Print this pageBiodiversity
Waterways & Riparian Zones
Waterways and riparian zones (land which adjoins or is part of the waterway) are some of our most biodiverse and ecologically important areas. Waterways not only hold and transport water around the environment.
A healthy riparian ecosystem also works to clean and filter the water, control the temperature of the water and riparian zone, regulate lighting and provide and a diverse range of habitat.
Waterways also form natural vegetated corridors across the landscape and provide important ecological and habitat linkages for many different native animals, including fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects and birds to move back and forth looking for food, shelter, mates and nesting opportunities.
Unfortunately, many waterways have become degraded and no longer operate as healthy ecosystems. Human activities such as land clearing for development and agricultural purposes and recreation pursuits have removed and or damaged the vegetation that once stabilised and protected the banks and filtered the water as it ran off the land into the watercourse.
Another significant impact on our riparian zones is weeds. Weeds can choke waterways and smother native plants. For information, factsheets and links about weeds species in the region check out our weeds section.
Sunshine Coast Council encourages individual landholders to apply for a Landholder Environment Grant. This grant provides financial assistance for private landholders to undertake on-ground projects that protect and enhance the natural assets and biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast, and promote ecologically sustainable management of the region’s environmental values.
For Further information
Links and Other Resources
Another significant impact on our riparian zones is weeds. Weeds can choke waterways and smother native plants. For information, factsheets and links about weeds species in the region check out our weeds section.
Assistance for Sunshine Coast Residents
The Council’s publication, Rehabilitating Waterways in Maroochy Shire – A Guide to Assist Landholders and the Land for wildlife factsheet provide excellent information on rehabilitating and managing waterways and riparian zones on your property.Sunshine Coast Council encourages individual landholders to apply for a Landholder Environment Grant. This grant provides financial assistance for private landholders to undertake on-ground projects that protect and enhance the natural assets and biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast, and promote ecologically sustainable management of the region’s environmental values.
Assistance for Moreton Bay Residents
Checkout the Moreton Bay Regional council website to access a range of information on ways to protect our local waterways and catchments.For Further information
Links and Other Resources
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Activity Centre
Try and spot some wildlife at night. Undertake a Backyard Spotlight/Torch Survey.
In the Activity Centre you can setup a Living Smart profile and access calculators,
challenges, tools and games.
challenges, tools and games.
Useful Tips and Facts
- Create urban wildlife corridors and stepping stones to larger local bushland or parkland areas.
- In nature there is no such thing as waste everything is linked and contributes to the cycle. As a plant reaches the end of its life cycle it is not discarded by nature, instead it provides habitat for animals and food for micro-organisms as it lies on the ground, the waste from the micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi feeding on it replace nutrients and organic material to the soil for new plants to grow.
- Plant local native species
- The best way to attract native wildlife to your backyard is to provide a variety of healthy natural foods in the form of seeds, leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen, fruits and nuts throughout the year.
- The use of pesticides and herbicides can damage your soils and kill non target species. The poisoning of insects with chemicals can also cause larger species relying on those insects as a food source to become sick or even die from eating poisoned insects.
- To create habitat for smaller native birds you can grow shrubs close together to create dense corners or pockets in your garden which will provide protection and refuge from larger aggressive birds such as noisy miners
- Wattles (Acacias). While most wattles only live between 6 - 10 years, they are an important pioneer species which colonise disturbed areas, where other plants find it hard to grow. They improve soil conditions enough to allow other species to germinate and thrive by fixing nitrogen into the soil through their roots and adding high levels of organic leaf litter.