Pastoral Landcare - Topend Region

Mary River Landcare Group

This group consists of a diverse range of landholders and associated people from industry and other interests, who work together for the benefit of the Mary River catchment and Top End environment.

Saltwater intrusion, mimosa, feral animals, erosion, water quality and wildfire are challenging issues being addressed. Several rainforests have been fenced off for protection. The group produced the Mary River Integrated Catchment Management Plan in 1998.




Wangamaty (Lower Daly) Landcare

This group consists of a diverse range of stakeholders including Nauiyu Council, Malak Malak Aboriginal Land Trust, Tipperary Group of Stations, The Daly River Community Development Association, and several government agencies. There are several major environmental threats in this area including weeds (mimosa, noogoora burr and salvinia), feral animals and soil erosion. The Malak Malak Land Management crew is working on their mimosa problems and the Tipperary Group of Stations has been spraying mimosa on areas surrounding the Malak Malak Land Trust. The landcare group aims to coordinate land management activities within the region. This has included training workshops, and activities through the schools to raise awareness of environmental issues. Several areas of riverbank have been planted with trees to stabilise and reduce erosion. A native plant nursery will be established in the community with assistance from Greening Australia and the local schools.




White Eagle Aboriginal Corporation

White Eagle Aboriginal Corporation represents
the Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu Traditional
Owners of the Finniss River Region, southwest
of Darwin. The Traditional Owners are involved
in the management of soil erosion and weed
management on their land which includes local
catchments and floodplains, on the Lower Finniss
River system.

White Eagle Aboriginal Corporation began the process
of developing a landcare plan to combat the mimosa problem. The Traditional Owners began the fight
against mimosa in 1990 at Ditjini (on the Lower Finniss system) and developed a regime of integrated
treatments which have achieved excellent results. Revegetation by native species begins after the first
treatment, allowing for access to the land for traditional uses and a commercial cattle enterprise. Other
potential land uses include: agro-forestry, tourism and the possible commercial utilisation of native species.
Annual mimosa control and program maintenance will be ongoing to ensure the land remains viable for the
Traditional Owners whilst retaining a strong level of biodiversity.


For further information contact Ian Linley, State Landcare Coordinator NT.