$75,000 towards new Environment Levy partnerships
Four local organisations will form new partnerships with Sunshine Coast Council this year to help protect and enhance our region’s precious wildlife and natural environment thanks to $75,000 from the Environment Levy Partnerships Funding Program.
Four local organisations will form new partnerships with Sunshine Coast Council this year to help protect and enhance our region’s precious wildlife and natural environment thanks to $75,000 from the Environment Levy Partnerships Funding Program.
The new partnerships for 2018-19 include Koala Rescue Queensland Inc, Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group and Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast.
With funding for these groups, in addition to the 18 continuing partnerships, a total of $609,734 will be invested from the program this financial year.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the Environment Levy Partnerships Funding program allowed council to better engage and work with the community to build effective partnerships to assist in the delivery of environmental strategies, including the Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017.
“The Environment Levy program funds operational expenses for incorporated community organisations for up to three years,” Cr McKay said.
“This year, we are pleased to welcome back three groups – Koala Rescue Queensland Inc, Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens and Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group – who have been partners with the program previously, along with one completely new addition – Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast.
“Council officers work with these successful partner organisations to build capacity towards good governance and sustainable practices, with a view to ensuring value for money from ratepayer investment.
“Most importantly, these partnerships are about council working together with the community to protect and enhance our natural environment as we continue to build a pathway to a healthy environment and liveable Sunshine Coast.”
For further information about council’s partnerships and grants programs, visit council’s website www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au .
Fast facts
Some recent funding benefits:
- Since June 2016, Coolum and North Shore Coast Care, working at nine sites, has planted 4465 native plants and removed 918 wheelie bins of weeds in addition to large number of environmental weeds managed in situ.
- Over the last three years, our six community nurseries have supplied 73,224 native plants that were planted on Land for Wildlife properties.
- Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network Inc has established a second koala food plantation at Pinelands Park in partnership with council.
- Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens and the Maroochy Wetlands Support Group are providing a significant presence at the two centres to assist around 100,000 visitors a year in addition to on-ground works.
*Featured photo is of an orphaned koala joey, Ambrosia, at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, a current partner of the Environment Levy Partnerships Funding Program. Photo courtesy of Ben Beaden from Australia Zoo.
2018-19 Environment Levy Partnership Funding
Total EL Partnerships funding for 2018/19 $609,734
| New applicant | Partnership summary | Funding amount | Partnership duration | Division |
| Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens Inc. | This group contributes to the ongoing management of the Maroochy Botanic Gardens, a specialised environmental facility for ex situ conservation of plants of the region including rare and endangered species. They also provide a range of support services for site development and act as a conduit between council and community | $5,000 | 2 years | Div. 5 |
| Koala Rescue Queensland Incorporate | This group provides a koala rescue service that locates and retrieves injured or diseased koalas and takes them to a veterinarian. | $10,000 | 1 year | SC LGA |
| Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group Incorporated | This group is focused on reducing risks to water quality in Lake Baroon catchment by implementing a range of projects addressing erosion, nutrients and pathogens. Lake Baroon is a strategic storage supplying Sunshine Coast’s potable water and south east Queensland via the Northern Pipeline Interconnector. | $50,000 | 2 years | Div. 5 |
| Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast Inc. | This group rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife. | $10,000 | 2 years | SC LGA |
| Existing partnership<br>continuing<br>2018-19 | Partnership summary | Funding amount | Partnership duration | Division |
| Currimundi Catchment Care Group Inc | Currimundi Catchment Care Group provides a valuable service to the Currimundi and wider community through the delivery of a number of projects and activities including education, community engagement and coordination of community events such as Lights on the Lake. | $12,300 | 3years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 3 |
| Bat Rescue Inc. | Bat Rescue Inc. provides a valuable service to the community in relation to the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured bats, as well as providing education and information to the community about the valuable ecological role of flying-foxes and microbats. | $10,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | SC LGA |
| Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee | The Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) has been operating within the Mary River catchment for over 20 years, where the group works to engage with the community to improve the environmental values while maintaining the viability of rural based livelihoods. The MRCCC partners with council in the planning and delivery of many valuable on-ground projects. | $67,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 5, Div. 10 |
| Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue Inc | Twinnies provides a 24-hour seabird rescue and rehabilitation service with the admission of up to 1000 birds per year, around 300 of which are seabirds. | $10,000 | 3 years<br>(2nd year) | SC LGA |
| Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network Inc | Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network Inc (GMAN) is an active long-standing group in the Glasshouse Mountains area involved in education and trail planning and also partners with council in the Land for Wildlife Incentives program. This partnership is to assist GMAN in the maintenance of a koala food tree plantation developed in partnership with council at Pinelands Park, Landsborough. | $5000 | 3years <br>(2nd year) | DIV. 1 |
| Wildlife Volunteers Association Incorporated | Wildlife Volunteers Association Incorporated is a well-established network of volunteers who provide care and rehabilitation for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. | $10,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | SC LGA |
| Hinterland Bush Links Inc | Hinterland Bush Links Inc, through the partnership, is working strategically towards the long term conservation of all native species and regional ecosystems in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland through landscape-scale connectivity planning and restoration of habitat. | $39,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 5 |
| Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Support Group Inc | The almost 30-year establishment of the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Support Group has resulted in a strong partnership with council supporting the management of the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary. The group contributes significantly to the protection of the wetlands sanctuary and plays a strong role in the education component including conducting guided walks and developing interpretive material. | $5000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div.9 |
| Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors | The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has a long-standing strong partnership with council. The hospital provides valuable emergency care and rehabilitation for all species of injured, orphaned and abandoned wildlife, around 50% of which comes from the Sunshine Coast local government area. | $50,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 1<br>SC LGA |
| Reef Check Foundation Ltd | Reef Check Foundation undertakes vital reef monitoring along the length of the Sunshine Coast using globally standard methods, and engages in a number of projects, including Clean Up for the Hatchlings. | $32,550 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | SCC LGA |
| Coolum District Coast Care Group Inc | Coolum District Coast Care is actively engaged in coastal environmental protection and restoration. The group has a long-standing partnership with council in relation to a range of projects and activities, including marine turtle monitoring and coastal habitat restoration and the Land for Wildlife Incentives program | $34,500 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 8,<br>Div.9 |
| Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Inc | Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Inc partners with council through the Land for Wildlife Incentives program and Community Nature Conservation Program’s bush care program. The Florabunda community nursery is open to the public 4.5 days per week and provides a valuable community service and support for council programs | $19,600 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 5,<br>Div. 6,<br>Div. 7<br>Div. 10 |
| Barung Landcare Association Inc | Barung Landcare has more than 700 active members and has been operating in the hinterland for 28 years. In addition to the provision of a community nursery, the group’s activities are centred on the headwaters of the Mary, Maroochy, Mooloolah and Stanley catchments. | $54,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div.1,<br>Div. 5 |
| ECOllaboartion | ECOllaboration (formerly Maroochy Waterwatch) delivers community-based, on-ground actions, including water quality and amphibian monitoring, community education and litter patrols in the Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers. | $58,500 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | SC LGA |
| Night Eyes Inc | Night Eyes has operated in the Pumicestone Passage since 1999, providing a strong presence in the passage in addition to litter collection and education for local schools and service clubs. | $18,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 1,<br>Div. 2,<br>Div. 3 |
| Wildlife Queensland – Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Branch | Wildlife Queensland – Sunshine Coast & Hinterland deliver the Faunawatch program, which monitors and evaluates the presence of fauna at strategic and wider locations across the Sunshine Coast region. | $50,000 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | SC LGA |
| Maleny District Green Hills | Maleny District Green Hills engages with the community to assist the enhancement of environmental values in the Maleny district, particularly on the Precinct site. | $5284 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 5 |
| Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare Inc | Mooloolah River Landcare provides a local hub for community natural resource management activities focusing mainly on the Mooloolah River catchment and surroundings. The group provides a community nursery and more recently has established a biocontrol facility to assist in the control of cat’s claw and madeira vines. | $58,500 | 3 years <br>(2nd year) | Div. 1<br>Div. 5 |