All in Landscapes

National Riparian Lands Research & Development - Phase Two

superuser — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:23:15 +0000

A review of the Riparian Lands R&D Program Phase Two was conducted in 2004 and found that the standard of the science was very high and was highly relevant to the management of riparian zones. The program had maintained a strong publication record and had a high level of ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences. The review reported that the Riparian Lands Program had a high proﬁle and had a substantial potential to inﬂuence river management, planning, investigation and policy. The program became the principal R&D Program in Australia associated with riparian land science and management.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Riparian Lands Research & Development

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Keywords:

Riparian

Research

Development

lands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

National Riparian Lands Research Development - Phase One

superuser — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:14:13 +0000

Phase 1 of the Program ran for nearly 7 years in total. It had 3 sub-programs, two based on scientific experimentation and one on practical application through a series of demonstration projects. Phase 1 had funding of $4.6m from Land & Water Australia, $0.7m from third parties (mainly State agencies) and $2.3m from research organisations. It was guided by an advisory committee with representation from Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies. This group played an important role in making sure the R&D responded to issues faced by river managers, and also in taking research results back into agency policy and programs.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Riparian Lands Research & Development

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Keywords:

Riparian

lands

Research

Development

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Professor Derek Eamus

superuser — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:51:15 +0000

"Ecohydrology" - Water, Forests and Climate, a ménage à trois.

Professor Eamus’ research has resulted in several fundamental advances in our understanding of the water budgets of Australian ecosystems, by examining the linkages across leaf, tree, canopy and landscape-scale processes. His work has integrated the interactions of micro-meteorological, soil and plant variables, which determine the rates of water and carbon exchange between landscape and atmosphere.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Senior Research Fellowships

Research Type:

Senior Research Fellow

Researchers:

Professor Derek Eamus

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Landscapes

Water (General)

Keywords:

Ecohydrology

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Looking back, moving forward - Renaissance at Lyndfield

superuser — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:37:43 +0000

John has achieved so much in terms of land management, that his farm ‘Lyndfield Park’ was chosen as the site to launch the Australian Conservation Foundation and National Farmers Federation joint natural resource management campaign.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Weatherstone

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Native Vegetation

Livestock (Mixed)

Keywords:

2001 2002 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

The success didn’t come overnight.

Originally a fine wool merino stud, John started working on ‘Lyndfield Park’ in 1959, clearing trees and improving pastures, but by the early 70’s he noticed some unhealthy changes. Tree dieback, erosion and salinity were emerging; the fertilisers weren’t having the same effect, there was no stock shelter and weeds, pests and diseases were increasing. John was following expert advice and couldn’t work out what was going wrong.

The drought of 82/83 caused a huge re-think at Lyndfield Park. Now there are an extra 70,000 trees, minimum tillage and direct drilling replace intensive cultivation; stocking rates are flexible; erosion is stabilised; perennial pastures replace some annuals and the farm earns more money from natives, than cropping or livestock.

John has now published a small booklet - Lyndfield Park - looking back, moving forward - telling the story of ‘Lyndfield Park’ for other land managers.

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

The Mungabareena Reserve: Wiradjuri Reconciliation Project 2000 - a 3 year journey

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:20:53 +0000

Yalmambirra does not give up!

A late comer to University, he now lectures at the Charles Sturt University, but the story Yalmambirra wants to tell is about initiating and maintaining community support in very trying circumstances.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Yalmambirra

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Conservation

Indigenous

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Yalmambirra does not give up!

Several years ago, and with the support of the local Wiradjuri Elders, Yalmambirra applied for and received a Natural Heritage Trust Grant to rehabilitate and revegetate about 45 hectares of land. Over many months, the project was disrupted by vandals and by Mother Nature, but Yalmambirra kept at it!

The unsympathetic nature of the community both Indigenous and non-Indigenous did not help.

The future looks a lot brighter. Cattle have been removed and more than 11,500 trees have been planted. Picnic tables, walking tracks and interpretive signs are next on the agenda.

‘I have not given in on the project [to rehabilitate the project area] nor have I given up on the people who have assisted me this far’ says Yalmambirra.

‘My story could be used to enlighten people as to the pitfalls of among many issues: applying for funding, what to do with the funding once it comes through, the attitudes of the community of environmental projects and how to use those attributes. And an awareness of indigenous people and their ties to the land’.

