Annual Report 2017 – 2018

Hinterland Bush Links Inc.

ABN 12314200850

2 Treehaven Way, Maleny QLD 4552

Ph 0448 447 322

sduncan@hinterlandbushlinks.org

www.hinterlandbushlinks.org

Proudly supported by

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Contents President’s Report ………………………………. 3

Coordinator/Project Officer’s Report……. 5

Treasurer’s Report………………………………. 18

2017/2018 Management Committee

President Liz Saunders

Secretary Kim Holcroft

Treasurer Mary Meadows

Committee members Paul Magee

Fergus FitzGerald

Melissa Prociv

Paul Prociv

Hinterland Bush Links staff

Coordinator Susie Duncan

Project Officer Sue Brieschke

Administrative support Den Lalor

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Hinterland Bush Links region,

the Kabi Kabi, Jinibara and Wakka Wakka People. We pay respect to elders past,

present and emerging.

Front Page: View across Branch Creek Valley, Bellthorpe National Park

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President’s Report

Liz Saunders

It is my pleasure to present the President’s report for 2017-18. We continue to work closely with Barung Landcare and many other regional organisations with whom we share a similar concern for our amazing natural environment.

We are currently in the second year of a three-year Environment Levy Partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, and we greatly appreciate their ongoing support. In this past financial year, we received $39,000 to pay Susie Duncan a part-time salary as well as cover costs for travel and office. We do note however that Susie puts in way above this value in terms of time and expertise

In the past year, funding has been received from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Burnett Mary Regional Group, Department of Transport and Main Roads, and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee for the mapping and eradication of serious weed vines in the Upper Mary Catchment. Matt Bateman has contributed his high-level expertise to this project, resulting in over 70% of infestations being mapped and treated. This project is vital in ensuring that the threatened Lowland Subtropical Rainforest in the Mary River Catchment is not lost.

Over this past year Hinterland Bush Links has continued its strategic works to restore and connect habitat for our native plants and animals. Even the largest patches of bush are unable to guarantee the survival or continued evolution of species if they remain isolated from each other within ecologically hostile landscapes. The restoration works of Hinterland Bush Links ensure that wildlife and the seed they disperse, can move between these patches of vegetation. Through our efforts, habitat is enhanced for rainforest species such as the Marbled Frogmouth and fruit doves, and eucalypt forests for gliding possums and Koalas.

A connected landscape reflects the creative efforts of a connected community that values this beautiful natural environment. In this vein, we have continued our popular Roving Restorers program, engaging over 250 volunteers (not all at once!) in assisting private landholders with their bush restoration projects. The program is a wonderful way for people to relate hands-on with different environmental challenges within their local area and to meet new and passionate individuals from all walks of life.

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It has been particularly pleasing to re-visit several sites after two or three years and see the incredible growth and benefit to the landscapes.

Our educational program has achieved extensive outreach to landholders and the wider community. In particular, the annual Subtropical Forests Ecology Course was very successful in the new venue at Bellthorpe and proved to be extremely suitable for the content of the course as well as networking with the Bellthorpe Progress Association who are also doing great bush restoration work. There was a wide variety of local and interstate participants undertaking the course, taking away new in-depth knowledge that will enable them to be more strategic in their own habitat restoration efforts.

We have partnered with many organisations to deliver on-ground works and our education program. This has included strategic planning exercises and workshops with the Sunshine Coast Council. The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative continues to link us to the larger landscape and provides encouragement and connection with like-minded groups across eastern Australia.

Susie Duncan and Sue Brieschke have continued to drive a range of projects through to successful outcomes. Together they have navigated successfully the tortuous routes of grant applications, liaison with new landholders and maximising good strategic outcomes for the donations and grants we receive. They have been supported by an excellent management committee and a fabulous range of volunteers who are critical to the achievements of the organisation. Our Treasurer, Mary Meadows has continued to give generously of her time and skills over the past year and we thank her wholeheartedly.

A major strength of the organisation is the commitment, good will and enthusiasm shown by all our private donors. The achievements of Hinterland Bush Links are a result of their generous contributions and I would especially like to thank our major donors – Jane Abercrombie, Libby & Marek Malter, Barry Traill & Susie Duncan for their ongoing support. Every dollar is put to the continuation and expansion of this successful conservation program which ensures a future for our ecosystems.

Finally, we invite any non-members to join our organisation. There is no membership fee and we would love you to become part of this great Hinterland Connection.

Liz Saunders President

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The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to live in Australia, and this rich landscape is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. Although much of our wildlife still thrives, a significant number of native plants, animals and ecosystems are threatened. Hinterland Bush Links is driven by a sense of urgency to reverse this decline of our natural world and ensure that it is healthy and resilient in the face of climate change.

