The MRCCC acknowledges the traditional owners of the Mary River Catchment and their ancestors past and present.

MRCCC Delegates 2017-2018 ...... 4 MRCCC Staff and Volunteers ...... 5 Current Projects ...... 5 Chairman’s report ...... 1 FULL BOTTLE - The Dairyman from Derrier Flat...... 2 Brian Stockwell remembers Rob Priebe ...... 2 Vale Guenter Kath ...... 3 Treasurer’s Report ...... 4 Living with Threatened species - Eva Ford...... 4 Mary River Catchment Waterwatch Program – Jess Dean ...... 6 Catchment Crawl 2018 – Jess Dean and Tanzi Smith ...... 8 Reef Trust Projects - Brad Wedlock ...... 10 Phase IV - Riparian revegetation & rehabilitation in the Mary River Catchment...... 10 Reef Trust Phase III - Improving water quality in grazing lands of the Mary River Catchment ...... 11 Gully Erosion Control Program - Reef Trust Phase II ...... 13 Seqwater/MRCCC partnership – Tanzi Smith ...... 15 Cat’s Claw Control in the Tinana Creek System – Sarah Grimish ...... 16 Reconnecting a Koala Corridor in the Goomboorian District - Tanzi Smith...... 17 Cane toad Challenge – Eva Ford ...... 18 Gerry Cook Hatchery and Mary River Cod breeding program ...... 19 Noosa Festival of Water 2018 ...... 20 Mary River Month 2017 ...... 21 Great Sandy Strait Research Fund ...... 22 Higher Ground Educational Program ...... 22 9th Australian Stream Management Conference ...... 23 Brad Wedlock – 20 years with the MRCCC ...... 23 Workshops, Festivals & Field-days (2017-18) ...... 24 Representations ...... 24 Policy and project submissions (2017-18) ...... 24 Educational activities ...... 25 Publications, conferences and seminars ...... 25 MRCCC Research Project Collaboration ...... 25 Groups auspiced by the MRCCC ...... 26 Valley Bees ...... 26 Cooloola Nature ...... 26 The Gympie Regional STEM Hub ...... 27 Koala Action Gympie Region ...... 28 Tales of the Mary - A Catchment Crawl. A poem by Rob Priebe entered into the 2017 Tales of the Mary competition….29 Ian Mackay’s speech at the Barung Landcare Wood Expo Dinner – Friday 11th May 2018…………………………………………………29

Interest Sector Name Title Beef Mick Seeney Delegate Grazing Lands Graeme Elphinstone Delegate Dairying Rob Priebe Deputy Chair Dept of Environment and Heritage Vacant Protection Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries Vacant Dept of Natural Resources Vacant Education Steve Roach Delegate Environment Mike Moller Delegate Fishing Vacant Delegate Forestry Ernie Rider Delegate General Community Lower Ross Smith Delegate General Community Middle Ray Zerner Delegate General Community Upper Dave Sands Delegate General Community Western Peter Hughes Delegate Gympie Field Naturalists Berry Doak Delegate Horticulture small crops Bree Grima Delegate Horticulture tree crops Brice Kaddatz Delegate Irrigation Vacant Landcare, Lower Mary Carol Neilson Delegate Landcare, Upper Mary Phil Moran Delegate Landholder/Project Participant Jon Hannon Delegate Landholder/Project Participant Bob Hood Delegate Land for Wildlife Annette Bourke Secretary Life Member Margaret Thompson Treasurer Life Member Jim Buchanan Delegate Fraser Coast Council Cr James Hanson Delegate Gympie Regional Council Cr Darryl Dodt Delegate Noosa Council Cr Brian Stockwell Delegate Sunshine Coast Council Denise Lindon Delegate Seqwater Vacant Delegate Special Member Nai Nai Bird Delegate Special Member Glenda Pickersgill Delegate Sugar Vacant Delegate Waterwatch Ian Mackay Chairman Waterwatch Garth Jacobson Delegate

Brad Wedlock BAppSc (Natural Systems & Wildlife Management) - Specialist in grazing landscapes, sustainable Operations Manager grazing systems, fluvial geomorphology, riparian condition assessment and flora identification. Eva Ford BSc (Australian Environmental Studies) - Specialist in threatened stream frog surveys and Catchment Officer identification, and other threatened aquatic fauna. Water quality monitoring and data analysis, aquatic macroinvertebrate assessment, freshwater fish assemblage and monitoring programs. Dr Tanzi Smith BEng, BSc, PhD - Specialist in threatened aquatic species and planning. Water quality monitoring Catchment Officer and social analysis. Caitlin Mill BEnvSc – Aquatic ecosystem monitoring including water quality monitoring and data analysis, Catchment Officer GIS, biocondition monitoring and project support Jess Dean BEnvSc – Coordination of the Waterwatch networks, data entry and management, water quality Waterwatch Coordinator monitoring, GIS and project support Sarah Grimish B.Env.Hlth.Sc (Environmental Health Science) - Experienced with water quality and biocondition Project Officer monitoring, report writing, frog monitoring, and gully monitoring Bec Watson (PT) BSc. Hons Natural Sciences Durham University, UK – Agronomy. Gully restoration and Reef Trust water quality and biocondition monitoring Belinda Wedlock (PT) BSc. Hons (Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in plant genetics). Experienced with catchment management planning, biocondition monitoring, Index of Stream Condition assessment, data analysis and community engagement. . Debbie Seal Administration, financial management, and marketing. Coordinator of the Noosa Festival of Administration and Water. Administrative support for the Gerry Cook Hatchery, Koala Action Group Gympie, Gympie Event Coordination STEM Hub, Valley Bees and Cooloola Nature Glenbo Craig Volunteer - Codline Editor and Project Support Sandra Noonan (PT) Wildnet Data Entry. Administration and Project Support Andrea Philipp (PT) Communications, Social media and Project Support Christine Allen (PT) Administration and Project Support

Preparing the Mary River Threatened Aquatic Species Recovery Plan in conjunction with the Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy. Reef Trust IV 2017-2022 in partnership with the Australian government Department of Environment and Energy with a focus on riparian revegetation (and weed control) activities in priority catchments of the Great Barrier Reef. Reef Trust III 2016-2019 - The MRCCC is a partner in a consortium of groups called the Reef Alliance, headed by the Qld Farmers Federation. Alliance partners work with grazing landholders to adopt grazing land management practices that achieve Reef Trust outcomes by reducing nutrient and sediment flowing to the Great Barrier Reef. Implementing the Gully Erosion Control Program 2016 -2018 in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy targeting gully erosion on grazing properties. Implementing the Living with Threatened Species program in conjunction with Sunshine Coast Council Great Barrier Reef Sediment and Pesticide monitoring in the lower Mary and Gympie region in conjunction with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science Seqwater strategic development and implementation of sustainable catchment management initiatives to deliver source protection outcomes in the Mary River catchment area 2017 - 2021 Community Waterwatch Networks in partnership with 101 landholders monitoring 105 sites across the catchment, and Gympie, Noosa and Sunshine Coast Councils Reconnecting a koala corridor in the Goomboorian district – an Australian Government 20 Million Trees project Tinana Creek Catchment Strategic Cat’s Claw Vine control program 2016-2018 supported by BMRG Educational activities including publishing the Codline newsletter, organising the Noosa Festival of Water at Lake Macdonald, educational programs with school students, plus workshops, field days and other festivals and shows. Water quality monitoring for the Department of Transport and Main Roads Recovery to Resilience, Riparian Revegetation at 2 sites on the Mary River at Kenilworth through the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Auspicing Valley Bees, Cooloola Nature, the Gerry Cook Fish Hatchery, the Gympie region Koala Action Group, the Gympie Region STEM hub and supporting an ongoing Land for Wildlife Program in the Gympie and Fraser Coast regions.

Welcome to the annual report of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee. By itself, this Chairman’s report provides a relatively inadequate picture of the activities and achievements of the MRCCC over the past twelve months and for that reason, to get a better appreciation of our work with landholders across the length and breadth of the catchment, I urge you to read all the separate reports and accounts which make up this document. Our catchment is both extensive and diverse. Though the main trunk of the river is just over 300 km long, the catchment that feeds it has an area of almost ten thousand square kilometres. While our office is located centrally in Gympie, our task would be all the more difficult were it not for the great work of a number of other organisations throughout the catchment. In the headwaters around Maleny, Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, Barung Landcare and Hinterland Bush Links inspire and assist landholders while Noosa & District Landcare based in Pomona and Gympie Landcare offer invaluable assistance and expertise closer to Gympie. Further downstream, Tiaro Landcare and the Greater Mary Association along with the Lower Mary Land and Catchment Care group engage in activities in the northern part of the catchment. Our involvement with landholders as part of the Reef Trust Program and the Gully Project has been particularly rewarding and successful. We were also pleased to note that the Mary River catchment was recognised as a reef catchment in the recent state Vegetation Management Act. Working with larger groups including the BMRG and local government in the catchment is also important. We were delighted to hear of the re-introduction of the Land for Wildlife program by the Fraser Coast Council, and the finalisation and adoption of Gympie Regional Council’s new Environment Strategy and Koala Conservation and Management Plan. We are heartened by both, and share the hope of many past Land for Wildlifers in the Gympie region that a formalised scheme will be reintroduced in the near future. Sunshine Coast Council recognises the enormous benefits of Land for Wildlife and has had an enviable scheme in place for many years. The MRCCC also assists rural landholders in the Sunshine Coast council region to apply for Landholder Environment Grants which are funded by Sunshine Coast Council Environment Levy. We’re pleased to report good collaboration with Seqwater both in terms of assistance for landholders in the proximity of their water offtakes and also for assistance with the temporary relocation of our Mary River Cod hatchery, necessitated by the Lake Macdonald dam upgrade. We’ve teamed up also with John Sinclair and FIDO (Fraser Island Defenders Organisation) and the Greater Mary Association out of concern for the impacts of the proposed Colton coal mine north east of Maryborough and just a few kilometres from Great Sandy Strait. By pooling funds we’ve been able to commission research to better understand the dynamics of river flows and the likely impacts of water from the mine being released into the Mary’s estuary. Along with FIDO and the Great Sandy Strait Saviours we held a number of cruises through the Strait with another planned for early November. A portion of the funds raised by the cruise contribute to the research being undertaken. Separate accounts in this report tell of the successes of our auspiced groups, Valley Bees, the Koala Action Group, Cooloola Nature and the Gympie Stem Hub. We were particularly delighted with the success of the Steamzone event at the Gympie Show pavilion and have the hope that this may become an annual event. Speaking of annual events, the alliterative Find a Frog in February proved most successful this year after a rather meteorologically dry start the previous year. The Festival of Water in June attracted great weather, drew a great crowd, and seems to be becoming more and more popular each year. Mary River Month, starting on World Rivers Day and culminating in the Mary River Festival in Kandanga, saw myriad activities as diverse as the two day Catchment Crawl (water sampling across the sprawling catchment) and the delightful Spring in the Mary photo competition which last year saw some great work by local photographers. We’re now half way through this year’s Mary River Month and it’s shaping up to be every bit as good. As I write this, spring is in full swing. The Koels and Channel- billed Cuckoos have arrived and the Cat’s Claw has started flowering. This year has seen further establishment of the Cat’s Claw biocontrols throughout the catchment with considerable damage being occasioned to the host plant. In the mood of spring there have been several spawnings of the cod at the hatchery and, thanks to Darren Knowles’ good work there, we look toward successful fingerling releases later in the year. Going into the new year our Committee will have several new interest sectors; Coastcare, small farmers and biocontrols. We welcome the new delegates. Sadly this year has seen the passing of a number of people who’ve played important roles in this organisation. Guenter Kath organised a series of meetings in 1991 with some prominent local people in the rural community.

