Unprecedented interest was shown in a series of erosion and pasture rehabilitation workshops across the Desert Channels Region this year.

The events extended from Longreach to the Northern Territory border, from the Channel Country to Boulia.

The workshops signify the drive of landholders to improve pastures and return country to a sustainable level for commercial production after the ravages of drought.

The Grader Guru

Driving the practical approach to pasture rehabilitation and erosion control was the Grader Guru, Daryl Hill.

Daryl has demonstrated a new brickwork contouring technique on scalded and damaged country, which helps control erosion on gullies, catchments, roads and fence lines.

The workshops were organised by DCQ’s Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator and were held at Girraween in the Muttaburra district, Longway near Longreach, South Galway in the Channel Country, Badalia (50 km west of Boulia) and Headingly at Urandangi.

The long-term benefits of slowing water through brickwork contouring were demonstrated at Longway, where a profusion of perennial grasses and herbage species were inspected on what Warwick Champion described as being a ‘scalded ridge’ only five years ago.

“There was unprecedented interest in the workshops and practical grader demonstrations, which will be great for dealing with erosion in our region,” DCQ Landcare Facilitator Doug Allpass said.

Results from the demonstration days were immediate, with one property “almost immediately” implementing some of these concepts and developing plans for over 10,000 acres of affected country.

The workshops and demonstrations were funded by the Commonwealth Government National Landcare Programs.