The inaugural Ladies Of the Land workshop took place online because of the COVID-19 restrictions on meetings.
Work doesn’t stop for a pandemic
LDC Manager
ROD KERR
NQ Dry Tropics, including the LDC team, moved swiftly to put in place measures to mitigate coronavirus risks while upholding critical business processes. LDC project manager Rod Kerr reports how the team successfully transitioned to a ‘new normal’.
IT has been an interesting ride since COVID-19 reared its head in Australia.
The primary objective was to maintain business continuity while ensuring the health and safety of employees, landholders, and partners.
In keeping with and often exceeding government guidelines, we established remote working, replaced in-person meetings with virtual ones, adapted travel policies, enhanced health and hygiene and adopted social distancing measures. LDC staff members effectively became a virtual agile team.
Through these measures LDC’s project work didn’t stop. Here is a snapshot of a number of the many activities carried out.
'LAST CHANCE' PROGRAM
Very last chance to get on board
The LDC project launched its Last Chance call for project proposals by BBB landholders. With the project scheduled to finish in 2021, this was the final opportunity for landholders to get involved.
Under the BBB Grazier Support activity area, Last Chance provided landholders a chance to submit project proposals to help them implement changes to manage their land and businesses better.
Nine proposals were successful and these projects are now rolling out. They are due to be completed at the end of November. For more information, read this story.
JOINT LDC-MLA PRODUCER DEMONSTRATION SITES
DEMO SITES GET SUPPORT
LDC grazing team leader Mick Shannon has continued to support the two joint LDC and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) producer demonstration sites.
He has worked with properties involved in the Integrated Catchment-wide Priority Weed Management Group to develop implementation plans that tackle priority weeds. Contracts will be finalised in August.
Belinda Callanan of TH9 Outdoor Services will advise and assist with ongoing weed management and biosecurity issues throughout the life of the project.
The Collinsville Region Regenerative Grazier Network has been receiving grazing planning support from Grazing Naturally principal, Dick Richardson.
Dick will be conducting field visits in October. Here’s a great read about Dick.
For more information about the producer demonstration sites, read the story on page four.
TECHNOLOGY BEEFS UP BUSINESS
Pregnancy testing goes high-tech
Enhancing the fertility of their herd is a major focus for the Angus family, who run 1000 breeders on their property, Mt Crompton, about 60 kilometres west of Proserpine.
Rodney and Julie Angus, have owned the 17,100 hectare property for 18 years and run the breeding operation alongside sons Scott, 18 and Owen, 13. They run Droughtmaster-Brahman-cross cattle in their breeding operation.
Through an LDC’s Exploring New Incentives grant they have introduced bovine ultrasound capability on their property to help them better manage pregnancy testing.
The grants are aimed at encouraging landholders to trial innovative ideas addressing property issues such as animal health and welfare, herd productivity and land condition.
Colin Hammond, from ReproScan supplier Catagra Group, travelled to Mt Crompton in May to deliver the ultrasound training. The Angus family reports that the ultrasound capability is having immediate benefits — great news to receive in the midst of a pandemic.
BIG THANKS TO LANDHOLDERS AND OUR PARTNERS
The support for our work is so important
This work could not have been possible without the support of landholders and partners. A big shout out to landholders who consented to allow us on property to continue to carry out our work.
While we continue to follow government advice and adapt to these new ways of working, we remain at the forefront of protecting people – our staff, landholders, and partners.
Read here about how NQ Dry Tropics has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GULLY REMEDIATION
Dan getting onto gully work
NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Dan Hazelman
NQ Dry Tropics welcomed new staff member Dan Hazelman, a civil engineer with more than 20 years experience.
He is working on a number of NQ Dry Tropics projects including gully remediation through the LDC project.
He hit the ground running, reviewing LDC remediation projects that have been completed during the past two years.
Dan has also undertaken site investigations and progressed design plans for the construction of LDC’s fourth large-scale gully project which is expected to start next month, September.
Local designers and contractors will be involved as they have in other LDC landscape remediation projects.
LADIES NETWORKING EVENT
LADIES KICK OFF WITH ONLINE CONFERENCE
Rising to the challenge of COVID-19, LDC’s first women’s networking event turned into a virtual event. Seventeen women joined the online conference that featured three key speakers.
The forum – hopefully, the first of many – was aimed at developing an ongoing platform for rural women in the Bowen and Collinsville areas that addresses relevant topics of interests and issues, education and training.
DISHING THE DIRT
Make a cuppa and read The DIRT
The second edition of LDC’s annual magazine, The Dirt, was compiled and posted to landholders and partners.
It’s packed with interesting stories about the work being undertaken by the LDC project in the BBB and, more importantly, the people affected. It also provides an insight into what the future may bring.
If you missed out on a copy, get in contact with one of the team members or click here.
