Cooperative, integrated weed management in the BBB catchment

Summary

This co-contributor PDS aims to demonstrate a new, cooperative and integrated approach to identify the best practice management of the highest priority economic weeds in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie River Catchments, of the Burdekin Dry Tropics.

Objectives

By December 2022, in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie River Catchments, Burdekin Dry Tropics region of Queensland:

1. Trial a cooperative and integrated approach (compared to the current ad hoc and uncoordinated approaches taken by many graziers in the region) to the management of the highest priority weeds on six demonstration grazing properties across 10,000ha in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie River Catchments.

2. Evaluate the approach with a network of cluster groups formed (and forming) in the area using measures such as:

• hectares under treatment pre and post demonstration site activities
• areas of restored pasture under production as a result of weed management activities
• historical weed management costs pre and post demonstration site activities
• documentation of the social and legacy benefits of the collaborative/cooperative approaches

3. Develop at least 3 test cases for improved approval procedures for large scale weed management activities, with officers from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

4. 50% of core producer neighbours and the cluster group businesses will adopt the cooperative weed management approach and an additional 5 producers in the Catchment will trial the approach.

5. At least 35 properties will have documented weed and pest management plans with evidence of implementation progress on a high proportion of those plans.

6. Six short case studies will be produced on the outcomes of the approach for each weed theme.

7. Conduct 3 cluster group field days/annum and other extension activities to adjoining regions e.g. the Bowen/Burdekin and Mt. Coolon areas, to showcase the demonstration site results, and encourage adoption of key practices by a minimum of 5 attending producers from other parts of the Burdekin Catchment.

Progress

“Cooperative, integrated weed management in the BBB catchment” (the Bowen, Broken, Bogie River Catchments of the Burdekin Dry Tropics) aimed to demonstrate a cooperative and integrated approach to the management of high-priority weeds on six demonstration grazing properties.  

Weed management plans were implemented in six project areas, and extension support was provided for the adoption of improved practices and any successfully demonstrated technologies. The project also worked with other graziers to increase weed management activity.  

The project reinforced the significance of weed management for graziers in the project area and created social and extension “chatter” about weeds, which extended into local and regional communities.  

Demonstrating practical cooperation across property boundaries was a challenge, but networks were important in encouraging the implementation of improved landscape management.   

Legislation uncertainty was a key challenge for improved weed management practices, and better extension is required.   

The project resulted in a marked increase in weed management activity and impressive production benefits, with four of the six core project producers rating the project 7 out of 10 in assisting them to manage their livestock enterprise better.  

The uptake of simple, inexpensive, but efficient technology can be high after successful demonstration, with the Auscrimper sucker puller a standout for this project.