Land & Water Australia will support Yalmambirra to give a series of personal presentations covering these issues.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Landscape: Gold and Water

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:17:19 +0000

Gold and water are the elements of Mandy Martin’s story.

An artist in the Lachlan Catchment, Mandy is a partner in a property next door to the Cadia / Ridgeway Gold Mine.

Mandy wants to tell the story of the mine from its proposal to the current development and the future.

‘This project is designed to contribute to the debate about the short term benefits of mining against the long term benefits of protecting biodiversity and natural habitat, valuing landscape for its aesthetic qualities and maintaining environmental flows for the river’ says Mandy.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Researchers:

Mandy Martin

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Conservation

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Gold and water are the elements of Mandy Martin’s story.

An artist in the Lachlan Catchment, Mandy is a partner in a property next door to the Cadia / Ridgeway Gold Mine.

Mandy wants to tell the story of the mine from its proposal to the current development and the future.

The Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship will support a unique method of story telling a narrative complemented by art including an exhibition at the Cowra Art Gallery with contributions from a group of painters and a community project involving a river of painted rocks!

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Growing Sense of Place

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:24:14 +0000

Michael Petter has been on so many committees over the last 20 years hes barely had time to stop and think, let alone work out just how far the community has come in those two decades of change.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Michael Petter

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

NRM Processes

Landscapes

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Michael Petter has been on so many committees over the last 20 years hes barely had time to stop and think, let alone work out just how far the community has come in those two decades of change.

Since helping establish the urban catchment movement in Brisbane in 1984, Michaels life has become busier and busier working with a diverse range of Landcare, conservation, community groups and ministerial advisory committees.

Now it’s time for a breather.

‘I would like to get away from the phone, the fax and the email to write some training documents and articles outlining the methods I have used, and to exchange ideas with natural resource management groups in South-eastern Australia’ says Michael.

‘Many of the aims of the original environment and natural resource movement of SEQ are now reflected in the number of catchment, Landcare and environment groups, local and state government plans, and broad changes in the understanding of the local community’ says Michael.

Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship will support Michael as he shares with other community based catchment organisers his ‘Growing sense of place manual’.

More information

Michael’s manual - Growing Sense of Place

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Easy steps to a triple bottom line

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:05:13 +0000

John Fyfe reckons his experience shows there are ‘easy steps to the triple bottom line’. From the time he and his twin brother Max bought their property in the late 1950s, land-caring was a big part of the Fyfe families farming practice.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Fyfe

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Conservation

Landscape Management

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Surry River

Project Information

Summary:

Evironmentally, it meant learning about the local Surry River and its estuary and developing and retaining significant vegetation cover (15%), eventually placing 35 hectares under Conservation Covenants.

Economically, John increased the farms size and production and with vegetation shelter and covenants in place, the farm sold at above the area average price.

And socially, being a ‘land-carer’ has led to involvement in the local community at all levels an interaction John Fyfe wants to continue with help from Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship.

‘I would like to encourage farmers and farm advisors to understand that environmental sustainability is achievable within one generation on high production farms,’ says John.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Transforming the Land: the story of Lanark

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:30:42 +0000

Just south of Hamilton at Branxholme, John Fenton with his wife Cicely and family has spent nearly 50 years transforming his property Lanark ‘from three windswept paddocks to the complex ecosystem it is today’.

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Social and Institutional Research

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Fenton

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

Along the way there have public benefits urban and rural individuals working together to reinstate all the water bodies for the birds that had ‘all but disappeared’ and private rewards - an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture (Landscape Architecture RMIT).

John has ‘long advocated a process that allows the experience and expertise that is gained through on ground practice by individuals and groups on the land to be made available and accessible’.

With support from Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship and working with RMIT and a local author, John will publish the story of Lanark in a multi-media format for local communities or individuals keen to pursue similar goals.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Milk production through sustainable Land & Water Utilisation

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:51:49 +0000

Max and Evelyn Warren’s family have been dairying in the Macalister Irrigation District since the 1950s.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Max Warren

Evelyn Warren

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Primary Industries

Livestock (Cattle)

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

Max and Evelyn Warren’s family have been dairying in the Macalister Irrigation District since the 1950s.

