The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) – the SW WA Hub’s Northern Node – is investigating an approach titled “Growing the Bucket” aimed at mitigating the impacts of declining rainfall and increasing intensity of extreme weather events across agricultural landscapes. This work is being undertaken at a demonstration site near Cataby.
The demonstration focuses on maintaining or improving the productive capacity of grazing systems as growing-season rainfall declines and summer rainfall events become larger, more intense, and less predictable. This is being achieved by increasing the landscape and soil’s capacity to slow water movement and retain moisture for longer periods. The project draws on established rehydration and Natural Sequence Farming principles to reduce runoff, improve infiltration, and lessen the severity of drought conditions.
This project directly supports local drought-resilience priorities, including:
- Increased adoption of regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health and plant resilience
- Flood plain erosion management and year-round water and feed supply
- Protection of soil resources by reducing wind and water erosion
- Improved farm and landscape water planning
- Enhanced utilisation and protection of summer rainfall and water quality
- Alternative practices that promote/conserve soil systems through biological interactions
It also aligns with, and complements, several other projects currently being delivered across the region.
The demonstration site was established in 2025, with initial works focused on riparian stabilisation. A significant number of deep-rooted perennial groundcover species were planted, achieving excellent germination in areas not affected by waterlogging. In 2026, further groundcover establishment is planned with the addition of fodder mixes and low volatile oil species to continue reducing tributary erosion and to slow water movement across waterways that currently experience narrow, high-velocity flows, and increase the grazing potential.
In February 2026, targeted earthworks will commence across two waterways. These works will aim to reduce physical degradation of the creek system by widening flow paths and reintroducing natural debris—such as fallen timber and rocks—to slow water velocity, dissipate energy, and restore more natural catchment function.
Minor changes to the demonstration site will also be trialled, including the replacement of exclusion fencing with electronic collars and virtual fencing technology to enable more flexible grazing management.
Field days and a practical workshop are planned for early 2026. Keep an eye out for upcoming details.
The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) is the Northern Agricultural Region Node of the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
