WPSQ Bayside Branch Newsletter | May 2021

Next Meeting 28th May 7:00 PM

‘The History and Maintenance of Moreton Bay’s Peel Island’ a presentation by local historian Peter Ludlow.

A former hospital pharmacist, Peter is now a professional researcher, biographer, and author collecting local history in the Moreton Bay area.

This presentation will highlight Peel Island’s history including pre- European occupation, its use by Europeans as a quarantine station, inebriate home, and lazaret (leprosarium), and, in 2007, the Island’s gazettal as a National Park and Conservation Park and the Lazaret Buildings as a Heritage Site. Peter will also look at Peel’s future when the island will be placed under the full control of the Quandamooka People, under whose guidance a new era of tourism and cultural exchange holds great promise.

When: Friday 28th May 2021 at 7.00 pm Where: Redland Multi Sports Centre, Cnr. Bailey & Randall Rd, Birkdale QLD 4159. Enjoy the club facilities, food available. General Public Welcome, booking required for entry

Follow this link or search for ‘peel island’ on the Eventbrite website. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/history-of-peel-island-talk-by-peter- ludlow-tickets-152944269427

For more information, contact Steve on 0423 036 676

Peel Island, A Baltais, 2021 In this edition 2 Presidents Report 3 Report to WPSQ BB AGM 4 Organic Waste and Council Waste Plan 5 Local makes the big time! 6 Creating a Winter Bee Wonderland 7 Social Networks 8 Contacts, Links and Membership Form President’s Report Bayside Branch | May 2021

The Bayside Branch AGM was held at the April meeting, the committee was re-elected un- opposed, thanks for that vote of confidence in what we are trying to achieve in these challenging times. If you are ever interested in joining the committee, we are always looking for extra support.

Our April speaker Rob Clemens on the “Powerful Owl Project” gave us an insight into all the work being carried out to monitor the habitats of this Eastern Grey Kangaroo, S Homew ood, 2021 magnificent creature, the technology being used to record and measure the its distribution. Often though it is hard work on the ground by “Citizen Science” participants that gives solid indications of where there is a viable population. Possums are their main diet and they’ll eat one a night, rest up during the day, so next time you in an old growth forest maybe you can spot them although they are extremely well camouflaged., photos welcome!!!!

Eastern Rosella, S Homew ood, 2021 Our next speaker May 28th will be Talking about the history of Peel Island. The Branch will be participating in the IndigiScapes Environment Community Fair and second “Eco Market” on Saturday 5 June, World Environment Day, contact me if want to help out, 9.00am to 2.00pm.

Redland City Council has a new waste reduction- and-recycling-plan out for comment. The plan details how community and council can work together to increase the number of households with a green waste bin for garden organics, increasing recycling into yellow bins but with less contamination from non-recyclable items.

Carpet Python, S Homew ood, 2021 Reducing organics going into normal bins and education is obviously the key to this strategy. The survey to be completed by 28th May can be found at: https://yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au/waste- reduction-and-recycling-plan-2021-2025

I recently took the advantage of the long weekend to go to Stanthorpe and Girraween National park, the weather was mild, what a great area for wildlife and of course food and wine.

Corella, S Homew ood, 2021

A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy. John Sawhill Report to AGM Bayside Branch | May 2021

