13th Queensland Weed Symposium 2015 JG1 Lower Beechmont Conservation Area Restoration of Lower Beechmont Conservation Area 13 th Queensland Weed Symposium 15 th September 2015 (www.googlemaps.com) JG14 Weed Species Historically the site has had farming and land clearing Farming practices caused compaction of soil and introduction of weed species Previous restoration activities also effected the soil composition Seasonal high impact flood events occur through the wetter months Common name Botanical name Status woody weeds castor oil plant Ricinus communis not declared Easter cassia Senna pendula var. glabrata environmental giant devils fig Solanum chrysotrichum environmental Lantana Lantana camara Class 3 + WONS Paddy s lucerne Sida rhombifolia not declared wild tobacco Solanum mauritianum environmental Vines corky passionfruit Passiflora suberosa environmental Dutchman s pipe Aristolochia elegans Class 3 edible passionfruit Passiflora edulis environmental Madeira vine Anredera cordifolia Class 3 morning glory Ipomoea indica environmental white passionfruit Passiflora subpeltata environmental Grasses broad leaved Paspalum Paspalum mandiocanum environmental Johnston grass Sorghum halepense environmental molasses grass Melinis minutiflora environmental Setaria Setaria sphacelata environmental Herbs annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia Class 2 blue billygoat weed Ageratum houstonianum environmental cobblers pegs Bidens pilosa environmental crofton weed Ageratina adenophora environmental fireweed Senecio madagascariensis Class 2 fleabane Conyza bonariensis environmental mist flower Ageratina riparia environmental Polka dot plant Hypoestes phyllostachya environmental Singapore daisy Sphagneticola trilobata Class 3 JG2 JG3 Threats to the site Seasonal flooding Invasion of weeds mm 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Annual Rainfall 2014 Month Total annual rainfall 1077mm (www.bom.gov.au) 1
Slide 2 JG1 Discuss location and proximity to the gold coast, connectivity to national parks, Canungra army base, and catchments of coomera river etc... Slide 4 JG14 talk to the way weeds are impacting the site i.e. they compete with native plants for space, water, nutrients and light. Vines impact forest structure with serious infestations impacting flowering and fruiting of native plants; forest structure and health and can even cause the collapse of whole systems (e.g. cats claw) Joshua Gray, 12/09/2015 Slide 5 JG2 Discuss major weeds on the site, Devils fig, wild tobacco, Madiera, black eyed susan, and herbacious weeds (cobblers pegs etc...) JG3
13th Queensland Weed Symposium 2015 JG4 JG5 Uncontrolled wildfire An area where topsoil has been lost through high flow of water during the wetter months JG6 JG11 Beneficiary weeds Utilising drip-lines to promote natural regeneration A brown cuckoo dove utilising wild tobacco trees left on the site JG7 JG8 Allowing areas to go woolly Areas are left to go woolly meaning herbaceous weeds are left to grow through specific times of year 3m Buffer zone These weeds were selected on their growth habit, ability to assist restoration by conditioning the soil and improving soil structure as well as stabilise the area. Through the wetter months the areas that were retained as woolly (i.e. containing herbaceous weeds) appeared to better hold the soil together during flood events and trap native seed being washed down from higher in the catchment. 2
Slide 7 JG4 Discuss the way the water channels through the site, washing topsoil and seed banks away Slide 8 JG5 Uncontrolled wild fire that poses a risk to the site and how City of GC undertake ecological burns through the area reducing the fuel within the site, how they avoid burning in the wetter gullies. And how this also assists with follow up spray runs. Slide 9 JG6 Discuss the use of wild tobacco trees in open areas, spraying in and around drip lines, promoting regeneration from avifauna scats and dropping of seed. JG11 first acknowledge that we know it is a weed and then accurately describe how they are used i.e. not heaps of them all over a site as they compete with native plants for resources, space etc. and how they are used to create STRUCTURE i.e. forest structure to promote better complexity in open areas we are trying to regenerate back to forest and then how they bring in the birds etc. further facilitating recovery!! Joshua Gray, 12/09/2015 Slide 11 JG7 Discuss using a 3m 'buffer zone' from the creek edge preventing erosion and trapping native seed washed from further upstream JG8
13th Queensland Weed Symposium 2015 JG9 JG13 3
Slide 13 JG9 Discuss the use of herbacious weeds and allowing the site go woolly, the marked area indicates the areas we might leave. JG13 also need to mention that weeds are controlled where they are competing the health and growth of native veg i.e. again control applied to past the driplines and then how the regen area is increase over time as this does not then impact resourcing and costs in the same way spraying everything out would do. Joshua Gray, 12/09/2015