New lined catchment project to showcase water security option
The Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), working through local Soils Consultant Brian Hughes, to deliver the Lined Catchment Demonstration for the Barossa Ranges project.
This forward-thinking project aims to showcase how poly-lined catchments can successfully harvest rainfall—even in small events—and offer a sustainable, on-farm solution to water security challenges faced by local landholders.
A lined catchment involves installing a polyethylene liner over a catchment area that channels rainwater directly into a dam. Unlike traditional catchments, these liners prevent water from soaking into the soil, ensuring efficient capture and storage.
The project will roll out across two key components:
- Demonstration Site Construction - A 1-hectare poly-lined catchment will be constructed on a property in Flaxman Valley. Works will include site surveying, earthworks above an existing dam, installation and welding of the poly-liner, and fencing to protect the site from stock and wildlife.
- The sharing of knowledge and learnings via:
- On-site field walks.
- Informative factsheets detailing approvals, construction process, and costings.
- A documentary-style video showing the construction and benefits of lined catchments.
- Media coverage across regional outlets.
“BIGG’s lined catchment demonstration project will give Barossa producers first-hand, practical insights into a tool that may assist them in building drought resilience and securing future water needs” said BIGG Technical Facilitator Brett Nietschke.
This project is kindly supported by:
- The South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund
- The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, via the Landscape Priorities Fund