A silent invader has been quietly wreaking havoc on the balance of native ecosystems in the beautiful landscapes of South East Queensland. Cat's Claw Creeper, once innocently introduced as a decorative creeper for growing over drop dunnies and water tanks, it has emerged as a formidable foe, threatening the very essence of our natural habitats.

Read about the front line against Cats Claw and some of the wins thanks to funding by Seqwater which has enabled the treatment of over 140km of waterways.

		Native vegetation conservation We are tackling challenges from invasive vines like Cat's Claw Creeper. These vines jeopardise native vegetation, risking biodiversity and habitat loss.
		Flood resilience Re-establishing native vegetation in riparian areas increases the resilience of waterways to major floods.
		Cleaner water Containing and controlling this problematic weed supports the long-term sustainable delivery of cleaner water to water treatment facilities and to SEQ.

A formidable foe

Cat's Claw Creeper (Dolichandra unguis-catiis) has emerged as a highly invasive vine, extensively spreading throughout southeast Queensland.

It was introduced as a vigorous and hardy ornamental garden plant around the 1950’s, featuring vibrant yellow flowers. Its unchecked growth poses a significant threat to native vegetation.

The vine's aggressive nature smothers deep rooted native trees along our waterways, eventually killing them. Without deep tree roots riverbanks become unstable, leading to increased risks of bank erosion and the subsequent release of sediments and nutrients into waterways, particularly during disaster-scale flooding.

Three stages to win the battle

In the face of this ecological challenge, a strategic partnership between Healthy Land & Water and Seqwater marked the inception of a comprehensive weed control program in 2018 to manage the threat. Some 140km of weeds are being managed under this partnership funded by Seqwater and delivered by Healthy Land & Water.

The primary goal of this partnership was to curb the proliferation of Cat's Claw Creeper in riparian areas closely linked to Seqwater’s water offtake for a number of their regional Water Treatment Plants in South East Queensland.

Cat’s Claw infestation along the Upper Brisbane River.

Operating under a three-stage process, the Regional Riparian Weeds Control Program employs a multifaceted approach to tackle the invasive vine problem head-on:

• Primary management efforts target urgent infestations within the forest canopy, utilising a combination of mechanical, manual, and chemical treatments to stem the tide of encroachment.
• Secondary management (ongoing) targets regrowth from primary management efforts and chemical treatment of weed cover on the forest floor in subsequent years.
• Territory management (ongoing) targets reinfection and regrowth in managed areas through continuous monitoring and intervention to prevent the resurgence of Cat's Claw Creeper, ensuring the sustained success of the program.

The fight along Marongi Creek (Harlin)

The photo on the left shows a section of the Marongi Creek where Cat’s Claw prevents native vegetation from growing. The photo on the right shows a section of the river where native vegetation flourished after the threat management efforts.

A recent highlight in this ongoing fight unfolded along the banks of Marongi Creek in Harlin, where Healthy Land & Water enlisted the expertise of ECOllaboration, a not-for-profit organisation, to undertake primary weed control management. The proposed works were a continuation of the work that had been completed in recent years along the adjoining upper Brisbane River. However, until this point, the surrounding tributaries of the Brisbane River had not been managed.

Some examples of Cat’s Claw infestation in Harlin.

Over several months, crews were deployed across five properties that were adjacent to the Maronji Creek and meticulously removed large infestations covering native vegetation within the waterway, marking a significant step forward in the fight against Cat's Claw Creeper.

Cat’s Claw Creeper smothering riparian vegetation along the Upper Brisbane River.

Well-deserved win

The results speak for themselves. Through a five-year commitment recently completed and a new 5-year partnership commencing, the dedication of over $10m of investment, detailed planning delivery of weed control along a stretch of over 140km of waterway, the partnership between Seqwater, Healthy Land & Water has successfully improved the future outlook of many km of valuable riparian vegetation.

By preserving native vegetation, not only have we reduced the risk of water treatment challenges, but we've also improved the amenity and ecological values of the riparian sections of our waterways.

Read the full project snapshot here.

This weed control program is made possible with vital funding support from Seqwater.

Weeds are an insidious problem and over the years we have partnered with many people and organisations to tackle localised infestations. This weed control program is made possible through the support from Seqwater. We would also like to acknowledge the support from Moreton Bay Regional Council who share the objective of preventing sediment from entering Moreton Bay and to preserve water quality in catchments that provide supply drinking water.