Floods a catalyst for producers’ long-term preparedness and recovery strategy
Flood events in 2022 were the catalyst for Western Downs producers to develop a comprehensive, long-term preparedness and recovery strategy to address flood risks and improve their business’s resilience.
Like many primary producers in Western Queensland, Jason and Chelsea Kidd felt the effects of flooding during Queensland’s extraordinary 2021-2022 disaster season.
A series of rainfall and flooding events throughout 2022 severely impacted their property where they operate a mixed cropping and cattle enterprise.
Significant soil erosion and crop and infrastructure damage resulted in challenges to their operations with a subsequent reduction in productivity.
Their experience was a turning point, helping them recognise the need for a comprehensive, long-term preparedness and recovery strategy, to address flood risks and improve their business’ resilience.
The floods also inspired a program to help affected producers build resilience for their property and business.
Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) Program has helped 102 primary producers including the Kidds.
Through the program, IRROs work one-on-one with producers to develop individual on-farm Flood Management Plans (FMPs) tailored to the unique needs of the business and their desire to improve preparedness, recovery and resilience.
IRRO Eloise helped the Kidds throughout the entire FMP process, drawing on her understanding of family farms and her interest in the state of the Kidds’ paddocks.
Technical advice sought and funded through the Queensland Government’s Primary Producer Flood Management Grant allowed the Kidds to pursue their goal of securing their most important asset, the soil.
The cost to recover and improve infrastructure and paddock structures to create long term resilience is high and often feels unattainable.
But the grant money, and breaking large projects into smaller more manageable ones, allowed the Kidds to implement key suggestions and plans such as levelling paddocks in strategic areas to improve the overall efficiency of water infiltration and drainage during periods of heavy rainfall.
Reshaping the land through levelling, constructing contour banks and drainage channels, has minimized the greatest impacts caused by intensive rainfall and flooding – erosion and topsoil loss leading to decreased soil health, pasture and crop production.
Engagement in the IRRO program and the implementation of flood mitigation measures has significantly increased the flood resilience of Jason and Chelsea Kidd’s property and business overall.
Reducing soil erosion, improving drainage and continually improving and maintaining flood management strategies as detailed in their FMP, has had a positive impact on their flood preparedness and long-term business resilience.
In turn, that has allowed the Kidds to continue farming with greater confidence, even in the face of unpredictable weather patterns.
For more information about the IRRO program, visit www.daf.qld.gov.au.
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