06-Sep-2011

Improving the environmental status of Moreton Bay will be the key focus for SEQ Catchments, WetlandCare Australia and OceanWatch Australia, three not-for-profit organisations which recently established a central office in the Redlands.

From their Cleveland office all three organisations will work closely with local communities across Brisbane’s bayside and islands to deliver projects and ‘on the ground works’ aimed at protecting and enhancing the local environment.

Activities include improving fisheries habitat, enhancing water quality, biodiversity conservation and catchment restoration delivered through WetlandCare’s Coastal 20 project, OceanWatch’s Tide to Table program and a range of SEQ Catchments projects. All programs are funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.

SEQ Catchments Community Partnership Manager Joel Bolzenius is excited about the move.

‘This is the first time that SEQ Catchments has had an officer out here, dedicated specifically to the Redlands, Moreton Bay and Islands. We hope that there will be a much larger capacity for the community to be involved.

‘As the contact point for the community my aim is to get the community involved in projects that help deliver for the local environment while meeting the longer term targets for the region,’ he said.

OceanWatch’s Tide to Table Project Officer Patrick Sachs said one of his key projects will be to improve fish habitat in Moreton Bay.

‘One of our goals is to help improve water quality and fish habitat through on-ground works in Moreton Bay. This is not only better for the environment but will also contribute to a more enjoyable fishing experience and better tasting seafood,’ he said.

WetlandCare Australia Project Officer Cheryl Bolzenius said the goal was not to overlap work, but to work together to deliver outcomes.

‘We all expect to be focused and participating at the heart of these projects,’ she said. ‘As part of WetlandCare’s Coastal 20 project, we hope to make a big contribution to rehabilitate and restore wetland areas – 50 per cent of our sites are within South East Queensland.'

SEQ Catchments Ltd is an environmental not-for-profit business which works with the community, the corporate sector and all levels of government to enhance environmental sustainability in South East Queensland.

OceanWatch Australia is a national not-for-profit environmental organisation that works to advance sustainability in the Australian seafood industry. 

WetlandCare Australia is a not-for-profit company dedicated to achieving healthy wetlands in healthy catchments.

For more information about how SEQ Catchments, OceanWatch or WetlandCare Australia will be working in your area, please contact:

Joel Bolzenius jbolzenius@seqcatchments.com.au, 0409 006 532 www.seqcatchments.com.au

Cheryl Bolzenius cherylb@wetlandcare.com.au, 0438 733 563 www.wetlandcare.com.au

Patrick Sachs patrick@oceanwatch.org.au, 0488 087 772 www.oceanwatch.org.au