{"id":10322,"date":"2026-01-15T03:39:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T03:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/?p=10322"},"modified":"2026-01-19T00:25:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:25:48","slug":"feral-pigs-and-woody-weeds-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/feral-pigs-and-woody-weeds-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Feral pigs, weeds targeted"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/website-upper-herbert.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]HERBERT INTEGRATED PROJECT[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]FERAL PIGS, WOODY WEEDS PROJECTS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1768448456027{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]JANUARY 2026[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768449073022{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Feral pig and woody weed control programs are beginning in the Herbert catchment as Terrain NRM and its partners intensify efforts to improve water quality in a river system extending from west of Mt Garnet to the floodplain around Ingham.<\/p>\n

Five projects are now being rolled out as the first stage of the Herbert Integrated Project\u2019s on-ground works, and Terrain NRM Project Manager Fiona Barron said there were more to follow.<\/p>\n

Council leads feral pig control program<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first is a feral pig management initiative led by Hinchinbrook Shire Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cFeral pigs are a major problem for the environment and also for the sugar cane industry and other farming industries in the Herbert,\u201d Ms Barron said. \u201cPigs churn up soil and vegetation and damage wetlands and riverbanks, which releases nutrients and can spread pathogens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinchinbrook Shire Council will build on an existing control program by using emerging surveillance and control technologies, including AI-enabled cameras. A remote-triggering feral-tech trap door will also be trialled near a coastal community where traditional systems have been unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

Woody weeds removal in Upper Herbert region<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the upper Herbert, stakeholders identified the thickening of invasive woody weeds, such as lantana, as a priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cDense thickets of woody weeds are a problem for graziers because they lead to less soil protection and pasture,\u201d Ms Barron said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of the project will involve working with graziers on trials of different burn approaches at different times of the year to determine the most effective way of tackling woody weeds so that we can share best practice with other landholders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whole-of-farm and whole-of-catchment planning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other projects include developing a whole-of-catchment management plan, supporting cane farmers through integrated whole-of-farm planning led by Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, and synthesising past and present water quality monitoring data to better understand what\u2019s happening across the catchment and help farmers and the wider community.<\/p>\n

Circular economy, natural capital opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

There will also be a focus on circular economy opportunities and natural capital capacity-building within the Herbert catchment area.<\/p>\n

Ms Barron said the Herbert Integrated Project was being driven by the community, and Terrain NRM was working with a wide range of partners and community groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have engaged widely with stakeholders across the upper and lower Herbert catchment to understand how the catchment can be managed as one integrated system – to not only improve water quality but also deliver broader community and landscape benefits,\u201d she said.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768448589392{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768449084268{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\u201cFor over a decade, farmers and the agricultural sector have achieved substantial reductions in nutrient, pesticide and sediment runoff to the Reef through improved land management. This new investment will extend that, and explore more opportunities to generate social and economic benefits for the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Queensland Government is investing in place-based approaches to reef water quality, which means the people who live and work in the catchment and who know the landscape best are helping to shape the initiatives we deliver \u2014 and viewing the catchment as one connected system.<\/p>\n

Community-driven projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the project is community-driven, we can also leverage this investment to deliver social and economic co-benefits for the local community and First Nations people. It will help to create a legacy of stewardship for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cA healthier, more sustainable catchment is better for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Herbert Integrated Project is funded through the Queensland Government\u2019s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by Terrain NRM in partnership with many stakeholders including Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, Canegrowers and TropWATER.<\/p>\n

Find out more about the Herbert Integrated Project here: https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/waterway-health\/herbert-integrated-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Find out more about the Queensland Government\u2019s placed-based integrated projects here: https:\/\/www.qld.gov.au\/environment\/agriculture\/sustainable-farming\/reef\/reef-major-projects<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/waterway-health\/murray-and-mossman\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1598408950187{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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