1 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
A Powerful and
Passionate Voice
for Landcare
Peter Garrett AM
Appointed Chair of
Landcare Australia
Meet the Next
Generation of
Landcare Leaders
Eyes in the Sky:
Using AI Drones
for Weed Detection
and Prevention
Dung Beetles at
Work: Climate-Smart
Farming from the
Ground Up
LANDCARE
LANDCARE
IN FOCUS
IN FOCUS
M A Y 2 0 2 6
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DISCLAIMER: The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in Landcare in Focus are not necessarily those of Landcare Australia (Landcare Australia Limited) and its employees. Landcare Australia is not responsible for any
errors or inaccuracies of the information contained in the publication, or the use of images/video as this has been supplied by content contributors as approval from all parties. The purpose of Landcare in Focus is to share
information and promote the great work of the landcare community. Landcare Australia assumes no liability for any action that may arise from acting on published content. All content in Landcare in Focus is copyright and may
be only be reproduced with written permission from Landcare Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following issue may contain images of deceased persons.
Message from Landcare Australia Chair
Message from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Dung Beetles at Work: Climate-Smart Farming from the Ground Up
The Impact of Landcare in NSW
The NSW Landcare and Local Land Services Conference
Investing in Drought Resilience: Practical Solutions for Australian Landscapes
The Landcare Project That Redefines Retirement
Eyes in the Sky: Using AI Drones for Weed Detection and Prevention
Citizen Scientists Reporting Condamine River Water Quality
Why I Volunteer (and 5 Reasons You Should Too)
Whitewater Creek Landcare: Caring for Platypus and Creek
Protecting Shorebirds at Midway Point: Community Action for a Globally Important Wetland
Give to Gain: Celebrating Women in Landcare Through the Story of Sophie George
Little River Landcare Biodiversity Markets: Building Knowledge, Confidence and Choice for Local Farmers
Putting Wetlands Firmly Back on the School Radar
Cultivating Connection: Primary School Students Co-creating Biodiverse Spaces of Wellbeing
Seeing the System, Not Just the Symptoms
When Macca’s Isn’t Fast Food: Feeding Carnaby’s for the Future
Forever Wild Shows How Working Landscapes Can Support Threatened Species for Local Farmers
Protecting Guda: Delungra Students Lead the Way in Conservation
The Right Kind of Fire: Building Landscape Resilience
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Table of
Contents
Landcare Australia is proud to acknowledge Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of
the Country on which we live and work. We value and respect
their deep and continued spiritual and cultural connections
to the land, waters and seas, and pay our respects to their
Ancestors, and Elders past, present and future.
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-
© Copyright 2026. Landcare in Focus is published by
Landcare Australia with funding from the Australian
Government through the Natural Heritage Trust.
Editorial Team:
Eleanor Slade, Francis Graham,
Melissa Higgins – Landcare Australia
Designer:
Jasmine Intal – Landcare Australia
Digital Production:
Ayla Perna, Maryam Mahini
– Landcare Australia
Cover Photo:
Landcare Australia Chair, Peter Garrett AM.
Photo by Adam Hollingworth
Above Photo:
Dimi and Anna from the Landcare Australia
Restoration team. Photo by Adam Hollingworth
Contact Us:
We welcome content submissions to
Landcare in Focus! The next edition is
November 2026 and the content deadline is
September 1, 2026. Submit your content to
the editorial team via email at
enquiries@landcareaustralia.com.au
Experience Landcare: Start Planning for Landcare Week
Platypus, Planting and Pride in Place: Stroud Junior Landcare Celebrates a Standout Year
Planet Ark Calls for New Site Coordinators to Plant for National Tree Day’s 30th Anniversary
From Worms to Whole Systems on Kangaroo Island
Bega Valley Shire Council Honours Local Landcare Work
Powering Nature and Communities: A Strong First Year for ENGIE and Landcare Australia
Landcare on the Shelf
Meet the Next Generation of Landcare Leaders
WYLD Projects: Reconnecting Culture and Conservation
Get to Know About Wattle, The Youth-led Charity
Brisbane Intrepid Landcare
Mallee Intrepid Landcare
Clancy Lester
Co-Exist Australia
Urban Guerrillas
Breathe Easy
BirdLife Australia
Tamworth Regional Landcare
Monique Bailey
Canberra Intrepid Landcare
2026 State and Territory Landcare Awards
Landcare Australia Notice Board
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48 - 49
50 - 51
52 - 53
54 - 55
56 - 59
60 - 61
62 - 63
64 - 65
66 - 67
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As the new chair of Landcare
Australia, it’s a great pleasure to
welcome you to the latest edition
of Landcare in Focus. This issue
showcases the strength, innovation
and community spirit that makes
landcare a powerful movement
across this amazing country.
