DCQ gets Landcare up and running - and now its a contender

DESERT Channels Queensland (DCQ) will travel to the National Landcare Awards in Melbourne next week in the hope of winning the National Landcare Regional Award.

DCQ is one of 55 regional groups across Australia that formed under funding flows from the Federal Government to improve and implement environmental and resource management projects in regional areas.

DCQ was nominated ahead of the 13 other regional organisations in Queensland and will be in the running for the National Award against one regional group from each state and territory.

The Regional Co-ordinator of DCQ, Steve Wilson, said it was great to receive recognition for what the organisation has achieved since it began four years ago.

"We basically rejuvenated the Landcare operations in the area and have secured almost three million dollars worth of funding for projects.

"Drought, loss of people from the area, apathy and lack of funding opportunities had all but killed off the Landcare movement in the region.
"We secured $360,000 for our first round of funding and when applications came in it added up to almost a million dollars worth of projects. So we knew there was work to be done and people were keen to do it."

Mr Wilson said that one of the common misconceptions about DCQ is that they are a government organisation when in fact they are community managed.

"We don’t have any legislative powers. We are a community organisation that works towards building community partnerships, providing information, sourcing funding, and co-ordinating projects on the ground."

DCQ has contributed funding and assistance to many community Landcare projects. These include assisting councils in creating water-wise gardens at schools, working with more than 200 properties in weed control and fence management, and removing car bodies and rubbish from Indigenous communities.

Mr Wilson said funding is available to anyone in the Lake Eyre Basin region who can submit an application detailing how and why their Landcare initiative would benefit the management of the environment and its resources.

DQC will be officially opening their new building in Galah Street on October 20 with their AGM being held on the same day.