Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group

LBCCG is a small community group formed in 1992 that seeks to improve water quality throughout the Lake Baroon catchment by implementing on-ground works, education and awareness. The group originally worked with a small budget which has now grown to enable the employment of a dedicated full-time Catchment Coordinator.

In 2007 LBCCG signed a funding agreement with AquaGen (now Seqwater) and the Queensland State Government to provide 10 years project funding and administrative support including a dedicated office building with excellent facilities. This funding agreement has been years in development and allows LBCCG to take a more proactive approach to catchment management and expand our activities. 

News

This part of the website will be updated regularly with news in the Lake Baroon Catchment.....please check back soon.

Priority Strategy for Funding Provided by Seqwater 2010-11

Another year sneaks by and LBCCG updates it's Priority Strategy. This document is a requirement under our Ten Year Funding Agreement with Seqwater and is essentially an update of our Financial Plan along with a review of the previous year, plans for the coming year and how we prioritise projects.

Project Outputs 2009-10

2009-10 has been another very successful year for LBCCG, delivering impressive outputs while often 'flying underneath the radar'. This is because we first and foremost concentrate on getting the job done rather than spending our valuable time promoting ourselves. The table below shows what we have delivered in the past 12 months. A big thank-you to our major partner - Seqwater, as well as the Federal Government's Caring for Country Community Action Grants program, Sunshine Coast Council and the Department of Fisheries and Primary Industries.

Wittacork Diary Laneways Rehabilitation

This laneway hardening project was completed in June. Sediment and nutrient run-off from the property will be reduced while improving farm management and productivity.

Above: A before and after photo of livestock laneway hardening on the Wittacork property. Note Baroon Pocket Dam in the background.

Bridge Creek Rehabilitation continues...

The 2009-10 revegetation component of Bridge Creek Rehabilitation (McLauchlan) has continued with 2,500 trees planted by Barung Landcare on a waterlogged, unstable area. This area was contributing large amounts of sediment and nutrients to Bridge Creek and Baroon Pocket Dam.

Above: The Bridge Creek Rehabilitation revegetation site as viewed from Tesch Rd, Witta.

Willow Creek Stormwater Project concludes

In June the finishing touches to the on-ground component of the LBCCG/Sunshine Coast Council project "Willow Creek Stormwater" were completed with the revegetation of the creek banks on the Lawley property.

Above: Revegetation of Willow Creek completed

Maleny Show

LBCCG in conjunction with Seqwater attended the Maleny Show with an information stand. Unfortunately the misty rain on Friday turned into steady rain overnight resulting in a wet and soggy display Saturday morning. Someone was overheard to comment it was appropriate for the Seqwater tent to resemble a dam!

Above: the LBCCG/Seqwater stand at the Show...note the water laying on the ground inside the tent.

Green Jobs Corp program

LBCCG is currently planning a Green Jobs Corp program that will involve 20 young people in environmental activities in the Lake Baroon catchment. The aim has been to provide assistance to landholders that would normally fall outside LBCCG funding programs. Activities will include weed management, revegetation, track construction and all aspects of bush regeneration. Most importantly it will give local unemployed youth the opportunity to gain invaluable skills which will assist them to gain full time employment in the future.

Above: Green Corps working on Dilkusha Nature Refuge in 2008

Glasshouse Volunteers Awards

Volunteers are the lifeblood of community groups and LBCCG is no exception. Volunteers give up enormous amounts of time to selflessly improve their communities. So it was with great pleasure to nominate Gillian Pechey for a Glasshouse Volunteer Award organised by Member for Glasshouse, Andrew Powell. Gillian has been the Secretary for LBCCG since the beginning in 1992 (except when she took on the role of Treasurer for a couple of years!). Gillian is an inspiration to us all at LBCCG and greatly valued for her local knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm. Congratulations Gillian.

Above: The Maleny volunteers who received awards and Gillian receiving her award.

