Noosa & District Landcare Group - Celebrating 21 Years Since Incorporation

What is Best for the

Koala? 1-2

Chairman’s Report

Management

Committee / Staff

3

Members’ Bits and Pieces

4

Annual General Meeting 5

Waterwtach News 6-7

Community Nature

Conservation Program

News

8-9

Contractors’ Workshop a Success

11

Five Little Boys and One

Little Girl 12

Noosa Christian College

Helps the Environment 13

Molly and Kim to the

Rescue … Again! 13

Local Business Ads 14

Ornithological Swearing? 15

Noosa Landcare

Services 16

Inside this issue: Summer Issue December 2013

Conservation

&

Sustainability

PO Box 278

Pomona Qld 4568

Station Street

Pomona Qld 4568

Phone: 07 5485 2468

Fax: 07 5485 0413

E-mail: admin@noosalandcare.org

Web: www.noosalandcare.org

Noosa & District

Landcare Group

We wish all our Members and readers a peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Thank you for your support throughout 2013 to achieve our environmental goals.

Sponsors for Noosa Landcare’s 21st celebrations on 3 October 2013

Bronze sponsor Silver sponsor Bronze sponsor Gold sponsor

Koala Conservation & Awareness Workshop asks the big question ...

“What is Best for the Koala?” by Vanessa Moscato & Carolyn Beaton

THE collective wisdom and experience of

six koala conservation groups and their

individual insights into what is best for the

koala, was shared with a large gathering of

koala lovers who filled Noosa & District

Landcare’s office at the Rural Futures

Centre to capacity. Local, state and

national perspectives on topical koala

conservation issues – politics, current

research, rescue efforts, vet protocols and

on-ground habitat preservation and

restoration endeavours - were aired.

Phillip Moran (Noosa & District Landcare)

spoke of how Landcare collaborated with

nine private landholders and the Sunshine

Coast Council in the recent planting of

1,000 eucalypts from Tandur to

Tinbeerwah. While this project has

achieved its objective of restoring cleared

or degraded land adjacent to good quality

koala habitat, he described it as “just a

drop in the ocean”.

The audience was shocked by a

presentation by Jennifer Adams, Senior Vet

Nurse at the Australia Zoo Wildlife

Hospital (AZWH), and her revelation that

3,660 koalas have been admitted to the

AZWH since 2008 alone.

Despite the extensive experience and

specialist care delivered around the clock

by orthopaedic surgeons, vets, vet nurses

and volunteers, such is the severity of

Continued on page 2

Deborah Tabart OAM from the Australian Koala Foundation with Vanessa Moscato, Noosa Landcare

Newsletter compiled and edited

by Margie Cosgrave

Noosa & District Landcare Group Page 2

“What is Best for the Koala?” (cont from page 1)

From left: Julie O’Connor and Dave Burrows, Sunshine Coast Council; Jen Adams, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital; Vanessa Moscato, Noosa & District Landcare; and Michelle Daily, Tandur landholder and koala conservationist

injury and illness affecting koalas arriving in care that

two-thirds of those admitted to the Wildlife Hospital

have to be humanely euthanized or die while in care.

Only one third of koala admissions are able to be

released back to the wild. Most of the koalas admitted

to the Hospital are three to five years old, which is

when the adolescent males and females disperse and

move away from their mothers. Jennifer also shared,

somewhat reassuringly, that re-admissions were not a

common occurrence. She clarified that the Wildlife

Hospital is under a legislative obligation to release

rehabilitated koalas within five kilometres of their

rescue site.

Deborah Tabart OAM, from the Australian Koala

Foundation (AKF), shared her dream of the

establishment of a Koala Protection Act, a simple piece

of legislation modelled on the American Bald Eagle Act.

Deborah hopes to see the legislation tabled in the new

Federal Parliament in early 2014, in concert with a

dedicated lobbying effort by the AKF’s Koala Army.

Deborah urged us to assist their campaign by “pecking

our politicians into submission”.

Conservation of this species is contingent upon the

protection of all remnants of good quality koala habitat.

Deborah therefore urged us to get to know our koala

food trees, tag them and join her Koala Army. “There

isn’t enough time to plant new trees,” says Deborah.

“We just can’t afford to cut down the ones we already

have. It will take 2,000 saplings to get one tree the size

of a telegraph pole, and

take 30 – 50 years,

which will be too late

for koalas on the

Sunshine Coast.

Road signage doesn’t

work, unless it is

policed. Local dog laws don’t work unless they are

policed.”

