Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project

Smothering weed-vines pose a major threat to the remaining native habitat in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Cat’s claw creeper, Madeira vine and Dutchman’s pipe are three of the worst weed-vines in the area.

Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project
Cat’s claw creeper
Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project
Madeira vine
Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project
Dutchman’s pipe

They destroy the environment they inhabit by smothering and killing native vegetation. Smothered trees often collapse into waterways resulting in a loss of habitat for both land and aquatic wildlife. They also have seeds and tubers that remain viable in the soil for over 10 years and spread readily through wind and water movement – making them efficient in their reproduction.

Hinterland Bush Links has been driving the Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project since 2013 (focusing on the headwaters and upper reaches) to eradicate the three highly invasive species of weed-vines – Cat’s claw creeper, Madeira vine and Dutchman’s pipe.

Left unchecked, these would spread throughout the region and progressively invade rainforests, causing irreversible damage.

This strategic work is restoring and protecting areas of rainforest by stopping these devastatingly noxious and fast-growing weeds from smothering the forest and killing the vegetation along riverbanks. In turn, this has protected water quality and enhanced habitat for animals including many threatened species.

The Mary Valley catchment is a biodiversity hotspot and supports the Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia which is listed as Critically Endangered. The region is home to an abundance of animals, including threatened and endangered species listed under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, such as the Mary River turtle, Oxleyan pygmy perch and the Giant barred frog.

This project is a $100k+/year project. We arrange professional contractors to carry out this on-ground work.

  • Labour Hours

    1,456 labour hours of contractor weed vine removal
  • Properties

    Across 30 properties
  • Locations

    Along Harper Creek, Mary River (above Conondale) Elaman Creek, Cedar Creek, Little Yabba Creek and various road reserve sites owned by Department of Transport and Main Roads.