SNELC Field Day - Wed 31 July 2019

Malpas Catchment Group Finds Ways to Increase Production in Drought

Southern New Englanders will soon have an opportunity to see first-hand how to balance higher production with good environmental outcomes on one of the highest altitude properties in the Malpas Catchment on 31 July.

‘Urandangie’ property owner, Bill Perrotet said, “Since finalising our property plan in 2008, and fencing off Urandangie Creek during the High Country Urban Biodiversity Project in 2010, we’ve been restoring riparian areas using techniques that help hydrate the whole farm.

“We’ve also begun a program of soil testing to increase data, knowledge and efficiency, that helps us make the right nutrient application decisions,” he said.

Having a property plan for ‘Urandangie’ has enabled Bill and Jackie Perrottet to tackle a range of issues in priority order, not least, rehydrating the soil.

Southern New England Landcare’s Malpas Catchment Coordinator, Rachel Lawrence said, “The Perrottet's have done impressive work.

“I'm really excited by the possibilities these methods offer other producers in the catchment.

“Increased soil hydration is really key, and this can be achieved by slowing the flow of water and trapping more water in the root zones of plants.

“Of course, this has huge benefits in a water supply catchment such as Malpas, because the water that ends up in the dam is filtered before it gets there,” she said.

‘A Tinge of Green’ is being hosted by the Malpas Catchment Group, a sub-group of Southern New England Landcare.

More information and registrations via www.snelandcare.org.au or by phoning 6772 9123.

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Image – Various techniques along Urandangie Creek are restoring landscape hydration. Photo by Rachel Lawrence.

 

When

Location

Urandangie - Malpas Creek Catchment