Our Achievements
Kuranda Envirocare has been established for over 18 years restoring biodiversity and educating the Kuranda community of its conservation values. It has not always been an easy path, constrained by dynamic weather events such as cyclones and floods. However, volunteers have overcome difficulties by negotiation and collaborating with the community, as well as governments’ officials. We, the volunteers and paid workers, proudly list our achievements starting with our ongoing work.
Our hands-on work of revegetation is viewed positively by most people in the community, and we are accepted as a part of the Kuranda scene, with a valid voice in many local issues. While we have been prepared to make difficult decisions and to take a stand on a number of divisive issues, we are not against development, only inappropriate development. For instance, development that:
· Causes excessive runoff into the waterways.
· Proceeds without council approval.
· Clandestine removal of vegetation in protected areas.
· Affects diversity and endangered species.
· Affects the scenic amenity and people’s wellbeing.
Writing and achieving grants
Kuranda Envirocare has been successful in achieving numerous grants and partnering with corporate organisations and Industry leaders. This has come about through consistent lobbying, promoting Envirocare and writing submissions to local, national and international funding bodies. Most often, this requires hours, even weeks, of preparation to collect the necessary documents and support from partners and members of the community. To win funding against a competitive field of other applicants, Envirocare volunteers need to have the appropriate skills in writing and budget experience to be successful. Equally, the recipient of the funds must have the capacity to manage the project, carry out the tasks and report to the satisfaction of the funding body throughout the project’s term. The managers and volunteers of Envirocare enjoy a successful organisation because of their positive attitudes and dedication to the environmental cause. Since 2006, Envirocare has:
· Obtained a grant for community awareness for stream health and frog habitat at Jum Rum Creek in 2013
· Obtained a Biodiversity Fund grant in 2012 for five years to establish a part-time co-ordinator for our nursery and revegetation activities to link the Envirolink and Fairyland corridors along the Barron River riparian zone.
· Partnered with:
· Been funded for:
Big Sands
The Big Sands publicly owned area was perhaps the most degraded section of the Envirolink Corridor (see Map). It is hoped that by planting many species of Cassowary food that Cassowaries will cross over the shallow stretch of river near Big Sands and thus increase the gene pool between cassowaries to the north and south of Kuranda. Many thousands of trees have been planted at Big Sands and degraded and weed infested areas have returned to full canopied rainforest. There has been much to learn along the way, in terms of site preparation, species selection, and appropriate follow up maintenance. There have been some losses due to fires and floods. Funding from Federal Government Landcare and Rivercare sources has made much of the work possible.
New Nursery
An important development to the re-vegetation business is the establishment and maintenance of the Envirocare nursery on Myola Road (see Nursery). A team of dedicated volunteers collect seeds; plant and pot up the seedlings, and grow them on to a stage where they can be used in local plantings. We also supply plants to the public and to other organisations such as Barron Catchment Care for the Green Corridor.
A good deal of expertise is required to source appropriate seeds from local seed trees, to ensure germination occurs, to develop the appropriate potting mixes and fertilizers, to provide appropriate shade and watering regimes, and to produce the right mix of pioneer species for the different environments we are revegetating, all working towards having the right mix of species available for the plantings that will occur in several months time. Druce Horton has invaluable experience in nursery practice and recently ran training courses for volunteers and residents from Kuranda.
Proactive Environmental Advocacy
Kuranda Envirocare has put a great deal of effort into planning issues since its inception. We regularly respond to development applications going before Council, and our submissions sometimes influence Council decisions. We have also taken court action to stop inappropriate development such as one that would have significantly affected the scenic amenity of the Kuranda area, a notable achievement. We also act to ensure that developers are fulfilling their obligations under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Kuranda Envirocare has made numerous submissions on its own behalf as well as contributing to broader planning processes including:
· Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009 - 2031
· 2010 Plan for the Cairns region
· Kuranda Range Road upgrade
· Cairns Integrate Public Transport Plan
· Myola Plan, which involves future urban development on the Barron River adjacent to Kuranda and abutting the Envirolink corridor.
[Slot here the edited section (from above) that I have re-written on the next document ###]
Publications
When we are not planting trees and working in the nursery, Kuranda Envirocare invests in community education:
· A regular column in the monthly Kuranda Paper.
· A “Welcome to Kuranda” booklet for new residents in the area[PS6] , which includes information on pets, wildlife, insects, local laws, vegetation types and weeds.
· This website is updated with a calendar of events and newsletters [link].
· John Beasley’s plant identification book. [link].
· A4 flyers and a bookmark.
These publications contribute to educating the local and global communities. We use a trailer to display posters at community events and visiting overseas students[PS7] , who participate in field events, take our information home with them.
With about 100 members, Kuranda Envirocare directly involves a significant proportion of the local population. While we have been prepared to make difficult decisions and to take a stand on a number of divisive issues, we have also sought to be open to differences and accepting of a broad range of community views. We strive to maintain this difficult balance, and to build good will towards us in the community we serve[PS8] .
