Healthy Land & Water

01/09/2026

National Wattle Day marks the beginning of spring in Australia. The vibrant, golden flower is an iconic and historic symbol of Australia’s resilience, unity and rich biodiversity of our ecosystems. 💛💚

This day is an opportunity to celebrate our national identity, to raise awareness of Australia’s unique flora, encourage conservation and inspire community engagement.

Did you know? Australia is home to over 1,000 species of wattle (Acacia) and is found in every state and territory from coastal regions to arid deserts.

31/08/2026

September is Biodiversity Month - what can you do to help biodiversity thrive?

South East Queensland is home to over 3,000 native plant species and more than 145 Regional ecosystems.

Our biodiversity is under threat from habitat loss and climate change. The good news? There are lots of simple ways to make a difference:

🍓Plant native flowers, fruits and veggies.

🥾Stick to trails and respect local habitats.

♻️Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.

🐝Support bees with establishing nectar-rich native plants in your garden.

🗑️Minimise waste and clean up your local area.

💧Conserve water – shorter showers count!

🛒Choose biodiversity-friendly products.

📷Take pictures, not samples.

🚲Walk, cycle, or use public transport to reduce emissions.

Every small action can make a big difference. Learn more ways you can help biodiversity thrive.

Read more here: https://hlw.org.au/news/small-things-that-you-can-do-to-help-biodiversity-thrive?

27/08/2026

Do you live next to bushland, reserves, parks, or natural areas? 🌳

Understanding the landscape around your home can help you better prepare for bushfire and appreciate the important role fire plays in shaping local ecosystems.

Healthy Land & Water's Backing Onto Bush workshop helps residents learn about bushfire preparedness, local vegetation and habitats, and how to safely live alongside bushland. The workshop includes practical information, expert advice, and a guided field walk to help participants better understand their local environment.

The Healthy Land & Water Fire Ecology & Preparedness team are hosting a Backing Onto Bush event in Wasp Creek, Coomera on 10 October 2026. 🔥

Find out more about Healthy Land & Water events: https://hlw.org.au/news/events

This event has received funding from the Australian Government.

A half-day session for peri-urban and rural residential landholders to learn about fire ecology

26/08/2026

Lakes: The lifeblood of our planet 💧

Today we reflect and highlight the significance of freshwater lakes to the world’s ecosystems. There are plenty of reasons to be grateful for lakes:

They are one of our most critical natural resources, providing homes for thousands of species of fish, plants, birds and other wildlife.

Lakes support agriculture, tourism, and drinking water supplies.

Lakes also assist with climate regulation as they help keep the planet cool, store carbon and absorb floodwater.

Did you know?

There are over 117 million lakes on Earth. They cover nearly 4% of the planet's land surface.

Let’s do our part to safeguard lakes – the lifeblood of the Earth. 🚣‍♀️

25/08/2026

What started as a community planting day is becoming something much bigger. 💚

More than 30 volunteers joined forces at Tuan Environment Reserve on the Sunshine Coast to plant 600 native trees and shrubs, making the first step in a 1.1-hectare restoration project that will see 2,750 plants established to reconnect koala habitat along the Mary River as part of South East Queensland’s Restore & Reconnect program.

As these plants grow, they'll provide food, shelter and safe pathways for koalas and other wildlife, creating lasting benefits for the landscape and future generations.
Volunteers also had the chance to meet the UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation team and learn more about local koalas. 🐶

Read more about why this site is so important for local wildlife: https://hlw.org.au/news/community-unites-to-restore-critical-koala-habitat-at-tuan-environment-reserve

The project is delivered by Healthy Land & Water with funding from the Queensland Government’s Restore & Reconnect Koala Habitat initiative and delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, Traditional Owners, landholders and community groups. By working together and continuing to care for the site over time, the partners are helping turn one community planting day into lasting habitat for koalas and other wildlife.

Sunshine Coast Council University of the Sunshine Coast

24/08/2026

Landholders are invited to join Healthy Land & Water and Mulgowie Farming Company for a practical farm tour exploring how regenerative agriculture is being integrated into commercial vegetable production. 🌱

Hear firsthand about Mulgowie journey to improve soil health, nutrient efficiency and crop resilience, while maintaining productivity and commercial viability.

Workshop highlights include:

• Regenerative agriculture in commercial vegetable production.
• Cover crops, compost and recycled gypsum.
• Soil health and plant nutrition strategies.
• Reducing synthetic fertilizer inputs.
• Integrated pest and disease management.
• Guided soil health walk.
• Lessons learned, successes and challenges.
• A Taste of Mulgowie Session, including tastings of fresh sweetcorn, green beans and Wagyu beef.

Speakers: Andrew Johanson (Mulgowie Farming Company) and Steve Martin (Quorum Ag).

This is a free, catered event. A refundable deposit is required to secure your place.

🎟️ Register for your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/mulgowie-farm-tour-or-mulgowie

This event is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Mulgowie Farming

Join Healthy Land & Water in collaboration with the Mulgowie Farming Company on a tour of their facilities.

19/08/2026

Seeds of Science start with curiosity. 🌱

This National Science Week, hear from four Healthy Land & Water team members as they share what inspired their science careers and how their work is helping create a healthier future for SEQ.

Read more on our website here: https://hlw.org.au/news/science-for-everyone-healthy-land-water-marks-national-science-week-2026

17/08/2026

What started as a simple question on a bushwalk is now helping connect communities with conservation. 🌿

Inspired by the idea of bringing people closer to the wildlife living above them, Brisbane-based innovator Comfy Creatures has created smart nest boxes that provide safe habitat for threatened species like the greater glider while allowing people to observe them in real time.

As part of Healthy Land & Water’s Urban Rewilding Program, 40 of these high-tech habitat homes will be installed across the Redlands, Noosa and the Gold Coast, helping create safer spaces for wildlife and inspiring a deeper connection with nature.

Each box becomes more than just a habitat – it becomes a valuable source of information. For scientists and conservationists, this means efficient monitoring and for the public, anyone can open the app and look inside a Comfy Creatures habitat box. 🐨

Because when you can watch a greater glider emerge from a nest box just metres above a walking trail, the community's connection to wildlife becomes personal. 💚
Read more here: https://hlw.org.au/news/eyes-on-the-wild-tech-connecting-communities-with-conservation

This project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.

12/08/2026

How do you know a restoration project is really making a difference? 🌱

That’s the question driving the development of StreambankCAT, a new monitoring tool helping environmental practitioners measure the health and recovery of streambanks over time.

Recently, Healthy Land & Water joined partners from across Queensland to trial the tool in the field, testing how it can track real environmental outcomes.

The trial supports delivery of Healthy Land & Water's Living Landscapes & Resilience project under the Natural Resource Management Expansion Program (NRMEP). The project delivers streambank remediation and riparian restoration through activities including erosion control works, revegetation, assisted regeneration and fencing to improve the health and resilience of waterways.

By moving beyond what's been done to understanding what's changed, tools like StreambankCAT are helping build a clearer picture of Queensland's environmental progress and ensuring restoration efforts are backed by credible evidence.

Read more here: https://hlw.org.au/news/improving-the-ways-we-measure-streambank-recovery

This project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.