To achieve maximum gains for biodiversity conservation in this region, we renew our strategic plan annually. This ensures that we have clear goals and have identified the best path to achieving them. Our planning is based on the best available science and our outcomes are clearly measurable. Most of our funding is delivered to strategic on-ground works with only a small portion

being used for administration. We are delivering big for nature conservation on a small budget!

The five areas of focus for the strategic plan are:

Landscape-scale connection, restoration and protection of native vegetation

Advocacy for landscape-scale connection, restoration and protection of ecosystems

Building community capacity/education

Developing support networks and funding partnerships

Building a skilled and capable workforce

The following report describes our progress.

Coordinator/Project Officer Report

Susie Duncan & Sue Brieschke

Landscape-scale connection, restoration and protection of native

vegetation

Our direct on-ground works include weed vine eradication, Roving Restorers weed management and revegetation, nest-hollow enhancement and Bushcare group support. These activities, are strategically delivering improved biodiversity outcomes in core habitat areas and key corridors. They also inspire landholders to continue apace with their nature conservation activities.

The projects below describe the on-ground works undertaken to strengthen the resilience of existing habitat and linkages, and the expansion of core habitat areas and corridors.

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Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project

This strategic project continued the eradication of key weed vines over the past year with funding assistance from Burnett Mary Regional Group (National Landcare Program), Qld Department of Environment & Science (Community Sustainability Action Grant), Qld Department of Transport & Main Roads, and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee. Some 70% of the Upper Mary catchment has been mapped for weed vine infestations and these infestations have been treated at least once. Repeat treatments over several years are essential to eradicate Cats Claw Creeper and Madeira Vine (Weeds of National Significance), and Dutchman’s Pipe (toxic to Richmond Birdwing butterfly larvae) in the Upper Mary Valley. Over 300 properties have been involved in this eradication project.

In addition, our Roving Restorers project tackles weed vines where we encounter them on private property. We also support Little Yabba Bushcare Group to eradicate them on Little Yabba Ck reserve.

A very successful workshop on weed vines was conducted in Maleny during the year. Some 44 people attended the workshop and most will employ this learning for management of weed vines on their own properties.

We have received funding from the Qld Department of Environment & Science (Community Sustainability Action Grant) to undertake the next stage of this work. We liaise with a wide-range of other organisations involved with control of weed vines throughout the Mary River catchment to maximise collaborative effort.

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Bushcare groups

In partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, Little Yabba Bushcare continues to undertake restoration of habitat in the Cambroon Wildlife Corridor to link the Blackall and Conondale ranges. We contribute to Avocado Lane Bushcare in Maleny, protecting habitat along Walkers Ck; and Southern Wetlands Bushcare at the Maleny Precinct. Sunshine Coast Council has given approval for a new Bushcare group to be established at the Maleny Showgrounds to protect remnant and regenerating vegetation, and to assist connectivity on the Obi Creek. We hope to launch this initiative in October 2018.

Roving Restorers

Roving Restorers continue their excellent volunteer assistance to landholders through weed management and revegetation work. We have a strategic focus on land within key wildlife corridors or land which enhances protected areas. Landholders are encour-aged to continue this habitat restoration and plan towards linkages with neighbours.

Apart from achieving good outcomes for the environment, the on-ground sessions pro-vide training on restoration techniques and a great social setting where valuable manage-ment experience is exchanged. We have been running working bees twice a month across the Bush Links region, with regular attendance of 12-20 people. Roving Restor-ers often provide in-kind planting and weed-ing support for landholders who receive Landholder Environment Grants from Sun-shine Coast Council.

We have engaged with Noosa Landcare and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Com-mittee with the intent of establishing a sec-ond Roving Restorers hub in the north of the HBL region, complementing our current ac-tivities which are mainly focussed in the south. We will continue to pursue funding from Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and other organisations to achieve this.

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Subtropical Lowland Rainforest conservation

Subtropical Lowland Rainforest largely occurs below 300m altitude and is Critically Endangered at a national level. It is home to a diverse array of native plants, animals and fungi so its massive loss in extent and quality has had serious impacts on our biodiversity. Our key strategy to recover this ecosystem is to control weed vines which degrade rainforest vegetation along streams and in other sites. We work with landholders to raise awareness of the importance of protecting this rainforest community, and have met with HQ Plantations to discuss streamside buffering to reduce sedimentation and erosion on streams in the Mary Valley.

