Unitywater Grant Strengthens Our Roving Restorers Program
Since October 2025, the Hinterland Bush Links Roving Restorers program has been proudly supported by Unitywater, enabling the expansion of on-ground restoration activities throughout 2026 across the Sunshine Coast hinterland. This partnership has strengthened our ability to restore, protect, and reconnect vital habitat corridors across the region, while empowering community members to take direct action in landscape recovery.
Roving Restorers Partnership: Restoring Connectivity Across the Hinterland
The program began with a weeding event in Reesville, where the Unitywater team joined us on-ground to help clear approximately a quarter of an acre of invasive weeds from key koala habitat adjacent to a previous restoration planting site. From this starting point, the project expanded into a coordinated series of on-ground works across the hinterland.
Unitywater Executive Manager of Strategic Engagement, Joshua Zugajev, said the partnership will help strengthen habitat corridors across the region.
“Unitywater is proud to support Hinterland Bush Links’ Roving Restorers program to help regenerate bushland and restore corridors for our unique flora and fauna, which rely on bushland canopies to move around with more protection.”
Supporting Ecology and Community
By the end of the program, we had delivered: 6 weeding events, 3 tree planting events, and 2 educational workshops. Across these activities, a total of 2.3 hectares of connective koala habitat was cleared of invasive weeds, primarily lantana and privet — species that form dense thickets across the landscape and significantly restrict wildlife movement. In addition, we revegetated 1.5 hectares of land with 1,500 native trees, shrubs and grasses, exceeding the original target of 900 plants, thanks to the support of Queensland Trust for Nature and Mooloolah River Landcare
Beyond the environmental outcomes, the program also strengthens social connection—volunteers learn new skills, share knowledge, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature.
Across the program, we recorded 164 volunteer instances and over 400 hours of on-ground restoration work. These hours represent a growing community of Roving Restorers — from long-term volunteers to many new faces — all contributing to hands-on habitat restoration across the hinterland.
Building Long-Term Stewardship
The partnership also supported two educational events designed to deepen ecological understanding and land management practice. In March 2026, conservationist and author Rusty Linnane, creator of Weedlings and Seedlings of SEQ, delivered a field-based workshop on plant identification, focusing on distinguishing native species from weeds at seedling and sapling stages.
In April, the Land for Wildlife team facilitated a session on fire ecology, exploring how ecological burning can support biodiversity outcomes. Participants visited a site prepared for cool burns and later received updates on post-burn ecological responses. These sessions strengthened the link between practical restoration and ecological knowledge-sharing.
As this partnership comes to a close, we reflect on the collective effort that has driven its success. We extend our sincere gratitude to Unitywater for their support and commitment to landscape restoration, to our landholders for generously opening their properties and trusting the process, and to our volunteers who continue to show up with energy, commitment, and a shared belief in restoring our natural environment.
Together, these efforts are helping to reconnect fragmented landscapes and build resilience across the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
