Watergum works with other organisations in the delivery of projects that benefit the environment, many of whom are Watergum member groups. Read about all of projects, past and present, below.
Current Projects
Pink Underwing Moth
Project Completion: Mar 2022
Funds: $96,367 ex GST from Australian Government – Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment
Project details:
A Watergum project in partnership with Healthy Land and Water. This project – The Recovery of the Pink Underwing Moth) entails the assessment of Carronia Vine and Pink Underwing Moth larval populations, removal of transformer weeds, and work to regenerate fire affected rainforest at Binna Burra.

Quoll Research
Project Completion: Nov 2021
Funds: $14,427 ex GST from State Government’s Department of Environment and Science fund
Project details:
A member group project by Quolls SA and sponsored by Watergum. An effort to capture evidence of quoll populations in the SE QLD region using baited camera stations. Although there are a number of verbal sighting reports, Quolls have not been photographed and confirmed in some areas for over 30 years.

Shorebird Habitat Restoration
Project Completion: June 2023
Funds: $57,500 ex GST from Healthy Land and Water
Project details:
A collaboration between Watergum and Healthy Land and Water. Restoration of Brown and Curlew Islands by weed removal and plantings. Curlew island is the most Southern roosting and feeding site for listed migratory shorebirds in Southern Moreton Bay and is of great significance to many species.
Coombabah Wetlands Restoration
Project Completion: June 2023
Funds: $52,500 ex GST from Australian Government – National Landcare Program
Project details:
This project is managed by Watergum for Healthy Land & Water through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The Coombabah Wetlands are an integral component of the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland. The project site is adjacent to feeding and roosting sites for internationally and nationally listed wading birds. This project will focus on the removal of weeds in order to improve the ecological function of this important habitat.

Subtropical Lowland Rainforest Restoration
Project Completion: Sep 2022
Funds: S68,550 ex GST from the Queensland Government’s CSA fund
Project details:
A member group project by Austinville Valley Landcare, sponsored by Watergum. Regeneration works to restore one of the last remaining degraded areas in the Austinville rainforest catchment. Restore important habitat for the 12 threatened flora species and 5 threatened fauna species, and others, that live in the area.
Quoll Girraween National Park Project
Project Completion: Nov 2022
Funds: S37,760 ex GST from the Queensland Government’s CSA fund
Project details:
After locating a healthy population of quolls at Girraween National Park near Stanthorpe, QuollSA has secured funding to live trap and GPS track quolls in the Granite Belt. The project will study the movement patterns, habitat preferences and home ranges of quolls, as well as looking at the reasons why quolls have been able to survive in this part of Queensland, but have disappeared from other areas that should support the species.

Austinville Valley Road Project
Project Completion: June 2021
Funds: S10,000 ex GST from the Federal Government’s CEP fund
Project details:
A member group project by Austinville Valley Landcare, sponsored by Watergum.

Linking Springbrook and Lamington National Parks
Project Completion: June 2021
Funds: $19,535 ex GST from Landcare Australia and WIRES
A member group project by Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre P&C, sponsored by Watergum. Carry out important regeneration, environmental monitoring and habitat repair works in the Numinbah Valley region. Currently overrun with weeds, this work will re-establish the rainforest link between two ecologically significant sections of rainforest on National Heritage land that are home to a number of rare and endangered species.
Completed Projects
Project | Description | Funder | Managed by | Funding $ (‘000) | Inkind $(‘000) | Total $(‘000) | Completion |
Koala Fodder Farm | Establish a Koala Fodder Farm for overnight koalas in care at Country Paradise Parklands | Landcare Australia | Watergum, Wildcare, Koalas on the Green and NCPA | 14 | 6 | 20 | November 2020 |
Youth Ambassador project | Giving youth ambassadors the opportunity to organise beach cleans on South Stradbroke Island | City of Gold Coast | WildMob | 16 | 4 | 20 | June 2020 |
Crane Creek Restoration project | Restore and revegetate Crane creek at Country Paradise Parklands through community involvement | City of Gold Coast | Nerang River Keepers | 8 | 23 | 31 | June 2020 |
Burleigh Head National Park Restoration | Purchase of new tools for the local landcare group that looks after Burleigh Head National Park | Qld Community Benefit Gambling Fund | Friends of Burleigh Head National Park | 3 | 1 | 4 | January 2020 |
Back Creek Restoration Project | Riparian restoration work and revegetation of Back Creek in Beechmont | Healthy Land and Water | Watergum | 55 | 5 | 60 | June 2019 |
Springbook National Park Restoration Project – Austinville Section | Riparian restoration along 4km creek within Springbrook National Park in Upper Austinville enhancing critically endangered subtropical Rainforest. | Healthy Land and Water | Austinville Landcare | 44 | 3 | 47 | June 2019 |
Restoration of Shorebird habitat on Curlew and Brown Island | Ecological restoration and revegetation of Curlew Island and Brown Island to assist migratory shorebird populations. | Healthy Land and Water | Watergum | 28 | 2 | 30 | June 2019 |
Upper Cave Creek Restoration | Ecological restoration on 4 private properties in Upper Cave Creek, Numinbah Valley. | Healthy Land and Water | Watergum | 22 | 18 | 40 | June 2019 |
Tacklebin expansion on the Gold Coast | Install new tacklebins at popular fishing spots on the Gold Coast | City of Gold Coast | Tacklebin | 7 | 12 | 19 | June 2019 |
Gold Coast Migratory Shorebird Habitat Restoration | To improve the condition of 5 migratory shorebird habitats on the Gold Coast | Healthy Land and Water | Watergum | 55 | 5 | 60 | June 2018 |
Austinville Road Protection Project | Tree planting and barrier fencing carried out by Austinville Landcare to protect areas from human impact to complement the HLW Austinville Road Project. | Healthy Land and Water | Austinville Landcare | 100 | 7 | 107 | June 2018 |
Stewart Farm Demonstration Project | Demonstration project showing the local community the benefits of restoration. | Qld Community Benefit Gambling Fund | Watergum | 9 | 7 | 16 | September 2017 |
Carricks Creek Riparian Restoration | Riparian restoration work of Carricks Creek | Healthy Land and Water | Springbrook Wildlife Appreciation Group | 15 | 1 | 16 | June 2017 |
Austinville Road Project | Riparian restoration along 3km of road and creek in Upper Austinville enhancing critically endangered subtropical Rainforest | Healthy Land and Water | Austinville Landcare | 50 | 10 | 60 | June 2017 |
Nature Conservation Assistance Program (NCAP) Co-investment | Funds directed to the Private Conservation Partnerships Program within City of Gold Coast Section to extend the scope of their NCAP Program over areas of sub-tropical lowland rainforest. | Healthy Land and Water | Watergum | 33 | 2 | 35 | June 2017 |
Hinterland Pest Management Project | Trap and eliminate foxes and wild dogs in Numinbah Valley, Springbrook and Austinville | QLD Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries | Watergum | 22 | 5 | 27 | January 2017 |