A big thanks to everyone who contributed
articles. Your passion, insights and dedication
are what brings the pages in this magazine to
life. I hope these landcare stories leave you
feeling inspired and encouraged.
In this May edition, you’ll find articles from
landcare groups, primary producers, schools,
and a special feature on the next generation
of landcare leaders.
From climate smart farming, investing in
drought resilience and using AI for weed
detection, to protecting shorebirds at a
globally important wetland, this edition
demonstrates the diversity of landcare and
the people behind it.
My connection to Landcare is personal, and
goes back to its earliest days, when
the Australian Conservation Foundation/
National Farmers Federation proposal was
taken to the former Prime Minister the late
Bob Hawke to establish this pioneering
national Landcare program.
I have watched the work of Landcare ever
since, admiring its ability to bring people
together in support of lasting environmental
and sustainable agriculture action. When
the opportunity came around to serve as
chair, it felt like a chance to return home, and
contribute to the sector in a meaningful way
at this crucial time in our nation’s history.
I sincerely thank the outgoing chair Doug
Humann AM for his outstanding leadership
over the past decade and his contribution to
Landcare Australia’s continued growth and
impact to support the landcare movement.
For me, landcare has always been about
connection. It brings together communities,
primary producers, First Nations people and
groups, volunteers and partners to deliver
practical, on-ground action for healthier
landscapes, agricultural lands, waterways and
biodiversity, and more resilient communities.
Just as importantly, many people tell us
their wellbeing is improved through their
connection and contribution to landcare; a
powerful reminder that landcare not only
strengthens the environment and agricultural
lands but also people and communities.
As we celebrate the people and projects
featured in this edition, I encourage you
to think about the volunteers and local
champions in your own community who
deserve recognition. Nominations for the
2026 State and Territory Landcare Awards are
now open, offering a valuable opportunity
to acknowledge the individuals, groups
and organisations making an outstanding
contribution to caring for our land and water.
If someone comes to mind, I hope you will
consider putting their name forward.
I look forward to the opportunity of
meeting many of you at various events
and conferences, and learning about your
landcare work.
Enjoy reading.
Peter Garrett AM
Chair, Landcare Australia
Message from Landcare Australia
Chair, Peter Garrett AM
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Australia’s Landcare has been an outstanding
world first conservation program, bringing
together community, farmers and First Nations
people to produce healthy and productive
landcapes. I relish the opportunity to take this
role and help build on the great work underway
right across the country.
— New Landcare Australia Chair, Peter Garrett AM
It has been a privilege to serve as chair of Landcare
Australia, guided by the legacy of Phillip Toyne and
Rick Farley and the national Landcare movement
they helped to build, and, importantly, the women
behind the origins of Landcare in Victoria, Heather
Mitchell and Joan Kirner.
Board and management activity at Landcare
Australia in the last decade reflect the
collaborative Landcare spirit, and I thank fellow
directors and Dr Shane Norrish and his team.
Together, we have strengthened governance,
broadened and deepened relationships across the
landcare community, and positioned Landcare
Australia for growth to enable the work of the
vigorous landcare community across Australia.
Landcare Australia is well placed for its exciting
next chapter under new leadership with Peter
Garrett. I couldn’t be happier with his appointment.
— Former Landcare Australia Chair, Doug Humann AM
We are delighted to welcome Peter Garrett as the
new chair of Landcare Australia. Peter brings a strong
belief in community led action and the power of
people working together to care for our environment.
His passion for conservation, protection of threatened
species and advancement of Indigenous rights will
bring a new momentum as we continue to grow the
national landcare movement.
