The wetland has brought the family farm to life and sent future management in a new direction.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Peter and Wendy McDonald used the millennium drought as an opportunity to focus on establishing a wetland on their lower Thule property.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Twenty years later, it changed the direction and operation of their 420 hectare farm, which includes 80ha of lagoon country and remnant red gum forest.
Some of the big old majestic red gums in the lagoon country are estimated to be over 500 years old, making it a significant and amazing site.
Mrs McDonald said from that very first watering, she watched the wetland come to life.
“It was pretty dry and degraded before and the moment water hit, the flora and fauna came back, and now it is functioning as part of the natural system it has been part of for thousands of years,” Mrs McDonald said.
Part of the rehabilitation of this area in the early years included some direct seeding of native species surrounding the wetland, while the wetland itself has regenerated naturally over time.
“It has been interesting to watch the revegetation process,” she said.
“Some species have just sat there, and even now all these years later, different species are popping up in the tree lines as they have waited for the right conditions to grow.
“The threatened southern bell frog has also been found on the site in previous years.”
The wetland is watered every three years or so, although it is dependent on seasonal conditions and advice from ecologists.
“We work with advice from the Murray Darling Working Wetland Group as we try to mimic natural conditions,” Mrs McDonald said.
“We believe our lagoon system used to fill every three or so years.”
She said under a big watering event, the wetland would use around 40-45 megalitres of water.
Water is delivered via existing irrigation infrastructure.
“Our wetland doesn’t take a lot of water, and it is really heartening to see the sort of environmental outcomes that can be achieved using smaller, targeted volumes.
“This just shows how partnering with farmers and landholders is a very efficient use of environmental water.”
Vegetation is thriving.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Some of the old red gums have been estimated to be over 500 years old.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Part of the rehabilitation in the early years included some direct seeding of native species surrounding the wetland.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Peter and Wendy McDonald have set aside about 80ha of their farm for biodiversity and environmental outcomes.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
She said the whole project had helped the family look at their farm as part of the landscape in a different way.
“Fencing off our wetland and a sandhill which we have also regenerated has been incredible and really bought our farm to life, and we are looking forward to expanding our revegetation and native pasture system in the future,” Mrs McDonald said.
The McDonalds run a self-replacing Merino flock which enables them to manage their farm to fit in with their environmental goals.
Mrs McDonald also runs on-farm art residencies which enables her to connect and educate the wider urban community with the importance of family farms, while Mr McDonald runs Murray Darling Scenic Flights — sharing his knowledge and experience of the basins, rivers and wetlands.
“We have spoken with and hosted many visitors and bureaucrats over the years,” she said.
“We always stress how landscapes need care from people living in the community and this is one of the reasons why we need viable family run farming businesses.
“Family farms have the capacity to care and they bring their kids up the same, something that is far removed from the corporate farming model.”
10°C