ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS FUNDING SUPPORTS REGION'S NATURAL VALUES

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Published: 27 November 2019

Projects to help conserve threatened species, eliminate invasive weeds and restore native habitat have been supported with more than $100,000 from Scenic Rim Regional Council's Environmental Grants Program for 2019-2020.

At its Ordinary Meeting this week, Council approved funds totalling $101,217 for 29 projects to help local community groups, landowners and not-for-profit organisations across the region contribute to the enhancement of the Scenic Rim's natural values.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the numerous grant requests reflected the commitment of Scenic Rim residents to maintaining the region's spectacular scenery and healthy environment as part of the shared vision of the Community Plan.

"Council received a total of 34 applications requesting more than $183,000 - almost twice the budget allocation for the year - showing the tremendous interest from the wider community in contributing to the enhancement of our region's natural environment," he said.

"In assessing applications, Council has aimed to provide maximum value to the community by supporting the widest range of worthwhile projects and so some grant requests have received partial funding."

The treatment of invasive weeds, which contribute to the erosion of stream banks and pose a threat to native plants and animals, was a priority for many grant applicants throughout the region.

Council's environmental grants will provide for projects targeting invasive weeds at Tamborine Mountain, Moogerah, Biddaddaba, Canungra, Lamington, Beechmont, Kalbar, Maroon, Frenches Creek, Rathdowney, Coochin and Carneys Creek.

The grants will also support a survey of endangered quoll populations within key areas of the Scenic Rim and for a koala care workshop in Beaudesert.

"Council is pleased to be able to support the efforts of Scenic Rim community groups and landowners who play a major role in protecting our region's world-class biodiversity and the many rare and threatened species with which we share our spectacular environment," Cr Christensen said.

"Projects supported by Council's Environmental Grants Program complement the initiatives undertaken by Council on private property and bushland reserves.

"In previous years, these have helped the community to protect endangered species such as the Bristlebird, Glossy Black Cockatoo and Koala as well as our unique vegetation including Brigalow scrub and native macadamia trees."

Individuals and community groups whose projects are supported in this year's funding round are:

Name	Location	Project Description
Lim	Tamborine Mountain	Project to undertake treatment of invasive weed species Monkey Comb Vine. Project is part of on-going project.
Barker	Lake Moogerah Road	Project to treat serious riparian weeds including Cat's-Claw Creeper.
Tamborine Mountain Landcare Association Inc.	Tamborine Mountain	Weed treatment and tree planting projects within a variety of Council Reserves on Tamborine Mountain.
Beadle	Lamington	Project to undertake weed treatment of environmental weeds and revegetation in Land for Wildlife property.
Barton	Maroon	Project to undertake surveying of endangered quoll populations within key area of the Scenic Rim.
Luck	Canungra	Request funding for contractor to undertake weed control of species including Cat's-Claw Creeper within Land for Wildlife property located along Canungra Creek.
Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Trust	Tamborine Mountain	Contractor weed control on Trust reserve - Crawfords Corner.
Tamborine Mountain Rainforest Trust	Tamborine Mountain	Contractor weed control on Trust reserve - Howards Place.
McEwin	Frenches Creek	Project to undertake riparian regeneration of gorge and creek area. Project includes contractors to undertake weed control.
Sharp	Rathdowney	Project to engage a contractor to undertake weed control.
Buswell	Lamington	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control of environmental weeds.
Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C)	Maroon	Project to engage contractor to undertake treatment of weeds in a Nature Refuge.
Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire (BOSS)	Boonah	Project for the delivery of World Environment Day (Community Event) in Boonah. Request for funds to fund certain costs of event.
Williams	Carneys Creek	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control of invasive species including lantana.
Cowling	Kalbar	Project to undertake weed treatment in endangered Brigalow forest and repair brigalow damage.
Rotary Club of Beaudesert Inc	Beaudesert	Project to deliver a koala care workshop in Beaudesert.
Beechmont District Landcare Association	Beechmont	Project to continue weed control works by contractors in Council Reserves located on Beechmont.
Friends of the Knoll (Sponsored by Tamborine Mountain Natural History Association Inc.)	Tamborine Mountain	Project to engage a contractor to undertake weed control on properties along Knoll Road.
Morris	Coochin	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control for environmental weeds including lantana.
Ison	Carneys Creek	Project to undertake weed control and habitat restoration in high value Land for Wildlife property.
Powell	Beechmont	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control for environmental weeds.
Lawton	Biddaddaba	Project to Install riparian fencing and erosion control works along Biddaddaba Creek.
Wild Mountains Trust	Rathdowney	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control for environmental weeds.
Fletcher	Carneys Creek	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control for environmental weeds and undertake tree planting on Land for Wildlife property located on Teviot Brook
Desmond	Moogerah	Contractor weed control.
Biddaddaba Creek Action Group Inc.	Biddaddaba	Treatment of riparian weeds by contractors as part of ongoing project along Biddaddaba Creek.
Kooralbyn Boomerang Lagoon Community Group (Sponsored by B4C)	Kooralbyn	Project to improve habitat around lagoon (Council Reserve) with tree planting and weed control.
Tamborine Mountain Biosphere Inc.	Tamborine Mountain	Project to undertake a study of biodiversity on Tamborine Mountain.
Cedar Creek Cellars Pty Ltd.	Tamborine Mountain	Project to engage contractor to undertake weed control within high value waterway Cedar Creek.