On behalf of Landcare Australia, I sincerely thank
Doug Humann for his outstanding leadership and
commitment as chair, where he has played a pivotal
role in transforming Landcare Australia over the last
decade.
— Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish
Pictured: Landcare Australia Board Directors (left to right) - Natalie Sommerville, Former Chair Doug Humann AM, Peter Garrett AM, Robert Purves, Naomi Edwards,
Brendan Foran and Anna Hooper. Not pictured is Rebecca Underwood.
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Image credit Annette Ruzicka
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For decades, Landcare has shown the best land
management and environmental action happens
at the community level.
It is grassroots in every sense, bringing together farmers, land
managers and volunteers who care deeply about the landscapes
and communities they live and work in.
Their tireless efforts have laid the foundations for a more
sustainable future, and I thank Landcare volunteers across the
country for their extraordinary contributions.
I have met with many of you since my time in Parliament, and I am
always impressed by the work that that you all undertake across
our communities and regional Australia.
I recently had the opportunity to launch Project Ag-Resilience
in Melbourne’s Foodbowl – a $1.7 million investment bringing
together Landcare networks, primary industry groups and local
government to help farmers in the Port Phillip and Western Port
region boost their productivity and protect biodiversity.
It was a great example of what can be done when farmers and key
organisations are brought together to achieve a common goal.
Australia’s agriculture sector is already leading the world in
sustainable practices.
Our farmers are producing more food with fewer inputs and lower
emissions than almost anywhere else.
A basket of agricultural goods produced in Australia generates 42
per cent fewer emissions than in the United States, 29 per cent
fewer than in the European Union, and 12 per cent fewer than in
New Zealand.
These are achievements we can be proud of, but we cannot afford
to stand still. Fostering sustainable agriculture remains a major
priority for the Albanese Labor Government.
To meet our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and to
improve landscape health overall, we will need governments,
industry and communities working together.
The Albanese Labor Government is supporting farmers to
improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, strengthen drought
resilience and support research and development – ensuring
our agriculture sector remains productive, competitive and
sustainable.
At the same time, we are responding to emerging global
challenges.
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has placed pressure on
global fuel and fertiliser supply chains.
The Albanese Labor Government is working closely with
industry to manage these risks.
Looking ahead, we are also investing in new opportunities for
farmers and land managers, including over $1 billion to boost
onshore production of low carbon liquid fuels, which has the
potential to create new markets for bioenergy feedstocks
grown on Australian farms.
As we develop a National Food Security Strategy, Feeding
Australia, the role of farmers and land managers, and their
ability to adapt to a changing climate, will remain central.
Together, through initiatives like the Natural Heritage Trust and
the ongoing work of Landcare, we are charting a shared path
towards a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future for
Australian agriculture and our unique environment.
Words by Hon. Minister Collins | Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry
Message from
the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry
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ung beetles prove that climate-smart
agriculture doesn’t always require new
technology—sometimes it’s just a matter
of partnering with nature.
On many Australian farms, climate-smart agriculture isn’t
happening in laboratories or control rooms—it’s happening
just below the soil surface. Dung beetles are quietly reshaping
farmland by restoring natural processes that support healthier
soils, productive pastures and more resilient grazing systems.
Before dung beetles became established, cattle dung often
lingered on paddocks, fouling pasture and locking away valuable
nutrients. Today, dung beetles act as nature’s clean up crew.
They bury dung into the soil, returning nutrients to plant roots,
improving soil structure and kick starting natural fertilisation. For
Landcare groups working to rebuild soil health, this is a powerful
example of working with nature.
From a sustainable agriculture perspective, the benefits stack
up. As dung beetles tunnel through soil, they improve water
infiltration and reduce runoff. This helps farms cope with
increasingly intense rainfall events while retaining moisture
during dry periods. Better soil structure also encourages
deeper plant root growth and more resilient pastures—key
priorities under the Natural Heritage Trust, which has a focus on
sustainable farming and land management.
Dung beetles also reduce reliance on chemical inputs. By
breaking fly and parasite breeding cycles, they help lower the
need for insecticides and livestock treatments. This supports
cleaner production systems, healthier waterways and improved
biodiversity outcomes.
