School projects
As part of the Natural Environment Program, Council staff work schools and community groups to promote Mackay's natural areas and provide opportunites for hands on activities.
Current projects underway include:
Sandfly Creek
In April 2007 students from Beaconsfield State Primary School planted 200 native seedlings as part of a revegetation program at Sandfly Creek. 100 seedlings had been grown from seed collected by volunteers and Council’s Habitat Restoration Team and propagated at the Mackay Natural Environment Centre's Community Nursery.
The students also undertook a clean up and weed control activity, targeting prolific infestations of Guinea Grass at the site. As their reward, they got to walk the entire Sandfly Creek walking track circuit back to the boat ramp end of Sandfly Creek. On a previous visit to Sandfly Creek site, Marg Andrews from the Mackay Bird Observers Club introduced students to shorebird identification using a local bird identification booklet. 12 species of shorebirds were identified in this session. Students gained experience in bird counting techniques as they undertake a shorebird survey to assess local bird populations .
For more information on activities, contact Council's Natural Environment Officer.
Bedford Road Paddock
Students and teachers from Beaconsfield State School and community groups members are working together with Council to revegetate a 21.9 hectare parcel of land at Bedford Road.
While this is a relative new project (started in June 2006) the students have already achieved some remarkable results. Conducting working bees on site every 4th Wednesday, the students attack the tasks with fearless determination.
The students started by having a small section fenced off to remove the impacts of cattle grazing and then started to revegetating the open areas with native species such as Melaleuca and Corymbia species which original grew on the site. It is hoped that in the space of a few years much of the open land is returned to woodland habitat with meandering walking tracks for the local community to enjoy. Council has provided support for this projecti, including supplying recycled green waste mulch. The mulch helps reduce the weeds, such as Guinea Grass, and helps improve soil nutrient and moisture levels.
The students have also collected a number of seeds from the native vegetation on site and are propagating this seed in the community nursery at the Mackay Natural Environment Centre. Already we have approximately 800 Livistona sp. germinating in seed trays which we hope to plant back at the site throughout 2007.
Beaconsfield State School are also revegetating habitat areas at their school. The Future Forests project is well underway and will continue to provide habitat for wildlife as it grows, as well as providing students with an understanding of and appreciation for our local native plants.