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Threatened species surveys & nest hollow trials

We have continued surveys for threatened nocturnal wildlife on the Blackall Range, resulting in new records for the Marbled Frogmouth, Powerful Owl and Sooty Owl. The apparent increase in the population of the Marbled Frogmouth since the 1970’s is testament to the habitat restoration and connectivity work undertaken by landholders. This has enabled this rainforest specialist bird to disperse along creeks into new habitat.

Extensive local, State and National media was generated on the Marbled Frogmouth, with an emphasis on the importance of habitat restoration and connectivity. National media was also produced on the Bellthorpe nest hollow trial which involved the erection of wheelie bins designed for large owls and cockatoos, and the creation of carved hollows. This trial explores options for production of low-cost nest-boxes and acceleration of tree-hollow development, to improve habitat quality. The project arose from the 2017 Subtropical Forests Ecology Course.

Sooty Owl, photo courtesy Deborah Felius

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IUCN Areas of Connectivity Conservation

Susie Duncan and Sue Brieschke participated in the national Conservation Connectivity Specialist Group forum to formulate standards and guidelines for International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Areas of Connectivity Conservation – a possible new IUCN conservation designation.

Conondale National Park – Wrattens National Park corridor

We have been developing and promoting a plan for the creation of a key corridor linking National Parks in the northern Conondale Range, in collaboration with Conondale Range Conservation and National Parks Association of Queensland. We have had initial engagement with the Minister for Environment and Science in regard to this proposal.

Advocacy for landscape-scale connection, restoration and protection of ecosystems

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Building Community Capacity/Education

We are making very good progress in community education and capacity building to achieve on-ground habitat restoration and connectivity outcomes on the Blackall Range, Upper Mary Valley, and the coastal hinterland.

Subtropical Forests Ecology Course

A highlight of the year was our third Subtropical Forests Ecology Course held at Bellthorpe in August-September 2017. The course was a great success with positive feedback from the participants. Of the 20 registered, 13 were from the Sunshine Coast Council Region. These included landholders, Land for Wildlife and catchment officers, students and environmental consultants, all with an interest in ecological restoration. The 4-day course introduced them to the geology, soils and hydrology that underpin the distribution of plants in the region, and

the wildlife associated with different habitats. This learning was then applied to conservation planning for a nearby property, a practical exercise that will enable participants to gain a clearer insight to works they undertake on other sites. We had excellent instructors covering a wide array of topics from geology to camera traps, and participants also freely shared their knowledge and experience. Published course notes were prepared for the course and provide a useful reference for participants.

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Community workshops & presentations

We have conducted a range of workshops and presentations on ecology and bush restoration/connectivity through the year. These included ‘Indigenous land management’, ‘wildlife in your backyard’ and ‘weed vine control’ workshops, and an ecological walk for Roving Restorers at Maleny National Park.

Susie gave presentations on landscape restoration and connectivity at a Birdlife congress at Maroochy Botanic Gardens, for community at Beerwah library, for Sunshine Coast Council volunteers at Walkers Creek, and at the Barung Wood Expo. Bush Links was also involved with ecological education activities at the Bunya Festival held at Ewen Maddock dam, and engagement with community through our stall at World Environment Day. Almost 400 people have been reached through these workshops and presentations.

Media

Our monthly bulletin was launched in No-vember 2017, providing members with regu-lar email updates on our activities and planned events. We produced six videos to engage community in the importance of re-storing and connecting habitat. These are available on our website and via our Face-book site. Facebook has been an important platform for HBL updates and discussion of issues associated with ecology, habitat resto-ration and connectivity. National TV, radio, online media and print media, variously fea-tured our Marbled Frogmouth story, the nest-hollow trials and Roving Restorers projects, as well as more minor stories. Our website carries current information regarding all our activities.

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Landholder visits

We have made visits to 15 landholders requesting assistance on how to get started with conservation work on their property or support from Roving Restorers. We advise on how to seek help from Land for Wildlife officers and to apply for Landholder Environment Grants, as well as planning for connectivity. We also recommend other programs that might be helpful such as Barung Landcare’s Gardens for Wildlife scheme.

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Developing support networks and funding partnerships

Hinterland Bush Links networks widely with other environmental organisations and agencies throughout the region and beyond. In particular we have strong funding and working partnerships with Sunshine Coast Council, Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), Qld Department of Environment & Science (DES), Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR), and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC).

Funding from Sunshine Coast Council has been received through their Environment Levy Partnership program, and an Environment Levy Grant. These funds supported a range of programs including the Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project, Roving Restorers and the Subtropical Forests

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Ecology Course. We are very grateful for this extensive funding support as well as the collaboration of Council staff on a wide range of projects, including the Sunshine Coast Council Biosecurity Plan. HBL collaborates with Council through Bushcare groups on several reserves. Land acquisitions by SCC for biodiversity conservation are making an important contribution to ecological connectivity in the region. In particular, the Council purchase of two parcels of conservation land adjacent to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, will potentially contribute to significant connectivity from this reserve to the Obi Ck and Upper Mooloolah Nature Refuge.

