Environment Levy Quarterly Report October-December 2016

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1 Environment Levy Quarterly Report October-December 2016 Welcome to the October December 2016 Quarterly Report for the Sunshine Coast Council s Environment Levy. The Environment Levy assists Council and the community to deliver on the corporate goal of providing a 'healthy environment' for the Sunshine Coast Council area.

2 Cover image: Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Ornithoptera richmondia Images above: all taken on the newly purchased reserve on Crosby Hill Road, Buderim - from left to right - powerful owl (Ninox strenua), vulnerable plant species Mallotus megadontus, and grey gum (Eucalyptus propinqua). In June 2016, Council endorsed the 2016/17 Environment Levy Program. Program implementation involves numerous departments across the organisation including Infrastructure Services, Community Services, Finance and Business and Planning and Environment. The Environment Levy Policy outlines the need to provide quarterly updates on the program. Key Achievements Key program achievements for October December are provided below across four key messages. Protecting and enhancing our environment Land Acquisition Program Two new reserves in Buderim were purchased: Crosby Hill Road, Buderim (image below) Mooloolah River catchment purchased October hectares provide habitat for protected plant and animal species including the vulnerable powerful owl (Ninox strenua); and contains poorly conserved, of concern and endangered vegetation communities. King Street, Buderim (image below) Mooloolah River catchment purchased December hectares This property: contributes to the broader Buderim conservation estate; protects priority rainforest vegetation (hoop pine vine forest); contains vulnerable plant species; and consolidates Barnes Drive Bushland Reserve. This property: contributes to the broader Buderim conservation estate; contains very large habitat trees that provide essential habitat for a range of arboreal mammal s, micro bats and birds; Environment Levy Quarterly Report 2

3 Establishing Environmental Reserves Flora assessments have been completed on both the newly purchased Buderim reserve on Crosby Hill Rd, and the property purchased in January 2016 that expanded London Creek Environmental Reserve. image above right). This is an important find for this species, as it has not been recorded through Council monitoring on this Environmental Reserve. The London Creek property was found to contain unusually high densities of the threatened plants Romnalda strobilacea and the Richmond birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa). The Crosby Hill Road purchase was found to contain populations of threatened plant species including the Richmond birdwing vine, toothed kamala (Mallotus megadontus) and slender milk vine (Marsdenia coronata). Other establishment works at the new London Creek site included the installation of gates and fencing. The gates will assist to manage vehicle use within the reserve and reduce erosion. Significant amounts of rubbish and a derelict dwelling have also been removed. Image: Brush-tail Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) Establishment works have been completed for three reserves; Annie Hehir, Racemosa and Triunia Environmental Reserves. Future maintainence of these reserves will now be managed by Council's operational funding. Further information on Council's Environment Reserve Management Plans is now available on Council's website. Providing healthy waterways and foreshores Shoreline erosion management project This project continues to focus on improving resilience of native vegetation through weed management and revegetation in dunal reserves including Alexandra Headland, Bokarina, Buddina, Coondibah Creek (Currimundi), Cotton Tree, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba. Image: One of the new gates and fencing installed at London Creek Environmental Reserve. Bush regeneration contractors have continued to deliver works on a monthly basis at South Eudlo Creek, Tuan, Tall Gums, Kirbys Road, Doonan Creek and Mt Ninderry Environmental Reserves. Follow up fauna monitoring at Tuan Environmental Reserve found the elusive Brush-tailed Pascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa), also known as a 'Tuan', at three locations on this site. The orginal fauna survey didn t locate any of this species, however, further investigations and camera monitors set in October 2016, captured the Tuan (see Coastal dunal rehabilitation project Ecological restoration works across Council's coastal reserve network is continuing with the focus this quarter on visual amenity values adjacent to beach accesses and coastal pathways. Site preparation and weed management has occurred within stages 1, 2 and 3 of Bunbubah Creek Revegetation Project at Dicky Beach. Surveys for Jamella on Pandanus trees has commenced. Jamella is an insect which can cause dieback of Pandanus trees if a tree is Environment Levy Quarterly Report 3

