The Project

Title: Coordinated Threat Response to protect Threatened Ecological Communities across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region (The TEC Project)

Duration: December 2025 – December 2028

Funding: Queensland Government through funding from the Natural Resource Management Expansion Program (NRMEP)

The TEC Project is part of the Queensland Government’s $117.84 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program (NRMEP). Delivered in collaboration with Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland (NRMRQ), the program expands the capacity of regional NRM organisations to deliver on-ground land, water and biodiversity programs across the state.

Summary:

In partnership with local Landcare groups, Reef Catchments is working to improve the condition and resilience of two nationally significant Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) across the region; Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia (Beach Scrub) and Broad Leaf Tea Tree Woodlands (Melaleuca viridiflora woodlands in high rainfall coastal north Queensland).

Objective:

Due to significant pressure from localised clearing, invasive weeds, and the impacts of increased pedestrian and vehicle access, currently only small, isolated patches of Beach Scrub (Littoral Rainforest) and Broadleaf Tea-tree Woodlands remain intact throughout the Mackay region. Without active management, these endangered habitats are at risk of becoming so degraded or disappearing, threatening the unique combination of plants and animals that rely on them for survival.

Through this proactive $2.49 million investment, Reef Catchments will coordinate the delivery of measurable environment objectives, including:

• Improving 90ha of TECs: Delivering intensive weed management to improve the long-term condition and resilience of these areas.
• Restoring 3ha of Habitat: Increasing the extent of these communities through targeted revegetation.
• Strengthening Connectivity: Linking scattered pockets of habitat to create resilient biodiversity corridors.

Strategy:

Over the next two years, the TEC Project will leverage the strength and expertise of the Central Queensland Coast Landcare Network, uniting local knowledge with strategic investment. The project aims to ensure every dollar delivers a secure outcome for our community.

Our partners at Pioneer Catchment Landcare (PCL), Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association Inc (SLCMA), and Whitsunday Coast Landcare (WCL) have identified priority sites within their catchments to ensure on-ground works will achieve maximum impact.

Key Actions Include:

• Best-Practice Weed Control: Promoting natural recruitment of native species through removal of invasive threats.
• Habitat planting: using appropriate local provenance tube stock to ensure restoration introduces the correct species, thus building resilience, reducing fragmentation and improving connectivity.
• Knowledge Sharing: Building upon previous projects to improve long term outcomes and increase connectivity of habitat.

Get Involved

The success of the TEC Restoration project relies on invaluable local knowledge and energy of our community. By volunteering, you are directly securing the future of our region’s natural infrastructure.

Join Your Local Landcare Group:

To sign up for upcoming works in your area, please contact our delivery partners directly:

Pioneer Catchment Landcare (PCL)
Ph: (07) 4944 1979

Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA)
Ph: (07) 4956 1388

Whitsunday Coast Landcare (WCL)
Ph: 0483 811 229