WESTERN QUEENSLAND GRAZIERS MAKING THE GRADE
MEDIA RELEASE
2 August 2010
WESTERN QUEENSLAND GRAZIERS MAKING THE GRADE
Landholders across the Desert Channels region will have access to the erosion control expertise of Darryl Hill who has studied erosion for more than 40 years and has run grader workshops right across the Australian rangelands.
A safer working environment, reduced travel time on property access roads, more effective fire breaks and track
maintenance reduction time are some of the benefits landholders can expect from the tips provided at the coming Erosion Control Grader Workshops.
The series of Grader Workshops are being held at: Greendale Station, Tambo on Monday 16th August; Railview Station, Prairie on Wednesday 18th August; and NAPCO’s Marion Downs, Boulia on Friday 20th August.
The workshops will include practical guidelines, grader use demonstrations and provide people with access to information on design and maintenance of fire plough tracks, property access roads, fence lines and formed roads.
Darryl Hill believes that most new erosion is not due to uncontrolled stocking, but pastoral property access tracks and fence lines. “What may seem time-consuming in the short term will alleviate costly repairs in the future,” said Darryl Hill.
David Phelps, principal DEEDI scientist for grazing lands, will be complimenting Darryl’s workshop with ground cover information gained from the Northern Grazing Systems Project. “The project looked for better efficiencies for industry in their grazing practices to maximise stock numbers without damaging the resource,” said Dr Phelps.
Dr Phelps will be providing the latest research on grazing management including the theory, economics and practice of rotational grazing to improve land condition.
Other presentations include ‘Poisonous Plants’ with Jenny Milson who is working with the DEEDI focussing on relating plant identification to property management issues in Western Queensland.
“The presentation will identify some of the major poisonous plants of the region and the circumstances under which poisoning is likely to occur, “said Ms Milson. “Awareness of these issues and the associated management strategies can help managers to avoid many stock losses.”
Also available on the day are health checks with North West Queensland Primary Health Care’s Health Education Reaching Blokes nurse Lauren Chimes.
The workshop is an initiative of the Desert Channels Landholder Support Service Project and is funded by the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush Program in partnership with The Northern Grazing Systems project that is funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and the National Climate Change Research, The North Australian Pastoral Company and North West Queensland Primary Health Care.
For more information please contact Colleen James at DCQ on 07 4652 7826 or email colleen.james@dcq.org.au. Go to our web page at: www.dcq.org.au .
ENDS