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These meetings led to the formation of the Mary River Catchment Planning Committee, which was the precursor to the MRCCC. (more detail elsewhere in this report). At a packed hall in Tiaro early in August 2018, a number of MRCCC delegates and staff joined family and friends to farewell Dell Jamieson, wife of our popular former Chairman Harry Jamieson. Less than a month later we travelled to Maroochydore to celebrate the life of our colourful deputy Chairman Rob Priebe. Rob was deputy when I took over as Chair from Phil Moran and I always appreciated his dedication and commitment, not to mention his great local knowledge. We shall miss his contributions to meetings. In reviewing the achievements of the year, I must pay enormous tribute to not only the delegates and staff who make up this organisation but also to the host of volunteer Waterwatchers and participating landholders. This organisation runs on the generosity of time, experience and the wisdom of so many people and I thank you all. Can I particularly thank my fellow executive Margaret Thompson, Annette Bourke, Bob Hood and, though he’s not here to hear it, Rob Priebe, and the most supportive Life Member any organisation could have, Jim Buchanan. I’ve quoted Rob Priebe in this context before and I’ll do it again as I think he put it so well. “MRCCC is an organisation that is not only well-known in our community but known well.” That respect has been well earned over the more than two decades of our existence. Thank you all for furthering it over the past twelve months. Ian Mackay 

The Oxford dictionary defines the Aussie slang term “full bottle” as an expression of someone who is “well-informed and enthusiastic about something” and my recollections of Rob are of a person who was not only a font of knowledge but who pursued life as a dairyman, a Councillor and a member of the Mary River Catchment Committee with great enthusiasm. I first met Rob in 1989 when I was the Chair of an old-style The inaugural meeting of the MRCCC in 1995 pictured from left town hall election meeting when Rob had a tilt at state to right: Rob Priebe, Mal Lanham, Steve Kelly and Fred Murray. politics. It was a fiery affair with the bar remaining open at the rear of the gathering. Rob was the National Party candidate for my local seat of Cooroora and I was then a Councillor for the Cooroy area. It was a classic Rob when he stood up to speak and there was heckling from a drunk at the back. Rob took considerable offence, quickly inviting the heckler to finish this in a more traditional way outside. It took all my young Chairperson’s skills to avert the impending altercation and dissuading Rob by suggesting the comments were directed to the Labor party supporter standing between him and the abuse thrower. Rob quickly regained composure suggesting that if this was the case then the remarks were both warranted and accurate. I was later to learn that Rob was exposed to robust political debate from his early years on the back porch with his father, who was reported to have views somewhat ‘to the left’ of his son. Rob was unsuccessful at that election but two years later he became a Widgee Shire Councillor, an administration which I had just joined as a Planner. I got to know Rob as a man of considerable intelligence and foresight and a person committed to his local area. As an environmentally inclined young planner I quickly learned that change would only be achieved through a strategy of progressive creep in a conservative Council. Cr Priebe, however, was the only one in the Chamber who would see where I was heading. On more than one occasion he scuttled my devious plans by communicating to his colleagues where my next two unannounced steps would take them. A staff cartoon (pictured) captured Rob’s negotiating style – both good natured and with the ramifications of proceeding down a certain path. Rob was a long-serving Councillor well into the life of the Cooloola Shire, which was created when Widgee and Gympie City amalgamated. But what we shared was a love of country and when he first engaged with the Mary Catchment Committee as a representative of Widgee Council and a member of the Voluntary Riverbank Grants committee, his local knowledge and understanding of good land management became a source of wisdom that I and the project officers could learn from.

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He could tell you everything about his home country around Derrier Flat, from the evidence of aboriginal burning regimes to the value of the Black Bean seeds he collected for sale to European markets. In 1998, when I moved over to State Government as the Mary Catchment Coordinator, Rob was my go to man for ‘blooding’ young university students doing their industrial placement. I figured that they would quickly learn the error of their ways if they started to proselytise any book learned greenie nonsense but also get an early introduction to rural culture and the wealth of tacit knowledge that comes from a life of the land. As a Councillor representative and later the Dairy Industry representative Rob stayed true to his values and when I re-joined the fray earlier this year it was like a welcome homecoming when Rob started waxing lyrical about the advantages of working with the dairy industry. During my time with MRCCC I came to the view that their shared interests in local processing instilled within dairy farmers an underlying belief in cooperation. I may have political views a little different to Rob’s, but in a true testament to Rob’s commitment to community, each time I stood whether for a party or as an independent he would send well wishes. Sometimes in verse which he was fond of, but always with a bit of genuine mentoring advice. Little pearls like “Brian, in local government, forget your politics but not your principles. Rob” and “Work on being known well--not well known”. It is therefore with a warm heart that I bid Rob goodbye having had the pleasure to have known this man of principle well. (Turn to Page 29 to read Rob’s entry into the 2017 Tales of the Mary Poetry and Prose Competition) 

Back in the early 1990’s, former Upper Eel Creek Horticulturalist and National Farmers Federation Support Group Chairman, Guenter Kath, proposed gathering together individuals and representatives of a range of organisations to create a cohesive and functional body that would collectively care for the Mary River Catchment. Guenter believed that Governments spent a great amount of the time fixing problems which were easily foreseeable, many of which could have been avoided if a long-term vision existed. Guenter recognised that the traditional “don’t worry, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it” attitude did not give people a chance for a long term solution to environmental damage. Guenter believed that an inspiring vision, especially if well thought through and based on thorough research, had by itself several long term advantages; it would become a motivating force that generates communal energies and synchronises people’s activities, and it would prevent individual energies being wasted Guenter Kath in pursuit of dreams that later become irreconcilable with society’s requirements from which conflicts of greater intensity grow. Early in 1991, Guenter convened a Planning Meeting at the Imperial Hotel, Gympie to discuss the formation of a Mary River Catchment Committee. Members were personally selected and invited by Guenter. At its inaugural meeting in February 1991, a suggestion led to the group referring to themselves as the Mary River Catchment Steering Committee. This was soon changed to the Mary River Catchment Planning Committee (MRCPC), setting the scene for future meetings and activities of the infant organisation. The vision of the MRCPC was a 50 year planning model for Mary River Catchment Management. Members of the MRCPC included Guenter Kath – Chairman, Perry Corbet – Commercial Hardwood Forestry and Sawmilling Industries, John Grimmet, DPI Forestry Research, Graham Smith – Sustainable Farming Communities, Hugh Viner – Beef Industry, Richard Hausman – Dairy Industry, Peter Buchanan – Horticulture and Sugar Industries, Peter Watson – Profitable Primary Industries, Graeme Elphinstone – DPI Agricultural Production Group and Ed Miller – Water Resources Commission. The MRCPC established a Demographics working party, a Land use sub-committee and a Water use sub-committee. They met with representatives of Gympie Landcare, Industry Bodies and both Queensland and Griffith Universities resulting in the development of a Land Use study and GIS mapping of the catchment. In July 1992, the inaugural Mary River Congress was held at Maleny. This was the first formal ICM event in the Mary, primarily organised by Maleny High School Teacher, Peter Oliver with support from Barung Landcare and the MRCPC. Two hundred people including farmers, students, politicians and scientists from all over the catchment and south east Queensland gathered to discuss aspects of the River and its health. Students were heavily involved in planning and implementing activities on the day. Students also helped in welcoming participants, chairing proceedings, making presentations, and running workshops on the water quality monitoring work that they were doing as part of their school environmental education programs. Early meetings of the MRCPC discussed the future of ICM in the Mary River Catchment, Mary River Water Supply Options and avenues for ICM Project Funding. When the State Government announced that four Queensland Catchments would be targeted for a pilot ICM Project, the Mary was not included. Consequently, a deputation from the MRCPC went to see the Queensland Minister for Primary Minister, the Hon Edmund Casey, to lobby for the Mary to be included among these pilot catchments. The deputation was successful, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

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Income 17-18 Project Income In accordance with our audited financial statement, I am pleased to report that the MRCCC is in a sound Research fund financial position as we head into the new financial year. As expected, the bulk of our income is Consulting derived from grant funding, with the largest percentage coming from the Federal Government Auspiced groups income Reef Trust Program. Consulting and local Bank Interest government funding also provide a steady income stream. Public Fund On the expenditure side, on ground project Donations Other income expenses constituted close to half of all expenditure in the 2017-2018 financial year. Our Expenditure 17-18 On ground employment costs were over $550,000 for the first time project expenses in the history of the MRCCC. Given that we currently Employment employ 6 full time and 2 part time Environmental Scientists this figure is understandable. Resource Centre Interest raised from term deposits supports a myriad of expenses unfunded activities including professional development Auspiced groups for staff, committee costs, delegates travel and a expenses portion of the Resource Centre operating costs. Waterwatch Although our financial reports indicate that the MRCCC Vehicle has significant funding in our accounts, it needs to be noted that the bulk of these funds are allocated to Other expenses specific projects and will be spent throughout the year in accordance with contracted project milestones and outcomes. Margaret Thompson 

The Living with Threatened Species (LTS) program has several components, and there are many overlaps with other MRCCC programs. Involving landholders and volunteers in fauna surveying and monitoring, improving habitats (e.g. stock control, weed control, revegetation), monitoring the success of restoration projects, monitoring water quality, educational programs for adults and children and being involved in broad planning with groups and Government agencies are just some of the activities that the LTS program is about. Maureen Cooper’s fence and revegetation Through all of our programs, the MRCCC works with with Marc Russell and Stephane Cazard landholders to protect and improve the condition of the Mary River and its tributaries, often focussing on reducing the risk of soil and river bank loss and improving water quality. In doing so we are also surreptitiously improving habitat along waterways for our threatened species. Conversely, when we focus on improving habitat for a threatened species in an area (through the LTS program), we are in fact improving bank stability and water quality through protecting and improving vegetation and instream complexity. Whatever our approach our intention is to guide landholders to take actions that have multiple benefits for humans and non-humans, both on and off their property. To live with threatened species is a privilege and a great responsibility that many landholders of the Mary River catchment take very seriously. Most of the Mary River and many of the tributaries are home to one or more threatened fauna species, threatened plants and vegetation communities. The major species of focus in our conversations and restoration planning with landholders are the endangered Giant barred frog, Mary River cod, Mary River turtle and White-throated snapping turtle and vulnerable Australian lungfish, Cascade treefrog and Tusked frog. There are also the endangered lowland rainforest ecological communities along our waterways and the Wallum-dependant acid frog group that are at risk. We are well-endowed with threatened species in the Mary River and coastal catchments and we are very concerned about the long list of which the above species are just a small component.

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During 2017/2018 the LTS program was generously supported by the Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) to provide extension support to hinterland landholders and guide them through the Council Landholder Environment Grant process. This grant program gives assistance to landholders to improve waterways and areas of high environmental value (threatened species rate highly in the prioritisation of projects) and dovetails well into other MRCCC restoration programs (see Reef Trust and Seqwater partnership articles).

Revegetation - 6 properties Environmental weed Fencing Off stream Stock control 4 properties watering - 2 crossings 10 properties properties Number Area Length Area of Length Area Length of Length of of trees planted of Creek weed of creek protected creek creek 7 troughs 3 planted control weeded by fence weeded protected tanks 1 by fence pipe/fittings 1050 0.57 ha 575 m 25.3 ha 2800 m 1860 m 52.5 ha 1265 m

While the threatened frog species at all four sites have persisted over the years, one of our key findings is that we need up to six years of surveying to detect all the frogs that reside at a site! The data has also helped direct future monitoring by providing information on the ideal condition ranges under which to detect the most species and the target threatened species. All Councils of the Mary River catchment (SCC, Noosa, Gympie Regional and Fraser Coast Regional Councils) support our annual Find a Frog in February citizen science program. This amazing program provides opportunities for us to reach many varied sectors of the community and gives people from all walks of life an opportunity to contribute to species management through submission of their frog observations.

John “Cutty” Cutmore at one of his Obi Obi Ck Camphor Enthusiastic volunteer frog finders at Kin Kin in February laurel replacement sites

Find a Frog in February results 2017 and 2018

2017 2018 Number of workshops and school presentations 0 7 Number of Frog Finders submitting records 79 142 Number of surveys carried out 88 223 Number of different locations surveyed 68 146 Total number of frog records submitted 438 2,358 Number of species observed 22 23 Giant Barred Frog at Belli Creek Number of threatened species observed 3 4

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The monthly data collected by Waterwatch volunteers provides the MRCCC with baseline water quality data throughout the catchment. Over the past year there have been 105 individuals, families and businesses collecting data in 8 distinct network groups with 756 samples collected throughout the catchment from 122 sites. Thank you to all the volunteers who have assisted with this program over the last year. The efforts of landholders, local businesses, councils and other organisations who support the program financially and in kind is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to Ian Mackay from Moy Pocket and Garth Jacobsen from Tiaro who have represented the Waterwatch Sector on the MRCCC for the past year and have assisted with the logistics and promotion of the Institute of Forester’s Field Day – Amamoor Waterwatch program. Healthy Waterways workshop – Brooloo In addition to physical and chemical data, Waterwatch Gympie Landcare (GDLC) – Tree planting day, Gympie volunteers record observations of Mary River aquatic Invasive weed control info session (GDLC) - Amamoor fauna species, e.g. turtle sightings, water weeds and Get to know your creek workshop – Goomboorian and Lower general river flow conditions. This information is Wonga recorded in the MRCCC Waterwatch database and used to Night with Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) – inform other MRCCC initiatives. Tewantin During November 2017 a special barbeque was held at 9ASM conference “Benefits of the Mary River catchment Garth Jacobsen’s Netherby property for Waterwatch Waterwatch Program for integrated stream management and volunteers, who participated in refresher training and monitoring outcomes” – Hobart, Tasmania were presented with the results from the Fraser Coast Region Waterwatch Report (2013-2016). For further details, Waterwatch reports can be found on the MRCCC website: mrccc.org.au. Three new volunteers have joined the Waterwatch Program over the past year. A big warm welcome to Antoinette Augustinus, Peter Watson and Allison Dillon. Retiring Waterwatch volunteers recognised for their commitment to the program are Phil Herrington, Jo-anne Ferrier, Renee Brown and James Warner. A special mention to Errol Janke, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Errol was one of the Wide Bay Creek’s longest serving Waterwatchers. He rarely missed his monitoring, except during periods when there was no water in the creek. Errol and his wry sense of humour will be greatly missed by the MRCCC.

