Curlew Island Restoration project

Engaging community and local businesses to restore this wonderful Gold Coast island for our visiting shorebirds.

Curlew Island landscape with sea and weeds Curlew Island Restoration projectsStabilising and protecting shorebird populations in Southern Moreton Bay by restoring native plant cover and removing aggressive weeds.

Healthy Land & Water’s Curlew Island Restoration project helps to protect and stabilise shorebird populations in Southern Moreton Bay by providing habitat for the Beach Stone Curlew and other listed species.

The project improved the ecological integrity of Curlew Island through weed removal and revegetation of native species.

Curlew Island is the most southern roosting and feeding site for listed migratory shorebirds in Moreton Bay and is amongst the highly frequented waterways of the City of Gold Coast. This makes the island an accessible location for shorebird enthusiasts who can view the island from land and one of many unique sites within the bay.

What we did

Improve the ecological integrity of Curlew Island.
Remove weeds and plant 3,500 native coastal vines, shrubs, and trees.
Restore 1.4 hectares of habitat for listed migratory shorebirds.
Stabilise shorebird populations in Southern Moreton Bay.

Measuring success

This project is measured by the degree of improvement of ecological integrity on Curlew Island will provide roosting habitat. This helps stabilise and protect shorebirds who visit and live in Moreton Bay.

Migratory shorebird species that benefit from this project include:

Bar-Tailed Godwit (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
Beach Stone Curlew (Vulnerable (Qld))
Curlew Sandpiper (Critically Endangered)
Eastern Curlew (Critically Endangered)
Little Tern (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
Pacific Golden Plover (EPBC listed migratory sp.)
Whimbrel (EPBC listed migratory sp.)

Why this project is important

Improved habitat integrity on Curlew Island will help stabilise and protect shorebird populations in Southern Moreton Bay. Tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds visit the Bay every year to feed and rest.

Habitat loss overseas is a major contributor to the global decline in migratory shorebird populations, however, threats occurring in Moreton Bay are significant contributors, particularly interruptions to shorebird feeding and resting through human disturbance and habitat loss through development and vegetation encroachment.

Over recent years, Curlew Island’s native vegetation has been progressively colonised and degraded by weeds, meaning less available shorebird roosting habitat.

Weeds have been eradicated using a combination of hand weeding, cut-scrape paint, and spot spraying.
Areas cleared of weeds have been revegetated with 3,500 local native coastal vines, shrubs, grasses, and trees.
As part of the revegetation, 14,000 litres of water were transported and distributed across the island.
The project has entered a maintenance phase which involves ensuring plants are watered during dry periods and undertaking weed control.

Project snapshot

Project name:	Curlew Island Restoration
Project manager:	Patrick Malone, Healthy Land & Water
Catchment:	Moreton Bay
Timing:	2018 - 2023 (Completed)
Budget:	$71,500
Partnerships:	This restoration project forms part of Watergum – the Gold Coast Catchments Association, Gold Coast Shorebirds Group and Gold Coast Waterways Authority's dedication to protecting roosting pitstops for our far-flung shorebird visitors. This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Related Articles:	Three years on Curlew Island for migratory shorebirds, time to celebrate the hard work! Dim the lights for birds at night: Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day World Migratory Bird Day - How you can help protect South East Queensland's shorebirds Gold Coast Island providing crucial habitat for migratory shorebirds in need of protection Threats in Moreton Bay significantly contributing to the global decline of shorebirds Coastcare Week 2021: Celebrating Coastcare in the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Celebrating Threatened Species Day - the Wallum Sedge Frog Protecting Nature's kidney: Saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats in the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland Revegetation, rehabilitation & collaboration: Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland project end of year wrap up 5 years in the making for Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Project – time to celebrate! South East Queensland Wetland Action in the spotlight From dune rehabilitation to shellfish reef restoration: Pumicestone Catchment Convergence wrapped up World Wetlands Day: What you do in your backyard can protect our wetlands Celebrating the 50th anniversary of global wetland action Pumicestone Catchment Convergence 2021 announced Vulnerable Moreton Bay needs all hands on deck Just add water: New paper shed light on estuarine marine reserves

What's next

Funding has ended for this project. There is huge potential to build on the successful work.

Project collaborators

This restoration project forms part of Watergum – the Gold Coast Catchments Association, Gold Coast Shorebirds Group, and Gold Coast Waterways Authority's dedication to protecting roosting pitstops for our farflung shorebird friends.

This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.