Major effort to reduce nutrients entering the Hawkesbury-Nepean now underway

Nutrient Smart Farms will provide training and $2.87 million to landholders over the next two years to carry out practical improvements on their properties to address the issue.

The project is a partnership between the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and is part of a broader Hawkesbury-Nepean River Recovery Program. The Program is funded by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future program.

Bernie Bugden, General Manager of the HNCMA, said the project will play a critical role in reducing excess nutrients in waterways which lead to outbreaks of aquatic weeds and algal blooms and reduce the overall resilience of the river system.

"The project aims to stop 27 tonnes of nitrogen and six tonnes of phosphorous entering the river each year," said Mr Bugden.

"It will provide a boost to landholders who have been trying to do the right thing and ensure they have the skills to manage their on-farm nutrients better."

Nutrient Smart Farms will operate in the lower Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment downstream of the major drinking water dams (SEE PROJECT AREA MAP ON THIS PAGE).

Brett Upjohn, Senior Manager of natural resource projects at DPI, said all agricultural industries and farms are eligible to be involved in the project, but key "nutrient-intensive" industries will be focused on first.

"Our team in the field is currently working with landholders in the grazing, dairy, market gardens, horticulture and turf farms industries," said Mr Upjohn.

"We are inviting landholders in these industries to contact the Nutrient Smart Farms team now on (02) 4588 2118. Later in the year we will be targeting key geographic areas in the catchment."

"By keeping expensive nutrients on properties where they belong it is a win for both the landholder and the environment," said Mr Upjohn.

Funding is available to landholders for works improving nutrient management including:

• establishing perimeter vegetation, riverbank buffer zones and filter strips
• soil conservation works
• incorporation of compost
• stock exclusion fences and off-stream watering points
• pasture re-establishment
• upgrades to systems that manage dairy effluent

A complementary project, WaterSmart Farms, will be run by the Department of Primary Industries to improve the water use efficiency of farms in the catchment.

WaterSmart Farms will help farmers achieve water savings while also improving production efficiency and reducing costs. The project will provide a series of free training programs to landholders covering various water management topics, as well as grants to undertake on-ground water management works on their farms.

Media contact: Peter O'Malley 0414 611 792