Rural Landowners Urged to Attend Free Workshops
Council is supporting rural landowners in their efforts to reduce erosion and improve the quality of Scenic Rim waterways by offering two free workshops next month.
Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen urged landowners, particularly graziers, to learn more about improving water quality and soil retention through the workshops at Boonah on Wednesday 14 March and Canungra on Thursday 15 March.
"Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie confirmed to me - and to many other people in the Scenic Rim and wider south-east Queensland region - the challenges we face in maintaining the health of our lands and waterways," he said.
"Much of our prosperity in the Scenic Rim, from our key industries of agriculture and tourism, derives from our spectacular scenery and healthy environment.
"So when we see a farmer whose centre pivot paddock has been stripped of a metre of precious topsoil by floodwaters or a river bank which, almost overnight, has been realigned by six to eight metres through an extreme weather event, we know that accelerated action is called for.
"These workshops offer practical solutions to protect our creeks and gullies and help landowners maintain their most valuable asset - their soil."
Council, through its Environmental Grants Program, has supported the efforts of groups and individuals in rehabilitating riparian areas and preventing erosion through tree planting and the eradication of weeds.
"However, without the commitment of landowners, we can achieve only so much," Cr Christensen said.
"While many of the problems we face today are the legacy of well-intentioned settlement activity, our focus must be on the future."
The free workshops, from 9am to noon, with morning tea included, will be held at The Outlook Boonah on Wednesday 14 March and the Canungra School of Arts Hall on Thursday 15 March from 9am to noon.
RSVP by 12 March by visiting https://erosion-and-creek-management.eventbrite.com.au or contacting Dennis Gannaway on 0407 001 916 or Dennis.g@hlw.org.au