Managing water for the farm and environment with Jeppesen Farming Company

Queensland Wetlands Program

Cane farming

On-ground work, Planning

Queensland Wetlands Program (QWP) management case study

Various sources including Queensland Government and Reef Catchments

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The Jeppesen family cane farm is located near Bloomsbury, 80km north- west of Mackay. The farm is located near Horse Creek in the O’Connell River catchment which flows into Repulse Bay and the Whitsunday section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The Jeppesens have implemented a series of changes across the farm to improve water management. The driving force for the various works that have been implemented over a number of years was to improve water security for the cane, but there have been other benefits arising from the works.

Planning was undertaken to identify a number of locations on-farm to build new structures to improve water management. Structures include irrigation infrastructure to better control movement of water across the farm; a constructed wetland to improve farm water quality and provide a water source for re-use on the farm; a detention basin to trap sediments; a ring tank to provide a water source for irrigation during the dry season.

The structures have had positive impacts for water quality, biodiversity, farm productivity and profits. The shallow and deep water sections of the constructed wetland provide a variety of habitat zones for species and the island within the wetland was planted with native trees to provide shelter for wildlife.

The quantity of water used from the dam is carefully considered to ensure that there is always some water available for habitat and wildlife refuges during dry periods. In addition, the structures and planning have improved farm productivity by reducing water logging, improving access after rain, increasing water security and increasing the amount of water available for irrigation. The works have also led to a significant reduction in the amount of sediment lost from the farm.

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Managing water for the farm and environment with Jeppesen Farming Company