Landscape resilience boost ahead: New sustainable agriculture project greenlit for SEQ
The project aims to improve the resilience of SEQ’s grazing landscapes to natural disasters and climate change and to tackle key threats to land and vegetation.
Sustainable agriculture in South East Queensland (SEQ) is set to get a boost with a new project that will help build knowledge about the latest practices and techniques as well as roll out targeted incentives for the implementation of on-ground works.
Healthy Land & Water is leading the project, drawing on our extensive landholder networks throughout the region. It is being funded through the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Recovery Program (NRRP).
With grazing being the dominant land use in SEQ, accounting for about 55% of the region’s total land area, the dual aims of the project are to improve the resilience of SEQ’s grazing landscapes to natural disasters and climate change and to tackle key threats to land and vegetation.
The project is making much-needed support available to land managers who are grappling with the aftermath of a series of natural disasters that have hit the region. Years of drought followed by significant flooding across many areas of SEQ have wreaked havoc on land managers, impacted native vegetation conditions, and increased the vulnerability of landscapes to natural disasters and climate change.
Targeting Upper Brisbane, Logan, and Bremer catchments
This project will be targeting action in the Upper Brisbane, Logan, and Bremer catchments. These areas were identified as high priority during a recent integrated sediment control project and in natural asset mapping undertaken for the South East Queensland Natural Resource Management (SEQ NRM Plan).
Healthy Land & Water’s recent work with partners in the Lockyer and Little Liverpool Range has identified an expansion in weeds due to the wet weather and a consistent invasion of native vegetation areas compromised by drought years. These landscapes are recognised as significant biodiversity corridors in the SEQ NRM Plan and Shaping SEQ Plan.
Supporting sustainable land action
The project has been cleverly designed to address the adoption of sustainable land management practices that improve soil health, land condition, and the condition of native vegetation. It will also tackle key threats including declining pasture condition and soil health, hillslope erosion, invasive exotic weeds, inappropriate fire regimes, and grazing management practices.
Landholders will be supported to control weeds to help reduce fire risk and improve the condition of 110 hectares of native forest. In addition, it will reduce the impact of canopy-killing weeds to over 300 hectares of riparian vegetation. Landholders across the region will also have access to a series of workshops, field days, and property visits.
A targeted program of incentives will be available to support the implementation of on-ground works including strategic fencing to allow planned grazing and rest, managing hillslope and gully erosion, protecting riparian areas, and establishing off-stream water points and strategic fire and weed management to improve land condition.
All actions for the project are designed to deliver on the NRRP priorities. This includes supporting and enhancing the knowledge and capacity of grazing land managers to implement land management actions that improve land conditions and help contribute to well-functioning resilient landscapes.
Collaborative delivery
In collaboration with community and industry partners, Healthy Land & Water will work with local groups including Lockyer Uplands Catchments Inc. Little Liverpool Range Initiative, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, and Noosa and District Landcare Group to support on-ground projects and continue to partner with Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to deliver practical capacity building activities for landholders.
Landholders interested in being involved in the project are encouraged to contact Healthy Land & Water – Bruce Lord 0427 013 284 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Read through the full project snapshot here.
This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Queensland Government Department of Resources-Natural Resources Recovery Program (NRRP). In collaboration with: Lockyer Uplands Catchments Inc., Little Liverpool Range Initiative, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Noosa & District Landcare Group, and Queensland Department of Agriculture & Fisheries.
