It’s hard to believe, but KSBA celebrates 55 years of existence this year! The organisation has been active in conservation work in the Sandgate area for so long that many 4017 residents today would be completely unaware of the debt we owe the eco-warriors of the past.
Who knew that in 1985, Deagon Wetlands was saved from becoming a shopping centre by the protests of an offshoot group from KSBA? The bike tracks along the foreshore were instigated by the foresight of Laurie Jeays, who was at the heart of the KSBA organisation. It was Laurie, Brian Hutchison and Ken McEwan who organised the very effective resistance that saved Boondall Wetlands from development. The bronze bird sculptures in Einbunpin Lagoon were actually gifted to KSBA by Sandgate’s famous sculptors, the Shillams, in recognition of KSBA’s role.
One of the reasons for KSBA’s longevity is the structured nature of the organisation, which is now perhaps leading to its demise. KSBA is an incorporated organisation and a registered charity, which allows it to operate a bank account and auspice other groups such as the bush care groups. Central to this is the need to have a committee and to have regular meetings, and it is this, rather than a lack of relevance, that is the problem. While we have lots of support for our talks and goodwill from the community, we need people to join and to take on committee roles.
The present committee have been in their roles for six years or more, and while it’s a labour of love, all good things must come to an end. Put simply, unless we have people step up to take on the role of secretary and president, KSBA must fold this year.
More than ever, we need a group to advocate for the natural areas of our suburbs. We’re so blessed in 4017 to be able to enjoy our lagoons, foreshore, parks, wetlands and creeks, but it would be foolish to think they’ll remain if there’s no one keeping an eye on them!
So if you value our natural areas and are interested in actively working to enhance and conserve them, contact KSBA at ksbainc@gmail.com We meet every two months at Sandgate Museum for approximately an hour and a half, and we’d love to see you.
Give a Rats for Owls and Frogmouths
Who knew that Shorncliffe was a hot spot for Barn Owls? These silent predators of the night, that look so cute, feed almost exclusively on rats and mice. Unbelievably, a pair are capable of ridding the neighbourhood of ten rodents per night if they’re feeding hungry chicks. That’s seventy less rats per week!
These were just a couple of the facts that Stefan Hattingh, Senior Ecologist at City of Moreton Bay, presented in a fascinating talk about owls and Tawny Frogmouths at the Sandgate Museum last week. Stefan drew on his research work with farmers who are using owls as pest control, as well as his practical experience of raising and caring for these rarely-seen birds.
Protecting Our Owls: The Impact of Bait and Sustainable Solutions
Tragically, the Barn Owls’ fondness for rodents means that many birds die a painful death as a result of eating baited rats and mice. Stefan also pointed out that rat baits kill our Tawny Frogmouths, too. Cockroaches love rat bait, and cockies form a large part of the Tawny Frogmouths’ diet.
Rat bait availability has been the subject of an inquiry recently, and surprisingly, baits will still be available for all to buy on the shelves of stores such as Woolworths and Bunnings, despite their availability being severely restricted in countries such as the USA, Canada and European countries.
You can do your bit to help our local Tawnies and Owls by choosing not to use rat baits, and instead investing in alternatives such as traps, or even installing your own Barn Owl nesting box! These are available online, with one supplier based in Brisbane. KSBA is going to investigate the possibility of our Men’s Shed producing these for the community to buy.
Cane Toad Tadpole Trapping
For the past three summers, the Dowse Lagoon Bushcare Group have been trapping cane toad tadpoles in Dowse and Fourth Lagoons, and last summer, Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association (KSBA) began trapping at the Sandgate golf course.
The trapping relies on an environmentally friendly lure developed by researchers at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience. The lure contains pheromones of adult cane toads to attract tadpoles, trapping them before they grow and reproduce, and it does not attract native species.
Watergum, a Gold Coast not-for-profit environmental group, has developed a trap that utilises the lure. The trap is placed in warm shallow water near a swarm of cane toad tadpoles and removed a few hours later. Once trapped, it’s easy to pour out, humanely euthanise and dispose of hundreds of tadpoles before they grow up to cause environmental damage.