LBCCG visits Dilkusha

In late April the LBCCG committee visited the Dilkusha Nature Refuge to view first hand the enormous amount of work that these committed and skilled landholders are achieving. The property has been transformed from an impenetrable,  weed infested ex-dairy to a showcase for flora and fauna and in particular bush regeneration methods that achieve results. LBCCG congratulates Dilkusha on their efforts and would like to thank Paul, Fran & Bob for giving us a guided tour of the property.

Above: Paul, Fran & Bob guiding LBCCG & Seqwater staff around Dilkusha Nature Refuge

Seqwater Weeds Advisory Group (SWAG) visit

Recently SWAG visited the catchment and LBCCG offices to take a look at the catchment and particularly the unique weed issues. Weeds of course are a huge problem for all residents on the Blackall Range and Seqwater is no exception, particularly when they manage a significant area of land around the dam. The greater Lake Baroon catchment is also of concern as weeds - particularly aquatic weeds can cause enormous problems in the management of water supply storages.

Above: SWAG discussing weed management on Seqwater land at Lake Baroon.

More Weeds...

The recent rainfall and warm weather has been great for the region, landholders and of course...weeds! Below is the eastern side of the Blackall Range at Montville - the spectacular yellow mass is Japanese Sunflower, usually a weed of disturbed and forgotten places, but really establishing itself in this location.

Above: Japanese Sunflower spreading down-slope from Montville.

Another weed that is slowly, but surely spreading throughout the Sunshine Coast hinterland is the Class 3 (legal requirement to control) extremely invasive garden escapee Madeira Vine. This weed is extremely difficult to eradicate because it reproduces from stem fragments and aerial tubers.

Above: Madeira Vine tuber - note the sprouting regrowth.

Property visits

LBCCG Coordinator, Mark Amos regularly visits properties throughout the catchment providing advice, developing projects or just dropping in for a chat and walk around some magnificent places. Sometimes I see unusual things - and get to take great pics. In fact just last month I was invited to visit "Beechwood" and took an incredibly rare photo - Barung Landcare Manager (and LBCCG Treasurer) Darryl Ebenezer in the bush!

2010/11 Projects wanted NOW!

If you are a landholder in the Lake Baroon catchment and have been thinking about property improvement works that have water quality benefits, LBCCG would be very keen to speak to you. LBCCG can assist with funding for:

• laneway & dairy apron hardening
• waterway crossings
• off stream watering
• fencing
• revegetation
• property resource plans

Please contact LBCCG Coordinator Mark Amos on 07 5494 3775

2009/10 Minor Projects

This year's Minor Projects are close to being approved with a wide variety of smaller projects being selected. Education has been promoted heavily with proposals to produce new signage at Lake Baroon and investment in the new Blackall Range Landholder's Guide. Also of note is the involvement in a CSIRO project to find a bio-control for Mistflower - an environmental weed of the Blackall Range. A couple of older projects by LBCCG are going receive some finishing touches as well.

Walkers Creek Restoration continuing...

Recently the revegetation component of the project was completed. Almost 1,000 plants were planted by Barung Landcare stabilising an eroding bank.

Seqwater Board visit Lake Baroon catchment

On March 19 the Seqwater Board visited Maleny to personally inspect some of the on-ground works being implemented by LBCCG. We showed them a property that has had no dairy laneway hardening completed and then visited Walker's Creek restoration where laneways had been hardened mid 2009. The difference was clear to see - particularly after the heavy rainfall Maleny had experienced in the weeks leading up to the visit.

Hardening laneways and dairy aprons significantly reduces erosion and nutrient run-off - protecting water quality in the catchment.

"Thinktank" meeting

On March 5, the members of the "Thinktank" group, led by the Member for Glasshouse, Andrew Powell met to further discuss environmental issues on the range - particularly the importance of water.

