well grounded

Monday 29 March, 2010

 

Land managers attended two field days on the properties “Dunblane” near Barcaldine and “Clovelly” outside Ilfracombe last week to look at increasing ground cover and improve the condition of the land. Around twenty people attended each field day hosted by Dessert Channels Queensland (DCQ), and saw the results of successful land management changes on the ground, backed up by speakers who got down to the roots of the practices adopted and benefits to the properties.

 

Rangeland scientist David Phelps took the motivated groups at both properties through the fundamentals of land condition. Other topics covered at the field days included erosion remediation, property planning and mapping presented by Simon Jackson from PRW Agribusiness; fire management by Larry Lewis and Carol Wrage from the Qld Rural Fire Service; health checks courtesy of Lauren Chimes from North and West Primary Health Care; and Steve Wilson gave an overview of the new funding round offered to land managers by DCQ.

 

On a drive around “Dunblane”, David Phelps showed the group approaches to practical assessment of country and highlighted opportunities to improve land condition through management and infrastructure. David Counsell, owner of “Dunblane”, had previously undertaken work with support from DCQ, aimed to improve stock management and the flow on effects of ground cover enhancement. David gave an excellent presentation formally and in the paddock on his project work and long term goals for improving the sustainability of the property.

 

David Counsell was very pleased with the field day and immediate follow-up response. “The day went really well and I am particularly happy with many aspects of the discussion that was centric to my business. I have already had a producer ring me to continue the discussions from the day”.

 

The field day at “Clovelly” was held in the ‘recovery paddock’ where owner Maureen Alexander has been spelling for a number of years. Maureen opened the day with some history of the property and plans her grandfather and aunt had before passing the property on. Jenny Milson, using a whiteboard marker and the side of her vehicle as a ‘whiteboard’, explained how plant families are named and guided the group on a short walking tour to identify many plants, shrubs and forages.

 

Land managers left both field days filled with ideas on ways to increase ground cover, improve land condition and boost the sustainability of their properties overall, whilst having a broader network of people to share learnings with as they take the next steps.