The Coochiemudlo Island Project is employing innovative chemical-free weeding techniques including saturated steam and hand removal methods to remove a range of weeds from the Coochiemudlo Island Melaleuca Wetlands. 

Avoiding the use of chemicals prevents them from leaching through the sandy soils of the Island and subsequently into the groundwater and Moreton Bay. Weeds that will be targeted through this initiative include Singapore daisy, cocos palms, fishbone fern, asparagus fern, cassia, pepper, and umbrella trees. The project will help to reduce threats and restore habitat in and around the 19-hectare freshwater wetlands, which form part of the Moreton Bay Ramsar site. The wetlands are of high cultural and ecological value and are home to more than 170 recorded native plant species including endangered orchids and fungi. The wetlands also provide habitat to more than 100 bird species, native animals, and invertebrates.

Healthy Land & Water, Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare, and Redland City Council will be working together over the next four years to control weeds within the wetlands, as part of the Healthy Land & Water Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Project.

Innovative chemical-free weeding techniques including saturated steam and hand removal methods to remove weeds from Coochiemudlo Island Melaluca Wetlands. 

Coochiemudlo Island Wetland Weed Control Project

The Coochiemudlo Island Wetland Weed Control Project was launched on Saturday 1 February 2020 with a working bee in the Melaleuca Wetlands, in celebration of World Wetlands Day. World Wetlands Day celebrates wetlands listed under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) which includes the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland.

“Healthy Land & Water is proud to support a project that endeavours to improve the health of the Melaleuca Wetlands and subsequently the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland. Wetlands play an important role in providing habitat, protecting our shores from erosion, absorbing pollutants, and improving water quality,” said CEO of Healthy Land & Water Julie McLellan.

Melaleuca wetland ecosystems have been diminished in South East Queensland as a result of land clearing and coastal development pressures. The preservation of these wetlands is important not only for the ecosystem services it provides to the Island and the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland but also as a remnant of this vegetation type in the region.

“The Australian Government is pleased to be able to support a project that applies a chemical-free weeding approach to these delicate and ecologically diverse Melaleuca Wetlands and that helps improve the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland,” said Andrew Laming, Federal Member for Bowman.

"It is encouraging to see how Natural Resource Management organisations, local government, community groups, and volunteers can work together to make a significant impact to help restore and protect the natural environment. I am thrilled to see that this project will not employ the use of potentially toxic, harmful chemicals, which in my opinion, is a subject for which the broader community has an increasing concern,” said the Deputy Mayor of Redland City Council and local divisional Councillor Lance Hewlett.

Kim Richards, Member of Parliament for Redland, said it is encouraging to see how dedicated volunteers are in their efforts to protect the wetlands.

“The partnerships forged by Coastcare, Healthy Land & Water, and all levels of government will ensure we work together to protect and preserve the unique coastal environments of Coochiemudlo Island,” she said.

Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare has been caring for the Island’s environment since 2013 and its 175 members are passionate about undertaking ecosystem protection and restoration activities without the use of chemicals. If you would like to help them rehabilitate the Island’s coastal environment and wetlands, please contact Coastcare at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.