Our hands-on work of revegetation is viewed positively by most people in the community, and we are accepted as a part of the Kuranda scene, with a valid voice in many local issues. While we have been prepared to make difficult decisions and to take a stand on a number of divisive issues, we are not against development, only inappropriate development. For instance, development that:
· Causes excessive runoff into the waterways.
· Proceeds without council approval.
· Clandestine removal of vegetation in protected areas.
· Affects diversity and endangered species.
· Affects the scenic amenity and people’s wellbeing.
Writing and achieving grants
Kuranda Envirocare has been successful in achieving numerous grants and partnering with corporate organisations and Industry leaders. This has come about through consistent lobbying, promoting Envirocare and writing submissions to local, national and international funding bodies. Most often, this requires hours, even weeks, of preparation to collect the necessary documents and support from partners and members of the community. To win funding against a competitive field of other applicants, Envirocare volunteers need to have the appropriate skills in writing and budget experience to be successful. Equally, the recipient of the funds must have the capacity to manage the project, carry out the tasks and report to the satisfaction of the funding body throughout the project’s term. The managers and volunteers of Envirocare enjoy a successful organisation because of their positive attitudes and dedication to the environmental cause. Since 2006, Envirocare has:
· Obtained a grant for community awareness for stream health and frog habitat at Jum Rum Creek in 2013
· Obtained a Biodiversity Fund grant in 2012 for five years to establish a part-time co-ordinator for our nursery and revegetation activities to link the Envirolink and Fairyland corridors along the Barron River riparian zone.
· Partnered with:
- Boral, Mobile Muster, Landcare Queensland and Conservation Volunteers of Australia for revegetation projects.
- Ergon Energy Plant Smart program for under power-line plantings.
- Conservation Volunteers of Australia to host the State funded Greencorp youth training scheme in conservation and Landcare management for six months.
- A philanthropist, who was a local resident, to set up the GROW Project.
· Been funded for:
- Office equipment & administration costs in 2010.
- Branching Out Nursery Extension Project in 2010.
- A Box trailer in 2009.
- A DVD about Envirocare’s nursery and a ‘how to’ plant seedling.
- Envirolink Wildlife Corridor and Warril Creek – Myola Precinct (terrain NRM)
Big Sands
The Big Sands publicly owned area was perhaps the most degraded section of the Envirolink Corridor (see Map). It is hoped that by planting many species of Cassowary food that Cassowaries will cross over the shallow stretch of river near Big Sands and thus increase the gene pool between cassowaries to the north and south of Kuranda. Many thousands of trees have been planted at Big Sands and degraded and weed infested areas have returned to full canopied rainforest. There has been much to learn along the way, in terms of site preparation, species selection, and appropriate follow up maintenance. There have been some losses due to fires and floods. Funding from Federal Government Landcare and Rivercare sources has made much of the work possible.
New Nursery
An important development to the re-vegetation business is the establishment and maintenance of the Envirocare nursery on Myola Road (see Nursery). A team of dedicated volunteers collect seeds; plant and pot up the seedlings, and grow them on to a stage where they can be used in local plantings. We also supply plants to the public and to other organisations such as Barron Catchment Care for the Green Corridor.
A good deal of expertise is required to source appropriate seeds from local seed trees, to ensure germination occurs, to develop the appropriate potting mixes and fertilizers, to provide appropriate shade and watering regimes, and to produce the right mix of pioneer species for the different environments we are revegetating, all working towards having the right mix of species available for the plantings that will occur in several months time. Druce Horton has invaluable experience in nursery practice and recently ran training courses for volunteers and residents from Kuranda.
Proactive Environmental Advocacy
Kuranda Envirocare has put a great deal of effort into planning issues since its inception. We regularly respond to development applications going before Council, and our submissions sometimes influence Council decisions. We have also taken court action to stop inappropriate development such as one that would have significantly affected the scenic amenity of the Kuranda area, a notable achievement. We also act to ensure that developers are fulfilling their obligations under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Kuranda Envirocare has made numerous submissions on its own behalf as well as contributing to broader planning processes including:
· Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009 - 2031
· 2010 Plan for the Cairns region
· Kuranda Range Road upgrade
· Cairns Integrate Public Transport Plan
· Myola Plan, which involves future urban development on the Barron River adjacent to Kuranda and abutting the Envirolink corridor.
[Slot here the edited section (from above) that I have re-written on the next document ###]
Publications
When we are not planting trees and working in the nursery, Kuranda Envirocare invests in community education:
· A regular column in the monthly Kuranda Paper.
· A “Welcome to Kuranda” booklet for new residents in the area[PS6] , which includes information on pets, wildlife, insects, local laws, vegetation types and weeds.
· This website is updated with a calendar of events and newsletters [link].
· John Beasley’s plant identification book. [link].
· A4 flyers and a bookmark.
These publications contribute to educating the local and global communities. We use a trailer to display posters at community events and visiting overseas students[PS7] , who participate in field events, take our information home with them.
With about 100 members, Kuranda Envirocare directly involves a significant proportion of the local population. While we have been prepared to make difficult decisions and to take a stand on a number of divisive issues, we have also sought to be open to differences and accepting of a broad range of community views. We strive to maintain this difficult balance, and to build good will towards us in the community we serve[PS8] .