Welcome to the June 2025 Southern Queensland Landscapes Newsletter
Stay informed with the latest project updates, upcoming events, regional stories and our ongoing initiatives.
Message from the CEO
Gillian Meppem
Three months in with Southern Queensland Landscapes and I’m thoroughly immersed in the confluence of agriculture and environment. I’m excited every day by the opportunities to have real on-ground impact across Southern Queensland through Southern Qld Landscapes’ partnerships with landholders. There have been too many conversations to count, thank you to everyone I’ve spent time with thus far and for those I’ve not yet met, I look forward to discussing your priorities and what sustainable environmental and agricultural outcomes look like on your patch of our region.
Flourishing landscapes, supported by productive and sustainable enterprises and thriving communities, is certainly a goal worth getting out of bed for each day.
In the second half of the year we are excited to join with our colleagues from across Queensland’s regional NRM organisations to deliver practical, on-ground outcomes across the state as part of the Queensland Government’s largest-ever investment in natural resource management - $117.84 million through regionally led, community-backed, science-based projects to improve land condition and soil health, protect and enhance biodiversity, and healthy waterways.
Southern Qld Landscapes are in the design phase of two exciting land manager partnership projects, one aimed at reducing grazing pressure on waterways through fencing and off stream water points, and the second to support agribusiness managers across six known Western Qld koala priority populations to implement actions such as pest animal and cactus species control, cool burns to support healthy koala food trees and koala 'bridges' over fencing.
We have moved! Our Roma based team members have been busy moving the Southern Qld Landscapes Roma office from 21 Major Street to 133a McDowall Street. Please drop by and say hello.
Finally, the Board and members of the leadership team will meet in Charleville later this month. If you’re in town on this date, please join us for morning tea at 10:30am Wednesday 25 June at our office, 92 Alfred Street, Charleville. We’d love to hear from you.
Message from the Board Chair
Kimberley Swords
I would like to start my first update to you with some thanks to Board members and the team for their warm welcomes, and also share a bit more of my background. Thank you to Louise, Graham and Trish for their warm engagement through the interview process. Each provided a shining example of leadership across our community and I really enjoyed the initial discussions. This was followed by a series of conversations with Louise through the confirmation period, and also a very warm welcome from Gillian, Pam and the team.
I am super excited to be getting out to Charleville for our Board meeting, members and stakeholder engagement towards the end of the month. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible there.
Naturally I will be a different Chair from before, and I would like all of you to know that my door is always open and I would love to hear from your directly. Knowing what is important to you, and being able to take those priorities to governments and other potential funders is one of my highest priorities. Together we can continue and grow our work towards a flourishing southern Queensland landscape.
I know many are curious about what background I bring. A few relevant things here. I grew up in Brisbane and studied veterinary surgery back in the day where the Uni had a clinic at Goondiwindi. When we were there we stayed on site, cooked together, saw a stack of the surrounding countryside. I recall sitting in natural spas of uncapped bores, helping stitch up pig dogs that had had a bad day, and seeing lots and lots of sheep.
While I was at Uni I also spent time up north of Injune chasing cows, fishing unusual bugs out of the breakfast cereal, and terrifying myself on horses that went too fast. Off the back of that experience I became a large animal vet, working with cattle in NZ, the UK and even Victoria.
During that time I got involved in delivering the Sheep Wormplan program and whole farm planning for sheep and cattle producers. I then joined government in the ag department and did a bunch of things including drought, working with Chris Norman (now at NRM-RQ) on the NHT and the national action plan for salinity, and sustainable ag R&D. After that I went to Canberra and worked in the environment department (now DCEEW) on heritage, environment, and water programs, as well as lots of Great Barrier Reef things.
Since then I have been an advisor to a bunch of organisations, mainly in leadership and economic development, with a really strong emphasis on sustainable land management and energy.
This last year I’ve just started to join some Boards, and was really excited to see the opportunity to work with you. On a personal level, my husband David and I love getting out into nature, here in Queensland and elsewhere whenever we can. Sharing a ‘snap’ of one of our walks. I think I look a bit knackered, proving beyond doubt that I should get out more often!
