WATERWAYS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMVoluntary Conservation Agreements are cooperative agreements between a land owner and Council. The Ipswich EnviroPlan levy has allowed Council to provide landholders with on ground support with conservation and holistic land management. They can provide both financial and technical support to assist landholders in the management of privately owned bushland and other natural features outside of Council’s parks and reserves or other government land. There are various levels of Voluntary Conservation Agreements so there might be one that is just right for you.

One of the many agreements Council has on offer to support the tailored needs for you and your property include the Waterways Conservation Agreement aimed at land holders with waterways on or bordering their properties.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• up to $800 Environmental Weed Control Rebate annually

• access to the annual Nature Conservation Grant funding for land management projects (subject to selection and approval criteria)

• invitation to special events and activities

• up to 200 free plants each year

• access to newsletters, workshops and more

fact sheet

Ipswich.qld.gov.au

After restoration

Peter and Cheryl Kempton’s property has been a registered Waterways Conservation partner for three years. They have committed many hours of their own time towards clearing weeds, restoring riparian vegetation and providing habitat for our native wildlife. Here is their story:

KEMPTON’S RETREAT

Twelve months after the floods we took a good look at our gully and realised that thousands of Chinese Elm’s and weedy vines were infesting our retreat. In April 2013, we began to clear the saplings and larger trees along with the balloon vine and climbing asparagus from the most northern section of the creek. Little by little the riparian corridor was being transformed back into our retreat.

Recently we received a Nature Conservation Grant from the Council to help with the expenses of clearing, revegetating and maintaining the area. This has allowed us to plant the riparian corridor with native plants including: Carex, Juncus, Brisbane Lillies, Lomandra hystrix, Casuarinas, Callistemon vimialis, Melaleuca bracteata, Tuckeroos, Grevillea juniperinas, Hovea acutifolia, Piniforus, Callistemon salignus, Dianella caerulea and a number of other natives. These species were mass planted to provide a uniform effect overall, therefore enhancing the stability of the creek bank.

The plants were selected using the guide “The Creek in Our Backyard” by Robert Whyte and the “Ipswich City Council Riparian Corridor Revegetation Guideline”. These resources have proved very helpful in choosing the correct plants for the different regions of the riparian corridor. The selected flora should help to reduce stream bank erosion, filter sediment from overland water flows, improve the habitat for wildlife such as butterflies, birds and frogs and improve the water quality.

The Waterways Conservation Agreement with the Ipswich City Council has provided access to plants, weed rebates, and education in the form of newsletters and workshops which has helped with many aspects of our journey.

We are lucky to have been given the chance to help with the rejuvenation of this small piece of the planet and will wait impatiently to see it flourish in the years ahead.

Peter and Cheryl Kempton Waterways Conservation Agreement Partners

Voluntary Conservation Agreements offer educational materials, an environmental weed control rebate, free plants, newsletters, exclusive workshops and access to technical advice for your property. To discuss this further or for more information about conservation partnerships, please contact the Partnerships Officer on (07) 3810 6612. The partnership program is an enviroplan funded innovative from Ipswich City Council.

Before restoration

Riparian CorridorRevegetation Guideline

For use on existing and futurePublic Land and Open Space