CLUB NEWS

Marine National Parks – Moreton Bay with Mandy Heals

We began with an explanation of the differences between a marine and a land based national park. Most marine parks are considered multiple use, which means that they are for marine life, people for recreational, and business situations. Mandy Heals was our speaker from the National Parks and Wildlife and she mentioned about the other marine parks along the east coast and in general their association with their particular marine life, however her focus was to be on Moreton Bay.

This is the closest marine park to any capital city in Australia and is controlled by a zonal system. This system is made up of general usage, habitat, conservation, and protection zones. The park stretches from Caloundra in the north to Southport in the south and east west from the islands of Moreton and Stradbroke to the mainland. Moreton Bay was declared a national park in 1993. It is important because it is where the currents from the north and south meet and also for its variety of vegetation for marine life. There is a dugong colony that lives in the bay and the Grey nurse shark has its home here as well, along with a number of birds. Marine visitors to the bay include turtles, whales, and migrating shore birds. We were told of the efforts that go into the controlling of the bay especially around the present time with the arrival of some 50,000 shore birds that arrive here to rest, recuperate feed and breed, some of which have flown non stop from Siberia. Any marine life that is injured is taken to Seaworld for recuperation and if possible returned to the bay. This talk was very interesting as we learnt more about what is on our door step. It was well presented by Mandy Heals from the National Parks and Wildlife

Graham Windsor with his qualifications covering various aspects of diving presented our talk on the foundation and the Great Barrier Reef. He compared the reefs around the world and the effects upon them with the days of the coal mines of old and canaries where the likes of gasses and nutrients in the water can upset the balance of the reef. In 1998 around twenty seven per cent of the reef were lost albeit only in part in some cases. Most coral reefs are a source of income for people of third world countries whereas the Great Barrier Reef is off shore and now being a marine park is managed accordingly.

The harmful situations of nutrients stems from farming where these are washed down stream from the farm and out on to the reef. The foundation put trace elements in the Burdekin River and followed its passage up the coast past Cairns. A natural predator of the coral is the Crown of Thorns Starfish which as we know inflicts enormous damage where ever it goes. The foundation has a program of Cairns to remove the crown of thorns involving divers injecting them with sodium bisulphate. Another program they have is the growing of sponges and these sponges have an algae that it uses as a protection against disease. They also have other spin offs of trace elements for medical use and other uses. There are other things that effect the reef such as a ships ballast water which is required to be removed from the ship before it can arrive in the waters of Australia and anything that is in the water when the ship picks it up is disgorged along with it. A prime case of this is the Japanese Starfish that is reeking havoc in the Derwent River. Temperature has a bearing on the results of the reef. Graham spoke of the work of the foundation and the form of the work that it follows. A most interesting talk which was followed by a barrage of questions.

Mt. Glorious is part of the D'Aguilar range on the western outskirts of Brisbane

As it came to be it was a glorious day on Thursday 12th September when the members of our club set of for Brisbane Forest Park and Mt.Glorious. We wended our way through the various suburbs including The Gap to Brisbane Forest Park and Walkabout Creek with its sanctuary for animals where we viewed birds,  wombat, kangaroo, platypus, pigmy gliders, little sugar gliders and a number of other animals after enjoying tea and scones. Then off we went to the next stage and Jolly’s Lookout to view the scenery which stretched east to Moreton Island. On to Westgate Lookout to take in the view west towards Toowoomba, before moving on to a lovely park setting at Mt. Glorious for lunch where we were serenaded by the birds, in particular the Currawongs. After a little rest and recouperation it was back on the bus for our journey home via the Northbrook Parkway and Lowood into Gailes and the Logan Motorway. This was a very pleasant and relaxing day out.

The Ferryman’s Pumicestone Cruise

This months jaunt saw the bus full well before it was time to go along with an extra four in a car so with an 8 0’clock departure it was off to Bribie Island for the Ferryman’s cruise of Pumicestone Passage. Welcomed aboard by the skipper Trevor Johns and his trusty assistants it was off for a three hour cruise, during which time we were told of the arrival of Mathew Flinders, the birdlife and the migratory birds and the distances they travel. We were introduced to the Glass Houses (Mountains) saw a turtle and a Dugong and to help the enjoyment had morning tea. We past the township of Torbul   and Goat Island and whilst the trip was very good and the skipper achieved showing us this wonder world it wasn’t till we almost reached the end when the sights on the beach created quite a bit of excitement. After this it was on to the Bribie Island R.S.L. for lunch. Bribie Island stretches from a point in the south near Goodwin Beach to Caloundra in the north.  More than half is a National Park and is only accessible by 4wd and then only part of it.  All to soon it was time to go but then all the excitement wasn’t over, no as we thought it was going to be a reasonably uneventful trip home there was a little surprise waiting up the road – "A FLAT TYRE" yes and it was out to fix it. Some of our more enthusiastic members stepped forward to assist only to find that they were not of the right caliber. In the meantime our driver Ian called for assistance and after a few photos of the group and the arrival of the experts we were back on the road again. We all enjoyed this outing.

The Fire Ants of Brisbane

        Around February 2000 it was discovered that an infestation of South American Fire Ant had entered Brisbane via the shipping terminal.  The Department of Primary Industries has since been endeavouring to eradicate them.  As we are only a short distance from the Port of Brisbane it was a very appropriate subject to discuss.  Marilyn Hughes was our guest speaker and what a tale she had to tell.  The ants range insize from 2 to 6mm and can live and go undetected underground for anything up to 6 months and an individual bite can sting for up to 1 hour but it is known that because they are so aggressive that one is most likely to be bitten by many ants causing severe agony and most likely medical treatment.  They can travel up to between 2 and 20 kilometers with wind assistance and untold by vehicle.  Marilyn showed a number of slides and physical samples, part of the type of nest, the ant itself, and the problems it can inflict of both human and animal life.  We were asked to be vigilent about these insects and to report any suspected sighting to the department. The fire ant nest is not the same as the common ant of which the entrance is like a volcano, its nest has many entrances.  Continuous checks are being carried out and areas baited, and, hopefully if successful we may be rid of them within four to six years.  Overseas in America in some areas it is impossible to venture outdoors without being attacked.  This talk was excellent, well presented, and informative and allowed us the opportunity to learn more of what is happening on our doorstep.

The Background Photograph is of the Glasshouse Mountains from Pumicestone Passage between Bribie Island and the mainland north of Brisbane.