Coastcarers dedicate significant time and effort undertaking dune protection, revegetating native coastal environments and protecting sensitive coastal habitats.

Healthy Land and Water is working with local Coastcare groups to help protect the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland, internationally recognised for its biodiversity and ecological significance.

We recently chatted to some of these Coastcarers, and would like to celebrate and recognise their hard work and dedication this Coastcare Week!

 

Rosalinde Brinkman – Watergum Community Gold Coast Why is Coastcare important to you? Looking after habitat for threatened migratory shorebirds is invaluable for the long-term survival of the species. Due to habitat loss internationally, migratory shorebirds are really struggling, so it’s important to be able to protect, preserve and conserve the local areas they use for feeding and roosting. Where is your favourite coastal place to visit? My favourite local coastal place is most definitely Curlew Island and South Stradbroke Island due to the presence of the Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel and Red capped plovers to name a few. These urban coastal environments have immense pressure on them, but they are teeming with wildlife. What is the most rewarding part of being involved in Coastcare? Being able to see habitat recover and restored is very rewarding. You know the hard work really pays off, especially when the target species moves in! Are you currently working on or planning projects that will help the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland? We currently have three coastal habitat restoration projects in progress to help support the Eastern Curlew and other listed migratory shorebird species in the area. Restoration and revegetation works are being completed at Coombabah Wetlands and Curlew Island and will build on Migratory shorebird research previously completed. This project is in partnership with Healthy Land and Water and Gold Coast Shorebirds.

 

 

Vivienne Roberts-Thomson – Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare Inc

Coochiemudlo Island

Why is Coastcare important to you? It’s part of our everyday life as we traverse these sandy bush beaches long part of Quandamooka Country. As a Council- T1 tourist destination the island is heavily visited by visitors.

Where is your favourite coastal place to visit? Where else but our island home on Coochiemudlo, from the magic of the “trees graveyard’ on the eroded north-east corner south past the collapsed banks of the Melaleuca Wetlands and Norfolk beach, Flinders and busy Main Beach. West of the barge ramp past the seasonal dog off-leash zone to Red Rock and Golf Course beach. Beyond in the west is 34 hectares of pristine mangrove forest and north is sheltered Morwong Beach.

What is the most rewarding part of being involved in coastcare? Meeting passionate people dedicated to preserving the environmental values of this unique part of the world.

Are you currently working on or planning projects that will help the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland? Everything we do around our island impacts the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland. The work of our three trained turtle volunteers is heart-breaking at the best of times but provides valuable data to Marine Parks. We’re half-way through a four-year project tackling weed infestation and rehabilitation of the Melaleuca Wetlands, and our Redland City Council-approved workzones span one and a half kilometres of the eastern shoreline of Moreton Bay.

 

 

Ken Mewburn – Take Action for Pumicestone Passage Inc. (TAPP)

Pumicestone Passage

Are you currently working on or planning projects that will help the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland? TAPP has been involved in a successful coastal restoration project at Golden Beach where mangroves were used to manage erosion. TAPP is now in the planning stages for a project in Bells Creek, part of the Ramsar Wetland and is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. This project will improve vegetation in the Riparian zone of the creek and identify and stabilise access areas for recreational users such as kayakers and fishermen. This will be supported again by use of mangroves where possible to eliminate the need for hard engineering such as rock walls.

Why is Coastcare important to you? Coastcare is important because use of the coast for recreation has increased and will continue to do so as population grows.

Where is your favourite coastal place to visit? By nature of our group objective, Pumicestone Passage is a favourite area for all members. Pumicestone Passage is a unique double ended Estuary home to a wide variety of birds and marine species and a destination for 40+ species of migratory birds. It is protected under the Ramsar Convention and Migratory Bird Agreements with China, Japan and Korea. Pumicestone Passage is at risk from increasing recreational use, impact from coastal development and increased sediment and nutrient input from agricultural activities in the catchment.

What is the most rewarding part of being involved in coastcare? The most rewarding part of coastcare is to see positive natural response to erosion management and to have community support for projects.

 

Please join us in saying ‘thank you’ to our region’s incredible Coastcare volunteers this Coastcare week! To find a group to volunteer click here or to start your own Coastcare group click here.

 

These projects are supported by Healthy Land and Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.