Spectacular
SCENERY AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
GROWING THE ONE MILLION TREES PROGRAM
WAGING WAR ON INVASIVE WEEDS
Council’s One Million Trees Program, which aims to plant a million native trees throughout the region in partnership with the community by 2025, has continued to grow with more than 80 applicants requesting almost 50,000 plants in 2018-19.
Mayor Greg Christensen planted the 15,000th tree in November 2018 as part of a project that has helped to improve water quality of local catchments, reduce erosion and encourage the return of native plants and animals by removing invasive weeds.
The One Million Trees Program comprises four initiatives - Rural Trees, River Trees, Community Trees and Habitat Trees and has seen the planting of more than 300,000 trees by schools, community groups, local organisations and rural landowners since its commencement in 2015.
Since 2015, when Council began working with the Federal Government’s Green Army to remove tonnes of invasive weeds from a 6.5-hectare site at Riverbend Drive, Canungra and revegetate the area with native plants, it has continued to gain ground in the war on invasive weeds.
During 2018-19, Council provided 12,216 plants for the Community Trees initiative, 1,060 plants for Habitat Trees , 13,181 plants for River Trees and 10,073 plants for the Rural Trees initiative.
Privet, Celtis, Madeira Vine and the Castor Oil Plant have all been targeted in the partnership program which now includes participants in the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program.
Key projects during the year included work by Tamborine Mountain Landcare and Lamington Landcare in planting several thousand plants in reserves and on private properties. Other projects included 14 planting events in Council reserves across the region, supported by participants in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program who planted almost 10,000 trees.
As these invasive weeds reduce bank stability, water quality and the biodiversity of waterways their removal is key to maintaining the spectacular scenery and natural environment for which the Scenic Rim is renowned. The site at Canungra is one of many across the region that have seen substantial works including weed treatment and removal and replanting with native species which, once established, will provide riparian habitat for native birds and animals.
SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT
31
