War on weeds in Catchment area

CATS Claw Creeper and Madeira vines are being hunted out in the Kin Kin Catchment as part of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation’s Keep it in Kin Kin project.
Noosa and District Landcare Group staff and Noosa Council’s pest officer, Ken English, have been scouring the lower Kin Kin Catchment for the nasty weeds over the last two months.
Noosa Landcare’s Projects Manager, Steve Husband, said the vines are called ‘transformer vines’ in so far as they can smother and kill otherwise healthy forest.
“Within the Kin Kin catchment we think we have a chance to bring the vines under control and in particular keep our riparian vegetation intact,” he said.
“We have spent several days in the field surveying over 120 hectares of creek-line vegetation to assess the extent of vine weeds in the lower Kin Kin Catchment. Between Wahpunga Park and the Great Sandy National Park at Elanda we found 92 small infestations.
“I am really glad to say all of these were mapped and have since been treated by Noosa Landcare Conservation Services Contracting Crews. This is a great outcome.”
Further surveys over the coming months are planned for the remainder of the Kin Kin catchment.
Project partners Noosa Council, Healthy Waterways and Catchments, Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and Noosa Landcare will then be able to plan for future vine weed control in the catchment.
Mr Husband said mature Cats Claw Creeper vines were just completing their flower, with some bright yellow bell-shaped flowers quite visible.
“If you believe you have Cats Claw Creeper on your property and you are in the Noosa Catchment, please contact Noosa Landcare on (07) 5485 2468 for further information,” he said.
More information about the Keep it in Kin Kin project is available at www.noosabiosphere.org.au.