The Better Catchments project was an initiative of the Burnett Mary Regional Group, and was coordinated locally by BCCA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. The Better Catchments program supported landholders to implement on-farm management practices to improve soil health and enhance sustainability.

BCCA were contracted by Burnett Mary Regional Group to coordinate the Better Catchments Grazing program for 2016-2018.

2016-2018 Better Catchments Grazing

The Grazing program involved working with Graziers on various projects to achieve an improved practice change in line with industry standard and  long term sustainability.

Under the Grazing program landholders were required to attend a two day Grazing Best Management Practice workshop (GBMP). Landholders attended workshops in Mundubbera, Monto and Goomeri in August and September 2016.  Led by an expert team from DAF Future Beef, Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), private consultants and Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA), landholders had two intense days benchmarking their business against Industry Best Practices. They all developed individual action plans to refer to and adjust as their business changes and/or develops.

During the GBMP workshops BCCA staff attended to discuss the Better Catchments Grazing program and gauge their interest in being involved. Throughout the workshops and following, BCCA received a very positive response from producers with 21 expressions of interest in total.

These interested producers across the Monto, Mundubbera and Goomeri areas, received one on one site visits with Extension Officer Marisa Young.  Marisa worked with them through prioritising actions from the GBMP workshops and developing a suitable project to improve practice changes.

Landholders submitted applications for assessment by a panel.  Successful landholders were then contracted by BMRG to receive a small grant which was to provided to assist to implement projects to start them on their way to meeting BMP standards. Producers will also be provided with technical support and workshops over the two year program.

2016-2018 Better Catchments Grains

The Grains program offered eligible cropping farmers one-on-one support and technical advice to help implement improved practice changes. BCCA & Bean Growers Australia (BGA) invites South Burnett farmers on Black Soils to be part of the Better Catchments project for 2016.

Support may include:

• Initial Free Comprehensive Soil testing on your cropping property by BGA;
• Follow up workshop to discuss soil results and Small funding grants* for onground activities (ie. Improving Soil Health through amendments, modifications to machinery to assist implement Controlled Traffic/ Zero Till) ;
• One-on-one property visits by a BCCA Extension Officer to work through on ground activities;
• Training and further workshop opportunities.
• Property mapping;
• Access to one-on-one expert advice.

To be eligible, producers must:

• Have a cropping property within the South Burnett catchment (upstream of Paradise Dam);
• Be willing to implement actions to improve practice changes in line with industry standards management practices; and
• Undertake a before and after survey of your cropping management practices.

Landholders submitted applications for assessment by a panel.  Successful landholders were then contracted by BMRG to receive a small grant which was to provided to assist to implement projects to start them on their way to meeting BMP standards.