regions soil health and water quality,” Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.

“Healthy Land and Water is delivering regular workshops and hosting field days on a range of topics including soil health, erosion control, managing streams and gullies, pasture management, riparian condition and land capability assessment,” he added.

CEO of Healthy Land and Water, Julie McLellan, said the project aims to improve native vegetation and water quality in priority areas within South East Queensland.

“Since February this year, we have delivered eight workshops at Kilcoy and Boonah involving 55 landholders who manage more than 4000 hectares of land. During these workshops, landholders conducted a self-assessment of their land and developed action plans to improve soil health, land condition and water quality. In addition to improving soil health, the program also helps enhance water quality through improving riverbank management and decreasing erosion,” she said.

Post workshop surveys indicate that the workshops encouraged graziers to consider implementing best practices. 95% of participants developed Action Plans during the workshops. These Action Plans include property mapping and planning, fencing and water improvements to allow for better grazing rotation and pasture condition, and the assessment of land condition.

In addition, Healthy Land and Water also completed follow up property visits with landholders to provide one-on-one technical advice on groundcover and pasture management, native vegetation and assisted in undertaking land condition assessments.

If you would like to find out more about this project, you can make contact with Bruce Lord by sending him an email at bruce.l@hlw.org.au.