​Noosa Parklands Residents Association Inc.

THE PROBLEM

 

Heritage Park has a lagoon full of Class 2  weed - Salvinia molesta that is spreading downstream and elsewhere and has not been controlled for at least 5 years. 

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A comprehensive report was submitted to Noosa Council in mid 2014 by some individual residents complaining about Heritage Park neglect and flooding potential. The response was negative until one resident contacted the Ombudsman.

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Aquatic weeds can detrimentally affect recreational and aesthetic values of water bodies. Heavy infestations make boating and swimming difficult and can also be dangerous to children and animals if the weeds look like solid ground.
(from Government documentation)

The danger of mistaking Salvinia for a pathway is well documented in Government and Council publications. (*See photos at bottom)

 

Nothing has been done to rectify the situation and there are sections that are dangerous to small children. It has been reported to the Environmental Officer at a private meeting and he was shown photographs. (signs should be erected immediately)

 

RESEARCHED INFORMATION

1. Salvinia Molesta is a declared Class 2 plant Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, landowners, including state and LOCAL GOVERNMENT, are responsible for controlling invasive plants on their property.

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2. ALL sightings of Class 2 weeds MUST be reported to Qld Biosecurity within 24 hours of being observed. A resident has reported additional ‘crops’ that have recently grown downstream from the lagoon and further outbreaks to Biosecurity QLD and an officer has been assigned to the case.

Biosecurity QLD have replied (CLICK to SEE REPLY)

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3. NOOSA NATIONAL PARK (Quote from National Park Council document.)

Weeds are recognised as one of the major threats to the integrity of Noosa National Park. Of the 890 plant species recorded for the park, 132 species are weeds. Park staff are committed to implement specific control measures for four declared weed species. These are groundsel bush Baccharis halimifolia, Salvinia molesta, prickly pear Opuntia stricta and water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes.

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4.Taken from NOOSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA FINAL DRAFT PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN 2015-2019

Of PARTICULAR CONCERN in Noosa waterways are salvinia (Salvinia spp.), cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana), dense waterweed (Egeria densa), yellow waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana) and hygrophila (Hygrophila costata). These weeds grow aggressively and can dramatically alter environmental and physicochemical conditions and interfere with ecological processes. This can have devastating effects on native flora and fauna such as the Australian lung fish, platypus and freshwater turtles.

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MOSQUITO CONTROL

Infestations of certain aquatic plants can provide havens for MOSQUITO BREEDING. Aquatic plants such as Salvinia molesta and Hymenachne amplexicaulis, are declared pest plants under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003. 

 

INCORRECT STATEMENTS IN THE ECOSURE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 

1.The salvinia is contained within the lagoon and there is no evidence of downstream movement.
(There is no containment of Salvinia from moving downstream except for a few branches across the creek.)

 

At least three NEW visible outbreaks are growing in creeks. 

a. located 700 metres downstream. Coordinates are 26°23'36" S 153°0'45" E

b. located upstream from Avron Court access bridge

c. located near Fyne Court. This creek flows into the main watercourse downstream and is not connected to the lagoon. This is a separate outbreak.

 

DRAFT PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & CONCLUSION

1. Salvinia (a Class 2 pest plant), occurs in one of the park’s lagoons.
(Salvinia also occurs in at least 3 other places)

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2. It is possible the infestation resulted from the emptying of an aquarium in the waterway.
(Salvinia can  also be spread by animals and birds)

 

A range of options ARE available for ongoing management of salvinia, including (i) manual removal, (ii) biological control using weevils and (iii) frog friendly herbicides. 

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3. However, no method provides complete elimination of salvinia from a water body, and ongoing treatment is required.
(It is common knowledge that Salvinia is difficult eradicate but it can be CONTROLLED)

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4. In the past, Noosa Council has manually removed salvinia from the park’s lagoon using nets, which cost Council $4,620. 

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5. To keep the lagoon clear of salvina, this practice would need to be repeated annually (i.e. at a cost of $4000 to $6000 per year).
(All types of maintenance needs to be repeated eventually! If the Council can’t afford to invest $100 per WEEK maintaining a Class 2 weed problem, perhaps some of the $60,000 allocated to an unnecessary new path and bridge could be allocated to the environment.)

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6. There is also a risk of spreading salvinia offsite from equipment and disposal sites.
(Salvinia is ALREADY spreading. Salvinia becomes inactive when it is dries, out of water.)

 

7. More recently Council has trialled biological control (weevil) of salvinia within the lagoon, but due to non-optimal conditions (i.e. shaded waterbody) this wasn’t successful.
(SEQ WATER have advised residents that weevil is NOT SUITABLE for the SHADY AREAS of the lagoon and Salvinia should be removed, together with the Paragrass by machine if possible then followed up with annual treatment with approved herbicide. A netless boom (See above pic on right) was used downstream in the lagoon that allowed Salvinia to move past it. The boom has now broken into several pieces and washed downstream with the Salvinia. Why didn't the person responsible for the actions know?)

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8. The salvinia is contained within the lagoon and there is no evidence of downstream dispersal. (This is incorrect)

 

9. As there is currently no guaranteed method of control, it is a recommendation of this management plan that the salvinia continue to be monitored by Council and await the development of a suitable biological control agent.
(The lagoon has a disease, Salvinia. Would anybody put off medical treatment and wait for a cure to be discovered.? There are methods of CONTROL now and they are being used in many other locations throughout Queensland.)

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10. Community engagement, education and interpretation (Para 4.3 Daft Plan)

SIGNS... will assist in orienteering visitors with the natural values around them, which can greatly enhance their visit. Consequently it can raise the understanding and appreciation of the park’s values, encourages appropriate behaviour, reduces potential management issues and contributes to a broader understanding of the park’s management objectives and the natural environment.
(Money spent on signage should be redirected to the control of Salvinia. Will Salvinia be listed as an example of natural values?)

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CONCLUSION from Draft Plan

11. Resources can be directed to manage *pest plants where control efforts would be more successful.

(Resources can be diverted from the plan for a path and bridge that will be rarely used. The planned netball hoop, tourist signs and three benches could be done after a park maintenance * This statement suggests NOTHING WILL BE DONE to remove Salvinia)

This conclusion is difficult to understand, as 'pest plants' are already being removed by Bushcare volunteers and a contractor, NOT Council staff and it is an enormous task.

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HYDROLOGY REPORT INACCURACY

No mention of the February 2015 flood is included in the consultant's report. Rainfall for 2015 shown in the Tinbeerwah rainfall graph shows no large rain events. The report only takes into account maximum rainfall in a two hour window from the Tinbeerwah weather station. 

What caused the flooding and why were the full number of days for February NOT included?

(See photograph at bottom of page.)

 

The BIG QUESTION Why didn’t the paid consultants consider the safety factor of the lagoon in their plan? 

(See photograph at bottom of page.)

A SIMPLE FUNDING SOLUTION if Council can't afford to spend $100 per WEEK on Class 2 weed control.

1. Council can afford to rectify Salvinia by diverting funds from ‘decorative projects’ like benches, interpretive  signs, a netball hoop and an unecessary path and bridge budgeted at $60,000.

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NOOSA NEWS July 26 2016: Noosa Council has announced a substantial operating SURPLUS but we were told verbally that funds were not available to clear the Lagoon.

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To date, Noosa Council have made NO  COMMITMENT to control Salvinia in HERITAGE PARK despite Noosa's prestigious Biosphere Status and being environmentally progressive.

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