Conservation Report – December 2019
Author: Glenn Leiper
Published: Journal December 2019
Image above: Upper slopes of Bahrs Hill
Firstly, some good news to report ….
The Logan City Council has purchased two properties at Bahrs Scrub (near Beenleigh) for conservation purposes. These properties, 47 hectares in total, are dominated by a sizeable area of subtropical rainforest, with at least three threatened species – Macadamia Nut Tree Macadamia integrifolia, Veiny Fontainea Fontainea venosa and Red Coondoo Planchonella eerwah as well as many locally significant species such as Helms Silky Oak Grevillea helmsiae, Crown of Gold Barklya syringifolia and Ferny-leaved Bosistoa Bosistoa pentacocca subsp. pentacocca. The composition of the rainforest is unusual in that the canopy is dominated by Lancewood Dissiliaria baloghioides which is normally one of many species in the canopy of rainforests. Originally it would have contained many tall Hoop Pines Araucaria cunninghamii that emerge from the canopy, but most of these would have been cut for timber.
Macadamia integrifolia nuts at Bahrs Hill
Fontainea venosa
Helms Silky Oak Grevillea helmsiae
Bosistoa pentacocca
The early landowners (and subsequent owners) who retained this “scrub” should be acknowledged for choosing to keep these rainforest patches as there would have been many pressures over the years to clear them for agriculture, mining and even housing as the high points have tremendous views across to Moreton Bay and the islands.
It’s interesting to note that the Bahrs Scrub rainforests were surveyed by officers of the Department of Primary Industries in 1981 and recommendations were made to the government to acquire some of the land for a national park, but this wasn’t acted upon unfortunately.
Since then, the district has undergone much rezoning for residential and commercial development, with housing estates now actually adjoining this new acquisition.
Congratulations to the Logan City Council officers for this acquisition which will be one of the jewels in the crown of Logan’s conservation parks.
Secondly, two once common rainforest species whose existence is now threatened by myrtle rust, Rhodamnia rubescens and Rhodomyrtus psidioides, have been uplisted in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act as Endangered. This reflects the devastating effects of myrtle rust on these species in New South Wales and Queensland. Some populations and plants of the Rhodamnia seem to be doing OK in the wild, and while we see the occasional seedling or root sucker of the Rhodomyrtus, I’m yet to see a healthy adult in recent years. However Graham & Beth McDonald report that there are a couple of plants showing good resistance at Mudgeeraba.