Welcomed funding for Cape York landholders

WELCOMED FUNDING

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More than $700,000 has been awarded to Cape York NRM to help support landholders in managing their properties to build climate and drought resilience, protect unique flora and fauna, and improve capacity to monitor outcomes.

“This is a welcome funding boost from the State Government, and a great step forward for Cape York Peninsula graziers. It provides continuity in the work we have been doing on the ground for the past four years,” Cape York NRM Sustainable Industries and Water Quality Manager Michael Goddard said.

“We will use half a million dollars to assess gaps in landscape resilience on grazing properties and support on-ground actions to deliver improved land and vegetation condition under our Landscape Resilience Project,” he continued.

“The rest will be used to implement a more standardised measurement and reporting process for landholders under the Improving and Embedding Monitoring and Evaluation Project.”

In announcing the funding today, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said in a statement: “The condition of our soil and our native plants and trees is critical to Queensland’s food and fibre, resources and tourism industries and the good jobs they generate.”

Cape York NRM will work with six properties to address priority land condition issues over 1,000 hectares and threats to native vegetation condition over 1,500 hectares.

Project officer Natalie James said the work will offer long-term investment, such as increased riparian fencing, reduced paddock size and installing more watering points for cattle.

“This will improve infrastructure and make Cape properties less vulnerable to year-to-year changes in climate and markets,” she said.

“Landholders up here face a number of challenges particular to the region, including poor soils and harsh weather events, with less return than the smaller southern Queensland properties.

“Plus they work across vast distances, often in isolation, so the projects will combine knowledge, management and monitoring and will also provide a chance for graziers to connect with each other, and with support systems, as we work with them.

“Ultimately, it all moves towards improving the health of the country, and that can only be a good thing for the years ahead.”

The Projects are being funded under the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Recovery Program.

To review the Minister’s statement visit this link https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96526

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