Sunshine Coast Bioblitz 2023

Sunshine Coast Bioblitz 2023

Sunshine Coast BioBlitz 2023

The Sunshine Coast BioBlitz kicked off in October 2023, taking place over three weekends and engaging 200 citizen scientists, 32 expert team leaders and four environmental organisations! The event series was funded by the QLD Government’s Engaging Science Grant, and proudly sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council, GHD, Ballistic Training & Solutions and Tree Safe Australia.

We’d like to thank all our sponsors, partners, experts, volunteers and participants for helping to make these events a great success!

13th – 15th of October

Hosted by Mooloolah River Landcare

20th – 22nd of October

Hosted by ECOllaboration feat Noosa & District Landcare

27th – 28th of October

Hosted by Barung Landcare

331 Species Total

9 Mammal Species

124 Insect Species*

*So far!

7 Frog Species

66 Bird Species

101 Plant Species

The Sunshine Coast BioBlitz 2023 was a collaboration between:

Barung Landcare

For over 30 years, Barung Landcare has brought together people committed to sustaining and caring for the magnificent natural environment along the Blackall Range and surrounds.  With an extensive retail and wholesale native plant nursery, Barung also provide natural areas services and property visits.

www.barunglandcare.org.au

ECOllaboration LTD

ECOllaboration is an environmental not-for-profit with 30 years experience in land restoration around the Sunshine Coast. Formerly Maroochy Water Watch, we have the longest standing water quality program in Queensland, as well as delivering services in natural areas management, citizen science and school education programs, industry training and environmental property consultancy.

www.ecollaboration.org.au

Mooloolah River Landcare

Mooloolah River Landcare is a registered not-profit Landcare group whose mission is to empower people to protect and restore the natural environment of the Mooloolah River Catchment. To help us achieve our mission we welcome volunteers of all ages; run a retail and wholesale nursery that specialises in native plants endemic to the region; run a Biocontrol facility to breed bioagents which help control environmental weeds; have partnered with SEQWater to help care for the Ewen Maddock Catchment; and run an assortment of citizen science programs and environmental workshops to connect our community and care for country.

www.mrl.org.au

Noosa & District Landcare

Noosa & District Landcare is an environmental non-for-profit with over 20 years experience in vegetation management and horticulture. We provide a diverse range of services including carbon offsets, ecosystem restoration, native forest establishment and environmental property consultancy.

www.noosalandcare.org.au

Our Experts

Alina Zwar

Alina Zwar

Kieran and Alina have combined skills and knowledge spanning over 25 years in the environmental industry with a particular focus on wildlife, biodiversity, education, and applied ecology (field). Our fields of expertise include fauna and flora surveys, wildlife monitoring, biodiversity assessments, and delivering educational workshops.

Andrew Franks

Andrew Franks

Andrew is a consultant botanist and arborist but his true passion is immersing himself into the microscopic world of the bryophytes (moss, liverworts and hornworts). Andrew has undertaken bryophyte surveys across Queensland. Andrew curates the Queensland Herbarium’s (BRI) bryophyte collection and is reasonably confident that he is the only consulting arborist to specialise in moss.

Ben Green

Ben Green

Ben’s been working in the environmental sector since 2003 in a variety of settings including local government, private consulting, not-for-profit and environmental management and compliance. Ben currently works as a Senior Ornithologist for a private consultancy specialising in bird work on renewable energy projects. Ben also works for Sunshine Coast Council as an officer in reserve management.

Dion Dior

Dion Dior

Dion Dior is an amateur field naturalist, Dion specialises in natural science illustration, nature journaling, guiding, and teaching workshops. In 2019 she founded the Noosa & Sunshine Coast Nature Journal Club. Dion is also a Sessional Instructor with the University of the Sunshine Coast in Naturalist Field Studies and Field Journaling Technique.

Elliot Bowerman

Elliot Bowerman

Elliot is a Ecologist who specialises in Field Botany. Experienced in conducting flora surveys in a broad range of vegetation communities which target individual species, threatened taxa and mapping regional ecosystems & threatened ecological communities. His background is in ecological restoration, implementing prescribed fire regimes and threatened species projects.

Jessica Raintree

Jessica Raintree

Jessica is fascinated by the natural world and is most happiest when out in the bush or underwater ‘treasure hunting’ for cool creatures such as caterpillars, fireflies, nudibranchs, fungi slime moulds and weevils. She has been running the Biocontrol Facility at Mooloolah River Landcare.

Joan Heavey

Joan Heavey

My love of all things botanical began at a very young age. I’ve been a member of Council’s Bushcare programme for over 20 years and am convener of the Noosa Parks Association Botany Group. For me, there is nothing better than being out enjoying our beautiful environment and all it has to offer.

