Farming in The Scott River for a Sustainable Future
A resource toolkit
"The Scott River Catchment is a unique and special place loved to those who farm there and those who travel and holiday in the national park.
It is also a special place for the Wadandi Pibulmun people since ancient times. This area of high value, highly productive farm land must be preserved and cared for by all those that use it and have an interest in food security for Western Australia into the future.
The Scott River Catchment’s agricultural potential is vast and at present, its use is only scratching the surface. But with the farmers’ ingenuity and support and assistance from Federal, State and local government departments, I am confident that its potential to feed Western Australians and earn export dollars can be achieved without damage to our unique environment. Indeed, with cooperation between all parties in good faith, I firmly believe it can be enhanced. However, it must not be forgotten this land is prime agricultural land and its productivity must be maintained and improved for future generations."
- Tim Crimp
Lower Blackwood LCDC Chair, 2025
Why the Scott River Matters: A Hidden Lifeline of WA’s South West
Flowing through one of the most biodiverse and ecologically sensitive parts of the state, the Scott River plays a critical role in supporting local ecosystems, agriculture, and the health of Hardy Inlet and the broader Blackwood catchment.
If you farm in the Scott River catchment, you already know this part of the South West is something special. But what others might not realise is just how important this river is—not just to the environment, but to local agriculture, your productivity, and the future of the land we all rely on.
Map of the Scott River Catchment and its Sub-catchments
Map of the Scott River Catchment and its Sub-catchments
A Biodiversity Hotspot
The Scott River sits within the internationally recognised South West Biodiversity Hotspot, one of only 36 in the world. This globally recognised area is home to an extraordinary concentration of native plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The river's unique mix of wetlands, peat soils, sedgelands, and remnant bushland creates vital habitat for endangered flora like the Scott River boronia and button grass communities, as well as a rich array of frogs, birds, insects, and reptiles. These ecosystems aren’t just beautiful, they’re crucial to the health of the landscape. They filter water, support pollinators, and sustain the natural balance that underpins life in the catchment. Protecting this biodiversity isn’t just good for nature - it’s good for farming, too!
Agriculture Meets Ecology
Surrounding the river is a mix of farmland and conservation land. The Scott River region is a powerhouse of productive farmland, supporting a mix of beef, dairy, and horticulture enterprises that thrive in the area’s fertile soils and high rainfall. Its rich peat flats and seasonally wet landscapes make it ideal for grazing, while parts of the region are used for plantation forestry and niche crops. Agriculture here plays a vital role in the local economy, providing food, jobs, and community resilience. But with great productivity comes great responsibility; the same conditions that make this land so fruitful also make it vulnerable to nutrient runoff, soil acidity, and waterlogging.
Farming practices, especially fertiliser use, livestock access, and land clearing, can affect nutrient levels, sedimentation, and water quality in the river and downstream. Local efforts to implement sustainable farming and catchment care practices are essential to keep the river and the industries it supports healthy into the future.
That’s why more and more local farmers are looking into new ways to manage their land for a sustainable future; from fencing waterways to precision fertiliser use, to ensure the land remains healthy and productive for generations to come.
Feeding the Hardy Inlet
The Scott River is a major freshwater inflow into Hardy Inlet, an estuarine system near Augusta that's valued for its recreation, tourism, and ecological significance. The quality of water flowing from the Scott into the inlet directly affects seagrass health, fish populations, and the wider marine environment. Reducing nutrient runoff and erosion in the Scott River catchment helps prevent algal blooms and oxygen depletion in the inlet, a win for both people and wildlife.
A River Worth Caring For
The Scott River might be smaller than its better-known cousin, the Blackwood, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to ecological importance and community value. By understanding its role and supporting good land and water management, we help safeguard one of WA’s most precious natural assets.
At the end of the day, farmers are stewards of the land - and we’ve got a proud history of looking after what we rely on. The Scott River may not be the biggest river in the region, but it plays a massive role in keeping our soils productive, our estuaries healthy, and our community thriving.
