MALENY dairy farmers Ray and Catherine DeVere have been have been recognised for their work in helping improve the quality of waterways on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The DeVeres, who milk about 170 Jersey and Brown Swiss cows on their 100ha Ridge River Dairies farm at Kureelpa near Nambour, have worked closely with Seqwater and were presented with a Healthy Waterways Award.
The DeVeres have worked closely with urban water supplier Seqwater to prevent sentiment and in particular cow manure flowing into the nearby Poona Dam.
Poona Dam is a key gravity-fed reservoir for the Image Flat water treatment plant which provides treated water to the Sunshine Coast.
Much of Poona's catchment is located on the Devere’s farm and had been identified as a high priority area by Seqwater.
In return for the DeVere's cooperation, SEQWater through the Maroochy FarmFLOW Program has helped build hard-crossings in previously mud-prone gullies, fence out problem gullies, installed new water troughs and pipelines, create concrete cattle tracks, and construct a kilometre-long hillside track enabling cattle to be moved anywhere on the farm in wet weather.
More impressively Mr DeVere said working with SEQWater had also directly improved the health of the cow herd and cut veterinary costs by a staggering 75 per cent.
The FarmFLOW program is administered by the Maroochy Landcare Group and funded by bulk water supplier Seqwater, as part of an ongoing partnership. The FarmFLOW program was also recognised recently, winning the 2016 Healthy Waterways Rural and Agriculture Award.
FarmFLOW coordinator David Clark has been working with landowners for the past five years to help improve the productivity and profitability of Sunshine Coast hinterland farms, while improving the quality of water flowing off their land.
Mr Clark, who also farms timber and raises cattle on own his 160 hectare property in Maleny, said many landowners did not realise they lived in a water supply catchment and the way they managed their properties could impact the quality of water at the treatment plant.
“With their consent and cooperation, we help improve their properties by assisting with projects such as off-stream erosion repair, farm planning and riparian fencing,” Mr Clark said.
“When we first approach landowners about the program, a lot react with suspicion, wondering ‘what’s the catch?’
“There’s no catch, though. We just want people to get involved with the program to make their farms more efficient and create healthier waterways.”
Seqwater chief executive officer Peter Dennis said the Seqwater recognised catchment and waterway management was the first and fundamental step to providing affordable, safe and reliable water supply to the community.
“As a result of this program, landowners are gaining an increased awareness of their impact on the water supply catchment, whether they decide to participate in the program or not,” Mr Dennis said.
“Improving the health of our waterways is vital to support an affordable, secure and sustainable water supply for our region into the future.”
FarmFLOW initiatives include: Installing water troughs for cattle to drink out of which helps to keep them out of nearby streams and creeks; realigning fences on properties to restrict stock away from creeks; preventing and repairing soil erosion at sites; and raising awareness among rural landholders about how property management impacts the water quality of nearby catchments.