The Branch had to discontinue its programme of Toondah Harbour, Koala conservation and now the monthly meetings due to Covid restrictions, our Birkdale Community (Olympic) Project are just only meeting for the financial year was this some, I am concerned that increasingly along with February with Martin Fingland, but we had nearly other groups, we do not appear to have any direct 50 there. This year we will try to have a full acknowledgement or commentary from the programme, but we do rely on your continued proponents on the submissions we have made. support so that our speakers feel that they have Without more dialogue and community managed to impart their knowledge to a wide involvement, with all its wealth of experience, the audience. We have booked this venue for the rest outcome for our local environment looks of the year. I will be conducting a few more walks increasingly dire. throughout the year as well. Our monthly newspaper and Wildlife diary continued to be The Environmental Impact Study for Toondah circulated around the community with information harbour is due out for comment in the next couple on wildlife issues and local walks, we always of months and is likely to be some 4000 pages, the welcome articles even about issues outside the proposed 30year development will greatly impact Bayside area. wetland habitat in an international Ramsar area, to the detriment of all marine and shore life that is The Cicada film festival last year was a successful fundamental to local ecosystems, with apparently on-line event, despite all the restrictions and little thought to climate change. The impacts will be challenges, this mainly through Debra Henry’s far reaching for all residents, shoreline vistas perseverance and commitment. Some 20 blighted by concrete, increased activity in already Competitors produced excellent films that show our crowded streets. We need to ensure that we all youth can be relied on to spread the word on the take time to comment on this proposal to achieve a multitude of threats to our environment. The films better outcome. can always be seen on YouTube under “Cicada Film Festival. We thank all sponsors for their We have been gradually reducing our costs, there contributions totalling $4000. An online raffle raised are now no storage charges, GST return and over $700 helping to defray our costs. Last March accounting costs will be only for an auditor. We will Pre-covid we had 90 helpers at our regular Clean soon only have one bank account to reduce fees to Up Australia event at Zero. Bayside Branch is financially strong and Redland Bay, we also had a sausage sizzle whilst in common with many groups our provided by Rotary, disconcertingly there is still membership has declined slightly, we continue to plenty of rubbish to be collected, particularly be involved with the community and other around the island ferry terminal. In all 37 full bags organisations. of rubbish were collected plus many container recyclables, larger items included half a surf ski, a Once again, I thank all our members, supporters chair and a truck mudflap. and our committee and WPSQ for all their input, help and guidance throughout this mixed year, our The container deposit scheme and other recycling local environment cannot survive without your contributed $1100 to branch funds and we were advocacy. able to donate to the Wildlife Land Fund, Geckoes and two community groups. Thanks to everyone’s This last year of uncertainty and as yet unknown support of the scheme to date we have recycled changes to our normal lives will continue to present some 45000 containers. a challenge until groups can regularly meet again, whilst initially our environment had some relief due The Branch continues to face local challenges with to travel restrictions from our growing population, the security of bushland and consequently our there is now an unbridled focus on local tourism wildlife in many areas threatened with and job creation with all its downsides. commercialisation through development and tourism. Over the past 12 months, the community The key to success is action, and the essential in has been asked for feedback on various important action is perseverance. projects, more access for dogs in recreation areas, Sun Yat-Sen emerging community at Victoria Point, “Shoreline”, Organic Waste – What does it mean, why does it matter?

In his report, Steve mentioned the Draft Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2021-2025 which is currently out for public comment Link Here. This is the revision from the 2015-2020 plan that is written in response to the Queensland Waste Reduction and Recycling Act (2011).

There is a very strong focus on organics waste in Council’s draft plan, and rightly so. International, federal and state government policy around waste seek to reduce food and organic waste to landfill

significantly in the near future. Organic materials like food and Draft Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan (RCC) garden materials contribute significantly to the generation of methane in landfills and also represent a significant loss of resources. About half of the average Redland household bin is organic waste (30% Garden, 18% Food Scraps). The Plan includes encouraging the improved use of the This is what we refer to as Organic existing kerbside services such as: Waste. Organic waste is also made during food production, processing, 1. doubling the number of households with a green waste bin for manufacture and in commercial garden organics food services. 2. halving the amount of recyclable material being placed into general waste bins We can reduce organic waste to 3. reducing contamination (non-recyclable materials) in the landfill by keeping scraps out of the yellow-lid recycling landfill bin by composting, using a 4. ensuring everyone knows the importance of using the right bin. garden waste bin and rethinking our groceries. Our aim is for 90 per cent of our community to be correctly recycling 90 per cent of their waste, 90 per cent of the time. The remaining parts of the general waste can be addressed by If you wish to provide feedback on the plan or it’s goals, recycling as much as possible and follow This Link to the online survey. reducing soft plastics like packets, bags and wrappers. International Compost Awareness Week

ICAW 2021

International Compost Awareness Week was celebrated from 2nd May to 8th May. If you missed it, not to worry! You can try composting or worm farming at home anytime. Just remember that composting needs to be warm, about as damp as a wrung out sponge and mixed often. Worm Farms like Dark, Damp and Cool conditions, but not too wet otherwise they can’t breathe. Check out Council’s website or gardening Australia for more tips on composting and worm farming (links >). Composting, Worm Farming Composting Video with Costa (YouTube) Local moth makes international news!

adults, they emerge, they mate, they lay eggs, they die." 'Very rarely seen’ Honorary fellow of the Australian National Collection, Ted Edwards, said as caterpillars the creatures bore deep into gum trees and fed on the bark of the growing tissue of the tree.

