Grants reflect community's growing interest in environmental values

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Published: 20 September 2023

Projects to assist native species such as the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby will benefit from Council's environmental grants

Grassroots groups and individuals working to preserve and enhance the Scenic Rim's natural values will share in more than $150,000 through Council's 2023-2024 Environmental Grants Program.

Endorsed at today's Ordinary Meeting, the grants provide for a wide range of projects from the removal of invasive weeds from private properties, reserves and waterways to the regeneration of habitat for native species including Koalas, Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies, Glossy Black Cockatoos, Murray River Cod, Giant Ironwood trees and other plants and grasses.

Scenic Rim's Biodiversity and Agribusiness Portfolio Councillor Duncan McInnes said 41 projects from 58 applications had either been fully or partially funded through grants for new or continuing projects.

"Council's Environmental Grants Program represents an investment in some of our region's most valuable assets - our natural environment and habitat for native plants and animals," he said.

"We are proud to partner with the community and recognise the significant contribution of grassroots organisations such as Landcare. Their work in maintaining reserves and open spaces not only enhances our natural environment but also represents cost savings for ratepayers.

"Although the Scenic Rim is home to many large national parks, much of the remaining native habitat in our region is found on private property, so conserving native plants and wildlife is very much a community effort."

Of the 58 applications for 2023-2024 environmental grants submitted to Council, 15 were fully funded and 26 were partially funded, sharing a total of $155,875.

Where possible, projects which were considered ineligible for environmental grants will be supported through other initiatives such as the One Million Trees Program, Council's flagship environmental program which aims to plant a million trees across the Scenic Rim by 2025.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the number of applications for Council's environmental grants reflected the tremendous interest of local community groups and landholders in preserving and enhancing the region's natural environment which is vital to the Scenic Rim's key industries of tourism and agriculture.

"Landowners can make a significant environmental contribution simply by maintaining natural habitats on private property," he said.

"Everyone can make a difference, beginning with their own backyard, and so I encourage residents to make the most of their free tree vouchers which were issued with rates notices in July."

The full list of successful grant applicants is as follows:

Applicant	Project
Wernowski	A Lantana infestation removal project that will restore native bushland for wildlife and promote rainforest regeneration of native trees.
Barton	Targeted treatment of Lantana infestations at Bartopia Nature Reserve, teaming site experts (owner and local conservationists) with weeding contractors.
Callum	Removal of weeds, particularly Lantana, in and near sub-rainforest gullies to enable planting of koala trees and other native trees to the area.
Gray	Extending buffers surrounding Eucalypts through continued Cats-claw and Celtis thinning on Warrill Creek riparian area to benefit identification and installation of habitat holes in significant trees.
Aagaard	Continuing process of regeneration on property, Tamborine Mountain, a valuable wildlife corridor.
Smith	The project is to protect elderly river trees on Reynold's Creek from weed invasion and regenerate the area and create a green corridor for wildlife.
Davidson	Creation of a wildlife corridor as protected habitat for waterbirds, turtles, birds and insects, by adding two dams and excluding cattle from the area.
Logan and Albert Fish Management assoc.	Project as part of the Mary River Cod recovery project to restock local waterways with fish.
Koch	The project to achieve environmental weed eradication, replant and re-establish native species in the area adjacent to Nunkeri nature reserve, whilst maintaining steep slope stability.
Peric & Vanee	This project to eradicate weeds to preserve and extend remnant regional ecosystems, enhance Koala and native fauna habitat.
Beechmont District Landcare Association	Planting, watering, maintaining, weeding and teaching through BDLA volunteers and the hire of contractors.
Tamborine Mountain Landcare Inc	Tamborine Mountain corridors Regeneration Project.
Fletcher	Last component of weed management along Oaky Creek roadside boundary.
Legros-Delve	Weed management and bush regeneration project focussing on weeds of national significance.
Minahan	Rock Wallaby and Koala protection and Lantana reduction project.
Bartle Grove CTS 37380	Weed treatment in locations included Top Shelf and Bartle Grove.
Huth	Fig Tree forest weed control.
Macarthur	Rock Point continued Teviot Brook restoration project. Project consists of Cat's Claw weed treatment.
Lee	Project to remove weeds to open up habitat for Koalas and Glossy Black Cockatoos to access their preferred feed trees.
Beale	Control lantana infestation at the base of Mount Gillies (eastern ridge) which is degrading Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby habitat.
Solyma	Weed control of concern vegetation located in Croftby.
Numala CTS34266	Project is part of the long-term plan to restore the 99 acres of the Numala Community Nature Refuge located within Tamborine Mountain.
Paul	Project involving environmental weed control adjacent to a high risk trigger map area to encourage naturally assisted regeneration and habitat enhancement.
Pattinson	Restoring the Palen Creek habitat to stop erosion and restore the damage done. Planting local indigenous species to ensure natural habitat and wildlife corridors.
Drynan	Project addressing lantana infestation and extend tree cover along the creek line of running creek.
Buckham	Cat's Claw Creeper and Lantana control at Mt Moorang for better Koala movement
Boonah and District Landcare Inc	Project to produce videos in conjunction with events and activities to educate the wider community to manage environmental issues.
Graeme	Project to stabilise and improve riparian zone along the upper Coomera river
Ison	Project to enhance Koala habitat by removing environmental weeds, principally Lantana, to restore  habitat for Koalas to access trees.
Muller	A staged program to eradicate Cat's Claw Creeper to protect a dry vine forest and one of the last remaining stands of mature Giant Ironwood trees in the Scenic Rim.
Brodribb	Species recovery project removes lantana from known Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby habitat bordering Mt Barney National Park and enables on-going monitoring of the population.
Wild Mountains Trust	Recovery project aimed at restoring the open steep Eucalypt forest from invasive exotic weeds and grasses allowing for natural regeneration.
Isdale	Project including environmental weed control and planting of native species along Canungra Creek and boarding areas.
Humphrey	Project to enhance designated koala habitat area by removal of environmental weeds in an area near Flagstone Creek in the Coochin district.
Powell	Ongoing restoration of degraded land including planting of rainforest trees.
Parry	Follow-up weed treatment works and extension to weed treatment area to treat Cat's Claw Creeper, Lantana, Cassia and other major environmental weeds.