Skene Creek, Scrub Creek, Chinaman’s Creek, Little Yabba Creek, Booloumba Creek, Lobster Creek, Obi Obi Creek, Bridge Creek, Fryers Creek and the lagoon at Russell Family Park CoonoonGibber, Mary River, Oakey Creek, Walli Creek, Coolabine Creek, Belli Creek, Obi Obi Creek and Cedar Creek Sandy Creek, Tinana Creek, Yards Creek, Big Sandy Creek, Ulirrah Creek, Coondoo Creek, Tagigan Creek, Tinana Creek, Ross Creek and Hines Creek Deep Creek, Pie Creek, Mary River, Six Mile Creek, Three Mile Creek, Glastonbury Creek and Calico Creek Kandanga Creek, Three Mile Creek, Araucaria Creek, Yabba Creek, Caseys Creek, Derrier Creek, and Amamoor Creek Widgee Creek, Station Creek, Wonga Creek, Wide Bay Creek, Mary River, Gap Creek, Fat Hen Creek and Wide Bay Creek Munna Creek, Mary River, Gutchy Creek, Tanyalba Creek, Deep Creek, Ooramera Creek, Goora Creek, Spring Creek, Fay Smith Wetlands, Ululah Lagoon and Saltwater Creek Munna Creek, Boompa Creek, Sandy Creek, Eel Creek, Dry Creek, Teebar Creek, Chinamans Gully and Calgoa Creek

Financial support for the program is provided by Gympie Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Council. HQPlantations are contributing funds for the next three years to upgrade the Waterwatch testing equipment. Community sampling is supplemented with data collected by HQPlantations from the Toolara and Imbil forestry areas and by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service from Conondale National Park. These areas include tributaries which cover large sections of the catchment and feature some unusual characteristics. The data HQP and QPWS staff provides helps MRCCC gain a holistic picture of water quality throughout the Mary River catchment. The logistics of moving water testing kits in and out of Gympie and between diverse locations on a reliable schedule would be a challenge, without the support of many local individuals and businesses. The MRCCC is grateful for the assistance of Sauers Garden Produce Gympie and Cooroy, B & H Rural Tiaro, Ross Creek Store, Widgee Store, Amamoor Store, Barung Landcare, Mapleton Realty, Conondale Store and the Kenilworth Garage for holding and transporting kits for volunteers to collect.

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There will always be additional locations to be monitored and retiring volunteers to replace. If you have easy access to a section of the Mary River or one of its many tributaries and are able to contribute 1 hour a month there will be space for you.

Widgee and Wide Bay Waterwatch Network Eastern Catchments Waterwatch Network Anette Bambling Sally Chudleigh (commenced March 2017) Brian Thomas Kevin Jackson Gillian, Yvonne and John Crossley HQP – Garry Gosling and Colleen Hair Keith and Christine Bagnall Howard Kirby Mick and Yvonne Bambling David Wilson Stephen Horseman Bruce and Dan Vincent (commenced Nov. 2016) Gympie to Curra Waterwatch Network Upper Mary Waterwatch Network Annette Bourke Roger Westcott Becky Watson Robin and Norman Dobson (commenced June 2017) Bob and Lorraine Hood QPWS – Taleeta Laird, Dom Tyrrell, Bronwyn McAdam Bruce McCulloch Matt Bateman (commenced July 2016) Joolie Gibbs Jenny and Richard James (commenced June 2017) Pat Ridgewell (commenced May 2017) Jenna Brown (commenced July 2016 retired July 2017) Rob Kerle Evan Raymond and Morag Gamble (commenced June 2017) Ross Craig (commenced August 2017) Eric Anderson Stewart and Hamish Andrews (commenced Nov. 2016) Debbie and Sven Felius (commenced June 2017) Wendy McPherson Graeme Elphinstone (commenced Feb 2017) Antoinette Augustinus (commenced October 2018) Kenilworth Waterwatch Network Tiaro Waterwatch Network Adam and Victoria Kane (commenced March 2017) Brian and Lyn Thompson Carsten Villesen Bronwen Long Des King and Colleen Ryan Cecile Espigole and Bill Price Geoff and Marie Farr Garth Jacobsen Graeme White Harry Jamieson Ian Mackay John Williams Karen Turner Owen and Lynda Thompson Kathleen and Steve Dennis Ron Black Mary Ann and Don Law Ross Smith Miriam English (commenced March 2017) Vicki and Rob O’Farrell Nina Cox Munna Waterwatch Network Imbil to Amamoor Waterwatch Network Brett and Tammy Marsh Will Kingham Cam and Lisa Hughes Tanzi Smith Iain Lewis Renee Brown and James Warner Kev and Helen Rogers Noo Dye Neville and Joy Turner Leslie and Craig Hanson Ross and Michelle Kinbacher John Said (commenced April 2017) Spencer and Leslie Innes HQP – Dan O’Regan and Allison Dillon Cath and Colin Robinson Marion Firns and Warren Crispin

Waterwatch volunteers at Netherby on the Mary River in November 2017

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The MRCCC’s annual catchment crawl was held in October 2018. This activity is designed to provide a snapshot of water quality along the Mary River and tributaries at the same time each year. Water quality parameters are measured to gain insight into trends associated with cumulative effects and any other changes throughout the catchment. As with previous years, the 2018 catchment crawl covered the length of the catchment from the headwaters in the Conondale Ranges downstream to the mouth of the Mary River at River Heads. Between 2017 and 2018 the number of sites sampled was increased from 19 to 22 along the main trunk of the Mary River and from 13 to 14 sites in the tributaries. Water quality physical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (salinity), dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity were measured at each site. Samples were also collected to enable nutrient and total suspended solid analysis by the Water Quality Investigation team involved with the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Program from the Department of Environment and Science. E. coli (faecal coliforms) were also sampled at most sampling sites. The MRCCC also performed nitrite and phosphate testing, plus bacteria test strips were used at selected sites. During the 2017 Catchment Crawl higher temperatures were observed compared to previous years. In 2018 the temperatures were lower and were quite similar to most of the results from October Catchment Crawls prior to 2017. Water temperature rising above 21⁰C can inhibit Mary River cod spawning. Importantly, four sites sampled in 2018 had temperatures below 21⁰C, three in Six Mile Creek and the fourth in the Mary River headwaters. The lower water temperatures in 2018 were more appropriate for Mary River cod breeding. Figure 1 shows the temperature at all sites measured for each year since 2002 for which there is sufficient data. It gives an indication of the general water temperature throughout the catchment. The line in the centre of the blue box is the median (i.e. middle) temperature of all sites. The whiskers above and below the box show the maximum and minimum results in each year. The Figure shows that 2017 was a particularly warm year as were 2002 and 2003. Continuing the annual Catchment Crawl will provide an improved picture of long term trends in temperature. This is important not only for the Cod, but for understanding the impact of riparian restoration work undertaken by MRCCC and other organisations in the catchment. Another interesting result recorded in 2018 was a change in the electrical conductivity (salinity) along the Figure 1 river. In 2017 there was a significant rise in electrical conductivity downstream of Gympie with all sites being well above the guideline. In 2018 this rise also occurred although it was less pronounced. The result is still higher than in 2015 or 2016 when all sites along the freshwater portion of the Mary complied with the guideline of 580 µS/cm. Figure 2 (following page) provides a summary of these results. Higher flows in the Mary River in 2015 and 2016 resulted in electrical conductivity complying with the water quality guidelines.

Happy staff and volunteers prepare to depart for the Catchment Crawl and site location checking from previous years

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In both 2017 and 2018 the river had reached cease to flow conditions in late September prior to the Catchment Crawl. This explains the high electrical conductivity results downstream of Gympie where the infiltration of saltier base flow into the river becomes more dominant. The cease to flow was more prolonged in 2017, hence higher electrical conductivity downstream of Gympie. It is interesting that these cease to flow conditions did not have as strong an effect on the water temperatures in 2018 as they did in 2017. In addition, the ambient air temperature in the lead up to Figure 2 the 2018 Catchment Crawl was cooler than 2017.

In the week prior to the 2017 Catchment Crawl, the average daily maximum air temperature was 28. 2⁰C and the average daily minimum was 18.5⁰C. In 2018 the average daily minimum and maximum for the week prior to the Catchment Crawl was 12.4⁰C and 26.2⁰C respectively. Once all of the laboratory results are available, a full 2018 Catchment Crawl report will be completed. The report will be available to download from the Waterwatch page on the MRCCC’s website. The MRCCC acknowledges all the landholders and volunteers who visited us or helped us with the Catchment Crawl, particularly Antoinette Augustinus, Halena Scanlon, Denise Lindon, Stan Chandler, Darren Manderson, Garth Jacobson, Kim Warne, Bob and Lorraine Hood, Ian Mackay, Robyn, Kevin and Mel Jackson, Kath Nash and Maria Zann. Thanks also to Seqwater for supporting this year’s Catchment Crawl and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science for supporting all of the nutrient and total suspended solids analyses.

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The Australian Government’s Reef Trust Phase IV funding is focused on riparian revegetation activities in priority catchments of the Great Barrier Reef which includes the Mary River catchment. In 2017 the MRCCC successfully applied for Reef Trust Phase IV funding for the “Great Barrier Reef Riparian Zone Management - Mary Catchment Project”. This project will operate until 2022. The concept of the MRCCC Reef Trust Phase IV project proposal was to build on the successful work completed during the past 6 years of the Biodiversity Fund project implementation - particularly targeting riparian revegetation activities in core reaches of the Mary River and tributaries. In July 2017, two members of Reef Trust visited the Mary River catchment; Peter Hairsine (MRCCC Technical Advisor) and Giles West, for a start-up meeting for the MRCCC Reef Trust Phase IV Project. Following this meeting the MRCCC conducted an audit of existing riparian rehabilitation projects along the main trunk of the Mary River noting their position eg. outside bend, inside bend etc. With this information the MRCCC prepared a project plan that identified a series of potential project sites for on-ground works that incorporated existing riparian rehabilitation project sites. During 2018 the MRCCC prepared concept plans to enable implementation of the four target reaches listed below:

