The
Gabby Quoi Quoi Catchment Group consists of
twenty four families representing
fourteen farming units.
It covers 20,784 hectares in the Shires of Goomalling
and Wongan Hills, in Western Australia.
The
Gabby Quoi Quoi Catchment Group
1.
Strategies for Saline River Flats
2.
Management of Native Vegetation
3.
Sandplain Seep
4.
Tagasaste
5.
Cross Boundary Works
6.
Tree Variety Trials
7. Plantings Recommended from Geophysical Survey
8. Saltbush Establishment Demonstration
History of the Gabby Quoi Quoi Area
Farmers in the Gabby Quoi Quoi area formed the catchment group in August 1989, motivated by a desire to tackle the continued degradation of their landscape.Although individual farmers had been active in revegetation, it was agreed that a unified catchment approach would benefit all group members. This required problems to be addressed through co-operative planning and this has resulted in work programs that are integrated across farm boundaries.
In January 1991, Gabby Quoi Quoi successfully attracted sponsorship from Alcoa of Australia Limited, and in a three way partnership with Agriculture Western Australia, the group agreed to accelerate their development in order to become a demonstration group for other catchment groups in the State.
|
Challenges
|
Achievements
|
|
By adopting land management options, including those show here, Gabby Quoi Quoi is confronting the following land degradation issues:
Although productivity is improving, the challenge is to implement sustainable farming systems throughout the catchment. |
Since 1990 the group have:
|
The Gabby Quoi Quoi Catchment
Group
After seven years of co-ordinated effort, the Gabby Quoi Quoi Catchment Group continues to share landcare experiences with other land managers. The Group has a large variety of landcare activities, including shelterbelts, tagasaste plantations, revegetation programs and extensive tree and saltbush trials.
According to local, Gabby Quoi Quoi means 'water plenty plenty' and the catchment contains many examples of different ways to intercept, control and harness excess water, including contour banks, deep drains, reverse interceptor, deep interceptor and absorption banks. The drainage systems are designed to direct water into dams and are combined with fodder shrubs and tree plantings to use up excess water.
Gabby
Quoi Quoi has combined improvements in productivity with a strong sense of affinity
to the land. Many of their landcare demonstrations are at a mature stage and
provide visitors with the opportunity to see different land management options
that can be implemented on a catchment basis.
A catchment strategy for farming systems, based on soil types and land management issues, guides the whole group. Individual farmers use this blueprint to guide their decisions in order to achieve common approaches that are implemented across farm boundaries.
The
farmers of Gabby Quoi Quoi have identified the advantages of working together.
This has enabled Agriculture Western Australia to invite the group to become
a Focus Catchment group under the State Salinity Action Plan, in order to further
develop the methodology of collaborative planning and implementation and to
pass on this approach to catchment groups in other areas.
The program has provided farmers with the incentive to accelerate their systems approach to sustainable agriculture. However, the farmers have more than matched the funding with their own resources and have thus doubled the impact of the work on the ground.
The people of Gabby Quoi Quoi are proud of their achievements so far, but know that they still have many challenges to meet.
Achievements
During
the first seven years of operation members of the Gabby Quoi Quoi Catchment
Group have treated 839 hectares of land which includes:
|
treating establishing replanting revegetating protecting |
490
hectares of saltland |
Management Strategies for Saline River Flats
Charles
and Peter Whitfield
The
main drainage line is fairly confined by salinity is a major problem. The creekline
is a unifying feature for the group and it has an impact on the farming practices
of all catchment members. Substantial fencing and revegetation with trees and
saltbush has been carried out to protect the creekline.
Vermin Proof Fencing of Remnant Vegetation
Nathan and Kylie Davey
In
this area, there is an innovative approach to the protection of 80 hectares
of native vegetation that has created a flora and fauna sanctuary for the catchment
and the community.
Sandplain Seep
Ben Davey
Contour
banks, deep drains, absorption banks, reverse seepage interceptor drains, built
by grader or bulldozer, and deep interceptors with and without drain coil, are
used to direct excess water into dams and drainage lines. Renovated pastures
and tree plantings increase water use.
Tagasaste
Colin Chitty
The
catchment has small but significant areas of sandplain and one option is to
plant tagasaste in these high recharge areas to boost livestock production and
to increase ground water use. Three techniques of establishment (direct seeding,
seedlings and bare rooted seedlings) have been tried to determine the best methods
for the catchment and surrounding area.
Cross Boundary Works
Graeme White, Nathan Davey and Leon Stickland
As
a group project, a number of landholders have joined together to create an area
that combines banks, windbreaks and contour works. The result is a significant
demonstration of a continuous strip of integrated land management across a series
of soil types.
Tree Variety Trials
Maitland and Nathan Davey
An
area of 40 hectares has been established as an arboretum to determine the suitability
of various species for the catchment. Well developed tree and salt bush trials
are monitored for effectiveness of establishment, insect control, life span,
grass cover beneath canopy, flower, seed and potential wood production.
Plantings Recommended from Geophysical Survey
Siegert Family
In
this region of the upper catchment, an area of 30 hectares developed a saline
seep, with bare scalding evident over three hectares. Geophysical surveys of
salt storage have been used to design a revegetation strategy that has reduced
the spread of the seep.
Saltbush Establishment Demonstration
Davey Family
This
site was established to test and compare a range of establishment methods and
to observe which saldbush varieties would best suite weaners.
Gabby Quoi Quoi History
The area was first settled
as a farming community in the late 1870's with the first homestead being built
at that time. Most of the land was taken up in the early to mid 1900's. The
Gabby Quoi Quoi well was put down by the Monks in 1870. It was fresh drinking
water and was used by workers clearing the bush.
| For
information on tours, contact: Nathan Davey PO Box 98, Wongan Hills, WA 6603 Phone: (08) 9620 1288 Fax: (08) 9620 1298 |
For information on
the group, contact:
|