• JUNE 2016 • ISSUE 27

Incorporating NEWS of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee

Bird lists compiled The Autumn cluster moth appears in by various birders – huge numbers each year and cover & District Field the Livistonia palm fronds completely. Naturalists and interested Saw shelled and short necked turles individuals have helped are common in the 3 Mile and platypus us identify 70+ species, live in a shallow area of water when the some permanents and weather suits. some infrequent visitors. As owners, we appreciate how lucky Regent Bower birds and we are to have this amazing, natural Noisy Pitta have come environment to enjoy but also realise and gone and we hope the fragility of the system. Two severe for their return. Fauna threats are apparent – the incursion of includes Koala, Greater, Cat’s Claw Creeper, especially along feather-tailed and Yellow the creek frontage, and continued bellied gliders, squirrel subdivisions and clearing of blocks right gliders, Ring-tailed and on our doorstep, happening in a declared Brush tailed possum, Koala habitat area. We have been lucky Swamp and Red-necked in gaining some financial help from Life at Wallaby and Echidna. various government funds allocated A powerful owl was for conservation purposes – Caring for The Palms photographed with a Country (Federal Govt.) and Everyone’s Yellow bellied glider in Environment Grant (State Govt.). These his talons. funds have been targeted to weed control As land owners on three small properties Two large (5m + 2m) pythons entertained and revegetation of small areas which in The Palms area west of Gympie, we Maureen and Bruce when the snakes fell were weed infested due to inappropriate are fortunate to share a vision for the out of their ceiling onto their verandah. clearing of the upper canopy and middle maintenance and preservation of our Brown and green tree snakes and keel storey vegetation. We have been very unique land holdings. Five, five and 12 backs frequent the vine scrub and Eastern lucky to have been auspiced by Gympie acres respectively. An amazing sandstone barred, rocket and burrowing frogs make and District Land Care and with the help escarpment drops away dramatically to a an appearance in times of good weather. of Rick Sizer, tree guru and revegetation riparian zone bordering a small permanent Green tree frogs chorus from the guttering and weed control contractor, have creek. This small pocket of basically on the shed in hopeful anticipation of planted in excess of 1,000 trees and remnant vegetation includes wallum, dry rain to come (November 2014). Roths tree sprayed some hectares of riparian land. eucalypt forest, vine scrub and riparian frog (Litoria rothii) has been identified, the Tingid bugs and jewel beetles (bio- species of flora. Surveys (planned and southern most sighting to date. control for Cat’s Claw Creeper) obtained incidental) by local botanical experts, from Gympie Landcare and MRCCC Marc Russell, Ernie Rider, Michael Lowe ROTHS have been released and, at the moment, and Rick Sizer have identified in excess TREE are doing extremely well. An initial FROG of 300 species of flora from insignificant release of tingid bugs was done in 2008. herbs and ground covers to forest giants, Only recently have the bugs survived (Hibertia, Dilwinnia and Leucopogon and made an impact. Jewel beetle were released first, in 2012. Now they are species, 7 orchids, Eupomatia bennettii, having quite a visible impact. Acacia bakerii, Giant Ironwoods, Bunya Pine and 6 species of fig). Continued on page 11...

1 In the Spring-Summer of 2015, three successful spawnings at the Gerry Cook Fish Hatchery from two breeding pairs of Mary River Cod occurred, resulting in approximately 15,000 fingerlings being produced. Dedicated volunteer Steve Poole contributed an enormous amount of time and effort to ensure specific fish husbandry and hygiene procedures were adhered to, and only lack of funds and fingerling food stood in the Welcome to this June 2016 edition of the Codline way of a better outcome. Nevertheless, and thank you to those who contributed articles. 2450 fingerlings were released into waterways at strategic sites in the The articles in this issue certainly demonstrate Mary River Catchment for conservation Preparing to relocate the BREAKING NEWS stocking, and a further 8855 were broodstock back to the the diversity of activities undertaken in the hatchery tanks Thank you to Seqwater who will released into specific waterways in SEQ name of natural resource management! provide $5000 as an initial grant for recreational fish stocking. to support the 2016 Breeding The breeding program for the Program. endangered Mary River Cod will operate the Gerry Cook Fish COMING EVENTS continue at the Hatchery in 2016 Hatchery and the breeding under the auspices of the Mary River program for the next 5 years. Funding is being sought to enable Sunday 26th June - Noosa Festival of Water Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC). The hatchery building and breeding and raising of Mary Sunday 26th June - Lake Macdonald Catch and Release contents are now an asset of the MRCCC, River cod fingerlings to occur, in Bass Fishing Competition with a lease over the land currently accordance with the draft five year Tuesday 2nd August - MRCCC General Meeting, being negotiated with Seqwater. The Qld management strategy (2016-2021) Albert Bowls Club, Gympie Department of Agriculture and Fisheries which has been prepared to guide Sunday 28th August – Gympie and Fraser Coast Land have granted a permit to the MRCCC the operation of the Hatchery. for Wildlife activity which allows for the collection and The Sunshine Coast Council Saturday 10th September - Valley Bees Open Day, holding of Mary River cod broodstock. Environment Grants Program has The permit also allows for the holding of provided funding for researchers Tuesday 13th September - MRCCC General Meeting, one exhibition fish (his name is Obi and at Griffith University to develop a Albert Bowls Club, Gympie he is on display at the Mary Catchment specific microsatellite library for Sunday 25th September - World Rivers Day Available now Resource Centre in Gympie). A steering the Mary River Cod. The research Sunday 25th September to Saturday 12th November – * group comprising representatives of potentially has numerous Mary River Month the Department of Agriculture and benefits, primarily resulting in 27th October 2016 - MRCCC AGM In Retrospect: the Mary River DVD Fisheries, Seqwater, Noosa Council, improved genetic understanding • Recreational fish stocking groups and of remaining Mary River Cod $11 or $20 including postage. Saturday 29th October – Gerry Cook Hatchery Open Day the MRCCC will meet regularly to populations and the effects of Saturday 12th November – Mary River Festival, • Frogs of SEQ Booklet. oversee the management of the facility. stocking on the current overall $8 or $12 including postage Kandanga A key recovery action for the endangered population and an improved Chris and Shauna Thompson releasing Sunday 27th November – Gympie and Fraser Coast • Once an Endangered Species DVD. Mary River cod is production and ability to distinguish between cod fingerlings in Elaman Creek Land for Wildlife activity $5 or $10 including postage. restocking of hatchery-bred, genetically individuals within populations. Tuesday 6th December – MRCCC General Meeting • Something About Mary Booklet. diverse fingerlings across their natural Seqwater has also provided some $5.50 or $10 including postage. distribution, and for the creation of funding to support the breeding Henry Fredman shows the You can sail on the lake recreational fisheries to take pressure correct way to handle a Nature’s Gifts - Bee Book (updated 2016) program in 2016. Recreational • off wild cod populations where cod are Fish Stocking groups are also Mary River cod or meet a big snake Athol Craig - $15 or $22 including post. Say hello to a cod a no-take species. Although Mary River supporting the work at the • Australian Native Bee Book Dr. Tim Heard cod are produced in other commercial Hatchery. Prime pineapples, marvelous macadamias, pineapples,Prime marvelous macadamias, have a go with a rod $35 or $42 including post. * lively avocados, amazing lychees, luscious a Catchment! honey...what limes, heavenly fish hatcheries, the Gerry Cook Fish Be entertained in style The Hatchery will be open to • Mary River Brochure Hatchery is the only facility which the public on Sunday 26th June and stay for a while produces fingerlings for conservation from 10 am until 3 pm. For more But our Festival of Water: stocking into waterways in the Mary information or to find out how you attend it you oughtta! River Catchment. can support the breeding program The MRCCC is currently seeking funding for Mary River cod, please contact from a range of sources to professionally the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766.

