Protecting Southern Qld Waterways Through Grazing Management

 Receive Financial Incentives and Support to Design and Install Appropriate Fencing and Stock Watering Points

Vegetation along waterways remains a key natural asset, as it serves as a corridor for the movement and growth of new generations of plants and animals as well as a refuge habitat for many species in the regular dry times we experience. Maintaining healthy levels of ground cover and canopy layers is needed to maintain the value and function of waterways. Overgrazing of waterways is highly likely without active management due to the higher growth of palatable pasture and stock access to waterholes for drinking.


This project aims to improve the condition of over 100,000 hectares of native vegetation within and adjacent to priority waterways of southern Queensland. It will do this by supporting landholders to design and install appropriate fencing and watering points. This infrastructure will enable better management of the timing and duration of stock grazing. Along with this infrastructure installation, we will provide information on best practices for managing grazing pressure across a farming enterprise.


Best practice grazing management aims to:

 • Improve overall pasture conditions

• Reduce the duration of reliance on waterways as a pasture source

• Improve biosecurity controls by restricting free movement of stock in and out of waterways.


Image 1. Protecting Koala habitat within the Brigalow Belt.     Image 2. Threatened Red-tailed Black Cockatoos feeding on Casuarina nuts.     Image 3. Many species of reptiles live in the Brigalow habitat including goanna's and the threatened Yakka Skink.

This project will aim to improve the condition of native vegetation over 110,000 hectares in targeted areas. The outcome of improved native vegetation condition will be achieved through fencing off waterways and changing grazing management practices in partnership with landholders. By fencing waterways, landholders are able to better manage stock access to match seasonal conditions. With free access to waterways, stock usually overgraze the

area due to a higher prevalence of preferred pasture plants. This overgrazing often prevents these valuable native fodder species from maturing enough to set seed, creating a cycle of loss of preferred pasture composition. When stock can be introduced for controlled periods of grazing then these susceptible native species can be given the opportunity to mature, set seed and expand their range, with some then able to outcompete weeds.


Limiting the timing of stock access to waterways also reduces the impact of excess manure on native vegetation. Queensland landscapes are well known for naturally low nutrient levels. Native vegetation has developed in low nutrient conditions over millennia and does not respond well to excess nutrients in the root zone. This shows up as excess vegetative growth in place of flowering, softer tissue with higher susceptibility to disease and pests and detrimental changes in nutrient uptake. By limiting stock manure deposition in waterways, native vegetation maintains better health with normal flowering (and seed set), disease resistance and balanced nutrient uptake.


In summary, this project will protect native vegetation in waterways through fencing and alternate watering points that increase control over grazing timing, duration and frequency.


This benefits native vegetation by:

• Support for native pasture to mature and set seed each season rather than being grazed out.

• Reduced pathways of introduction of weeds and potential for natives to outcompete weeds.

• Returning nutrients to more natural levels which benefits natives over weeds and supports normal flowering, seeding and disease responses in native plants.

Get Involved!

If your property contains Brigalow, Coolibah-Black Box or Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands within our priority areas (see map below), please complete our Expression of Interest Form. You may be eligible for financial incentives and support to implement sustainable practices on-farm, that directly benefit these threatened vegetation habitats and the species that rely on them.


A series of free information days and workshops will be held in the priority areas throughout 2025 and 2026. We encourage you to attend, share strategies to tackle land management challenges, and engage with specialist speakers. Follow us on social media, including Eventbrite, and become a member of Southern Queensland Landscapes to stay updated on upcoming workshops.


This project is being delivered in areas of the Southern Brigalow Belt throughout 2024 -2026. It is a $1.7 million dollar investment from the Australian Government through the Saving Native Species Program.







Landholders are encouraged to register their interest via the form below.

Video's Related To This Project

Protecting waterways and Blackfish in the Condamine River Headwaters.


This project is funded by the Australian Government under Saving Native Species and delivered by Southern Queensland Landscapes, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners Panel.