GeoCatch is partnering with South West NRM to deliver the Farm Efficiencies and Sustainability Towards 2030 (FEaST 2030) project, which supports the restoration and enhancement of farm dams across the South West.
As part of this initiative, two dam restoration sites have been established within the Geographe Catchment to explore how fencing and revegetation can improve water quality, support biodiversity, and contribute to more sustainable farming systems. Enhanced farm dams have been shown to reduce nutrient loads, improve livestock productivity, and provide valuable habitat for native species including frogs, birds, and fish.
The project will monitor water quality and greenhouse gas emissions at each site using Pondi sensors that record methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide levels in real time. Curtin University will assess wetland health through environmental DNA sampling, and each enhanced dam will be compared to a nearby unfenced dam to evaluate the benefits.
These efforts build on national research led by Australian National University’s Sustainable Farms, which has demonstrated the ecological and economic value of small-scale dam improvements. GeoCatch’s involvement ensures that local data and insights contribute to broader understanding and future planning for sustainable land and water management in south west WA.
Perennials can help create a more sustainable and productive farming system. Farmers use perennial pastures to extend the growing season, improve soil health by feeding soil microbes for longer and deeper into the soil profile, and increase livestock performance through greater pasture diversity.
Well-managed perennial systems, supported by rotational grazing, effective weed control and appropriate species selection, can improve pasture persistence and help address soil health challenges, making them a valuable option for increasing the resilience and profitability of farming enterprises in Western Australia’s South West.
The project aims to demonstrate and monitor the success of perennial pasture establishment over 14 hectares on three farms in the Geographe Catchment. Annual field walks are held with our local farming community and experts, to communicate the successes and lessons learned in establishing perennial pastures.
The FEaST 2030 project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by South West NRM.
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