The eco-project at Clontarf recently received a boost from the Moreton Bay Regional Council who have made an adjacent area of land available for rehabilitation. Next door to the current replanting zone, this land is covered in weed grasses and balloon cotton which not only impacts on the rejuvenation of the original vegetation including Melaleuca and Eucalypt but represents a significant fire threat to the area.

During the week the council arranged for bulk slashing of the weed which then provides an opportunity for the Green Army team and our bushcare volunteers to start the rehabilitation process and create a significant section of Koala habitat. The council will also be delivering a significant amount of mulch which will be used to maintain moisture in the current planting areas as well as reduce the impact of weeds.

We have already started the planting process with a trail of three Eucalypts being planted in the central area of the new section. The soil appears to be rich, all though very dry and we are hopeful that it will support a significant number of Eucalypt trees.

Time is of the essence though. We need to get the mulch on the ground around the current planting as well as prepare the new section.  This will involve further weed control, but with the council’s assistance we now have the physical conditions to make a significant difference to the quality of the habitat, reduce the impact of fire as well as provide a long term solution to developing a habitat for our local Koalas.

Hi! I’m Chrissy Joester! I’m a zoologist and have had a love of animals since I was young. The whole cat family has always been a passion. When I could read I read about the cat family, and started collecting books and information on them. Then when I could use a photocopier I copied as many photos and books as I could. I still have a huge collection of posters you could collect in primary school. Working and making a difference with big cats has always been a dream. Through my journey of study and volunteering with animals I have come to where I want to be with my all learning. Conservation is a big part of making a difference with the planet and all its animals. Creating awareness of species is vital to protecting those that need it.

Helping animals here, locally has been the start of my journey in the last year and a half. I spent six months with environmental restoration last year (with REF), with the ultimate goal of making it a better place for the wildlife that inhabit it. I also give my time to planting and love collecting as many natives through my work now and getting them planted. Recently, with the help of friends and family, I started creating “joey”” pouches for wildlife carers in the area that need little pouches for rescued wildlife such as possums, kangaroos and koalas. Spending time with koalas in a wildlife hospital really showed me that animals are where I’m supposed to be.

I have been given the opportunity to volunteer with Big Cat Rescue in Florida, USA.  This amazing experience is through The Body Shop Foundation and there were limited spaces. The community challenge is called PROJECT ROAR and is just one of many TBSF have been a part of.  TBSF are actually who started Greenpeace.  They were also behind Blackfish, the documentary of Orcas and Seaworld. I’m excited to join the plight to help big cats and to help protect all big cats worldwide. This is the start to something I’m very passionate about. Changing laws and increasing awareness with big cats.

The Big cat rescue gives cats the best home possible where they have been abandoned by their owners (wrongly thinking these beautiful animals are pets). Cats too that are retired from performing/circus acts, as well as abused cats from circuses/performing events are taken on and given a forever home. Cubs are rescued from hunters after their mothers have been killed and are brought to Big Cat rescue. Injured cats too are rescued and where possible rehabilitated to get back to the wild. Education is also a big part, educating people that big cats (as well as other larger wildlife) are not pets but wild animals and should be treated as such. Big Cat Rescue is one the largest sanctuaries dedicated to the care of abandoned and abused cats. It is sad to see that there are more tigers as pets in America than there are in the wild. This view of having big cats as pet’s needs to change and Big cat rescue are behind this mission.

Big Cat Rescue is home to 80+ cats. When you think of “Big Cats” they’re more than just tigers, leopards and lions, the family have smaller big cats too. Bobcats, Lynxes, Florida panthers (cougars), servals, caracals, ocelots, jaguars and pumas are have all had a place there. There are smaller cats too like the sand cat, leopard cat, fishing cat and jungle cats. A rare and elusive cat; the Geoffrey’s cat also calls Big Cat Rescue home. This challenge will help end abuse of big cats in captivity and prevent extinction of all these beautiful big cats in the wild. I have a GoFundMe set up https://www.gofundme.com/chrissyprojectroar but am holding a bingo night, to help fund raise for the project. It is on the 4th June, 6pm at Big Fish Tavern,Caboolture. There will be many prizes and a raffle too. Please help me make a difference, working on changing exotic pet laws and giving care to abandoned big cats; it’s time for a positive change!

Although there has been some major work conducted on the Redcliffe Golf Course, the local pair of Ospreys who had been missing from their nest for some time have returned and taken up their position adjacent to the practice fairway. This is a relief for local nature watchers as the pair are one of the local icons of the Clontarf area. 