The Australian Koala Foundation has printed a very

large Koala Habitat Map of the Noosa area, now

housed at the Rural Futures Centre in Pomona for the

community to view. Julie O’Connor from the Sunshine

Coast Council will develop a new operational Koala

Conservation Plan. Dave Burrows, from Council’s

Land for Wildlife program, highlighted how voluntary

conservation and environmental restoration by private

landholders over the past 50 years has created a

valuable wildlife corridor connecting Woondum and

Pinbarren National Parks.

Meghan Halverson, of Queensland Koala Crusaders Inc

(QKC), delivered an emotive take-home message -

“There is a real urgency for action and we need to

work collaboratively to achieve what’s best for the

koala”. She hopes that when QKC re-submits the

2012 Sunshine Coast Koala Summit Report

recommendations to the new Noosa Council in early

2014, their response will not mirror that of the

dismissive Sunshine Coast Council.

This event was part of a workshop series run by Noosa

Landcare as part of a Queensland Government-funded

habitat restoration project. The evening concluded

with networking and everyone was treated to an

ayurvedic meal prepared by Danielle Gonsal from

Ohara for Life.

Whilst not everyone agrees on what’s best for the

koala, it is clear that what we need is an engaged

community that supports local action and a rapid

response from all levels of government.

Summer and Anika, the next generation of wildlife carers

Danielle and Carla, from Ohara for Life who

catered for the event

December 2013 Page 3

Management Committee

Dr John Cronin Chair

George Kootoofa Vice Chair

Dick Barnes Treasurer

Geoff Black Secretary

Paul Steels Committee

Luke Barrowcliffe Committee

Kim Barnes Committee

Wayne Morris Committee

Phil Moran Committee (Operational)

Staff

Phil Moran General Manager

Aaron Brunton Nurseries Manager /

Contracts Manager

Paul Sprecher Contracts Manager

Anita Russell Waterwatch Co-ordinator &

Program Support Officer

Wendy May Community Nature

Conservation Co-ordinator

Vanessa Moscato Program Support Officer

Lyn Harm Greenhouse (Retail Nursery)

Aimee Roil Nursery Supervisor

Melvina Osborne Futures Centre Nursery

Catrina Samson Futures Centre Nursery

Darrin Barden NRM Crew Supervisor

Dylan D’angio NRM Crew Supervisor

Damien Morley NRM Crew Supervisor

Charlie Sparks NRM Crew Supervisor

Rae O’Flynn NRM Crew / CNCP

Peter Hewston NRM Crew

Ross Marks NRM Crew

Geoff Haack NRM Crew

Saul Kenyon NRM Crew

Jack Macdonald NRM Crew

Dylan Sparks NRM Crew

Kyle Sanderson NRM Crew

Luke Allen NRM Crew

Matt Defreitas NRM Crew

Sam Willner NRM Crew

Kim Maddison Administration Manager

Trish Bignall Administration Officer

Margie Cosgrave Administration Assistant

FOLLOWING the AGM on the 5th of December we have

a new Management Committee, with some familiar faces

and a few new recruits. I am very happy to take on the

role of Chair for this year and welcome all my fellow

committee members to what I hope will be a very

exciting and rewarding year ahead. Collectively the

committee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience

in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors of the

economy, as well as a great depth of knowledge in

environmental and resource management matters.

Noosa & District Landcare Group (NDLG) is already a

major contributor to the social, environmental and

economic sustainability of the Noosa district and a

significant contributor to our local economy. I hope we

will be able to increase this contribution in the coming

year through furthering the objectives or the organisation

which include, among others, providing education to all

sections of the community in the understanding of the

principles of conservation of the natural environment and

promoting rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation of

land, soils and local waterways.

Amongst our strategic objectives for the year ahead we

hope to expand our online and social media presence,

building upon the great work the team have been doing in

that area over the past year. This and other similar

initiatives are designed to enhance our ability to

communicate with our members and the wider

community in order to further the aims of the

organisation. We also aim to continue to expand our

partnerships with federal, state and local government, as

well as with private sector organisations and individual

landowners, to demonstrate the great skill and expertise

of our on-ground teams in conservation of the natural

environment and rehabilitation, regeneration,

revegetation of land, soils and local waterways.

To all, including members, volunteers and all the

wonderful staff at NDLG, I would like on behalf of the

management committee to express a warm and heartfelt

thank you for the great support and work you have

contributed during the past year.

I would also like to wish you and your families a very

happy Christmas and may the New Year bring you much

joy – we look forward to working with you in 2014.

Report from our new Chairman

John Cronin

Page 4 December 2013

Not sure when your Membership is / was due?

The due date for your Membership renewal

is shown on the mailing label on this newsletter

(if you receive it by post)

MEMBERSHIP

Standard 1 year - $35

Standard 2 years - $65

Standard 3 years - $95

We offer other membership packages too.

