Five epic years of Landholders Driving Change nearing final flourish
We wrapped up five epic years of Landholders Driving Change (LDC) with a day of celebration and insight in the heart of the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment including a gully tour.
From engineering feats on the riparian front line to grazing land getting a new lease on life, the tour had it all, paddock chats, problem-solving, and a good old-fashioned shindig at Opal Ridge to top it all off.
STREAMBANK REMEDIATION
The first stop was a large-scale streambank restoration project on Havilah Station, near Collinsville.
The work focused on two badly-eroding sections of Station Creek, two kilometres upstream of the Bowen Developmental Road crossing. These stretches – 1050m and 554m long – feed into the Bowen River and contributed huge amounts of sediment downstream.
The goal was to stabilise the streambanks, stop erosion in its tracks, and reduce the sediment heading for the coast. The project is estimated to have prevented more than 15,000 tonnes of sediment from entering waterways each year, reducing the amount of fine sediment reaching the coast by nearly 10,000 tonnes annually.
To tackle this, vertical banks were reshaped to a stable slope, and nearly 2000 timber piles, sourced from local contractors and state forests, were installed to help trap sediment in place. The project also involved building rock chute drains and bunds to manage overland flows from existing gullies.
But it wasn’t just about dirt and rock. Restoring vegetation was a massive part of the job.
More than 13km of irrigation pipe, two large water tanks, solar pumps, and 2850 native plants were installed to bring life back to the banks and help native vegetation re-establish. The revegetation team from Strathdickie Plant Hire, subcontracted to Neilly Group Engineering, worked for weeks, most of it done by hand, to avoid damaging the fragile site.
They laid out irrigation lines, augered almost 3000 holes, and hand-planted tube stock with fertiliser and water crystals. Each plant got its matting and dripper, all connected to a pressure-equalising system powered by solar pumps. Plants were watered every second day and checked twice a week to ensure they were establishing well, and that local wildlife (pigs and kangaroos) weren’t interfering with the system.
The site has been fenced to keep out stock while the vegetation gets established. Long-term grazing management will help protect the restored areas well into the future.
GRAZING LAND MANAGEMENT
The second stop was Birralee to see how grazier Tom Little was improving grazing efficiency and protecting the Bowen River by subdividing large paddocks to match seasonal needs and grazing pressure.
Leasing Birralee and 12 Mile stations from QCoal near Collinsville, he’s using smarter stock management to ensure cattle graze for shorter periods and the number of mouths is matched to available forage, helping to cut drought feeding costs.
To prevent erosion and reduce sediment runoff into the Bowen River, Tom installed 33km of fencing across six paddocks to keep cattle out of riparian zones and alluvial gullies during the wet season. With support and expert advice from Paul Young of Tiller Rural Asset Management, he’s been able to fine-tune rotational grazing practices.
Rotating cattle through the paddocks allows grasses to recover, maintains good ground cover throughout the year, including the dry, and also helps control broadleaf weeds.
Looking ahead, Tom plans to expand riparian fencing and upgrade water infrastructure, adding tanks and troughs, to further protect the river and improve land condition. By implementing these targeted strategies, he’s making a real difference for land productivity and water quality throughout the BBB catchment, contributing to long-term sustainable land management.
CELEBRATION MARKS A
SUCCESSFUL TOUR
The day wrapped up on a high note with a relaxed celebration dinner. It was an opportunity for everyone involved in the project to catch up, share stories, and enjoy some well-earned downtime together. It was a welcome opportunity to unwind, reflect on the project’s achievements, and strengthen the connections that make this work so rewarding.
The five-year BBB Water Quality Program targeted reductions in fine sediment from the Bowen, Broken, and Bogie catchments — key contributors to sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef. Funded by the Reef Trust Partnership (RTP), the program aimed to meet Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan targets and improve water quality.
NQ Dry Tropics had $22.7 million to deliver two projects (2020–2025), focusing on:
- Landscape Remediation (gully and streambank repair);
- Grazing Services (sustainable practices); and
- Landholder Engagement (including non-grazing properties).
The projects were built on Landholders Driving Change (LDC) and Burdekin Major Integrated Project (BMIP) successes, using a participatory approach and tracking outcomes via the Paddock to Reef Program. Governance was provided by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Group, with input from the LDC Project Panel.
The bus tour and celebration event was hosted by the Landholders Driving Change project funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