By working together, we can ensure that the Scott River keeps flowing clean - for our farms, our kids, and our coastline.
Cultural and Community Significance
The Milyeannup (Scott River) also holds cultural significance for the Wadandi people of the Noongar Nation, who have lived in harmony with the land and waters here for tens of thousands of years. Today, local communities, landholders, and environmental groups, like us at the Lower Blackwood LCDC, continue to work together through programs and projects to protect this vital waterway.
Below are videos that the Lower Blackwood team has produced with Zac Webb from Undalup Association covering the Milyeannup (Scott River), Goorbilyup (Blackwood), the Indigenous Creation of Boodjara Baamin, and the seasons of the region.
This video showcases first-hand experiences of local farmers, environmental experts, and community members as they explore the unique biodiversity of the Scott River catchment. From lush wetlands teeming with endemic species to productive farmlands, the tour highlights the delicate balance between sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.
Click on the video to discover the collaborative efforts in place to protect this vital ecosystem for future generations.
Farming in a Living Landscape
A Delicate Balance Beneath the Surface
Recent monitoring by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and local partners shows that the Scott River continues to be nutrient-enriched, with elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients commonly found in fertilisers. While these nutrients help crops and pastures grow, once they hit the water, they fuel the rapid growth of algae, turning clear water into murky green soup.
The increased algae growth increases turbidity (cloudiness) and lowers dissolved oxygen levels. This can harm native fish, invertebrates, and the delicate seagrass beds downstream in Hardy Inlet. The Scott River is a critical feeder into the Hardy Inlet, a rich estuarine ecosystem and a treasured community asset. The health of the inlet depends on the health of the river, and by extension, the land that surrounds it.
The river’s naturally acidic, peat-rich soils already pose challenges for farming and water quality alike, and high rainfall means there's a constant risk of nutrients moving from land to water, especially during the winter months.
If you are interested in learning about algal blooms yourself, have a look at Healthy Estuaries WA's page all about Algae.
Preventing algal blooms starts on the land. Farmers and landholders can help prevent blooms by soil testing to apply only the fertiliser that's needed. Avoiding fertiliser before heavy rain and keeping stock away from riverbanks reduces erosion and runoff.
Farming in a Living Landscape
The Scott River and its surrounding wetlands are home to endemic plant species, frogs, reptiles, and insects that depend on seasonal wetlands, bird species like black cockatoos and waterbirds, as well as native fish and aquatic species that need clean, oxygen-rich water
These species rely on healthy riparian zones, clean water, and stable soils. It might seem like biodiversity is something for scientists and birdwatchers, but it’s just as important to your business as rainfall and soil health.
A biodiverse farm is economically viable as well as ecologically! Pollinators help native plants and crops thrive. Healthy riparian zones and waterways reduce erosion and improve water retention, which means less waterlogging during winter and more water retention during summer. Pest predators like frogs, bats, and birds can help prevent pests on farms and help build resilient ecosystems that make the whole landscape more resistant to drought, disease, and climate shifts.
If you are interested in doing some riparian restoration yourself, have a look at our Riparian Restoration Toolkit.
We also have funding available through our Riparian Fencing and Revegetation Project with Healthy Estuaries WA.
On farms, healthy waterways can be supported by exclusion fencing, riparian vegetation, and good land management practices, creating cleaner water, better habitats, and more resilient landscapes.
Get on Target
In Scott River’s sandy soils and high-rainfall environment, nutrients can easily be lost through leaching or runoff if fertilisers are over-applied or mistimed. Soil testing allows farmers to understand what their paddocks actually need, reducing waste and ensuring fertiliser is only applied where it can be used effectively by plants.
The Scott River catchment also feeds into important wetland ecosystems and estuarine zones that are highly sensitive to nutrient runoff. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from excess fertiliser use can degrade water quality, fuel algal blooms, and harm aquatic biodiversity.
By aligning fertiliser use with soil test results and applying on dry days, non-waterlogged soils, and during active pasture growth, can significantly reduce nutrient loss to waterways, helping protect the river’s ecological health for future generations.
