The response of the grazing industry to year two of Reef Rescue Water Quality Grants 2009-10 in the Mackay Whitsunday Region has been fantastic said Jon Graftdyk, Reef Catchments Incentives Officer.
Year 2 round of Reef Rescue opened at the start of the financial year 2009. The first round of grants for grazing in 2009-10 closed on the 22nd of September. Since then, 71 projects have been developed with 25 land managers. In year 2 of Reef Rescue $482,489.10 of funding was applied for by grazing with $239,172 being allocated to projects in the Mackay Whitsunday Region.
Currently Year 2, Round 2 is open until the 1st of December 2009
Reef Rescue, funded by the Federal government’s Caring for our Country program, has established improved land management practices on 11,961 ha of land in the Mackay Whitsunday Region through the construction of:
• 16.485km of riparian fencing,
• 18 watering points,
• 8.7km of strategic land type fencing; and
• supported stock take training for 9 land managers; and
• funded pasture and stock monitoring at 33 sites; and
• soil testing at 33 sites in the region.
Jon Graftdyk said, “One of the significant recent accomplishments has been the recent partnership formed with AgForce to host the Key Contact Officer position for Grazing, in the Mackay Whitsunday region. The positive response of the grazing industry to Reef Rescue is a reflection of the enthusiasm of the Grazing Reef Rescue Team, to promote and develop the program, and the dedication of the grazing industry in the Mackay Whitsunday Region to adopt the current best management practices.”
For further information, please contact Jon Graftdyk on 0437 344 851 or jon.graftdyk@reefcatchments.com.au
29 September 2009
