Landholders in the Armidale region who want to understand the water cycle and improve resilience of their rural landscape are encouraged to attend a three-day Rehydrating Your Farm Landscape bootcamp on 17-19 October 2023.
Armidale Regional Council is funding the bootcamp to assist the region to address water quality issues and retain more water in the landscape, an objective of Council's Catchment Water Quality Strategic Plan 2022-2032.
Facilitated by Southern New England Landcare and presented by the Mulloon Institute the bootcamp will introduce landholders to a range of landscape hydration strategies through activities that blend scientific principles and practical skills.
Participants will learn the role of the water cycle and plants in the farming landscape, identify indicators of healthy and unhealthy water cycles and apply sound planning and design principles to give the landscape rehydration project the best chance of success.
Mayor Sam Coupland said water quality issues have a direct impact on the Guyra and Malpas Dam catchment areas.
"The three-day bootcamp will educate landowners about ways of retaining water and re-hydrating their landscape through plantings, creating structure in the creeks and gullies to slow and spread water across the catchment and isolate stock from creeks and gullies to reduce pollutants entering our dams," said Mayor Coupland
"Council is committed to delivering water security to the Armidale region and has been working hard in partnership with the NSW Government to improve our resilience to future droughts. Council is in the process of purchasing Oaky River Dam and is now working through the initial design phase for the reconstruction of the dam and a pipeline from the Dam to the Armidale Water Treatment Plant."