Jono Hooper

Jono Hooper

Jono is an Ecologist who grew up on the Sunny Coast and he is passionate about Australia’s frog fauna. His work includes managing and leading various ecological projects where threatened frog species occur. He has been responsible for developing the offset pond construction plans for several large offset sites on the Sunshine Coast, which have successfully met the performance criteria. Jono has also volunteered with the QLD Frog Society for about 10 years and is currently the Events and Initiatives Coordinator.

Kieran Aland

Kieran Aland

Kieran and Alina have combined skills and knowledge spanning over 25 years in the environmental industry with a particular focus on wildlife, biodiversity, education, and applied ecology (field). Our fields of expertise include fauna and flora surveys, wildlife monitoring, biodiversity assessments, and delivering educational workshops.

Marc Russell

Marc Russell

Marc has over 40 years in environmental management. Experiences include growing and selling native plants, and seeds, establishing/managing 9 local native plant nurseries, small and large-scale revegetation projects, bush regeneration, ecological consulting, and working as Land for Wildlife officer for Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Fraser Coast Regions.

Max Jackson

Max Jackson

Max’s career has seen him in a broad range of roles from training rhinos to breeding Tasmanian Devils at a feral-free conservation sanctuary. Max also has extensive experience as a senior Field Ecologist and Wildlife Consultant, a role that has had him working in some of Australia’s most remote locations.

Nicola Jackson

Nicola Jackson

Dr Nicola and her team’s work is aiming to validate airborne eDNA as the next generation of technology for the cost-effective and non-invasive monitoring of koalas and any other terrestrial wildlife.

Nick Willis

Nick Willis

Nick has over 20 years professional experience undertaking ecological assessments for a broad range of clients and projects throughout Queensland. He is an accomplished field ecologist with extensive experience conducting terrestrial flora surveys within the diverse vegetation communities of the South East Queensland bioregion.

Ollie Scully

Ollie Scully

Ollie is a freshwater ecologist with a background in threatened species monitoring and conservation, particularly in Southern and South-East Queensland. His main obsessions are with frogs, crayfish, small-bodied fishes, and reptiles. He currently lives and works in Outback Queensland but his passion for the mountains and coastal swamps keeps him coming back.

Rachel Lyons

Rachel Lyons

Rachel has more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, natural resource planning, wildlife and biodiversity management. She has considerable involvement in natural resource management program delivery management. Rachel is also a committed and well-known wildlife rescuer and trainer.

Robin Rowland

Robin Rowland

Robin is a PhD candidate at the University of the Sunshine Coast investigating the impact of living near humans and urbanisation on microbats. This project aims to locate microbat roosts in buildings, trees, and bridges/culverts on the Sunshine Coast to analyse the stress levels of the microbat residents.

Ross Coupland

Ross Coupland

Ross has been studying the wildlife of southeast Queensland for 10 years with a special focus on insects in particular. He has described several species of stick insects from the scenic rim region and has undertaken biology studies on fulgorid planthoppers.

Scott Burnett

Scott Burnett

Dr Scott Burnett has worked as an environmental consultant, university research assistant, and finally a technical officer with the Threatened Species Unit of the QPWS in Atherton. During this time, and partly resulting from his PhD studies on Spotted-tailed Quolls, Scott came to appreciate the integral role of the community in wildlife conservation.

Spencer Shaw

Spencer Shaw

Spencer has worked in the native plant, re-vegetation and bush regeneration industries for over 30 years and is passionately committed to the preservation of rainforest through various eco-restoration works but also through education. Spencer writes articles, presents on Youtube and is talks at events for a variety of eco-restoration and flora topics.

Vivian Sandoval

Vivian Sandoval

Vivian is an entomologist working with Fruit fly phenology and post-harvest research for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at Queensland Museum, doing taxonomic research on minute-tree fungus beetles from their collections. Previously she worked as a lecturer in Entomology and Invertebrate Zoology at the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) in Brazil and as the curator of the Invertebrate Collection of the same institution.

Warwick Willmot

Warwick Willmot

Geologist who has worked with the Geological Survey of Queensland on geological mapping, resource investigations and geological hazards for urban areas. Bringing geology to the public and has written booklets and leaflets in a Rocks and Landscape series for the Geological Society of Australia.

Thankyou to our Sponsors and Partners

Emergent Level Sponsor

Sunshine Coast Regional Council

www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Shrub Level Sponsors

GHD

www.GHD.com

Successful natural resource management requires balancing the competing pressures of development and resource use with the protection of our natural environmental. This is a critical challenge with the increasing pressure of population growth, urbanisation and climate change, and the need for ecologically sustainable development solutions.