Video: Tom O’Malley, Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, Cradle
Coast NRM (Tas.), explains how dung beetles improve soil structure
and water infiltration. Filmed as part of Our natural advantage—
building the benefits of natural capital on farms project, funded by
the Natural Heritage Trust’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
Dung Beetles at
Work: Climate-Smart
Farming from the
Ground Up
Content provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry (DAFF)
Main Matthew Gunningham, Landholder and Tom O’Malley, Sustainable
Agriculture Facilitator.
Top Right Bubas bison dung beetle
Supporting these observations from the field, Tom
O’Malley—featured in the video and serving as
Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator for Cradle Coast
NRM, Tasmania—highlights how dung beetles
physically enhance paddocks from the ground up:
“The benefits they bring to soil structure,
such as reducing soil compaction and
allowing greater water infiltration, are
facilitated by the tunnels they create.”
Most importantly, dung beetles show how small
biological systems can deliver big, practical
wins. They boost productivity, protect soils and
strengthen farm resilience, all while cutting costs
and environmental impact.
View here: https://share.viostream.com/dicbhzwr5m53oh
10 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
i ht l
andcarers, Members of Parliament, and
partners from across NSW gathered at
Parliament House on 17 March 2026
for a very special Parliamentary Friends of
Landcare event, celebrating the launch of a
powerful film series highlighting the impact
of the NSW Landcare Enabling Program.
The event was hosted by the Hon. Steve Whan, Minister
for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Co-Chair of the
Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, alongside fellow Co-
Chairs Michael Kemp MP and Roy Butler MP. Thank you
also to the Hon. Penny Sharpe, Minister for Climate Change,
Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and
Minister for Heritage, for her attendance and support of
the night.
Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country delivered by
Dharug Elder Aunty Leanne King in her traditional language.
Guests then heard from key Landcare NSW leaders and
partners, including Steve Bunnell, Chair of Landcare NSW,
and Kate Lorimer-Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Local
Land Services, who spoke to the strength and value of
the partnership between Landcare NSW and Local Land
Services.
Jodie Lovell, NSW Landcare Enabling Program Manager,
highlighted the success of the Program to date and the
measurable outcomes, strong returns on investment, and
most importantly, resilient and empowered communities
being supported through the Program.
A special highlight of the evening was a native food
demonstration by Landcare NSW Ambassador, Mindy
Woods, a proud Bundjalung woman.
The Impact of
Landcare in NSW
Watch the film series here:
https://landcarensw.org.au/the-impact-of-landcare-in-nsw
Words by Landcare NSW
Top Jodie Lovell, NSW Landcare Enabling Program Manager
Bottom Landcare NSW Ambassador Chef Mindy Woods and Landcare
NSW General Manager Marni Holden
Suzannah Cowley, Director of Nviro Media, spoke
of her experiences travelling around the state
capturing the stories and incredible work of Landcare
Coordinators and groups having on-ground impact.
The film series captures the scale and diversity of
Landcare across NSW with each film highlighting
a different aspect of the NSW Landcare Enabling
Program’s impact — local projects delivering
throughout the state, celebrating Aboriginal
Partnerships and the importance of connection
to Country, collaboration across communities and
organisations, and bringing to life the real, practical
outcomes Landcare in NSW is achieving.
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aking place from 27–29 October 2026 in the
beautiful riverside town of Corowa along
the Murray River, this year’s theme, The
Sum of It All, celebrates collaboration, collective
impact, and the strong connection between
land and community.
Corowa has a proud and active Landcare presence, led by
Corowa District Landcare and the Murray Landcare Collective, a
community alliance of agricultural, environmental, and not-for-
profit groups.
Words by Landcare NSW
Across three inspiring days, the conference will feature
a fantastic lineup of speakers, plenty of opportunities to
connect with Landcare communities, and the NSW Landcare
Awards Gala Dinner.
Hosted in partnership with Corowa District Landcare,
Murray Local Land Services, and regional Landcare groups,
the event promises to be inclusive, engaging, and forward-
thinking. With its rich landscapes of rivers, wetlands,
woodlands, and productive farmland, Corowa provides the
perfect backdrop to celebrate and help shape the future of
Landcare in NSW.
