Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with farmers in Maleny to launch an innovative soil-testing initiative. Thirty beef graziers will be part of the program learning best practice techniques in soil, grazing and fertiliser management. The beautiful hinterland of my electorate is home to a significant number of farms, and many run off into the neighbouring Lake Baroon, which supplies the Sunshine Coast's drinking water.

Because of this, the project places a heavy emphasis on water management to ensure that the quality of Lake Baroon is always protected. With more than half of Queensland now drought declared, and farmers grappling with severe weather conditions, this project is critical, as it allows graziers to future-proof their properties. Of course, the government cannot control the weather, but we can equip farmers with the resources and skills to be more sustainable. This project, worth a modest $50,000, will bring local farmers together through workshops and property visits where they can discuss ways to evolve their practices. In doing this, local graziers can develop better solutions to environmental problems and improve the outcomes not only on their farms but on farms right across the region.

I would like to thank Maleny grazier Brian MacFarlane for trialling the program, and the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, led by Peter Stevens, for their ongoing support of sustainable farming in Fisher.

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