2 3 How many Glenda Pickersgill Teachers and students assisting with turtle Mary River monitoring “Get to know the Mary River” Abbey-Leigh Kassulke with male Mary River Thanks to the efforts of Sue Gibson, turtles in the turtle Principal of Barambah Environmental Education Centre and Robyn Yates from Tinana State School there is now an river? online resource available to all public primary and high school teachers in which can help them include the Mary River and Great Sandy Strait in the curriculum. Situated in the Department of Education and Training’s Learning Place (http:// education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/) the “Get to know the Mary River” Ed Studio is tailored to provide relevant materials and resources based on subject and year level. The image shows the home page of the Ed Studio, listing By undertaking a whole range of activities completed by 220 residents most of whom the current tabs of English, Humanities including weed management, stabilising live within 30km of Tiaro Post Office. One and Social Science (HASS), History, riverbanks, baiting feral animals etc, component of the survey was to gain an Geography, Science, In Flood and Torquay and Murgon Special School. Landcare Groups and the Mary River insight into community attitudes about Endangered. It’s a work in progress that The concept and information, including Catchment Committee have been working the Mary River turtle and its conservation. we hope will continue to grow from free copies of Something about Mary, In for a couple of decades to reduce or reverse 97.7% of all respondents had heard of strength to strength as more teachers Retrospect and the Mary River Cod DVD the impacts of degradation in the Mary the turtle. More importantly, 87.9% of become aware of it and contribute to were very enthusiastically received. More River catchment. A fundamental question respondents, who were not a member of it. Sue and Robyn invite other teachers professional development days will be is, as a consequence of those actions, what Landcare or a conservation group, were to share content they may have already held in other parts of the catchment in is happening to the population of native supportive of the conservation of this developed related to the Mary River. the future. plants and animals? For one species, turtle. This response is very encouraging Teachers can use these details to access the Mary River turtle, Tiaro Landcare for Landcare members and a confirmation It all started with the “In Retrospect: The MRCCC and many other groups the learning place. has teamed up with researchers from that our community supports this the Mary River” historical film created in the catchment have often recognised the University of New England and Landcare project. Disappointingly, 38% of by Goorie Vision and MRCCC in 2012. the need to have more engagement with A huge thank you to Robyn and Sue Charles Darwin University to undertake respondents in the 18-25 year age bracket, After this film was screened, several schools and the Ed Studio provides a for putting so much work into setting a population assessment with support said they were indifferent if the turtle Tiaro Landcare volunteers assisting with Mary teachers approached MRCCC and said vehicle for this that is tailored to the up the Ed Studio and creating what from BMRG, MRCCC, landholders and became extinct in their lifetime. This is in River turtle nest protection. Threats to eggs and how well they thought it fitted with needs of teachers and the requirements we hope will be a bridge between the numerous volunteers. Once we have an stark contrast to just 3.8% in the 55 year hatchlings include predation by foxes, wild dogs, the Curriculum. Enter the MRCCC’s of the Australian Curriculum. classroom and catchment management. estimate there will be a reference point for plus age bracket. goannas, trampling by cows and human impacts Education Sector delegate Sue Gibson! surveys in the future to find out if Mary Sue with help from Robyn, other And please let any teachers in River turtle numbers are increasing or teachers and MRCCC, generated the Ed your life know about this resource. Marilyn Connell sets out to decreasing. This valuable information will monitor turtle numbers Studio idea and developed materials for To access it, all they have to do become a guide to their management. the history curriculum initially. Since is log in to the Department of The turtle surveys involves setting five then, the Ed Studio has grown, and now Education and Training Intranet houses a combination of new material specially designed nets for a week at a time and search for “Get to Know in four different reaches of the Mary River. and existing Mary River based teaching the Mary River”. materials such as the Science Module So far we have captured 228 Mary River Tiaro and District Landcare developed turtles (15 of them twice). All six species with Zela Bissett on the Mary River Tinana State School Principal David Burns of turtles have been caught, however welcomes teachers to the first ‘Get To Know very few of the longneck species have turtle and the Marvellous Mangrove The Mary River’ Professional Development Day. modules promoted by the Burnett Mary been caught as they are more commonly Regional Group. found in creeks, waterholes and dams than in the river. We are very thankful for The first Professional Development ...Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated. the landholders who allow us onto their session to introduce teachers to the By the side of the river he trotted...and when property to access the river and the many “Get to know the Mary River” Ed tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river volunteers who lent a hand. The project Studio was held at Tinana State School featured on ABC Radio National Country still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of in Maryborough on 1 June 2016. It was Breakfast and RN Afternoons on May 4. attended by 19 primary and high school the best stories in the world, sent from the heart Last year we conducted a survey to find teachers from Aldridge, Maryborough of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.’ High, Tinana State School, Maryborough out what are the environmental concerns FROM THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS - KENNETH GRAHAME of people in our district. The survey was Central, Maryborough West, St Mary’s, ILLUSTRATION - E.H. SHEPARD

