Funds available to rehabilitate gullies and stream banks in the lower Fitzroy region.
The Fitzroy River catchment is the largest river system on the east coast of Australia and the largest draining to the Great Barrier Reef. The lower Fitzroy tributaries, such as Ten Mile Creek and Louisa Creek are one of the largest contributors of sediment in the Fitzroy River catchment, which impact the corals and seagrasses of the Great Barrier Reef.
Landholders in Morinish and Princhester have taken up the mantle to help protect the reef and are working with Catchment Solutions to reduce sediment from their properties reaching the Great Barrier Reef.
Morinish resident Jeff Mills said, “Working with Catchment Solutions under the Reef Trust IV has allowed us to install an additional water point, reshape the eroding gullies and fence off our gullies to reduce gully erosion. We have installed contour banks on our country to minimise concentrated stormwater flows which will assist in preventing the gully erosion that is occurring.”
Philip Jeston, the Project Coordinator said, “It is great to see these proactive graziers joining the program to reduce sediment loss to the Fitzroy River and eventually the Great Barrier Reef. Catchment Solutions is working closely with landholders to ensure we have an outcome that meets the graziers’ requirements, while achieving a reduction in sediment loss from these properties.”
Funding and assistance is still available to landholders in the Lower Fitzroy River region to address erosion of stream banks and gullies through creek and gully restoration. The funds can be used for a number of remediation activities including off-stream watering points, fencing off creeks and gullies as well as earthworks to prevent further gully erosion.
Catchment Solutions, an independent environmental service provider has partnered with Healthy Soils and Conservation Volunteers Australia to deliver the project worth $3.8 million provided by the Australian Government, under the Reef Trust program. Catchment Solutions will be working closely with Conservation Volunteers Australia, who are available to undertake stream bank and gully revegetation.
Interested landholders can find more information on how to lodge an expression of interest to be part of this project by going onto the Catchment Solutions website or contacting Philip Jeston on 07 4968 4200.
RT4 EOI Funding Guidelines
RT4 Project EOI
This programme is managed by Catchment Solutions under funding by the Australian Government Reef Trust Programme. The Reef Trust Programme is an Australian Government initiative designed to improve Reef health and resilience by taking the best available science and targeting investment to the highest priority threats to the Reef. It is one of the key mechanisms to assist with the delivery of the Reef 2050 Plan.