Janes Creek

Reef Catchments has delivered a 30-month whole-of-system project engaging with all sugarcane farmers, graziers and harvesting contractors across the Janes Creek catchment, which borders urban Mackay.

The project collectively worked on improving management practices, conducting system repairs, constructing treatment solutions, and evaluating and monitoring water quality improvements within the catchment area.

With funding from the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, the project has achieved significant outcomes:

• providing extension support to landholders
• providing grants of up to $8,000 for water quality improvement projects (pesticide nutrient and sediment)
• constructing and revegetating a stormwater treatment train
• installing the Janes Creek water quality monitoring station and urban water quality monitoring at the Mackay Gooseponds
• establishing the Janes Creek Catchment Group and producing a bi-monthly catchment group newsletter
• training three landholders to sample water quality appropriately.

Some resulting practice changes identified through interviews conducted in 2021 include:

• all landholders (graziers, cane growers and cane harvesters) made changes to their farming practices and intend to continue with these changes
• pesticide application changes were the most reported practice changes
• time and cost savings were the most reported benefits of the practice changes
• most landholders indicated an increased understanding of water quality.

More information can be found by visiting Janes Creek Landholders' Project - Reef Catchments.