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2011
 Biotropica’s field services unit has been conducting hazard reduction burning in the Ravenshoe area on behalf of Stanwell Corporation Ltd, operators of the Barron Gorge and Kareeya hydro-electricity power stations. Working in conjunction with the North and South Millstream Rural Fire Brigades, Biotropica staff completed prescribed burns in a number of areas including rural residential sites. Our burns were consistent with recommendations developed in Property Management Plans completed by Biotropica in 2010 to guide management of Stanwell lands throughout north Qld. Using our extensive ecosystem management skills, field experience and equipment, our crew achieved a high quality ecological outcome with zero incidents.
In May 2011, Biotropica Australia undertook the translocation of 4 Livistona decora palms at Collinsons Lagoon, North of Ayr, in preparation for a realignment of the Bruce Highway. A 17 tonne excavator was used for the translocation and all 4 were moved 50 metres from the current alignment. Another six immature Livistona decora were also translocated. Biotropica Australia staff also established 85 native trees and another 15 L. decora on this site as an additional offset for trees to be removed. All plants were sourced from local nurseries to maintain genetic integrity. |
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2010
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Working closely with ABI Group, Biotropica Australia has been assisting with a range of rare and threatened plant management services including the translocation of ant plants (Myrmecodia beccarii), cycads (Cycas media ssp media), grass trees (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii), orchids and other epiphytes.
A nursery has been constructed to house the many hundreds of grass trees and cycads that were removed in advance of construction, and will be re-planted on-site after construction. Biotropica Australia has been involved in the Cardwell Range realignment project since 2007 and look forward to providing further assistance to the Cardwell Range Alliance with this important project in the future
Biotropica Australia recently surveyed 105 kilometres of powerline clearings dissecting some of the state's most pristine environments, ranging from Mt Garnet to the Whitsundays. Botanists and ecologists from Biotropica Australia recorded a number of Vulnerable and Near Threatened plants in electricity corridors. Beneath Ergon Energy lines at Forty Mile Scrub (south west of Mt Garnet) Nigel Tucker, Lars Kazmeier and former Biotropica botanist, Mason Campbell recorded a koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus) – an unusual sighting as koalas are rarely seen in the wild in North Queensland, but are occasionally sighted at 40 Mile. At Princess Hills (west of Ingham) Mason and Lars found Commersonia reticulata - a Vulnerable listed plant (and only the 8th Queensland record) and also located individuals of the Near Threatened Hairyseeded Fuzz-weed ( Peripleura sericea).Records such as these provide Ergon Energy with the information needed to ensure staff and contractors are aware of important environmental features. GPS data and photographic information sheets allow for precise locations in the field and appropriate management action. The project was completed on time and to budget.
Biotropica Australia has been working in conjunction with Powerlink Qld to rehabilitate the cleared corridor area below the former Kareeya – Innisfail 132kV and the Woree Turkinjie 132kV transmission lines. These projects are by far the largest de-commissioning and rehabilitation projects undertaken in the Wet Tropics to date with almost 50km of line within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area requiring some form of rehabilitation.
The initial phase of tower and conductor removal was successfully completed in late 2009.
Biotropica Australia’s role in this project has been to manage weeds to encourage natural regeneration across the entire corridor, and to plant tube stock depending on connectivity requirements, amenity needs and where active weed control alone is unlikely to foster natural revegetation.
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Throughout 2010, Biotropica Australia worked closely with DERM, local seed collectors, Indigenous groups and nurseries to generate the 33,000 selected plants required for planting along the 26km of Kareeya Innisfail line. In addition to planting tube stock, Biotropica Australia is utilising a spray and release technique through herbicide control of exotic grass and shrub species from within the isolated tree matrix. Restoration is well underway with the tube stock ready for planting in the coming months.
The planting of 11,700 selected local plants has already been completed along the 14.6km of Woree Turkinjie line and a further 12,000 selected local plants have been completed along the 26km of Kareeya Innisfail line. Biotropica Australia established all of these plants and are now in the process of maintaining the area in a weed free state.
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