Page 3, Corridor Regeneration Project edition 2007
PRESENTS
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
a. Goals
b. Looking back
c. Looking forward
d. To do list
2. Corridors
3. Projects
INTRODUCTION
a. Goal (unchanged)
The goals of the CRP are still the same:
1. To restore and improve natural corridors on Tamborine Mountain
2. by connecting existing forested areas on both the escarpment and the plateau
3. in a comprehensive and sustainable way
4. with involvement of the local community
The final goal is establishment of wildlife corridors along all major creeks (and elsewhere), and creating enough wildlife habitat so wildlife can cross the mountain on several locations. It will increase (or at least preserve) a good environment for wildlife.
The CRP includes the entire mountain: plateau and escarpment. It is based on existing Regional Plans and Urban Planning Schemes. It deals with the existing and expected urban development, but supports opportunities to (re)create an optimal natural environment in a comprehensive way.
A rough calculation about the size of the CRP. The plateau of TM is about 12 km2, that is 1,200 ha. About 8% of the plateau will be used for the restoration of corridors and adjacent blocks. That is 1 km2,(100 ha).
As a rule of thumb regeneration of 1 ha costs $ 15,000 - $ 36,000. Thus, $ 1.5 – 3.6 million is needed for the entire project. If 75% is privately owned, 25% will have to be funded by council and state. Which is ‘only’ $ 375,000 - $ 900,000 for the government.
b. Looking back
This second edition of TM Landcare’s Corridor Regeneration Plan is the logical continuation of the first plan, which was presented and accepted in the second half of 2005. The general background chapters have not been copied into this second edition.
Several goals of the first edition have been achieved:
1. it formed a ‘hub’ for the entire organization, a general guide line
2. it was much appreciated by governmental and funding bodies as proof that TML was not running as an ad hoc kind of organization
3. structure with paid managers (is good, can be improved though)
4. it took wildlife as a starting point
Major problems:
1. On ground management is often good, but needs improvement as well
2. Project management structure including OHNS needs more attention (Regen subctee is organizing this)
3. Structure for grants is needed à setting up a TML grants committee
4. Better involvement of local residents is needed for three reasons:
i. The membership number proves the support of the community
ii. It brings in funds
iii. It will encourage people to improve their own yards (also part of the corridors)
c. Looking forward
In this second edition the major starting points are:
1. expansion of existing on ground projects
2. accept new projects if funding and working structure is available (e.g. Rainforest Trust blocks)
3. ongoing efforts to get a decent mapping structure (applying for grants is on its way)
4. continue with CVA, NRMSEQ, Green Corps, including pampering the CVA and other volunteers. Set up a task force CRP with the bodies, with Biodiv sub-ctee of TML?
5. Better monitoring of wildlife and pests now and in the future (structure?)
6. improve on ground management à course/workshop by SEQ-C.
7. active policy to raise the awareness of the local residents of the value of their own yards in the corridors-philosophy
- explain the project
- photo competition to raise awareness
- set up support structure (paid advise for private land owners: $ 40/hour per member/subcontractor + $ 10/hour for TML)
- use incentives like Land for wildlife, covernants
- Voluntary Conservation Agreement administered in a Council’s Conservation Partnership Program (Free plants, Training program (three trainings per year about conservation issues), Wildlife surveys, Labor assistance, subsidized training programs)
8. better involvement of economic ways to achieve the goals:
1. Tiles for Trees
2. Piccabeen bookshop
3. Ecotourism activities
4. Exploit the unique features of the mountain
9. Volunteers prefer work in an informal organization (no meetings, but jobs), they want quick results, short term projects and want an answer on the question: what’s in it for me? They volunteer because they want to make a difference, strengthen their identity and work on core values of life
It has to be clear if they will be involved in a project as individual, in a group, in a project, or in a virtual project. The expected outcome (in time and result) needs to be clear. The management committee needs to develop a policy for this.
10. Subcontractors will be necessary (both members and non-members)
11. Pampering volunteers is so important (CVA – night walks, BBQ’s etc)
12. Communication:
o Regular articles in local newspapers
o ‘funny’ powerpoint for schools
o Map in Piccabeen
o Explain Tiles for Trees concept: adopt 100 m2 for $ 25. To illustrate the method to link every participant in Tiles for Trees to 100 m2 of rainforest: In Tiles for Trees each of the expected 10,000 participants will “fund” 100 m2 of rainforest. The center of each 815 m2 will be mentioned with its GPS coordinates. In this part of the world East West 1o is 97.5 kilometers. Everywhere on earth North South 1o is 111 km (= 60 nautical miles). So 1’’ (1 second) East West is 97,500 / 60 / 60 = 27,1 meter, And 1’’ North South is 111,000 / 60 / 60 = 30,1 meter. So, 1’’ x 1’’ is 815 m2. To exactly state the “100 m2” on the certificates the easiest way is to use 1 GPS coordinate for these almost 900 m2, and add one of eight subsection indications: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Doing it in this way, we will need 10,000 / 9 = 1,111 GPS coordinates, what basically is quite simple when the corridors have been designated.
Contributions can be made to one section, or more section (e.g. corporate projects).
