Jingeri Koala Offset - (Koala Nature Refuges Program)

Specifications

• Client: Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP)
• Scope:

  This project was initiated under the Koala Nature Refuges Program, which provided landholders in the local government areas of Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Ipswich with an opportunity to partner with the State to restore koala habitat on their land.

  Verterra was engaged by EHP for site preparation, implementation and maintenance of a koala habitat restoration project covering approximately 14ha, incorporating planting of approximately 8,800 koala habitat trees, on the 184ha Jingeri (A) Nature Refuge located at 1214 Duck Creek Road, Kerry, Queensland. Jingeri is a sustainably managed cattle grazing property operated ty the Jingeri Management Group.

  Restoration works were conducted within two Treatment Zones located on Lot 1 on Plan WS6693 comprising part of the then proposed Jingeri (A) Nature Refuge.  Establishment was within 9 months with ongoing site maintenance for 4 years.

• Challenge:

  The nature refuge is characterised by open Eucalypt forest on hillslopes and ridges with vine forest/brushbox emergent in moist gullies. There are vast areas of remnant vegetation supporting a number of threatened species. Jingeri (A) nature Refuge forms part of a bioregional corridor of State significance, providing direct connectivity to Lamington National Park to the south and south-east. Additionally, all revegetation activities are to comply with Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) under the Environmental Plantings of Native Trees methodology.  The site is undulating, with most revegetation to be focussed upon hillsides. 4WD access, with potential difficulties in access during periods of wet weather. 

• Solution:

  Verterra brought its depth of experience in: forest establishment practices, site cultivation and land preparation, weed control and herbicide management, knowledge and understanding of weed ecology and growth habits, species selection and successional ecology and a proven innovative modified bio-condition monitoring method (approved by the regulator) to the delivery of this project. 
  
  In addition to the services provided for this project; Verterra in collaboration with Corporate Carbon, approached The Jingeri Management Group and a number of other landholders, and Jingeri was included as part of an aggregated carbon project that was registered as an Emissions Reduction Fund Project under the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative.

• Benefit to Client:

  Successful establishment and maintenance of koala habitat that meets compliance requirements.

• Market Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
• Capabilities:
  • Vegetation and biodiversity offsets
  • General land, water and vegetation technical services
  • Vegetation and weed management
• Location: Queensland
• Year: 2014 - 2018