Two hectares of at-risk endangered regional ecosystem is being restored and protected as part of a collaborative rehabilitation project at the Ransome Road Reserve in Lota.

Restoration and revegetation at Ransom Road Reserve

The project area is a coastal wetland, comprising extensive saltmarshes bordered by an ecotone, including forested areas of endangered vegetation of a unique assemblage.Ransom Road Reserve.

Restoration works including revegetation and weed control are being undertaken to protect saltmarsh and woodland at the reserve.

The project will see up to 300 plants – all native species – planted at the site. The project will also bring an extreme outbreak of woody, ground-based, and vine weeds including asparagus vine, lantana, and pepper tree (to name a few) under control.

This special site has also been sustaining damage from people illegally entering the reserve in their 4WDs. The project team is hoping to put an end to this with the support of the local council and the community.

Healthy Land & Water Senior Scientist Engineer Samille Loch-Wilkinson has been using drones to capture imagery at the site, which easily shows the area’s different vegetation types.

“The drone is a useful mapping tool, the images we can capture make it significantly easier to scope out projects like this one,” said Samille.

“Using the drones for this project has given us a fantastic bird's eye view of the site, allowing us to easily identify threats to the ecosystem.”

“We have been able to identify where 4WDs have been illegally entering the reserve and causing significant damage to the area.”

“This project has some great outcomes for the community, and is being delivered in close collaboration with the local catchment group and I am really glad to be a part of it”.

The project is currently in its first year which is dedicated to intensive weed control and revegetation, with a second year allocated to maintaining the work completed in year 1.

Brisbane Catchment’s Network President Alex Vanek is glad the spotlight is on this special, yet often overlooked reserve.

“Not a lot of people realise Ransome Road Reserve is made up of such unique and endangered vegetation, it’s exciting that we’re finally able to preserve the area,” said Alex.

“The work that we’re doing in partnership with Healthy Land & Water will see the Reserve protected and restored for the local community who enjoy this special area.”

Brisbane Catchments Network, Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C), and Bayside Creeks Catchment Group, in partnership with Healthy Land & Water, are delivering the project, which aims to reduce threats to the area and enhance the values of Moreton Bay’s RAMSAR wetlands.

The Ransome Road Reserve has a partial RAMSAR listing and is a unique natural area for nature-based recreation and exploration for walkers and cyclists to enjoy.

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