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Williams River Best Management Practice (BMP) Demonstration Project

The Williams River Best Management Practice (BMP) Demonstration Project was developed to showcase riparian restoration and management strategies aimed at improving water quality within the Williams River.

The property ‘HILMONT' managed by John and Janelle Spearpoint was selected from an expression of interest process. Their business ‘Greswick Angus' is a great example, demonstrating positive land management practices that have been integrated into the running of a farm that has been in the family for over 100 years.

John and Janelle Spearpoint had already implemented many environmental actions on their return to the farm and through the BMP project they were able to strengthen and extend other riparian strategies across the property to showcase a variety of treatments.

‘Best Management Practice' is much more than a ‘single-best' strategy and actions need to be incorporated into the daily running of a business. What the Spearpoint's have been able to implement is not a recipe for every farm, but an example of how sustainable solutions can be developed to suit both the land manager and the catchment.

‘Striking the balance' became an appropriate project title, reflecting the focus of the landholders in developing a comfortable balance between sustainable land management and developing longer-term business viability within a drinking water catchment area.

The project commenced in July 2004 and is a 4-year project, due for completion in June 2008. Funding has been made available from the NSW Environmental Trust and Hunter Water Corporation, along with in-kind contributions from various government agencies involved in the project.

The objectives of the project were developed to assist with funding application and were later more specifically developed to suit a ‘whole-of-farm' approach.

1. To determine the most cost effective and ecologically sound techniques for the restoration and rehabilitation of riparian areas including fencing, weed and streambank erosion control, re-vegetation and maintenance on a working cattle property
2. To demonstrate and trial various restoration and rehabilitation techniques, monitor and evaluate the results and publicise their effectiveness
3. To conduct field days, workshops and tours to demonstrate and raise awareness of best practice riparian and grazing management
4. To disseminate the results and latest information from the best management demonstration project to assist landholders in the Hunter and other NSW catchments
5. To increase landholder and community member awareness and capacity to implement best practice riparian rehabilitation and restoration techniques

The project is guided by a steering committee with representatives from government agencies and local landholders. Project management and administration is conducted by Hunter Water and membership of the steering committee consists of:

Hunter Water Angus Seberry

Greswick Angus John & Janelle Spearpoint

Department of Primary Industries John Wilson, Neil Griffiths

Tocal College David Brouwer, Cameron Archer

Rural Lands Protection Board Digby Rayward (Project Chairman)

Port Stephens Council Bruce Petersen

‘Striking the balance' Booklet written by John Spearpoint

‘Striking the balance' DVD produced by John Church Advertising

‘Striking the balance' Project Information CD prepared by John Spearpoint

Contact details
Environmental Services Manager
02 49 800 223 (ph)
bruce.petersen@portstephens.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Port Stephens Council
This page: http://portstephens.local-e.nsw.gov.au/environment/1273/65081.html