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Heytesbury Soil and Land Management

Heytesbury Soil Pits | Landslides | Related Studies | HDLN Soil & Water Action Program - Soil Assessment Component June 2008

Heytesbury and District Landcare Network Soil and Water Dairy Action Program

Photo: Heytesbury Air Photo
Aerial view of the Heytesbury region.

The Heytesbury region was settled as part of a returned soldier program. Dairying has become a major activity in the area and a significant contributor to the State’s dairying industry. The region consists of dissected plains exposing a range of land types with different topography, lithology and soils. This results in a range of responses to land use and climate.

The intensification of land use in conjunction with land types has resulted in increased nutrient loads in the lower reaches of the Curdies River. There has been a response by the local community to improve the efficiency of land use (predominantly dairying) in relation to land type. Also to reduce the nutrient imprint on the local environment, starting with the Scotts Creek/Cooriemungle catchment. A three to four year program has been developed by the Heytesbury and District Landcare Network (HDLN) (external link) in conjunction with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Dairy Australia (DA) (external link) and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) (external link). The DPI input is being led by the Catchment and Agricultural Services (CAS) Division with input from Primary Industries Research, Victoria (PIRVic). The project will provide dairy farmers in the area with a coordinated package of information, resources and incentives to help them improve the sustainability of their farming systems. It will increase the adoption of best management practices through incentives to improve soil and water quality, technical advice, field days, trials and demonstrations, and a soil quality assessment and management program.

Photo: Curdies Valley near Cobden
Curdies Valley near Cobden.

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Heytesbury and District Landcare Network Soil and Water Dairy Action Program		Aerial view of the Heytesbury region.
The Heytesbury region was settled as part of a returned soldier program. Dairying has become a major activity in the area and a significant contributor to the State’s dairying industry. The region consists of dissected plains exposing a range of land types with different topography, lithology and soils. This results in a range of responses to land use and climate. The intensification of land use in conjunction with land types has resulted in increased nutrient loads in the lower reaches of the Curdies River. There has been a response by the local community to improve the efficiency of land use (predominantly dairying) in relation to land type. Also to reduce the nutrient imprint on the local environment, starting with the Scotts Creek/Cooriemungle catchment. A three to four year program has been developed by the Heytesbury and District Landcare Network (HDLN) (external link) in conjunction with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Dairy Australia (DA) (external link) and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) (external link). The DPI input is being led by the Catchment and Agricultural Services (CAS) Division with input from Primary Industries Research, Victoria (PIRVic). The project will provide dairy farmers in the area with a coordinated package of information, resources and incentives to help them improve the sustainability of their farming systems. It will increase the adoption of best management practices through incentives to improve soil and water quality, technical advice, field days, trials and demonstrations, and a soil quality assessment and management program.		Aerial view of the Heytesbury region.