HINTERLAND Bush Links’ Roving Restorers volunteers have planted 525 native seedlings on a 7.5-hectare Bald Knob property, boosting koala habitat and strengthening wildlife corridors between Mooloolah Valley and Maleny.
The 7.5-hectare planting, supported by Unitywater’s Healthy and Thriving Community Grants Program, forms part of efforts to establish a connected habitat corridor enabling native fauna to move safely through fragmented bushland.
“Unitywater operates in a part of South East Queensland that is home to some beloved wildlife, essential to ecosystem health and valued by communities across the region,” said Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Engagement Joshua Zugajev.
Hinterland Bush Links Manager Natalie Frost said the grant supports three planting events, six weed removal sessions and educational engagement with landholders over 12 months.
“Wildlife corridors intersect through private properties, so educating landholders to identify invasive weeds such as privet and care for new plantings is key to long-term success,” she said.
Ms Frost said habitat loss remains the biggest threat to koalas, with new plantings expected to provide immediate benefits for birds and insects while canopy species establish over coming years.
Local volunteers say the project highlights growing community momentum for landscape restoration across the Sunshine Coast hinterland with ongoing efforts expected to improve biodiversity, strengthen ecological connectivity, and support long-term conservation outcomes for koalas and other native species in the region there.
The Bald Knob planting is part of a wider program of community-led restoration, including weed control and landholder education, aimed at strengthening long-term resilience across fragmented bushland.