Agriculture Activities
Leighton Holdings Shepparton Project, Victoria
Rising water tables are threatening agriculture, habitat and water quality.
The aim of the Leighton Holdings Salinity Assault is to plant native vegetation
to reduce salinity.
In 1997, 350,000 hectares of land in the Shepparton Irrigation Region
had water tables from between 0-3 metres below the surface and the levels
are continuing to rise. Rising water tables threaten agricultural production,
reduce water quality and degrade natural vegetation and wildlife habitat.
 
Planting native vegetation is a key strategy in the Shepparton Irrigation
Region Land and Water Salinity Management Plan. In addition, the Native
Vegetation Management Strategy for the Goulburn Broken Catchment recognises
the need to increase the cover of plains grassy woodland to at least 15%.
Less than 2% currently remains.
Using funding from Leighton Holdings, the Tallygaroopna/ Congupna Landcare
Group is completing outstanding revegetation-based salinity projects in
the Tallygaroopna/ Congupna area.
The funds are being used for site preparation, fencing, planting and
materials (fencing, trees/ shrubs, tree guards and herbicides).
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