Ogmore Erosion Remediation Project

In early 2019, Catchment Solutions commenced a project aimed at addressing severe erosion in the Ogmore area of the Styx River catchment, funded through Reef Trust IV. Due to the sodic nature of the soil found within the Styx River Catchment, even with restricted grazing, active gully erosion is occurring at a significant rate. Paddock to Reef modelling has demonstrated that the Ogmore area contributes 26,880t of fine sediment to the Great Barrier Marine Park per year.

Figure 1. Severe erosion representative of the catchment land issues throughout the Ogmore region.
To minimise ongoing erosion, six demonstration trial plots are to be set up at the Oakdean Station, to assess and demonstrate various erosion remediation methods intended for future adoption of these methods throughout the broader Ogmore area. Erosion treatment methods to be trialled include combinations of gully reshaping, ripping (shallow <200mm), gypsum treatment (10t/ha), lime treatment and (2t/ha) and rhodes grass seed application (10kg/ha). Additionally, following any earthworks, mulching by Conservation Volunteers Australia will be undertaken to reduce rainfall impacts on the rehabilitated gully areas.

On completion of the project, the demonstration site will be used to hold remediation workshops to local landholders within the Ogmore area, providing for expansion of the treatments to other similar sites owned by neighbouring landholders within the catchment.

On-ground trial works of the project are anticipated to commence in October/ November 2019.

Figure 2. Additional gully erosion images from throughout Ogmore, where remediation trials will commence in late 2019.