Restoration of Former Swamp Tea-tree Wetland at Fulham, Toogoolawah: Hopkins

(not documented)

Australian Government (Caring for our Country program)

Landholder

Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation Ltd (Powerlink) (trading as Powerlink)

(not documented)

On-ground work

(none)

Australian Government (Caring for our Country program)

Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation Ltd (Powerlink) (trading as Powerlink)

(not documented)

(not documented)

9 May 2013

20 June 2013

Swamp tea-tree forest is considered endangered under Commonwealth and Queensland legislation. With funding provided through the Powerlink GreenWorks Program, and 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 is a member of the Land for Wildlife program and is keen to improve the environmental values on the property, which was cleared of the original vegetation decades ago. The neighbouring property supports a swamp tea tree remnant and some scattered natural regeneration. The landowners are involved in the GreenWorks project by carrying out works that will protect and improve the condition of this endangered ecological community.

The property is located on the floodplain of Cressbrook Creek, with large areas of the property containing gilgai microrelief (commonly referred to as melonhole country). Pre-clearing mapping suggests that the property originally supported Queensland blue gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) woodland and given the similar soil types and landforms to the neighbouring property, it is fair to suggest that the property would have also originally supported swamp tea tree forest, most probably RE 12.3.3c.

This project aims to enhance environmental values on the property by the following activities:

• establishing electric fencing to protect 0.5ha of natural wetland community from stock and allowing natural regeneration to occur

implementing strategic weed control along Cressbrook Creek to enhance fringing riparian vegetation (RE 12.3.7)

• establishing site preparation for a possible re-vegetation project to re-establish former endangered swamp tea tree and Queensland blue gum community (RE 12.3.3c). 

Proposed project monitoring and maintenance:

• establish one standard photo-point to monitor habitat condition and regrowth in fenced remnant area
• maintain fencing and follow controlled grazing management plan to prevent overgrazing in project area.

This project will:

• improve biodiversity in the Toogoolawah area by enhancing the condition and extent of endangered swamp tea tree forest through weed control and stock management
• establish 200m electric fencing around 0.5ha of natural wetland community
• carry out 0.5ha of strategic weed control along Cressbrook Creek to enhance fringing riparian vegetation (RE 12.3.7)
• conduct site preparation for possible re-vegetation project to re-establish former endangered swamp tea tree and Queensland blue gum community (RE 12.3.3c).

(not documented)

SEQC2019