The Fraser Island Defenders Organization has been provided with funding as Project Host as a result of Green Army funding for two projects from the Department of Environment and Heritage. The service provider for these projects will be Conservation Volunteers Australia.

The project, Restoring the balance in weed and erosion management on Fraser Island, will commence in late February and again in mid-August and run for 20 weeks. The six participants will range from 17 to 24 years old, and will be provided with training, including Occupational Health and Safety, First Aid, chemical use and the management of small motors. They will gain hands on skills in weed management, erosion control and will be fortunate to have advice and information from the QPWS rangers who will direct the work plan.

The participants will have their training at Hervey Bay and spend four days a week on Fraser Island working on different parts of the island. Other potential work may include:

• Easter Cassia management around Happy Valley and south to Yidney scrub
• Jamella – egg raft collection (and wasp release if training were provided), monitoring and leaf stripping
• Giant Rat’s Tail Grass control
• Eurong nursery – plant propagation and re-potting, including of Pandanus
• Great Walk track maintenance
• Track building
• Site stabilisation through erosion control and weed management on Indian Head (Takky Wooroo).

The project provides a unique opportunity to have work carried out on Fraser Island over the period of a year that would possibly take many years otherwise.

The team will work with a number of different groups on the island, including the Butchulla people, to learn about the culture and management of the island.

Libby Gardiner, Regional Manager Southern Queensland, CVA