Consultancy Details:

7.5hrs Consult = $825

8 hrs Travel = $528

12 hrs Concept Plan Draft = $1320

Total = $2673 or $20/ha

Allow another 3-5 hours for revisions and species listings

If detail plan required then allow another 5-10 hrs for design & 10 hrs for costed Bill of Quantities

Brief:

To improve paddock layouts, shelter and stock water provisions on this 133 ha property in the steep to rolling coastal clay loam hills above Wonthaggi & Inverloch in Victoria's Gippsland.

Design Overview:

During the site analysis it was decided that the site would be better suited to wide spaced tree crops as opposed to belts. We wanted to create a 'pastoral parkland' with oaks, chestnuts, carobs and other larger, longer lived trees planted on a 30 x 30m grid using a Keyline® inspired geometry. During establishment these long-lived trees would be guarded from stock using portable/temporary single/double electric wires as the stock (beef cattle) are only in each paddock for a limited time and then allowed to recover at this stage for up to 130 days. The Keyline® layout provides the symmetry necessary for this kind of management as the trees remain planted on a grid such that cattle can graze up and down or across hills and maintain access to watering points (troughs).

Client currently has medium sized paddocks which they graze 150 steers upon until trampled. Owing to the herd being the size it is they are they tend to mob naturally and so the grazing is similar to that of higher density grazing only the manure distribution is not as good. The client is very busy with family and business and so this management system fits in with the 'quality of life' equation. Long recovery periods are the key here and as a result the pastures are increasing in diversity and quality and this property stands out from the neighbours with its volume of feed by comparison. 

Concept Plan Draft 

Keyline 'Pastoral Parkland' System Method of Design