News

Mt Coot-tha zipline DA approved

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Brisbane City Council announced that the development application for the controversial Mt Coot-tha Zipline was approved 1 February 2019.

More than 3600 submissions were sent to Council during the assessment process which closed 31 December last year. Despite the approval by Council, many of these are believed to have opposed the development, mainly due to environmental concerns.

Construction of the three-stage zipline is scheduled to start mid 2019, with the 3 stages due for completion in 2020.

It is important to note, however, that Mt Coot-tha lies on trust land. This may prevent approval of its use for commercial purposes. Due to this, the viability of the project is still subject to approval by the State Government. 

Information about the Council’s Zipline plans and opposing community concerns is available at the following websites:

Restoring weedy areas and retaining wildlife

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Embarking upon a restoration doesn’t necessarily mean destroying habitats for local wildlife.

With some simple planning you can carry out your restoration work and retain the resident wildlife as well.

It’s a matter of replacing unwanted plants successively with natives to replicate the existing habitat.

Check out our latest Bush Bites article for some great tips and stunning photos!

MCCG – Outstanding Achievement Runner Up!

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The MCCG was recently awarded runner up for the Pullenvale Ward Outstanding Achievement award in the Queensland Community Achievement Awards.

First place was awarded to Barry Searle, highly regarded within the local community for founding The Local Bulletin.

Congratulations to all winners and entrants and:

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS!!!! 

This achievement is testament to your own many achievements out in the field! 

For more info please visit the Awards Australia website.

Time to review the Bio Act

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Biosecurity Queensland is inviting your feedback into a review of the Biosecurity Act 2014.

This legislation governs how we manage biosecurity threats and operations in Queensland and a key focus is sharing the responsibility of biosecurity amongst all Queenslanders

Biosecurity Queensland wants to hear what you have to say about any of your challenges to embed the provisions of the Act into your activities (e.g. the general biosecurity obligation).

The review will be completed by 30 June 2019. You can submit your feedback to:
[email protected] by 31 May 2019.

Green Tree Frog

 

(Photo courtesy of Rosemary Pollock)

 

World Wetlands Day Walk

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Grow your lifestyle by exploring our Brisbane waterways! 

Celebrate World Wetlands Day (Saturday 2 February) with an informative 2 km guided walk through the Billai dhagun Circuit at Boondall Wetlands.

Learn about residential and migratory shorebirds and their international significance to our world-renowned wetlands. Discover the traditional uses of plants and other wetlands resources.

After the walk, enjoy other trails close by, relax in the picnic area and visit the Environment Centre.

Date:   Saturday 2 February 2019
Time:   9-11am
Where: Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre, 31 Paperbark Drive (entry via Stanworth Road)
RSVP:  No bookings required

For more information: visit Brisbane City Council’s website.


The Royal Spoonbill – a nomadic bird which frequents both our catchment and the Boondall Wetlands. It visits coastal areas during drought. Photo courtesy of Ed Frazer.

Declawing Cats Claw

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We’re pleased to report welcome news regarding the statewide crusade against Cats Claw Creeper.

In partnership with Seqwater, Healthy Land and Water has entered the 2nd phase of a 5 year project to tackle the invasive creeper which threatens riparian zones across South-East Queensland.

Click here to watch their video update. Although the video was filmed in the Lockyer Valley, many of the images of damage will no doubt resonate with you. 

For more info about Cats Claw Creeper, please read the following: Cats Claw Creeper Update Oct 2016

The Cats Claw fact sheet is another useful reference: Catsclaw mini factsheet (469 KB)

And the Brisbane City Council provides a comprehensive online identification tool.

We’re planting 300 native trees and shrubs!

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All on a Sunday morning!  Can you help?

Our Chairman Jim Pope reports that his bushcare group (Huntington Section 3) will be planting 300 native tress and shrubs in Tuckett St park on Sunday 3 February.  

Note: this is the January working bee, which has been postponed. Here is Jim’s message:

Our first working bee of 2019 would normally be the last Sunday in January, but I have another commitment on that date and it also corresponds with the Australia Day long weekend, so many of you may be away. 

Consequently our first working bee of the year will be on Sunday 3rd February. Please make a note of this in your diaries!

Weather permitting we hope to do a big planting – in the area of Tuckett Park that was recently opened up by removal of a number of large Chinese Elms. 

We will need as many as possible to attend since we are hoping to plant over 300 native trees and shrubs on the day!

The working bee runs from 8.30am until 11am.

If you’d like to take part please contact Jim on 3374 4181.

Could fish sounds be an indicator of river health?

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We’re all familiar with the concept of bird song …

But it appears that fish can be equally vocal, using a variety of sounds like grunting, squealing and gurgling to gain access to food and mates, and possibly for social interaction.

Dr Simon Linke, of the Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University, is using “fish song” in a research project which is adopting a novel approach to monitoring the waterway health.

Using underwater microphones, Dr Linke’s team has catalogued every biological sound in the Einasleigh River in Far North Queensland. The sounds are identified by computer, providing a snapshot of the activity of fish species within the waterway at any given time.

Dr Linke suggests that the use of eco-acoustics could potentially also be used to locate insects and invasive species such as Tilapia, which make noises when they spawn or defend their nests.

This innovative project was reported on ABC News recently. It will certainly be worth following its progress. To learn more, visit the ABC News Website. 

An online Griffith University article from March 2018 provides further information: Eavesdropping on fish to measure river health.

An un-related article by the Acoustical Society of America provides some insight into the reasons for fish sounds: How Important are fish Sounds for Feeding, Contests and Reproduction?

Tilapia in Moggill Creek – courtesy of Jim Pope
Perhaps we’ll soon have a new, non-invasive way to locate Tilapia in our catchment!