Landscape restoration stops significant sediment losses

Rehabilitating degraded or damaged landscapes restores their ecological functions, improves land on a large scale, rebuilds ecological integrity, and reduces erosion and soil losses leading to improved water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon for a healthier and more resilient Reef. 

Twenty-six hectares on Belmore Downs eroded gullies have been rehabilitated through the Bowen Broken Bogie Water Quality Program.  

This significant landscape restoration project was designed and constructed by Neilly Group Engineering. Works were completed in two stages and included a mix of land reshaping, bunds, and associated rock chutes, batter drains, porous rock check dams, soil amelioration, fencing, revegetation, and grazing management.  

"Remediation works were designed to be cost-effective while improving the resilience of the landscape into the future, with the works being designed to withstand up to 1 in 50-year rainfall events", said James Allen, Principal Environmental Engineer at Neilly Group Engineering. 

Earthworks reshaped active alluvial gullies. Bunds were installed to divert the overland flow that was contributing to gully head erosion and direct flows into armored rock chutes. Porous rock check dams were installed throughout the gully network to slow erosive flows and allow for soil deposition. 

Rigorous soil testing was completed to identify the deficiencies in soil chemistry that are contributing to erosion and the required amelioration.  

NQ Dry Tropics Civil Works Coordinator Damian Flintham said he was in constant communication with the Neilly Group team and the Belmore Station landholder throughout the construction process, which ran smoothly. 

"It was a pleasure working on Belmore Station with Neilly Group as they are very professional in how they program and deliver a project," he said.  

Disturbed areas were revegetated with native plants and grasses based on ecological assessment of the site. Healthy levels of groundcover reduce erosion risk and improve soil health and water holding capacity for resilient landscapes. 

"Monitoring the site is a pleasure as photos show how well it has revegetated," said Damian.