This initiative is made possible by the NSW Landcare
Enabling Program, a collaboration between Local Land
Services and Landcare NSW, supported by the NSW
Government.
Further information: www.nswlandcareconference.com
Image credit North of the Murray
The NSW Landcare
and Local Land
Services Conference
is Coming to Corowa
in 2026!
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i ht l
Main Lucy Bullock, Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator and Fiona McBean,
cattle producer and FDF/Mulloon Institute CoPP host
Right Dr Bonny Stutsel, Researcher, WaterSmart Dams Project and Paul
South, mixed farmer and WaterSmart Dams Project trial host
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cross Australia, dry conditions are once
again testing farmers, land managers
and regional communities. Drought
is a familiar challenge, but climate change is
increasing the frequency and intensity of dry
periods, making preparation more important
than ever.
While the seasons remain unpredictable, communities across the
country are responding with innovation, collaboration and a strong
focus on building resilience at both farm and landscape scale.
To support this work, the Australian Government established the
Future Drought Fund (FDF) in 2019. Delivered through the Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the FDF invests in long
term programs and partnerships that help agriculture and regional
communities prepare for drought and manage climate risk.
Working alongside industry, Landcare and natural resource
management groups, researchers, state and local governments and
First Nations organisations, the FDF supports projects that build skills
and knowledge, strengthen local networks and encourage practical, on-
ground change.
For more information about the Future Drought Fund,
visit agriculture.gov.au/FDF
Words by Drought Partnerships section, Farm Resilience Division
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Investing in Drought
Resilience: Practical
Solutions for
Australian Landscapes
Another initiative, the WaterSmart Dams Project,
demonstrates how collaboration between growers,
researchers and farming groups can improve on-farm
water security. Funded through the FDF’s Innovation Grants
program, the project trialled a range of technologies —
including subsurface drainage, evaporation covers and
dam sealing products — combining scientific monitoring
with farmers’ practical experience. The work improved dam
performance and increased confidence among growers to
adopt scalable water management solutions for increased
drought resilience.
Insights from the trials helped inform the development of
the Water Evaluation Platform, giving farmers access to
data and modelling tools to assess water saving options for
their own properties.
Across Australia, FDF-supported projects are translating
research and innovation into real world outcomes for
farmers and landholders.
One example is Mulloon Institute’s Communities of Practice
project, funded through the FDF’s Extension and Adoption
of Drought Resilience Farming Practices Grants program.
The project brought landholders together to learn practical
landscape rehydration techniques through workshops,
mentoring and on-farm demonstrations. Participants are now
applying these methods to restore degraded landscapes,
improve water retention and strengthen ecosystem health.
Reported outcomes include revitalised creek systems,
increased ground cover and biodiversity, improved
productivity and stronger community capacity to manage
climate impacts over the long term.
While each project responds to local conditions, together
they highlight a consistent theme: drought resilience is
strongest when communities are supported to share
knowledge, test new approaches and build practical skills
that can be adapted over time.
Backed by sustained investment and strong partnerships,
the FDF is helping Australian agriculture move beyond
short term responses toward long term preparedness. By
supporting innovation, leadership and collaboration, the
FDF is strengthening the capacity of farmers and regional
communities to manage drought and thrive in a more
variable climate.
From Ideas to Action on the Ground
Building Resilience for the Long Term
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n a quiet over-50s lifestyle community nestled
at the base of Queensland’s McAllister Range, a
powerful grassroots movement is growing led
by a woman who believes that healing the planet
begins with healing our relationship to it. Her
name is Jenny Brown, and her work is reshaping
not only the landscape but the lives of those who
live among it.
Jenny, 65, is the founder and coordinator of the O.V.E.R. the Hill
Landcare Project (Occasional Volunteer Ecological Rehabilitation),
a dynamic, community led revegetation initiative based at Botanica
Lifestyle Resort near Cairns. Since launching in October 2021, the
project has seen the planting of over 5,500 native trees, spanning
more than 220 species, restoring a two-hectare nature reserve from
a degraded, weedy slope into a thriving rainforest corridor.