4 5 Cat’s claw gives us the creeps Madeira Vine Control option number 6

Sometimes when I visit the Mary I sing Where there are continuous Stir Fried Madeira Vine for joy at the richness of its habitats and and wide stands of trees Recipe has been tested on our Gympie Landcare volunteers! the life it supports. Sometimes I despair along the banks, most often for it; where the remaining strength of it they withstand the force INGREDIENTS is being destroyed before my eyes. Along of a flood and maintain Fresh picked & washed Madeira Vine leaves its length, from Kenilworth to Moy the integrity of the banks. (the leaves wilt on cooking so the more the better) Pocket, is one of the most disheartening Sometimes they fail too as Grated fresh ginger sights, where the exotic vine, Cat’s claw we have commonly seen Minced garlic creeper, has taken hold of the trees that over the past several years Sliced onion grow along and hold the river banks during extreme events. However we can Generous splash of soy sauce together. In some places it is partnered Ruth and Stephen Carter ponder on the effects of floods should Oil to grease pan with another vine from far away, Madeira the trees have been absent. This may Paula and Darryl Gillis vine. Singly or together they are killing become a reality along the Kenilworth to Brook and Leigh Ann Sample METHOD trees large and old as well as the newly Moy Pocket reach if the vines continue Elvira and David White Heat oil in a wok or frypan. Madeira Vine is increasingly common in the , and is well emerging and everything in between. unchecked and we lose our good stands Higher Ground Outdoor Education Fry onion, garlic and ginger for a few minutes. established in the upper reaches of the Mary River. In good conditions the vine The soil of the Mary River banks is of remaining trees. Shane and Sharon Paulger Add leaves and stir fry, until leaves wilt and can grow a metre a week, making it unlikely enough leaves will be eaten to unconsolidated silts and sands. Perfect It is time to give recognition to the Jean and Fred Sandell soften. contain the spread of the vine. for good quality grazing pasture but not many landholders in this area that have Sunshine Coast Council – Weeds Add soy sauce. so good for withstanding fast water flows. In recent months Gympie Landcare has raised increasing numbers of stepped up, not in despair but in hope, Management Unit on road reserves During low flows of course not much SERVING Plectonycha correntina, a beetle which can have a noticeable impact on the vine. to give a contribution of their time and Michelle and Bruce Wilson happens but during high flow conditions Serve hot on a bed of rice. The beetle adult and its larvae chew holes and “slime” the leaves of Madeira resources in an effort to slow down, and banks are weakened by the heaviness of Geoff Hill Vine, which reduces the leaf area of the vine and reduces the plants’ vigour. At hopefully stop, the tree loss. Through water in them and by the undercutting Sally and Ian Mackay heavy population densities the beetle may defoliate the canopy which reduces their own efforts, their connection with of flows low down in the water column. Mary Ann and Don Law the load of the vine and prevents other vegetation from being smothered. If you This weakening is most prevalent in the MRCCC programs and through support Brenda and Mick Cantwell have Madeira you would like to manage on your property , contact Gympie inside of bends and where there is little from grants generously provided by the Landcare for more information or visit their website at Sunshine Coast Council, the Burnett ‘roughness’ from tree trunks and roots, We cheer on these people and the http://www.gympielandcare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FAQ- Mary Regional Group and the Australian lumps and bumps, rocks. We often see funding bodies that are an example to us Madeira-Vine.pdf too that lone trees or small groups of Government Biodiversity Fund. that we can all make a difference and can The beetle is used as part of an holistic approach to managing Madeira Vine. trees taking the full brunt of the power of The following people are making a change our view of this reach from loss Most importantly, learn to recognise the young madeira vine plants and remove water from upstream, will give way and difference; freeing the trees, stopping and inevitability to one of inspiration and them before they establish. Their fleshy broad leaves are quite distinctive and take large chunks of bank with them as the production of seed, allowing native possibility. they cannot hold the banks together in plants to regenerate and survive: EVA FORD you really don’t want it on your land. Bag the young plants, roots and tubers their own. and place them in your wheelie bin.

6 7 Dam anniversary April 26 marked the tenth anniversary of then-Premier Peter Beattie’s announcement of Crossing Dam. Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee Chairman Ian Mackay reflects not only on that announcement but also on Traveston protestors with Peter Beattie’s memorable quote. an earlier dam plan from the 1990s. PHOTO ARKIN MACKAY