In the meantime, members of the Hays Inlet Green Army team were given a session on measuring water quality. Team members were provided with information on how to collect the data on salinity, pH, water temperature and turbidity. They will be collecting the data on a fortnightly basis in order to continue measuring the impact of their work on the quality of the water entering Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay.

The Inlet is surrounded by mangroves and saltmarsh which have a positive impact by filtering water entering the estuary. However, man-made waterways can carry high levels of nutrients and sediment directly into the bay. One way of reducing the impact is to ensure the waterways are surrounded by vegetation especially on the channel banks in order to slow the flow of water and to trap nutrients and rubbish before they enter Hays Inlet.

The team recently mapped the outline of the project area recording  gps data so a map could be developed to help manage the project site. The exercise was important as it also allowed the group to review progress in the rehabilitation project so far as well as map out the areas which require significant work in terms of weed removal.

A recent conversation with one of the members of the MBRL koala tracking team indicated that a number of koalas have recently moved into the area (see a recent article on koalas and bushcare below) and so all the rehabilitation work being done by REF is important to koalas as well as water quality. The Moreton Bay Regional Council has also invested into a wild dog program, and they will be working in the area. Recent research around the Moreton Bay Rail Link has found that wild dogs are a major cause of mortality for our local koalas.  So it is important to ensure the two environmental management programs are well coordinated, not only for the welfare of the koalas but also for the members of our Green Army Team.

The Green Army team have been quietly working through the project area removing noxious weeds including broad-leaf pepper, balloon cotton, groundsel and vine. They have already had a significant impact on the area with the removal of weeds allowing the native vegetation a chance to be established. They have also used planting of propagules to help the renewal process.

Broad-leaf pepper is a significant threat to the wetlands of Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay. The project area is infested with this noxious plant which has been identified as an issue for the area. The removal of large patches of broad-leaf pepper can be quite problematic. They can be quite large trees and so are difficult to extract and remove from the site. Strategies to remove them include drilling and poisoning the larger trees, cutting down smaller plants and then poisoning the stumps so the weed doesn’t regrow. Finally it’s important to making sure the prolific amount of seeds and berries are carefully removed from the site.

Alex Collins is the team leader for the group and he is very keen for his charges to not only learn about the activities around rehabilitating land but also some of the monitoring activities associated with measuring the impact of their activities. The group have participated in a bird survey and have also set up some footprint traps. This is a simple but effective way of obtaining tracks of passing animals including mammals and birds. The team selects a patch on the track and then rakes away the debris to leave a bare soft area of substrate. Any animal which passes through the patch leaves their prints which can be checked out the following day. So far they have detected a least on dog in the area, a large bird possibly an ibis as well as bike tracks!

Despite heavy rain, 14 volunteers showed up at Silcock Street and got stuck into some planting, mulching and weeding. The first area of work was set up along the Melaleuca forest track where some higher ground supports a number of Eucalypt trees amongst the paperbark trees. The group planted a number of new Eucalypt along with some Acacia and Melaleuca.

Although the heavy rain made it uncomfortable for the humans it certainly provided the right environment for planting out seedlings. Each plant was provided with mulch and a hardwood stake in order to protect them. Some mulch was also provided to some of the local seedlings found in the area.  There is definitely scope for improving the habitat with Eucalypt which if established can inhibit weed growth as well as provide forage for any local koalas.

The conditions also made it easier for the volunteers to remove some of the weed grasses including Johnson and Molasses Grass. To finish off the damp morning some of the team moved up to the Green Army site to look at the work being carried out there. Jasper Johnson, an experienced Green team man himself, noticed some koala poo on the track, and when everyone looked up the spotted a female koala, huddled up against a branch in order to avoid drowning in the rain. After the excitement in the group settled down, another younger animal was spotted in the adjacent tree.

There is not enough suitable habitat to sustain many local koalas who are mainly concentrated in the Chelsea Street Reserve.   This young pair must have taken some risks to reach the patch behind Silcock Street.  It reminded everybody of just how important looking after the remaining patches of Eucalypt around Redcliffe and Moreton Bay is. Every bit helps the cause! Let’s hope all of the trees planted today, establish themselves and grow quickly in order to give our remaining koalas a chance continue to live along the edges of Hays Inlet.

Remember: the first Sunday of every month is Bush care Day. Join us from 7.30 am to 9.30 am at Silcock Street!