Chairmans' Message
Heading into this winter, most climate predictions show it will be dryer and warmer than normal. However there is no place for complacency when it comes to soil moisture, even when we’ve just had three years of above average rainfall. In fact, it is during these wetter times that you can be banking water in the landscape for use during the next dry spell. 
In 2018, after nine months of virtually no rain in the top of the Mulloon catchment, water was still trickling out of the leaky weir at Peter’s Pond on the Mulloon Home Farm. That water was still there because our landscape rehydration work had banked water in the adjoining landscape which then fed the system during the dry months.

I hope you enjoy reading about our current projects and initiatives happening all around Australia!

[Sam Skeat & Paul Hales (Bush Heritage Australia) at Yourka Reserve, Queensland.
National agenda
A national code that will help
bank water in the landscape
Over the past few years of above average rainfall, many more catchments could have been rehydrated in readiness for the coming dry period if on-ground works hadn’t been held up by an overly complex and heavily regulated bureaucracy.

'Canberra – US Embassy Youth Council Climate Team' visit
Members of the ‘Canberra – US Embassy Youth Council Climate Team’ and the US Embassy recently visited for a tour at Mulloon Creek.
VIP visits to Mulloon
Minister Tanya Plibersek’s water advisor has visited Mulloon along with key advisors for the Hon Kirsty McBain, the member for Eden Monaro and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.
Mulloon Rehydration Initiative
Mulloon Creek restoration stalled by planning problems
The Mulloon Institute is trying to rehabilitate more than 50 kilometres of the Mulloon Creek in NSW but its being held back back by bureaucratic red tape.


[Image: ABC Landline, Sean Murphy]
As featured on ABC Landline
The Mulloon Institute's landscape rehydration work around Australia, including the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative featured on ABC’s Landline program on 12 March 2023!

Monitoring results
Research from the MRI is providing robust evidence on the effectiveness of landscape rehydration and showing how it can improve agricultural and ecosystems resilience to climatic events.
Evolving landscapes
This selection of before and after images shows the positive impact that landscape rehydration structures can have on the landscape over time.
Mulloon Creek Natural Farms
Winter update
Jim Steele and his team at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms have been upgrading much of our farm’s infrastructure with a new egg grading and packaging machine, despite
experiencing twice average rainfalls on a rolling 12-month basis since 2020.

Beyond the back fence
Queensland
The Mulloon Institute's work in the northern tropical region has been showcased to the National Soils Advocate during a recent tour of the area. We also hosted North Queensland graziers at Mulloon for a bootcamp and are working with Bush Heritage Australia and Terrain NRM on a project to benefit the Great Barrier Reef.

[Image: Sam Skeat and the Hon Penny Wensley discuss on-ground works at St Margarets Creek, QLD. Courtesy of NQ Dry Tropics]
Northern Territory
The team have visited Glen Helen Station recently, the first of four stations that make up the Centralian Landscape Rehydration demonstration project. Other sites include Narwietooma Station, Aileron Station and the Ahakeye Aboriginal Land Trust.

Read the project Case Study!
Western Australia
The first Landscape Rehydration bootcamp has been held in WA with more than 40 enthusiastic participants!

We also visited Warren Pensini at his farm in Boyup Brook and created a Case Study about the on-ground works at Paraway Farm.
New South Wales
On-ground works have been completed at ‘Lorrina’ in Braidwood including four log-sill bed control structures, four access crossings and a suite of smaller rock weir and rock baffle structures.
Education
The bigger picture

Exploring landscape rehydration through on-farm and shearing shed workshops, and building landholders' skills and confidence to initiate these processes on their own properties.
Mixing art, mycology
& water

Laura Fisher has taken part in a ‘Mycology in May Mystery Tour’ at Ferntree Gully Reserve in Rylstone, NSW with other eager mushroom hunters.

Mulloon staff
Welcome to new staff at Mulloon
Several new staff have joined us over the last few months. Please give a big hearty welcome to:

Trish Brunton (Accountant)
Leon Van Wyk (Landscape Planner)
Annabel Manning (Landscape Planner)
Chris Inskeep (Science Officer / Spatial & Remote Sensing Specialist)

Kathy Kelly has also now joined the Mulloon Institute Board. Congratulations!
Events
Recent Workshops & Visits
Upcoming events
All upcoming workshops, bootcamps and events are listed on our website. We look forward to seeing you out there soon!
[Image: Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, Darwin NT.]
As 30th June approaches, I would urge you to please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help make a real difference out there on the ground! Thank-you.

Cheers,
Gary Nairn AO
Mulloon Institute, Chairman