by woppaburra
Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation have partnered with Ecosure and OzFish Unlimited to
deliver coastal restoration on Woppa (Great Keppel Island). Commencing in 2024, the “Restoration for Balban Dara Guya (Leekes Creek) and Putney Beach” project focuses on environmental conservation and collaboration with Traditional Owners and scientific restoration experts.
Funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, the project
aims to restore 77 hectares of wetland, mangrove and shellfish reef ecosystems on Woppа.
Collaborators include CQUniversity, Livingstone Shire Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife
Service and Department of Resources, all working together to deliver ecological and cultural
outcomes.
Project Objectives
Cultural Integration: Project co-design and codelivery with the Woppaburra people, incorporating
traditional knowledge alongside scientific restoration techniques. This project is an opportunity to restore natural areas that have been disturbed while maintaining the Woppaburra People’s cultural
obligations to care for Country. Their cultural knowledge helps heal Country and spirit while
developing stronger connections. Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration: Ecosure’s bush
regenerators and restoration ecologists are codesigning and co-delivering an ecological restoration
plan with the Rangers. On-ground actions will include assisted regeneration and weed control in
the project area to support Country health.
Shellfish Reef Restoration: OzFish Unlimited are building ‘Robust Oyster Baskets’ with the Rangers
and placing them in Leekes Creek to restore Shellfish reefs that historically existed on Woppa.
The baskets will create suitable habitat for shellfish spat to establish live reefs.
Seagrass exploration: CQUni will explore the extent of seagrass at Leekes Beach to inform future
restoration efforts with the Rangers. Seagrass is an important food source for dugongs and turtles, and minimises sediment and erosion impacts to the Great Barrier Reef.
Land and Sea Ranger Capacity Building: Woppaburra Rangers will work alongside industry leading coastal restoration experts each step of the way, learning practical restoration skills while
connecting to Country. This enhances opportunities for employment and leadership in environmental management and supports Woppaburra to scale up their restoration capability to look After Woppaburra Land and Sea Country for the future.
