PETRIE CREEK PROJECTS

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1 PETRIE CREEK PROJECTS Anyone interested in doing something to help the environment is welcome to join the following projects. Those involved already find that it is an enjoyable, pleasant and rewarding way to contribute to the wellbeing of the planet. Sometimes in the ongoing political and scientific debates that are a feature of our times, it s hard to see how individuals can contribute to the improvement required. Well here s one very enjoyable way. There are lots of learning opportunities here with how to restore degraded landscape, what wildlife lives in these places and lots more. We are always on the lookout to form new groups, so if you have some ideas, please let us know and we ll see what we can do to help. Take a look at the Upcoming Events tab for details of how to contact a group relevant to you. Current Projects Clean Up Australia Day In recent years we have organised an event for this national annual program. In 2015 sixteen people including 2 youngsters and 2 teenagers came to the event centred at Quota Park on Sunday 01 March. We accumulated 4 full wheelie bins of sundry rubbish and 2 of separated recyclables, shopping trolleys and other bigger items all of which were rescued from continuing to pollute the local environment or perhaps worse, being washed down the creek to the ocean. Interestingly the shopping trolleys we found were only from Woolworths. It seems the trolley security systems used by Coles and Aldi are worthwhile. There are still other trolleys in the creek that we could not get, that will be collected by council. We all had a good time in the perfect weather and enjoyed the PCCCG sponsored morning tea and watermelon. Most participants took home a local native tree courtesy of the Florabunda Bushcare Nursery and all took home a beaut Sunshine Coast Council shiny water-bottle. We met some new young people from the Salvation Army that put in the yards from Arundell Av back to Quota Park with

2 impressive hauls of rubbish and recyclables. They are keen to continue to contribute to our efforts on the creek. Thanks to all. We had a similar turnout in 2016 with a few less volunteers. However we collected a lot of rubbish again and this year the rain came after the event so hopefully not so much was sent to the sea. Our efforts were enhanced by a group from the Salvation Army which held their own event this year. Congrats Salvos saw a much bigger group for our event. 17 people came to pick up rubbish and that s what happened. Again the event was held just before the heavy rain started in March so we managed to collect lots of rubbish before it was washed to the sea. As usual we finished with a cuppa and those willing, took home a local native plant donated by PCCCG to plant at their place will have the same format. Meet at Quota Park picnic/bbq shed starting from 0800 on Sunday 04 March. Florabunda Pocket Bushcare Group Located on a winding section of the creek at the end of Laidlaw Rd, this project has been active for many years under several funding schemes and has created a section of revegetated creek with mature self-sustaining forest as well as areas which still require significant attention, and degraded sections of creek bank that are still to be touched. It is currently a Sunshine Coast Council funded Community Nature Conservation (CNC) project with volunteer labour (that s us and our friends). The revegetated previous Florabunda Nursery site has grown well and is now barely recognisable young forest. A period where we concentrated on the creek bank below the walking path lookout and beside associated paths has cleared most of the weeds out of this maturing replanted forest and extended the

3 revegetation with local suitable natives out to the main walking path. A major project, funding for which from an Everyone s Environment Grant (EEG) from the State Government has now been finalised and acquitted in May The first part of the project was to clear a section of the high level bank about 150 metres long and replanted this with local native plants with particular emphasis on plants to deflect the Rugby balls from progressing down to the creek! Funding was used for contractors to do the base work of clearing weed trees and ground preparation, leaving plenty of planting, mulching and maintenance weeding for the dedicated volunteers. We have also started clearing the weeds including camphor laurels and Chinese elms from the gently sloping bank of the creek going north towards the rugby back oval. This area has many already existing local natives as well as the weeds and our efforts will be directed towards reducing the weed infestation and allowing the natives to flourish - regeneration. The EEG grant project has also extended to an area beside the back rugby oval. In November 2016, 1000 local native plants were planted on an area cleared with the help of SCC and the Toads Rugby Club. Our team was expanded to about 40 participants largely from the Mormons community for the actual planting day and a fun morning produced a great result. Current work includes maintaining the previous areas free of major weeds, extending the path side and forest edge plantings along the path to the back oval and doing the regeneration of the forest from there down to the creek. We think there is several years of work for us completing that task. Camphor laurels throughout the regen area are being poisoned in situ at an appropriate pace to allow extra light in for natives to grow as we kill the understory weeds. Several Bunya Pines and Hoop Pines have been planted to boost the native component. Working Bees are held each 1 st Saturday of the month from 0700 in warm months and 0800 when the weather turns cool and the sun gets up late, usually lasting for 2 hours. Contact by to PCCCG or see the Upcoming Events link on the website. Namba Creek Bushcare Group This is another volunteer project under the CNC Program. Here we are removing weeds and re-

4 establishing local native vegetation in the corridor of the creek, now formally called Namba Creek, between the Model Railway Park and Doolan St. This is also one of the sites included in the Nambour Central Park - Open Space Master-plan. Details here: This plan of the SCC aims to provide revitalisation of Petrie Creek as a major recreational open space corridor which links to Nambour s town centre, providing a safe and legible pathway network to improve walkability and cycling, promote health and well-being, and to enhance the natural environment among other things. A path through the Namba Creek corridor is planned as one of the accesses and had a high priority among the various proposed projects. An integrated activity was held on Friday 10 May 2013 with Unity Water holding one of its corporate planting days (Nambour Creek-side Greening) in the corridor. Sunshine Coast Council had cleared a large section of camphor laurels and prepared the specific site for planting and 1200 local native plants were planted on the day. Regular volunteer working bees and contract work provided by SCC have kept the weeds down and infill planted along the creek and other bare areas. Growth has been spectacular and the area is well on the way to being self-sustaining. The only thing missing is the promised path, however we understand that work has been budgeted for by SCC for the years 2018/19.

