Congratulations to NBBCC (Noosa Bushland Beach & Creek Care) group who have been successful in receiving a 3 year QLD GOV Grassroots Environmental Grant to assist volunteers with Cooloosa Urban Wetland Stage 5 rehabilitation – The Big One!
NICA is the Auspice Partner.
During 2017-21, NICA was the Auspice partner for 3 QLD Government’s Community Sustainability Action Grants for Bushcare group, Noosa Bush Beach and Creek Care (NBBCC), involving the rehabilitation of Cooloosa Urban Wetland at Sunshine Beach in 4 stages.
It was a massive undertaking, involving tons of rubbish from each stage, even more tons of invasive weeds and thousands of plants to rehabilitate.
The entire area had been used as an illicit dumping spot for garden waste and building renovation rubbish for a lifetime. It was being smothered by invasive introduced vines, native vegetation had been displaced by multi-strata weeds.
Midway through stage 4, COVID intervened when volunteers had to down tools.
The success of these projects was due to the ongoing persistence of a large energetic and enthusiastic group, but then, over the next few years, there were periods of prolonged and sustained rain periods (remember the Rain Bomb, Brisbane floods and 2 metres of rain). Impossible for volunteers but ideal for the remaining White Morning Glory vine.. which galloped on and over.
As soon as the rain clears, hopefully soon, rehabilitation works will begin in earnest and NICA will be putting a call out it our volunteers to lend a hand to tackle the ‘beast’, which is white Morning Glory vine, capable of growing 1 metre in a week… and it is doing so.
