Lismore Biodiversity Award winners mix macadamia farming with innovative environmental management

23 September 2019

2019 Lismore council biodiversity awards winners Stephen Genrich and Bruno Bertolo with CCC officer Diana Unsworth

The Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) project was delighted to be part of the 2019 Lismore Biodiversity Awards to showcase the inspiring work of farmers, volunteers, and others working to protect healthy habitats in the Lismore City Council region.

CCC sponsored the Primary Producer Award category and our CCC Officer Diana Unsworth sat on the judging panel that selected this year’s winners, macadamia growers, Bruno Bertolo and Stephen Genrich.

Bruno and Stephen have constructed a wetland on their farm at Whian Whian north of Lismore, an area known for its beautiful rainforests and waterfalls. The wetland filters run off from their macadamia farm, helping protect water quality in the local Rocky Creek catchment.

They have also made significant improvements to drainage management and erosion control, enhanced biodiversity within the farm as part of their integrated pest management plan, planted a koala corridor along their boundary, and implemented
large scale compost production to improve soil biology and organic carbon levels.

The Primary Producer Biodiversity Award assessed how nominees demonstrated best practice in managing biodiversity alongside agricultural production, and how they have shared their knowledge, experience and outcomes with the broader community.

Bruno and Stephen have opened their farm to the public during field days, and hosted students from schools and university projects to show how they have incorporated regenerative agriculture and biodiversity into a successful farming operation.

“The skill of sharing your knowledge and experience is an important aspect in initiating and spreading best management practices to friends, neighbours and industry colleagues, and their passion is contagious,” said Diana.

“The judging panel was very impressed with the way Bruno and Stephen have achieved the change from conventional to regenerative farming while maintaining a productive orchard.”

“They have embraced biodiversity as an important asset in a working farm, improved water quality, minimised fertiliser run off and increased the natural resilience of their farming system.”

The CCC team congratulate Bruno and Stephen on their Biodiversity Award win and their innovative approach to combining productive farming with progressive environmental management.

The Clean Coastal Catchments project is funded under the NSW Government's Marine Estate Management Strategy. The ten-year Strategy was developed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority to coordinate the management of the marine estate.