Mary River, Kenilworth to Moy Pocket MAR 6 & MAR 7 Mary River, Traveston Crossing to Dagun MAR 8 & MAR 9 Middle Amamoor Creek AMA 2, AMA3, AMA4 Middle Kandanga Creek KAN 2, KAN 3, KAN 4 The Amamoor and Kandanga Creeks have been selected for inclusion in the Reef Trust IV project as these tributaries are identified as high sediment load contributors according to the QLD Government “Source” catchment modelling program, and are also valuable as riparian vegetation seed sources into specific reaches of the Mary River. The Mary River has very few remnant rainforest areas remaining that can provide seed for regeneration. Consequently maintaining the condition of the tributaries with good remnant riparian rainforest is critical for the replenishment of seed into the Mary River. Incorporated into the concept plan for each reach is identification of project sites where on-ground work can occur, the types of on-ground work, an indicative budget for each site, estimates of the rate of bank erosion and an engagement strategy for each of the target reaches. To prepare these concept plans the MRCCC has relied heavily on information contained in existing reports and strategies such as the Mary River & Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan, fluvial geomorphic studies of specific reaches e.g. the Kenilworth, Mary River fluvial geomorphic plan and unpublished reports from the QLD Government. Each of these concept plans is required to be reviewed and approved by the MRCCC technical partner, Peter Hairsine, before implementation of on-ground works can commence. Implementation of these concept plans will commence before December 2018. The MRCCC has been consulting with prospective landholders that are willing to be involved in the implementation of the Reef Trust Phase IV project. Some of these landholders are known to MRCCC, while others are new landholders. Over the past 12 months the MRCCC has proactively built capacity in the new landholders through invitations to field-days and workshops aimed at broadening their understanding of the nature of the current and planned Reef Trust activities in the catchment. By improving their understanding and awareness of these activities landholders are much better informed of the complexities of implementing these projects on their own properties. In August 2018, two members of the Australian Government, Reef Trust team visited the Mary River catchment to inspect first- hand planned Reef Trust Phase IV project sites. Jenny Giopolous and Sally-Anne Crawford spent a day visiting a series of sites along the Mary River between Kenilworth and Traveston Crossing. Monitoring program A key aspect of the Reef Trust projects is a strong monitoring program. A monitoring program has been developed that will incorporate some elements of the Biocondition monitoring that the MRCCC has pioneered for riparian rehabilitation site into the formal Reef Trust toolbox monitoring method. A program and calendar of pre-implementation monitoring sites has been prepared, and an MRCCC monitoring team has been established. The monitoring team (Bec Watson, Belinda Wedlock) has prior experience using the toolbox monitoring program, based on their experience gained from monitoring the Reef Trust II Gully Erosion Inspecting a Reef Trust site on the Mary River Control Program sites managed by MRCCC. at Kenilworth

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The MRCCC is responsible for the delivery of the Australian Government’s Reef Trust Phase III Grazing Lands program in the Mary River catchment. Reef Trust Phase III builds on the success of Reef Rescue (2010-2013) and the Reef Water Quality Grants Program (2013-2016). The MRCCC is part of a consortium of groups called the Reef Alliance, headed by the Queensland Farmers Federation. The Reef Alliance is tasked with delivery of the Reef Trust Phase III project across the entire Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment. Working BMRG, this project commenced in mid-2016 and concludes in June 2019. The Reef Trust Phase III project works with grazing landholders in reef catchments to adopt grazing land management practices that achieve Reef Trust outcomes in terms of improving water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment flow to the reef. The Mary River is the southern-most of these reef catchments, with the grazing sector being the largest single land manager i.e. about 70% of the catchment area. In the Mary River catchment, streambank erosion has been identified as the largest contributor of sediment and nutrients to the southern reef. Consequently this Reef Trust Phase III project is largely focused on practices to improve riparian zone management in the grazing landscape. The MRCCC Reef Trust Phase III project team, comprised of Brad Wedlock, Caitlin Mill, Sarah Grimish and Graeme Elphinstone, provides graziers with extension support, technical advice and training to implement eligible on-ground projects using best management practices (BMP) within priority areas of the Mary River catchment. The priority sub-catchments targeted for Reef Trust Phase III are those that have been identified by the Queensland Government catchment model called “Source” as the highest contributors of sediment to the southern GBR. A key criterion for Reef Trust Phase III is participation in the Grazing BMP self-assessment program – a 2 day workshop with industry speakers which provides the opportunity for graziers to benchmark their current grazing practices against a Beef industry-developed set of standards through 5 online self-assessment modules. During 2017/18, there have been three Grazing BMP workshops held specifically for Reef Trust Phase III participants in the Mary River catchment. Graeme Elphinstone and Brad Wedlock have delivered the “Grazing Land Management” module at these workshops, customizing the presentation to closely align with Reef Trust priorities.

July 2017 (Imbil) 15 (21 individuals) 13 November 2017 (Kybong) 10 (14 individuals) 9 May 2018 (Kybong) 9 (10 individuals) 6 Totals 34 enterprises 28 enterprises

The 34 enterprises that attended the Grazing BMP workshops, were located in the following areas:

Upper Mary Mary Valley Western Mary Munna Creek Gympie East Noosa hinterland priority area priority area (inc priority area catchment (including Curra) Belli and Happy (excluding Jack Creek sub- Munna) catchment) 4 19 5 3 2 1 After the Grazing BMP participants have completed their modules and identified areas where improvements can be made to their enterprise and grazing land management practices, the MRCCC Reef Trust project team visits their property for a 1-on-1 consultation. In partnership with the landholder, detailed assessments of their current grazing land practices using an A-B-C-D rating system are Above left: Mooloo landholder admires his new fence on Pie Creek. conducted, coupled with assessments Right: Undertaking pasture condition assessment at Moy Pocket. of the property’s grazing land condition, including pasture condition and riparian zone condition. A property map displaying paddocks, areas of each paddock (ha), grazing land types, and existing and planned infrastructure is developed. Property-scale calculations based on the recommendations from the Grazing Land Type booklets of safe carrying capacity and potential carrying capacity is also completed with the landholder.

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These assessments help identify training needs, areas for further extension, technical support and potential on-ground projects. This process is called the “Property Implementation Pathway”. Participating graziers receive support to implement their Property Implementation Pathway focusing on improving grazing land management and Reef Trust water quality outcomes. To date the following property consultations, on-property condition assessments and property maps have been completed with participating graziers.

Number 17 22 10 16 15 12 To assist the participating graziers with the implementation of their Property Implementation Pathway, the MRCCC Reef Trust Phase III team has organised a series of small group activities, or have linked in with activities of other groups such as the Gympie District Beef Liaison Group and Gympie & District Landcare Group to provide capacity building opportunities.

August 2017 Soil analysis interpretation workshop and fieldwalk, Gympie with the 10 Grazing BMP groups November 2017 Soil analysis interpretation workshop and fieldwalk, Moy Pocket with the 25 Grazing BMP groups March 2018 Gympie and District Landcare Group grazing land and riparian zone 35 management field day at Muster Park, Widgee (showcasing a Reef Trust project site) May 2018 Grazing BMP participant pasture identification and forage budgeting field 15 walk at Kybong

To date nine on-ground projects have been approved by the independent assessment panel (one project has been withdrawn). All projects involve riparian fencing and re-locating cattle camps away from riparian zone and drainage lines by installing stock watering points using tanks and troughs high in the landscape.

1. Thornside Creek Widgee 2. Upper Cedar Curramore – Maleny plateau Creek escarpment 3. Upper Kandanga Upper Kandanga Creek 4. Upper Happy Jack Ridgewood Creek 5. Harper Creek Conondale 6. Pie Creek Mooloo Forage budget fieldwalk, Widgee 7. Widgee Creek Lower Wonga 8. Yabba Creek Imbil

Five projects have been successfully completed. These projects are developed with the landholder following a rigorous process of negotiation to ensure high standards of project delivery and good in-kind support is provided to the project. A further 9 on-ground projects are in the process of development with past Soils analysis interpretation workshop, Grazing BMP workshop participants. Moy Pocket, November 2017 Over the past 8 years the MRCCC has implemented previous projects relating to the improvement of the Great Barrier Reef, i.e. Reef Rescue and Reef Water Quality Grants Program. The Reef Trust Phase III project has many new concepts and processes which have taken time to develop and refine into a format that is grazier- relevant. These new concepts have proven to be very worthwhile for the landholder and the MRCCC and have improved the standards set by the previous Reef Rescue and Reef Water Quality Grants Program. The 2018/19 financial year is the final year of the Reef Trust Phase III project.

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The MRCCC Reef Trust gully erosion control project is in its 3rd and final year of implementation, with completion in December 2018. The project area predominantly focuses on the Western Mary catchments – Munna, Wide Bay, Widgee, Glastonbury, Myrtle, Tanyalba, Ooramera and Benarige Creek sub-catchments where gully erosion is prevalent on sodic sub-soils. To broadly identify where sodic subsoils occur in the Western Mary catchments (and beyond) the CSIRO Atlas of Australian Soils Landscape units Tb69 and Tb70 provide a strong indication of prevalence of gully erosion. Regional ecosystems (vegetation communities) containing Gum-topped box also have a high prevalence of gully erosion. With this information, areas of likely gully erosion can be mapped and targeted for project works. In addition, significant gully erosion is occurring on properties with sodic subsoils outside this area. To date gully erosion issues have also been identified in the Coondoo, Curra, Gutchy and Coonoongibber Creek sub-catchments. During the 3 years of the project there have been 47 expressions of interest forms returned to the MRCCC for gully erosion projects.

Woolooga/ Sexton/ Miva 8 Widgee/ Lower Wonga 6 Mt Urah 5 Brooweena/ Gigoomgan/ Teebar 5 Tiaro/ Yengarie/ Yerra 5 Glastonbury 4 Mary Valley 4 Curra/ Glenwood 3 Gympie/ Goomboorian/ Wolvi 3 Kilkivan 2 Above: Project site, Mt Urah June 2018 Theebine/ Gunalda 2

In the past 3 years, 34 on-ground projects have been approved by the Reef Trust technical partner. Concept plans are prepared in partnership with the landholder, specifying the on-ground work proposed and the planned budget. Each concept plan is reviewed by the technical partner for approval and revised, if required, following this review process. Types of on-ground gully erosion control projects The 34 on-ground projects all involve fencing of the highly erodible gully area to manage stock access to

enable natural recovery. The majority of the projects also involve the provision of alternate stock water supplies by establishing new cattle camps higher in the landscape away from gullies and Gully monitoring, Wolvi, August 2017 drainage lines through the installation of new tanks /

troughs. Some project sites had existing gully fencing that was incorporated into the project, e.g. sections of the fenced gully area were revegetated or rock chutes were constructed.

19 14 6 8 7 By the completion of the project, 4 professionally designed large scale rock chutes will be constructed. Floodwaters caused by Cyclone Debbie in April 2017 passed through one of the rock chute gully erosion project sites only weeks after it was completed. The project worked as designed, with minimal follow-up work required.

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The MRCCC is also trialling the use of geofabric for lining gully heads. The geofrabric is trenched and fastened to the face of the gully head (geofabric drop structures) as a cost effective method compared to constructing rock chutes. A site at Kinbombi has successfully trialled this method, with a geofabric drop structure constructed in 2012. This site has endured flows caused by Cyclone Oswald, Marcia and Debbie with the geofabric structure remaining intact and more importantly preventing any further movement of the gully head upstream. During 2018 more geofabric drop structures were constructed on this site using similar methods. There are plans to use this cost-effective method at a number of other gully erosion sites to enable more rigorous evaluation of this method. During 2017/2018 a number of landholders constructed a series of leaky weirs or porous check dams (PCD) in gullies. A variety of methods and interpretations of a porous check dam construction have been employed by landholders, which have proven successful at depositing and building up fine sediment in the gully floor. Either African star-grass or Pangola runners (stoloniferous/ running grass species) is then planted into the fine sediment silt fans that have formed above the weir to smother the bare ground, slowly build up the floor of the gully and stabilise the gully head and walls. A site at Wolvi trialled two methods of PCD construction – one method using timber branches encased in mesh perpendicular to flow, and another method using mesh only. Both methods have proven to be successful. An important learning is the significant impact that fencing these gullies, and managing stock access can have to stabilise and recover the gully. Monitoring program A monitoring program has been developed that captures information of past erosion rates of gullying, tonnes of sediment lost through erosion in the past and rate of sediment deposition through project activities. This program involves monitoring treated gully sites where an on-ground gully erosion project has occurred, and comparing them with a control gully of similar characteristics without any treatment. To date 31 on-ground project sites have now been monitored pre and post implementation of on-ground gully erosion projects. Some sites that were implemented at the commencement of the project in 2016 have had multiple repeat monitoring activities. The monitoring has shown the significant increase in groundcover in gullies that have been managed for stock access (wet season spelling or stock exclusion). Due to increased groundcover and active management of stock access the gully heads have not advanced since the implementation of the gully erosion projects. Ninth Australian Stream Management Conference paper A paper was prepared and presented at the 9th Australian Stream Management conference in August 2018 titled “Tools developed to build land management capacity in the grazing sector with specific focus on gully erosion management in the Mary River Catchment”.

From top right: Wolvi gully before work commenced in August 2017 and in August 2018 after leaky weir placement August 2018. Gully before fencing in August 2017 and inspection after fencing August 2018 with Reef Trust staff.

