State funds help restore soils, native vegetation

• $23.7 million given over the next four years to 19 projects to help restore soils and improve the resilience of Queensland’s natural landscape.
• Third round of the Natural Resource Recovery Program (NRRP) with projects funded from the Cape to South-East Queensland.
• The NRRP provides $10 million a year to increase the potential of the state’s natural resources and promote economic benefits in regional communities.

Local organisations from the Cape to South-East Queensland will use nearly $24 million in state funds to improve soils and land management practices and build up native vegetation.

16 organisations will work with Traditional Owners, landowners and their local communities on activities ranging from gully repair to fencing off and protecting native vegetation on stream banks.

51 projects have now been approved for funding to provide a range of community-based land and native vegetation management initiatives since the Natural Resource Recovery Program (NRRP) was launched in 2022.

The funds are part of a $10 million annual commitment to increase the potential of the state’s natural resources and promote economic benefits in regional communities.

Quotes attributable to the Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart:

“These funds will help our natural resources recover and become more resilient against the worsening impacts of climate change,” he said. 

“This funding is also designed to invest in our people, our science, our natural resources and ultimately drive regional economies.

“The program is open to not-for-profit natural resource management organisations, and they have told us they want to do more.

“We want to ensure our natural resources are nurtured for sustainable industry growth now and into the future.

That is why we have committed to investing $10 million every year from 2022-23 onwards to ensure certainty and embed our focus on increasing the resilience of Queensland’s landscapes.”

Quotes attributable to Southern Queensland Landscapes Manager Natalie Hick:

"We are excited about our partnership with the Queensland Government for our 'Fire and Water' project," she said.

"Our goal is to protect and enhance natural resources across four key catchments in southwest Queensland: upper Bulloo, Warrego, middle Maranoa, and Balonne.

“The project aims to restore landscape functionality, supporting both natural ecosystems and sustainable agriculture.

“Through activities such as slowing high velocity runoff and increasing infiltration, improving grazing practices, and facilitating First Nations-led low intensity burning, we aim to recover land from degradation and increase resilient groundcover across an ambitious 300,000 hectares.

“These efforts are important for mitigating drought, flood, fire, and climate change impacts.

“The $3 million investment over four years reflects a joint commitment to achieve significant, long-term outcomes in these catchments, benefiting southern Queensland and our regional communities.”

Further Information

The successful recipients of the NRRP Round 3 can be found online.