But Jenny’s work is not just ecological. It’s deeply human.
Understanding that many in her community yearned for purpose
after retirement, Jenny created a landcare model that values every
kind of contribution from soil donations and seed propagation to
painting wildlife boxes and constructing trails. She gently guides
over 70 active volunteers, many in their 70s and 80s, making space
for them to reconnect with nature, each other, and themselves.
“People feel young again up here,” Jenny says. And they do. One
volunteer with PTSD credits the project for helping him feel
“normal” again. Others, like 82-year-old Nancy, celebrate newfound
pride in planting at such a rich age. The emotional, physical, and
mental health benefits ripple outward, reinforcing the link between
environmental restoration and personal wellbeing.
“Downsizing from acreage was hard, but being
involved in the landcare project has given
me a renewed connection to nature. Jenny’s
support has been incredible — she’s backed
our ideas and aided to implement them. Her
knowledge and passion inspire us all.”
- Karen Brand, Botanica Resident
“Working on the landcare project with Jenny
has been incredibly fulfilling. Her knowledge
and guidance have helped me extend what
I already knew from my past Bushcare
experience and apply it in meaningful ways.
It feels good to keep learning and to do
something that truly makes a difference.”
- Jon Fearon, Botanica Resident
The Landcare Project
That Redefines
Retirement
Above top Jenny standing by the restored agricultural relic, now a
proud symbol of the site’s transformation
Jenny and the tree that supports the Hercules moth caterpillar
Above bottom Community getting involved with the project
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Jenny’s vision is methodical and ambitious. Collaborating with
ecological consultants and local partners like the Marlin Coast
Men’s Shed, she’s built a replicable framework including canopy,
infill, edge planting, and track building with each stage rooted
in best practice science and community inclusion. She has
introduced soil-building programs, organic waste recycling,
native pollinator conservation, and art based engagement to
increase accessibility and creative ownership.
In the wake of Cyclone Jasper, Jenny expanded the project to
include erosion mitigation never seeing setbacks as obstacles,
but as opportunities for innovative solutions. Plans for a second
site are already underway, and her dream of seeing cassowaries
roam amongst Botanica’s landcare initiatives through a
strengthened rainforest corridor speaks to both ecological
integrity and local inspiration.
Words by Landcare NSW
Jenny holds formal qualifications in sustainability education,
but it’s her informal, deeply empathetic leadership that
makes her extraordinary. She’s inclusive, strategic, humble,
and above all, hopeful.
At a time when climate resilience demands local action and
cross generational engagement, Jenny Brown is a blueprint
for what empowered, community based environmental
leadership can look like. Her work deserves to be recognised
not only for its ecological success, but for its cultural and
social significance.
Above Residents Bob Hobson and Jenny Brown at a tree planting event
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he Cotton Research and Development
Corporation (CRDC) has invested more
than half a million dollars across 11
feasibility studies for cutting edge projects
that aim to tackle some of cotton’s biggest
future challenges. Landcare Australia is proud
to be selected for their innovative project
WildSeek.
The successful projects in the CRDC Innovation Call, delivered by
some of the country’s leading startups, ventures, entrepreneurs,
agribusinesses and research organisations, were selected
following a national open call for innovative solutions to three
cotton challenges – preparing for a low-pesticide future,
optimising nitrogen use, and improving weed management. CRDC
offered up to $50,000 to support each individual feasibility study,
across these three key priority areas.
This project ‘Eyes in the sky: Using AI drones for weed detection
and prevention’, delivered by Landcare Australia utilises drones
and an advanced AI platform (WeedRemeed™) to detect hard-to-
spot weeds before they spread through cotton-growing regions.
With a focus on riparian zones, where manual surveys are difficult
or unsafe to carry out on foot, the system will process drone
imagery using advanced colour picking and machine learning
technologies to detect and geolocate weeds. Successful detection
models will identify weeds at an accuracy of over 80 per cent.
The work will include defining a target weed species. This process
will incorporate advice from ecological specialists as well as
knowledge shared by local landholders and community groups.
