Farmers putting their hands up to get the job done
LOCATION
Boy Creek, Wargan, approximately
35 kilometres west of Mildura
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Five management agreements
- Five mixed partnerships
- Three social assessments
- 21 participants in engagement events
INVESTMENT
Victorian Government: Our catchments, Our Communities Program
PARTNERS
- Landholders
For Mallee farmer Matt Curtis, putting his hand up for the Mallee CMA stewardship program meant he was able to finish an important job that not may have seen completion.
Third generation farmer Matt Curtis calls Boy Creek his home. Matt has lived at Boy Creek his whole life and can’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s that deep generational tie to the land that makes Matt so passionate about the sustainability and future of Boy Creek, located at Wargan, approximately 35 kilometres west of Mildura.
Matt was disheartened with pest animals and livestock foiling his attempts at regenerating the property with Black Box, Mallee and Belah trees.
“The trees (I planted) were being eaten by sheep and trampled by kangaroos,” he said.
“They needed protection, but fencing is an expensive and time-consuming operation.”
That’s where the Mallee CMA Stewardship Program came in, providing Matt with not only the funding to make it possible to protect and preserve the riparian zone along the creek line, but also the resources needed to make it easy.
“The team at Mallee CMA have made being a part of the stewardship program really easy.” he said.
Matt said the program has given him the ability and resources to fence off a stretch of the creek line, on Boy Creek.
“Putting in the fencing has protected this riparian zone, for sure it’s given these trees a fighting chance,” he said.
“They’re now fenced off and protected, they’re thriving and will hopefully be here for many years to come.”