At GHD, we understand the inherent complexity of natural resource management issues and the challenges faces by business, industry and government in managing resources sustainability within a strict regulatory framework. We work collaboratively with our private and public sector clients to guide effective land management decision-making and to deliver practical and appropriate project solutions. Our focus is on the early identification and management of project risks and the production of high quality, technically rigorous and defensible documentation tailored to project needs and broader business objectives.

Ballistic Training Solutions

www.ballistictraining.com.au

Ballistic Training Solutions Pty Ltd is a Nationally Registered Training Provider (Provider no: 41097) specializing in the delivery of nationally accredited training programs tailored to industry and client needs.

We take pride in being specialists in the delivery of Nationally Accredited Training programs and traineeships across Business, Management, Work Health & Safety,  Conservation and Ecosystem Management sectors and assist in the development of industry focused programs.

We pride ourselves on our customer service excellence,  our attention to detail, and commitment to ensuring that your learning needs are not only met but exceeded by providing the highest standards of training & practical assessment services in the industry.

Groundcover Level Sponsors

Treesafe Australia

www.treesafeaustralia.com.au

Discover the ultimate tree care solutions with Treesafe Australia who specialises in solutions for the Commercial, Government and Residential Sectors. Let Treesafe Australia elevate your business or home landscape with their professional tree services.

From meticulous tree pruning that enhances your property’s appeal, strategic environmental weed/tree removals ensuring safety and aesthetics, through to arborist safety assessments and reports. Treesafe Australia will tailor solutions to your commercial or residential needs.

Soil Level Sponsors

Hollow Log Homes

ww.hollowloghomes.com.au

Hollow Log Homes has been a family owned and operated business for almost 25 years. Their passion for protecting Australian wildlife has been the driving force behind their extensive research into designing, building, and providing some of the most successful nesting boxes for hollow dependant fauna in Australia.

Fernland

www.fernland.com.au

Fernland is a One-stop Shop for all your horticultural requirements. We are a family-owned and operated business with over 45 years trading history, supplying a comprehensive range of products to the nursery, landscape and turf-care industries.

Our Supporters

This event is proudly funded by the Queensland Government Engaging Science Grant.

Seqwater South Maroochy RiverCare program

Seqwater South Maroochy RiverCare program

South Maroochy RiverCare

Seqwater South Maroochy RiverCare program

Fencing, Revegetation, Weed control, Erosion control & Off-source watering points

ECOllaboration and Seqwater have partnered with eligible landholders over the past six years to deliver environmental projects on private properties to improve water quality and riparian ecosystems within the South Maroochy River catchment.

Through Seqwater funding, ECOllaboration can provide technical advice, project management and organisation of contractors to undertake activities on your property that improve the health of your land, stock and our waterways. The South Maroochy Rivercare program improves source water quality by delivering on-ground works that focus on three areas: sustainable agricultural practices, revegetation and weed control.

Sustainable Agriculture

One of the greatest threats to water quality is nutrient and pathogen loads entering waterways. Livestock, particularly cattle, are major contributors for microscopic pathogenssuch as E. coli and Giardia – entering waterways. This poses a risk not only to the safety of drinking water, but to the health of livestock.

Our Rivercare program focuses on minimising access to source water through installation of stock exclusion fencing and off-source watering points. We provide property assessments to create multi-year best practice management plans in conjunction with the landholder. 

Revegetation

Sedimentation is another key risk to water quality. This program aims to revegetate areas within the catchment that have a high risk of increasing sediment runoff. Areas of focus are along watercourses and steep areas that are a landslide risk.

Revegetation works include weed management of the area, assisted natural regeneration and maintenance of revegetation works. 

Weed Control

A key component of maintaining a healthy river ecosystem and water quality is weed management, particularly transformer weeds that have the potential to outcompete native vegetation, reduce recruitment of native species and bring down native canopy. Transformer weeds within our catchment are Madeira vine, Cat’s Claw Creeper and Chinese Celtis.

As part of this partnership program, any property within the South Maroochy catchment that has an infestation of the listed transformer weeds may be eligible for free weed control.  

Education & Community Connection

A core outcome of the South Maroochy Rivercare program is increasing landholder awareness and opportunity to education about best practice management of their property.

Our Rivercare program provides farm plans that involve high landholder engagement, which is supported through technical advice from ECOllaboration project officers.

We also support education through hosting educational workshops, and encourage creating connections with other landholders  to share their best practice tips and foster greater community within their local catchment.