'Amazing' giant wood moth found at south- "They stay like that for two or three years, with a east Queensland school central bore right in centre of tree and then just ABC Radio Brisbane / By Antonia O'Flaherty before they turn into a pupa, they cut out a circle of bark … and build a series of defences against A giant moth belonging to the heaviest species ants and other ," he said. of its kind in the world has been discovered at a primary school in south-east Queensland. "That's when they turn into a pupa, and then when they come out, they are very rarely seen." The school's principal, Meagan Steward, said it was an "amazing find". He said the had a total life span of about three or four years, and the adults could not feed "Our new building is situated on the edge of a or drink. rainforest and during the build the moth was found," Ms Steward told ABC Radio Brisbane. Moth sparks creative writing flair Ms Steward said the builders took a photo of the moth before "Our staff and students weren't surprised by the returning it to the rainforest, with the discovery find because we have a range of at providing some inspiration for students in the Mount Cotton, but certainly this moth was not school's creative writing class. something we had seen before." "After viewing the photo the class brainstormed Female moth can weigh 30g The giant wood what could happen and they decided on a giant moth, also known as the Endoxyla cinereus, moth invasion," he said. "The students wrote belongs to the family and survives some very creative, imaginative pieces of writing only a few days as an adult. — including (Year 4/5 teacher) Mrs Wilson getting eaten by the giant moth.“ Queensland Museum's head of entomology Dr Christine Lambkin said at the larvae stage, the https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-05/giant- giant wood moth grubs were the "true witchetty wood-moth-found-at-mt-cotton-state- grubs" of traditional First Nations people's diet. shool/100114940

Dr Lambkin said the moth was the heaviest in the world with the female weighing up to 30 grams and boasting a wingspan of up to 25 centimetres.

"They fly very, very poorly. In most cases when they emerge, the females, they just crawl up a local tree or stump of a fence post and sit there and wait for males to find them," Dr Lambkin said.

"The males are much smaller — about half the size. Essentially what happens is the females are non-feeding, they only live for a few days as International Migratory Shore Bird Day Rally

Lights In The Mud A Celebration Speakers At Lights In The Mud Of Migratory Birds Speakers at Lights in the Mud included Michael Berkman MP for Maiwar (The Greens), Judith Redlands 2030 Hoyle (Birdlife Southern Queensland Convenor), Robert Bush (Wader Study Group Secretary) and More than 400 people including Redland City Tarquin Moon (Australian Conservation Foundation councillors Wendy Boglary and Adelia Berridge Nature Campaigner). Speakers encouraged those celebrated World Migratory Bird Day at the ‘Lights present to stay engaged in their opposition to the in the Mud’ rally held late this afternoon in G.J. Toondah Harbour project through the forthcoming Walter Park, near Toondah Harbour. publication of Walker Group’s Environmental Impact Statement. The star attraction and centre of attention was Beako the giant Eastern curlew. Migratory Shorebirds Each year migratory shorebirds fly thousands of Lights In The Mud Shine On Beako The Curlew kilometres to breeding grounds in places such as Siberia and Alaska. The birds then return to their As the sun set the large crowd gathered in a long feeding areas in Moreton Bay and across the line next to the foreshore and shone lights from southern hemisphere, usually to the same place torches or mobile phones onto Beako as she every year. These shorebirds spend more time in paraded gracefully up and down the park. Following Australia feeding than they spend traveling on from the Line in the Mud rally held in 2019, this overseas. Shorebirds sighted regularly in the was another opportunity for the community to wetlands next to Toondah Harbour include the demonstrate its opposition to Walker Group’s plan critically endangered Eastern curlew, the vulnerable to destroy Ramsar listed wetlands next to Toondah bar-tailed godwit and the Grey-tailed tattler. Harbour so that they can construct 3,600 apartments in towers up to ten storeys high.

