Archives for April 2013

Community volunteers at Ball Bay got a crash course in the invasive weed Mother of Millions at a Coastcare Activity on April 13, removing around 200kg from the dunes. Mother of Millions, as the name suggests, can rapidly reproduce – with ‘plantlets’ forming on the leaf edges which fall off and form new plants.

“Mother of Millions can be a difficult weed to control,” said Coastal Coordinator Kerri Woodcock. “It can form dense infestation in coastal dunes and is easily spread to new areas.”

Whilst a few methods of control are available, hand pulling was the method of choice for this community working bee.

“In areas where the infestation is confined to a relatively small area, such as at Ball Bay, hand pulling is the preferred method,’ Ms Woodcock said. “There are herbicides which can be used to control the plants, but they are quite harsh chemicals which can impact on the native vegetation, hand pulling is a far less invasive method and one which volunteers can get involved with.”

Those who helped out on the day remarked at the difference that could be seen in those areas where the weed had been removed, and were enthusiastic to continue the work at future Coastcare Activities.

The afternoon saw the Coastcare team head to Blacks Beach Spit where 16 community volunteers removed over a tonne of rubbish from this important reserve in just two hours. The 42 hectare Spit, which is now wholly managed by Mackay Regional Council, had become a site for illegal dumping. Mackay Regional Council has already removed nearly 150 tonnes of rubbish from the site, but plenty of small debris still remains.

“Blacks Beach Spit has substantial natural values, and supports wildlife populations of national and international significance,” said Claire Bartron, Reef Catchments Coastal Project Officer. “It was great to work with a diverse group of community members who care for the environmental and community value of this important reserve.”

“We had a group of 16 come out to take part in the clean-up,” Ms Bartron said. “To see a mix of parents with young children, teenagers, and older residents all showing their support for the work being undertaken to rehabilitate Blacks Beach Spit was very heartening.”

During high tide events large areas of Blacks Beach Spit get inundated by water, meaning it is all too easy for the litter to be carried out to sea and start impacting on marine animals.

“One of the most satisfying parts of the day was getting to talk to some of the kids,” said Ms Bartron, “their knowledge of the natural environment was amazing, they understood that by removing the litter from the land they were helping out marine animals that ingest rubbish when they mistake it for food, and often die as a result.”

With the success of the day and the interest expressed by volunteers for future events Reef Catchments will be adding more clean ups at Blacks Beach Spit to their Winter Coastcare Activities Calendar.

To volunteer at Coastcare Activities in 2013, or subscribe to emails to find out what projects are happening on our coast, email claire.bartron@reefcatchments.com or call 0429 155 841.

Coasts and Communities is a joint initiative of Mackay Regional Council and Reef Catchments with support from Mackay Regional Council’s Natural Environment Levy and the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative.

Image:  Volunteers load rubbish into the trailer to be taken away