Maroochy Waterwatch Inc

Dear Fellow Froggers!

 We’re getting organised for this year’s frog monitoring and would like to get an idea of how many people are available to volunteer with us. In particular we would like to find out who would be interested in volunteering at our Wallum sites – either located in Coolum (near Perigian Springs) or Kawana (Brightwater). We can’t do both sites so we’d like to find out which one we have the highest volunteer numbers for.

 If you are interested in participating for one day or every day then please let me know ASAP.  We plan on monitoring during January and February 2014.

We have sites this year at:

1.           EJ Foote Reserve Buderim (Sunshine Coast Council)

2.           Jack Connelly’s Property Musa Vale Rd, Cooroy (Private Landholder)

3.           Yaroomba Bushland Reserve, Mt Coolum (Sunshine Coast Council)

4.           Lucille Mariott – Platypus Creek Road, Dulong (Private Landowner)

5.           The fifth site will be dependent on the number of people interested in either the Coolum or Kawana site.

If you’re interested in monitoring with us, please reply with answers to the following questions:

1.       What day(s) of the week do you prefer?

2.       What is your preferred site(s)?

3.       Are you interested in surveying at the Coolum site (near Perigian Springs) or the Kawana site (Brightwater)?

I need responses by Friday the 29^th of November so we can be organised before the Christmas break, and ready to start early January.

Thanks!

Janine Bedros (volunteer)

Maroochy Waterwatch Inc

Donaldson Rd, (Behind Uniting Church)

Nambour 4560

PO Box 311 Nambour Qld 4560

Ph:  07 5476 4777

info [at] maroochycatchmentcentre [dot] org [dot] au

www.maroochycatchmentcentre.org.au

Click here to view the details for the Maroochydore Beach Community Planting Day

Council is planning to get 10,000 plants in the ground on the day to kick start the dunal building process. So come along and lend a hand. If you could circulate this through your networks that would be much appreciated.

Saturday the 23^rd of November

8 – 11am

Meet at Pierce Park Alexandra Parade, Maroochydore

Don’t forget to:

• wear comfortable protective clothing

• wear enclosed footwear

• slop on some sunscreen

• slap on a hat

• bring a water bottle.

Click here to view the Report Card community forum northern flyer

Click here to view the Maroochy Waterwatch Annual Report 2013

The CCNN is seeking an enthusiastic individual who is required to manage the CCNN to ensure there is an ongoing commitment to the coordination of the nursery’s volunteer program and that the nursery remains a financially viable community nursery that reflects the vision statements of the CCNN.  Applications close 22nd November.  Click here for position description and lodgement details  PD_NURSERY MANAGER_CCNN

Click here to view the Maroochy River Catchment News Spring 2013

Click here for more details on the ECO Goat showcase 10th October 11an to 1pm in Hunchy.

Goats Flyer

Weed control is a time consuming and often expensive activity for anyone who has acreage or farming lands.  The hills of Hunchy in the Blackall Range escarpment have a particular weed, Japanese Sunflower, that smothers cleared inaccessible areas preventing regeneration of native vegetation.   The weed control is also difficult and expensive due to the steep and difficult terrain.

An innovative weed management demonstration is about to unfold using goats to browse the weedy landscape as an alternative to expensive traditional weed control techniques of brushcutting, bulldozing or spraying.

Maroochy Waterwatch will be working with Arborcare Qld to deliver the project over three properties on the Hunchy escarpment.

Cerran Fawns, CEO of Maroochy Waterwatch, said, “This project is about managing a herd of goats to eat the Japanese Sunflower in selected areas to determine if this a viable and cost effective option in weed control”.

She added, “This weed control method has been proven to be successful in the USA on some of their inaccessible weeds and it is exciting to demonstrate it here on the Sunshine Coast”.

This project is supported by SEQ Catchments, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country and has extensive risk management around the use of goats.   It is not a mere case of letting them loose on the sunflower.  The goats will browse the weedy landscape using state of the art electro netting fence developed for temporary grazing which will also help in manage grazing of unsuitable poisonous vegetation for the goats.

Arborcare Qld have been engaged to manage the demonstration site using their eco grazing goats over the ten day period.  Leo Phelan, Managing Director of Arborcare Qld said, “Considerable attention has been given to the management system of the eco grazing  goats and goat health considerations throughout the demonstration site”.

As the eco grazing goats will  only be eating sunflower and other woody weeds whilst on site, their diet will be supplemented with other feed to ensure they remain healthy.  There will also be a goat vet on hand to provide advice if needed throughout the grazing of these environmental weeds.

Mr Phelan added, “In order to protect the goats from wild dog attack whilst on site we have bonded livestock guardian dogs use electro netting fence with a full time bushregenerator/shepherd looking over the goats during the day.  At night the goats will be secured in a purpose built portable goat yard.

Whilst it is still early days with the Eco Goats project, if it is deemed successful it may be expanded to other areas and weed species.

Thankyou Stone Creative Photography for our new profile pictures.  Definitely recommend Tonya and her talent.

Click here for more information