Weed Update

Water Hyacinth

Water Hyacinth infestation upon farm dam

Water Hyacinth is declared as a Class 2 Pest under the Land Protection(Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. All Landholders are required under this legislation to keep their land free of Declared Class 2 pests.

Water Hyacinth was first introduced into the Brisbane area during the early 1900s as an ornamental aquatic plant. It is a native of Brazil and South America. It can rapidly infest water bodies such as creeks, rivers and dams.

Water Hyacinth is an aquatic floating plant with dark green rounded leaves that can be up to 5cm in diameter. The stems swell into bulbous spongy structures and the plant has a fibrous roots system. Flowering can occur from October throughout the summer months with the plant producing a dark blue/purple flower with a yellow centre. These flowers gradually bend toward the water and die releasing  the seeds contained within. The plant can also vegetatively reproduce by growing daughter plants attached to the main plant. The daughter plants are broken off by wind, current or physical damage. The vegetative reproduction can occur quicker within warmer conditions and large floating mats of the weed can form in short periods of time.

The problems that occur with this plant are associated with its rapid growth and ability to completely cover water systems. It can interfere with irrigation and access for stock at watering points, destruction of wildlife habitats and physical damage to structures. Water Hyacinth causes water degradation of water quality and high levels of water loss three times higher than the rate of natural evaporation.

Small infestations can be controlled through hand removal. A range of herbicides are registered for use on the plant and provide a more effective control on large infestations or where access is not possible. Prevention from infestation is achieved by inspection of low-lying areas and dams after flooding events. Any plants should be removed before they reach a flowering stage.

Ipswich City Council Officers conduct surveys for all declared pest species in accordance with Ipswich City Council Pest Management Plan. For a copy of the plan, further information or to report any suspected infestations of Water Hyacinth, please contact Ipswich City Council on (07) 3810 6666 or Department of Primary Industry.

Source: http//www.dpi.gov.au

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Adapting to a Changing Climate

Plant native species to help control pests

There is little doubt that the global climate is changing.    South East Queensland is already drier and hotter than it used to be. Over the past couple of decades public debate has largely shifted focus from a question of ‘is climate change really happening?' to ‘how can we as humans respond to climate change?'

Recent editions of Environment Matters have focussed on what can be done to reduce carbon emissions. This article focuses on the potential impact of climate change and how we can adapt.

The likely impact of climate change are vast and certainly not limited to the natural environment. Things like flooding risk, infrastructure damage, and bushfire risk can have enormous impact on people and their built environment. In addition to investigating potential impact on the built environment, Council is preparing for the likely impact of climate change on the natural environment.

Different species of plants and animals require different climatic conditions in order to survive. The population of   pest species is naturally controlled by climate (ie frost or hot dry, days can kill certain pests). This means that a changing climate is likely to result in a changing distribution of pests.   As a resident, you can help by choosing native plants which are drought and heat tolerant and by removing weeds from your property.

Native flora and fauna face similar challenges as a result of climate change and are also likely to change in their distribution. For those species which are already at their northern or western limits of distribution, a changing climate could be enough to cause localised or regional extinction. 

As part of Council's response to these challenges it has undertaken an initial risk assessment of the likely impact of climate change. To read a summary of the risk assessment, visit Council's website at the following web address:   www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/environment/climate_change/index.php

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New Trail Guides for Ipswich

New Trail Guides for natural areas are now available

Ipswich City Council has just developed new trail guides for its natural areas to replace its old Bushwalking Guides. These trail guides still cover:

• White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate
• Flinders - Goolman Conservation Estate
• Purga Nature Reserve
• Haig Street Quarry Reserve
• Denmark Hill Conservation Park

The guides now reflect the diverse range of nature based recreation activities now available such as horse riding, recreational touring (mountain bike riding) and hiking. 

Even better, these guides provide a comprehensive description of each trail, distance, duration, difficulty rating as well as conservation and cultural heritage values. 

You can obtain a copy by calling Council on  (07) 3810 6666 or by visiting Council's website at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

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SEQ NRM Plan

The South East Queensland Natural Resource Management Plan 2009-2031 (SEQ NRM Plan) is the main environment and natural resources management plan for our region.  It takes the policies and desired regional outcomes (DRO) in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 that relate to environmental and natural resource management and sets measuable targets.

To respond to the challenges of rapid population growth, the SEQ NRM Plan covers a range of principles, policies and programs that are crucial to achieving these targets.  Some of the more important issues covered by the plan are:

• water,
• air and atmosphere,
• land and community,
• Traditional owners and
• nature conservation.

The SEQ NRM Plan is not a traditional natural resource management plan, as it does not include an implementation strategy or list of actions.  Rather it is designed to guide and co-ordinate existing and future plans.