Just over ten years ago, Peter Beattie Opposition to the proposal took Gympie Mayor Mick Venardos up come from far and wide dams across the nation. The peculiar logic he announced in mid-2006, that “the to northern parts of Brisbane as well. in a helicopter and unveiled plans for a with then Greens leader of responding to a string of failed dams by bulldozers would be rolling by Christmas” As well as this, the pumping station at huge dam on the Mary River at Traveston Bob Brown joining in announcing the construction of another but the strategy of buying up properties Goomong supplies Mary River water to several of the rallies. Crossing, upstream of Gympie. one wasn’t lost on protestors. Dams don’t before gaining federal approval has all the Noosa whenever Lake Macdonald (on Six come filled with water. It was like finding hallmarks of a pressure tactic to force a It’s also nearly twenty-five years since Mile Creek, also a tributary of the Mary) your wallet empty and deciding the federal green light. drops a little. the state government initiated a lengthy obvious solution is to find a bigger wallet. investigation into possible dam sites There’s some irony that the dam was Ten years ago Peter Beattie underestimated Two dams were announced, Traveston on throughout the Mary catchment to provide announced just after Anzac Day and the resolve of the people of the Mary the Mary, and Wyaralong Dam on Teviot water for a growing Sunshine Coast. canned by federal Environment Minister Valley. He, along with many planners, Brook near Beaudesert. Wyaralong was Peter Garrett on Remembrance Day, three was also way off the mark when it came Neither resulted in a dam being built and opened in mid-2011 but by late 2012, the and a half years later. Those involved say to people’s preparedness to use less water. it’s timely to see just how we’ve managed dam, although filled, still had not been it brought a totally different meaning to Thank goodness it is such a very different in the years since, as construction of a dam connected to the water grid because its ‘fighting for your country”. landscape from even 1991. Through was touted as absolutely imperative in hinterland dwellers with rainwater tanks. water was so mineralized it would have Those in the Mary Valley will never challenging assumptions, changing both instances. At that consumption rate, a 5000 gallon been cheaper to produce desalinated forget Remembrance Day 2009. That some technologies and simple financial (22000L) rainwater tank would serve a water than to treat it. The Wyaralong The Baroon Pocket Dam on Obi Obi Creek simplest of words, “no” unleashed inducement, we have made existing family of four for less than a fortnight. water treatment plant is expected to cost became operational in 1989 yet just two torrents of jubilation but mostly relief. water go a lot further. years layter, Maroochy Shire Council The introduction of the Waterwise program A$235 million to construct, almost as Each November the Mary Valley comes And when you think of the high Chairman Fred Murray told the Sunshine which tackled what was becoming known much as the dam itself. together with the Mary River Festival costs, both in dollars and social and PHOTO IAN MACKAY If the choice of the Wyaralong site with Coast Daily that “a new dam must open as “demand management”, as well as in Kandanga to celebrate both the environmental upheaval, of building new its potential for mineralized water was by the year 2000 when massive population the introduction of water meters and a Goomong water offtake takes water from the announcement and the reprieve it gave dams and treatment works, reducing per a poor one, the Traveston choice was growth would overwhelm the region’s changed pricing structure started the Mary upstream of Gympie for use in Noosa. for their river and community. capita demand for water simply makes probably worse. The earlier dam site major supplier Baroon Pocket Dam.” downward turn in water consumption And now, despite Fred Murray’s the best sense. With the benefit of hindsight you have figures. By the time Traveston Dam was study, eventually released in December predictions almost 25 years ago, REFERENCES to ask how Fred Murray got it so wrong on the agenda, planners were talking 1994, dismissed the Traveston site in a Baroon Pocket Dam not only continues mere paragraph as “considered unsuitable Sunshine Coast Daily article “$100m dam to and equally how the desperation at the of consumption of 350 litres per person to manage to supply the expanding because of high capital cost, inundation of quench coast’s thirst” Monday October 7 1991. drought that motivated Peter Beattie’s per day with an aim to lower this even Sunshine Coast, but its connection to the prime agricultural land and displacement DPI Report “An Appraisal Study of Water Supply announcement would seem to have further, to around 270 litres, although a water grid through the northern pipeline of rural population”. options for the Sunshine Coast and the Mary River evaporated. government employee told a dam protest interconnector, has been supplying water Valley” December 1994. meeting that to take it any lower “would Had they examined the site in more In 1991, there were no water meters be political suicide.” detail it could have added the shallow installed on the Sunshine Coast and a later nature of any dam on the site, leading to Wivenhoe dam in 2006. Worryingly low mayor, Bob King, went on the record as Why all the emphasis on a consumption figure? It’s the one figure on which all high evaporation rates but all that would water levels were being experienced in being opposed to their introduction saying be aired amply during the three and a projections of need for a dam are based. dams across the country. that he preferred the existing system half years of energetic opposition by a You don’t need to be Einstein to realise PHOTO ARKIN MACKAY of paying a set water rate regardless of galvanised community with wide support. the amount used. Nor were there dual that if people used half as much water on In the end it was none of these deterrents flush toilets or greywater re-use systems a per capita basis, existing water storages would go twice as far. that shifted Traveston Crossing Dam and rainwater tanks were generally from being a “controversial” proposal only found in more rural areas although At the height of the Traveston Dam to being “now defunct”. It was federal the hinterland township of Mapleton campaign, Brisbane had reduced its legislation, the Environmental Protection managed quite well on tanks. consumption rate to almost 150 litres per PHOTO IAN MACKAY and Biodiversity Conservation Act Fred Murray’s pessimism as to the person per day and letters to the Courier (EPBC) that promised some protection for adequacy of existing dams was based Mail at the time suggested that was not a Baroon Pocket Dam on Obi Obi Creek a major threatened species of which the Mary had on the amount being consumed; for the hardship. tributary of the Mary supplies water for not some outstanding examples. 1991 study it was accepted as 530 litres When Peter Beattie announced Traveston only the Sunshine Coast but northern parts of It’s unclear whether Peter Beattie per person per day, a figure that incensed Dam, it was against a backdrop of drying Brisbane as well. was aware of this legislation when

8 9 ... continued from cover story NOOSA TILAPIA UNBROKEN DORSAL FIN UPDATE Festival of Water INVASIVE SPECIES

