Crisafulli Government Funds Major Push to Protect Burdekin Landscapes

The Lower Burdekin will see a significant boost in environmental protection efforts, with the Crisafulli Government announcing a suite of locally delivered projects worth more than $10 million to combat invasive weeds, feral animals and wildfire risks across the region. The investment forms part of the government’s $117.8 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, billed as a statewide effort to restore land health and support on-country stewardship.

The funding will flow directly to NQ Dry Tropics and is expected to deliver targeted, practical work across coastal zones, grazing country and vulnerable wetlands that support agricultural production, biodiversity and regional resilience.

The program prioritises “boots-on-the-ground action to restore Queensland’s landscapes” and will focus on threat reduction, ecological repair and fire mitigation. The investment includes $3.7 million to improve the condition of 1,450 hectares of grazing land, native vegetation and wetlands across the Lower Burdekin, as well as $4.4 million to reduce landscape pressure from weeds, pests, fire and community disturbance across more than 120 hectares of land and 30 kilometres of waterways. A further $1.9 million will go toward landholder support in the Townsville Offshore and Lower Burdekin catchments through weed control, feral animal management, low-intensity burning, and coordinated fire planning across 2,000 hectares.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, said this level of investment was designed to support both the region’s environment and local employment.

“This region is especially important to me, and it gives me great pride to deliver for the local community and our natural assets,” Minister Last said.

He also made clear that the new approach marks a departure from previous government policy.

“During Labor’s decade of decline, Queensland’s Natural Resource Management groups were left high and dry without the meaningful funding they need to support the great work they do across our state. Through our $117.8 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, the Crisafulli Government is putting local knowledge to work to deliver real results on the ground. These NRM organisations are leading the way in safeguarding our natural resources and that’s why we’re proud to support them and invest in Queensland’s future.”

NQ Dry Tropics CEO Dr Scott Crawford welcomed the commitment, noting the scale of both the opportunity and the responsibility in a region that covers eight per cent of Queensland.

"This investment demonstrates strong government backing for NQ Dry Tropics and its sister natural resource management (NRM) groups across Queensland," Dr Crawford said.

He emphasised that environmental challenges cannot be managed by any one body alone.

"Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility, and the projects we deliver in the region under this funding will be practical, science-based, and founded on strong community partnerships.”

Dr Crawford highlighted three cornerstone initiatives set to accelerate on-ground outcomes.

"For example, the Fighting Invasive Species Together project will strengthen collaboration between graziers and Traditional Owners to better manage the threat of feral animals and invasive weeds.

"The Climate-Ready Coastlines project will repair high-priority coastal habitats and help protect communities from the impact of flood and fire, and the Climate-Ready Rangelands project will support landholders to improve land condition, productivity and biodiversity on grazing properties."

The investment signals a major, multi-year effort to not only stabilise at-risk landscapes but equip the region’s land managers with the tools needed to respond to escalating climate and biosecurity pressures.

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The funding will flow directly to NQ Dry Tropics and is expected to deliver targeted, practical work across coastal zones, grazing country and vulnerable wetlands. Photo supplied