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The Seqwater/MRCCC partnership aims to improve water quality upstream of water supply offtakes in the Mary River Catchment on the Mary River at Goomong (in the Mary Valley), Kenilworth and Yabba Creek, Jimna. The partnership was formalised two years ago and has another three years to operate after the 2017/2018 financial year. After undertaking detailed planning and prioritisation work and two on- ground projects in 2016/2017, the MRCCC launched into a range of on- ground projects in 2017/2018. Criteria such as proximity to the offtake, intensity of landuse, and prior involvement with MRCCC were used to identify the first properties to involve in the project. Many of these projects involved dairies with the aim of reducing the risk to water quality through effluent management and effluent irrigation upgrades, riparian fencing and installation of off stream watering points. Other major projects in the partnership included strategic vine weed projects upstream of both the Mary River (Goomong) and the Kenilworth offtakes. In order to inform the strategic vine weed work around Goomong, MRCCC staff kayaked 30 km of the river upstream of the Goomong offtake with the purpose of undertaking detailed mapping of weeds, riparian condition, bank stability and instream habitat. This mapping followed on from mapping performed by Glenda Pickersgill in 1998 (as part of a World Wildlife Fund Mary River Cod recovery project) and complemented helicopter mapping of Cats Claw performed by Seqwater Above: Monster Cat’s Claw vine removed from in 2016. From the kayak mapping it was identified that, in the last 20 riparian area by Rick Sizer years, Cats Claw has spread downstream at a rate of approximately 1km/year. Through this project major sources of Cats Claw seed in this reach have been tackled. In the heaviest infestation, contractors Noosa Landcare and Gympie Landcare have removed vines from both sides of the river that were more than 25cm in diameter (see picture). A major riparian fencing project has also been completed in this same section of river as part of the Seqwater partnership. Lungfish, Mary River cod and mullet have been observed in this section of river and the fencing and weed control work will assist in maintaining the habitat of these species as well as protecting the established vegetation. The Strategic Weed vine project in Kenilworth work builds the past combined effort (both comprehensive mapping and on-ground weed treatment) of Lake Baroon Catchment Care, Barung Landcare, Hinterland Bush Links, Sunshine Coast Council, Burnett Mary Regional Group and MRCCC. The aim is to come as close as possible to eradicating Cats Claw on the main trunk of the river upstream of Kenilworth, work from upstream to downstream on Cats Claw and Madeira vine on Obi Obi Creek and control Madeira vine along sections of the Mary River where it is threatening bank stability. Biological control releases are a component of the Strategic Vine weed project in Kenilworth and Goomong in the 2017/2018 financial year. In the Goomong reach 5700 jewel beetles have been released. Upstream of Kenilworth 1050 jewel beetles and 120 tingid vine trimmings have been released to tackle Cats Claw and 7100 Madeira vine beetles have MRCCC’s Eva Ford and Obi Obi Dairy Manager been released to tackle Madeira vine. Releases will continue in the Steve, project planning with EnviroAg’s Simon Lott 2018/2019 year. Monitoring of these releases and other sites has shown some terrific results for tingids in particular. There are several sites where tingids appear to have created rings of dead/dying Cats Claw on the forest floor. In order to upskill MRCCC in helping dairies with the unique issues they face we have engaged the assistance of two specialists. Dave Clark has assisted with property level planning on several dairies. The reports Dave produces in consultation with the landholder draws on his experiences with many dairies throughout South East Queensland and provides the MRCCC with an excellent guide to future project planning. Consultants EnviroAg were also engaged to provide effluent management advice for four properties in February 2018. As always, it is helpful to have to some different perspectives on an issue and to be able to discuss options with a landholder and have a variety of input on the pros and cons of each option.  

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The Tinana Creek Strategic Cat’s Claw Control project concluded at the end of June 2018. The MRCCC received funding for this project through the Burnett- Mary Regional Group from the Australian Government’s Systems Repair program, which was made available to the Great Barrier Reef catchments of Queensland. On-ground works for the project commenced in the 2015. Tinana Creek and several of its major tributaries contain critical habitat for several iconic threatened species of the Mary River catchment, including the Mary River cod, lungfish, Giant Barred frog and almost certainly the Mary River turtle. The Tinana Creek sub-catchment has some unique characteristics compared to the rest of the Mary River catchment. Firstly, Tinana Creek flows directly into the estuarine section of the Mary River at Maryborough. This means that freshwater species in Tinana Creek are virtually isolated from those in other major tributaries of the Mary. In fact, Mary River cod and lungfish living in the Tinana Creek sub-catchment are genetically and morphologically distinct from populations of these species in other areas of the catchment. Measured by area, the Tinana Creek sub- catchment is one of the largest sub-catchments of the Mary. The Tinana Creek sub-catchment also marks the southernmost occurrence of many tropical rainforest species currently found in the rainforests of northern Queensland. The riparian (or streamside) vegetation is mostly intact; containing good examples of sub-tropical lowland rainforest which is a critically endangered vegetation community. Invasive weeds such as Cat’s claw vine pose a real threat to these special ecosystems. Currently, Tinana Creek and its tributaries have very few large scale infestations of Cat’s claw vine that have reached the canopy level. As part of the Tinana Creek project, a plan was developed which identified and targeted these small, but destructive infestations for priority control. When Cat’s claw vine reaches the canopy level, it is more likely to flower prolifically and create seeds which are spread by wind and water, or by animal transport. Cat’s claw vine can be particularly damaging to riparian rainforest where it grows especially well due to the moist, rich soil. The control work performed as part of the Tinana Creek Strategic Cat’s Claw Above: Removing large Cat’s Claw vines project complements and continues the riparian restoration works carried along Tinana Creek stops flowering and out through other MRCCC projects in the Tinana Creek sub-catchment. The production of the highly damaging winged combined impact of these projects equates to a large-scale benefit for the seed Tinana Creek sub-catchment. In addition, the upper Tinana Creek area has particularly strong community cohesion, through which the MRCCC has been able to build connections with many landholders who are passionate about the protection of their special piece of the creek. Two isolated infestations of the equally-damaging Madeira vine were also treated as part of this project; one in upper Tinana Creek and one in lower Tinana Creek. The table below outlines the project targets and achievements for the final year of the project. On the 1st of September 2018, the Lower Tinana Creek Environmental Extravaganza was held at Teddington Weir in the lower Tinana Creek near Maryborough. This event was held in conjunction with the Greater Mary Association and Fraser Coast Council to celebrate the achievements of the Tinana Creek Strategic Cat’s Claw project, learn about the threatened species of the Teddington area and demonstrate the use of a homemade water spear and lantana puller. The Fraser Coast Council kindly donated 10 trees which were planted at the Teddington Weir picnic area during the event. Project targets vs. achievements for 17/18 financial year

35 ha of re-treatment of past project sites 48 ha re-treatment 10 ha of new treatment in upper Tinana and 14.6 ha new treatment in upper Tinana and Tagigan Creeks Tagigan Creeks 5 ha of re-treatment at upper Coondoo Creek 5 ha re-treatment of upper Coondoo Creek Release of $5000 of biocontrols $5000 spent on biocontrol releases (~10,500 jewel beetles, 3 boxes tingid-infested cuttings + 400 loose tingids, and 600 Madeira beetles)  

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The Reconnecting a Koala Corridor in the Goomboorian District project came to an end in June 2018. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program 20 Million Trees Project. Gympie Regional Council and the Burnett Mary Regional Group also contributed funds toward the project. MRCCC oversaw the delivery of the project which was initiated by Kevin and Robyn Jackson from Goomboorian in August 2015. Robyn, Kevin and several other members of the community between Goomboorian and Wolvi played an integral role in planning and promoting the project. The “Creating Connections” group was formed to facilitate the project. The name symbolises the desire among the community members to create connections between people and wildlife. The goals of the project were:  To improve habitat connectivity for koalas in the Goomboorian/Wolvi/Kia Ora districts by planting 10,000 plants (7,000 trees and 3,000 understory plants) across 4 ha and controlling weeds across 6 ha;  To build local knowledge of how to restore koala habitat and improve vegetation for wildlife and biodiversity in general;  To connect people within the community and help them work with each other to enhance the local biodiversity and community connections. Plantings undertaken through the project were intentionally linked with Gympie Regional Council koala mapping which identifies vital koala corridors and categorises areas for restoration in terms of koala habitat. In total, revegetation projects were undertaken on 11 properties with a combined revegetated area of 8.3 ha (target was 4 ha). The areas revegetated through this project either added to existing high value koala habitat or began the process of restoring areas with high rehabilitation value for koalas. All revegetation properties are located in mapped koala corridors, and the planting of koala food trees on these properties will help to improve habitat connectivity for koalas moving Above: Rick Sizer demonstrates tree planting techniques to through the corridors. A total of 12,135 plants were Kia Ora school children planted which exceeded the target of 10,000. The majority of these were koala food trees which koalas in the project area are known to favour. Physical and chemical weed control for Cat's claw vine was also undertaken on two landholder properties, and biocontrol releases were undertaken on three landholder properties. A total new area of 6.33 ha was treated for weeds (target was 6 ha). A further two biocontrol releases were undertaken on road reserves with minor, un-treated infestations and at one of the revegetation project properties. Monitoring of these release sites has shown damage and evidence of breeding by the biocontrol agents. Six community plantings throughout the project area also occurred:  14 May 2016, Tagigan Rd  11 August 2016, Wilsons Pocket Rd, with children from Kia Ora State School.  3 November 2016, Tin Can Bay Rd  22 June 2017 – Tagigan Rd, Wolvi  16 September 2017 – Priddy Rd, with Gympie and District Landcare as part of Bushcarer’s Day Out.  9 May 2018 - Wolvi Project initiators and community champions Kevin and Robyn Jackson with the Koala cake made for the final project celebration ~ 17 ~

Several social activities also took place. The Project kicked off at the Silky Oak Tea Gardens in March 2016. This was followed by a Community Get Together in February 2017 and a celebration of the completion of the project in July 2018 at the Goomboorian Hall. Onground work completed The project also linked in with existing projects and other groups in the area including:  Systems Repair (a cat’s claw control project) Koala habitat restoration 12, 135 trees and shrubs delivered by MRCCC with a focus on Tinana Creek; through revegetation 8.3 ha  MRCCC’s Biodiversity Fund project; 11 properties  Gympie Landcare work crews;  Gympie Landcare and Greater Mary Association Cats Claw control Biocontrol releases (8 properties) Biocontrol biocontrol agent breeding facilities; Physical and chemical weed  Gympie region Koala Action Group; control (2 properties)  Gympie Regional Council Koala mapping work; 6 ha of weed control in total

 University of Sunshine Coast Detection Dogs for Conservation Program;  Messmate Park monthly working bee. Landholders undertook a large amount of weed control and revegetation maintenance which contributed significantly to the success of this project. It is estimated that this contribution equates to $17,370 worth of landholder time and resources. In addition, MRCCC staff have contributed considerable time and effort beyond the scope of the project budget. The combined inkind contribution of MRCCC and landholders equates to over $65,000. The total amount of the grant from the Australian Government was $100,000. Ongoing funding from the Gympie Regional Council Environment Grants program will enable the “Creating Connections” project to continue with two more community plantings in the next year. 

Jon Hannon is not only a Landholder/Project Participant Delegate on the MRCCC Committee, he is also a dab hand at design and construction; appeasing unusual requests from staff. Jon has recently been ‘playing’ with used cooking oil containers and drink bottles to help us control Cane toads (Rhinella marina) while keeping in mind our vision of ‘working towards a healthy and sustainable catchment’. For each of us, living sustainably is about reducing our use, reusing our used bits and recycling as much as possible. The Cane toad Challenge (CtC) is a Citizen Science program delivered by the University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience to trap Cane toad (Rhinella marina) tadpoles and humanely take them out of the system. The MRCCC became an affiliate member during 2017 so that we can assist with distribution of traps and the ‘Bufo tab’ baits that are supplied by the CtC team to landholders in the Mary River catchment. The bait is specific to R. marinus so only this species will be caught. So the question put to Jon last year was ‘Can you design and make a functional Cane toad tadpole trap using recycled materials?’ The answer is ‘Yes, he can!’. Jon has been in cahoots with fellow environmentalist, Dallas Frazier, who is working on the Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway upgrade and who also aspires to reusing and recycling as much of our waste as possible, including construction wastes from highway upgrades. Fine tuning complete and some trials later (now that the Cane toads and our native frogs are making a lot of noise about breeding again), Jon is confident that his ‘Hannon Taddie Catcher’ is ready to be released to the eagerly waiting community. We have an ever-growing list of landholders from the Mary Catchment who want to have a go at catching the tadpoles in their water body and make an impact on the populations of Cane toads in their neighbourhood. We have traps available for a donation of $5. The MRCCC From top down: the Hannon tadpole trap, and the University CtC team would like to know how many tadpoles are Bufo tabs and Cane toad tadpoles trapped, in what habitat and at what time of year, to help assess effectiveness of the trapping and improve techniques. This information may also shed light on the on-going breeding success of Cane toads locally. To be involved, register your interest with the MRCCC.