This will be followed by conducting suitability assessments,
undertaking drone surveys, and training the AI models before
the WeedRemeed™ technology is deployed through Landcare
Australia’s WildSeek hubs.
For more information: enquiries@landcareaustralia.com.au.
Words by Landcare Australia
Eyes in the Sky:
Using AI Drones for
Weed Detection
and Prevention
Katie Selhorst, Head of Landscape Restoration
and Chief Remote Pilot, said “The WildSeek Weeds
project is transforming how we detect weeds
by combining cutting edge drone and new AI
technology with on ground expertise. By finding
infestations earlier and more accurately, we can
protect productive landscapes and deliver better
outcomes for growers and the environment.
Delivered alongside the Centre for Invasive
Species Solutions and the Tamworth Regional
Landcare Association, the project will expand the
existing WildSeek and WeedRemeed™ frameworks
to create a scalable, community-driven weed
management tool.
The 11 successful applicants will now commence
their feasibility studies. Growers will have the
opportunity to hear more about the projects at the
Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in
August.
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he volunteer citizen science group, the
Condamine Balonne Water Committee
(CBWC), formed in the early 1990s with
backing from 18 Local Governments and seven
water user groups in the Condamine-Balonne-
Culgoa catchment in Queensland.
Following the world's longest blue-green algae bloom in the
Darling River (1991) and community concerns about agricultural
chemical usage, a CBWC workshop identified a need for a
coordinated water quality monitoring network to supplement the
basic ambient network of the Queensland Government.
The CBWC undertook a systematic seasonal water quality
monitoring program (1993–2025) that measured and recorded a
range of agricultural chemicals, nutrients and major ions at sites
close to gauging stations on the Condamine-Balonne River from
Killarney to Dirranbandi.
Data gathered are stored on the Queensland Government Project
Science Database and the many CBWC authored reports are
available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/library
The CBWC commissioned a pilot study evaluating a water
quality assessment methodology for use in comparing data
with the catchment’s Queensland Government’s Healthy Waters
Management Plan (HWMP) targets.
For more information: water@wowebbs.com
Words by Paul Webb
Citizen Scientists
Reporting Condamine
River Water Quality
LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026 | 17
For three water types, 14 key indicator data were
collated and analysed to ascertain whether there
were any significant trends over a 30-year timeframe
(1995-2024). Results were also compared with the
HWMP targets. Findings were:
•
For individual variables, 29% of annual median
values met target values, 31% did not and there
was insufficient data for comparison in 40% of
cases;
•
Trend analysis indicated improvements for 8%,
decline for 20% and no statistically significant
trend for 72% of the variables examined;
•
Overall water quality scores were mostly 3/5 or
“Fair”;
•
Overall score confidence was “Poor” to “Very
Poor” indicating the need for further monitoring.
As the CBWC data accounted for 69% of the
available useful data, the project leader, Paul Webb,
stressed the value of combining citizen science data
with agency data to enhance condition and trend
assessments.
Contributors: Titmarsh, G#., Standley, J#., Webb, P*.
and McIntyre G#.
Images supplied by CBWC
18 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
any years back, I started to volunteer
in conservation in New Zealand
with Conservation Volunteers and
continue to volunteer to this day around
where I live. So here are the reasons why I
volunteer and what it offers and perhaps,
why you should consider it too.
Why I Volunteer
(and 5 Reasons You
Should Too)
Image Slug trail glistening on moss
Words by Aditi Das Patnaik
Almost every aspect of what we consume today is part
of a global supply chain making it easy to disassociate
from our immediate surroundings. I started to volunteer
in conservation to connect with nature. Over time, it
helped me understand the ecosystems we are part of,
to recognise the trees and flowers and the seasons they
herald when in bloom. It helped me recognise birds,
mammals, reptiles and other fun creatures around the
bush as well as gain access to beautiful reserves I wouldn't
have visited otherwise. I remember in one of the sessions, I
helped clean a stagnant creek, overgrown with weeds. The
next time I went there, a family of ducks made it home.
I'd like to believe I played a part. Gladstone. Its mission: to
protect the ecological integrity and biodiversity of Central
Queensland while promoting ecological sustainability.
