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A downloadable Data Test – Oysters based on experiments aimed at restoring shellfish reefs has been prepared for use in classes in biology and marine science under Queensland’s 2019 senior secondary syllabus. The module has been prepared by Mr Michael Howe, Maths/Science/Marine Teacher at Bribie Island State High School. The original data sets were included in a scientific paper by Royal Society of Queensland Member and marine scientist Dr Ben Diggles entitled “Annual pattern of settlement of Sydney Rock oyster spat in Pumicestone Passage“ . Supplementary data and a spreadsheet with spatfall field data referred to in the article and charts with data on Leaf oysters and a Time series are also available.
Subsequently, in September 2019, Dr Diggles provided an Invertebrate Report with the following explanation:
“I attach a copy of the 9-month invertebrate report. Not too much happening by way of growth or recruitment of shellfish on the reefs in the middle of winter, except for some honeycomb oyster settlement. But the spat settlement data comparing the cage reef vs the patch reef from the 2017 deployment are telling, as they show that anchor damage to the patch reefs lowers their profile and reduces their effectiveness for attracting spat.
“Healthy Land and Water have commissioned some underwater drone footage of the trial reefs which is available at https://youtu.be/N1ZKITKE7SA. Again, note the anchor damage to the smaller patch reef deployed in 2017. Fortunately the cages, the biodegradable BESE reefs and the larger patch reefs deployed in 2018, while still vulnerable to anchor damage, are proving to be more robust, the latter probably due to their larger size and the larger besser brick fence modules surrounding them.”
For a background instructional video on why all this work is being done in Australia, refer to the video at https://youtu.be/Dn8dZrWK7fM, available at the website https://www.shellfishrestoration.org.au/ . This is the national website allied with the local Moreton Bay site http://restorepumicestonepassage.org/ .
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Stage two of the TS Onslow Naval Cadets Shoreline Management Project has been successfully completed. This community-driven project on the northern Pumicestone Passage at Golden Beach aims to prevent erosion of the foreshore and enhance fish habitat. Project outcomes include planting mangroves and stabilising dune species with biodegradable coir logs, potato starch matrix sheets and reef star modules. This project was made possible through funding from the National Landcare Program, Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science Sustainability Grant, and the Caloundra Power Boat Club. Details here.
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Interested to participate in a first of its’ kind exciting Australia wide Citizen Science project? Pesticide Detectives is an extensive project investigating the occurrence and concentrations of pesticides in Australian waterways. It is funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Business and undertaken by the Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST) based at RMIT University. Citizen Scientists in collaboration with AQUEST scientists will collect sediments from waterways across Australia to advance our understanding of pesticide contamination in Australia’s waterways. Results from the study will be shared with you and will be available on our webpage. Learn more about pesticides in your waterway by participating in this study.
Download Pesticide Detectives pdf
Go to www.rmit.edu.au/pesticidedetectives for further information.
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The three-co-organisers of the July 2019 Rangelands Policy Dialogue have approved of a one-page Declaration, download here. The three parties – The Royal Society of Queensland, AgForce and NRM Regions Queensland – have issued the following statement.
“The Rangelands Declaration is not an action plan. It is a statement of principles, emphasising the lack of widely supported policy solutions to a range of economic and environmental pressures and the absence of satisfactory forums to resolve differences of opinion. But it is more than just a resolution to write an action plan in the future. It is a commitment to embark on a journey of discovery together. Continue reading
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The Queensland Science Network was launched by His Excellency the Governor of Queensland the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC at an official reception at Government House on 13 June 2019. Some 50 guests representing the societies who have joined the Network and some senior public servants including the CEO of the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Chief Scientist attended. Continue reading
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In 2019, the BioDiscovery Project continued a survey of biodiversity at the Woodfordia property, site of the annual Woodford Folk Festival. Spider expert Robert Whyte, a member of the Royal Society of Queensland, has supplied this fascinating report of the survey (5.8MB) and the stunning photographs.
Report of field work at Woodfordia site
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On 17 June 2026 this wonderful group celebrated its 250th General Meeting. To mark this milestone, they put together a special commemorative booklet. It chronicles the early history and formation of the MRCCC, and looks back at over three decades of catchment repair, community partnerships, and dedicated project work.