Inglewood & Texas Landcare Association – Dumaresq Valley Sub-Catchment Plan
Project Profile
| Name of Project | Dumaresq Valley Sub-Catchment Plan |
| Name of group(s) involved | Inglewood & Texas Landcare Association Inc |
| Time frame | 2008-2009 |
| Website | http://inglewoodtexaslandcare.webs.com |
| Location | Dumaresq Valley |
| State | Queensland |
| NRM Region | Queensland Murray Darling |
| What industry does the group belong to? | Land and water management |
| Corporate Partners involved | Woolworths |
| Level of Funding from LAL | $11,000 |
| Funding from other sources | $71,255 |
Issues
The primary producers of the Dumaresq Valley Sub-Catchment Group in the Darling Downs of Queensland set out in 2008 to produce a sub-catchment plan for their area to guide them towards sustainable farming practices.
The development process, which included a series of workshops, education sessions and observational field days aimed to improve farmers’ knowledge of pest control, land management and conservational strategies.
Other aspects of sustainable farming covered by the plan included protection of remnant vegetation, decreasing soil erosion and protection of the Dumaresq River.
The Inglewood & Texas Landcare Association Inc. supported the project funded through a Woolworths Sustainable Farming Program grant in conjunction with Landcare Australia Ltd.
Project Detail
| Background to Project |
The Inglewood & Texas Landcare Association Inc., originally initiated by local landholders of the former Inglewood Shire in 1986, is a non-for-profit organisation that aims to facilitate sustainable natural resource management within the former Inglewood Shire (now making up the Goondiwindi Regional Shire) on the Darling Downs in the south east of Queensland. The Dumaresq Valley is located south of the township of Texas.
The Dumaresq Valley Sub-Catchment Group formed in 2004. The primary producers of the Dumaresq Valley have suffered a variety of environmental issues from an on-going drought for a number of years prior to 2009. In combination with other issues such as over-grazing and impacts from conventional cultivation, soils had become poor in organic matter and exposed to erosion by wind and water.
To address these issues, the Dumaresq Valley landholders through their local Landcare group decided to take part in the development of a sub-catchment plan. The plan would enable landholders in the area to learn together and identify methods that would improve the management of their catchment’s resources.
The sub-catchment planning process focused on achieving on-ground outcomes with an emphasis on communication, education and monitoring.
The plan was produced through the cooperation of technical staff from a variety of sources including the Queensland Murray Darling Committee, Department of Primary Industries and NRW.
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| Key Objectives | To develop a natural resource management plan for landholders in the Dumaresq Valley sub-catchment area to help ensure environmentally conscious and sustainable farming for the future. |
| Description of Project | The project spanned a twelve month period during which five group meetings were held to address issues, planning was explained, individual action plans and maps were produced and outcomes agreed on. Six workshops were held covering soils, vegetation management, riparian conditions, grazing land management, salinity, and weed & pest animals. The sub-catchment planning process focused on achieving on-ground natural resource management outcomes with an emphasis on communication, education and monitoring. Technical staff visited sites on the farms to assist with the development and completion of individual action plans that would feed into the sub-catchment plan.
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| Issues encountered during the project | • It was difficult to coordinate the sub-catchment plan which took a year to develop when support staff (on a short term contracts) would leave before the end of the process. It therefore took time for the replacement to become familiar with the project and the people involved before the momentum would again build |
| Project Outcomes – Qualitative | • The plan has assisted to improve the control of weeds and pests; prevent further degradation to waterways; protect remnant vegetation and wildlife; and reduce soil erosion within the sub-catchment • Landholder’s general knowledge and understanding of the farming impacts and appropriate management practices for the area has improved and the desire of landholders to become involved has increased • Landholders increased their commitment to each other and the general welfare of the community and natural resources by being able to come together on a professional and social basis • The project has assisted primary producers to become better equipped to manage drought conditions within a sustainable farming context • Relationships have developed between the community and various organisations such as – the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water; the Inglewood and Texas Landcare Association and others |
| Project Outcomes – Quantitative | • The Dumaresq Valley Sub-Catchment Plan was produced for landholders in the Dumaresq Valley |
| Lessons Learned | • Organisers of the many meetings to develop the plan needed to be aware that a significant number of the farmers involved were irrigators so their available time was limited. Therefore flexibility needed to be built in and it was essential that information from previous meetings and activities were explained at the beginning of any meetings held in order to keep everyone informed and updated |
| Transferable Outcomes | • The plan will be utilised in future to guide sustainable farming practices in the sub-catchment region, ensuring ongoing environmental efforts • Several on-ground activities have progressed since as a result of the project including: - Protection of the Dumaresq River - Protection of remnant vegetation through exclusion of stock - Increase of ground cover in erosion hot spots - improved pest management strategies - improved grazing land management |
