FBA Board member Peter Dunne and FBA water quality coordinator Nathan Johnston atop a ute load of soil. Over the next ten years 4.1 million tonnes of soil will remain in central Queensland paddocks because of the on ground management actions of landholders – that’s just over 8 million ute loads of soil!
Fitzroy Basin Association
Earth moving rivers given 10 years to lighten their load
Every time it rains a dozen major river catchments that lie within and adjacent to the Fitzroy Basin transport more of central Queensland's productive soil out to sea.
However the amount of soil that leaves has been steadily reducing thanks to landholders efforts to keep soil in the paddocks.
"Each year landholders working with the Fitzroy Basin Association increase ground cover along creek and river banks by controlling stock access with fencing and off stream watering points," says FBA CEO Suzie Christensen.
"Department of Natural Resources and Water SedNet modelling shows that an estimated 75 000 tonnes will remain on paddocks as a result of this type of land management in the 2005/2006 financial year alone."
These encouraging statistics and a three year consultation process involving the community and science providers saw those present at the recent Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) Stakeholder Forum in Emerald endorse the goal of reducing sediment entering the Basin's waterways by 4.1 million tonnes over the next ten years.
"In ten years time – 2017 – 4.1 million tonnes of soil will remain in central Queensland paddocks because of the on ground management actions of landholders," says Ms Christensen.
"It's a remarkable effort. To put that into perspective that's just over 8 million ute loads of soil that will support central Queensland's beef and cropping industries and not end up in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon."
Ms Christensen points out that other land management practices such as minimum tillage, fencing to land type and remnant vegetation conservation are also being employed by land managers to retain ground cover to meet water quality and soil retention targets.
The Fitzroy Basin is the second largest seaward draining catchment in Australia with the Fitzroy River fed by the Isaac, Connors and Mackenzie Rivers in the north, the Nogoa and Comet Rivers to the west and the Don, Dee and Dawson Rivers to the south.
Adjacent coastal catchments to the north of the Fitzroy River mouth are the Styx and Shoalwater Rivers and to the south the Boyne and Calliope Rivers.
Back to the VoiceLast updated 05 April 2007