Beako the Eastern Curlew , S Homew ood, 2021 Lights in the MUD, Redlands 2030, 2021

Lights in the MUD, Redlands 2030, 2021 Toondah Harbour Rally, S Homew ood, 2021 Creating a Winter Bee Wonderland

These 3 tips will help you create a thriving pollinator- friendly garden this winter Tanya Latty (from the Conversation)

The busy buzz of pollinating bees is a sound most of us associate with summer. If you live in temperate regions of Australia, you may start to notice fewer insects as the weather gets colder. Across most of the continent, however, some flower-visiting insects are active all year round – and some are more common in cooler months.

Planting winter-blooming flowers is a great way to support beneficial garden insects. Now is the perfect time to start planning your pollinator-friendly winter garden.

Flowers are an important source of food for insects such as bees, butterflies, wasps and hoverflies. Sugary nectar is an important source of carbohydrates, while pollen packs a powerful protein punch.

Planting flowers also attracts and sustains predatory insects. This can help keep pest species under control, meaning less need for pesticide.

1. Plant lots of flowers The easiest – and most beautiful – way to support winter insects is to plant lots of colourful winter-blooming flowers.

2. Create variety When planning your winter garden, aim for a variety of colours, shapes and blooming times. Ideally, something should be in bloom all year round. Try to include as many native species as possible. Different winter-active insects have different preferences, so a variety of flower types can ensure you cater to a wider range of insects.

3. Avoid insecticides Even organic or so-called “eco-friendly” insecticides may harm beneficial insects. Instead of insecticides, try low- impact options such as removing caterpillars by hand, or using a water spray to remove aphids.

If you feel you must use insecticides, read the label carefully and choose selective baits and sprays, which target one type of insect, over broad-spectrum sprays (such as pyrethrins, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids) which kill insects indiscriminately. Keep in mind that in some cases, using insecticides can actually make your pest problems worse by killing beneficial predatory insects. Social Networks

If Facebook or Instagram aren’t your thing, here’s what as been posted recently.

If you’re around IndigiScapes, you may just run into a familiar face.

We are also TOTALLY WILD about Ranger Stacey Tomson joining the team at Council. Stacey has worked with members of WPSQ Bayside Branch a number of times over the years. We look forward to catching up with her in the future.

The story of how the Australian cloaked bee was re- discovered

James Dorey became the first person in nearly a century to see an Australian cloaked bee. This is his remarkable story of rediscovering a species thought to have disappeared from the planet forever.

Link to Article

Urgent protection needed for Queensland’s threatened platypus populations

Members of Wildlife Queensland’s PlatypusWatch Network and Watergum met with the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs, the Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP, in late February to discuss platypus conservation issues in Queensland and brief her on the urgency of increasing platypus protection in the state.

Link to Article

It's #fridayfavourites time! A selection of some of your recent #wildlife pics. Too many stunning ones to choose from!

@elements_brisbane/ Green Ringtail Possum

Link to Wildlife Queensland Instagram Contacts and Important Links

Committee & Contacts Bayside Branch Steve Facebook LINK President 0423036676 Homewood Wordpress Blog LINK Website LINK Curlew Watch LINK V President Don Baxter

Head office Secretary Simon Baltais [email protected] Facebook LINK

Maureen Treasurer 0418 197 160 Tottenham Coastal Citizen Science Facebook LINK Executive Tracey Mann Wordpress Blog LINK Janelle Devery Bayside Newsletter Editor Alix Baltais/Simon Baltais Cicada Film Festival Wildlife Diary Editor Simon Baltais Facebook LINK Email: [email protected] Website LINK Web: http://www.branches.wildlife.org.au/bayside

Membership Application Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland

Memberships Types Name ______ $30.00 Single Address ______ $20.00 Concession (Pensioner/Full ______P/C______Student)  $45.00 Family or Non Profit Group Phone No ______ $12.50 Junior Email ______Optional Wildlife Magazine Subscription Special Interests ______ $47.00 per year inc GST (Four Issues) ______ $90 for 2 years inc GST (Eight Issues)  $70.00 per year (International Post)  $135 for 2 years (International Post) Pay by Credit Card Card Type: VISA Mastercard Card No Optional Donation $______For Campaign ______Exp Date (Bayside does not tax deductible status) ____/____ Postal address: PO Box 427, Capalaba 4157 Name on Card ______Signature ______Complete the form by checking boxes or typing. Once complete, save to your computer, then return to us via email [email protected]