Building a Sustainable and Productive Fitzroy

Posted on June 26th, 2025

From restoring Brigalow landscapes and koala habitats to protecting threatened species and reducing sediment runoff, FBA is driving diverse and critical initiatives to build a sustainable and productive Fitzroy region.

FBA is proud to be the Regional Delivery Partner for the Fitzroy region as selected by the Australian Government in late 2023. The five-year offer supports FBA to design and deliver on-ground environmental protection, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management activities. Working with community, land managers, First Nations peoples and other organisations, FBA is taking this role seriously and has initiated a range of actions that aim to improve the productivity and sustainability of the region.

Here is an overview:

Working with First Nations peoples, graziers, and land managers, FBA is implementing practical strategies to protect and enhance Brigalow landscapes and two threatened species reliant on them – the Ornamental snake and Yakka skink.
Actions include:

• Controlling feral animals and managing stock access
• Restoring critical habitat features like coarse woody debris and gilgais
• Reintroducing fire regimes that mimic natural cycles
• Filling key knowledge gaps through large-scale modelling and research.  

Excitingly, FBA has led the DNA sequencing of the vulnerable Ornamental Snake. The DNA profile is essential in conducting environmental DNA (eDNA) testing – a tracking technique that can identify the presence of a species without seeing them. If successful, eDNA testing of the Ornamental snake will help inform on-ground action and the health of the species! Learn more.  

To further support the recovery of brigalow, FBA is working with graziers on two properties to develop strategies for managing brigalow regrowth. A third property will soon join the initiative, following a recent visit where remnant brigalow was identified. The initiative explores ways to balance brigalow in a production system for biodiversity and productivity.

When left unmanaged, dense brigalow regrowth can limit pasture growth, reduce biodiversity, and pose fire risks. Methods being tested to manage brigalow regrowth include Graslan Herbicide steam injection.

FBA is also supporting more First Nations involvement in brigalow management through an initiative that assists First Nations in the Fitzroy region to build skills and lead long-term, on-ground work.

FBA has engaged with three First Nations groups who will participate in on-ground works. FBA has successfully held three consultations and conducted two on Country visits to Zamia Creek Conservation Park and Goodedulla National Park. Baseline surveys are currently underway at Zamia Creek Conservation Park, with plans to begin fire control activities soon. There are also plans to meet with two additional First Nations in the coming months to conduct on Country visits.

The First Nations have expressed interest in undertaking a range of activities, including fire management, weed and pest control, and opportunities for upskilling their people in these. Activities will begin once baseline surveys have completed.

FBA is working with land managers in the Clarke-Connors Range and two First Nation Groups to restore vital koala habitat, reduce bushfire risks, and create safer wildlife corridors.

Works delivered over 1,000 ha of high value and very high value koala habitat on grazing properties include weed control, fencing to improve cattle management, off-stream watering points to improve cattle management and dedicated koala habitat and koala surveys.

To further conservation efforts, FBA is leading a powerful behaviour change campaign, launching two new tools to rally the wider community around koala conservation.

FBA will be running 11 land manager events over the next 12 months focusing on sustainable land management practices. The events will be spread out across FBA’s geographical footprint and will feature topics like erosion, soil hydration, pasture management, animal welfare, business resilience and much more. All events will have a focus on practical sustainable agriculture actions that build resilience to climate change.

Keep an eye on our calendar for events near you. 

King Blue Grass (Dichanthium queenslandicum) is an endangered species that has disappeared from many places where it used to grow, leading to uncertainty about its current status. FBA is trialling different methodologies (including AI and drone) across private and publicly owned land to increase the understanding of the species status and population trends while creating a seedbank. This work helps FBA understand what’s happening to this important native grass and gives us the tools to help it recover.

FBA has been thrilled to find many land managers interested in the species and keen to find it on their place. This enthusiasm is essential, as land managers play a key role in supporting the growth and persistence of King Blue Grass across their properties and the region. Learn more.

To reduce sediment flowing to the Great Barrier Reef, FBA aims to deliver landscape scale improvements through restoring eroding gully systems, rehabilitating streambanks and improving groundcover through grazing land management.

Over the next year, FBA will plan and design four streambanks. FBA will also plan, design, implement and monitor 13 gully sites with a combined fine sediment savings of 1,250 tonnes per year. The gully and streambank work will be supported by grazing land management projects on the same or adjacent properties to achieve maximum waterway and property resilience against flooding events. The target is to save 28,500 tonnes of fine sediment from reaching the coast per year over the life of the six year project.

FBA’s Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) serves as the primary point of contact for farmers, landholders, industry, and community groups and supports climate-smart sustainable agriculture practices in the Fitzroy region. SAF attended 59 events and 38 meetings in the Fitzroy over the past year.

FBA’s SAF will be facilitating an upcoming NB2 Field Day, focusing on all aspects of beef production, as well as one of three Climate-Smart Agriculture events and representing FBA on the Livestock Beef Advisory Panel, sharing perspectives on industry connectivity.

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by FBA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.