Dung Beetles for Healthy Land,Healthy Horses & Healthy Water

Dung beetles improve soil health, reduce parasites and runoff, and support healthier paddocks and cleaner waterways at the source.

Dung Beetles for Healthy Land,Healthy Horses & Healthy Water

Saturday 14 March 2026 | 9.30am – 12.30pm
📍 Springlife Conferencing, 178 Springwood Road, Springwood

This workshop is delivered as part of Upper Tingalpa Creekcare, a Rivercare initiative of Seqwater, delivered in partnership with local catchment and landcare groups to help protect the health of the region’s waterways.

Seqwater sources the region’s drinking water through a network of rivers, creeks and dams across South East Queensland. This water is known as raw water and is later treated at Seqwater’s water treatment plants before it reaches the tap. Protecting the quality of raw water at the source helps ensure water can be efficiently and cost-effectively treated into clean, safe drinking water for the community.

Rivercare is a water quality improvement program that supports local landholders to adopt best-practice land management initiatives that protect catchments and the health of our waterways. The program is designed and delivered in partnership with Source Protection Partners and provides mutually beneficial outcomes for landholders, the community and the environment.

Why dung beetles matter on horse properties

Dung beetles provide an essential ecosystem service on horse properties and other grazing systems. Through the breakdown of manure, they improve soil structure, recycle nutrients, and help manage pests and parasites. These benefits support healthier horses and paddocks, while also reducing nutrient runoff and improving water quality in creeks and waterways upstream of Seqwater’s water supply intakes.

Improving land management practices on horse properties contributes directly to healthier catchments and supports Rivercare’s goal of protecting raw water quality at the source.

About the workshop

This facilitated, practical workshop is presented by EcoInsects and is designed specifically for horse owners and land managers within the Upper Tingalpa Creek catchment. Participants will learn how dung beetles function as ecosystem engineers, which species are active in the region (or may be missing), and how paddock management decisions influence soil health, animal health and water quality outcomes.

The workshop also explores how landholders can develop on-property strategies that support dung beetle populations and align with best-practice land management promoted through the Rivercare program.

What you’ll learn

• The role of native and introduced dung beetles
• Understanding and valuing dung beetles as ecosystem service providers
• Regional species, seasonal activity and functional roles
• Links between dung beetles, parasites, worms and pesticide use
• On-property dung beetle planning and management strategies
• Sit-down dung beetle identification session and Q&A

About EcoInsects

EcoInsects was established in 2021 following the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers project, which focused on improving dung beetle distribution and quantifying their environmental and economic benefits. EcoInsects works with land managers to build understanding of the ecosystem services provided by beneficial insects and supplies fit-for-purpose dung beetle species for different land uses.

Workshop presenter

Paul Meibusch, Founder & Director, EcoInsects
Paul has over 20 years’ experience across agribusiness and agricultural sciences. He specialises in identifying practical on-ground challenges and delivering science-based solutions for soils, animal health and land management, with direct relevance for horse properties.