For this ReVert Landscape Rehabilitation project Verterra was engaged to rehabilitate a large, actively eroding gully system adjacent to the Bowen River in North Queensland. Delivered in partnership with Alluvium through the Landscape Restoration Partnership, this project represents Australia’s first gully rehabilitation initiative registered under the ENVOMARK Reef Credit Methodology - establishing a benchmark for large-scale sediment reduction projects designed to improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

Operating under a regulated Salinity Offset Scheme (SOS) to manage net salt export from their operations this client required an updated understanding of how much salt was being exported from the site - either through surface runoff or deep aquifer drainage. This was essential to ensure continued compliance with their Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) and to refine the size and scope of their Salinity Offset. 

With the population of the Caboolture River catchment expected to increase by over 100,000 people in the next 20–25 years, Unitywater faced a growing challenge: how to sustainably manage the effluent produced by the South Caboolture Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Although effluent is A-grade and suitable for a range of non-potable uses, without intervention, the increased nutrient loading could threaten the health of the Caboolture River and downstream waterways. 

To address this, Unitywater launched the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme (WIS)—a circular economy initiative to beneficially reuse treated effluent in agriculture. Verterra was appointed to provide deep expertise in agronomy, irrigation, land capability, and environmental planning to help guide the project’s success. 

This client sought an innovative, sustainable, and community-aligned solution for the beneficial reuse of A-grade effluent from a Sewage Treatment Plant, located just 10 km upstream of a major drinking water supply dam. Rather than pursuing a conventional advanced treatment facility, Verterra delivered an award-winning, nature-based solution.

In regions of Australia where rainfall is unreliable, treated wastewater (effluent) is increasingly recognised as a valuable resource—particularly for irrigating tree crops and other vegetation. However, to safely and effectively reuse effluent for irrigation, its quality must be carefully monitored and managed. This case study demonstrates how Verterra approached successfully undertook risk assessment and development of a management plan that would enable its beneficial reuse for a forest plantation.

Northern Australia is considered a high-potential region for expanding irrigated agriculture due to the availability of rainfall and relatively undeveloped land. However, increasing land under irrigation can elevate the risk of sediment, nutrient, and pesticide runoff—particularly into sensitive waterways that feed into the Great Barrier Reef.  In this case study, Verterra demonstrates how a thorough understanding of environmental risk is the first step to designing irrigation schemes with minimal off-site impact.

Verterra designed, undertook feasibility studies, assisted with regulatory approvals, developed a stakeholder engagement plan and project managed delivery of 1,250ha of irrigated native eucalypt forest at Fairview and Springwater near Injune on behalf of Santos.

The project focussed specifically on improving water quality from cane and banana farms in the Tully and Johnstone River Catchments.

Verterra’s largest project to date, providing a novel solution to water quality improvement that combines grazing improvement with ecosystem service market opportunities such as carbon farming and reef credits administered through 3rd parties.

Engaged by Unitywater to monitor vegetation and water quality, remove tidal gates, undertake tidal monitoring, UAV footage and BioCondition monitoring for the Yandina Creek Wetlands for a three-year period.

Objectives of this project include delivery of a South Yaamba Reef Water Quality Precinct Plan to provide support to the South Yaamba area and to selected landholders in the broader Fitzroy Food Bowl who are progressing irrigation developments on their land to achieve reef water quality outcomes (reduce sediment, pesticide, and nutrient export).

Innovative Design and operational delivery over two phases of alluvial gully rehabilitation at th Mt Wickham property, 38km WNW of Collinsville aimed at erosion control, and water quality improvements from significant reduction of fine sediment loss to regional waterways that directly impact the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon with ecosystem stresses, including to inshore reef and seagrass beds.

This project actively engaged graziers and landowners in the Bowen, Bogie, and Broken River Catchments to contribute to design land condition, pasture cover and productivity solutions to stem erosion and subsequent sediment run-off into local waterways.

Verterra engaged with 60 horticultural growers (macadamia, avocado, sweet potato) in the Burnett-Mary Horticultural region, providing growers with detailed farm mapping (EM), soil analysis and agronomic advice designed to promote best outcomes in nutrient management and soil health for increased farm productivity.

Verterra developed the Grazing Land Management (GLM) Reef Credit Methodology in collaboration with AgriProve and GreenCollar. The Method allows farmers to generate Reef Credits and generate an alternative income stream by improving grazing practices and reducing fine sediment runoff, a critical step in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.