Sunshine coast farm finds its flow

Nestled at the foot of one of the Glasshouse Mountains’ most distinctive peaks—Mount Coonowrin— the Jackson family are following their dreams to be farmers in this picture-perfect part of Southeast Queensland.

Originally, Daniel was a teacher as well as an electrician, while Angela was an Environmental Health Officer. They’d looked at properties from Proserpine to Northern New South Wales, but were attracted to the 40 hectares in the Glasshouse Mountains as it was a macadamia orchard and offered opportunity for diversity with established custard apple trees.

The Jacksons expanded their orchard, planting soursop, also a cousin of the custard apple.

We visited the Jacksons during their ninth macadamia harvest. Daniel was out in the orchard while Angela took a break from sorting macadamia nuts to chat with us.

Angela spoke about weather being the main challenge they face as farmers, and it’s certainly a challenge that is becoming more pronounced in the southeast corner.

Significant rainfall events have lashed the region on an annual basis and the rains of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred marked the latest deluge, saturating Southeast Queensland in March.

Aware of the weather-related difficulties Dnaiel and Angela face on their property, South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Quality Program Manager Tim Wolens encouraged the Jacksons to apply for a grant through the program’s BMP Incentive Scheme.

Specifically, their property’s position at the base of Mount Coonowrin meant that during heavy rains, water ran down the mountain, sheeting indiscriminately across the macadamia orchard.

The uncontrolled surface flow took topsoil, mulch, and fertiliser away, representing not only a loss of costly inputs, but created runoff that could potentially enter surrounding waterways, namely Back Creek.

Further, the water carved channels throughout the inter-rows, making it difficult for the harvester to effectively do its job.

“Macadamias are harvested using a pinwheel machine that sweeps under the tree, brings the macs into the inter-row and then pinwheels pick them up. So, if you have big ruts in your orchard, it makes it very hard to pick up and you lose a lot of macadamias,” Angela said.

To remedy this situation, extensive earthworks were required on the edge of the property that runs along the base of the mountain.

Daniel and Angela had tried previously making do with equipment they owned.

“We’ve tried to address the problem with basic farm machinery, but we don’t own an excavator or bobcat that could do the job” Angela said.

The SEQ Water Quality team’s administration of the BMP Incentive Scheme goes beyond financial support to connect growers with the expertise and equipment to execute projects associated with the scheme.

Tim introduced Daniel and Angela to Sean Kerr of Boss Earthworks, who has worked with other growers in the region. He swiftly transformed the problematic edge of the Jackson’s property.

He carved the shear drop from the forest onto the Jacksons’ orchard into contour banks that direct rainfall from the mountain around the orchard into the farm’s pre-existing drainage lines.

In doing so, he also widened the roadway on the edge of the property, providing a more stable route for vehicles and equipment to traverse.

“The before and after on this farm is like night and day. Sean’s experience means he got in here and quickly turned things around for Daniel and Angela,” SEQ Water Quality Manager Tim Wolens said.

“These earthworks have dramatically reduced runoff, meaning the sediment, nutrient and mulch is staying in the orchard, and the orchard’s not getting damaged during heavy rain,” Tim continued.

Reduced erosion and runoff risks mean better outcomes for orchard health, harvesting operations, and of course it protects the delicate ecosystems surrounding the farm.

Angela said the assistance was “always welcome” and was impressed with the difference the funding had made to her property.

Daniel and Angela look forward to not only ensuring the ongoing health of their surrounding waterways, but greater ease of harvest and improved tree and soil health.

“Working with dedicated growers like the Jacksons shows how a little bit of support can go a long way,” Tim said.

Growcom’s SEQ Water Quality Program is funded by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.