Our project site was 0.4ha Wallum Woodland/Dry Rainforest abutting a spring-fed Urban Wetland at Sunshine Beach. All levels of vegetation-trees, vines, understory and ground covers were covered in invasive introduced weeds entwined with dumped rubbish. By removing the weed species, including all prolific seeders, and revegetating with site specific multi strata plants, we have put in place the necessary requirements for re-establishment of resilient biodiverse wildlife habitat. The project area is the final link of a 1.9ha site with 4 distinct ecosystems and associated vegetation types. It links the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems which are critically inter-dependent.
Quite simply, without a 12 month Australian Government grant, this critically important project would not have been possible. We needed contractors to assist us with removing 20 Cocos Palms, 25 Umbrella Trees, Tecoma Stans (Yellow Bells), Pepper Trees, Leucaena, Ochna and large stands of Lantana. Then our volunteers could begin systematically and methodically removing all the other invasive smothering weeds.
Before..
And after.
When the months of COVID restrictions ended, Noosa Bush Beach and Creek Care volunteers increased their working bees to weekly, to ensure this project was on track. At 28 Working Bees, 275 volunteers worked for 681 hours collected 16 tons of rubbish, filled Pink Skips with 6,600 kg weed overburden, mounded, sweated and mulched on site 40 cubic metres of weeds. Erosion control jute mat and coir logs were used as needed on the steep banks and to restrict pollutants entering the spring fed wetland and creek. Council assisted by removing our mounded rubbish which included multitudes of tyres, car batteries, a boat trailer, carpet & underlay, a couple of couches, chairs, building materials and even a garden shed. We revegetated with 1165 multi-strata plants, mulched and hand watered ensuring plants are securely established. Our volunteers will be doing regular on-going maintenance.
We successfully achieved our aim to re-establish resilient habitat and linkage. As well, our regular working bees on difficult terrain, are an important part of keeping us all fit mentally and physically fit … and the morning teas afterwards… well they are good too!
By Jill Campbell, Noosa Bush Beach & Creek Care Group Volunteer Co-Ordinator