The visual history of my weeding patch¶

Introduction¶

I participate in dune and bushcare restoration activities, covering areas from Stumers Creek north of Coolum Beach south to Twin Waters/North Shore on the Maroochy River.

I have a blog page that shows records of the Australian native plants I see, while ripping out introduced weeds. As part of my musing about the recent storm blow-down of mature Banskia trees, I started to chase down the rabbit hole of "what is the vegetation stable climax of a dune eco-system?"

The upshot was (I think) that this is not a well-formed query. The environmental dynamic of the dune environment (erosian, severe sub-tropic storms, and fires) suggestes that a stable end-state eco-system is very unlikely to form. Studies elsewhere in Queensland suggest that if one does form, it is only after most nutriments have been leached away, leading to very impoverished vegetation.

So then I though to get Claude to find images of my weeding patch, to see if I could identify trends. The results are below.

Orientation¶

The photos below were taken at the dates shown, and cover some or all of my weeding patch. I have cropped the original images and rotated them to have the ocean at the top of the image (east at top). The north (left) boundary of the patch is Stumers Creek flowing to the east along a south-west to north east line. The south (right) boundary is the Council caravan park. The Pacific Ocean form the east (top) border.

A key orientating feature is the minor road that runs from David Low Way initially east (up) then north (left) to the mouth of Stumers Creek. Where this minor road bends to the north, a foot track cuts through to the beach, and another foot track runs right (south) to the caravan park. This minor road (and second foot track) forms the west (bottom) border of the weeding

Each image comes with a commentary. Caution - I am not a photo-interpretation expert, or a geographer.

But first, some history¶

To my mind it is impressive that this sign has survived for 25 years in the sea-side environment (and being a target for vandals). Also amusing is that the sign has outlasted the administative entity in which it was created. The Maroochy Shire Council is no more, subsumed into the Sunshine Coast Council, as part of a consolidation push.

The sign does give some information on the forces driving vegetation cover - forces that include benign human activity! The reference to "area on the left" means the northern half of the weeding patch.

1974¶

Description¶

This image, which covers the southern half of the weeding patch (and most of the northern half), is from over 50 years ago. There seems very few mature trees, and I think the dark green area behind the fore-dunes are swamp areas (or maybe burn scars). The caravan park appears to be rudimentary, or in the process of construction. There are many foot or vehicle track along the dunes

1988¶

Description¶

The image covers the northern part of the weeding patch (which is east (above) the dirt road to Stumers Creek, and the track to the caravan park (just off camera). There are still areas of grassland, but forest covers abour half the site. There are not many trees along the fore-dunes, but tracks along the dunes have decreased (maybe due to better fencing?)

1994¶

Description¶

Tree cover has increased, and has started to move closer to the fore dunes. The caravan park has been completed.

1996¶

Description¶

The northern (left) end of the area shows many burn scars, and open areas with only grass cover. The southern half appears untouched by fire

1999¶

Descripting¶

The entire northern end of the area is now largely treeless, even worse than 1996. Maybe trees killed or badly damaged by the fires in 1996 and later have died in the period to 1999

2002¶

Description¶

There maybe some recovery in the extreme northern part of the area, as burnt trees re-establish the leaf canopy. The center part of the area is still bare.

2022¶

Description¶

Twenty years later, and the tree canopy has been re-established over almot all the area, including the fore-dunes. The track to the caravan park now has a canopy that almost hides the track

Conclusion¶

My takeaway from these images is that native bush regeneration can be done, but that it takes time!