Read about our local Watercourse Warriors of Stumers Creek and the diverse habitats of our catchments. 
                                                                             
APRIL 2017

Watercourse Warriors of Stumers Creek

For two years, Coolum Beach resident Linese Norrish (Coordinator, Watercourse Warriors) walked along a local weed choked drain in the Lions and Norrie Job Memorial Parks, Coolum, before gathering six members of the Coolum and North Shore Coast Care group on Australia Day 2006 to begin the Lions Park/Stumers Creek Watercourse Project.  
 
In March 2016 the Watercourse Warriors celebrated their tenth year, and take pride in their significant achievements in enhancing and restoring a kilometre length of watercourse within Stumers Bushland Conservation Reserve. The watercourse extends all the way to Stumers Creek and eventually the Coral Sea.  Locals and visitors alike regularly enjoy walking the grassed section bordering the watercourse.

Read more of the Watercourse Warriors' story >>

The Watercourse Warriors are part of council's Community Nature Conservation Program and are members of Coolum and North Shore Coast Care. The group meet at 8.30am every Monday and Thursday at beach access 71 on Stumers Creek Road.  The working bee finishes at 10.30am when the group enjoys a morning tea break before heading home. New members are always welcome.  For more information contact council’s customer service centre or email CommunityNature@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Image (L-R): Terry, Jim, Linese (in wheelbarrow) and Anne

Regional Ecosystems 12.2.7 - Paperbark Tea Tree open forest
This ecosystem is found locally on Quaternary coastal dunes and seasonally waterlogged sand plains usually fringing drainage system behind beach ridge plains or on old dunes, swales and sandy coastal creek levees.

It was estimated in 2011 that the remnant extent was >10,000 ha and >30% of the pre-clearing area remained.
 
This ecosystem occurs in the following Protected Areas on the Sunshine Coast: Bribie Island NP, Noosa NP, Maroochy River CP, Mount Coolum NP, Mooloolah River NP and Currimundi Lake (Kathleen McArthur) CP.


Read more about the characteristics and management considerations »

Are you a good bushland neighbour?
Our bushland is precious, it provides homes for wildlife, green spaces for us to enjoy and are a reminder of what our landscape once looked like. Most of our bushland is contained in small, isolated and fragile fragments.
 
In urban locations many small pockets of bushland are protected in reserves to provide a buffer and pleasant view between houses.
 
Illegal dumping, vegetation clearing and encroachments decrease the scenic and recreational values of these reserves.
 
We may not realise the consequences of our actions if the outcome is not immediate but occurs over the longer term.
 

Read more »

Growing Native Plants App
Griffith University and Natura Pacific have teamed up to develop a new app to enable south-east Queenslanders to select and grow native plants.

- Choose from over 400 native plants from south-east Queensland based on colour, size and the preferred growing conditions of each species.

- Decide which of the 16 different garden styles you want from Japanese to Cottage Garden and the app provides you with a tailor-made planting palette using these local natives.

- Enter your postcode and the app produces and planting palette adapted to your area.
Download from Google Play
Download from the Apple App Store

Earth Hour celebrated at Eumundi
The crowds (and even a little sun) came out to play on 25 March to celebrate 10 years of Earth Hour with a Lantern Parade and Family fun day at Eumundi. Families gathered for a range of green arts workshops – cat’s claw weaving to make a bird home, recycled paper making, and stunning butterfly earring creations. Over 500 lanterns were made on the day to participate in the spectacular lantern parade. Live music, street food fiesta and an outdoor cinema topped off a great day. 
 
The event was a partnership between the Sunshine Coast Council, Sunshine Coast Environment Council and the Eumundi combined community organisation.

Energy hacks

Save money on you energy bills by being energy efficient. There are lots of easy (and inexpensive) ways to reduce energy use. 

- Turn off power points at the wall and don’t leave appliances on stand-by, there are clever devices that can turn off appliances in hard to reach areas.

- Install energy management systems – They monitor energy use and control devices. To switch on and off.

- Choose high ‘star’ energy rated appliances – the more stars an appliance has, the less energy it uses.

Read more energy hacks »


Recreation trails receive a 15-year plan
Walkers, hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders and canoeists will benefit from a 15-year plan to improve the Sunshine Coast’s recreation trails.

The Recreational Trails Development Plan identifies 10 key projects across the Coast that will be slated for further development including:

- Glass House Mountains Seven Peaks Walk and Regional Trail Network
- Sugar Bag Road Mountain Bike Trails
- Northern Region Recreational Trail networks (Eumundi, Doonan, Lake Weyba


Read more »

Are you a volunteer on the Sunshine Coast?
The Sunshine Coast Volunteer Sector Reference Group are asking volunteers across the Sunshine Coast to complete a survey to provide us with an insight into our local volunteers. Why do you volunteer? How many organisations do you volunteer with?

Survey will be open until 21 April. Complete survey>>

Council encourages young people to speak up, engage and have their say
If you are aged 12 to 24, this is your opportunity to help the Sunshine Coast Council create a new Youth Action Plan that aims to strengthen how young people participate and contribute to our community.
 