If you are interested in doing some soil testing yourself, we have funding available through our Fertiliser Management Project with Healthy Estuaries WA.
Fertiliser is a major farm input, and every kilogram counts. Over-application not only increases costs but can also reduce soil function over time. Soil testing gives landholders the data they need to invest wisely, cutting unnecessary spending while optimising growth and production.
Boosting Biodiversity
Revegetating with local native species is proving to be a powerful tool for restoring ecological health, improving farm resilience, and protecting waterway integrity.
It encourages pollinators and beneficial insects, which improve plant health and crop yields. Additionally, it supports insectivorous birds, which help control insect pests, as well as small mammals and reptiles, many of which are threatened and rely on understorey and riparian vegetation for food and shelter.
The Scott River is a vital part of the Lower Blackwood estuarine system, and one of its greatest threats is sediment and nutrient runoff. Native species with deep or fibrous roots stabilise stream banks, reducing erosion and soil loss, filter nutrients and pollutants, improving water quality before runoff reaches waterways, and slow water movement, which helps reduce flooding and recharge groundwater.
Prioritising the protection of existing vegetation and then enhancing it with strategic native planting is the most effective way to restore degraded areas.
If you are interested in doing some native revegetation yourself, have a look at our On-Farm Revegetation Toolkit.
While the benefits to nature are clear, revegetation is also a practical investment in the future of your farm. Shelterbelts from native shrubs and trees improve livestock welfare and pasture productivity by reducing wind stress and temperature extremes. Fencing off revegetation zones can prevent livestock damage and allow for targeted grazing strategies elsewhere. Natural regeneration reduces the cost of planting and can produce more resilient vegetation adapted to local soils and climates.
Working Together in the Scott River
Teaming Up for the Whole Catchment
Local landholders all across the Lower Blackwood are working together with us here at the Lower Blackwood LCDC (Land Conservation District Committee) to protect what matters most, the future of their farms.
As a grassroots, community-driven organisation, our team supports local farmers in taking practical, on-the-ground action, helping bridge the gap between science, policy, and paddock.
It's the local landholders leading the change, with support that respects local knowledge, seasonal realities, and real-world farming demands. Whether it’s planning a revegetation project, troubleshooting a water issue, or applying for funding, the LCDC team brings trusted advice and practical help right to the farm gate. It’s a model that’s collaborative, flexible, and tailored to our region’s unique needs.
Turning Plans into Action
Farming in the Scott River Catchment comes with a unique set of challenges—from managing waterlogged soils and runoff, to protecting fragile wetlands and ensuring long-term farm resilience. The Scott River Action Plan is a project built by and for landholders who want practical solutions that work on the ground.
Developed by the Lower Blackwood LCDC in close partnership with local farmers, scientists, and community members, the Action Plan is the result of detailed mapping, case studies, and conversations with the people who know the land best - you. It’s a living guide designed to help landholders tackle real issues like nutrient loss, acid-sulphate soils, erosion, and riparian degradation, while improving productivity and protecting the river that runs through it all. Every recommendation is tailored to the soils, climate, and farming systems of the Scott River. It's all about keeping valuable nutrients on your paddocks, saving you money and hassle.
You can access all the resources, case studies and the action plan on our project page:
Safeguarding Native Wildlife
Like many Australian ecosystems, the Scott River faces a growing threat from feral animals, most notably, feral cats and pigs. In response, the Lower Blackwood LCDC and the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group have launched two targeted projects: Feral Cat Focus and Feral Pig Focus: Next Steps. Together, they form a critical front in the region’s fight to protect biodiversity, improve landscape health, and support local landholders.
Feral cats may be elusive, but their impact on native species and livestock is unmistakable. These highly efficient predators are responsible for the decline, and in some cases, extinction, of many ground-nesting birds, small mammals, and reptiles. On the Scott Coastal Plain, where several species are already under pressure from habitat loss and climate stress, their presence is especially concerning.