Major project on shores of Lake Baroon

LBCCG is investing in a project on the western shores of Lake Baroon. The dairy farm will receive assistance to harden more than 700 metres of livestock laneways. Due to the proximity to Lake Baroon this is an important project to minimise erosion and nutrient run-off to the properties waterways and the Dam.

New Mobile phone number for LBCCG Coordinator, Mark Amos

Please note Mark's new mobile number is 0414 552 394

Currimundi Primary School students visit

On the 12th of March 60 Year 6 Currimundi Primary School students visited the North Maleny office where they participated in various activities. Students watched Seqwater's "Catch, Store, Treat" DVD, Mark from LBCCG ran a short workshop with on the local geology, soils and the works the catchment group implements to improve water quality in the catchment, and also a talk from Seqwater's Michael Fiechtner on the importance of water.

LBCCG Membership

If you would like to become a member of the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, you can apply here Membership 2010.  Members have a say in what happens in the catchment and have access to LBCCG services and support. Also, members have access to generous funding opportunities. Importantly WE value our member's knowledge and experience which assists us to improve our service to the people of the Lake Baroon catchment.

Community Action Grants funding

Our funding application under Caring for Our Country Community Action Grants was successful and will be used to expand the Bridge Creek Rehabilitation (Lower) project. Minor weed management (lantana), fencing and planting of an eroding hill-slope will be the primary outputs of the funding, but most importantly will reduce the erosion and ultimately the sediment inputs entering Bridge Creek.

Christmas Wishes

The Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group Committee and Staff wish all our members, partners, project participants and landholders in the Lake Baroon catchment a merry and safe Christmas, and a happy, prosperous New Year.

2009 Newsletter

To find out what the LBCCG got up to in 2009 please follow this link:  2009 Newsletter

Projects for 2009-10

Currently projects are being developed for the current Financial Year. At this stage five major projects will be implemented with 3 occurring in the Obi Obi Creek and 2 in the Bridge Creek catchments (Project Proposals can be viewed under Projects). This is not surprising as these are the two largest sub-catchments in the larger Lake Baroon catchment. On-ground activities range from large scale revegetation, waterway crossings, laneway hardening and riparian fencing.

"Name That Stream" project completed

Finally, after several years of work - particularly by LBCCG Secretary Gillian, the Name That Stream project is complete. More here  Name That Stream

LBCCG supports Maleny Community Precinct recommendations

After careful review of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Maleny Community Precinct Environmental Scoping Document, LBCCG supports the recommendations it contains. To view the entire document follow this link:     http://www.greenhills.org.au/download/precinct_env_report_1.htm

Walker's Creek Restoration Case Study

Walkers Creek Restoration is a partnership between the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Seqwater and the landowners - the Hopper family. To read more follow this link Walkers Creek Restoration

Cultural Tour

Throughout November local indigenous identity Bev Hand conducted local tours to places that hold special significance to her.  Attendees visited Lake Baroon, Mary Cairncross Park and the Obi Obi Creek at the 'Narrows". Bev relayed fascinating stories from the past and showed her immense passion for the places and people here on the Maleny plateau.

Pictured above is Bev organising the 'timeline' which illustrates how long the indigenous people of Australia were living in this land relative to the other 'great' cultures of the world.

Unity College school children descend on North Maleny offices!

During October the North Maleny offices hosted 72 Year 9 kids from Unity College, Caloundra. While half of the group watched the Seqwater "Catch, Store, Treat" DVD, Mark from LBCCG ran a short workshop with the other half on the local geology, soils and the works the catchment group implements to improve water quality in the catchment.

LBCCG Annual General Meeting

Our AGM was held on October 8 with the Executive Committee reinstated. Holding an Executive position in the organisation is an important responsibility and all members must be thanked and congratulated on their roles.                             