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How to tell them apart? Here are a few differences.

Eggs laid in long strings in still water (usually a dam, Eggs never in strings but in clumps either floating or temporary pool, billabong, marsh) attached to vegetation or the bed of a water body Tadpoles black all over, including belly (will turn brown during Tadpoles can be black but you can always see their the night) digestive ‘spiral’ through their belly skin Tadpoles tend to group in swarms traveling the shallows of a Tadpoles are solitary, may be close to others but never still water body forming dense groups Metamorphs disperse during the day and night Metamorphs are nocturnal Skin dry and warty skin Skin not usually dry but can be warty Bony ridge in front of and across top of eye and running No similar arrangement of bony ridges forwards to meet at the top lip (like Macca’s Golden Arches!) Paratoid glands (on ‘shoulders’) are obvious from a young age Some native frogs have paratoid glands but they also have red patches in their groin area 

In 2017, approximately 16,500 Mary River cod fingerlings were produced at the Gerry Cook Hatchery for conservation stocking in waterways throughout the Mary River catchment. This represents the largest number of fingerlings released for conservation stocking for over a decade. A team of landholders and volunteers assisted with the releases, collecting bags of fingerlings from Hatchery Manager, Darren Knowles, then heading out to the Mary’s headwaters to release the little fingerlings in waterways with prime cod habitat. Last year’s season was not without its challenges, with the supply of frozen blood worms for the growing fingerlings being unavailable due to restrictions on imports of fish products as a result of the white spot Prime cod habitat in the upper Mary outbreak which damaged the prawn industry in Queensland. The only other food source for the fingerlings is fresh blood worms, which are air freighted from Victoria at a far greater cost than the frozen product. There was also a major issue with cormorants helping themselves to the fingerlings which Darren was growing on in the outside ponds. This proved to be a major challenge, as netting the ponds was not affordable in the short term, and removing the cormorants was not an option. Funding from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund was used to upgrade some of the old pumps at the Hatchery, install a third 10,000 gallon rainwater tank and produce a video about the Mary River Cod and the breeding program. The video included footage donated by the AFN Fishing Show’s episode about the cod and the hatchery, which screened on national television in August 2017. The “Mary River Cod – Respected and Protected” video is available to view online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu4wSnTCr4g The MRCCC appreciates the financial support provided by the Burnett Mary Regional Group which will contribute to some of the cost of this year’s breeding program. Noosa Council also provided support for the cod and the breeding program with a small grant to enable the purchase of display materials and the production of 5000 brochures about the cod, which we continue to distribute widely. The MRCCC, together with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, also supported important research for the species. New improved genetic markers have been established which will be useful for cost-effective monitoring of genetic diversity and recruitment dynamics of Mary River cod, both in the hatchery and in the wild. What is really needed now is a population survey in the Mary River catchment to determine whether cod numbers have significantly increased as a result of the captive breeding program. As a result of the Lake Macdonald dam wall reconstruction project, the MRCCC’s license to occupy the Gerry Cook Hatchery site has not been renewed by Seqwater beyond February 2019. The MRCCC has negotiated with Seqwater to have some of the Hatchery facilities relocated during the construction project, which is foreshadowed to take 3 – 4 years depending upon climatic conditions. Seqwater have agreed to cover the cost of the relocation and establishment of a scaled down version of the breeding program at a local Cooroy property. Once the new ponds are constructed and this year’s breeding season finalised, the MRCCC’s 8 broodstock will be relocated to the new location, providing ample time for the fish to settle in to their new home before next year’s breeding season. 

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Fantastic weather and the beautiful setting drew crowds of people to the annual Noosa Festival of Water at the Noosa Botanic Gardens and Lake Macdonald near Cooroy on Sunday 24th June. The Botanical Gardens are stunning, providing a magnificent backdrop to the Festival each year. Throughout the Festival, people were treated to wide range of free entertainment and activities focused on caring for our environment and local water supply. Popular activities included Geckoes Wildlife’s Martin Fingland and his menagerie of native animals including Bumpy the wombat – a festival favourite with people of all ages. Allan Burnett was swamped with people watching his reptile show and Noosa River Fishing Safari’s boat operator James Free was inundated with passengers for the short trip across the Lake to the Gerry Cook Hatchery, where Manager Darren Knowles educated people about the breeding program for the endangered Mary River cod. Seqwater representatives were kept busy talking to people about the pending Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Program, which will see the Lake partially drained next year to accommodate construction of a new dam wall. Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington officially opened the Festival, introducing the fabulous Gubbi Gubbi dancers and their storytelling. The Amphitheatre program included performances from wonderful local songstress Andrea Kirwin, a toe tapping set from six piece band the Strangest Dreamers, lovely harmonies from Kath William’s InSingC Choir, and the smooth sounds of duo Zuric and Brown. Information about land and water management was freely available from Council, Landcare, the MRCCC and Wildlife care groups, helping to improve community awareness and educate land and water managers. Kids were treated to free face painting and jumping castle, environmental art activities, stand up Paddleboarding and kayaking and the No Sound Playground! Local food vendors including the Tewantin Noosa Lions kept the crowds refreshed and the SES did a wonderful job directing traffic and parking. Congratulations to Tegan McCrae of Mt Coolum who won the Peppers Noosa Resort voucher simply by telling the organisers what she liked about the Festival! The feedback generated at the Festival is invaluable in assessing the success of the day and planning for next year’s event. Thank you to Unitywater who produced a video about the Festival on the day, through their Community Stories project. The video can be accessed from the following link and is a lovely testament to the Festival and what we aim to achieve on the day. https://www.facebook.com/Unitywater/videos/1070383769767503/ This year’s Festival was sponsored by Noosa Council, Seqwater, Unitywater, the Burnett Mary Regional Group, Queensland Water and Landcare and Peppers Noosa Resort, and supported by around 100 volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to making the Festival a success each year. The MRCCC is also very grateful to Noosa Council for providing such a magnificent venue for the Noosa Festival of Water each year, and to Noosa Landcare’s Skilling Queensland for Work team who helped on the day. We constantly receive feedback about how wonderful the Botanical Gardens are for the event. Considerable thought and planning will be needed for next year’s Festival, as a result of the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project. It is likely that the dam will be partially drained prior to the Festival so water activities will not be possible. From top right: The Gubbi Gubbi Welcome to Country, soaking up the winter sun at the Amphitheatre, the popular boat cruise on Lake Macdonald, Martin Fingland with crocodile and Deb Seal cuddles Bumpy the rescued wombat. 

~ 20 ~

Mary River Month 2017 was held between the third Sunday of September, World Rivers Day and the Mary River Festival. In all 28 events were connected with Mary River Month which continues to raise awareness of the Mary River, how special she is and the opportunities available to contribute to keeping the river healthy now and into the future. Highlights of 2017 include: * Lifesavers of the Mary – winners of the Big Jump * 36 beautiful entries into the Spring in the Mary Photo Competition were received - 5 of these in the junior category. The judges, professional photographer Bob Simpson and MRCCC Chair Ian Mackay had a very difficult task judging the entries. They awarded winner of the Murray Views sponsored Open category to Debbie Polley’s atmospheric “Early Morning Rowers” (top left). The Runner up prize, sponsored by the Burnett Mary Regional Group went to Sydney Collette for her cute turtle photo (left). Annamiek Wilson received a highly commended award for her “Misty Valley” shot. Jillian Turner won the BOS Rural sponsored Rural Category with her lovely “Making Hay” photo. HQPlantations sponsored the Junior Category (16 year old and under). Levi Vella won this category with his gorgeous creek image (below left) and Paige Phali was runner up with her very imaginative “Seeing Nature through youth’s eyes” photo (left).  Tell Mary’s Tales was a new addition to Mary River Month last year. Entries of prose and poetry inspired by the Mary River and by Spring captured the essence of what Mary River Month is all about.  The Waterwatcher’s BBQ at the beautiful Home Park property of Garth and Judy Jacobsen was attended by Waterwatchers from across the catchment and focussed on results from the lower Mary and Munna Creek sub-catchments.  Mary River Month culminated with the Mary River Festival at Kandanga on Saturday 11th November. Thanks to Julie Spencer who weaved her magic and helped promote Mary River Month and connected the event with new audiences. In 2018 Mary River Month is benefiting from the support of marketing guru Andrea Philip. This year’s calendar features a wide range of activities throughout the Mary River Catchment including MRCCC’s annual Catchment Crawl and Waterwatch BBQ, bushcare and weeding activities, Cat’s Claw weaving workshops, a Wildlife Forum in Glenwood, the Great Sandy Strait cruise on the 4th November featuring John Sinclair commentating, and the Mary River Festival on Saturday 10th November. All the details for 2018 can be found on our website on the Mary River Month page (http://mrccc.org.au/mary- river-month/) or follow the MRCCC facebook page.



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Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO), the Greater Mary Association (GMA) and the MRCCC have combined forces to create a Great Sandy Strait Research Fund. The fund was established with donations from each of these organisations totalling $25,000. Great Sandy Strait cruises in late 2017 and early 2018 subsequently raised over $7000 for the fund and a further $12,500 was contributed from the Mary Catchment Public Fund. The purpose of the fund is to support Researchers and Consortium partners at their initial meeting at research into the Great Sandy Strait to: Lindsay’s Titmarsh’s Tandoora property  Better understand where sediment and water (and any associated heavy metals) go in the lower Mary River and Great Sandy Strait under a range of different flow levels.  Create a more comprehensive baseline of current pollution levels  Improve the precision of predictions regarding the impact of changes in the river/catchment as a result of projects like the proposed Colton Coal mine near Aldershot. Five applications for research were received by the Great Sandy Strait Research Oversight Committee (ROC), which is made up from representatives of the three donor organisations. The ROC reviewed the applications and decided to fund one in full and a second in part. The fully funded project, “Hydrodynamics and Materials Transport in the Mary River Estuary: An Initial Assessment” will be completed by researchers from the University of Queensland. The research will involve undertaking a geomorphological assessment of the Great Sandy Strait and lower Mary estuary to better understand how the tides and river flows move water and sediment. Based on this assessment a hydrodynamic and water quality model will be developed. Sites that are a high priority for establishing a baseline will be identified and sampled. The second project is still being refined and will include more detailed consideration of the biology of the Great Sandy Strait and lower estuary. This research helps address an important gap in understanding and we hope that it will generate ongoing research into the internationally listed Great Sandy Strait RAMSAR wetland and lower Mary River ecosystem. 

During July 2018, over 150 students from Hong Kong travelled to Australia to participate in Higher Ground Australia’s Rites of Passage Program. The students stayed at Kenilworth Homestead, Mary Valley Centre, Tuchekoi and Garapine, Kybong for two weeks and participated in a range of activities. The MRCCC staff delivered informative presentations regarding invasive weed species within the Mary River Catchment as part of the environmental restoration component of the extensive program. After the presentation, students performed physical removal of several invasive weed species located at each venue. All students displayed great enthusiasm; it was difficult to get them to stop working! All students have contributed to positive change within the catchment. Right: Highly motived and enthusiastic students from Hong Kong take part in annual land management activities at 3 locations in the Mary River Catchment. 

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The 9th Australian Stream Management Conference (9ASM) was held during August 2018 in Hobart, Tasmania. More than 150 researchers, consultants, policy makers and practitioners dedicated to managing and investigating catchments in Australia attended the conference. The MRCCC had a strong presence with five staff members attending. The three day conference commenced with a heartfelt welcome to country, inspiring keynote speakers, followed by an intriguing evening with Steve Posselt who spoke about ‘What it’s like to paddle up the Mississippi in a flood.’ Field trips on Tuesday consisted of a Summit to Sea tour and Hobart Rivulet tour, with both tours kicking off at the windy and slightly snowy Mt Wellington summit. On Tuesday night, conference attendees boarded a ferry to enjoy a smorgasbord of Tasmania’s finest food at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and the ever so clever presentation of ‘Art and Science’ by American artist and curator, Kirsha Kaechele. Throughout the conference, concurrent sessions focussed on monitoring and evaluation, erosion, riparian/vegetation, water quality, policy, the Great Barrier Reef and community engagement. Three MRCCC staff presented their co-authored papers about projects and landholder engagement in the Mary River catchment as follows: 1. ‘Restoring Riparian Resilience for threatened species in the Mary River catchment – lessons in landholder engagement from a catchment-wide project’ paper by Sarah Grimish, Tanzi Smith and Brad Wedlock. 2. ‘Tools developed to build land management capacity in the grazing sector with specific focus on gully erosion management in the Mary River catchment’ by Brad Wedlock, Bec Watson, Belinda Wedlock and Shaun Fisher. 3. ‘Benefits of the Mary River catchment Waterwatch Program for integrated stream management and monitoring outcomes’ by Jess Dean, Tanzi Smith and Brad Wedlock. Jess also chaired a community engagement session. A copy of these papers is available to download from the Publications page under the Information tab on the MRCCC website. Reference to the Mary River Catchment was made during several presentations by other professionals. To view the complete 9ASM proceedings visit: http://www.9asm.org.au/assets/9ASM-Complete-Proceedings-2018-Final.pdf. The MRCCC are looking forward to contributing to the 10th Australian Stream Management Conference in 2019. 