In learning about the environment, one also has the
opportunity to encounter it at close quarters. Often while
volunteering, some odd creature will pop it's head to say
"Hello!" or more often than not run for it's dear life. But
once in a while, when you're busy planting or pulling weeds
a Magpie or Kookaburra will come patiently sit next to you,
waiting for you to turn the soil and dig up a juicy snack
for them. One morning, I found a slug had left behind a
trail, glistening in the sun curving around little mushrooms
growing in a bed of moss and there it was, a little piece of
pure magic.
Volunteering helped me discover things about myself and
enhance pathways I was headed in. I've always struggled with
meditation and volunteering in conservation turned out in
more ways that one to be a very meditative practice. To be
present, mindful and develop better listening skills (The last
one I needed the most!). In addition, volunteering constantly
offers new ways for me to get creative with my photography
and offers constant inspiration to make art.
1. Finding Connection
2. Finding Joy
Volunteering is a great way to meet like minded people, build
community as well as network with people with similar values.
Having moved to Sydney, Australia a little over a year back,
volunteering helped me find people I could relate to and build
a sense of community. Over time this community has grown
into other activities from book clubs, hiking, photography and
even trivia.
3. Building Community
4. Getting Creative
I've always volunteered for causes I care about - be it marine
conservation in Rajah Ampat in Indonesia to bush regeneration
in urban reserves around Sydney. I find myself drawn to this
space and exploring projects to combine my skills towards driving
conservation outcomes. One project among others, was working
on the Manly Dam Biodiversity Project which added a wealth of
knowledge to over 420 species of fauna that you can encounter
while still living in a city. I am hoping down the line I can combine
conservation, volunteering and creativity in more meaningful ways.
5. Find the Courage for an Alternate Career
19 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
CEO Landcare Australia
LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2025 | 019
Bringing Volunteers
& Experts Together
in One Place.
The Landcarer website is a purpose built FREE online community
for individuals, groups and organisations to share and discuss
all things related to our common passion for conservation,
sustainable land management and agriculture in Australia.
Build capacity
for grassroots
and community
based groups
Promote your
work, events
or outcomes
Share ideas,
experiences,
knowledge
and resources
Collaborate with
others, explore
opportunities and
ask questions
www.landcarer.com.au
19 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
20 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026
hitewater Creek Landcare is a new
and growing community group with
a powerful origin story and a clear
purpose to protect local waterways and the
wildlife that depends on them.
The group was founded by Kingston resident Jenny Forward after
a life changing encounter in 2023, when she rescued an injured
platypus from a roadside near her home and was envenomated
in the process. During her recovery, Jenny found herself asking
why the platypus had crossed the road – a question that led
her straight to Whitewater Creek. What she discovered was
confronting: a beautiful waterway choked with weeds and litter,
posing real threats to platypus and other native species and
nature.
Whitewater Creek
Landcare: Caring for
Platypus and Creek
Whitewater Creek runs through a six hectare reserve
where past rehabilitation has already restored habitat
for the endangered Swift Parrot and an endangered
forest community, making it an environmentally
significant site. Sadly, at least four platypuses have
died in the area in recent years due to looped waste.
In response, the group is raising awareness about
cutting loops before disposing of rubbish, while
working with council to support an official Australian
Platypus Conservancy survey site to help monitor
platypus numbers.
The group brings together local residents, families and
council staff, and hosts a popular annual Clean Up
Australia Day event. With a growing online presence
and enthusiasm for sharing their story during
Landcare Week and Coastcare Week, Whitewater
Creek Landcare is proving that local action can make
a meaningful difference – for platypus, for people and
for the creek they call home.
With support from her local Coastcare group and Kingborough
Council, Jenny established Whitewater Creek Landcare to turn
concern into action. The group now focuses on weed removal
along the creek banks, laying the groundwork for future
riparian planting. These plantings will help stabilise banks,
improve water quality, support aquatic habitat, strengthen
biodiversity corridors and reduce flood impacts.
For more information, please visit their Facebook Page:
Whitewater Creek Landcare
Words by Landcare Australia
Left: Jenny Forward at Clean Up Australia Day Event
Top: Whitewater Creek Landcare Volunteers taking part in the 2026
Clean Up Australia Day