LBCCG President Peter Steven's Annual Report:

"Another busy year and one which has seen significant changes to the staffing structure within and affecting LBCCG. Murray Dunstan moved to a new position within Seqwater and we were sorry to see him go but wish him well and hope that he will take the occasional interest in what the group is up to.  Much of the strategic success over the last few years for LBCCG was driven by Murray and his contribution to the group cannot be underestimated. Jane Mac Gibbon departed the group as Project Officer this year and left behind a much more ordered and administratively elevated office than when she arrived. Jane’s work has laid the foundations of the more professional and accountable group that we now are, which enabled a smooth staff transition.

Mark Amos was appointed Catchment Co-ordinator in April 2009 replacing Jane MacGibbon. The new job title is a better description of Mark’s work and role within LBCCG. Mark has hit the ground running and has shown that he has the personality to communicate and interact with our local landholders. Mark has had to pick up some fairly large project commitments and integrate himself into LBCCG’s philosophy while having little real support at the office. This shows a strong self determination and independence which will be of immense value to LBCCG in the future.

Tim Odgers has recently been appointed by Seqwater as Northern Catchment Co-ordinator and as such is responsible for catchment groups. This is a new position for Seqwater and effectively it replaces Murray’s role to our group.  LBCCG looks forward to working with Tim in the coming years and hopes that it can pass on some of its philosophy as well as benefitting from Tim’s wide experience in natural resource management. Tim will be based at LBCCG offices, which is a plus for LBCCG, but it is expected that Tim will spend significant time out of the office.

When I first realised that both Murray and Jane would be moving on within a fairly short time frame, I was to say the least, concerned at the impact it might have on LBCCG. In hindsight, such a smooth transition as did occur is a credit not only to Jane and Murray for their past work but also to Mark Amos who has picked it up and just kept on running. So I would like to pass my thanks for staff past and present who made 2009 another great year for our group. 

2009 saw the Walkers Creek Project at Hoppers Farm up and running, LBCCG’s largest project to date within a high profile catchment and with a local dairy farmer. This project has been one of the most satisfying to see implemented as it represents about five years or more of active management by the committee to make it possible. That is not to say it took this long to negotiate but to put in place the required elements of staff, funding, policy and desire to see this type of project get up. In essence, this project demonstrates the value of community catchment care groups because its facilitation may not have been possible without community representation provided by LBCCG.

Overall LBCCG has provided a range of good projects this year and returned a four fold increase on the project funds provided by Seqwater, an excellent return on investment. In contrast, funding provided by traditional sources for Landcare groups has all but disappeared. In many cases this has led to the closure or severe restriction of operations with little relief in sight. Local Landcare groups are major employers and businesses within their area, a fact often overlooked. LBCCG is fortunate to have a close relationship with Seqwater which has provided protection. However it is important in times such as these to develop links and provide support to other groups where possible. Hopefully the appointment of Tim Odgers can lead to a more regional approach to these problems.

Finally I would like to thank the committee for all their fine work, and for putting up with me all year. Notably, Gillian did get the creeks named, Steve did get a promotion, and Darryl is still talking to me. Let’s hope its all going to be just as much fun this coming year."

Andrew Powell visits Walker's Creek Restoration project

LBCCG had the pleasure of giving Andrew Powell MP, Member for Glass House a short tour of the Walkers Creek Restoration project. Andrew has shown considerable interest in the environmental activities of the Maleny district and we look forward to developing a valuable partnership with Andrew.

Property Management Planning program

The LBCCG PMP program is gradually building momentum with projects for the 2009-10 financial year being developed. Property Management Planning is a whole-farm approach to managing the business taking into account economic, social and environmental factors. LBCCG is committed to supporting large landholders who want to keep their "soil and nutrients on the paddocks where they belong".

Walkers Creek Restoration Field Day

On August 25 LBCCG held a Field Day at Maleny Dairies looking at engineering initiatives undertaken to improve water quality and farm productivity on the Hopper family property. We would like to thank our partners - Seqwater, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Maleny Dairies and of course the Hopper family for the great work. After recent hot weather we had a beautiful day for the event and an excellent attendance. We will hold another Field Day when works have been completed on the project.