1998……Mika Hakkinen won his first F1 title with McLaren; Tommi Makinen won his third consecutive drivers world rally championship driving for Mitsubishi and The Offspring were ‘Pretty Fly for a White Guy’. Meanwhile in Gympie…… Growing up in Maryborough, on the banks of the Mary River, Brad developed a keen interest not only in cars and motors, but in the natural world around him. Some may think this to be a juxtaposition, but when he finally jumped in the navigator seat of a rally car, not only did he enjoy going sideways through the forest whilst reading pace notes, he also paid due attention to the vegetation he was ‘skating’ through. ‘The gums are already in flower’, ‘there’s cat’s claw creeper in the riparian zone’……hey which way are we going? In 1998 the Voluntary Riverbank Restoration Grants Scheme needed a champion! In comes Brad Wedlock, ready and willing to chair an assessment panel to allocate funds to landholders wanting to protect and repair their streambanks. After many years of school focus, the Waterwatch program needed a helping hand to expand and reach further into the catchment. Brad took this on with vigour, encouraging the MRCCC’s networks of landholders to become Waterwatch volunteers. The development of the Mary River & Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan in 2001 combined with Natural Heritage Trust funding gave birth to the next phase of A very young Brad Wedlock (front left) with the MRCCC Committee riparian restoration, which led to the MRCCC winning in 1999 at the old Forestry Complex, Fraser Rd the National Rivercare Award in 2004. A decade into his time at MRCCC, the rolling out of the Wedlock family began, concluding with four kids. So like most of us, Brad had to become even better at juggling more balls at the site time. In 2010 the Reef Rescue program started, working with the local grazing industry and importantly the Gympie District Beef Liaison Group, which continues today. In recent years improving water quality in the Mary River and the Great Barrier Reef has increasingly become the focus of activity in the MRCCC. The MRCCC is incredibly fortunate to have Brad on board with his extensive knowledge and experience. We have all benefited from the long term relationships that he has established with our partner groups and landholders throughout the catchment. 

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Grazing BMP workshop, Imbil July 2017 Soil analysis sheet interpretation workshop, Gympie August 2017 Frog awareness and frog monitoring with Cooroora Park Bushcare group, Pomona September 2017 Land for Wildlife field walk and tree planting/Bushcarer’s Day Out at Goomboorian September 2017 MRCCC Catchment Crawl – water testing at 33 sites along the Mary River and tributaries October 2017 Grazing BMP workshop, Kybong November 2017 Soil analysis sheet interpretation workshop, Moy Pocket November 2017 Lower Mary catchment Waterwatch BBQ, Home Park, Tiaro November 2017 Alternative herbicide trial site field-day, Kandanga November 2017 Mary River Festival, Kandanga November 2017 Find a frog in February workshop, Kin Kin January 2018 Find a frog in February workshop, Pomona February 2018 Find a frog in February / Get to know your creek workshop, Goomboorian February 2018 Find a frog in February / Get to know your creek workshop, Lower Wonga February 2018 Find a frog in February workshop, Noosa February 2018 Healthy Waterways Workshop, Brooloo March 2018 Showcasing Reef Trust grazing land project with Gympie Landcare workshop series, Widgee March 2018 Waterwatch workshop with Gympie Landcare treeplanting at Gympie March 2018 6th community tree-planting event, 20 Million Trees koala corridor project, Goomboorian May 2018 Grazing BMP workshop, Kybong May 2018 Pasture & forage budgeting field-walk, Kybong May 2018 Waterwatch workshop at Gympie Landcare Weed Day, Amama Park, Amamoor June 2018 Noosa Festival of Water, Lake Macdonald June 2018 Belli/Cedar Creek field-day, Belli Park June 2018 Celebrating creating connections, 20 Million Trees koala corridor project, Goomboorian July 2018 NAIDOC week family fun day stall, Gympie July 2018 Lower Tinana Creek environmental extravaganza, Teddington Weir September 2018 MRCCC Catchment Crawl – water testing at 33 sites along the Mary River and tributaries October 2018

Lake Macdonald spillway upgrade, Seqwater community reference group, Cooroy During 2017/18 Great Sandy Biosphere Management Committee meetings During 2017/18 Sunshine Coast Council Biosecurity Plan Expert Panel and submissions During 2017/18 University of Queensland Cane Toad Challenge – affiliate member During 2017/18 Fraser Coast Council Environmental Advisory Committee member During 2017/18 Gympie Regional Council Environment Strategy review committee member During 2017/18 Noosa Council Environment Strategy review committee member During 2017/18 Qld Government Climate Change strategy information session, Gympie September 2017 Qld Government Agriculture and Environment Committee – Parliamentary Weed Inquiry December 2017 Noosa Council biodiversity strategy review, Tewantin December 2017 Cats claw vine bio-control information session, Pomona March 2018 Paddock to Reef Great Barrier Reef monitoring program meeting, Bundaberg June 2018 Regional Water Supply Strategy, Gympie meeting June 2018 Noosa Council Environment Strategy review, Tewantin July 2018 Lake Macdonald dam upgrade water drawdown workshop, Brisbane July 2018 Six Mile Creek cats claw vine mapping project, Tewantin September 2018 Queensland Landcare conference, Brisbane October 2018

Gympie Regional Council East Deep Creek Local Area Development Plan December 2017 Australian fauna extinction crisis, Senate Inquiry submission September 2018 Gympie Regional Council Development Applications – numerous submissions linked to integrated 2017/18 catchment management (ICM) Fraser Coast Council Development Applications – numerous submissions linked to ICM 2017/18

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Activity Location Date Noosa District High School, Mimburi campus Carters Ridge August 2017 Science week day, Amamoor Schoool Amamoor August 2017 Mary River Festival – macroinvertebrates and presentations Kandanga November 2017 Find a frog in February presentation, Pomona School Pomona February 2018 Find a frog in February presentation, James Nash High School Gympie February 2018 Annual Hong Kong student outdoor education program for Higher Ground at Mary Valley August 2018 Tuchekoi, Garapine & Kenilworth Homestead STEAMzone, hosted by Gympie STEM - aquatic macroinvertebrates Gympie August 2018 Sustainability and STEAM symposium hosted by Tinana State School Maryborough August 2018 Little Kids Day Out - aquatic macroinvertebrates stall Gympie September 2018

“Book of Hope - Recovering Australian Threatened Species”, chapter prepared based Melbourne March 2018 on Mary catchment threatened species as case study, CSIRO HQ Plantations Tinana Yards field day speaker on biocondition monitoring Toolara May 2018 Reef Trust Erosion Control Forum Cairns/ Cooktown May 2018 Institute of Australian Foresters meeting speaker on Waterwatch program Imbil June 2018 Noosa Integrated Catchment Association – presentation on MRCCC Tewantin June 2018 9th Australian Stream Management conference Hobart August 2018 Waterwatch paper presented by Jess Dean Restoring riparian resilience paper presented by Sarah Grimish Engaging graziers in gully erosion control paper presentation by Brad Wedlock

Project Title Researcher, Institution MRCCC Role Mary River Turtle Population Marilyn Connell, Charles Assistance with fieldwork, provision of water testing study Darwin University equipment, use of office Thesis is on the suitability of Natalie Dowling – PhD Natalie was connected with landholders of the Belli/Cedar rehabilitated land for koalas student, Sunshine Coast Catchment Care Community and landholders of Browns University Road, Belli Park in order to extend her research area to this potential Koala corridor. Alternative Herbicides for University of Sunshine Setting up project trial, undertaking monitoring, funding Revegetation Trial Coast duplication of trial. Healthy Reef Project CSIRO, Researchers: Dr MRCCC role is assisting in identification of riparian Keryn Paul and Dr John restoration sites of a range of ages for measurement of Lamour carbon stocks. Developing methods for James Daley, Andrew MRCCC to assist with advice on methodology, possible quantifying the water quality Brooks, Griffith University field sites and historical context of project sites. benefits of instream and Advanced Queensland riparian activities (In research fellowship preparation)

Above left: RBMS President, Myles Coker welcomes delegates to 9ASM in Hobart and right, Belinda Wedlock, Bec Watson, Jess Dean, Sarah Grimish and Brad Wedlock rugged up in Hobart for the Welcome to 9ASM

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We are coming up to eight years with the Valley Bees Group. From its conception, we, as a Community organisation, have been committed to work within the community with mutual benefits to the organisation and the community it operates in. Commitment accomplished. Our workshops for honeybees, native stingless bees and native solitary bees continue to be well attended. Our two monthly honeybee workshops, and our bi-monthly stingless bee workshop, are running very well. There is currently a renewed interest in solitary bees, and this is great to see. I am sure that Glen and Athol Craig at the Imbil Bee Day in September the community in which we operate is much more aware of the needs of all these bees, than when we were first formed. There is a need to promote knowledge and understanding of bees and bee management. Our own Valley Bees website, www.valleybees.org.au, along with our varied and colourful displays and presentations, reinforce our mentoring programs in spreading best management practices, disease identification and control and biosecurity protocol. These have become key activities of our organisation. Over the years we have become a source of knowledge for communities from Bundaberg to Brisbane. This is an accomplishment in itself. And without the great mutual cooperation of the members, this would not be possible. Thanks also go out to all at the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee. You have supported us with management of our financing, insurance and general advice, and with access to your photocopying facilities. We look forward to continuing our good relationship. Gympie Landcare has been generous in the use of their premises. They supported us to establish demonstration sites for honeybees, stingless bees and solitary bees. We use these sites for our monthly workshops. Our annual Bee Open Day at the Mary Valley College Imbil was held in September. The day attracted speakers from a diverse spectrum of bee topics as well as bus loads of customers from far afield. This is a community event which aims to benefit as many community interests as possible. In this aspect, it was very successful. The Honeybee Farm has been most accommodating and generous in providing a beautiful meeting space and friendly environment on a regular basis. A real milestone is the brand new workroom there, run as an adjunct to our bee workshops, which members can use for harvesting honey, construction of hives and frames, stingless bee boxes and solitary bee nests. I have recently stepped down from Chairmanship of Valley Bees, and there has been generational change in our office bearers. I intend to be involved in bee activities in future as much as possible. Please visit our website www.valleybees.org.au for valuable information on all things concerning bees. Athol Craig, Patron Valley Bees. 

Cooloola Nature’s on-going project, “Bird Trails of Cooloola” is progressing very well with the Ride on Mary Bike & Kayaks webpage up and running. The operators of Ride on Mary updated their webpage and brochure to a focus on healthy waterways, to educate visitors to our region who participate in Ride on Mary activities about the importance of this habitat. http://www.birdingcooloola.org.au/along-the-bird-trails-of-cooloola- --ride-on-mary-kayak--bike-bush-adventures.html Our current Bird Trails webpage Project, Birds of Marys’ Creek, is progressing. Marys’ Creek is a rich site, both in history and birdlife and we look forward to the completion of this work. Currently we are undertaking seasonal surveys on two properties; Tinana Yards for HQ Plantations, and Quinlan’s, a 100 acre property donated to the Australian Koala Foundation. These Surveys will both continue next year. With a wide range of habitat types, Tinana Yards Scarlet honeyeater – is an on-going riparian revegetation project being undertaken by HQ Image courtesy Amelia Nielsen Plantations. Our on-going surveys here will monitor the subsequent change in bird populations as the revegetation progresses. We still regularly monitor migratory shorebirds and flying-foxes, along with assisting a researcher from Griffith University in monitoring a colony of Trapdoor Spiders, (a new species we discovered quite a few years ago).

