About The BCCA
Supporting Sustainable Land Management in the Burnett.What Does The BCCA Do?
The Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA), formed in 1994, is a member-based, not-for-profit organisation, employing professional staff to develop and implement natural resource management projects across the Burnett Catchment.
We work directly with landholders to support sustainable land management practices and facilitate knowledge and capacity building.
We partner with associated, like-minded organisations such as landcare where much of our funding is derived from State and Federal Government funding programs.
To view BCCA’s capability statement click here!
BCCA is an endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient registered with the Australian Taxation Office & the Australian Charities & Not-for-Profit Commission.
About The Burnett Catchment Area
The Burnett River begins in the Dawes Ranges north east of Monto in south-east Queensland, Australia and runs some 400 kilometres to discharge into the sea at Burnett Heads near Bundaberg.
The Burnett Catchment area includes the Burnett, Elliott, Gregory and Kolan Rivers and covers an area of land spreading 33,150 square kilometres. The Catchment includes the towns of;
- Monto,
- Mt Perry,
- Eidsvold,
- Mundubbera,
- Gayndah,
- Biggenden,
- Wondai,
- Murgon,
- Goomeri,
- Cherbourg,
- Kingaroy,
- Nanango,
- Gin Gin,
- Childers,
- Bundaberg and Bargara.
Geology And Landuse
The Burnett Catchment consists of a complex variety of landforms, geology and soil types.
Agriculture is the principal land use of the Catchment with the most important industries being beef and dairy cattle, sugar cane, field crops, horticultural crops and intensive livestock.
Some 2,877,243 ha or 74% of the total Catchment area is involved in actual agriculture; within the agriculture sector the predominant land use is grazing which accounts for over 80%.
Integrated Catchment Management
Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) is a philosophy that encourages a coordinated approach to the management of natural resources in Queensland.
Its overall purpose is to integrate the management of land, water and related biological resources in order to achieve their sustainable and balanced use.
ICM involves the voluntary actions of stakeholders including government, rural landholders, industry, fisheries and urban dwellers that incorporate the goals of achieving and maintaining a healthy catchment for future generations.
A Brief History Of The Organisation
The Early Years
The Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA) was initiated in 1994 when a number of concerned citizens formed an Interim Steering Committee to facilitate the formation of a catchment care group. This steering committee was aware of the need to address natural resource management issues on a catchment approach instead of a town or property alone basis.
By October 1995 this interim steering committee had become the Burnett Catchment Care Association. Today the organisation continues to grow and respond to changes in Natural Resource Management and to stakeholder needs.
Better Burnett
In 2007, the Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA) launched Better Burnett, a program funded by the Federal Government through the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG). The pilot was completed in 2008, and BCCA have continued to work with BMRG with funding through the Federal Government’s numerous Natural Resource Management programs.
20 Years
In 2015, BCCA celebrated 20 years as an association. Throughout this time, BCCA has achieved almost 60,000 hectares of improved groundcover management and has engaged over 1000 landholders. In this time, in excess of $13M has been delivered onground and to BCCA for program delivery.
Not only has BCCA played a significant role in improving our natural resource management across the catchment but it has also played a vital role in providing employment for professional people in our rural towns.
More information on the projects BCCA have delivered and are currently delivering can be found on our Programs page.
The BCCA Committee
The BCCA members elect an association Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Treasurer as well as two additional Executive Committee member.
BCCA’s Administration Manager acts as the association Secretary in addition to managing the administration of the organisation. Election of Executive Committee members occurs yearly at BCCA’s AGM generally held in September or October. The role of Treasure and Secretary was combined at BCCA’s AGM. Therefore two additional Executive Committee members were elected.
CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mr Paul Lobegeier
Chairperson
Ms Melinda Clarke
Treasurer & Secretary
Mr Tom Bancroft
Vice Chairperson
Ms Marion Denholm
Executive Member
Mr Michael Moller
Executive Member
Become A Member
Burnett Catchment Care Assosiation members are not only able to vote and participate in the direction of the organisation, but they are also first to hear about funding, workshops and training events in our region.
BCCA also has a public liability insurance policy worth $20,000,000. The policy covers members and volunteer workers involved in the organisations activities.
Newsletter Archive
The Burnett Buzz…..Spring 2019
The latest Burnett Buzz is out, highlights include: Upcoming RCS Clinic— Biggenden 9 - 11 October Inland Burnett SMARTHub survey! Managing Risk in Agriculture - review of August workshops Drought Declaration - assistance available To download your copy click...
The Burnett Buzz……Autumn 2019
The Autumn Burnett Buzz is out!! Highlights include: Monto Growers visit farm of GRDC’s ‘2018 Grain Grower of the Year’. Gully Erosion manual—get your copy today! On-line hub Ag Strategy Survey winner Getting the EDGE in Business To download click here!! ...
The Burnett Buzz…..Summer 2018/2019
Highlights in our Summer 2018/2019 issue: Monto Agricultural Strategy Barambah Weeds Project Meet Kirstie Roffey and Hannah Vicary Business EDGE - is your business providing you with more than just a job? To download click here!!
The Burnett Buzz …… Winter
Incorporating Grazing BMP principals into Pecan production! How risk affects farmers’ decision making. Grower collaborations & working together Field walk identifies 144 species of plants at Rocky Creek in the Baffle Catchment. To download the newsletter click...
The Burnett Buzz….Autumn 2018
David Hall, experienced field agronomist. Are you in the new Reef Trust Grazing Priority area? Importance of being good grass farmer! Thinking of going electric? 130 tubestock species with 79% survival rate! To download the latest Burnett Buzz click here!!!...
The Burnett Buzz….Summer 2018
Highlights in this edition: Soils workshop a success at Miriam Vale Seeking ideas for workshops and training events Cover Cropping Workshop - Monto To view newsletter click here!!
The Burnett Buzz – Spring 2017
Highlights in this edition: Bull selection with John Bertram and Alan Laing Roger Stone climate workshop at Rosedale Richard Kinnon meets the North Burnett Practical assistance for graziers in the Reef Trust III priority area Chloe the koala To view newsletter click...
The Burnett Buzz – Autumn 2017
Highlights in this edition: Rainforest species identification and the importance of these species in the landscape. Nearing the 5000 tree target for our 20 Million Trees project. Successful Goomeri and Mundubbera soil health workshops. Seeking practice change by...
The Burnett Buzz – Summer 2017
Highlights in this edition: The closing stages of the Action on the Ground Nitrous Oxide Trial in Monto Cropping workshops in the South Burnett for black soil farmers a big success Calling Lower Burnett graziers for Reef Alliance Project Heaps of great workshops...
The Burnett Buzz – Spring 2016
In this edition: BCCA to manage Baffle Reef Systems Repairs Project New ‘Monto Growers Group’ formed Small grants provided to kick start South Burnett Black Soil Growers Action on the Ground project almost complete Can I make money from Carbon? Please consider...
the burnett buzz… Autumn 2016
In this season's issue of the burnett buzz... ; Southern Qld Cropping bus tour Reef Water Quality finalised Soil profiling equipment available for hire Herd management & reduced emissions The Burnett’s contribution to 20 Million Trees Better Catchments update...
the burnett buzz… Summer 2016
In the Summer 2016 issue of the burnett buzz...: Action on the Ground - trial update BCCA's success with Burrum system repair project tender Second ERF auction conducted Reef water quality grants program: the last leg Pig compost put to work on multiple crops Southern...