The Environmental Threat of Cane Toads and How to Get Involved
Cane toads are relentless invaders that reproduce at an astonishing rate, eat just about anything, and are highly toxic at all stages of their life cycle, as eggs, tadpoles and adults, poisoning and killing virtually all potential predators. The release of just 100 adult cane toads in Australia a mere 80 years ago created the current situation, where hundreds of millions of poisonous cane toads now occupy millions of square kilometres of Australia, devastating native species as they advance across the nation.
Cane toads also pose a risk to domestic pets, with an adult toad capable of poisoning a medium-sized dog in 15 minutes.
Since November 2023, we have removed almost 140,000 cane toad tadpoles from our lagoons.
If you are interested in helping or trapping tadpoles near your place, contact KSBA at ksbainc@gmail.com
For more information, visit:
Featured image: Mike Chamberlain trapping toad tadpoles in Dowse Lagoon
KSBA Clean Up Australia Day 2026
Once again, KSBA will be cleaning up Decker Park and the surrounding foreshore on Clean Up Australia Day this year, on Sunday, 1 March.
We’ll be there from 7am until 9.30am, and any residents, local businesses and community groups who’d like to help out are welcome to join us.
Last year, we had forty-eight people participate in the clean-up, with thirty-one bags of rubbish collected – a wonderful effort. All this means a whole lot less rubbish entering the bay.
All you need to do is turn up at the shelter shed nearest the Decker Park car park any time between 7am and 9am, make sure you register with the onsite supervisors, Rod Carey and Carol Guard, collect a pair of gloves and a bag, and off you go.
Email ksbainc@gmail.com for any further information.
The Birds of Summer
Each year, we witness our summer birds returning from their winter breaks in various parts of the world. First to return are the magnificent migratory shorebirds, and small flocks can now be spotted quite easily as they refuel on the tidal flats of Brighton. They’ve been to the Arctic, raised a new generation and now they’ve flown ten thousand kilometres non-stop to get back to the bay. All they want to do now is rest and feed – on rotation! Please make sure you give them space if you see them, and please, please keep your dogs in the off-leash area.
KSBA recently organised a shorebird talk by Arthur Keates from the Queensland Waders Study Group, and thirty local residents enjoyed a terrific talk in the very pleasant setting of the Marine Rescue Queensland function room on Cabbage Tree Creek.
Local Bird Activity and Conservation Concerns
Next to arrive are those heralds of welcome storms, the ‘storm bird’ or Eastern Koel. The glossy black male and beautiful striped female can be spotted feeding on the fruit of backyard palm trees and their repetitive call is a sure sign that summer is on its way. Another marker of approaching summer and to the dismay of nesting birds, is the incredible screech of the giant channel-billed cuckoos, back from New Guinea and keen to lay their eggs in some currawong or magpie’s nest.
Of course, some of our resident birds ramp up their presence at this time of year. Those serial pests, the black and brown common mynas, are having a devastating effect on our native birds. The mynas will kill native chicks, take over the nesting hollows, and then use rubbish such as plastic and lolly wrappers to line the nest, thus ensuring the natives won’t use that hollow again. The mynas nest a number of times each breeding season, and so increase their population rapidly at this time of year and outcompete our native peewees, magpies and kookaburras for food. Sadly, we lost many old habitat trees with nesting hollows during Cyclone Alfred, which further disadvantages native birds locally.
If you would like further information about common mynas or any of the other birds mentioned, please contact Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association at ksbainc@gmail.com
Caring for Our Local Birds
It’s definitely a thrill to spot a beautiful owl or tawny frogmouth roosting in your yard. Not only are they a novelty to see, but owls or frogmouths in your garden provide great natural rodent control. Even common backyard birds like currawongs, kookaburras and butcher birds will take rats and mice too.
However, if you’re using rat bait in your yard, chances are that one of these beautiful birds, or even the local kites, can die a slow and painful death after eating one of the poisoned rodents.
If you do have a rodent problem, please don’t reach for rat bait as your first line of defence! Rodent proofing with wire mesh and keeping your yard free of food waste helps to ensure you don’t need poisons. Classic snap-trap mousetraps or other mechanical rodent traps remain one of the best ways to control pest rodents, and are widely available.
Choosing Safer Rodent Control Methods
Despite well-documented risks to wildlife and pets, rodenticides (rat poisons) are readily available in Australian retail stores. The United States, Canada and European Union nations have introduced significant restrictions on the use of these dangerous poisons.
