Healthy Soils — Rockhampton
The Healthy Soils Rockhampton group is based in the Rockhampton region of Central Queensland with membership being centred within approximately 100 km in all directions of the Rockhampton city. As distinct from other Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups, Landcare and Beef groups, membership is not restricted to a district. Members who join want to be involved for the value they are gaining from activities even when they travel further to attend. Most inaugural members joined after participating in cutting edge “Soil and Plant Nutrition” or “Grazing BestPrac” workshops held in local centres. Members joined to be part of a positive forward thinking group that went where other groups did not.
The Healthy Soils Incorporated group members are working together to improve the health of their community. They have a passion for improving their soil health, plant health and production. We generally recognise our soils and plants are not able to respond to climatic variations as they did in past years. Therefore, our role as custodians is to improve our soil and plant health where we can and to pass on relevant information to the community.
Members are enthusiastic about learning how:
- To impact microbial populations and how this impacts on soil health;
- To manage impacts on soil microbes and nutrient cycling;
- To balance soil nutrients effectively;
- To use livestock to improve nutrients and microbe populations;
- To improve soil water balance;
- To improve many more issues.
In its first two years, group membership increased to 36 families and businesses. Activities generally focus on soil health and plant health, with the aim of building knowledge with each project or activity. We are able to cater for grazing and cropping enterprises as well as comparing various management systems.
In the initial years, we have been involved with Central Queensland University staff to assess impact of management on microbial populations (Australian first), assessed the impact of nutrients on plant growth, facilitated specialist presenters and workshops on human health, soil health and plant health, held a number of exciting field days in conjunction with local agricultural specialists and NRM groups.
Please call us to discuss your thoughts or possible involvement.
Healthy Soils Inc Executive Committee:
Chairman — Mick Alexander
Secretary — Sandrine Makiela
Treasurer — Tina Armstrong
Callide Valley rep. — Tony Bongers
