Southern Gulf NRM is pleased to announce that the DRFA Riverine Site Maintenance Project is nearing completion, delivering strong environmental outcomes and valuable capacity building across two important riverine sites.
The project continued recovery works following the 2019 Monsoon Trough, focusing on maintenance at the Sedan Dip site on the Cloncurry River and another site near the Hughenden Golf Club on the Flinders River. At Sedan Dip, weed control, native tree infill planting, and erosion-stabilising works have resulted in excellent plant survival and improved ground cover. Many young trees and recruits are now growing, significantly strengthening the riverbank’s resilience and stability.
At Hughenden, weed control events were completed before and after the wet season. These treatments significantly reduced invasive species and supported the ongoing recovery of previously planted tube stock and natural recruits, several of which are now flowering and contributing to long-term site stability.
A key highlight of the project has been its investment in local skills. SGNRM staff completed drone licensing and GIS training, enhancing in-house monitoring and mapping capacity. Workshops on revegetation, nursery management, mapping, and field navigation provided practical knowledge for landholders, community members, and rangers. A local ranger group also benefited through GIS mentoring and a visit to the DAF Walkamin Research Facility, helping progress their goal of establishing a native plant nursery to supply future revegetation projects in our region.
Overall, the project has strengthened both the ecological condition of the riverbanks and the local people’s capacity to manage and protect these systems into the future. As it concludes, Southern Gulf NRM acknowledges the contributions of landholders, rangers, and partners, and celebrates the lasting benefits this work will bring to our region.
This program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments through efficiencies realised during the delivery of Queensland’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction program.
