Kleinfelder has been providing environmental conservation at Blacks Beach Spit since 2014, following Mackay Regional Council’s acquisition of the site. The reserve protects a critically endangered vegetation community (beach scrub) and is a vital component of the area’s coastal habitat and resilience against extreme weather events.

Project Overview

Prior to Mackay Regional Council’s purchase of the Spit, the area had been seriously degraded by multiple threatening processes, including extensive invasion by environmental weeds, erosion and destruction of vegetation by vehicles, and large-scale rubbish and green-waste dumping. Some areas were entirely dominated by thickets of Lantana (a Weed of National Significance) and by Guinea Grass (an invasive and bulky African grass), both of which elevated the fire risk within the site to an abnormally high level and compromised the fire sensitive beach scrub.

Rehabilitation Strategy

Kleinfelder were engaged to map and control weed incursion whilst working to promote natural recruitment for this unique ecosystem and valuable public asset. Working with our client, a multi-year action plan for rehabilitation was developed.

• Stage 1: Mapping of area, identification of priorities and assessment of the potential for ecosystem recovery.
• Stage 2: Invasive weed control.
• Stage 3: Management of primary weed control areas, support of native recruitment, and flora mapping to gauge the effectiveness of rehabilitation work.

Project Results

Kleinfelder’s strategic approach to the site has resulted in widespread natural regeneration of native plants, including recolonisation of beachfront areas damaged by cyclones. It has also greatly reduced the fuel load through the targeting of Lantana and Guinea Grass infestations. Approximately 90% of the reserve has benefited from extensive primary weed control.

Recent mapping of the site has identified greater flora biodiversity and Kleinfelder continues to work with our client on expanding this.

Project Details

Location:
Mackay, Queensland

Owner:
Mackay Regional Council