5 As for Florabunda Pocket, this project shared part of the Everyone s Environment Grant received from the Qld Government. A new patch of camphor laurels and other weeds downstream of the original planting has been cleared as part of ecological restoration. Creekside plants have been planted and the mulch spread to suppress weeds. More camphors have been removed and the job now of planting, mulching and maintaining weed control has been virtually completed by mid Lack of rain prevented plantings from mid 2017, but weed control continued and planting recommenced when the rain returned. We have commenced weeding in the understory of the camphor laurels further downstream and we have been successful in our application for a grant to remove the remaining camphor laurels down to the model railway bridge. This will be carried out in two phases early in 2018 and 2019 and enable continuation of planting downstream. Future events will be on the third Saturday of each month from 7am or 8am (depending on the season) for about 2 hours, but you will be welcome for whatever time you have available. Contacts are available on the Upcoming Events section of this website or just turn up on the day and introduce yourself. As for all working bees, wear covered shoes/boots and sensible clothing and a shade hat. Gulung Gung (Quota Park Extension) Bushcare Group This group had its first working bee on 28 May 2014 following a mass planting of 1500 plants by Unitywater, Sunshine Coast Council, PCCCG and community members on 21 May. This project is also being conducted in association with Council s Nambour Central Park Plan and has many areas requiring attention over future years. In the short term, the group will maintain and enhance the initial planting, as well as extend it in particular areas. Gulung Gung is a local language term meaning Family Connections Country.

6 Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation with members from the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people has been working with us. The combined group has cleared and planted a badly weed infested part of the area which has particular significance to their culture and history. Plantings include Bunya and Hoop pines that were planted at a major indigenous event in November A great day unfolded with bush tucker food and indigenous dancing and story-telling. Subsequent plantings have concentrated on species with indigenous significance for food and other traditional uses that suit the area, that is in a strongly flowing flood zone. Explanatory signage is being prepared for the area for future installation. Other areas of the park have progressed as well. A new section behind the businesses in Howard St is being ecologically restored with funding from the State Government Everyone s Environment Grant (EEG) successfully applied for in By early 2017 camphor laurels have been removed by Council, and the flat areas have been planted out with local natives that are growing strongly. Creek banks in the area are now being carefully weeded and replanted with suitable species. Work again has been expedited by the volunteer group with the assistance of contractors paid for by the EEG and with regular maintenance days provided by SCC. We have also had assistance from the Skilling Qld team led by Maroochy Waterwatch. With assistance from regular SCC funded weed control sessions, clearing and planting of creek banks downstream will continue towards the conjunction with Petrie Creek. Working bees are held on the 4 th Wednesday morning of each month (except December, commencing at 0800 or 0700 depending on the season. Meet in the open area behind Repco, Howard St, Nambour. Clothing suitable for bush work including covered shoes/boots is required, but all tools, equipment and materials will be provided along with expertise if required.

7 Sundale Bushcare Group. This group has operated since Initially with sponsorship from SCRC, its activities are now funded by Sundale Garden Village. A dedicated group of volunteers from around the district have revegetated a big section of Petrie creek bank from Carter Road to the Model Railway Park. Working Bees are held each first Friday of the month from 0830 for a few hours. Contact Paul Goeghegan, pcgeogh69@bigpond.com Whalley Creek Bush Care Group Another CNC Project, the members of this group work on a section of Whalley Creek, a tributary of Petrie Creek, in Nambour s western suburb of Burnside. This part of the creek is surrounded by a modern residential area. The current area of activity is adjacent to the concrete path running near the creek bank which makes access for the public easy. Much of the creek bank was initially mowed grass, but now the areas between the path and the creek, as well as the actual creek banks, have been returned to native riparian bush by the efforts of the group. With the added vegetation, the path is a pleasant place for exercise as well as a place to observe the increasing wildlife. Meeting point is Robertson Drive Parklands, Burnside, next to the creek. Working bees are normally held each 1 st Saturday of the month from 2 pm. Contact through PCCCG or Ash Goodman ashley.goodman@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Coes Creek, St Johns College Project A major project was managed in 2013 by PCCCG at St John s College, Nambour. Located on Coes Creek, a tributary of Petrie Creek an area of flood plain and creek bank was cleared of invasive weed tree, shrub and grass species and planted with natives. This was done with funding under the Caring for Our Country initiative of the Federal Government.