The Noosa Festival of Water takes place Sunday 26 June on the last Sunday in June each year at the Noosa Botanic Gardens on Lake Macdonald. The Mary River Catchment The highly invasive fish species Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) female stores the eggs and hatchlings hosts this free family event to improve has become established in the lower in her mouth. Tilapia can dominate community awareness of some of the Black bootlace orchid Mary with significant numbers caught in local fish communities and displace (Erythrorchis cassythoides) special features of the Noosa region which the barrage pondage near Tiaro in October local species through aggressive make it such a great place to live. 2014. In early April 2016, a school of Tilapia behaviour and competition for food and The release sites are easily accessible and Everyone is invited to come along to listen was caught in the Mary River at space. They pose a significant threat to the anyone who would like to visit to see the to music in the Grecian style amphitheatre Crossing, just downstream of Gympie. native fish in the Mary River. effect of the bio-control agents feel free to overlooking the Lake, wander the gardens Tilapia is a predator fish which is included Regardless of colour, all Tilapia have contact Bruce/Maureen 54836987. Bruce taking in community displays, enjoy the in the Top 100 list of invasive species. a continuous, unbroken dorsal fin has particular practice in rearing tingid food and join in activities for all interests Tilapia have a highly successful breeding as indicated by the red circle. This is bugs. and age groups while learning more about strategy (up to 1200 eggs a year, in up to 4 probably the easiest way to identify the our beautiful region. Wendy has been the longest inhabitant, broods) and low juvenile mortality as the species. buying into this area at the time of the The Festival offers a range of activities first subdivision of land. In hindsight, this for kids including the fishing clinic where The Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee would appreciate your help in tracking the subdivision was the worst thing that could junior anglers can learn from the experts distribution and spread of this fish. At this stage knowing where the fish is not yet established have happened to this unique environment from the Lake Borumba Fish Stocking is just as important as knowing where it has been observed. Tilapia can be relatively easily with the resultant development, building Group. Budding artists can create their identified by the continuous dorsal fin along its spine. If you catch a Tilapia, do not release it of houses, road construction etc. That this own artwork featuring some of the special back into the river and please notify MRCCC or Boating and Fisheries on 13 25 23. area was not recognised as unique and fauna which inhabit the Noosa Biosphere. For more information, visit www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries/pest-fish/noxious-fish/tilapia excised from development is a tragedy. Kids will also love the native animal and Bruce and Maureen arrived in 2005, snake and reptile displays. There is also Bruce being completely smitten by the free face painting and a jumping castle for environment and flora especially the fern the littlies. and epiphyte galleries on the sandstone Older kids and adults can try out stand-up cliffs. I was a much later arrival but paddle boarding and kayaking on Lake Mary River Threatened after seeing photographs of the area on Macdonald – just bring your boardies and a Land for Wildlife slide show, I also was towel! Aquatic Species Recovery completely overawed and vowed that one The amphitheatre will showcase some day I would live here. incredible local talent including Lyndon plan UPDATE To maintain the integrity of the species of Davis and the Gubbi Gubbi Dancers and flora, each season we try to collect seed music from up and coming young multi Land is now in sight on the finalisation in September, get it out for a couple of and propagate plants for our revegetation instrumentalists Phenix and some jazz of the Mary River Threatened Aquatic months of public comment soon after, projects. Any over supply is distributed inspired soul from Sommer Rd. Festival Species Recovery Plan. If all goes as we be ready for final endorsement at the to neighbours and environment groups favourite, Martin Fingland and his native hope, the Commonwealth Department of March 2017 Threatened Species Scientific in our region. We have learnt to identify animals will round off the program. lawns or in the amphitheatre or enjoy the coffee, food, Environment staff will present the plan to Committee meeting, and then by the many of our local species, how to treat A free boat trip will take people across the ice creams and drinks on sale around the gardens. Threatened Species Scientific Committee Environment Minister. So fingers crossed! specific seed and grown them on. Lake to the Gerry Cook Hatchery where Noosa residents with a copy of their rates notice can Amazing to admit that once we admired the breeding program for the endangered collect two free trees from Noosa Landcare, have their a grove of ochna. Mary River Cod will be on display. A creek, dam or bore water sample tested by MRCCC and Our neighbourhood collaboration has tour of the Noosa Water Treatment Plant learn about local plants, animals and the environment grown into friendships. We sometimes will originate from Mary River Cod Park from the wide range of community organisations who cannot believe we have been so fortunate which can also be accessed by vehicle all have displays and information available at Lake as to live next door to “kindred spirits”. from Collwood Road. Macdonald on the day of the Festival. 2015 Fishing Comp This has been instrumental in our The Lake Macdonald Catch and Release To help with parking a free courtesy bus will travel winner John Noble, successes in looking after our properties Bass fishing competition is also on the along Lake Macdonald Drive. For more information with Ed van der Kruk, and keeping our spirits up. Now, we are 26th of June. Entry forms are available and a full copy of the program visit the Noosa Festival of ‘Hooked On Angling eagerly awaiting some welcome rain (as from Hooked on Angling and Outdoors of Water website at http://www.noosafestivalwater. Outdoors.’ is most of Queensland) and the flush of in Tewantin or download a form from the org or call the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766. growth and increase of wildlife activity that this will bring. Noosa Festival of Water website www. The Noosa Festival of Water is supported by Noosa noosafestivalofwater.org.au Council, Seqwater, the MRCCC, Noosa Landcare and Wendy Macpherson, Maureen and Bruce Bring your own picnic to enjoy on the the staff at the Noosa Botanic Gardens. McCulloch, Annette Bourke. 10 11 Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Mary River Bank Remediation Project Project The Mary River Bank Remediation In 2012-13, as part of ongoing monitoring, Project was Seqwater commissioned an independent assessment of Lake Macdonald and its conducted in 2015 other 25 regulated dams. This assessment to improve the raw included a review of the condition and performance of each dam and compliance water quality near with modern standards, and identified a the community program of work needed to ensure the of Kenilworth, dams meet national guidelines into the future. on Queensland’s The outcome of the assessment at Lake Sunshine Coast. Macdonald has led to the prioritisation of an upgrade at the dam, and as part of this prioritisation, Seqwater called for expressions of interest in 2015 to form Tree planting day held in July 2015 after a community reference group for the remediation works were completed. project. The group was formed to ensure At the most recent meeting held in March If they proceed with this option, the dam community involvement in all stages of 2016, Seqwater provided an update on the water level will need to be lowered during Following the heavy rainfall and flooding associated with ex-Tropical project planning. At the meeting held options assessment process and discussed the construction of the new spillway to Cyclone Marcia in February 2015, the river bank began to erode and in August 2015, Seqwater presented a preliminary design for an option to provide a safe working environment. needed to be stabilised as soon as possible. the group with a number of options upgrade the existing dam. The upgrade Further work on the design will involve The erosion was threatening the integrity of the intake wells and that they were considering, including design includes replacing the current dam additional site investigations during affecting the quality of water reaching the Kenilworth Water Treatment a new dam, an upgrade to the spillway spillway with a new labyrinth spillway May 2016 to determine rock and soil Plant. The plant was temporarily shut down, and water tankered to the or decommissioning. and an upgrade to the dam embankments. characteristics below the current spillway. Kenilworth township to maintain supply. Through a successful partnership between Seqwater, Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, Burnett Mary Regional Group Noosa Water Treatment Plant and Sunshine Coast Council, the project involved substantial river bank Community Tour works, including bank reprofiling, installation of pile fields, armouring AT THE NOOSA FESTIVAL OF WATER the toe of the bank with rock revetment and revegetation of the site. Join Seqwater on Sunday 26 June 2016 By stabilising and planting trees and shrubs along the river bank, raw at the Noosa Festival of Water for a water quality significantly improved. The Kenilworth Water Treatment community tour of Noosa Water Plant was brought back online in December 2015. The remediation Treatment Plant. Come along and of the riverbank safeguards the integrity of the intake wells at the explore the plant through a guided plant, and a safe, secure and cost effective water supply for the local tour and learn about the treatment community. process of water, from catchment to your tap. WHEN Sunday 26 June 2016 TIME 10.30am to 11.30am WHERE Noosa Water Treatment Plant, 400 Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy SUITABILITY Noosa Festival of Water attendees aged 7 and up or community groups REGISTRATION Registration is required to participate in the plant tour. A maximum of 30 participants is allowed. To register your interest, please email [email protected] with the following details: Names of all attendees (including children)/community group name, and phone number. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