We have worked with Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group on weed vine control, and BMRG, MRCCC, DES and TMR have contributed financially to our strategic works through the year. Queensland Water and Land Carers have kindly provided insurance and organisational advice.

We enjoy a positive, collaborative

relationship with Barung Landcare. Other groups with which we have engaged on planning, education or on-ground projects are: Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, Noosa & District Landcare, Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, SEQ Catchments, Conondale Range Conservation, Bellthorpe Progress Association, Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Birdlife Australia, Invasive Species Council, Queensland Mycological Society, HQ Plantations and Moreton Bay Regional Council. Maleny Credit Union has contributed financially to HBL through their Clubs Rewards Program.

We also acknowledge the wonderful financial support of our donors, in particular Jane Abercrombie, Marek & Libby Malter, and Barry Traill & Susie Duncan. HBL has received Deductible Gift Recipient status in the past year so this has enabled us to set up a tax-deductible Gift Fund. We are also preparing a bequest brochure for anyone that would like to leave a gift to HBL.

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Building a strong and capable

workforce

Hinterland Bush Links ensures that our staff and volunteer workforce are kept up to date with relevant Work Place Health and Safety measures including regular First Aid courses for people in key roles. We have clear Risk Assessment, emergency planning and safety induction procedures in place. Volunteers have been trained to undertake valuable roles within the organisation including publicity for events, field support, and teaching at the Subtropical Forests Ecology Course and workshops. Further training in weed management and revegetation works occurs through Roving Restorers. Volunteers are also encouraged to attend our ecological walks and workshops as well as events organised by Councils and other organisations. We have developed a member survey to increase the participation

of members in our work. Over the past 7 years, Hinterland Bush Links volunteers have contributed over 13,000 hours of work to creating a future for our wildlife. In March 2018, Susie and Sue attended a 2-day meeting with other landscape connectivity practitioners from the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (GERI). This was a valuable opportunity to network and discuss challenges and opportunities for accelerating this important conservation work. Prior to this, a meeting was convened by GERI to establish a Queensland Connectivity Network involving interested organisations from across the State. Susie attended an event addressed by Harvey Locke, an international pioneer in landscape conservation, promoting

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Susie Duncan Coordinator

Sue Brieschke Project Officer

connectivity strategies in SE Queensland. She also attended a nature writing workshop provided by Sunshine Coast Council, to hone skills in communicating the value of our natural environment.

The Hinterland Bush Links management committee and our many other volunteers have ensured that great work is happening on-ground to safeguard the future of our amazing natural environment in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

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Treasurer’s Report

Mary Meadows

For the Financial Year ended 30 June 2018

We have had a busy year, with substantial grants for weed vine control. Roving Restorers were very active planting and weeding, and we held the ecology course in August -September 2017.

A considerable portion of grants were received/invoiced in June 2018, but will be expended in the 2018/2019 financial year. In the balance sheet you will note an amount provided for unexpended grants.

We received funds for the first year of our now three-year commitment from the

Sunshine Coast Council. This Environment Levy Partnership Grant provides $39,000 per annum to cover a part-salary for Susie Duncan, travel, phone and hub expenses.

Our Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine project has been supported with funds totalling $68,000 for 2017-2018. Further funds were received from MRCCC ($126,200) and the Queensland Department of Environment & Science CSA Round 2 grant ($22,000) to finance work to be completed in 2018-2019.

In October 2017, Hinterland Bush Links was included on the Register of Environmental Organisations and granted Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. We received our first donation in November 2017. The HBL Environmental Gift Fund since then has received some substantial donations and a number of smaller donations. Total donations for the year were $26,906. This funding will allow us to pay part-time salary to Sue Brieschke our project officer, who was previously employed by donations we received through the Barung Environment Gift Fund.

The balance sheet shows a small loss for the year of $309.30. There are two items that we had not budgeted for. One was printing costs of $600 to Barung for the 2016 ecology

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course, and the Department of Environment and Science required an audit for their $20,000 grant for eradicating Cats Claw and Madeira Vine in Elaman and Cedar Creeks.

At the end of the financial year, HBL had a total shareholders’ equity of $4,617.41. Total cash at the bank on 30 June 2018 was $101,982.37.

Hinterland Bush Links insurance policies are provided through Queensland Water & Land Carers and are all current.

The organisation is in a sound financial position and we have fulfilled our obligations to the various government instrumentalities.

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HBL sponsors and in-kind supporters 2017—2018