Updated on December 15, 2024
Pest plants damage native Australian fauna and flora, can diminish land value, threaten agriculture, community economies and can cause health problems. The Sunshine Coast is one of the most biologically rich areas of Australia with large areas of remnant bush under the management of private landholders.
Approximately 11,681ha of protected national park (Kondalilla, Mapleton Falls and Mapleton National Parks) surround Mapleton and Flaxton. Additional environmental protection within the area is provided by private landholders who have put parts of their property under private voluntary protection covenants known as ‘Voluntary Conservation Areas or Agreements’ (VCAs). These are covenants between a landholder and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council that commits the land holder to active protection, conservation, and management of a specified part of their land. A further percentage of private land is covered by ‘Land for Wildlife’ (referred to as LfW) programs. Land for Wildlife is a voluntary program that encourages and assists landholders to manage wildlife habitat on their properties. Land for Wildlife arrangements integrate nature conservation with residential or other uses.
Accessing conservation activities can be a challenge. We can’t all afford a property to look after, many of us don’t have the physical ability, and those of us who are time poor are limited in how much we can dedicate to getting involved in local efforts, so the care of our environment can appear to be the responsibility of a limited few. The ‘Gardens for Wildlife’ provides a pathway for all of us to look after nature from the comfort of our own block, home garden or even our tiny urban balcony!
Every property matters, and everyone can get involved.
Because so many landholders and the council are trying to conserve and/or improve the native environment for all of us, it is incumbent on our community to be aware of and contribute to plant control by managing invasive plants on our properties.
Click for more information about VCAs.