For information or to join/renew:

http://www.noosalandcare.org/nlc-memberform2012.pdf

Members’ Bits and Pieces

We have many THANK YOU’S this quarter!

Bunnings Marquee, cargo nets, BBQ, folding

table, as well as a range of tools

and other provisions

For use by 50 Waterwatch volunteers

and 18 bushcare volunteer groups in

their conservation work

Pomona Fruit & Vegie Market Generous discount on produce For Richmond Birdwing Conservation

Network Annual General Meeting in

November

Dan Law, Sunshine Tree Surgery Mulch For use in Station Place public garden in

Pomona

Nina Saxton Computer screen, keyboard,

speakers, camera

For use in our offices

Julie Roberts Bags For weed collection

Vipassana Meditation Centre Irrigation supplies, tree guards,

bamboo stakes

Delivered by Cam from Vipassana

Sonia MacDonald, Vanessa Moscato, Emma

Wright, Margie & Brian Cosgrave, Molly & Kim

Maddison, Anita Russell, Rae O’Flynn, Dylan

D’angio, Mari Gray and Michael Egan, Geoff

Hewston, Nina Saxton, Mary Neil, Wayne Morris

- and many others!

In-kind donations For our Garage Sale on 26 October.

We didn’t manage to record all donors’

names, but please accept our thanks for

your contribution of items.

Mari Gray, Saul Kenyon, Angelina & Letitia

Wilson, Michael Anderson, Joadie Hardy, Tom &

Lilly Anderson, Trish & Kevin Bignall, Margie &

Brian Cosgrave, Anita Russell, Kim & Molly

Maddison, Darrin Barden, Charlie & Prue Sparks

Volunteering their time At our Garage Sale on 26 October

Calendar of Events

Date & Time Event Contact

Start of February 2014 Working bees resume for Community Nature Conservation Program

Wendy, Noosa Landcare: (07) 5485 2155

Start of February 2014 Water quality monitoring resumes for Waterwatch

Anita, Noosa Landcare: (07) 5485 2155

Would you be interested in coming to

High Tea for charity at the RFC? For more about this idea, please read our

article in the December E-news at:

http://www.noosalandcare.org/e-news-dec2013.html

Please let us know if you are interested:

admin@noosalandcare.org or phone (07) 5485 2468

Page 5

Annual General Meeting 2012-13 - Phil Moran

Page 5 December 2013

New Management Committee, from left: Paul Steels, George Kootoofa, John Cronin

Phillip Moran, Wayne Morris, Geoff Black, Kim Barnes, Richard Barnes

(Inset: Luke Barrowcliffe)

AND so this is Christmas … a time to spend time with

family, pray for rain and go to Annual General

Meetings!

This year, Noosa & District Landcare Group (NDLG)

held its AGM on a steamy Thursday 5th of December at

the Rural Futures Centre in Pomona.

Among the interested attendees were several of our

partner organisations: Susie Chapman of SEQ

Catchments, Ian McKay from Mary River Catchment

Co-ordinating Committee, Ben McMullen from

Sunshine Coast Council and Narelle McCarthy of

Sunshine Coast Environment Council. Also present

was Juliette Greenway from Sunshine Coast TAFE.

Secretary Paul Steels read the Minutes of the previous

AGM and got proceedings under way. In his

Chairman’s report, George Kootoofa commented on

the 21st celebration held earlier in the year and

remarked how far the group has come.

George also noted that with a change in Federal, State

and now Council governance, NDLG will be entering a

period of change, one that we will have to adapt to.

Truer words hath never been spoken!

In the Treasurer’s report, Dr John Cronin noted the

fall in revenue for financial year 2012/13, due in large

part to the cessation of the State Government’s Green

Army program. John noted that NDLG is a major

contributor to the local economy, as well as looking

after our environment and providing educational

opportunities for the community.

In his report, Phillip Moran noted the loss of revenue

as above and that the group was able to increase its

work with our partner organisations to alleviate this to

an extent. NDLG works closely with these partners,

including regional bodies (Burnett Mary Regional

Group and SEQ Catchments), the Sunshine Coast

Council, Mary River Catchment Coordinating

Committee, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association

(NICA), Noosa Biosphere Ltd and Seqwater. He

emphasised the point that by working collaboratively,

NDLG has been able to achieve considerable on-

ground actions.

He also noted the educational activities undertaken as

a core principle of Noosa Landcare. The effort of all

the volunteers was noted and this includes the

members of the committee. The staff of NDLG have

all done a terrific job, one of which they can all be

proud.

Michael T. Harper was approved as auditor for the

next financial year.

The committee stood down and the meeting was

handed over to Tony Haslam (NICA) to conduct the

official business of the day.

The new committee for 2013/14 was then announced

to the assembled throng and is listed on the third page

of this newsletter.