4 hosting an infestation. These insects (if not naturally predated) eat new growing shoots of the pandanus trees, and their larvae suck the sap from the leaves, causing the tree to die. Mary River Rehabilitation project A stakeholder invitation day was conducted for stakeholders to meet the contractors and associated Council staff for this project. Works are expected to commence early this year. Maroochy River Rehabilitation project Plant growth is developing well at the Maroochy River project site. This rehabilitation project was recently part of a guided tour for community nature conservation volunteers. Council received positive feedback from the tour on the rehabilitation results so far. Image: Plants growing along the Maroochy River Rehabilitation Project Site Environmental Reserve; South Eudlo Creek Conservation Reserve and Eudlo Creek Bushland Conservation Area. A preliminary analysis of completed fauna monitoring data, has shown a prevalence of roaming domestic dogs and both feral and domestic cats in the Council Environmental Reserves monitored. Engaging and supporting the Sunshine Coast community Flying fox management project Council's canopy mounted sprinkler system project which is in place to maintain an adequate buffer distance from roosting flying foxes and Sunshine Coast residents, was showcased to representatives from Noosa Council and Banana Shire Council. Following this presentation, Council's approach is being trialled by Noosa Council. Council is continuing to monitor local flying fox camps. Throughout November, dead baby Grey-headed flying foxes were being reported all over Australia. Biosecurity Queensland are investigating possible causes for these events. Council's regular monitoring informs both state and national management development for this issue. Building our knowledge Healthy Waterways and Catchments Partnership Contribution The annual Healthy Waterways Report Card was released in November. Health ratings were 'good' for all catchments within the Sunshine Coast Council local government area, with all waterways improving from last year. Social and economic benefit ratings were the highest in South East Queensland. Fauna monitoring project Fauna monitoring surveys commenced last quarter at Upper Coochin Creek Image: Grey-headed flying fox's (Pteropus poliocephalus) Flying fox education and research Council officers assisted the Nambour Pathfinders watch a flying fox sunset flyout in November. Students had studied bats and flying foxes throughout the year, which Environment Levy Quarterly Report 4

5 culminated in an excursion to a local flying fox roost. Council officers attended a planning meeting at the University of Melbourne to discuss research objectives of the project partnership Resolving human-flying fox conflict in the face of environmental change. A total of 17 research projects will be undertaken over the next three years to improve flying fox management throughout Australia. Council is a funding partner organisation for these projects and is one of two Queensland local governments funding this pioneering research. The first project 'Effectiveness of urban flying fox camp management strategies' commenced in 2016, and Council officers assisted the researcher in developing this project. Koala Conservation and Management Project Actions of the Koala Conservation and Management Project are being implemented, as outlined below: - Eight koalas have been collared at Reeseville with some data return showing movements for 4 of the koalas. The koala collaring program monitors and collects data to map koala habitat use and to identify koala populations on the Sunshine Coast. expressions of interest. Expressions of interest close 20 February Pest action and engagement There are many exciting pest projects currently underway this quarter and continuing into 2017, these include: the deer monitoring and control project, the coastal fox control project, the water mouse recovery project, bushland conservation reserve feral animal control, and invasive pest plant collaborative management (giant rat's tail grass). To assist landowners to combat weeds, Council's weed control loan equipment program is continuing to grow, and Council officers have had further input into the development of the 'Weeds of South East Qld App' for rural landholders. This app is free to download and is available from Google Play store and Apple App store. Pest plant and animal 'pop up' education displays are continuing to make their way across the area, with the most recent at Beerwah. These displays promote the available assistance offered to landholders and provide information on the Biosecurity Act 2014 and council's weed control hire equipment. - Pinelands Drive Park, Beerwah has been established as a Koala fodder plantation site under a Memorandum of Understanding with Glass House Mountains Advancement Network (GMAN), Council's Parks and Gardens Branch, and Council's Environmental Operations Branch. Environment Levy partnership programs Two new Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) properties have been finalised, bringing the total number of VCA's to 71. VCA's now protect a total of 1,111 hectares of important flora and fauna communities across the Sunshine Coast. Image: A fox carrying a carpet python, captured on a movement sensitive camera. Council s Environment Levy Program supports the delivery of strategic outcomes from the Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy , Waterways and Coastal Management Strategy and Sunshine Coast Local Government Area Pest Management Plan The next round of Landholder Environment Grants is now open for submission of Environment Levy Quarterly Report 5