All participants must have the following PPE: • Hat • Sunscreen • Enclosed shoes • Long pants and long sleeves. MRCCCs Tanzi Smith, Nonie The Hon Warren Truss MP March 2016 PLEASE NOTE Please bring your own food and water. Please also keep in mind that the tour will involve entering a work site, and as such Metzler and Annette Bourke and Jim Buchanan at the at the Little Kids Day Out. official opening of our Mary facilities such as toilets and rubbish bins are at a premium. All participants must take their rubbish with them. Catchment Resource Centre.

12 13 Connecting Call for koala tree seeds There has been growing concern at the decline of koala habitat. While the best Tallowwood E. microcorys option is to keep remaining habitat Spotted Gum Corymbia citriodora ssp variegata koalas healthy, where this is not possible, options are to strengthen habitat or establish new Forest Red Gum E. tereticornis and community habitat. Swamp Mahogany E. robusta Several successful revegetation projects Grey Box E. moluccana The communities around the District, and renewed interest in strengthening local koala habitat has increased demand Grey Gums E. propinqua & E. major including Wolvi, Kia Ora, Wilsons Pocket and Tagigan for koala habitat plants from Gympie & N.L Red Ironbark E. crebra area love their koalas. As a result of the dedication of District Landcare’s nursery. The nursery Gympie messmate E. cloeziana the community, and in particular Kevin and Robyn supports local revegetation work by raising a diverse range of local provenance Rose (Flooded) Gum E. grandis Jackson, a project called “Creating Community native species, with seeds donated by Connections” was kicked off this year. many of our members and volunteers. • All a koala: being about togetherness Its goal is to both create connections koala scat detection dogs have been out Regrettably, seeds of many of the key koala across the landscape for koalas and about collecting lots of koala scats trees are difficult to collect because of the and strengthen connections among to analyse for DNA. With this work we height of the trees. The old reliable methods community members. The MRCCC will be able to better understand the of abseiling or shooting down branches is coordinating the project with the koala populations in the area where our cannot be encouraged for obvious health, Gympie & District community and the revegetation and project is located. safety and licensing reasons. So a call to Landcare’s nursery weed control aspects of this project are all Codline readers. If you notice a fallen team would We’ve held one community tree •

sleeping long branch of one of the species listed at right, funded by the Australian Government’s planting in Goomboorian and plan to welcome your please check it for seed. If it has mature 20 Million Trees Program and, in the have one community planting every six help, so we can seeds please bag a piece of a branch with 2015/2016 financial year, the Gympie months for the next two years. Our May grow some much- seeds and bring it into Gympie Landcare Regional Council under the banner 2016 planting was attended by nearly 30 needed food for so our team can extract the seed. “Reconnecting a Koala Corridor in the locals who were entertained by the koala our koalas. Goomboorian District”. scat detection dogs Maya and Baxter at Over the next two years until June 2018, work and by Rick Sizer from Gympie The perch would consume the anaerobic

• ROB PRIEBE 10,000 trees will be planted across 4 and District Landcare who provided staying cool Water use efficiency lifeforms. There was a limit to the volume ha and weeds controlled across 6ha instruction and advice on tree planting of sludge that could be transferred to the to increase connectivity for koalas for koalas and tree identification. Future The quality of the water supplied by In 1997 I ran a trial stocking 5000 eels in fish tank, as too much material would foul and improve the quality and extent plantings will include information on Borumba Dam to Yabba Creek is usually a five thousand litre tank. I learned a lot the water. The water would be returned very good. As the demand for potable of existing koala habitat. Gympie and seed collection, more about koalas and about what to do and what not do. The to irrigate dairy pastures. water increases, the cost of stored water District Landcare is a key partner in other topics of interest to the community. eel market in Asia is huge. Countries A CYCLE DEVELOPED AS FOLLOWS will increase to users. Irrigation farming this project and will be involved in So please come along and join in the fun. have over harvested both mature stock

• involves pumping water onto cropping/ from waterways and the glass eels 1) The cows came into the concrete yards. supplying seedlings and doing much of You can find out more about this project horticultural farmland, where the water endeavouring to enter waterways from All urine and faeces was washed into the the planting along with the community. by asking Tanzi ([email protected]) is dissipated and utilised once only. the sea, using numerous fyke nets which dam. Fortuitously, two other activities to add you to the project update email I believe the future will require multiple completely strip the waterway of glass 2) Aquatic life thrived on the sludge have coincided with our Creating list and by following the project at the uses of water BEFORE it is sprayed to eels. The laws regarding over-fishing are deposited on the bottom of the dam. Community Connections project. The “Creating Community Connections” irrigate crops. The option that comes to not enforced. Gympie Regional Council is developing facebook page. 3) The sludge dwelling life forms, along mind is the use of water in aquaculture. a Koala Conservation Management I was informed that it would take a with the sludge was pumped into an This venture would be built on an elevated Strategy which has involved the thousand hectares of ponds to supply the aquaculture tank holding silver perc. area adjacent to an existing irrigation line. Asian market short fall (Stocking rates creation of comprehensive mapping When discharged, the water outflow from 4) The soiled water was pumped onto tools that enable the rehabilitation 100,000/0.1 of a hectare). Unfortunately, pasture. Being laden with organic the aquaculture ponds would flow down deregulation of the dairy industry wiped potential of locations to be assessed. the gradient, pass through a hydroponic material, the dairy pastures were fertilised out venture capital, and I could not Using this information we can get a scheme; then onward to a turkey nest (organically) and grew the pasture. proceed. good idea of how to make the project dam. From the dam the water would be This created a perpetual cycle. With have the best benefit for koalas. In sprayed on to irrigated horticultural crops An article appeared in an aquaculture the demise of the dairy industry addition, the University of Sunshine or dairy pastures. This gives a triple usage magazine outlining an experiment in in Queensland, this may have few Coast’s “Centre for Detection Dogs for of the water with the potential to generate Aquaculture auspiced by the University applications, but it’s a different story to Conservation” has been collaborating three incomes from each megalitre of of Queensland. Some large dairies have the south where large dairying operations with the Department of Transport and of the water used. If the project did not earn a dams to hold all effluent generated in the exist. Please note fish grown in this Main Roads to better understand the New Gympie Koala Action Gympie dollar profit but paid for water and the dairy. The experiment involved pumping environment, have fillets that taste of the impact on koalas of the Cooroy to Curra Group brochure Region pumping costs and some of the fertiliser the aquatic life that thrived on the sludge eating organisms. This is overcome Bruce Highway upgrade. As part of this is now available costs, my dairy operation would have sediments at the bottom of the dam into by removing the fish to a saline bath. The Much loved, project Dr Romane Cristescu and the too precious to lose. been profitable and efficient. an adjacent pond containing silver perch. fish flavour sweetens up in two weeks.