Tony thanked the retiring committee and welcomed

the new. It was very satisfying to hear Tony comment

how pleased NICA was to partner with NDLG for the

good of our very special region. This sentiment was

echoed by the redoubtable Susie Chapman from SEQ

Catchments … and a perfect segue into a BBQ lunch

and the end of the AGM for this year!

Page 6

Waterwatch - Anita Russell

December 2013

Let’s Change for the Better - Waterwatch Survey 2013

WHEN I met Leah at Heritage Park, she had just

finished work. Looking back on this photo, I’m sure

she was wondering why I had asked her to monitor a

pond full of Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) - Declared Class 2

pest species - and a dry creek bed, which barely had a

lick of scungy water in a small pool.

A week later Reid (another valued Noosa Landcare

volunteer) and I took Leah out to show her the ropes

of volunteer water quality monitoring. Leah has since

sent me a photo of the same spot where we sat in the

creek during training, only this time full of water. This

gives me hope for an early rain season, with cooler

days.

Wooroi Creek is an important part of the connecting

ecosystems. Starting from about Sunrise Road in

Tinbeerwah, Wooroi Creek meanders down through

Tewantin National Park under a few small culverts at

Cooroy-Noosa Road (Jack Hassett Drive). As it winds

through Heritage Park, Wooroi creek connects

approximately five branches of the creek from

Tewantin National Park, before heading around

Tewantin Noosa Golf Club and the Noosa Sports

Complex, under McKinnon Drive through Tewantin,

through Wooroi Creek Reserve, then runs out into the

Noosa River right next to Moorindil Street Wharf and

the North Shore Ferry.

Leah monitoring Wooroi Creek at Heritage Park

(Anita on left)

Welcome Leah

IN August this year we were contacted by Amanda

Bromley, Senior Stakeholder Engagement Consultant at

GHD (a consulting company) in Kawana. Amanda is

currently studying Participatory Approaches to

Development as part of her post-graduate Certificate

in International and Community Development.

Amanda thought it would be a great idea to help out a

local community organisation while working on her

research project, and so contacted Noosa

Waterwatch. After a coffee with myself and Phil, we

decided that a short survey to the Waterwatch

volunteers would help support the Waterwatch by

providing feedback to us about the program,

improvements that need to be made and information

about individuals to support our data records.

Amanda set up a survey through the wonderful on-line

SurveyMonkey. To our amazement we received a 50%

response from the Waterwatch volunteers. It

surprised me that 60% of respondents have a diploma

or higher. One respondent said they had “too many

(qualifications) to itemise”.

30% of people monitor four or more sites

65% have been monitoring their waterways for

more than one year.

40% spend more than more than one hour at

the water monitoring site each month

68% pick up garbage and litter

52% spend time weeding or doing weed

management activities at those water

monitoring sites

36% do recreational activities at their sites

(people also said that they do school education

activities, check water flow and check for

turbidity, among other things)

63% of water monitoring volunteers check the

rainfall regularly

As a result of the overwhelming 83% response, we will

be providing yearly annual reports to all volunteers

about the sites they monitor, including photos, graphs,

data, explanations and interpretations. Also, at the

annual training day we will review water monitoring

training and provide data entry training. 11% of people

were interested in doing additional activities like

catchment crawls and platypus watch. Some of my

favourite comments were “shoot the guy who keeps

throwing old tyres on the creek” and “Best part of the

month for me! I love going out to do these sites”.

Thanks to Amanda for doing the survey for us. We

look forward to the results. Thank you to all

volunteers who participated; it was great to receive

feedback about what you want, what you actually do

and why it’s important to you.

Page 7 December 2013

Healthy Waterways Report Card

Continued on page 10

Northern Report Card Results

Freshwater

B Noosa Catchment

C Maroochy Catchment

C Mooloolah Catchment

C+ Pumicestone Catchment

Bay Areas

C- Pumicestone Passage

Estuaries

B+ Noosa Estuary

C- Maroochy Estuary

B- Mooloolah Estuary

CONGRATULATIONS Noosa Catchment. Everyone involved in

maintaining our waterways deserves to be recognised. If you are a

recreational fisher, enjoy water sports, walks along the river or picnicking

in the park or have a business around the Noosa Catchment (Kin Kin

farmers, Noosa River tours, restaurateurs) – well done.

Thank you for going the marine speed limit, picking up garbage, planting

trees, fencing your creek off from cattle, disposing of waste properly,

reporting hazards, encouraging wildlife and adhering to paths and

designated channels.

Healthy Waterways has released its annual South East Queensland Health

Waterways Report Card results.

