Schuster Park

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND COMMUNITY JOBS AND EDUCATION PROJECT

This Project is supported by funding from the Australian Government.

Project overview in brief

Titled: “Schuster Park Environmental Restoration and Community Jobs and Education Project

Local jobs grant funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations

Gecko in partnership with the GCCC

The aim of the project was to provide local employment and training opportunities and develop skills in the environmental industry.  The project employed a part time project manager and administrator, along with a field team of 7 who worked in partnership with the GCCC to restore the northern peninsula area of Schuster Park. 
As well as working to restore this area of Schuster Park, the team engaged other local bush care groups to share knowledge, skills and assist in bush care projects in the broader Gold Coast Region.  The field team completed a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Care Management, which combined with their on the job experience, set them up for careers in the environmental industry on the Gold Coast.

Started in July 2010 and ended in June 2011

Site Goals

In addition to the employment, training and work experience objectives defined in the grant approval, site goals at Schuster Park include:

  • Restore remaining native vegetation by controlling weeds
  • Strengthen the resilience and regenerative capacity of the native vegetation
  • Improve the forest structure and re-instate natural processes (e.g. plant growth, reproduction, recruitment and dispersal) that have been impacted due to weed invasion
  • Restore areas identified as having low resilience through revegetation using species appropriate for the pre clearing Regional Ecosystem whilst maintaining genetic integrity by using locally sourced plants.
  • Improve habitat opportunities for native fauna

Shusters's Park Northern Peninsular Restoration Site

Shuster Park is an environmentally significant riparian area on the lower reaches of the Tallebudgera Creek which is degraded and in need of restoration. On the basis of a study conducted by the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC), the site is described as a habitat node – a tract of vegetation providing habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna and of high conservation significance within a bioregional corridor. Restoration of the area’s biodiversity has been earmarked for some time pending the availability of funding.

Zone 2b: Typical Weed dominated ground and mid stratum of this zone, image showing Parra grass in the foreground and Madeira vine and Coastal morning glory getting up into the mid-stratum.

Zone 3b: Typical weed dominated ground and mid stratum of the higher ridges of this zone, illustrating the dominance of Ground asparagus, Easter cassia and climbing nightshade with the lower intertidal areas relatively weed free. Note the similarity of the native Ruby salt bush (Enchylaima tomentose var. glabra) on the lower slope and the Ground asparagus (darker green foliage) on the top of the ridge.

For before and after restoration shots at designated reference points, view our gallery of photos below.

 

Learning and Development Program

The learning and development objective of the Schuster Park Project is to provide the trainee Bush Regeneration Team with the optimum blend of formal education, industry certification, practical experience and a broad base of knowledge on environmental matters that would combine to secure them long term careers within the local environment industry. The broad career development program includes:

  • 46 environmental education sessions to broaden environmental awareness;
  • an innovative, field based Certificate III in Conservation and Landcare Management;
  • essential industry based accreditations such as OH&S, First Aid, Chemical Handling, 4WD and Chain Saw;
  • mentoring and guidance from Bush Regeneration Professionals contracted as permanent team members to facilitate learning and knowledge transfer of best practice bush regeneration processes
  • extensive hands on experience through large scale ecological restoration works

Project Status (@ 30th June, 2011)

The Schuster Park Project is now complete. All project deliverables have now been completed on time, on budget and in many cases, exceeding the scope and expectations. All trainee bush regenerators have successfully completed a certificate III in Conservation and Land Care Management along with an extensive environmental and personal development training program. During July and August 2011, the project will be closed down administratively, including a project audit and final reporting to the project sponsor (Australian Government).

The primary objective of the grant was to provide Bush Regeneration work experience, training and education to small team of local people in the hope that this opportunity would lead to long term employment outcomes. This objective has been delivered in spades and we are excited to report that all trainees have been successful in gaining full time employment in the local Bush Regeneration industry

In achieving the desired employment outcomes, the Schuster Park Project has provided a broad range of outcomes for the local community, a summary of which are available on this pdf.