In response to an open letter from two hundred Australian scientists, the use of rodenticides is being reviewed here, in recognition that action is needed to safeguard Australia’s unique biodiversity.
However, conservation begins in the backyard. Always try nontoxic methods first to solve your rodent problem. Poisons should be a last resort!
Don’t forget to book into the Migratory Shorebird Talk at Shorncliffe Volunteer Marine Rescue on 8 November, 10am-11am.
To book, email ksbainc@gmail.com
KSBA Einbunpin Kids Art Competition
Last year, we had some fabulous Shorebird Collages created in the KSBA tent at the Einbunpin Festival. This year, our theme is ‘Protect Habitats and Protect Native Animals’ and we’re holding a competition for kids to use their imagination and create a piece of art depicting a native animal of the local area.
The subject could be as tiny as a dragonfly or as large as one of our Tinchi-Tamba kangaroos. The choice is endless, with a huge variety of insects, native frogs, reptiles, beautiful birds and all sorts of sea creatures making their homes in the 4017.
Competition Details and How to Enter
The artwork can be a drawing, painting, collage or 3D creation. All entries will be displayed at the KSBA marquee at the Einbunpin Festival on Sunday, 27 July.
The competition is open to kids up to the age of fifteen and will be judged by popular vote on the day.
To enter, first email us with your details at ksbainc@gmail.com and then have your artwork ready for us to collect by 21 July.
The prize is a voucher to spend on some lovely art materials at Arthouse Northside.
Adults, don’t forget to enter the KSBA photo comp. For details, see May’s Sandgate Guide or email KSBA. We’ve had some gorgeous pictures submitted already but are still looking for more!
The Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association: Over 50 Years Of Conserving Sandgate
With its leafy streets, abundant wetlands and stunning foreshore, Sandgate is one of the most unique suburbs in all of Brisbane.
Home to long-time residents and newcomers alike, as well as a diverse range of plant and animal life, 4017 is a very special corner of the world and the Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association (KSBA) is working to keep it this way.
Jenny Carey, KSBA President, explained that where natural environments and urbanisation co-exist, there will always be a need for people to advocate for the natural world.
“I’ve been a KSBA committee member for six years and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done,” Jenny said. “It’s an opportunity to mix with like-minded people and have a say in decisions about issues that are dear to my heart.”
Now in its remarkable 53rd year, KSBA has been acting to conserve the local area over the last five decades.
“Other community environmental organisations typically rise in response to single issues with defined end dates,” Jenny said. “KSBA has persisted all these years because we respond to community concerns over a wide range of ongoing issues.”
Jenny explained that KSBA works towards long-term aims such as enhancing Sandgate’s natural beauty, promoting the conservation of the natural environment and fostering balanced development.
“Our achievements tend to be modest and not always obvious,” she said. “However, we’re proud of the fact that we’ve successfully petitioned Council for increased off-leash area signage, that we’ve played a part in environmental protection planning for the Gateway upgrade, and that we’re making headway in advocating for a cleaner environment in Cabbage Tree Creek.”
Engaging the Community in Conservation Efforts
Later this year, KSBA will begin contributing a monthly mini-column to the Sandgate Guide to further raise community awareness.
“We’d really like to engage local residents,” Jenny said. “We’re planning to include topics such as Fun Facts About Shorebirds, the Queensland Wader Study Group, Toad Tadpole Trapping Program, Laurie’s Beach Walks, Clean Up Australia Day and more.
Long-term resident and lifetime KSBA member Margaret Jeays said the people involved in KSBA have a love of the area and are willing to work with the community and politicians to preserve its natural state.
“When you have an area like Sandgate and its surrounds it’s well worth fighting for,” Margaret said.
The KSBA encourages residents to reach out to ksbainc@gmail.com with any concerns or to inquire about how to become involved.
Read more stories from the Sandgate Guide print magazine here:
- Station Upgrade On Track
- No Man’s Land No More
- The Myth of Hard Work Always Leading to Success
- Journey Through Ancient Egypt at Queensland Museum
- Organic Gardening in November
- Robert Kift: A Genial Sandgate Identity
- Skating into Christmas with a Cool Performance
- Ready to Run
- Discover The Magic Of the Night Sky
- Sub Branch Builds Sense of Belonging
- O Christmas Tree!
- Rhino Flooring Revitalises Iconic Local Fire Station
- Santa Makes Waves at Carols by the Creek