14 150 Find a Frog in February 2 017 EVA FORD

The MRCCC is creating a new annual program called ‘Mary River – Find a Frog in February’ (MR-FFF) and it needs your input to be a success. How do we rate Feral pigs are difficult to control for a number of reasons: ‘success’? MR-FFF will be declared a success if you and many others from all over the Mary River catchment • they are intelligent, adaptable and secretive. As they are area get up close and personal with our frog friends and STEVE BURGESS nocturnal, they camp through the day in thick, inaccessible send in some information about your encounter. vegetation wherever possible ABOVE their reproduction potential is such that repeated control Now why would we want to do that? – because frogs are Feral pigs are a growing problem • in trouble worldwide with over 1/3 listed as threatened. Mary Valley locals Les Gain, programs must be conducted before any sustained population in the Mary Valley and Gympie John Tidy and Ken Ward with a reduction is achieved In the Mary and adjacent coastal areas we have lost two district, causing damage to crops, new portable pig and wild dog their omnivorous feeding habits give pigs a wide range of species in recent times and seven others are at risk of waterways, natural areas, wildlife trap built by the Mary Valley • available food sources, making successful pre-feeding difficult becoming extinct. As a fauna group that lives both on the and posing a risk to stock and Mens Shed for the MRCCC. land and in the water, and relies on a ‘clean’ environment, landholders. Throughout 2015, the ABOVE RIGHT • their home ranges are large (2-50 km2) so control programs frogs are our alarm bell for when ecosystems and MRCCC ran a project for BMRG A typical pen trap catch, in must be conducted over a large area (often including several environmental processes are unbalanced. to help farmers in the Mary May this year. properties) to be effective. The Mary River catchment is 9,600 square kilometres Valley and Wilsons Pocket area in size, has over 3,000 kilometres of waterways and coordinate their feral pig control FERAL PIG MANAGEMENT “Ten Commandments” many, many waterbodies. MRCCC and others have efforts. This project made shared Be prepared for Persistence, Perseverance and Patience (3-4 years to achieve significant been surveying these waterways for more than a use of surveillance cameras, • population control) decade and have just scratched the surface of the frog remote control trapping gates and world that exists there. We want to know more about large pen-style traps, in addition • Concentrate on killing sows and piglets frog distributions and trends over time so that we can to more traditional shooting, • Select a mix of fencing, trapping, shooting, dogging and poisoning techniques to each situation help people and organisations care for them and the trapping and hunting techniques. and group of pigs environments they depend on. The key objective was to help • Work cooperatively with other land managers in your area So what to do – look for and get close enough to the groups of landholders to co- • Use traditional tracking and hunting skills of the highest order frogs of your area to collect photos, recordings of calls operate in their control efforts • Use electronic surveillance technology as a major tool or a good description of any frogs you find, and send to target specific groups of pigs, • Choose trapping locations very carefully, and make traps as escape-proof as possible these in to us for confirmation and storage on the state which have territories which • Be prepared for holding, killing and disposing of animals in a humane and efficient manner at database. We are going to prepare helpful material and range across many individual any time broadcast information to make sure you do this safely properties and large areas of Protect yourself and your animals against injuries and disease and in a way that doesn’t harm any frogs. So listen out adjoining state forest and national • next January and February when we will be in touch park. What we learnt from this • Prevent the release of unmanaged pigs into the landscape with you and ready to ready to receive your discoveries. project can be summarized into a Following the completion of the funded part project in December 2015, the equipment has been kept Here’s a short story about Giant barred frogs in the Obi set of key points, listed on right. in use on farms in the & Kilkivan districts, and hopefully will stay in use until it wears out. Obi Creek system to explain why it is essential that we take on Finding Frogs in February: After 11 years of looking along Obi Obi Creek, Giant VALLEY BEES continues to be proactive in running free information and practical barred frogs (Mixophyes iteratus) were found near sessions on a regular basis, at the following venues and times. Maleny a few years ago. Further surveys have HONEY BEE SESSIONS: revealed a small population between Maleny and ValleyBees • 1st Saturday of every month @ Gympie Landcare Nursery. Baroon Pocket Dam. None have been found upstream • 3rd Saturday of every month @ Honeybee Farm, Kandanga. or downstream of Lake Baroon to the Obi’s confluence • 9am Summer start. 10am Winter start (May Jun Jul Aug). 2 to 3 hours, flexible. with the Mary River. There have been many surveys NATIVE BEE SESSIONS: but this is a very long waterway and more searching What to do when Christmas and school holidays are over is needed to cover more of its length. There is concern • Held every 2nd month, on the morning before the monthly meeting. Check our Bee- Inspired Calendar for venues, we will hold the event alternatively at the Honeybee and yet the urge to find a bit of excitement is still there, or for the known population as it is isolated by habitat fragmentation and a large dam barrier. Being certain Farm, and at the Gympie Landcare Nursery. 10am to 12noon. Free. the children are restless as the routine of the school term as to whether this species is really present or not These bee sessions are free, and anybody with an interest in honey bees, native bees, bee along most of the Obi system would help to inform gardens and habitat, are all welcome to attend. No bookings required. sets in? The MRCCC crew are cooking up a plan to solve decisions that might bring the frog back to its previous MONTHLY MEETINGS: this problem for you. range such as habitat protection, repair, corridors, • Our monthly meetings are held at Honeybee Farm on the 2nd Sunday of each month, reintroductions in the extreme case. at 1pm for a 1-30pm start. $2 entry, and please bring a plate to share.

