Regular Events
Current Projects
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Regular Events
Einbunpin Festival. This is Sandgate’s annual fair, held on the last Sunday of July at Einbunpin Lagoon. KSBA typically has a double stall with a themed display.
Clean Up Australia. KSBA has organised a cleanup site every year since CUA’s inception.
Laurie's Beach Walks. Started by Laurie Jeays in 2006 and now under the able direction of Pam Verney, these are free monthly sojourns onto the Sandgate beach to look for shells, worms and all things interesting. Contact Pam on 3265 7440.
Eco Adventures. An initiative of former KSBA President Paul Timms in 2016, Eco Adventures are free monthly environmental activities in different parts of the 4017 area, each with a different theme.
Bushcare at Curlew Park. The Small Bird Reserve bushcare group was formed in 2013 and meets early on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Contact Frank on 3269 3135.
Sandgate Tour. An informal 3-hour drive & walk tour of a selection of places in our local area, typically run every second year for members. These are places which are either lesser-known or have a lesser-known story attached to them.
Current Projects
John Oxley Memorial. John Oxley Memorial is located at the top of Allpass Parade Shorncliffe. The site offers an excellent vista over Boondall Wetlands, the Fisherman Island port facility and Moreton Bay as far as Moreton Island. KBSA first proposed that it be developed as a memorial to John Oxley in recognition of his camping below the site on his way to his official ‘discovery’ of the Brisbane River in December 1823. The memorial site was consequently designed and constructed by Council in about 2003. The site today is barren, offers no information and contains no shade.
Oxley was sent north in 1823 to find a site for a new convict settlement. Abandoning Bowen and Gladstone, he had just arrived in his final suggested site of Moreton Bay when he was hailed by Thomas Pamphlet. One of three sailors wrecked on Moreton Island, the trio had been cared for by three different Aboriginal tribes over the previous 7 months. It was John Finnigan that then showed Oxley the Brisbane River. Our proposal is that redevelopment of the site places Oxley's visit within this broader context.
A report was prepared and handed to Council on 20 Sept 2016. Council has since responded with a very basic proposal of their own and discussions have commenced on the way forward.
Oxley was sent north in 1823 to find a site for a new convict settlement. Abandoning Bowen and Gladstone, he had just arrived in his final suggested site of Moreton Bay when he was hailed by Thomas Pamphlet. One of three sailors wrecked on Moreton Island, the trio had been cared for by three different Aboriginal tribes over the previous 7 months. It was John Finnigan that then showed Oxley the Brisbane River. Our proposal is that redevelopment of the site places Oxley's visit within this broader context.
A report was prepared and handed to Council on 20 Sept 2016. Council has since responded with a very basic proposal of their own and discussions have commenced on the way forward.
Dowse Lagoon Habitat Project. Twenty-five years ago Dowse Lagoon, along with Third Lagoon and Moreton Bay, was declared a RAMSAR-protected wetland. This makes it a “wetland of international significance”. In recent memory it has been filled, dredged, walled, bestowed with an island, planted and then replanted, but most of all left to fend for itself. The result is a place rich in birds and weeds, and one which is changing rapidly.
Unlike Einbunpin Lagoon, Dowse still retains considerable ecological importance and is probably a key stopping point for birds travelling between Boondall Wetlands and Tinchi Tamba. Our belief is that allowing “nature to take its course” will not provide the best outcome for the animals who use the lagoon. Our challenge is to understand what is happening, separate good from bad, determine how best to intervene and, above all, make sure that the solution is not worse than the problem. The best outcome will be a lagoon that is, once again, a “wetland of international significance” that draws visitors from far afield.
The first major outcome from this work was the Ramsar Anniversary Habitat Planting held on 20 Oct 2018, on the 25th anniversary of the declaration. About 1000 wetland plants were put in below the Bowls Club on a site which had previously been cleared of weeds. Maintenance of the site is being done every Wednesday morning, 7-9. Come along, see what is happening and perhaps help for a while.
Unlike Einbunpin Lagoon, Dowse still retains considerable ecological importance and is probably a key stopping point for birds travelling between Boondall Wetlands and Tinchi Tamba. Our belief is that allowing “nature to take its course” will not provide the best outcome for the animals who use the lagoon. Our challenge is to understand what is happening, separate good from bad, determine how best to intervene and, above all, make sure that the solution is not worse than the problem. The best outcome will be a lagoon that is, once again, a “wetland of international significance” that draws visitors from far afield.
The first major outcome from this work was the Ramsar Anniversary Habitat Planting held on 20 Oct 2018, on the 25th anniversary of the declaration. About 1000 wetland plants were put in below the Bowls Club on a site which had previously been cleared of weeds. Maintenance of the site is being done every Wednesday morning, 7-9. Come along, see what is happening and perhaps help for a while.
Sandgate Walks. There are two drivers behind this project: to relieve congestion on our foreshores and to improve general health by making available a range of attractive walks accessible to everyone in the 4017 area, without having to drive. In other words, to develop a network of connecting walks of various lengths that:
- utilise our existing bikeways and footpaths;
- traverse our most attractive spaces;
- pass directly, or close by, coffee shops, B&B’s, hotels, etc.
Shorncliffe Escarpment Vegetation. BCC have confirmed that the dead trees along the Eagle Terrace escarpment were killed with poison. The visual impact of this on arguably our most popular walk - Lovers Walk, is huge. This project aims to pressure Council into developing a vegetation management plan for the escarpment (can you believe that one does not already exist?), to develop and implement some response when poisonings occur and to carry out replacement plantings.
