Grassroots design meant Burdekin Major Integrated Project would be different
The Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project has figuratively and literally changed the landscape since the first iteration of the project kicked off in 2017.
From the start, it set new ground rules for the way governments and scientists approached programs aimed at tackling the significant erosion problems in the Bowen Broken Bogie (BBB) catchment around Bowen and Collinsville.
It was a figurative change reflected in the name given to the NQ Dry Tropics portion of the overall bank of Major Integrated Projects (MIPs) and the model has been extended to the company’s most recent project: the Burdekin Landscape Repair project.
Five activity areas in the project, identified during the design phase were established at the outset to help promotes the community-wide aims of the project.
Funding the project — Landholders Driving Change through three variations
2017-2021
The Queensland Government funded the first phase of the Landholders Driving Change project.
Never before had a project taken such a wide-range approach to improve land and water quality at a catchment scale.
LDC has concentrated landscape repair and land management efforts in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment because this catchment delivers about 50 per cent of the fine sediment load from the Burdekin Basin and it remains a pivotal catchment for improving water quality outcomes. It has truly been a community-driven effort, and in four years the results are in to support future investment.
2020-2025
NQ Dry Tropics has secured funding through the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s partnership with the Australian Government’s Reef Trust to build on and continue the efforts of the Landholders Driving Change project.
The funding supports a sediment reduction program to improve water quality in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment by delivering:
- accelerated grazing support (extension) to encourage adoption of improved land management practice, and;
- large and small-scale gully remediation.
2023-2026
The Queensland Government–funded Landholders Driving Change (LDC) Stage 2 project is working to embed sustainable land management across the Bowen, Broken and Bogie (BBB) catchments.
By June 2026, it will have enhanced land managers’ skills, knowledge and commitment to stewardship, fostering a culture of collaboration and improved practices. Building on the success of LDC1, LDC2 emphasises whole-of-catchment stewardship, essential for long-term water quality and natural resource outcomes.
It complements the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s (GBRF) targeted investment in sediment reduction through gully remediation and grazing management.
Five activity areas to ensure the project is a community-wide undertaking
BBB Grazier Support
More than 90 per cent of land in the Bowen Broken Bogie (BBB) catchment around Bowen and Collinsville is used for grazing. The BBB Grazier Support program aims to provide graziers with education, training, technical support and incentives to help them adopt improved land management practices.
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Landscape Remediation
Gully erosion causes approximately 65 per cent of the fine sediment load that comes from the BBB.
The Landscape Remediation program aims to develop fast, effective and economical approaches to gully remediation. From streambank restoration to large-scale gully interventions.
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Exploring New Incentives
LDC works closely with landholders to investigate a range of approaches that reward good practice and identify which options to pursue in the BBB. Some practice changes may only require short-term financial assistance, while others may need additional support to help maintain long-term benefits.
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Influencing Other Land Managers
This program will encourage non-graziers who manage, or use land in the BBB to get involved with the project so it can be truly be a whole-of-catchment effort. Four councils operate in the catchment and there is major infrastructure such as powerlines, roads and rail lines.
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Policy Engagement
The Policy Engagement program aims to support BBB landholders to cut through regulatory red tape that may be preventing them from adopting practice changes.
For example, BBB andholders and others had the opportunity to directly shape the Reef Protection regulations.
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“They’re actually asking landholders what can be done, rather than telling them how to manage their land”
The difference in the new eco-project model test-piloted by LDC was evident right from the design phase.
Strathalbyn Station grazier, virtually next door to Collinsvlle, Bristow Hughes echoed the sentiments of many of his peers when he expressed approval of the new approach.
“They’re actually asking the landholders what can be done to reduce erosion, rather than somebody in Brisbane or Canberra, telling you how to manage your land,” he said.
The initial project 2017-2021 was funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Reef Water Quality program.
Landholders Driving Change: Accelerating Practice Change, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation followed. beginning in August 2021 and, after an extension wrapped up in May, 2025.
Landholders Driving Change Phase 2, funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program began in October 2023 and is due to conclue in June 2026.
Five activity areas in the project, established at the outset help set the community-wide aims of the project. They were BBB Grazier Support, Landscape Remediation, Influencing Other Land Managers, Exploring New Incentives and Policy Engagement.
The difference is extraordinary after groundwork and one wet season on a large-scale gully on Glen Bowen Station.
