Pictured L -R: QYAC rangers and Healthy Land and Water staff arrive at Goat Island, a coral cay in Moreton Bay.

 

The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) and the Quandamooka Aboriginal Land and Sea Management Agency are leading restoration works on Guwawenewa (goo-wah-wey-ne-wah) – Goat Island caring for country and restoring this beautiful island.

Goat Island is a coral cay in the middle of Moreton Bay, surrounded by internationally recognised Ramsar wetlands and the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Even though it is small in size, Goat Island supports an impressive array of native species, and provides critical habitat and roosting sites for shorebirds.

Healthy Land and Water is supporting QYAC to undertake priority rehabilitation works on this small island and recently had the privilege to be invited to this special part of Quandamooka Country to work with the QYAC team.

During the visit to the island, the team conducted a flora survey which revealed an impressive diversity and richness of native species, with 39 native species identified, some of which are uncommonly found on Moreton Bay’s islands.

 

Pictured L-R: Healthy Land and Water staff assess weed impacts on Goat Island.

 

Unfortunately, weeds such as asparagus fern, prickly pear, lantana, mother of millions, corky passionflower, and mile-a-minute, to name a few, are threatening the island’s ecosystem and reducing the value of the island as a shorebird roosting site. QYAC is leading the restoration works in collaboration with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to protect this special landscape and to support shorebirds and other coastal fauna that utilise the island. The team at Healthy Land and Water feel privileged to work with the QYAC team as the project activities are conducted over the next three years to restore this special part of Quandamooka Country.   This caring for country project will be delivered by Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) as part of Healthy Land and Water’s Ramsar Wetland program and is resourced through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Pictured L -R: Asparagus fern is a highly invasive weed which impacts upon much of the island’s groundcover.

Pictured L -R: Rangers discuss the plan of attack for weed control works to be undertaken on Goat Island.