NQ Dry Tropics Gears Up for Major Burdekin Landscape Initiatives in 2026

The Burdekin region is set to see a boost in sustainable land management and landscape repair efforts, with NQ Dry Tropics leading two key projects aimed at supporting local graziers and protecting the region’s soils and waterways.

Burdekin Productive Pastures Project – Already Underway
Launched in July 2025, the Burdekin Productive Pastures project is supporting eight grazing enterprises across the Suttor and Belyando catchments over a three-year program. The initiative focuses on improving land condition, enhancing pasture productivity, and increasing understanding of natural capital, including soil, water, air, plants and animals, as well as emissions.

Participating landholders benefit from hands-on workshops, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, and one-on-one grazing management support. They are also developing comprehensive property maps to guide infrastructure and grazing practices, with a view to future opportunities such as carbon markets. Grazing Field Officers Kirra Williams and Callum Olver are regularly in the region, working closely with landholders and delivery partners to roll out the program.

Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program, the project has already seen regional experts in action, demonstrating practical techniques such as forage estimation using the STAC method.

Burdekin Landscape Repair Project – Set to Begin in 2026
Following months of planning and prioritisation, the Burdekin Landscape Repair project is ready to move into the construction phase, with on-ground works expected to start in early 2026. Initial focus will be on streambank erosion control along the Black River, with sites now progressing toward tender. Further planning, including geotechnical assessments and LiDAR surveys, will be completed by Neilly Group Environmental Engineering to inform construction.

Landholder input remains a priority, with concept designs and background information being shared directly with property owners. The NQ Dry Tropics Grazing Team has grown with four new members on board, ensuring ample local support during implementation. To strengthen technical knowledge, grazing specialists recently hosted a two-day property planning workshop with land management expert Rod Kerr, attended by local graziers Dan and Tash Stanford.

Looking Ahead
With one project already in motion and another about to begin, NQ Dry Tropics is set to make 2026 a year of tangible improvements for the Burdekin. From healthier pastures to restored streambanks, these initiatives aim to secure the long-term productivity and sustainability of the region’s grazing landscapes.

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NQ Dry Tropics has a broad vision of more productive pastures and healthier soil on a landscape scale. Photo source: NQ Dry Tropics

Pictured planning on-site are NQ Dry Tropics staffers, clockwise from top left: Rod Kerr, Morgan Gunther, graziers Dan and Tash Stanford, Jade Fraser (sitting, obscured), Chris Poole, Sam Clarke, Claire Cornel, Bernie Claussen, Carleigh Drew and Kirra Williams. Photo source: NQ Dry Tropics

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