Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group

LBCCG is a small community group formed in 1992 that seeks to improve water quality throughout its catchment by implementing on-ground works, education and training. 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!

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.

New Seqwater Northern Catchments Coordinator

Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group welcomes Tim Odgers as the new Seqwater Northern Catchments Coordinator. Tim is based at the North Maleny offices and will work with community groups and organisations north of Brisbane. Tim is well known in the region for his great work in the Pine Rivers area.

Finally Willow Creek Stormwater gets underway

Willow Creek Stormwater re-commenced last week with the sediment and weed removal proving far easier with a larger machine and two trucks. The banks of the creek were quickly covered by erosion matting and revegetation commenced. Although the bed of the creek still looks a little muddy, the banks and plantings look tremendous!

Fine weather gets things moving on Walkers Creek Restoration

Walkers Creek Restoration Stage 1 has continued at a rapid pace - with fine weather allowing heavy machinery to operate. The concreting of dairy pads has been completed. Laneway hardening has also been finished with off stream watering and riparian fencing well underway.