Implementation of this and future plans will require all stakeholders to work together to achieve results, including governments and the general public. 

Ipswich City Council is already working towards these targets through the implementation of the Nature Conservation Strategy 2008 and Healthy Waterways Strategy 2009.

A copy of the SEQ NRM Plan can be obtained from the following link www.nrw.qld.gov.au/regional_planning/seq_nrm_plan.html

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EHMP Report Card

Bremer River

The Healthy Waterways Partnership released its Ecosystem Health Report Card for 2009 in October at Ipswich's newly opened Queen's Park Environmental Education Centre. The report card shows a positive change for the freshwater reaches of the Bremer River from a D- last year to a D+ in 2009.

The report card is part of the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) and is released annually by the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership providing ‘A to F' health ratings for the waterways of South East Queensland. The EHMP is one of the most comprehensive marine, estuarine and freshwater monitoring programs in Australia. Over a twelve month period, 391 sites are monitored culminating in the report card ratings that provide a regional ‘snapshot' of the ecosystem health of our waterways.

The heavy rains experienced last Summer played a major role in improving the report card rating for the freshwater reaches of the Bremer River, however, the estuaries and bays didn't fair so well. The tidal reaches of the Bremer maintained an F rating with significant increases in sediments washed down from the upper reaches. This is primarily caused by extensive land clearing and erosion in both urban and rural areas which has been exacerbated by the highest rainfall experienced in the region in the last 10 years.

Identifying the issues affecting waterways, and pinpointing the source of pollutants is a key tool in helping government agencies and the community to undertake actions required to improve waterway health now and into the future.

Ipswich City Council is currently undertaking the following actions towards the improvement of waterway health:

• Adoption of Council's first Waterway Health Strategy
• Improved stormwater management in new urban developments
• Local Waterway Management Plan for Bundamba Creek
• Development of riparian corridor revegetation guidelines, and
• Protection and enhancement of waterway corridors.

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Conservation Estate Update

White Rock - Spring Mountain

White Rock

New Horse Riding Facilities at Paperbark Flats Picnic Area

The population of Ipswich City is set to increase from 157,701 in 2006 to 354,956 in 2026.  Over the same time period the South East Queensland region is predicted to have a population of 3,843,900 which is a change of 43% from current levels. 

According to the South East Queensland Outdoor Recreation Demand Study 2007, picnicking still remains the activity with the highest participation rate with almost 4 million activity events in 2007.  Bicycling, camping and horse riding have increased in participation rates since the 2001 survey, and  participants noted that the constraint of having ‘nowhere to go' also increased.  Overall the demand for ‘very natural' or ‘totally natural' settings is expected to increase for some outdoor recreation activities which will be further compounded by a significant increase in population within South East Queensland as previously stated.  

Given these trends in outdoor recreation demand, Council has been very busy planning and developing facilities to cater for these needs.  While the primary purpose of Council's natural areas is always for conservation of biodiversity and protection of waterways, a secondary and emerging purpose is for recreation. 

With this in mind Council has developed horse riding facilities and multi-user trail at Paperbark Flats Picnic Area of White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate.  Up to 20 vehicles with horse floats will have access to this facility at any one time, with a picnic shelter, hitching rails, water trough and interpretive signage provided. 

Map from the new White Rock - Spring Mountain Trail Guide

The Yuddamun Trail is a 19km look that will accommodate horse riding, hiking and mountain bike riding (recreational touring).   It contains some steep inclines and rough surfaces, crossing the northern section of the estate with spectacular glimpses of Ipswich, Brisbane City and out towards Moreton Bay. 

If you are planning to go for a leisurely mountain bike ride or hike, you can access this trail from the Paperbark Flats Picnic Area car park as an alternative to the horse float area. 

Please note that water for horses is only available within the Horse Float Parking Area. 

Before you start your activity, refer to the Notice Board within the information bay located at the Picnic Area or visit Council's website at http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/

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Ugarapul Elder

Mrs Mona Parsons

Ipswich has known many Aboriginal leaders over the years but very few have quite had the commitment, passion or personality of Mrs Mona Parsons.  Mrs Parsons was a well known Elder of the Ugarapul People and was the last Elder of her generation.  On 28 August, 2009 at the age of 89 years, the Ugarapul People lost their matriarch who passed peacefully. 

