Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group shines at National Landcare Awards
Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group took out the Australian Government Excellence in Sustainable Farm Practices Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.
This award recognises an individual, group or organisation that has demonstrated excellence and leadership in implementing integrated land management practices to a farm property or properties that protect soils, water and vegetation. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.
Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group was founded to improve water quality in the Baroon Pocket Dam, the most important source of water for the Sunshine Coast. The Group which supports 34 farms covering 1,961 hectares; delivers; agricultural, landslide, weed control, and dairy programs that have improved productivity for landowners while delivering broader environmental benefits.
Sustainable practices implemented by Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group’s programs have included fencing and revegetation of riparian zones, the installation of alternate livestock watering points and sustainable stream crossings, erosion and land instability repair, the removal of invasive weed species, and upgrades to effluent systems, feed pads and drainage. Key to the Group’s success has been their ability to convince landowners that productivity and sustainability were not mutually exclusive.
Peter Stevens was delighted to accept the award on behalf of Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group. “It’s great to receive recognition for all the years of work we put into this project. There are a lot of people that are going to be very proud of this amazing outcome.”
Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish, commended the National Landcare winners on their outstanding accomplishments.
“It’s an honour to be able to recognise the great work being carried out by our Landcare champions,” Shane says. “The national Landcare awards offers landcarers the ideal opportunity to get together and celebrate the individual and collective achievements of the community. Landcarers across Australia deserve to be acknowledged and praised”.
Winners across nine diverse categories from sustainable farm practices to Junior Landcare, were announced at the National Awards gala dinner last night, which was emceed by ABC Landline host, Pip Courtney.
The National Landcare Awards are part of this year’s three-day National Landcare Conference, which finishes today, 12 October 2018. The conference provides the Landcare community an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and share knowledge. For more information on the National Conference and Awards go to nationallandcareconference.org.au
All finalists case studies and photos by category are available at nationallandcareconference.org.au/awards.
The National Landcare Awards is delivered by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network in partnership with the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
