Waterways Extension program

 

Waterways Extension program guidelines

Program objectives

The Waterways Extension program is a free, non-binding, voluntary and action orientated program that assists landholders on Redlands Coast with catchment and waterway management on private land. The program aims to reduce pollutants entering Redlands Coast waterways through education and partnering with landholders to improve water quality and ecosystem health.

Registered landholders in the Waterways Extension program can apply for financial assistance each financial year to undertake environmental improvement works to enhance the waterway health on their property. Financial assistance is limited to a minimum of $500 and capped to a maximum of $1000 (excl GST) per property, per financial year. Applications for financial assistance are submitted through Council’s online SmartyGrants platform and assessed for eligibility against criteria in this guideline to ensure conservation outcomes.

Who can apply?

To qualify for the Waterways Extension program, your property must:

• be larger than 1000m2 in size
• be located in one of the priority catchments, including Eprapah, Hilliards Creek, Moogurrapum, and Native Dog Creek catchments
• include a waterway e.g. dam or natural watercourse, the owner is willing to rehabilitate and enhance to improve water quality and environmental values on their property.

Note you must be the title holder of the property to join this program.

Projects eligible for financial assistance

Projects eligible for funding must be undertaken within the plan boundaries of the property that is registered to the Waterways Extension program. Projects can include:

• revegetation that focus on restoring/enhancing waterways e.g. dams, natural watercourses, riparian zones and remnant bushland with local native plant species. Plant species approved for revegetation projects must be:
  • listed in the Regional Ecosystem and Vegetation Association guide relevant to your property
  • aquatic/wetland plant species recommended by your Environmental Partnerships (EP) Officer
• small scale sediment and erosion control projects to reduce impacts on waterways and enhance water quality
• environmental weed control/management in waterways, riparian zones and remnant bushland to support habitat enhancement/improve fauna movement and water quality
• supply of materials for landholders to construct a floating wetland to assist with improved water quality
• conditional supply of wildlife friendly fencing to exclude stock from waterways at the discretion of your EP Officer
• supply of habitat nest boxes – maximum of 1 box per financial year. Nest boxes must be installed in bushland areas and remain on the property registered to the Waterways Extension program.

Projects ineligible for financial assistance

Projects ineligible for financial assistance include:

• works outside of the registered property boundaries
• works outside of or don’t adjoin/expand upon an existing waterway, riparian zone or remnant bushland area
• landscaping works for visual/scenic amenity e.g. garden beds, lawn maintenance
• planting of non-endemic species e.g. species not included in Regional Ecosystem and Vegetation Association guide relevant to your property
• activities that fall within normal landholder responsibilities e.g. maintenance of mown areas and buildings
• costs associated with any permit required for funded works.

What are landholders expected to contribute to the partnership of the Waterways Extension program?

It is expected landholders match the programs funding 1:1. Contributions can be made in several ways, including monetary contributions or in-kind contributions i.e. use of own labour, equipment, resources or materials. In-kind contributions are costed at $43.3/hr e.g. $1000 equates to approximately 23 hours of labour.

What are the project monitoring and maintenance requirements?

The landholder is required to undertake a minimum of 12 months on-going monitoring and maintenance of Council funded works completed through the Waterways Extension program. Monitoring and maintenance may include but is not limited to the following:

• follow up watering of newly revegetated areas to ensure plants have the best chance of survival
• follow up environmental weed control e.g. hand weeding and/or treatment to ensure environmental weeds continue to be managed appropriately following works undertaken by Council
• on-going maintenance of sediment and erosion control works undertake by Council.

Non-compliance

At Council's discretion, the following activities will result in deregistration from the program or be ineligible for future financial support:

• not contributing i.e. via in-kind support to projects being funded by Council
• not actively managing known threats on the property e.g. environmental weeds
• clearing native vegetation excluding approved fire access tracks on the property and/or clearing works previously funded by Council.

Loan items

Participants of EP programs also have access to loan equipment for weed control, planting and cane toad management on their properties. All loaned items must be returned within 2 weeks of the loan date unless otherwise approved by your EP Officer. Items also must be returned in the same condition they were given out.

Items that can be loaned through the EP programs include:

• lantana popper
• power planter
• fauna camera
• toadinator cane toad trap
• tadpole bucket trap (lures for this trap must be purchased by the participant as they are a poison and cannot be supplied through the program)
• weed boom.

Contact information

For more information regarding the Waterways Extension program, please contact the Environmental Partnerships Team on 3824 8611 or email environmentalpartnerships@redland.qld.gov.au.