Fish Friendly Water Extraction Project Achieves Major Milestones in 2025
The Fish Friendly Water Extraction Project has made significant progress, with five fish screen installations already complete, and an additional five scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
One of the most recent installations took place at Coolibah, a property located in Condamine, Queensland. Landholder David Grace, a well-respected farmer and horse training instructor, has seen firsthand the benefits of the fish-friendly screen installed on his property along the Condamine River.
Previously, David observed large numbers of small fish being drawn into the lagoon during irrigation. Since the installation of the fish screen, however, no fish have been entrained during pumping - an encouraging outcome for both fish conservation and sustainable water management.
To learn more about the latest fish filter installations, please click the button below.
Southern Queensland Landscapes is proud to be partnering with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning to deliver the Wandhala (Eagle) Drone Project in Cherbourg, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi and Charleville. The project is supporting approximately 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants who are currently undertaking digital drone training and business skills development.
This project is funded by the Regional Economic Futures Fund (REFF), and is part of a broader initiative to leverage advanced technology for land management and conservation to create sustainable jobs and stronger, diverse economies in the South West, Darling Downs and South Burnett (including Cherbourg) Regions.
Thank you to John Coulombe BEnvSc, from AI Environmental who has delivered the training in Cherbourg and Toowoomba to date with the kind assistance of an assessment panel who selected our participants across the four training locations.
Wild Dog Management and the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative – Have Your Say!
Southern Queensland Landscapes are conducting a survey to gather feedback from landholders regarding the presence and impact of wild dogs on their properties. The survey seeks to understand the required effort that landholders have made over the past year to manage these pests. The purpose of this survey is to ensure that the limited resources available for wild dog management are directed towards the most effective strategies. By understanding what is working on the ground and where challenges remain, we can improve the approach and outcomes.
Thank you to those who have already completed this survey. If you haven't done so yet, please take a few minutes of your time to answer a simple two question survey that will help us to understand the impact of wild dogs on your property.
Receive Financial Incentives and Support for Managing Threatened Vegetation on Your Property
Do you have remnant Brigalow, Coolibah Black-Box or Poplar Box Grassy Woodland habitat on your property? Project funding is now available to manage these threatened habitats and contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of your agricultural systems.
The project funding will support work on both public and private land through land management activities including:
• Installing fencing to improve grazing management, watering livestock and protect remnant vegetation
• Managing weed invasion that impacts threatened habitats
• Managing pests that damage habitat and predate native wildlife
• Implementing appropriate fire regimes to mitigate vegetation edge effects and prevent uncontrolled fires
• Repairing erosion using spreader bank installation and erosion channel repair
To find out if you are eligible for project funding, please contact us by clicking on the button below, or phone (07) 4620 0111.
The Project Officer role works closely with Project Leads and team colleagues to deliver projects aligned to the Strategic Plan. Working under general supervision with only limited instruction, Project Officers will bring a commercial understanding to the delivery of on-ground project work through contractors, land manager partnerships and other community stakeholders that facilitate positive and sustainable transformation of agricultural practices and environmental stewardship.
The Project Leads role works closely with the Program Delivery Manager and Programs Leader to deliver projects against the Strategic Plan. A key function of the role is the leadership and development of a team of Project Officers and external contractors to be a high performing team that ensures projects are delivered commercially and to customer and stakeholder expectations. Project Leads will bring a growth mindset with the capacity to overcome challenges, embrace learning opportunities, and continuously improve products and services.
We recently held a Landscape Restoration Day at Bonarby, Dunheved and Mungallala, with over 20 people joining us to learn more about on-ground restoration practices, managing pasture productivity, the value of trees in production, and how to make the most of your rainfall. The day included informative sessions, followed by a drive out to see some restoration banks in action, an excellent opportunity to see practical examples of landscape recovery. View the Facebook Post ►
Funding Corner
Explore grants and funding opportunities open to you.
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