25/05/2026
In May this year, Kellie Best from Reef Catchments was joined by MRC Pest Management Officers; Maria Ferraro and Kayla Paul (seconded), and Olivia Jones and Bonita Bond from Ranges to Reef Environmental to meet with Pioneer Valley land holders to survey properties for Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia).
Kellie is the Project Officer for the Prioritising the Priority Species of the Mackay Whitsundays Project. This four-year project, funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust, is aimed at supporting efforts to reverse the trajectory of the priority threatened species, the Red Goshawk and Eastern Curlew in our region. Through this project, Kellie is supporting landholders to manage Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia).
Madeira Vine is restricted invasive matter under the Qld Biosecurity Act 2014. Under this act all Queenslanders have a General Biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take reasonable and practical measures to minimise the spread of restricted invasive matter.
Madeira is native to South America; it’s a succulent climbing vine that invades native forests and riparian (riverside) vegetation. It grows prolifically; in good conditions it can grow up to 1 metre per week. Madeira climbs up to 40 metres into the canopy, smothering and collapsing mature trees, it forms thick mats that overwhelm low lying vegetation, this in turn inhibits natural native regeneration. It reproduces through tubers that grow from the roots and stems, or by sprouting from stems and rhizomes, (underground tubers), think sweet potato. It produces large numbers of underground and aerial tubers. These tubers not only reproduce more plants but provide energy to support the plant through tough weather conditions. The tubers drop to the ground or into waterways (they float) when mature or if the plant is stressed or disturbed. The tubers can remain viable for up to 15 years.
Madeira is extremely labour intensive to treat. Each stem must be carefully scraped and painted with herbicide. Any tubers along the scraped area of the stem must be collected and disposed of.
Thanks to funding from the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust delivered by Reef Catchments, with support from MRC, treatment works by Ranges to Reef, and collaboration from landholders we aim to reduce the damaging effects of Madeira vine in the Pioneer Valley.
Pictured left to right, Kayla Paul- MRC, Olivia Jones-Ranges to Reef, Kellie Best-Reef Catchments, Bonita Bond -Ranges to Reef and Mr David Oliver a Finch Hatton Landholder.