Noosa freshwater streams have increased in “health” or water quality and

so have the Noosa Estuary/ saline creeks, which are not the ocean. This

year, Noosa Estuary was the only estuary in all of South East Queensland

to receive an A grade. We must be doing something right!

A water catchment is defined as a point where all water sources drain to.

This could be a reservoir, lake, dam, river or ocean. They are usually

surrounded by mountains or hills or they could be manmade structures

like dams.

Noosa Catchment is made up of several sub-catchments. Starting from

the Upper Noosa River in the state forest are the shallow Lake Como and

Lake Cooloola. The Upper Noosa River and Kin Kin creek meet at the

very wide and shallow Lake Cootharaba. Lake Cooroibah is situated

between Johns Landing and the well-known Lower Noosa River. Lake

Doonella in Tewantin provides another overflow for the Noosa River, and

Lake Weyba is a great estuarine habitat and breeding ground for both

oceanic and freshwater species. Lake Weyba provides a warm mixing

ground for the salty, deep Noosa River and the freshwater springs that

dribble out through wallum and heathlands of Noosa National park.

Noosa Catchment, and especially the lake sub-catchments, are surrounded

by lush vegetation and sandy dunes. It is rumored that during extremely

dry conditions and king tides, salt water has made it as far as Harry’s Hut

in the Upper Noosa River.

Page 8 December 2013

Community Nature Conservation Program

BUSHCARE August to November has been action-

packed. As the latest round of the Coastal Caring for

our Country funds have come to an end, we can look

back and see great improvement in some coastal

bushland reserves as a result of an engaged community

and additional contracting works. This groundwork

has helped preserve native habitat and natural systems

that link a mostly urban mosaic of ecosystems. The

Noosa district coastline has been experiencing intense

beach erosion and extreme weather conditions,

something for us to pay close attention to in the

future.

In September, Sunshine Beach Bushcare and Weyba

Creek Bushcare groups were awarded funding from

the Queensland Government’s Everyone’s

Environment grants program. Great strides in

community engagement and green thumb action have

demonstrated these groups are an eco-force worth

supporting. Congratulations; we’re looking forward to

contributing more to conservation outcomes in these

areas of beauty and biodiversity value.

The bi-annual Sunshine Coast Conservation Forum at

Kawana was a special event with guest speaker Tim

Flannery addressing a full house of Sunshine Coast

bushcarers. Flannery's storytelling abilities and

gratitude to everyone working for conservation were

warmly received and the appreciation for the climate

champion, tinny-rowing marsupial researcher was

evidently mutual.

Noosa Biosphere Day 2013 showcased how bushcare

individuals are involved in a variety of environmental

causes and community sustainability movements. The

event along the Noosa River was a hit and as I visited

various stalls it was warming to see people contributing

to the Biosphere in many ways. What a diverse and

talented lot! Thank you all for coming to see the

Noosa & District Landcare stall too.

The annual Kids in Action, Kids Teaching Kids

conference engaged 27 schools from across South East

Queensland, supported by the Community Nature

Conservation Program (CNCP) and Target. Creative

presentations by Pomona State School and Sunshine

Beach State School showcased progressive edible

gardens, recycling systems and nurturing of the natural

environment by weeding and planting native plants on

school grounds. The interactive two days are a

highlight of the calendar, with excitement brimming as

the students inspire one another with innovations for a

sustainable future – training for true eco-warriors.

We are also fortunate to have a number of special

volunteers who have taken the initiative to be involved

in conservation with local schools, on campus and in

bushland reserves. Thank you for sharing your

leadership, knowledge and enthusiasm with our young

people. No doubt these memories and experiences

have created a green connection in their psyche.

A new trailer for community conservation is on its

way. Spoonbill Street bushcare group has been

supported by Energex to purchase a trailer.

Seasons Changing - by Gemma Wright

Seaview Creek bushcare group

Kids Teaching Kids - 27 schools participated throughout South East Queensland

Continued on next page

Page 9 December 2013

Community Nature Conservation Program (cont)

IT’S not every year that two esteemed

bushcare bounties of knowledge join

forces to create an amazing resource for

conservation.

In October each bushcare group was

issued a signed copy of Weeds of the

Sunshine Coast by Joan Heavey and Sonia

MacDonald. Volunteers have been

instructed to study and memorise every

listed alien suspect that could have

malicious intent and EXTERMINATE.

Volunteers are already referring to the

life-sized pages of this revolutionary tool

at working bees, dubbing it a 'bible' they

will take to every working bee.

This wonderful resource is available for

purchase at Noosa Landcare’s office in

Station Street, Pomona.

The new lightning bolt green trailer will be available for

community conservation events and school visits in

2014. I look forward to hearing of its adventures and

what its nickname will be.

