Committed to a brighter future? This could be for you… 11 positions exist for trainees in a Certificate 1 Conservation and Land Management Program with our Community Based Organisation – ECOllaboration. It is a 22 week on the job placement and you need to be available to start 10 August 2020 on a full time basis. Traineeship wages apply dependent on age and level of schooling. Trainees must enter into a formal training contract to complete the qualifications along with a commercial spray licence, chainsaw certificate and construction white card. This training is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through its Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative. Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) focuses on developing an individual’s skills, supporting them to begin a learning pathway to a Certificate III qualification, and providing direct assistance to those Queenslanders that need extra support to enter and stay in the workforce. Criteria: Applicants must be currently unemployed or underemployed and have not completed any SQW programs in the past. No experience is required and we seek people who are willing to learn, contribute in a team environment and have a goal towards future employment. You must be physically capable of working outdoors on all types of terrains as we will take you to some amazing locations across the region. From day to day you will be working on different public lands between Caloundra and Gympie so reliable transport is a must. Be part of a healthy, vibrant industry working with great people. You will learn native plant and invasive species identification and gain heaps of practical skills! ECOllaboration are Bush Regenerators and Scientists, and we improve land through ecological restoration, habitat protection and control of invasive species, working in close with the community and stakeholders. Registered Training Organisation is Challenge Employment & Training Ltd #5388 AHC10116 Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management. Please forward your cover email and resume to marcelo@ecollaboration.org.au before 27 July. Interviews will commence in the first week of August. Thank You!
Get out and explore the natural areas in and around Yandina. Easy access and lots of natural beauty to enjoy!
Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Media Release) 3 January 2020 Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Regional Council target illegal weeds in backyard nurseries Key Points Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Regional Council have seized more than 1,000 illegal cacti plants that were being propagated for sale by local backyard growers The plants are related to the prickly pear cactus and have the potential to spread in the same way, endangering the local environment, stock and native wildlife If you are planning to sell plants, make sure they are not restricted or prohibited under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Main Story Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Regional Council officers have destroyed more than 1,000 invasive plants being propagated for sale by backyard growers that had the potential to become serious pests. Biosecurity Queensland Operations Manager Rob Cobon said most of the plants seized were cacti. “Our staff, together with Sunshine Coast Regional Council officers have been on the lookout for people selling illegal plants either online or through local markets,” he said. “The plants that we’ve seized are relatives to the prickly pear cactus, which decimated 60 million acres of land and sent many landholders broke. “These plants have the potential to cause similar problems, are highly invasive and their sharp spines can also cause injury to stock and native animals.” The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is taking a proactive approach to preventing weed infestations from occurring by implementing a local Biosecurity Plan. Mr Cobon said the Biosecurity Act 2014 requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control. “So if you’re planning to sell plants online or at your local market, please make sure that they’re not restricted or prohibited,” he said. “If these plants spread they can cause serious damage to the local environment and stock and native wildlife.” If you have or think you know someone who is keeping or selling illegal plants please contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Image: Luke Short, Vector and Pest Plant Officer from Sunshine Coast Regional Council, removing drooping tree pear (Opuntia monacantha) that were intended for sale. (Supplied DAF media)
Click on the video above and find out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmTW94OWEnk&feature=youtu.be
Following from our AGM on Friday 29th November, take a look and see what we have been up to for the last year.
We are partnering with our landlord, the Nambour Uniting Church to host an Ecology Weekend next weekend. The invitation is open to the public and you can come to all events or a selection. A Saturday breakfast will start the entertainment with guest speakers being Tim Metelerkamp on the importance of birds, Dr Nita Lester on plants and Alison Hall on ecotourism. Following this will be a field trip to view environmental works at Whalley Creek and Dilkusha Rainforest and the a tour of Nichols Worm Farm. On Sunday will be a worship celebration exploring ‘A Christian Response in a time of Ecological Anxiety’ with guest speakers Rev Chris Crause, our own Natural Areas Manager Jim Stuart and Rev Ian Stehbens. A flyer is attached with more information.
Click here to view the position description. Closes 16th August with start date 2nd September. To apply for the position, send resume/CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to info@ECOllaboration.org.au.
Knowledge of the population distribution of the endangered Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) is about to be improved with a new citizen science project in south east Queensland. ECOllaboration Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer, Cerran Fawns, said “We have had many unofficial reports of sightings since our last survey ten years ago and we need to update records for the last five years”. The butterfly is listed as vulnerable and is an important species that has been severely impacted by habitat loss and the introduced vine, the Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia elegans), which is poisonous to the butterfly larvae. The native birdwing butterfly vine, Pararistolochia praevenosa, is what the larvae feed on in the wild, however it looks so similar to the Dutchman’s Pipe, the adult females get confused and lay eggs on the introduced vine which are a death trap for the emergent larvae. The native birdwing butterfly vine has been planted widely throughout the region over the last ten years and we are wanting to determine if the populations have spread from the isolated pockets of the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast areas. Ms Fawns added, “The males are easily recognisable being black and iridescent green with the females less striking with brown, yellow and white markings”. The data collected from the community sightings will be uploaded to the Living Atlas of Australia which gives a generalised map of the distribution and the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Network. To report sightings over the last five years and to view photos of the butterfly, vines and larvae, go to http://ecoeducationservice.org.au/richmondbirdwingbutterfly/. A report from can also be downloaded and mailed to ECOllaboration, PO Box 311, Nambour Qld 4560 or phoned in on 07 54764777. This project is supported by ECOllaboration Ltd, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
ECOllaboration Ltd is seeking an experienced business development manager to help lead the company into its next growth phase by marketing our services to industry and the community and developing income generating strategies and relationships. Click below for full position description and how to apply: PD Business Development and Partnerships Manager ECOllaboration FINAL 181019
