Tackling rubber vine and Chinee apple along Maryvale Creek
Good progress has been made to control overwhelming infestations of rubber vine and Chinee apple along 80 kilometres of Maryvale Creek frontage country winding through three Charters Towers cattle properties — Maryvale , Niall and Mt Fullstop .
This work aimed to create healthier riparian corridors providing habitat for wildlife , and reduce the threat posed by weeds to the environment and grazing productivity .
NQ Dry Tropics contracted Longreach-based environmental consultancy DC Solutions to design and implement a plan to tackle the infestations on Maryvale Station , which were severely impacting biodiversity near the creek and also encroaching into pastures .
Weed density and lack of access along the creek front required an initial round of foliar spraying , with remaining infestations to be cleaned up by fire , as part of an integrated weed management plan .
Early indications are positive , with grasses regenerating fast and stabilising the creek banks . Landholder Alex Harrington said it would be an ongoing battle against the weeds , but he was up for the fight .
“ Maryvale had an extensive weed problem when I bought it ,” Alex said .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ ll ever have it completely cleaned up , but in the next three to five years we can probably break the back of it .”
Before ( above ): a section of Maryvale Creek choked with rubber vine .
After ( right ): the same section following foliar spraying , prior to treatment with fire .
The Linking Burdekin Landholders To Their Frontage Country For Vegetation , Soil And Water Quality Gains project is funded through the Queensland Government ’ s Natural Resources Investment Program .
PAGE 24 2021-2022 – NQ DRY TROPICS YEAR IN REVIEW