There are several ways young people can have their say:

- Complete the Youth Participation Survey before 31 May
- Visit the Speak Up Engage Street Team at the 2017 Blended Youth Culture Art and Music Festival from 2-9pm on Saturday 8 April at Tickle Park, Coolum.
- Call (07) 5475 7272 and ask to speak to the Community Development Officer 
- Email YOUTH@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Read more »

Water Quality and Aquatic Environments

Here on the Sunshine Coast we are lucky enough to have a diverse range of aquatic habitats. Some examples include our sand flats, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, beaches and rocky reefs.

All of these different habitats are linked and provide food and shelter for the aquatic and terrestrial animals which either visit, or call these environments home.

Water quality within our catchments directly effects the health of all of these habitats and the animals that depend upon them. Some examples of these linkages include;

  • Sand and mud flats offer shelter for burrowing crustaceans and fish; they are also important feeding grounds for many species. To remain healthy, these ecosystems require litter free water with specific pH and dissolved oxygen levels.
  • Mangrove forests are the base of the food chain and provide important nurseries for many aquatic animals. They require a stable river state, with little bank erosion and low sediment flows.
  • Seagrass meadows require clear water (low turbidity), so that sunlight can reach the plants, allowing for photosynthesis and growth to occur.
  • Rocky reefs are common within our local river mouths and along our beaches. They require low nutrient waters to prevent algae growth from smothering corals.

You can help our aquatic habitats flourish by;

  • Placing your litter into bins so that it cannot reach our waterways through stormwater drains.
  • Using your green waste bin, rather than illegally dumping garden waste. This will help reduce the spread of weed species to our river banks.
  • Reducing your boat wash, which in turn will decrease bank erosion.
  • Limiting fertiliser, soap and detergent use close to stormwater drains and waterways. One simple method is to wash your car on the grass, to prevent soaps flowing directly into stormwater drains.

So the next time you are around our waterways, have a go at identifying some different aquatic environments.

Then take a moment to consider….

Is there a way that I could help protect the animals within our rivers, creeks, beaches and oceans?

Image: A mangrove forest within the Pumicestone Passage, Caloundra

Events, workshops and volunteering opportunities

1 - 13 April           Art with Fungi and Flora Holiday Workshop Program
Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Tanawha and Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny

Take a closer look at the fascinating world of fungi, mushrooms and plants this Easter. This holiday workshop program for children and young people offers and inspiring range of local artists and fungi fanatics, who use creativity and culture to explore the brilliant biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast. Several activities are also on offer for adults.
See the full program>>



22 April                  Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste Workshop 
9:30am at Yandina Community Gardens

In this workshop Anne Gibson (The Micro Gardener) will be sharing lots of practical tips and creative ways to save money and reduce your kitchen waste to live more sustainably including:
  • Foods to regrow from kitchen scraps so you can grow plants for free
  • Using 100% of your food (how to use skin, seeds, leaves and flesh)
  • What to do with sprouting potatoes and UFO’s (Unidentified Food Objects!)
  • Smart shopping habits and menu planning
  • Ways to create a waste-free kitchen and close the loop on cycling nutrients back to the garden
  • Packaging-free food and how to upcycle packaging
  • Easy, quick recipes including ‘Clean out the Fridge Soup’
BYO a food you don’t know how to use or packaging you often throw out. We’ll brainstorm useful ways to reduce food waste together!
Hosted by Yandina Community Gardens 
Cost: $5 Non-Members, Gold coin for Members, Free to Regular Volunteers
Duration 2 hours. Bookings are NOT required.



22 April                  Australasian Bat Night 2017
4 - 8pm at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny

Come along for a "Batty" evening and learn about our ecosystem superheroes - flying foxes and microbats! At this family friendly event there will be:

  • Warambi author Aleesha Darlison
  • Local bat ecologist and author Les Hall
  • Wildcall native wildlife display
  • Indigenous connections to bats with Lyndon Davies
  • "Bat Cave" for kids activities
  • BBQ dinner available
  • Outdoor Cinema - Stellaluna

Bring a blanket, torch, and a picnic to relax under the stars while watching the local flying fox colony "fly out". Kids – dress up in your favourite batty costume! Places are limited for this FREE event. Bookings essential. To book visit the Events Hub on council's website.


29 April – 1 May    Maleny Wood Expo
9am - 4pm at Maleny Showgrounds

There are native plants and local Maleny produce to purchase, natural resource management displays and much, much more. Pull up a hay bale, enjoy great food and fabulous local music and have a great day!
More information>>



20 May                   Dale Chapman Bushfood Tasting Table and Demonstration
10 - 11:30am at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny

Cost $25. Book your place through cclp@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
 

23rd May                Basic Plant ID workshop with Marc Russell
9am - 3pm at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny

For more information and registrations contact cclp@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
 


4 June                      World Environment Day Festival
10am - 5pm at Maroochydore Memorial Park, Cotton Tree

Now in its 38th year, WED Festival is a celebration of our unique environment with live performances, delicious wholesome food, sustainable stall holders, a fun kids program, live art, innovative displays, dozens of community and environment groups to meet and learn from, and more activities than you can poke a stick at! For more information visit the website>>
 


TBC June                DNA barcoding of plants with Dr Alison Shapcott
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny

For more information and registrations contact cclp@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au


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