The Feral Cat Focus project works to understand and reduce the impact of these predators by:
- Surveying and mapping feral cat activity hotspots across the Plain.
- Trialling exclusion zones and deterrents to protect critical habitat.
- Working with landholders to raise awareness, promote responsible pet ownership, and explore humane control methods.
- Monitoring biodiversity in treated areas to evaluate recovery and resilience.
Feral pigs present a very different, but equally destructive, challenge. Their wallowing, rooting, and trampling habits degrade soil, damage crops, spread weeds, and increase erosion, particularly in sensitive wetland areas. They also pose a biosecurity risk to livestock and farming operations.
The Feral Pig Focus project takes a practical, evidence-based approach to control, centred around the new Landholder Guide to Managing Feral Pigs. This comprehensive resource is tailored to conditions on the Scott Coastal Plain and supports landholders to:
- Understand pig ecology and behaviour, such as group dynamics and seasonal patterns.
- Identify signs of activity, from tracks and scats to wallows and crop damage.
- Choose appropriate control strategies, including coordinated trapping, baiting with approved toxins (like 1080 or sodium nitrate), and long-term monitoring.
- Work collaboratively via the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group, enabling landscape-scale coordination and data sharing.
These projects are not about eradication, they're focusing on damage reduction, strategic timing, and multi-property cooperation to maximise impact. By building knowledge and community capacity, the LCDC is laying the groundwork for long-term ecosystem recovery.
This project is funded by a Community Stewardship Grant, an initiative of the Western Australian Government managed through the State National Resource Management (NRM) Program at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Additional funding has been provided the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, the Shire of Nannup, Peppermint Estate Pty Ltd., and Delta Forestry Pty. Ltd. This project is facilitated through a continuing partnership between the Lower Blackwood LCDC and the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group.
This project is supported by funding from the State Government’s Feral Cat Management Grants. Funding is delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s State Natural Resource Management (NRM) program in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions. It is facilitated through a continuing collaboration between the Lower Blackwood LCDC and the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group
Fencing & Revegetation of Riparian Zones Project
Healthy waterways start with healthy boundaries. Through our Fencing & Revegetation Project, the Lower Blackwood LCDC is helping landholders protect their creeks, rivers, and wetlands, one kilometre and one hectare at a time.
By fencing off riparian zones from livestock and planting native vegetation, we’re restoring critical habitat, improving water quality, and reducing erosion across the catchment. These natural corridors don’t just benefit the environment—they boost farm resilience too, supporting pollinators, improving pasture health, and offering vital shade and shelter for livestock.
Whether you're tackling erosion, enhancing biodiversity, or want to give your creeks a fighting chance, this program offers on-ground support and generous subsidies to help you get started.
You can learn more about funding opportunities for Fencing & Revegetation on our website:
This project is a part of Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program that aims to improve the health of our South West estuaries.
Case Study 1: Creating Native Corridors - Fencing & Revegetation on the Scott River
When the Hare's first purchased their 200-acre property along the Scott River, they were newcomers to farming, no background, just a desire to live on the land and learn as they went.
“We’d never done anything like this before,” Terry Hare said, “so we leased the land back to the previous owner while we found our feet. It gave us time to get to know the place before jumping in. It's been a challenge to be able to fully commit our time to the farm, but over this time we have made a number of improvements which we hope will make things easier. We are now at the stage where we can start to introduce our own beef cattle.”
What they discovered was a beautiful but fragile landscape: a mix of open pasture, peppermint trees, paperbarks, and winding winter creeks. But the waterways weren’t fenced, and livestock had free run through the riparian zones. For the Hare's, that wasn’t how they wanted things to stay.
“We really liked the idea of creating native corridors through the property,” they explained. “Areas where the land could just breathe, free from cattle and open to wildlife.”
Through the Lower Blackwood LCDC’s Riparian Fencing & Revegetation Program, they were able to take action. Fencing off the creeks was the first step. The next was planting. While the ironstone-rich soil made driving fenceposts a big challenge, they pushed through.
