Tona Wetlands into the Future
The future health and function of Tona wetlands is dependent on the management of these wetlands, and importantly the land that surrounds them.
Since new ownership Tona has been completely destocked and a new vision for the property has been developed in partnership with Sunraysia TAFE and the National Centre for Sustainability (NCS). Russell and the NCS are committed to making a contribution to community knowledge and decision making. The vision for the property is to:
- Research and demonstrate natural capital recovery and values
- Develop best practice rehabilitation and management techniques for rangeland ecosystems
- Provide community education through on farm education and information dissemination
- Explore and demonstrate sustainable products and production systems that are better aligned to natural ecological balances and processes
- Build productive and ongoing partnerships with indigenous people of the lands
Many new innovative ventures are in planning or in operation on Tona that will not only provide and demonstrate more sustainable use of natural resources but will also provide in its own way the wetlands and floodplain support required.
Pigface in flower
Bush banana seed waiting for dispersal by wind
These include
- Promoting and securing “stewardship” industries (protecting and managing land for the provision of ecological catchment services for land and water health) for Tona and other rangeland properties
- Creating a Koori Youth Development Camp operated by Barkindji people
- Developing a productive bush tucker growing and processing program
- Develop an aquaculture program linked to hydroponics and water recycling
- Captive breeding and harvesting of native animals for food and restocking/release programs
Many crucial threats to Tona station and its wetlands cannot be addressed and cured at property level. The lack of adequate anabranch flooding, the increased mounding of groundwaters which bring salinisation and water logging, excessive nutrient infiltration, and the potential impacts of the Greenhouse Effect will all impact heavily on the future health of the land, water, and the people.
The partners associated with Tona station will continue to better understand the complexities and needs of the wetlands and surrounding landscapes, protect existing assets from threats they can control, and continue to build awareness in the community to the need for major change and push governments on the need for their response and leadership.