First planting at Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area. AFTER. (2025) – see BEFORE photo at end of article.
Wet Season is the perfect time to focus on and progress Local Action Plans (LAPs) as it is too wet to undertake field monitoring. LAP Leaders have met monthly with CAFNEC Projects Officer, Shannon Bredeson, and Earthwatch Australia’s Coastal Wetlands Expert, Jock MacKenzie, to discuss their projects, collaborate, and consider future LAP opportunities. Here is an update on LAP progress:
Clive Murray, Shannon Bredeson, and Rachel Platte presenting the LAP outcomes for Year 1 of the project at Mulgrave Landcare. (2025)
Mulgrave LAP:
In 2024, the Mulgrave LAP Coastal Wetland Education Campaign was the first completed LAP. Led by Rachel Platte and Clive Murray, local school students were taught the importance of coastal wetlands in the classroom and in the field! It provided hands-on opportunities for students to learn about mangroves in their own backyard. It also filled a gap in the school education system by providing schools with a free educational opportunity on coastal wetlands.
This year, Rachel and Clive are beginning their second year of the program. They are expanding the program from 3 schools to 5 schools and including a knowledge-sharing field day with the Madjaybana Rangers from Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. This opportunity allows children to learn about the cultural value of coastal wetlands and supports reconciliation, with the rangers being remunerated for their time and knowledge. This expansion and increased engagement with the local community is proudly supported by the Queensland Government—Engaging Science Grants.
Barron LAP:
Barron LAP Leader Rob Williams has been organising with Holloways Beach Coastcare to revegetate Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area. With the property line fenced and the site cleared of Cyclone Jasper debris, the last step was to secure revegetation funding. Thanks to Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s (GBRF) Value Add Grant, we have secured funding to start revegetation this Dry Season. As this project nears completion, it provides a collaboration opportunity with the Mulgrave LAP. Rachel and Clive can use Barr Creek as a field site for students to collect data on mangrove condition pre/post-revegetation for comparison
Rob Williams working hard at the first tree planting event for Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area. (2025)
Final report from a coastal engineer assessing the Cardwell Foreshore and Bamboo Fence feasibility. (2025)
Hinchinbrook LAP:
Vito Napoli and Gabi Plumm, Hinchinbrook LAP Leaders, have also received funding through GBRF’s Value Add Grant to get expert advice from a coastal engineer at Royal HaskoningDHV. The engineer is currently drafting a report, outlining erosion severity, potential causes, and feasibility of the bamboo fence to reduce erosion of the Cardwell foreshore. This report will fulfill State Assessment and Referral Agency requirements and help us obtain permits as we progress to on-ground works.
First planting day at Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area with Holloways Beach Coastcare. BEFORE. (2025)
CAFNEC’s MangroveWatch Chapter is funded by the partnership between the Australia Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Project delivery is done in partnership with Earthwatch Australia and MangroveWatch.