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The shorebird surveys are tending to indicate an overall decline in numbers of these international visitors to the Cooloola Wader roost site. We have submitted two grant applications requesting funding for the printing of posters and additional Bird Trails brochures, and the undertaking of five seasonal excursions along the Bird Trails of Cooloola, (fully catered for), taking our Bird Trails project to the next stage. If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Kelvin & Amelia Nielsen, COOLOOLA NATURE, www.birdingcooloola.org.au, Ph 07 5482 6721  Prepared by Convenor Dr Lindy Orwin. The Gympie Regional STEM Hub is a collaboration between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) groups in the region that aims to promote STEM literacy and engagement in the community. The activities in the past year engaged over 1500 people in the Gympie Region in STEM events. STEM in the Pub, Hall and Cafe These community engagement events bring speakers to public places for free talks about STEM topics. This included 4 events in Gympie hosted by the Gympie Bone Museum at the Australian Hotel with guest speakers Dr Alan Mackay Sims (STEM cell researcher and Australian of the Year), Natalie Dowling from the University of the Sunshine Coast with Koala Scat Detector Dog Maya, Murray Keys, Gympie Solar Association, and Ian Layden from Horticultural Systems Innovation at Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Nambour. Events in Rainbow Beach included: *the Cooloola BioBlitz (attendance 194) with presentations from Professor Suzanne Schmidt, University of Queensland, Cooloola’s soil ecosystems and Robert Whyte, Spider expert who discovered 37 new species (so far) during the BioBlitz; *Kelvin Neilsen speaking about Cooloola birds. *During the Moth Mini-Blitz, public presentations were given by Professor Doug Hilton, AO, Medical Researcher and Moth expert and Dr Don Sands, AO, CSIRO Entomologist, Insect Interactions and Wildlife Conservation (Attendance 22). Teacher professional development about drones in schools was conducted by team member Kaye North. National Science Week STEAMzone 2 day festival STEAMzone was a 2 day Science, Technology, Engineering, (Sci-)Arts and Maths festival to celebrate National Science Week. The goal was to inspire Gympie Region students in Yrs 4, 5 and 6 to enjoy STEM subjects and increase their STEM knowledge through hands-on experiences. The students experienced STEM as it relates to their region from the bush to the beach, learning about the disciplines, developing new skills and learning about their region’s beauty and importance. STEAMzone by the numbers: 2 Days (9:15 am – 2:10 pm) 10 Short Activities each day (15 minutes) 10 Classes in the Short Activity rotation/day 5 Masterclasses each day 5 Classes in the Masterclass rotation/day 22 Different activities 510+ Participants in short activities 300 Participants in Masterclasses 70+ Home schoolers 50+ Presenters and Assistants 42+ Volunteer Helpers Presenters: AgForce Queensland - Future Ag; Barambah Environmental Education Centre; Barnacles Dolphin Centre; Berry Doak; Cooloola Coastcare (2); Daniella and Sharn Carbone; Erica Neate, Sci- Artist; Gympie and District Landcare; Gympie Bone Museum; Gympie Central State School; Gympie Regional Library; Gympie State High School - Zela Bissett; Jones Hill State School; Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee; Noosa District High School Girl STEM Ambassadors (2); QuestaCon Science Circus; Shawn Jarvey; Triple F Virtual Reality Ride; University of the Sunshine Coast - Lab of Awesome; and Victory College. Sponsors: Inspiring Australia, Gympie Regional Council, Gympie Show, and Bendigo Bank. 

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Koala Action Gympie Region continues as small but dedicated group of residents working on local actions to help ensure the sustainability of the koala species in this region. We continue to collect data from the wider community on the location of koalas in the Gympie region. This data is entered into the Queensland Government Wildnet database for use by planners and government agencies. The data collected since the formation of KAGR has significantly improved knowledge of the location and health of our local koala populations, and has motivated a range of actions throughout the region. A Widgee sub-group also meets regularly (Widgee Koala Action Group) with a focus on koalas in the Widgee area and surrounds. March Widgee Workshops: A BMRG Healthy Habitats Grant supported three koala conservation workshops; an educational tree-planting in Widgee with Rick Sizer, a koala health workshop with wildlife vet, Dr Robyn Stenner, and a Koala Workshop also held in Widgee and attended by 50 people. The speakers, University of Queensland’s Koala Ecology researcher Dr Bill Ellis, Marc Russell, Gympie Regional Council’s Darren Pointon (on wild dog control), and the Detection Dogs for Conservation team, were very well-received. The feedback on the catering and overall organization by the Widgee group was excellent. A ‘Koalas of Widgee’ brochure and a comprehensive Widgee koala base-line report were also produced as part of this Project. Koala Conservation Management Plan: A highlight this year was Council’s adoption of its first ever Plan aimed at guiding Council and community action to ensure the long-term sustainability of koala populations in the Gympie region. KAGR commends Amy Whitfield, Gympie Council’s Environmental Planning Coordinator, on the collaborative approach and dedication that saw this long-awaited Plan come to fruition. KAGR looks forward to the koala mapping being available on-line, to help inform koala habitat rehabilitation efforts. Flashing Koala Signs on Tin Can Bay Road Kia Ora: A QUT researcher trialling drones to find koalas in Brisbane recently said ‘better data is a conservationist’s best friend’. The case of Kia Ora is a perfect example of this. KAGR provided data to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) which showed that an alarming number of koalas were hit by cars and either badly injured or killed in a short stretch of the Tin Can Bay Road at Kia Ora adjacent to koala habitat. Goomboorian residents Robyn and Kevin Jackson, and Jason and Karen of Sublime Limes, then met with TMR at the site to assess options. Given geographic constraints that ruled out fencing and use of the cattle underpass, TMR agreed to install signs with flashing lights which would be activated by approaching traffic during koala breeding season (started on 1st August). Sadly, since the lights were installed in August 2018, a young male koala was killed along this stretch in September. Victory Heights-Collaboration with Cooloola Trail Care Alliance (CTCA): As a result of ongoing evidence (sightings, scat and scratches) of koala use of the eucalypt bushland at Victory Heights, KAGR partnered with the CTCA to provide an on-site learning experience about koalas, koala habitat and conservation. With the help of a Council Environment Levy grant, KAGR and CTCA have produced a koala interpretive sign and are developing tree identification signs to identify koala tree species on the 2 km walk. 2018 Koala Feed Trees in 2018: Another activity supported by Council was a free koala tree project, with a goal of 2018 koala food trees planted in 2018. KAGR provided a voucher to redeem the trees at Landcare. Plantings varied in size from 10 trees up to 150 trees, across 35 different properties, all of which are part of known koala habitats. Many were in the eastern Mary catchment and the Mary Valley as well as some at the Palms, Widgee, Glastonbury, Curra, Chatsworth, Traveston, and Kilkivan. It is hoped to build on this in 2019. Bruce Highway, Cooroy to Curra Sections D: With the announcement that Section D will proceed, KAGR has been involved in consultations with TMR, and made a submission to the EPBC referral process. The KAGR focus is on improved monitoring of koala populations before, during and after construction along the Woondum to Curra route, and on improved fencing. KAGR wishes to acknowledge the work of TMR’s Senior Environment Officer Madeleine Page, who has consulted extensively with groups such as KAGR, Wildcare (Rachel Lyons) and Koala Crusaders. Community Engagement and Awareness: KAGR had displays at the Bee Open Day, the Gympie Garden Expo and the Family Fun Day at Landcare, and as always will be at the Mary River Festival. KAGR is facilitating an environment/wildlife awareness event in Glenwood on 20th October. KAGR has an active Facebook page and regular articles in regional magazines. There is still a long way to go with becoming a ‘koala-aware’ community with concerted strategies and efforts to reduce the threats in order to help our koala populations recover and survive into the future. KAGR looks forward to 2019 being a year with more community, government and stakeholder collaboration and commitment this end. KAGR can be contacted at [email protected] and on Facebook, or phone the Coordinator, Michelle Daly on 0437549252 or 54835242 

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Tales of the Mary— A Catchment Crawl. By Rob Priebe

On the north side of Maleny, where the bell birds sing their song, And in the early morning one can hear their sing-along. Nearby flows a streamlet, on its way to form The Mary From river bed to gum tree head its beauty is so varied.

It slips and slides beneath the boughs, and plays among the shadows The eddies swirl aquatic weeds, change pastel shades to mellow. Of a sudden platypus cruise across the river. Then dive And capture prawns in rapture, with joy to be alive.

And where The Mary captures its tributaries so strong, The riffles go with constant flow, a happy song soo long. Watch the nearby puddle, with luck you’ll see and feel, A bobbing purple kingfisher catching his evening meal.

Oh Mighty Mary River, you are so dear to me, For in your constant pathway’s flow is glimpsed Eternity. And all life is dependent on your waters clean and free. So flow you Artery of Life, and bring your joy to me.

Ian Mackay’s speech at the Barung Landcare Wood Expo Dinner – Friday 11th May 2018

When asked to MC tonight, Elaine mentioned I might like to do a poem so, being as I’m very much into recycling, I wondered about giving a fresh airing (old poems love that, in fact they positively glower at you when you spurn them and sit to write something fresh and new)) to one I’d written for past events. The one for Alan and Stacey’s book on hollow log homes “The gnarled old tree in the forest stood, more important than just cubic metres of wood, For trees like this are chock full of hollers, that you can’t put a price on… at least not in dollars” or the one for the big regional forest agreement rally in King George Square years back , personifying Boral, the major processor of native forest hardwood at the time “Borol went down to the forest ‘cos Borol’s a good little lad, Borol went down to the forest to see what logs could be had” or the one for the wildflower show that happened every year in the last weekend of August in the Coolum civic centre “I sat up all night getting into a fluster Trying to find things that’s rhyme with grevillea robusta but then I thought you’re not scientists you’re just down to earth folk you prob’ly wouldn’t mind if I just said silky oak” But none of them worked for tonight, for a landcare group that was among the first formed, one of the first cabs off the rank as it were, and hence longest lived, which has evolved this very special event to not only further its aims of better care for our land, of fostering and celebrating our stewardship of it, but which doubles as a fund-raiser so that Barung may live and work well into the future. So I turned to that age old habit of nicking a poem from another Who could go past Joyce Kilmer early last century? “I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.

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A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast.” A rich image indeed, even if it does suggest a complete lack of understanding of the process of photosynthesis. Or what about Ogden Nash, who, in the 1930’s, parodied with the salu-tree I think that I shall never see A billboard lovely as a tree. Indeed, unless the billboards fall I’ll never see a tree at all. But no, there was nothing for it but writing my own, but I was stressing at what would rhyme with “Wood expo” and perhaps foolishly confided my problem to a non-poet friend. “Expo,” he said, “What about sexpot?” And I pointed out that the mere addition of a letter both fore and aft of a word, even if they were alphabetically sequential, did not a rhyme make, and he had to agree. But after a reflective pause he said “You’re a sap Ian,” he said “how green can you be? You’re too rooted in this rhyming stuff, can’t see the wood for the trees.” And then I twigged. Something he’d said had resin-ated with me. I had been barking up the wrong tree, it was time to turn over a new leaf, go out on a limb, give it a burl. So I thought about trees I thought about the little tree, the Infantry, the mid-life Bigotry and of course the full–grown Adultree I thought of trees being the lungs of the earth, in a plan-etree sense. Of courses trees are, and have long been resources. Is it true that Noah sourced the wood (plainly unsustainability) for his ark from the great Sahara forests? Who can say? But what is true; is that trees living and standing play a host of vital roles, even trees dead, both standing and horizontal play vital roles and trees rendered horizontal by early intervention, the process we call mill-a-tree are used for all sorts of thing. I can tell you tonight there is no truth in the old adage “ a flat tree will get you nowhere” With the Wootha Prize, Barung Landcare is in no way contradict-tree. The actions of both championing trees and sustainability, whilst simultaneously championioning the nature and beauty of wood are totally complement-tree. Scientists call it lignin, to you’n me it’s wood And it grows all around us so it’s right that we should Plant it and tend it and then when its grown Reveal the beauty of the wood that’s laid down. I’ve lapsed into verse, that sap is flowing, Goodness knows where this verse is going.

And stressing ‘bout rhyme, well it seems rather silly There’s heaps, I could use like Aruacaria bidwilli I…… should end here , it’s the writer’s choice, So I’ll paraphrase the ending by Joyce. (Kilmer) She said “Poems are made by fools like me, But what wondrous beauty there is in a tree.”

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