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Friends
of Currimundi Lake (FOCL) is made up of a dedicated group of volunteers
ranging over all ages, who work for the betterment of the local environment
under the mantle of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Topical Issues are discussed and solutions proposed.
Members take part in activities which affect Currimundi but also have
a wider implication such as Turtle Monitoring , Tree planting, Flora
and Fauna surveys , Environmental Planning, Rubbish disposal and Recycling.
Working
Bee Group.
This group concentrates on weed control through the removal of weeds
by hand, as this type of control has the least impact on the environment.
Weeds covered include Weeds of National Significance (WONS), Environmental
weeds, and weeds classed in levels 1, 2, and 3. Sites that have been
cleared are revegetated with native species endemic to our area. Endangered
species such as the Birdwing Butterfly Vine are planted and monitored.
Preventative planting to control erosion of the lake banks and the sand
dunes with native shrubs, grasses and herbage is a high priority. The
working bee group meet regularly as listed on our Calendar page.
Litter
Removal.
Members from the working bee group plus other volunteers from FOCL and
the community work very hard in cleaning up litter. Targeted areas are
the streets, the foreshores of the lake, and the beach. Litter not only
looks bad, it affects our waterways and oceans by harming our land and
water fauna. Clean-up Australia Day is embraced by the Group. Some members
of FOCL have taken on the job of checking the doggie-bag bins each day
to maintain a good supply of bags.
Water Management.
Water testing of the Lake on the southern shores is conducted each month
by FOCL volunteers. Reporting any unusual happenings along the riparian
areas, fish kills, algae blooms, riparian vegetation problems and accumulation
of litter is encouraged. Storm drains have been stencilled by the group
with the words, ‘dump no waste – flows to creek’.
Members also calibrate the Monitoring Instrument. FOCL is represented
on the Currimundi Lake Dynamics Committee and the "Witness High
Tides" programme.
Notice Boards.
Notice Boards are located at the Boat Ramp and in Cliff Hargreaves Park.
They are updated regularly by two dedicated members and contain numerous
items of interest relating to the environment and also advising the
community of events happening in the Catchment.
UXO Management
An ongoing problem in the Currimundi area is the presence of Unexploded
Ordinances (UXOs) left from Army target practice during WW2. An Unexploded
Ordinance is any sort of explosive which has failed to explode. Hence
for safety reasons, all activities are curtailed when working in virgin
areas and prevents work until the land area involved has been screened
by experts. This becomes a consideration in these areas when organising
events. Clearance in the water is also required. Funding for progressive
clearance has been provided by Council.
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