To celebrate a great year of bushcare in the region, we

have enjoyed Christmas morning teas at our working

bee sites in November, accompanied by gifts of ‘Thank

you’ jelly beans, tinsel and calendars featuring historical

images from across the region. I have been fortunate

enough to personally say thank you and farewell to

over 100 dedicated volunteers this month. It has been

a wonderful journey to share. Amazing handy work,

care and camaraderie in our local bushland reserves is

keeping them clean and natural.

Every bushland volunteer has taken action to

contribute to conservation in the region, building on a

foundation of respect for nature. Conservation for our

natural environment is a passion I've seen shine

through in various forms. People identify with their

environment and it helps the spirit. A community of

people working together strengthens a culture of

caring and listening. Working with people who give

from the heart for the natural environment, has been

an honour and an inspiration that is contagious.

Keep up the tremendous work you do and continue to

engage the generations of tomorrow. It takes a special

type of person to volunteer. Congratulations and thank

you to all.

As I prepare to travel parts of Asia in the New Year, I

reflect that I am extremely grateful for my time with

the Noosa Landcare community, co-workers and the

broader community; in particular Noosa Integrated

Catchment Association, schools and the Noosa

Biosphere. Thank you to the Sunshine Coast Council’s

CNCP for their support and growth of the program

since 2008. The Bushcare program will continue with

Noosa & District Landcare and the Noosa Council in

2014.

I welcome Wendy May to the role of coordinator for

Noosa district bushcare with Noosa Council. I have no

doubt that Wendy will be a great ambassador for

community conservation, supported by Rae O’Flynn at

some working bees and a terrific Landcare family.

Many thanks and best wishes for a new cycle in Noosa

bushcare!

Spoonbill Street bushcare group

Weed Identification Book Launch and Use

Page 10 December 2013

Healthy Waterways Report Card (cont from page 7)

So why do we have to maintain our waterways if we

are leading the Healthy waterways in South East

Queensland catchments? The lakes play an incredibly

important role in the filtering, heating and mixing of

our waterways. Grinham & Dunbabin suggested that if

Lake Cootharaba didn’t exist in its current state, or the

pristine input from the Upper Noosa River was cut off,

the lower Noosa River could be plagued with nutrient

related issues.* This means that the Noosa Yacht &

Rowing Club, Lake Doonella, the Frying Pan and all the

canals and creeks of the housing estates in Noosaville,

could all be covered in algal blooms and smell of

sulphur.

An increase in sedimentation of any or all of the

waterways will drastically reduce breeding and nursery

habitats, ultimately reducing the fish and aquatic species

of the Noosa River and waterways. Silting up the lakes

or entrances of the rivers will reduce the input and

output of nutrients and unbalance the concentration of

nutrients. A blockage in a waterway could stop

the force of tides that drive mixing of the fresh and

saline waters.

The sum of all this is to: maintain native vegetation,

reduce and control unnatural erosion, buffer riparian

zones, increase mangroves along waterways, maintain

wetlands and ephemeral wetlands to provide flood and

overflow zones and habitat, minimize your impact on

the waterways and repair any damage.

Please keep up the good work! Remember you can

help monitor your nearby waterway by visual

inspection on a regular basis and report any changes.

And you can join the volunteer Waterwatch team by

testing the water quality once a month.

Let’s make an effort to ensure that all the streams,

creeks, canals and drainage lines are kept clean and

healthy.

* Grinham A. & Dunbabin M., Lake Cootharaba Sediment

and Nutrient dynamics: towards a system model, April

2012, page 14. Not published.

