Landholders Build Skills at Rehydration Bootcamp

The Mulloon Institute Landscape Planners Sharni Pike and Penny Cooper with landholders John & Lia Christensen, Nowendoc, Michael Colvin, Guyra, Kath Caddy, Wards Mistake and Richard Daugherty, Balala.

24th Mar 2026

Southern New England Landcare hosted a successful two-day Landscape Rehydration Bootcamp in Uralla on March 18–19, delivered in partnership with the Mulloon Institute.
Held at CSIRO’s Chiswick Research Farm, the bootcamp brought together more than 20 landholders from across the region for a hands-on program focused on improving water management, reducing erosion and building more resilient landscapes.
“Landholders are increasingly looking for practical ways to manage water, reduce erosion and build resilience into their landscapes,” said Local Landcare Coordinator Elizabeth Rosser.
“This bootcamp gave participants the opportunity to learn directly from experienced practitioners and start applying those principles to their own properties.”
The program combined theory with practical demonstrations, giving participants a clearer understanding of how water moves through the landscape and how targeted interventions can improve its retention.
Attendees observed how water flows across bare ground before taking part in practical sessions exploring structures designed to slow and spread water, increase infiltration and protect valuable topsoil.
A key component of the bootcamp was whole-of-farm planning. Landholders worked with maps of their own properties to identify stream order, map gullies and better understand catchment areas. This process provided a strong foundation for making informed decisions about where and how to implement rehydration strategies.
Four participants were selected to take part in an extended mentoring program with educators from the Mulloon Institute. Through a combination of online support and on-ground guidance from Southern New England Landcare staff, these landholders will develop long-term rehydration plans tailored to their properties, while also navigating regulatory requirements associated with larger waterways.
Ms Rosser said the initiative is helping to build strong local capability.
“Alongside training from organisations like the Mulloon Institute, we’re fortunate to have on-ground support from Northern Tablelands Local Land Services,” she said.
“This ensures landholders not only gain knowledge but also have access to local expertise to help put plans into action.”
The next stage of the project will be a “Boots on Ground” field day in Wongwibinda in May, where participants and community members will work together to construct rehydration structures at an active erosion site under expert guidance.
The bootcamp forms part of the Armidale Regional and Uralla Shire Councils’ Regional Drought Resilience Plan, funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Further training opportunities, including a “Reading Rural Landscapes” workshop in April, are also planned.

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Landholders Build Skills at Rehydration Bootcamp

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