GELLIBRAND BIOLINK REVEGETATION DAM PROJECT
Case Study: A Stewart & H.T Stewart & J Stewart, Bambra – VIC
Gellibrand dam after installation of 1500m Gallagher WestonFence.
Project Background
This project sought to create a biolink to an established regenerated bushland area, providing habitat and connectivity for native wildlife. The project was carried out by the Stewart Family in Bambra, Victoria. The Stewart family are fourth generation farmers on a 575-acre property running prime lambs and agroforestry. In the early 1990s they created a whole-farm plan to improve the property from previously 3% woody vegetation with significant degradation and salinity issues; establishing about 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation coverage to approximately 18%, without reducing agricultural production. Establishing the East Otway Landcare Group in the early 1990s, the Stewarts and their local community formed a committee to fence the Yan Yan Gurt creek and develop a wildlife corridor. Andrew Stewart and his family were the winners of the 2020 prestigious Bob Hawke Landcare Award in 2020.
Environmental Outcomes
The Stewart’s installed 1500m of Gallagher Mega Anchor kit with Turbo 9-strand wire fence and solar energiser to form the dam perimeter fence, and they included two stock access points to achieve this goal of restricting livestock access to the dam, enabling them to successfully rehabilitate the dam. A community planting day was held in Spring with a variety of native seedlings, which as they grow will improve water quality in the dam by filtering inflowing water, and controlling faecal input from farm animals; which also assists in keeping the dam water clean for stock and creating important wildlife habitat.
Farm dams in poor condition can release large amounts of greenhouse gases. Improving the water quality by revegetating dams, reducing nitrogen and phosphorous entering the dam, thus increasing oxygen levels in the water, may reduce emissions, as indicated in research conducted by the Australian National University Sustainable Farms Project.
