Approximately 20 UWG members and interested residents met at Rainbow Park, Sunrise Beach for a walk along Burgess Creek. Participants learnt about:
- changes over time in the large catchment from residential and commercial development, sporting fields, historical landfills and sewage treatment plan that all support our contemporary living in Noosa
- impacts on the ecology of the creek due to increase in stormwater, waste water discharge, nutrients and weed infestation
- significant efforts along the creek, from community volunteers, Council and Unity Water, to remove weeds and restore native vegetation
- the role that urban gardeners in the catchment can play to improve the creek
For a comprehensive Council report on the catchment click here to download and for the attached Unity Water report click here to download.
Key takeaways for urban gardeners in the catchment include:
- don’t plant weed species that can be spread by birds and animals
- dispose of weeds thoughtfully and not in adjacent bushland
- minimise use of fertilisers and chemicals that run off into the local drains and creeks
- maximise garden areas on your land to allow rainwater infiltration rather than rainwater running down the drain
- consider installation of a ‘raingarden’ to capture and treat stormwater
- plant native gardens to provide additional habitat
Everyone enjoyed a cup of tea and a great chat in the park after the walk. There was good discussion about Urban Wildlife Gardens preparing articles and workshops on rain gardens in the future – a great idea!
Shaun Walsh
