24-Jan-2011

Following the highly successful introduction of Springbrook Landcare’s Towards Sustainability program, it has now been extended into Phase 2.

This second phase is aiming to build upon the waterway protection works to restore and rehabilitate areas to control erosion and to further maintain water quality in the Upper Nerang catchments, and to establish wildlife corridor links on properties immediately adjoining national parks and reserves.

New partnerships have been formed for this phase between SEQ Catchments, Job Futures SEQ – National Green Jobs Corps, SEQwater and the original partners from Phase 1, including Springbrook Landcare and landholders.

Due to begin on March 1, of this year, the Green Jobs Corps consists of teams of 6-10 people in the 17 to 24 year age bracket, some of whom are long term unemployed.

At the end of a 26-week, three-day-week program, the team members will receive Certificate 2 qualifications in Conservation and Land Management. Springbrook is situated amongst the headwaters of the creeks flowing to the Gold Coast. On the lower part of the Springbrook Plateau is the renowned Purling Brook falls.

Traditionally the land was used for dairying however after a decline in the industry much of the land was subdivided and a new era of farming began, with orchards, fruit vines, and cattle grazing currently existing today.

In 1998 Springbrook Landcare was formed with many successful projects completed since that time. More recently the group, together with the local community, landholders and other key stakeholders have worked to build a sustainable future for the area by protecting land, vegetation and the waterways for future generations.

Almost three years ago SEQ Catchments was engaged by Springbrook Landcare to deliver a Property Management Planning workshop to 18 landholders, in a process designed to improve property management and subsequently assist them to develop plans to better manage their properties.

Through this process the Springbrook Landcare members and property owners identified a series of land management actions to ensure long term farming sustainability.

These actions have resulted in:
• 440 acres of riparian and terrestrial vegetation protected,
• 10 acres revegetated with native species,
• 610 acres of improved ground cover and,
• 22 km of streambank fenced to control stock access to maintain waterway health.

Financial contributions came through various sources including SEQ Catchments, the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country – Community Actions Grants program, local landholders, and other funding sources such as E-trees and Supergraze, both facilitated by SEQ Catchments.

SEQ Catchments CEO, Simon Warner, said: “The program is a community based initiative and would not have been successful without the passion and in-kind contribution from Springbrook Landcare, local community and the landowners.

“After three years work, the landscape changes are quite significant and will provide many environmental benefits for years to come, particularly as it has now been extended into a second phase .”

SEQ Catchments Gold Coast Community Partnerships Manager, Linda Durham said: “An equally important aim of the program was to ensure landowners were provided with the latest scientific knowledge and training to update their skills if and when required throughout the program.

SEQ Catchments in collaboration with Springbrook Landcare has to date delivered pasture identification, grazing enterprise assessment, farm forestry, PMP and soil carbon workshops, she said.

Springbrook Landcare President, Graham Hardy, said: “ The successful vegetation and riparian protection projects on local farming land has been achieved through the hard work of Landcare members and participating landowners who have volunteered their time over and above their normal busy schedules”.