Catchment information

Catchment name
South East Queensland

Map of catchment area

Overview of region / horticultural activity

• The South East Queensland region incorporates Moreton Bay and Islands, Noosa, Maroochy/Mooloolah, Pumicestone, Pine Rivers, Redlands, Logan/Albert, Gold Coast, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, and the Upper, Mid and Lower Brisbane River catchment areas.
• The South East region of Queensland shares with the Wet Tropics the status of being one of the most botanically rich bioregions in Queensland.
• The South East region represents just 1.3 percent of Queensland's area, yet is home to 65 percent of the state's total population.
• A wide range of horticultural products are grown in the South East Queensland region including pineapples, mangoes and vegetables.
• The pineapple industry was the focus of this project.
• Queensland's Glasshouse Mountains, near the Sunshine Coast, are famous for their numerous pineapple farms.
• Queensland's south-east region is ideal for growing pineapples. Pineapples are not grown more than 40km inland, and most are cultivated close to the ocean.
• Almost all of Australia's pineapples are grown in Queensland, and the area under cultivation is about 6000ha.

Incentives for region
None identified in region

Case study of horticulture in South East Queensland

• Pineapple Project – Managing Sediments and Nutrients, Pineapple Industry in South East Queensland
  

Project author/s

• Margie Milgate, Growcom

Objectives of project

• The aims of the Pineapple Project were:
• to gain a better understanding of the NRM issues facing the pineapple industry in South East Queensland
• to understand grower practices in nutrient, chemical and sediment management to manage water quality leaving the farm.

Methodology

• Discussions were held with the Growcom Pineapple Special Interest Group to gain agreement on the Project’s aim and follow-up contact made with the new Pineapple Growers Advancement Group.
• An initial survey document was developed using information from the ‘Pineapple Best Practice Manual’ as a base and forwarded to key industry experts for their input.
• A grower visit program was then undertaken covering small, medium and large businesses.

Key findings

• The Project made strong alliances with the regional NRM group South East Queensland Catchments, Golden Circle, the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, the Pumicestone Region Catchment Co-ordination Association, and the Growcom Pineapple Industry Development Officer.
• Each group shared knowledge and supported each other in a number of projects including:
• Pineapple Study Groups – regional grower groups came together to discuss production and industry issues.
• Sustainable Pineapple Growing Project – a project funded by the Queensland Environment Protection Agency looked at environmental sustainability through the marketing chain for pineapples.
• Living Mulch Trials – a National Landcare Programme project looked at growing crops (e.g. wheat) as mulch in pineapple farms to improve soil health and minimise soil erosion.
• Ningi Catchment Project – funded by South East Queensland Catchments, this project looked at water quality issues for farms in a small catchment.
• Information regarding South East Queensland Catchments and the related projects was provided to growers at forums such as the annual Pineapple Industry Field. A DVD on the Living Mulch Project was also developed and shown at field days and forums throughout the state.
• The Pineapple Project interviewed 28% of the production base of the industry. The main findings showed:
• 75% of growers used a combination of soil and leaf monitoring to assess fertiliser requirements.
• 80% of growers used a boom spray to apply post plant fertilisers (meaning that because small amounts are applied more often, only relatively small amounts are lost in heavy rainfall).
• 60% of growers said that the main irrigation method is a hard hose travelling irrigator (although traditionally the industry has relied on rainfall for their moisture and other irrigation methods have been trialed).
• A wide range of erosion and sediment control measures were used in the fields, around the blocks, and across the farm layout.
• 80% of pineapple growers had slopes of less than 6% which is considered predominately level.
• 50% of growers reported watercourses on farm, and all had vegetated areas with the majority reporting buffer zones greater than 10 metres.
• The survey showed that growers had a good understanding of the production and NRM issues they need to manage within their enterprises. All growers demonstrated that they continued to look at ways to improve what they were doing.

Recommendations

• GPS systems and mechanization, minimum till systems.
• Trialing of products and practices to improve soil health.
• Practices to improve product quality.
• Pest management strategies for crows and rats.
• Cleanup of hymenachne in waterways.
• Access to alternative pest management options due to loss of access to some chemicals groups.
• Many of these issues are ones that have strong links to NRM outcomes and can be worked on in the future with the regional NRM body.