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Queensland NRM groups driving change

28 January 2026

$1m investment | Queensland NRM tackles drought

Southern Queensland’s landscapes are no strangers to drought, but across the region, a powerful collaboration is reshaping how communities prepare for and thrive through dry times.

Four Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations – Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), Healthy Land and Water (HLW), Southern Queensland Landscapes (SQ Landscapes) and Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) – are working on a shared mission: to strengthen drought resilience by combining science, on‑ground action, innovative tools, and local knowledge, with the support of the SQNNSW Innovation Hub. This cross‑regional effort is equipping farmers, graziers, and communities with the resources they need to plan ahead, protect natural assets, and maintain productivity.

"Co-funded with the groups themselves, this $1m SQNNSW Innovation Hub investment will create outcomes right across our Queensland region," Hub Director Bruce McConnel says.

"This investment is a key project for the SQNNSW Innovation Hub. It allows for coordinated projects right across our Queensland footprint, and bridges the gap between natural resource management, and production activities of our regional farmers."

By bringing together local knowledge, scientific insight, innovative tools, and community‑driven learning, these projects are creating solutions that are practical, scalable, and designed to stand the test of time.

The project also includes workshops and the development of Natural Capital indicators, with expertise from the University of Southern Queensland, to help land managers understand and invest in the resilience of the landscapes they depend on.

BMRG: Bringing drought planning to life

Burnett Mary Regional Group is expanding its Natural Capital Investment Roadmap approach with a new Drought Resilience Module, a practical, property‑specific toolkit for building resilience into everyday farm decision‑making.

Three demonstration farms will put the module into practice, trialling innovative infrastructure and land management solutions designed to maintain productivity through drought. These sites will serve as real‑world examples, helping other farmers see the benefits of natural capital planning in action.

Through field days, workshops, and peer‑to‑peer learning, BMRG will help land managers understand how natural capital assessments and strategic planning can directly support business resilience.

HLW: Using fire to strengthen landscapes

Healthy Land & Water is leading an initiative that reframes fire not as a threat, but as a tool for drought resilience, when used appropriately.

The project focuses on:

  • restoring native, drought‑tolerant grasslands
  • reducing invasive species
  • lowering fuel loads and fire intensity
  • improving soil moisture and organic matter
  • increasing adoption of fire‑smart practices.

Landholders will work directly with HLW to create tailored property fire management plans. “How to Plan a Burn” workshops and demonstration sites will show how introducing the right fire at the right time can improve production and environmental outcomes—today, tomorrow, and long into the future.

HLW: Innovation on the water

HLW is also promoting floating and living farm dam covers, nature‑based and non‑plastic solutions that deliver multiple benefits. Floating dam covers can:

  • reduce evaporation
  • improve water quality
  • increase biodiversity
  • lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Incorporating strong knowledge‑sharing and extension activities, this project aims to boost adoption and help communities better secure and manage water resources in drought‑prone regions.

DCQ: Supporting graziers through technology, tools and peer learning

Desert Channels Queensland is strengthening drought preparedness through grazing land management and peer‑to‑peer extension.

Working closely with local landholder groups, DCQ will support on‑farm demonstrations of drought‑resilient practices, which may include:

  • telemetry‑enabled weather stations and data sharing
  • remote water monitoring to improve efficiency
  • livestock fertility and condition assessment tools
  • biosecurity improvements
  • strategic property planning and mapping.

These demonstrations are backed by group learning activities and community-wide communication, helping practice change spread organically across the region. Monitoring land condition will provide important evidence of what works and why.

A complementary project stream will create a Regional Drought Resilience Indicators and Monitoring Framework, helping track changes and guide future planning.

SQL: Peer groups building long‑term resilience

Southern Queensland Landscapes is empowering producers through facilitated peer‑to‑peer business resilience planning.

These groups will develop tailored, long‑term resilience strategies covering climate, production, biosecurity, workforce, supply chain, and market risks. The program centres on the principle that healthy landscapes lead to strong, productive enterprises.

Farmers will explore locally relevant and sustainable practice options, supported by experts – including UniSQ specialists – and cross‑district learning opportunities such as bus tours and on‑farm visits. This model fosters shared learning, confidence, and practical action.