Mrs Parsons was a strong and vibrant person who's main focus was the protection of her culture and the sacred sites of her tribe.  A true environmental activist who used her vast cultural knowledge in her family's quest for this protection in an area her tribe had known and cared for, for many generations.  Mrs Parsons continued to lead her tribe well into her mid 80's and it is an indication of the strength of this lady that this work is continuing.  Through Ipswich City Council, the most sacred of the Ugarapul sites are being protected and rejuvenated.  The Camira Bora Ground is currently under a rejuvenation project that will incorporate education through interpretive signage and allow the community access into the area so they are able to visualise the extent of its use.  This Bora Ground was used for corroboree's with neighbouring tribes and is a very spiritual place.  Ipswich City Council has employed two Ugarapul Elders in their Natural Areas teams that will oversee the project and ensure proper cultural protocols are being adhered to.  It is through projects of this nature that the sacred sites of Ipswich will be protected and promote reconciliation through education and community inclusiveness. Mrs Mona Parsons' contribution to the city of Ipswich will forever be remembered.   

Presented by Tanya Oertel, Indigenous Land Use Partnership Coordinator.

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Volunteer Profile

Gavin McCormick

Volunteering opportunities at the Ipswich Nature Centre have provided hundreds of people with valuable skills and connected them with like-minded people while allowing them to participate in a worthwhile experience by helping to care for the animals at the centre. 

The tireless efforts of volunteers at the centre over the past 10 years have added value to our experienced team and enhanced the enjoyment of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the centre each year.

One of our longest serving volunteers at the centre, Gavin McCormick, has generously devoted thousands of hours of his time to the Ipswich Nature Centre.  Gavin's dedication to the centre over the past nine years and his love for animals is inspiring. 

Each week Gavin enthusiastically participates within a team of volunteers and staff to ensure a high level of animal care is provided to many birds and animals located at the centre. 

It is through the hard work of valuable members of the team like Gavin that the centre continues to be a popular destination for locals and visitors to Ipswich.

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Bilbies have a new home in Ipswich City Council

In March 2009, Ipswich Nature Centre (INC) officially welcomed Greater Bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) into their new purpose built enclosure.

Ipswich City Council signed an agreement with Save the Bilby Fund, thus paving the way for this endangered species to become part of the increasingly popular Ipswich Nature Centre.

Frank Manthey, co-founder of Save the Bilby Fund, helped the four bilbies (Bart, Cheryl, Lester and Paul) settle into their new enclosures. Lester and Paul accompany Frank on school tours and educational programs within South East Queensland, educating and  informing the public about the plight of Bilbies, and that of many of our threatened native species.

The "Bilby Burrow" was designed and constructed after much consultation with other wildlife parks that provide a home for this species. This world class exhibit incorporates "best" practice in design for a Bilby enclosure and as such is considered the best of it's type in Australia. One of the features of this exhibit is the day/night cycle with a simulated "sun rise" and "sunset" phase that closely replicates the natural environment of this nocturnal animal.

Bilbies were once widespread through the central arid to semi-arid interior of Australia. In Queensland, the Bilby is now reduced to approximately 400 individuals in two sites in Western Qld. One of these areas, Currawinya National Park near Charleville, is a securely fenced 300sq km natural Bilby habitat.

Since European settlement, there has been a decline in numbers of the Greater Bilby. This is largely due to the introduction of feral cats and foxes, which are now widespread in key Bilby habitats.    

The Greater Bilby is a member of the Bandicoot family. Northern Brown Bandicoots are commonly found in the Ipswich region and this species also forms part of the collection at the Ipswich Nature Centre. Greater Bilbies are the largest of the Bandicoots with adult males weighing up to 2.5kgs and females weighing 800 to 1.2kgs.

Being a marsupial, Bilbies have a pouch, which is rear opening to avoid filling with sand when they are digging their burrows. The gestation period is only 12 to 14 days, with joeys as small as a baked bean at birth. Between 1 and 3 joeys are born and these will remain in the pouch for up to 3 months. Females will reach sexual maturity at between 5 and 7 months of age and males between 9 and 14 months. In a captive environment Bilbies have a life span of 5 to 6 years. It is probably less in a non-captive environment.

Bilbies are omnivorous, eating seeds, bulbs, insects, and small vertebrates such as lizards. This diet is replicated at INC with food items such as insects, being scattered about in the red sand of the enclosure. This allows the Bilbies to naturally forage for this important food source using their long pink snout and excellent sense of smell to detect these items. Food items are quickly picked up with their long sticky tongue.

To learn more about our Bilbies, and to see them exploring their purpose built habitat right here in Ipswich, come and visit them at the Ipswich Nature Centre. Opening hours are 9.30 am to 4.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday. The Nature Centre is closed on Mondays (unless it is a school or public holiday) Christmas day and Good Friday.

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Useful Stuff for Land Managers

A selection of information sources for property owners and managers.

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Coming Events

Summer 2009 - Autumn 2010

Partnership and Council events Dec 2009 to June 2010.

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