Coombabah Lakelands Restoration project

Removing strangling weeds from threatened ecological communities so our native fauna and flora can thrive.

Restoration site with weeds and trees This restoration project is improving habitat quality in an important area of the Coombabah Lakelands, part of the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland.Improving habitat quality and ecological integrity in the Coombabah Lakelands through weeding aggressive invasive species.

This restoration project is improving habitat quality in an important area of the Coombabah Lakelands, part of the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland. The project site is adjacent to feeding and roosting sites for internationally and nationally listed wading birds.

This project is improving forest health, increasing the open forest’s capacity to adapt to climate change-induced sea level rise, enhancing roosting sites for migratory shorebirds, and improving the recruitment of endemic species including Casuarina and Melaleuca as well as ground vegetation including native grasses and herbaceous species.

What we did

The project removed understory weeds that out-compete native plants for space and sunlight.
Weed removal was undertaken across 16 hectares.
Weeds were removed using a combination of hand weeding, cut scrape pint, drill and filling, and pot spraying.
The site was overrun with Asparagus vine, Lantana, Hawthorne, Groundsel Bush, and Cocos Palms. Target weeds include these as well as Broad Leaf Pepper Tree, Corky Passion Vine, Date Palm, Edible Passionfruit Vine, Mile-A-Minute, Ochna, Umbrella Tree, and White Passion Vine.

Measuring success

Eight hectares have been rehabilitated and maintained. Eight hectares of additional area have now been designated for rehabilitation, which will help reduce the reinvasion of weeds within the original site.
Follow-up maintenance is being undertaken to ensure the site is not reinvaded by weed species still present.

Why this project is important

The Coombabah Lakelands are an integral component of the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland. The project site is adjacent to feeding and roosting sites for internationally and nationally listed wading birds including the Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, and Eastern Curlew. These shorebirds travel shocking distances during their yearly migrations and desperately need the slowly diminishing pitstops around the globe to rest and feed.

Adjacent habitats include Saltmarsh and Coastal Oak forest, both listed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as threatened ecological communities.

Project snapshot

Project name:	Coombabah Wetlands Project
Project manager:	Patrick Malone, Healthy Land & Water
Catchment:	Moreton Bay
Timing:	2019 – 2023
Budget:	$102,500
Partnerships:	This project is being delivered in partnership with the Gold Coast Catchments Association, Gold Coast Shorebirds Group and City of Gold Coast. This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Related Articles:	Dim the lights for birds at night: Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day World Migratory Bird Day - How you can help protect South East Queensland's shorebirds Gold Coast Island providing crucial habitat for migratory shorebirds in need of protection Threats in Moreton Bay significantly contributing to the global decline of shorebirds Coastcare Week 2021: Celebrating Coastcare in the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Celebrating Threatened Species Day - the Wallum Sedge Frog Protecting Nature's kidney: Saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats in the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland Revegetation, rehabilitation & collaboration: Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland project end of year wrap up 5 years in the making for Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Project – time to celebrate! South East Queensland Wetland Action in the spotlight From dune rehabilitation to shellfish reef restoration: Pumicestone Catchment Convergence wrapped up World Wetlands Day: What you do in your backyard can protect our wetlands Celebrating the 50th anniversary of global wetland action Pumicestone Catchment Convergence 2021 announced Vulnerable Moreton Bay needs all hands on deck Just add water: New paper shed light on estuarine marine reserves

What's next

Funding has ended for this project. There is huge potential to build on the successful work in the future with more investment.

Project collaborators

This project is being delivered in partnership with the Gold Coast Catchments Association, Gold Coast Shorebirds Group, and City of Gold Coast.

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