16 17 EVENTS

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT

25 World 26 SEPTEMBER 27 28 29 30 1OCTOBER Rivers Day 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 World Habitat World Animal Day Day Queen’s B/day Holiday 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Focus on Rivers & Bees (Valley Bees)

16 17 Bird Week 18 19 20 21 22 and Aussie Backyard Bird Count National Water Week

23 24 25 266 27 28 29 ‘SPRING IN THE MARY’ MRCCC PHOTO COMPETITION WINNER: Meeting

‘COONOONGIBBER CREEK’ In 2015 the MRCCC initiated the first Hinterland Bushlinks, The Greater PHOTO BY JILLIAN TURNER 30 31 1 NOVEMBER 2 3 4 5 ever Mary River Month (six weeks Mary Association, Tiaro and District really!). Mary River Month kicked off Landcare, Lake Baroon Catchment Care with the Big Jump on World Rivers Group, Wide Bay Water, Fraser Coast Day on Sunday 27th September and Council, Fraser Coast Waste, Seqwater, concluded with the Mary River Festival Cooloola Community Action Group, 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 on Saturday 14th November 2015. The Sunshine Coast Council, Fraser Coast Mary purpose of Mary River Month was to: Wildlife Preservation Society, Australian River National Recycling Week Festival • Increase awareness of the Mary Rivers Institute at Griffith University, River and Great Sandy Strait the Department of Science, Information, Technology and Innovation, Save the Increase participation in activities • Mary River Coordinating Group, Gerry THE MRCCC WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF MARY RIVER MONTH that improve the health of the Mary Cook Hatchery, Noosa Council, Country BETWEEN WORLD RIVERS DAY ON SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER AND THE MARY River or Great Sandy Strait Noosa, Mary Valley Co-Op and Valley RIVER FESTIVAL AT KANDANGA, ON SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2016. • Provide hands on experiences Bees. Butchulla Elders Aunty Nai Nai MARY RIVER MONTH Create opportunities to build Bird, and Uncle Glen Miller as well as aims to create a focus on the Mary River and the Great • Lindsay Titmarsh and local historian Sandy Strait to raise awareness of what makes this part of the world so special collaboration between organisations Contact : [email protected] Ailsa Head were also contributed to and to encourage more people to get involved in creating a positive future for • Create a feeling of connectedness Mary River Month activities. or on 5482 4766 to get your throughout the whole catchment communities and ecosystems in the catchment. We’d like to have a special focus Feedback on Mary River Month 2015 on hands-on, experiential activities, collaborative opportunities and creating a event listed as part of Mary Thirty three events were held tells us that the concept was really feeling of connectedness throughout the catchment. throughout the catchment, covering well received and that hands on River Month YOU CAN BE INVOLVED MARY RIVER MONTH an area from Maleny to Hervey Bay. experiences are greatly appreciated by • EDITOR’S CHOICE• by assisting with one of MRCCC’s Sixteen of these events were held by the community. In 2016 we are aiming to events or by holding your own event during this period and associating it with groups other than MRCCC. It was build on these strengths and do a better MARY RIVER MONTH – to be part of MARY RIVER MONTH an event needs to relate fantastic to be able to collaborate with job of promoting the activities occurring ‘FUN AT EMERY’S BRIDGE’ to catchment management and to the building of knowledge and networks a wide range of other organisations throughout the Month. We’d love for PHOTO BY NAOMI CARTNER around this theme. All MARY RIVER MONTH events and the groups leading them and help promote their activities which you and/or groups you are involved MARY RIVER MONTH raise awareness about the Mary River in to be part of Mary River Month 2016 Please contact Tanzi to talk about any will be listed in the Calendar and we’ll do our best to cross and Great Sandy Strait and what we which will start again with the Big Jump events you would like to link with Mary promote and encourage support for your event. can do to ensure a positive future. The on World Rivers Day, Sunday 25th River Month 2016. You can also like the You can keep up to date with the latest events here: other organisations involved included September and conclude with the Mary Mary River Month 2016 facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MRM2015 Gympie and District Landcare, Noosa River Festival on Saturday the 12th to get updates on the events that are and District Landcare, Barung Landcare, November. planned. 18 19 theC DLine Mary Landcare on FaceBook • Mary River Catchment Committee Good News for the Mary River Cod and the Mary River Turtle • Noosa and District landcare is hosted and supported by the Mary River Catchment Coordinating • Mary River Turtle Project - Tiaro Landcare Committee with funding support from the Sunshine Coast Council and • Mary River Threatened Species Noosa Council gratefully acknowledged. Recovery Plan • Noosa Festival of Water • The Greater Mary Association Inc ‘Like’ the pages to keep in touch with information and events relating to natural resource management in the Mary River catchment. For a luscious full colour version of CODLine please go to www.mrccc.org.au and download our free PDF, either in a low- resolution or high-resolution format.

in this ISSUE Life at The Palms 01 Tilapia update - invasive species 11 Valley Bees 17 Mary River Threatened Aquatic 11 Sneak Peek 02 Mary River Month 2015 report 18 Species Recovery Plan update Coming Events ; Products 02 Mary River Month 2016 calendar 19 Lake Macdonald Dam 12 Gerry Cook Fish Hatchery 03 Improvement Project Get to know the Mary River 04 Noosa Water Treatment Tour 12 (for teachers and students) Mary River Bank Remediation 13 theC DLineTeam How many Mary River turtles 05 Project in the river? Connecting koalas and community 14 PO Box 1027 Cat’s claw gives us the creeps 06 Gympie Qld 4570 Call for koala tree seeds 15 Madeira vine, control option #6 07 Water use efficiency 15 Phone 5482 4766 Dam anniversary, 10 years on 08 Email [email protected] Find a frog in February 16 Noosa Festival of Water 10 Feral pig management 17

• JUNE 2016 • ISSUE 27