Kalinga Park Restoration Project

Progress to date since June 2009
Planned works on-going until August 2010

Kalinga Park Restoration Project

Bush regeneration contractor (David Colbert) clearing the chinese elms from the steep slope near the Carew Street stairs. Photo: Emma Maltby

Late in 2008, the Kedron Brook Catchment Branch was awarded a grant to undertake a habitat restoration project on the northern banks of Kedron Brook in Kalinga Park (Nundah). The grant is a Federal Caring for Our Country Grant and project funds must be acquitted by August 2010.

The original impetus for this project was the weed “blitz” conducted by Council following the safety concerns in this stretch of the Kedron Brook bikeway and pathway network. After the weeds had died, it revealed just how much of this bushland was weed infested and also the steep gradient of much of the slope. In some areas, this bushland has a good cover of healthy and native canopy species, but there is little or no native understorey.

The project being undertaken is primarily concerned with the restoration of locally native plant species, habitat creation and with ensuring slope stability. Other possible activities include the restoration of the pathway leading to the old coal mine at the base of the escarpment and the installation of some interpretive signage.

To implement the project, the Branch is working with a local bush regeneration contractor (see photograph), local residents, schools and the Brisbane City Council. Some parts of the project site are unsuitable for community involvement due to the steep slopes and the high level of fill (or rubbish) in some areas (a legacy of our dumping past!).

From our perspective, it is great to have a grant that has a life span of longer than one year. Good restoration projects require a long term approach, and with the funding continuing until August 2010, it means that we can take a longer term approach to the project and ensure that the site is well maintained after plantings begin.

Progress to date since June 2009

Enthusiastic group of local residents at the community consultative workshop on June 26th. Photo: E. Maltby

On June 26th, we held a community consultation workshop at the site, known as the Kalinga Consultation Workshop.
All local residents were invited to attend. The enthusiastic group, who attended the workshop appreciated the opportunity
to be involved in the planning process. At the workshop, the proposed works at the site were discussed and we sought the
input, ideas and concerns of those who attended. Those who attended are keen to establish a community based bushcare group at the site.

The slope at the base of Carew St has been cleared of the dominant chinese elm trees (Celtis sinensis) and madeira vine
(Anredera cordifolia); two very pervasive weeds in Kedron Brook Catchment. This slope has a large amount of rubbish
(concrete slabs, old pieces of machinery etc) on it, and there is little top soil. The chinese elm trees were lopped and the
trunks removed using chainsaws. Admittedly, it looks like a large area of the slope has been cleared of the chinese elms,
but this was deliberate - due to the nature of chainsaw works, all the chinese elms were cleared at the same time so that
new plants will not be damaged by further chainsawing operations once they were in the ground.

The chinese elm branches and trunks have been mulched on-site and the branches have been kept for use in slope
stabilisation. The stumps have not been treated with herbicide yet. This has been done deliberately so that the root
systems stay intact and continue to provide some stability to the slope. As the weather warms up, and the summer rain
comes, the chinese elms will reshoot, and the plan is to continue to remove this regrowth. Once the slope has been stabilised adequately with plantings, coir logs (coconut husk bound together into a “log” which will ultimately decompose)and terracing, the chinese elms will be treated with herbicide.

The first community working bee at the site was held on October 17th. This was done at a flatter section of the site,
downstream from the steep sloped area. The morning was very successful morning, with many local residents coming along to help plant over 150 native ground covers and mid-storey trees. Other activities undertaken were watering, staking and mulching the new plants. We were visited by the local Councillor, Kim Flessor, who dropped in to say Hello, meet the volunteers and to see what the local community is doing in the area. After the morning’s efforts, we all enjoyed a delicious morning tea provided by a fabulous local caterer, Jerry at FoodFX. Over morning tea, there was much talk and interest in the possibility of a bushcare group beginning at the site. The Kedron Brook Catchment Branch is very keen to see this evolve and we are currently seeking out what the options are (stay tuned!). Since this planting morning, we have received
some good rains, which has helped the plants get off to a good start.

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Mike Wilson and his three children (right) work amongst the volunteers on the steep slope in revegetation activity on October 17th.

Planned works on-going until August 2010

Carew St Slope – With wetter weather on the way, the Carew St slope will be more densely planted during November.

Community Working Bee – a follow up planting working bee is planned for Sunday, December 6th.

Further Weed Tree Removal - Following the removal of the chinese elms on the Carew St slope, there will be minimal removal of weed trees (as there aren’t many other weed trees on the site – which is good news!). Tree removal works that will be conducted at the site area – the removal of several cocos palms from underneath mature eucalyptus trees; a small cluster of chinese elms and camphor laurels in the area adjacent to the first community planting area; and one elm adjacent to the Brook which is rotting inside.

Maintenance of planted areas (ie. continued removal of weeds) will continue at the site until August 2010 and if a local bushcare group begins working at the site, the bushland will be in good hands. Watch this webpage and go and visit the site (see UBD Map 140 ref J3) in person to keep up to date with progress on this project.

Our Creek Ranger, Anna Bourke, is coordinating this project and can be contacted on phone 3407 0836, or

EM/CI  12/02/2010

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