Establishing Swamp Tea-tree Forest on Tir Na Crann Koala Nature Refuge

(not documented)

Queensland Government (DEHP)

Powerlink (GreenWorks program)

Australian Government (Caring for our Country program)

Landholder

(not documented)

On-ground work

(none)

Queensland Government (DEHP)

Powerlink (GreenWorks program)

Australian Government (Caring for our Country program)

Landholder

(not documented)

(not documented)

19 September 2012

31 May 2013

Swamp tea-tree forest is considered endangered under Commonwealth and Queensland legislation. Funding is provided through the Powerlink GreenWorks program. With support from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program, SEQ Catchments is providing support, advice and financial incentives to assist landholders in the region to conserve and enhance remnant and regrowth swamp tea-tree forest.

The landholder undertaking this project has recently established a Koala Nature Refuge over their property and has an agreed management plan with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. With funding from the Koala Nature Refuge Program (KNRP), the landholder is engaging a contractor to plant 2300 koala food and shelter trees (including 5% Melaleuca irbyana) within 4.5ha of the Nature Refuge and to maintain these trees for five years. The proposed 4.5ha planting area is predominantly clear of trees and shrubs, except for a few established trees (mostly around the edges) and some saplings from a previous planting.

This project supports the planting of a further 450 appropriate native plants in scattered patches within the broader planting area. The aim is that at maturity, each patch will have a mixed canopy of swamp tea-tree (Melaleuca irbyana) and appropriate emergent tall trees. Species composition will follow that recommended in the Planting Note and Species for Regional Ecosystem 12.3.3c Melaleuca irbyana low open forest or thicket developed by Lockyer Valley Regional Council. The planting will increase connectivity between existing trees and the KNRP planting rows.

Project activities include:

• engaging a contractor to design and prepare approximately 9 x 40m² planting patches and to plant 450 appropriate local native plants (as per Planting Note)
• engaging a contractor to undertake 12 months’ maintenance of the plantings
• undertaking boundary fence repairs to ensure cattle are prevented from accessing the planting area
• instituting long-term maintenance of the site.

Proposed project monitoring and maintenance:

• establishing two standard photo-points to monitor changes in land condition over time and taking ‘before and after’ photographs of works associated with the project
• increasing biodiversity in the Warill Creek sub-catchment by increasing the extent and connectivity of an ecologically endangered vegetation community on a property protected under Queensland legislation
• engaging a contractor to design and prepare approximately 9 x 40m² planting patches, plant 450 appropriate local native plants (as per Planting Note) and undertake 12 months’ maintenance of the plantings
• undertaking boundary fence repairs to ensure cattle are prevented from accessing the planting area
• ensuring long-term maintenance of the site.

(not documented)

(not documented)

SEQC1872