The corridors need to be drawn on a detailed map and these coordinates need to be declared.
d. To do - 2007
1. improve on ground management (SEQ-C workshop)
2. grants committee à apply for more grants (including mapping) + feedback
3. re-activate subcontracting structure + committee
4. establish task force CRP, meets 4 times/year on site location
5. OHNS implementation
6. improve structured monitoring wildlife/ferals in the designated corridors
7. better involvement of local community:
a. awareness: photo competition / presentations schools & community groups / ecotourism activities (?)
b. active support: set up program private land owners
i. advice structure à TML subcontractors
ii. mediation towards CVA groups
iii. on ground subcontracting (limited)
c. increase membership (both active and non-active)
8. communication:
a. Work out CRP in ‘hard locations/squares’
b. Create map / overview
c. Communicate this
CORRIDORS
Creeks form the skeleton of the ecosystems in the entire country, South East Queensland (SEQ) and TM. The corridors designated by TM Landcare basically follow the creeks.
Corridors must
· link areas of nutural/nearnatural vegetation communities
· be sufficiently wide (20 – 50 m each side of the creek) Slopes > 12 degrees can be used to define the edges of the creek
· be planted with feed trees to support local species
· contain hollow logs, dead trees
· be planted with vegetation along driveways etc to border the driveways
· be freed from fences
We recognize that not each corridor is linking natural / near natural environments in the sense of national parks. Our strategy is nevertheless based on a few assumptions:
1) it is better to start up a corridor project in the expectation that finally ‘missing links’ will adjust to the overall goal
2) if successful council and main roads might be prepared to create safer road crossing areas for wildlife
3) ribbon shaped stretches of natural vegetation provide habitat, even if not linked (on both ends) to larger natural areas
4) private land is well appreciate for its natural value (even very small blocks)
5) accepting corridors leads to the major qualities of environmental projects: sustainability, improving the water situation and high cost effectiveness (high environmental gains per dollar)
In this stage Landcare has defined catchments as its major focus areas (the colours are used in the communication):
a. Guanaba Creek (blue)
b. Cedar Creek (red)
c. Sandy Creek (yellow)
d. Tamborine Creek (green)
e. Kalmia Creek (pink)
f. Esme Creek (black)
One section is not a creek related corridor:
g. Knoll Road (brown)
Apart from these sections corridors may be established elsewhere on the mountain.
Each Landcare project fits in the overall corridors goals.
PROJECTS
Guanaba Creek (blue)
Features:
- Eastern catchment (Gold Coast)
- wet land mount Tamborine
- creek through Rosser park to the escarpment near St Bernhard
- Block of land at Kaiser Road
- Shelf Road including Jack and George Bartle Park
- Extends along the Main Western Road to the council depot corner of Showgrounds
Major focus areas:
- Rosser park
- Jack and George Bartle park
- At the western end: Council land along Kingsnorth block
Cedar Creek (red)
Features:
- Western catchment (Albert and Logan Rivers)
- Major Creek on the mountain
- Includes Plunkett Creek
- 90% is rainforest
- Runs through Joalah NP
- Cedar Creek (John Penglis – High School ground) with side connections to Councils Long Road future development)
- Plunkett Creek
- Eve’s Corner and Peat Crossing section connecting both
- Side way through National Park to Darlington (near Gallery Walk)
- Side way Northern side Geissman drive connecting Knoll Section (along North Street), Curtis Falls, Howards Place
Major focus areas:
- Holt Park
- High School ground
- Peat Crossing section
- Plunkett Creek
- (Eve’s Corner)
- (Howard’s Place)
- (Darlington)
Sandy Creek (yellow)
Features:
- North Eastern Catchment (Albert and logan Rivers)
- Major Creek at the North-East end of the mountain
- Ends in Steel Creek (major creek of Tamborine Village)
- Connecting Dickson Park
Water supply of Knoll National Par
- Crossing Beacon Road would complete a corridor
Major Focus Areas:
- Dickson Park
- (Steele Creek)
Tamborine Creek (green)
Features:
- Eastern Catchment (Gold Coast)
- Connecting Mac Donnal NP and Joalah NP across MacDonnel road with eastern escarpment
- Runs through contour Road valley
- Runs through and contains Botanical Gardens
- Extension (in future) to Pirralilla (corner of Gallery Walk)
- Extension (in future) to Palm Grove NP
Major Focus Areas:
- Ohia Court Creek
- Contour Road valley + creek
- MacDonnel Creek + wide riperaian zone between MacDonnal NP and Kinabalu Drive
- Creek through the Botanic Gardens
Kalmia Creek (pink)
Features:
- Eastern Catchment (Gold Coast)
- One creek + billabong
Major Focus Areas:
- Kalmia Court
Esme Creek (black)
Features:
- Eastern Catchment (Gold Coast)
- Creek through Esme Street Environmental Park
- Extension along Esme Street and Lahey Road to the Western Escarpment
Major Focus Areas:
- Esme Street Environmental park
- Crawford block
- Additional block: Butterfly garden
Knoll Road (brown)
Features:
- Connection over the mountain top from S-bends to Knoll NP
Major Focus Areas:
- S-bends
- Green waste dump and recycle station (worrying)
- Knoll Road end (‘Jim Bolton planting’)
P.O. Box 161, (Piccabeen bookshop, Main Street) North Tamborine, 07 5545 1847
http://www.tamborinemtnlandcare.org.au /
Landcare: connecting people for the environment