Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Planting and weeding Federation Walk
Dave Hopman connecting a pipe to water the shrubs
Federation Walk Ranger Jodie Clifford
Federation Walk
Turn your back on the glittering high rise of the Gold Coast and you could be miles away from anywhere.
That's if you're standing on Federation Walk, a three and a half kilometre stroll through a natural bush reserve just across from downtown Surfers Paradise.
Stretching from a fig tree opposite the Sea World carpark to the Gold Coast Seaway north of Main Beach, it runs through the 93 hectare Federation Walk Coastal Reserve on Southport Spit.
This island of space beside one of Australia's most popular holiday destinations has spawned what Gold Coast Council's Senior Coastal Management Officer Greg Stuart describes as "the best organised volunteer group I've ever been involved with."
He's referring to the Friends of Federation Walk, which has included members from every post code in the region.
The Friends, whose helpers range from 10-year-olds to those in their 70s, have worked to restore an area that includes the region's last extensive mainland dune system.
Funding
The Australian Government has helped with more than $47,000 in funding and generous assistance has also come from South East Queensland (SEQ) Catchments, State Government and Gold Coast City Council.
Activities and achievements
"People care about this place. They just like being here. They can walk, cycle, run, or just enjoy the peace and listen to the birds," said Lyn Wright, Friends President.
"We call it the green beside the gold!"
The volunteers have undertaken mass plantings of native trees and shrubs such as figs and banksias and are trying to re-establish what was a former seashore rainforest.
Up to 120 species of birds are now being seen in the reserve including kites, Sea Eagles, honeyeaters, shearwaters, lorikeets, parrots and nesting pairs of Bush Stone Curlews.
People like Lyn and Greg see the Federation Walk Reserve as a rare opportunity for the region. They said it could be the Gold Coast's answer to New York's Central Park.
But it's been a far from easy ride for the Friends.
Many of their plantings were lost between 2003 and 2005 as the result of seven deliberately lit fires that devastated the reserve.
However the setbacks only seemed to strengthen the Friends and they came back, clearing up, replanting and weeding after each of the fires. As a result the Friends won the State's Beach Spirit Award for three years in a row from 2003.
More information
- SEQ Catchments: www.seqcatchments.com.au
- Federation Walk: www.federationwalk.org
- Gold Coast City Council: www.goldcoastcity.com.au/oceanway
- Griffith University: www.gu.edu.au/centre/gccm
See also
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