They established one of the first rotary dairies in the district and now operate the only Robotic Dairy in Australia, an example of best practices in design for animal welfare, efficiency in milk production and reduction of environmental impacts through water use efficiency and effluent and nutrient control.

The Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship has allowed the Warren’s to demonstrate the relationship between the micro-environment of the farm and the macro-environment of catchments via an interactive website www.roboticdairy.com. They have also created fact sheets on land and water use, effluent and nutrient control and environmental impacts for use by industry and students.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Productivity with Compassion - Not an impossible dream

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:43:49 +0000

Hugo Spooner who believes that achieving a balance between protecting sensitive natural landscapes and maintaining a profitable grazing enterprise is not an impossible dream, and he is producing a booklet to detail his experiences and methods as a guide for other graziers.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Hugh Spooner

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Native Vegetation

Livestock (Cattle)

Project Information

Summary:

The drought of 1986 degraded much of the fragile country of ‘Avocet’, a 4500 hectare property in the Central Highlands of Queensland, but made Hugo determined to seek a new approach in order to achieve sustainable beef production. ‘We decreased our herd by 30% and were amazed to discover that after several years our income had not decreased’ he said.

Since then Hugo and family have voluntarily declared part of the property a Nature Refuge, fenced off a major waterway and established a downstream water monitoring site, and achieved Quality Assurance accreditation under the Cattlecare program.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Greenie Mula

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:42:19 +0000

Nina Brown, a tireless volunteer coordinator of Irati Wanti Campaign office in Coober Peedy. The Irati Wanti -‘the poison leave it’ in Yankuntjatjara language - Campaign was started by the Indigenous women’s council, Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, to prevent a national radioactive waste dump being established on their traditional land.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Nina Brown

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Landscapes

Project Information

Summary:

In 1998, Nina was so moved by the Kungka Tjuta’s fight to stop the waste dump, she left behind her friends and family in Melbourne and moved to Coober Pedy to help the Kungka’s communicate their message to the broader Australian community.

Nina has used her Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship to share her knowledge of how to work with traditional Indigenous people on environmental issues and demonstrate that one person can make a difference when they act on their passion and conviction.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Rotherlea - Hosting community co-operation, research & development, in land & water management

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:39:17 +0000

Turning their property ‘Rotherlea’ into an open-air classroom for researchers and community groups has enabled Angus Howell and Diana Chomley to assist others understand the environmental issues being managed by farmers.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Samuel Angus-Howell

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscapes

Project Information

Summary:

Angus has been involved in Landcare since before the movement’s inception and he has assisted many groups and individuals plan for and deal with a range of land management issues.

Angus and Diana will use their Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship to produce a booklet recording Angus’s role as an initiator and forerunner in the Landcare movement and a brochure about ‘Rotherlea’ which will be provided to groups visiting the property.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

The Para Paddocks - Saved by the People

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:21:42 +0000

Bob Giles was instrumental in campaigning for sustainable development in 1972 which led to South Australia’s City of Salisbury being world leaders in wetland technology.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Bob Giles

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

People (General)

Keywords:

Paddocks

para

Project Information

Summary:

Bob Giles was instrumental in campaigning for sustainable development in 1972 which led to South Australia’s City of Salisbury being world leaders in wetland technology.

The SA Housing Trust had planned to build housing on land known to be subject to flooding, but the community, led by Bob, said ‘No’. He successfully proposed an innovative alternative that achieved more housing than the original plans with the land released from housing becoming available for recreational sporting fields and passive recreation opportunities such as wetlands that absorb urban run-off, settle out pollutants and attract and sustain aviculture and urban forest.

Bob is using the Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship to write a book about how the Para Paddocks were rescued by citizen intervention and his role in inspiring community support.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Mending the Goulburn-Broken - The John Dainton Story

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:16:03 +0000

The achievements of John Dainton are well-known in the Goulburn Valley, a rich region for fruit, vegetables, dairy products and associated processing industries. The intensive irrigation used in the region has meant it has been threatened by salinity that could result in economic disaster.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Dainton

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Landscapes

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

John has lead a number of industry and natural resource management organisations in the development of salinity management and weed action plans and regional catchment, water quality and native vegetation management strategies.

The Land & Water Community Fellowship will allow John to document his story in a book to be shared with a wider audience.

Current Activities

Status:

Pending