“We honestly didn’t expect much from the first round of planting. We figured a lot of it would fail. But the growth has been amazing, we were genuinely surprised by how well it’s taken off.”
The success of that first revegetation zone inspired them to do more. They've since extended the fencing and are preparing for a second round of planting. And despite losing a bit of grazing area, they say the benefits far outweigh the costs.
“The riparian strip has had minimal impact on our pasture area, and we really believe it will have a positive long-term effect on the environment and the property as a whole.”
With soil health now a focus, and goals to improve paddock design and manage cattle more regeneratively, this once-quiet block on the edge of the Scott River is gradually transforming into a place where nature and farming work hand-in-hand.
“We’re still learning, but that’s part of the journey. Seeing those plants thrive was a real win, and it’s only the beginning.”
Young seedlings growing along the creekline
Young seedlings growing along the creekline
Healthy Vegetation around the creekline
Healthy Vegetation around the creekline
Example of the fencing to prevent livestock from entering the creekline
Example of the fencing to prevent livestock from entering the creekline
First day of planting! You can see how the ground was prepared ready for the seedlings
First day of planting! You can see how the ground was prepared ready for the seedlings
Fertiliser Management Project
You can’t manage what you don’t measure—and when it comes to farming, soil is the foundation of everything.
Through the Soil Testing & Nutrient Mapping Project, the Lower Blackwood LCDC is helping local landholders dig deeper - literally - into the health of their soils. With subsidised soil testing and expert analysis, landholders gain the insights they need to make smarter, more sustainable management decisions.
Whether you’re grazing livestock, growing pasture, or planning revegetation, understanding your soil’s nutrient balance, pH, and structure is key to improving productivity and reducing waste. Even small changes can make a big difference to pasture growth, animal health, and water quality.
You can learn more about funding opportunities for Fertiliser Testing and Management on our website:
This project is a part of Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program that aims to improve the health of our South West estuaries.
Case Study 2: How A Family Farm is Using Testing to Fine-Tune Their Fertiliser Use
For this generational farming family in the South West of WA, farming isn’t just a job to the McNab's, it’s a legacy. Their property, nestled deep in the Scott River, has been in the family for over two generations and continues to be run with the kind of local knowledge and long-term vision that only time can teach.
“We’ve worked hard to continually improve the soil quality and pasture systems since taking over,” Andrew McNab explains. “It’s an ongoing process, but we’ve been refining it year by year.”
With a mix of Black Angus cattle and sheep grazing over a landscape of fine sands, clay, and coffee rock, they know that good soil underpins everything. That’s where the Lower Blackwood LCDC Soil Testing Program comes in.
“It helps us keep tabs on our phosphorus levels,” they say. “We can be specific, apply fertiliser where it’s needed, and skip where it’s not. That saves us money and optimises fertiliser application rates.”
They’ve been part of the Healthy Estuaries WA soil testing program for years now, taking samples annually and working closely with their agronomist to adjust fertiliser inputs based on the latest data.
And while they say the process has been pretty smooth, there’s one small hitch, “We just wish we got the results back a bit quicker, February comes around fast when you’re planning fertiliser applications. But once we get them back, we are able to liaise with our agronomist who helps us manage our fertiliser application to meet our production goals."
Despite the race against time, they believe the program offers huge value, especially for new landholders. “The workshops that come with the program are great for people just starting out. It breaks it all down in a practical way.”
Their approach is all about refinement, not reinvention. Taking a well-established system and making it smarter, more sustainable, and more cost-effective.
“We’re happy with the way things are working. Now it’s about sustaining what we have, and making sure the land stays productive for the next generation too.”
Pasture Growth at the farm
Pasture Growth at the farm
Fertiliser rate directly impacts pasture growth, and doing soil testing tells you exactly how much to add
Fertiliser rate directly impacts pasture growth, and doing soil testing tells you exactly how much to add
Healthy pasture means happy cattle
Healthy pasture means happy cattle
Cattle at the McNab's farm
Cattle at the McNab's farm
KeePing P in the Soils
Phosphorus is essential for productive farming, but when it escapes into creeks and rivers, it becomes a major problem, fuelling algal blooms and degrading water quality.