Kin Kin

Kin Kin No 3 Bridge at Eastern Branch Rd

Paynes Creek, Kin Kin

Kin Kin Bridge near pub

Golden Gully Rd Creek

Sister Tree Creek, Sister Tree Creek Rd between

Barney’s Bananas and Wahpunga Lane

First bridge, Moran Group Rd

Wahpunga Creek: First bridge, Bunney’s Lane

Wahpunga Creek & tributary: east end of Wahpunga

Lane, north end of Bunney’s Lane

Cooroy

Six Mile Creek: Cooroy Mountain Rd

Cooroy Creek and Six Mile Creek: Elm St

Cooroy Creek: town centre, Bruce Hwy, Garnet St,

Mary River Rd

Six Mile Creek: Lake Macdonald Dr, Collwood Rd,

Gumboil Rd, Sivyers Rd, Dath Henderson Rd

Federal, Cooran

Middle Creek

Coles Creek

Skyring Creek

Six Mile Creek: Brewers Rd/Old Noosa Rd/Howe Rd

Pomona

Six Mile Creek: Louis Bazzo Dr, Graham’s Rd

Cooroora Creek (wet season only) from Settlers Rise,

Hollis Rd, Pioneer Rd, Rules Rd, Reserve St, Subway AV,

Station St

Tewantin

Wooroi Creek: Tewantin Boreen Point Rd

Lake Macdonald

Six Mile Creek: Noosa Cooroy Rd

Sunshine Beach

Allison Park Beach Access 33, Adams St, Ross Cr,

Sobraon St, Tingira Cr – off David Low Way Heathland

Dr/Edwards St/Eenie Creek Rd

Cooroibah, Cootharabah, Kin Kin

Sandy Creek: Galloways Lane

Scrubby Creek: Kinmond Creek Road

Kinmond Creek: Dr Pages Rd

Ridgewood, Black Mountain, Belli Park

Black Fellow Creek

Happy Jack Creek

Cooroibah Ringtail Creek, Lake Macdonald

Between Louis Bazzo Drive, Ringtail Creek, McKinnon

Drive

Noosaville, Doonan, Weyba Downs: Eenie Creek, Lake Weyba

Do you live near a creek or stream?

We are calling out for more water monitoring volunteers for the sites

below … Can you help? Please call Anita on (07) 5485 2155

Page 11

Contractors’ Workshop a Success - Tony

December 2013

The Forum and Workshop held on 14 November was

very successful, with around 50 local landscapers and

gardening contractors attending.

The night was organised by the Noosa Integrated

Catchment Association (NICA) at the instigation of

local Sunshine Beach weeding champion, Jill Campbell.

Amongst other giveaways and information was a free

weeds identification guide put together by Stephanie

Haslam, with 31 weeds describing both the weeds and

removal techniques.

Local environmentalist, Noosa Landcare’s Phil Moran,

gave a sobering presentation on the extent of the weed

problem and its potential financial impacts on business

and areas that relied on tourism and environmental

attractions.

As well as focussing on the vexing issue of garden

escapes into conservation areas, the evening also

brought up the bubbling discontent amongst

contractors with the issue of dumping and costs.

It was also pointed out by contractors there that some

weeds which propagate vegetatively were being

included into green waste used to produce mulch,

which was further aiding with the spread of weeds,

with some seeds able to remain viable in garden mulch

for years.

There was general agreement that it is somewhat

counterproductive for the health of our reserves to

have very high dump fees, which could lead to illegal

dumping, both in reserves and State forests.

Another issue in the Hinterland was that the Transfer

Stations at Pomona and Cooroy are only open 8.00 am

to 1.00 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday which limited

access.

I think the opportunity we have with a new council,

and a Councillor elect whose passion is waste, presents

a real opportunity.

NICA Chairman Tony Haslam, and Noosa Landcare’s

Natural Resource Manager Phil Moran, undertook to

work with representatives from the group present to

facilitate meetings with the new Noosa Council aimed

at seeking solutions and improving equitable access to

waste station and mulch products.

Michael Gilles, Sunshine Coast Council

Jill Campbell

Five Little Boys and One Little Girl ...

Page 12 December 2013

Page 13

Noosa Christian College Helps the Environment - Phil Moran

December 2013

Coming home recently, Molly and Kim noticed an

echidna struggling on the side of our road. The

Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is a remarkable animal,

a monotreme or egg-laying mammal. The only other

monotreme in the whole wide world is the Platypus.

You might see them out and about in our Biosphere

now. They are solitary animals, with a body length of

about 450mm and weight of up to 7 kg. Echidnas are

covered in spines (or quills) which can be quite sharp

… ask Kim! They have sharp claws on their feet and a

sensitive nose which they use to find food. They use

their long sticky tongue to catch ants, worms and

insects. When threatened they curl up into a ball with

snout and legs tucked up for protection. Natural

predators are eagles and dingoes, however these days

it is domestic dogs and, most commonly, cars.

Echidnas produce young from eggs which are hatched

outside their body, like birds and some reptiles. The

female Echidna develops a pouch into which she lays

her single egg. After about 10 days, the egg hatches

into a very small animal about the size and shape of a

jelly bean. They are born blind and hairless. She

carries this little one for about three months and it

continues to suckle during this time.

So ‘our’ Echidna was in great danger of being run over

by a car … they have a terrible side step. (Must have

been a forward!) In trying to shepherd it off the road,

it was wedging itself down into a concrete drain. This

was not a good spot to be. Kim was able to use

ingenious methods and her bushcare gloves to coax

him/her out and into a green cloth shopping bag. The

girls took the echidna up into our bush (where there

are no cars, just 33 acres of nature refuge) and

released him/her. Please keep an eye out, and slow

down … not just for echidnas, but for all our wildlife.

