On The Land
16 October, 2026
Young farmers showcase waterway
WHEN Sarah and Delon Curcio took over part of the family farm near Peeramon five years ago, they knew their block had huge potential.
“The farm has always been home to my husband, and we knew we wanted our children to grow up on this land,” Sarah said.
“Over the years, the property has been many things – from cattle grazing land to commercial red claw ponds, and now our own ‘hobby’ farm – but the natural spring at the base of the property has always been a special spot.
“Over time, the spring had become severely degraded by erosion, weeds, an old farm dump and cattle accessing the area. We knew we wanted to restore it and protect this precious waterway but we simply didn’t know where to start.”
The turning point came after Sarah attended a TREAT Nursery Day and had a fortunate meeting with Barron Catchment Care president Bryony Barnett.
Soon after this meeting Sarah attended a farm planning session organised by Barron Catchment Care. Following a property visit and drone mapping exercise by the group, the Curcios came up with a plan.
They successfully secured funding through the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program, administered through Sustainable Table.
The grant funded a significant amount of the project, including extensive earthworks, fencing, and off-stream watering systems to keep cattle out of the delicate ecosystem.
Works began in April of this year and the impact was immediate. A platypus was recently spotted in a deep pool just below the spring.
The next phase of the project involves a staged revegetation, starting with 300 seedlings provided by local tree-planting group TREAT, with ultimate plans to surround the spring with 3,000 new trees.
“Sarah and Delon are part of a new generation of young farmers who are keen to adopt regenerative farming practices but don’t have a lot of spare time or money,” Ms Barnett said.
“They just needed some financial assistance and to be pointed in the right direction. They are a perfect example of what can be achieved on the ground by communities working together.”
The Curcios are now opening their gates to the community for a field day this Saturday, 17 October, from 9.30am-11.30am.
Representatives from Sustainable Table, Barron Catchment Care, and TREAT will be on-site to offer practical guidance to other landholders.
“Whether you’ve recently moved onto acreage, have inherited or bought a family farm, or have been on the land for years, this is a great opportunity to share ideas and get advice from local groups,” Mrs Curcio said.
“Come along and see what we’ve achieved so far. We’re at the beginning of our journey and we are still learning a lot along the way.”
