Clean coastal catchments research

Increased nutrients and sediment from agriculture affect water quality. They can also lead to toxic algal blooms, fish deaths and a loss of biodiversity.

Better management of fertiliser, effluent, and water on farms will help the industry be more productive, profitable and environmentally sustainable. Reducing losses from farm will help to improve water quality in coastal creeks and rivers, and sensitive marine areas.

What are we doing?

The Clean Coastal Catchments research project is helping farmers across coastal NSW to improve management practices so they can:

• improve their management of nutrients (fertiliser) and soil (erosion) to reduce runoff from farms into waterways
• improve the economic and environmental sustainability of their farms.

We are helping farmers improve management practices by:

• conducting research trials to develop locally relevant farm best management practices for water, nutrients (fertiliser) and soils(erosion).
• using demonstration sites to showcase these best management practices
• working with peak industry bodies to educate and empower growers to more effectively manage water, nutrients and reduce erosion and runoff
• working with farmers and their advisors to encourage further adoption of industry best management practices.

Our projects

DPI Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute

• Blueberry nutrition research to develop locally specific plant nutrient requirements
• Demonstration and assessment of woodchip bioreactors and artificial wetlands to manage nutrient runoff from intensive horticulture
• You can take a virtual tour of the blueberry research facility at Wollongbar here

Richmond River region

• Working with macadamia farmers to assess the optimal nutrient composition of compost and mulches, erosion mitigation research, and water quality and nutrient monitoring
• Measuring the benefits of integrated orchard management on macadamia farms

Coffs Harbour region

• Working with berry (blueberry and rubus) and vegetable farmers to measure water and nutrients on farms and in greenhouses
• Hosting demonstration events of fertigation and water recycling in berry orchards, and other fertigation technologies

Far South Coast region

• Working with dairy and cattle farmers to conduct incremental soil testing and nutrient response trials for typical pasture types
• Demonstration farms to monitor nutrient loss pathways from grazing systems and assess the usefulness of interventions on farms
• Facilitating industry adoption of improved whole farm nutrient planning and irrigation practices