Am I eligible?

This program is open to landholders whose properties sit within the South Maroochy Catchment, which encompasses Kiamba, Cooloolabin, Yandina, Image Flat, Highworth, Kureelpa and Mapleton.

Eligibility is based on the property’s proximity to water source, land management practices and evidence of erosion or transformer weeds, alongside the landholder’s willingness to participate.

Benefits to joining

If eligible, landholders who become a part of this partnership program can receive multi-year funding and assistance in implementing on-ground works that achieve improved land management and water quality in the catchment. Some benefits to joining this program include: 

  • Increase the value of your property. 
  • Increase the water quality on your property and within the catchment. 
  • Increased resilience to climate change and adverse weather events. 
  • Increased productivity of your farm. 
  • Enhanced visual amenity. 
  • Reduced risk of livestock disease and infection. 
  • Enhance natural vegetation and biodiversity.  
  • Encourage native habitat for local animals.  
  • Increase community connections through landholder workshops and property visits. 
  • Increased streambank stability, reduced sediment and nutrient runoff. 
      How to get involved

      If your property sits along a creekline within the South Maroochy Catchment and you have concerns about the health of your property, we may be able to help! Contact us today to find out more about the program or arrange a free property visit.

      Email: francesca@ecollaboration.org.au

      Mobile: 0432 529 556

      Phone: (07) 5476 4777

      About the South Maroochy catchment

      The South Maroochy catchment extends for 89.4km2, and is a sub-catchment of the Maroochy catchment which houses the headwaters of the South Maroochy River, as well as Rocky Creek, Rock of Ages Creek and Echidna Creek. These waterways feed into Cooloolabin Dam, Wappa Dam – whose water is treated at the Image Flat Water Treatment Plant (WTP) – and Poona dam, which provides short term storage before being treated and distributed as drinking water throughout the region. 

      Seqwater is responsible for providing safe and secure drinking water supply across South East Queensland through management of catchments, dams, and climate resilient water sources. Key threats to water quality include increased pathogens from livestock, risk of landslip and erosion, increased sediment runoff during wet weather events, and poor riparian health due to increased invasive species.  

      By managing threats posed to water quality, the cost of water treatment for safe drinking water supply is greatly reduced, creating cost-savings per household for water supply. Furthermore, the health of our catchment is greatly increased, alongside the health and value of your property and livestock. 

      Photos of our works

      Koala Habitat Restoration – Kirbys Environment Reserve

      Koala Habitat Restoration – Kirbys Environment Reserve

      Koala Monitoring

      Koala Habitat Restoration – Kirbys Environment Reserve
      This project is being undertaken as part of the Commonwealth Koala Community Grants opportunity. The objective of this program is to support community-led conservation and recovery efforts to improve the extent, quality and connectivity of the Koala, as well as improve data and knowledge of Koala populations and health across their range. Kirbys Environmental Reserve is a core koala habitat area and key area of connectivity between Kondalilla National Park and Maleny National Park.

       

      Our project aims to improve outcomes for Koalas within Kirby’s Environmental Reserve by addressing:

       

      1. Restoration and rehabilitation of habitat
      2. Monitoring and evaluation of pest species and threats
      3. Monitoring and evaluation of the koala 
      4. Community engagement through education and participation in citizen science 
      On-ground activities will include natural assisted regeneration and weed management, planting of 2000 trees, thermal drone imaging and detection dog monitoring of koalas and motion sensor monitoring of pest species. We also aim to engage the local community through a community tree planting day and koala education and monitoring days. Much of the remaining koala habitat resides on private land, and recording sightings is a vital step in conserving koala populations.

      Habitat Restoration

      Regeneration works using the Bradley method of restoration will be undertaken on site. Our team are clearing woody weeds to encourage native recruitment & planting 2000 trees.

      Threat & Pest Monitoring

      Pests and threats are being monitored with 8 strategically placed wildlife trail cameras.

      Koala Monitoring

      We’re partnering with UniSC’s Detection Dogs for Conservation to conduct koala scat & presence surveys, and using our thermal drone imaging to detect koalas.

      Report a Koala Sighting

      Everyone can play a role in koala conservation by getting out into nature to learn more about koala populations in your local area. Reporting koala sightings can help to monitor populations over time and inform conservation planning and action at local, state and national levels.