Molly releasing

The burrowing begins

Noosa Christian College students had finished exams,

completed all their end of year tasks and were looking

for ways to do a community service. Science and

Mathematics teacher, Mrs Amelia Benard, contacted

Noosa & District Landcare to see what the students

could do.

The students, ranging from Year 7 through to Year 9

had elected to do an environmental outdoors activity.

Discussion ensued and we decided that planting some

trees in Cooroora Creek Park would be a great

activity. Working in partnership with the Sunshine

Coast Council’s Community Nature Conservation

Program (CNCP) Noosa Landcare prepared a site for

the students to do a planting.

The morning of Tuesday 10th December was hot and

humid as the students left their bus and walked through

previous revegetation to the site. Gemma Wright

from Landcare did a safety induction and a

demonstration on how to plant the trees and shrubs

correctly. Then they were off!

Though small in number (nine students and their

teacher, Amelia) the students planted 100 native plant

species. They also planted five Pararistolochia

praevenosa (Richmond birdwing butterfly vines) to

encourage the Vulnerable butterfly back to Pomona.

The students did a great job of planting. They then

watered all the plants, so hopefully with some rain they

will be able to come back and see the fruits of their

labour. Thanks to the students for helping to enhance

the diversity of our very special local park.

Molly and Kim to the Rescue … Again! Phil Moran

Become a member or donate to

the Public Fund via our website.

Donations enable NDLG to

continue community engagement,

education and provide free

resource material and advice to

landholders.

Membership $35 per family.

www.noosalandcare.org

Why don’t you advertise with us?

Free Guide advertising

Advertise in NDLG’s complimentary directory of local suppliers and land management services.

The directory displays emergency numbers, schools and camping grounds and is distributed to

over 1000 businesses and residents in the Cooroy / Noosa / Kin Kin / Traveston areas.

Newsletter advertising

Our quarterly newsletter goes out to over 350 readers every quarter covering natural resource management

industry groups, local, state and federal government departments, members, stakeholders and regional businesses.

Mary Valley Timber

Buy direct from the sawmill.

Hardwood timber specialists

Farm, fencing and

landscaping.

Delivered to Gympie,

Noosa and Hinterland

Dagun Rd, Dagun via

Gympie - 5484 3337

Noosa Landcare Contract Services

Property Consultancy Weed Control

Bush Regeneration Revegetation

Native Plant Supply

Aquatic Weed Management

Native Timber Establishment

Contact 5485 2468

Please see last page for more of our services

Noosa Landcare has partnerships

with many organisations.

Go to www.noosalandcare.org to

view a comprehensive list of our

many supporters and partners.

Page 14 December 2013

Page 15 December 2013

Ornithological Swearing?

One thing we love at Noosa Landcare is hearing from readers of our newsletters.

Below is one example from Peter and Bevly Hughes in Gympie, in response to our

December E-news (http://www.noosalandcare.org/e-news-dec2013.html), specifically to

the ‘Plant of the Month’, Breynia oblongifolia (Coffee Bush or Dwarf’s Apple):

A little story about the plant of the month - quite

common around the drier parts of the region and a

favourite food of the Brown Cuckoo-dove and

Mistletoe Bird.

One particular plant was adopted by a male Mistletoe

Bird who made up to forty trips per day collecting

berries for nestlings in the nest about 70m away.

Unfortunately a Brown Cuckoo-dove decided to stop

and eat but was actually driven away by the male

who made repeated chattering dive bombs at the

much larger bird.

If we approached too close all we got was a whole lot

of what could well have been swearing while he was

perched just above our heads.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis)

(Photo: Flickr) Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)

(Photo sourced from Gympie Field Naturalists

via The Gympie Times)

If undeliverable please return to:

NOOSA & DISTRICT LANDCARE GROUP INC.

PO BOX 278, POMONA Q 4568

Print Post Approved PP437974/00010

POSTAGE

PAID

AUSTRALIA

“Together we

can repair the

environment”

www.noosalandcare.org

PO Box 278

Pomona Qld 4568

Station Street

Pomona Qld 4568

Phone: 07 5485 2468

Fax: 07 5485 0413

Let us help you repair

the environment:

Program & Project

Management

Coastal rehabilitation

Native Tube stock

Aquatic Plant Information

Property Consultancy

Property Management

Plans & mapping

Weed Control

Bushland Regeneration

Revegetation

For competitive prices, personalised service and over 20 years

experience in natural resource management call 5485 2468

* Environmental Offsets * Property Management Plans

* Plantation Establishment * Weed Control & Management

* Coastal Rehabilitation * Bushland Regeneration

* Aquatic Weed Management * Revegetation

* Project & Program Management * Training & Education

* Property Consultancy * Indigenous tube stock

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Conservation Eco-services

Darrin Barden (planting) and Aaron Brunton (aquaspearing)