The first rangeland rehabilitation project to be carried out in the Wilcannia area is set to have major benefits for the Darling (Baaka) River with a local landholder and Western Local Land Services working together to address gully erosion and scalded areas.
The project, which involved constructing a number of ponds to slow the speed of surface water to reduce erosion and sediment going into the Darling (Baaka) River, will also see improvements to the condition of native vegetation.
Through Western Local Land Services’ Rangeland Rehabilitation program, approximately 124 hectares of scalded country was identified as a high priority site for repair. These works will benefit the nearby Coolibah-Black Box Woodland endangered ecological community.
Western Local Land Services Rangeland Rehabilitation Officer, Paul Theakston was excited to see a rangeland rehabilitation project in Wilcannia and is hopeful he’ll be hearing from more landholders from the area in the near future to carry out similar works.
“I’ve covered countless kilometres in this role which I’ve been in for over 20 years however it was particularly satisfying travelling to Wilcannia to work with the landholder and complete this project knowing it was the first in the area,” Mr Theakston said.
“Following the initial inspection with the landholder, you could see strategic works were required to address the erosion that was occurring.
“The damage that was taking place was extremely detrimental to the floodplain community and the Coolibah-Black Box Woodland community, and it would continue unless action was taken.
“Working with proactive landholders to make improvements to their properties and the environment is the most satisfying part of my job and I’m hopeful there’ll be more projects in the Wilcannia area in the near future.”