       

      • QWildlife, a Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science app
      • QLD Koala Count, a Koala Action Group QLD Inc. project with Atlas of Living Australia
      • KoalaMap, Australian Koala Foundation

      Resources

      National Recovery Plan for the Koala

      Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment

      South East QLD Koala Conservation Strategy 2020 – 2025

      Department of Environment and Science

      Planting trees for koalas

      A guide for Coastal South East Queensland, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

      National Koala Tree Planting List

      A guide to koala tree species for your LGA, Australian Koala Foundation

      (Sunshine Coast LGA, page 159)

      Platypus Monitoring

      Platypus Monitoring

      Platypus Monitoring

      Running twice a year during September and April, platypus monitoring is our community-based citizen science program that engages local volunteers to help collect platypus data by recording sightings and assessing platypus habitats at three different creeks on the Sunshine Coast.

      Platypus are highly sensitive to water quality and a keystone indicator of a health ecosystem.  A majority of ECOllaboration’s work involves catchment restoration via the re-vegetation of riparian areas and therefore, it is of great interest to monitor platypus as they indicate the success of our ecological restoration efforts.

      This citizen science project has been designed to be repeated each year to engage the community and collect a long-term data set on these elusive creatures.

      This project is proudly funded by the Sunshine Coast Council.

      Adopt-a-Platypus

      For an annual $70 fee, participants will receive an adoption pack; with funds going to our riparian restoration works to plant and restore critical platypus habitat in the Sunshine Coast.

      Each adoption pack includes:

      • Certificate of Adoption
      • Soft Australian made Platypus toy
      • Protect the Petrie Platypus Wheelie Bin Sticker
      • Invitations to attend our Platypus events before the general public
      • Detailed information on our local Platypus and work we are doing to protect them & their homes

      To apply, please email the adoption form to info@ecollaboration.org.au

      Platypus Patrons

      For an monthly subscription fee, participants will receive an adoption pack PLUS exclusive invitations to platypus and ECOllaboration events; with funds going to our riparian restoration works to plant and restore critical platypus habitat in the Sunshine Coast.

      Each Patron pack includes:

      • Certificate of Adoption
      • Soft Australian made Platypus toy
      • Protect the Petrie Platypus Wheelie Bin Sticker
      • Invitations to attend our PlatypusWatch events before the general public
      • Detailed information on our local Platypus and work we are doing to protect them & their homes

      PLUS

      • Priority access to our annual PlatypusWatch report
      • Invitation to our annual VIP platypus experience where you will be treated to breakfast on the river, special guests & presentations, plus a guided walk with a platypus expert
      • Invitation to our 2024 ecology conference “Conservation Conversations” where you will be treated to a whole day of environmental talks and workshops

      To apply, please email info@ecollaboration.org.au

      What is the platypus monitoring program?

      Our platypus monitoring program is a community-based citizen science program that engages volunteers in surveying for platypus, recording sightings and assessing their habitats.

      The information collected is used monitor platypus populations and identify what is needed to ensure the protection one of Australia’s most unique species.

      This program also raises awareness of platypus in our local areas.

      How can I get involved?

      Our platypus monitoring program runs two sessions each year in April and September.

      For all enquiries, please email our community engagement officer Trevor: trevor@ecollaboration.org.au

      Registration openings are announced on our News page and social media (Facebook & Instagram) so keep an eye out!

      Our Results

      Sightings from our September 2022 and April 2023 sessions

      Nambour Maleny Yandina
      Sept 22 10 12 11
      April 23 16 15 12
      Total Sightings 26 27 23

      How can I find out more about platypus in my local area?

      1. The best way to learn about platypus in your local area is to head to your nearest river, creek, or dam and have a look! Signs of platypus to look for are foraging bubbles (bubbles streaming continuously in one spot), circular ripples, and burrows in the bank.

      2. Visit the ACF Platy Project Website: The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Platy Project is a great resource. Visit their website (https://platy-project.acf.org.au) to view the Platy Map and see the current and historical sightings in your area.

      3. Join Platypus Workshops and Events: Organizations such as ECOllaboration, Sunshine Coast Council, Wildlife Preservation Society of QLD, Australian Platypus Conservancy and many more host workshops and events related to platypus conservation and research. Keep an eye out for events in your local area and consider attending to learn from experts and get involved in hands on conservation.

      Sunshine Coast Council – Weed Management and Restoration Works – Curramore Road, Witta

      Sunshine Coast Council – Weed Management and Restoration Works – Curramore Road, Witta

      Sunshine Coast Council – Weed Management and Restoration Works – Curramore Road, Witta

      Curramore Road at Witta is a demonstration site undertaking a range of different weed management treatments. We’re using innovative techniques such Herbicide encapsulation, Remote Mulching, Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV/Drone) herbicide application and Hydromulching alongside our regular revegetation techniques. The overall end goal of this project is to restore the majority of the area to the surrounding mapped Regional Ecosystems.