By Sonia Isaacs
CRITICAL native bee colonies may have been lost during vegetation clearing for the Beerburrum to Nambour rail project, a Sunshine Coast beekeeper has warned, as the varroa mite crisis puts growing pressure on the region’s pollinators.
Brymac Native Bees owner Dean Bryant, who has worked with native stingless bees for 21 years, said demand for native hives had surged as European honeybees were hit by varroa mite.
Mr Bryant said he feared wild colonies nesting inside tree hollows may have been inadvertently destroyed during vegetation clearing along the Beerburrum to Beerwah rail corridor for Stage 1 of the Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) Rail Upgrade.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) rejected suggestions native bee colonies had been overlooked, saying qualified ecologists conducted surveys before clearing and both native and European beehives were successfully relocated.
“The B2N Stage 1 project team works closely with ecologists to ensure all clearing activities are conducted in compliance with legislative requirements and with minimal impact on wildlife,” a TMR spokesperson said.
TMR said qualified ecologists conducted surveys 10 to 20 days before clearing to identify wildlife and habitat, including native and European beehives. Licensed Fauna Spotter Catchers were also present during vegetation clearing to manage wildlife interactions and relocate animals and beehives where necessary.
But Mr Bryant said native colonies could be extremely difficult to detect before trees were felled, with small nest entrances often concealed in hollows.
“We’re getting calls and emails every day for hives,” he said.
“But I’m seeing native bee swarms over mulch piles where their tree-hollow nests have been turned to chips. They don’t abandon the hive – the queen can’t fly – so when the tree goes, they go with it.”
Mr Bryant claimed demand for native hives had increased “a hundredfold” following varroa’s impact on European honeybees, forcing his operation to pause its “100 hives in 100 schools” education program to focus on supplying colonies for pollination.
He said he had observed exposed or lost colonies around Beerburrum and Beerwah, including along Steve Irwin Way, although the number potentially affected by development clearing was difficult to quantify.
TMR said native beehives found during B2N works had been successfully relocated to retained vegetation or elsewhere in the local area, while European beehives had also been salvaged.
Mr Bryant is calling for native bee specialists to have greater involvement in future infrastructure clearing and for rescue groups to be given access when colonies are discovered in felled trees.
He said protecting native colonies was becoming increasingly important as varroa placed pressure on European honeybees and demand for alternative pollinators increased.