Funds: $148,000
Source: Caring for our Country
Contract: OC12-00311/X0000002775
The Guyra plateau includes the water catchment areas for Malpas and Guyra Dams, which supply water to the towns of Armidale and Guyra. This plateau area also contains the headwaters of watercourses contributing to the Macleay, Clarence and Gwydir Rivers. SNELC’s Sustainable Farms 2011-13 project funded by the Caring for our Country program has supported eight landholders on the Guyra plateau to sign up for on-farm works to make significant changes to their property management. These people, as well as another eight property owners, also developed their skills in property planning, soil testing, sustainability, productivity and decision-making during a Landscan course run in winter 2012 as part of SNELCC’s ‘Sustainable Farms’ project.
The on-farm projects varied from property to property with people undertaking works to manage their land for better soil health, to provide off-stream water for livestock, manage creeks to improve water and riparian health, develop stock and pasture shelter, and manage woodland and grassland areas for biodiversity values.
The Sustainable Farms 2011-13 project also supported the St Kilda Fishing Club to install thirteen floating pontoons on Malpas Dam. These pontoons support aquatic vegetation and provide habitat for fish and birds, while a rock wall also constructed as part of this project will provide habitat for fish breeding. These aquatic structures, together with a planting of riparian plants beside the dam adjacent to these habitat enrichment features will assist in improving the water quality of Malpas Dam.
Outcomes
- 119 ha under improved management practices
- 81 ha improved soil health
- 38 ha for biodiversity, riparian conservation
- 13 ha referred to a concurrent project for protection of an endangered New England Peppermint community
- 16 landholders adopting improved land management practices
- 13 pontoons installed to improve fish and bird habitat and so water quality of Malpas Dam
- Rock wall(~20m) constructed to provide fish habitat and improve water quality
- Riparian planting completed to complement pontoons and rock wall as habitat for aquatic animals.
