15-Dec-2011

What is that in our waterways? Oh no, it’s Salvinia molesta.

Salvinia sp. is a Class 2 declared pest plant under Queensland legislation and a Weed of National Significance as it causes major impacts in our natural waterways. Salvinia is a small floating aquatic plant which is present in a large proportion of water bodies on the Gold Coast especially lakes and slow flowing waterways.

So many passionate community members would love to see our waterways free of this choking weed. Thus Salvinia Busters has been formed. It is a community partnership project between SEQ Catchments, Gold Coast Catchment Association, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Friends of Crane Creek, and Gold Coast City Council (GCCC). The Boastshed Bait and Tackle at Currumbin has also come on board with significantly reduced hire rates for the kayaks used.

We plan to trial this hands on project throughout this summer in two areas, Flat Rock Creek in Currumbin and Crane Creek, Seamist Drive, Nerang (access via Blue Lagoon Court). The trial will be used to work out which methods are most effective and how best to fit in with existing control methods. Methods being trialed are the use of kayaks, a flat bottomed tinny and various scooping methods. If the trial is successful, the long term vision will be to extend the program across hot spots of the Gold Coast.

Salvinia Busters is a manual control technique which, when used in conjunction with other control strategies currently being used by the GCCC, will hopefully see a significant reduction in the amount and prevalence of Salvinia in our waterways.

For more information Contact Janine Sigley on 0400 910 678 or email jsigley@seqcatchments.com.au.