Welcome to the April 2026 Southern Queensland Landscapes Newsletter
Stay informed with the latest project updates, upcoming events and regional stories
Message from the CEO
Gillian Meppem
How quickly our primary concerns can change, it’s safe to say that fuel and farm input availability are top of mind most of the time, but the ever-evolving Middle Eastern crisis has certainly escalated our concerns. Southern Qld Landscapes are monitoring this situation closely for any interruption to program delivery. Our thoughts are with all land holders currently doing some serious number crunching as they think through cropping programs and potential interruption to livestock movement and input supply.
Amongst the exciting program delivery work underway our team is also considering the Murray Darling Basin Plan Review and Southern Queensland’s place at the northernmost section of the catchment. Southern Qld Landscapes take an integrated catchment management approach to matters such as water quality and will make this point strongly in our submission. This holistic approach to managing land, water, and biodiversity also includes consideration of people through balancing social and economic needs with environmental concerns.
Finally, this month we farewell Southern Qld Landscapes’ Company Secretary Pam Murphy as she moves into the next exciting phase of life - retirement! Pam has been with Southern Qld Landscapes from inception and supported the organisation through the startup phase and onward. Her dedication to our purpose and her focus on ensuring the views of members are represented and heard has been unwavering. We wish her well. The Board will recruit a part time Company Secretary Board Support role in the coming month.
Best Wishes,
Gillian
From the Field: What's Been Happening on the Ground
The past couple of months have been busy across the region, with Southern Queensland Landscapes team members spending time out on properties and at local field days, workshops and learning events.
During February and March, landholders joined us to:
Talk through practical grazing and pasture management,
Learn more about soil health, groundcover and pasture resilience, and
Share real‑world experiences about what’s working (and what’s not) in local conditions.
These on‑the‑ground conversations are at the heart of what we do. Every season is different, and hearing directly from landholders helps shape the support and programs we deliver.
If you’ve attended an event recently, thanks for taking the time to be involved. Your input matters.
Above: Projects Officer Jackson Shillingsworth visited sheep property Hayfields, located near Cunnamulla, alongside SQL SAF Caroline Webster
Above: Projects Officer Jackson Shillingsworth presented on support and project funding opportuntites at the Roma Indigenous Business Expo
Above: Clifton Landcare Ag Expo, supported by Southern Queensland Landscapes, included long stem tree planting demo
Above: Projects Lead Claire Steains and Knowledge Specialist Andrew Davidson consult with Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group
Working Together on Country
Caring for country works best when it’s done together.
We continue to value and respect First Nations knowledge and connection to land, working alongside Traditional Owners, landholders and local communities wherever possible. This shared approach helps deepen understanding of landscapes and supports more thoughtful, long‑term land management across the region.
Emerging projects, coordinated by Southern Queensland Landscapes, support First Nations delivered cool burns to assist in landscape rejuvenation, weed management and fire mitigation.
Coolburn FAQs:
What does cool burning actually do for my pasture? A cool burn removes dead thatch; clears standing dry matter and lets sunlight reach the soil. Native grasses and forbs germinate rapidly afterwards. The regrowth is more nutritious and more palatable than mature dry feed.
How does it help with weeds? Most introduced weeds did not evolve with fire. Most native pasture grasses did. A well-timed cool burn kills weed plants before they set seed, depletes the seed bank and gives native species a competitive head start. Each burn cycle compounds this effect.
The recently released Queensland Bushfire Plan, published by the Queensland Fire Department, acknowledges cool burning, cultural burning and other First Nations led burning practices as part of a bush fire mitigation strategy and it's place in caring for country. Page 33 of the Queensland Bushfire Plan has plenty of useful information for interested landholders.
Wild Dog Impacts and Management Efforts in Southern Queensland
Southern Queensland Landscapes surveyed landholders to understand the impact of wild dogs and evaluate which on‑ground management efforts are most effective, helping ensure limited resources are targeted where they deliver the best results.
Reducing Threats to Protect Brigalow Priority Place Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC's) and Threatened Species in Southern Qld This project has involved collaboration to support Southern Queensland farmers boost on farm productivity while also protecting important Brigalow landscapes and the native species that rely on them.
ARLF Impact Leadership Program Closes April 13 The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), is seeking five exceptional individuals from each of 12 selected regions to become the foundational leaders of the Impact Leadership Program.
Renewable Energy Landholder Advisory (RELA) has launched Assess 2.0, a free and independent online tool designed to help landholders understand the renewable energy potential of their land and how it could fit alongside existing farming operations. Backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the platform brings together land suitability information, commercial considerations and practical planning tools in one easy‑to‑use place, giving landholders clearer insights to support informed decisions.
RELA useful contacts:
Gary Lees Head of Regional Development and Relations
Explore grants and funding opportunities open to you.
2027 Nuffield Scholarship Applications Now Open
In 2027, in addition to the longstanding Nuffield scholarship investors, the Future Drought Fund are investing in at least five scholarships that are specifically available to study drought resilience and support innovation.
Leadership development grants support to people playing a key role in conservation projects. Grants are awarded to individuals for professional development in their field, particularly those involved in grassroots landscape restoration Program deadlines: 15 June; 14 September 2026 and 14 December.
Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program is offering $94m over three years to fund 3,000 new jobs through the National Indigenous Australians Agency. There are two streams of funding available, Job creation – to fund the cost of wages and related entitlements, and the Community Jobs and Business Fund (CJBF) – to provide funding for equipment, operational costs and infrastructure. Deadline for applications: 7 April.
Open career opportunities with Southern Queensland Landscapes
Company Secretary
Southern Qld Landscapes’ Board seek to appoint a Company Secretary on a part time contracted basis (0.3 FTE). This role has an irregular cadence informed by Southern Qld Landscapes Annual Calendar, this typically involves six Board meetings (three online & three in person) and ten online Committee meetings. The Secretary plays a critical role in supporting the effectiveness of Southern Queensland Landscapes (the Company) governance functions. As a Company Limited by Guarantee the Secretary is considered an officer under theCorporations Act 2001(the Act) and appointed in accordance with the Company Constitution. The Secretary holds duties regarding compliance, Company registers, and ASIC reporting. For further information please contact the Board. Full position description available by emailing HR@SQLandscapes.org.au.
NRM Regions QLD
Southern Queensland Landscapes is proud to join with 11 other regional Natural Resource Management organisations through NRM Regions QLD to provide coordinated, supportive services across the state.
NRM Regions Queensland is the representative body for NRM in Queensland. They coordinate statewide programs and provide a forum for these organisations to collaborate and support each other.