That’s why the Keeping P in Soils project is helping local farmers take a smarter approach to nutrient management. By blending helpful soil amendments like Iron Man Gypsum (IMG) and local clays into topsoil, the project supports landholders to get the most from every application, without the costly runoff. Improving soil phosphorus retention means cleaner waterways and long-term savings for farmers.
You can learn more about funding opportunities for IMG and Clay on our website:
This project is a part of Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program that aims to improve the health of our South West estuaries.
Case Study 3: Lifting the Land - How Soil Amendments Are Helping This Dairy Farm Thrive
For this family-run dairy operation, farming has always been in the Boley's blood. After acquiring land in the South West in the early 1980s, they made the big move in 1996 - bringing their dairy business to a flat, undeveloped patch of broadacre land near the Blackwood and Scott Rivers.
“It was swampy, sandy country,” the Boley's explain. “But with the high rainfall and opportunity to expand, we saw real potential to build something long-term.”
Fast-forward to today, and they’re milking 1,200 cows and running dairy beef across a 4,200-acre mix of dryland and irrigated platforms. While the land has served them well, one thing has always been clear: the sandy loam soils don’t hold on to nutrients or water very well.
That’s where soil amendments, and a bit of curiosity, came in.
“We were really interested in seeing what IronManGypsym (IMG) could do,” they said. “The idea of improving phosphorus, and water retention using something natural like clay just made sense, especially on soils as sandy as ours.”
As one of the first farms in the area to trial the product through a partnership with Healthy Estuaries WA and the Lower Blackwood LCDC, the process wasn’t without its bumps.
“Spreading and timing were a bit of a juggle at the start. But we knew it was a trial, and the Healthy Estuaries WA team was happy to work through those early challenges.”
And the results?
“We’ve already seen increased phosphorus retention and better water-holding capacity. There’s been no downside so far, which is great. It’s still early days, but the impact is promising.”
With an eye to the future, their goal is clear: streamline the system, improve sustainability, and keep the land productive for generations to come.
“We’re always open to ideas that make the farm more resilient. It’s about working smarter, not just harder.
Compaction measurements at the Clay trial site
Compaction measurements at the Clay trial site
The Lower Blackwood LCDC and Healthy Estuaries WA team doing summer inspections post IMG application
The Lower Blackwood LCDC and Healthy Estuaries WA team doing summer inspections post IMG application
IronManGypsum delivery at the Boley's trial site
IronManGypsum delivery at the Boley's trial site
Happy and healthy cows at the Boley's farm
Happy and healthy cows at the Boley's farm
To learn more about what we can do to help, please contact our Project Officer, Rebecca Archer at:
Email: rebecca.archer@lowerblackwood.com.au
Phone: 0487 060 506
You can also find out more on our project page
The "Farming in the Scott River for a Sustainable Future" Resource Toolkit is a part of the "Continuing to Engage with Scott River Farmers for Catchment Health" project, which is supported through funding from the State Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program.
The 'Riparian Fencing and Revegetation Project', 'Fertiliser Management Project', and the 'KeePing P in the Soil Project' are a part of Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program that aims to improve the health of our South West estuaries.
The Feral Cat Project is supported by funding from the State Government’s Feral Cat Management Grants. Funding is delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s State Natural Resource Management (NRM) program in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions. It is facilitated through a continuing collaboration between the Lower Blackwood LCDC and the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group
The Feral Pig Focus Project is funded by a Community Stewardship Grant, an initiative of the Western Australian Government managed through the State National Resource Management (NRM) Program at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Additional funding has been provided the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, the Shire of Nannup, Peppermint Estate Pty Ltd, and Delta Forestry Pty Ltd. This project is facilitated through a continuing partnership between the Lower Blackwood LCDC and the Lower Blackwood Vertebrate Pest Management Group.
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