Tide to Table – Burdekin Dry Tropics flows on from the previous project which commenced in October 2007. This round aims to increase fish connectivity in the Bowling Green Bay and Ross River catchments and reduce illegal waste dumping/littering in salt marsh habitats around the Townsville area. Again, a strong community awareness component aims to increase understanding of the links between healthy waterways and productive fish stocks. Commercial fisheries in Townsville are dominated by trawl, net and crab fisheries. Trawlers in the area target banana prawns, endeavour prawns, red-spot king prawns, bugs and scallops. Net fishers’ major targets are barramundi but will also catch a wide range of species (>40) including threadfins and grey mackerel. Local fisheries rely on healthy habitat which is our focus.
Salt Flats Townsville
2009-2010 -ground works
The targeted round of Caring for our Country funding has supported three main on-ground work projects at:
Stuart Creek Connectivity
Horseshoe Creek Weed Control and Connectivity
Townsville Saltmarsh Restoration
2009 Tide to Table- Burdekin Dry Tropics Project Sites
Stuart Creek Connectivity
This project increases the outcomes from the last funding round. The current Stuart Creek project is being undertaken by Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and will involve:
Rehabilitating a 2.36ha area along Stuart Creek by removing weeds and revegetating the riparian area.
Holding community tree planting events with local residents, schools and businesses
Stuart State School along with CVA and REEF guardian schools have developed an environmental education curriculum that involves the students undertaking regular activities at the Start Creek site. Some of their activities include tree planting, watering of seedlings, water quality monitoring through CreekWatch and photographing the project site to monitor change over time.
Tree planting on National Schools Tree Day
Horseshoe Creek Weed Control and Connectivity
Horseshoe Creek is heavily infested with aquatic weeds that degrade water quality and affect fish passage/movement within Horseshoe Creek. It will enhance valuable work achieved at this site. This project includes:
Aerial spraying of hymenachne and other aquatic weeds within the creek channel, to open up a channel for oxygenation of the water and to provide passage for fish movement
Regular control of hymenachne and other aquatic weeds through managed grazing and herbicide application
Removal of rubbervine, chinee apple and other woody weeds from along the creek banks
OceanWatch Australia aims to find a sustainable long term solution to the problem of heavy aquatic weed infestation in Horseshoe Creek by facilitating discussions amongst stakeholders and our partners.
Horseshoe Creek before weed spraying
Horseshoe Creek after weed spraying
Commercial Fishing Vessels
Townsville Saltmarsh Restoration
Illegal dumping and littering in saltmarshes and bushlands adjacent to aquatic areas is a problem throughout the Townsville region. Cleanups in 2007 and 2008 (rubbish cleanup of saltmarsh habitats in Stuart) uncovered truckloads of commercial, industrial and residential waste. While this was removed a group was formed called the “Alliance for a cleaner Townsville” (AFACT). AFACT is an initiative that brings concerned groups together to discuss and work on tackling rubbish issues in Townsville. http://wiki.bdtnrm.org.au/index.php/Addressing_Rubbish_in_Townsville
A primary goal is to change behaviour towards dumping. Signage has been developed and installed and a number of initiatives have commenced to address the problem holistically.
The project aims to increase awareness of these issues by involving the local community in two proposed saltmarsh clean-ups in the Oonoomba and Railway Estate areas.
The clean-ups are jointly organised with Townsville City Council and Marine Wildlife Australia. The first event was held on 11 October 2009 as part of the Great Northern Cleanup.
Community Engagement
Some of the public events tide table facilitate or attend include:
Schools tree day planting event at Stuart Creek with Stuart State School
Fishing and Outdoor Expo
Belgain Gardens Fishing Classic
Burdekin Barra Bash
A connectivity tour (Link to here link to (connectivity tours) is also part of this project and focuses on fish passage in the region.
These projects were undertaken between March and December 2008
Rock ramp fishway across the Rita Island sand dam
Aquatic and riparian weed control at Horseshoe Creek
Removal of a barrier to fish passage in Stuart Creek
Rubbish removal, weed control and revegetation within the declared Bohle River Fish Habitat Area
Weed control, litter cleanup and revegetation at beach swale wetland at Bushland Beach
Weed control and riparian revegetation at Rollingstone Creek
If you are interested in being involved or for more information on Tide to Table – Burdekin Dry Tropics, please contact the Project Manager, Rochae Cameron on (07) 4760 1568 or email
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." SOURCE: Charles Darwin 1809 - 1882
