SDG Detail

Protecting natural creeks from cattle grazing

Case study

Project description

In Waterloo Western Australia, Warrick Tyrrell operates a 120-hectare dairy with a herd of 300 to 330 milking cows who produce 2.5 million litres of milk each year. A quarter of the property is under irrigation supplying part of the feed base over summer. The cattle water at a creek that runs through the property, however this comes at an environmental cost as the banks have become degraded risking water quality and salinity. Realising he couldn�t continue to use the creek as a water source, Warrick decided to fence it off, replant the banks with native trees and install water troughs.

Year 2019

Location Australia

Organization Landcarer Australia

Project aims

Warrick said the project included the installation of a solar water pump and a tank to provide livestock with water. To stop erosion and stabilise the banks the creek needed to be fenced off and planted with trees that would provide the additional benefit of cutting down salinity. By fencing off the creek, Warrick could continue to graze cattle on pastures near the creek without damaging it. Over time Warrick expects the health of the creek and the land around it will be improved making the operation more sustainable. On top of these benefits the use of solar to power the water pump means no additional emissions will be generated and the native trees will encourage and support more native wildlife that�s found on the property.