Environment and cultural heritage

Environment and cultural heritage

South Stradbroke Island boasts a Conservation Park spanning 1800 hectares.

The island – one of only 15 sand-based islands globally - is made up of more than 1800 hectares of Conservation Park which is a valued community asset.

Considering the island's Conservation Park is a stone's throw from the urban landscapes of Surfers Paradise and Main Beach re-enforces its unique character and the need to manage it in perpetuity.

South Stradbroke Island has a diverse collection of native flora representative of the low lying areas of the South East Queensland Bioregion.

Council intends to support regionally-significant coastal lowland communities such as mangrove forests, sedge lands, cabbage palm swamps, eucalyptus woodlands and paperbark forests as part of its island management plan. These communities are scattered throughout the island and found in differing areas depending on individual landscapes, nutrient availability, environmental conditions and previous human impacts.

Historical vegetation records show that littoral rainforest/vine scrub previously occurred over the central and southern parts of South Stradbroke Island. However, these associations have since decreased in size, distribution and diversity.

In total, 267 plant species, representing 203 genera and 91 families of vascular plants, have been recorded within the reserves of the Conservation Park and Tipplers Hub's surrounds..

According to the Department of Environment and Resource Management there are eight distinct Regional Ecosystem vegetation communities on the island with two of these communities classified as 'Of Concern'. Further increasing their importance, the two threatened communities are not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast and, together, represent the main vegetation types on the island.

The range of habitat types on South Stradbroke Island supports a diverse array of local, nomadic and migratory fauna. A total of 242 species have been recorded with 238 species representing vertebrate fauna. Cumulative survey results have revealed the presence of 10 species of amphibian (9 native, 1 exotic), 14 reptiles, 187 birds (184 native, 3 exotic), and 27 mammals (23 native, 4 exotic).

Two common mammals that most visitors have the opportunity to observe are the agile wallaby (Macropus agilis) and the golden swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor welsbyi) which is only known to occur in southern Moreton Bay. The only populations of the agile wallaby south of Rockhampton occur on North and South Stradbroke islands and within Pimpama River Conservation Area. The squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) and short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) all also occur on the island.

The island also has strong indigenous heritage links to the Yugambeh and Quandamooka indigenous people. Through the Tipplers Hub Master Plan, Council is getting on with formal recognition and preservation of these cultural values.

Eventually, Gold Coast City Council will undertake a multi-tiered plan to protect and open up the environment for all residents and visitors, including:

• an environmental education precinct where primary, secondary and tertiary students can learn the natural and cultural features of South Stradbroke Island
• interpretive signage and walks where visitors can learn more about the environmental attributes and cultural heritage of the island
• a vegetation management plan which will re-invigorate the flora throughout the island, particularly around the foreshore area.

Sixteen schools from Robina to Ormeau have already indicated their support for the future education precinct which is proposed to include accommodation and learning facilities, with a strong focus on the cultural heritage and environmental values of South Stradbroke Island.

But in the meantime, Stage One activities will focus on removing large numbers of the 76 identified weeds throughout South Stradbroke Island.

Following the removal program, appropriate coastal species including the Melaleuca quinquenervia (paper bark tea tree), Eucalyptus tereticornis (forest red gum), Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood) and Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) will be planted throughout to strengthen the island environment.

Local community and environmental groups will be encouraged to take part in the replanting of the island. Landcare are already involved in regeneration projects around South Stradbroke Island, while there are plans to involve the Gold Coast's Green Army in future planting schemes around the Tipplers Hub, allowing them to contribute, learn and receive qualifications at the same time.