Community Engagement Team Updates
Cat forum
The Community Engagement Team assisted GBSAN Cat Management Team to host a forum with guest speaker Thea Vass from The Invasive Species Council on 23 August 2025.
The turn out included Councillor Sarah Deane who was alarmed to find out that not only do free roaming cats kill 3 billion native animals a year but also spread diseases that cost $6billion dollars each year.
The Message to protect our wildlife while also protecting pet cats is clear:
1. Contain your pet cats 24/7. Evidence shows that pet cats in suitable containment areas live longer, have happier lives and are more bonded to their owners. Explore innovative ways to set these up in your home.
2. Train your cat to walk on a lead – unleash the cool factor! Thea has successfully trained her cat to do this.
3. Register and micro-chip your cat to ensure their safety.
4. De-sex your cat to prevent CATastrohic consequences= the possibility of more feral cats.
We also explored feral cat management strategies – GBSAN offers free cat traps and information to our members. This includes humane trapping and handling www.gbsan.org.au/catcontrol.
Visit www.invasive.org.au for more information.
If you have a cat problem in your neighbourhood or want to report a stray cat contact the Council on 1300697372 as well as using your feralscan app
GBSAN Biodiversity – Landscape Linkages Project
The Landscape Linkages Project is advancing, with neighbour gatherings organised to foster environmental and social connections among landholders, as well as to gather information on landholders' needs and support. The initial gathering took place on 21 August, hosted by Siobhan West and Bernadette Hayes at “Carrig” Lyra, which is an integral part of a wildlife corridor following the riparian zone of Accommodation Creek. Ten neighbours attended and listened to Ranger Andrew from Girraween National Park speak about creek ecology and the importance of wildlife corridors.
Project Aims and Participation
These gatherings aim to encourage neighbouring landholders to collaborate in planning and enhancing bushland connections to support wildlife corridors. Landholders are invited to share ideas and questions, and guest speakers with expertise and experience are featured.
If you are interested in hosting a neighbourhood gathering, contact Geraldine at community@gbsan.org.au. Support is offered for organising morning tea and securing knowledgeable speakers.
GBSAN Bushcare Group
Paul Revie, Senior Ecologist with Friends of Parks and the Quoll Society continued training our Bushcare members as we collected the wildlife cameras and data in Broadwater State Forest. We were fortunate to have members of the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium join us. Data from the cameras indicates less quoll activity in Broadwater. Cameras revealed the presence of koalas, echidnas, possums, swamp wallabies, possums, yellow footed antechinus as well as an owlet – nightjar. Unfortunately, there was plenty of evidence of feral animals including cats, foxes and pigs.
Paul instructed us on how to use Avenza Mapping to locate the cameras as well as how to gather the data on the cameras. This is an ongoing project and monitoring will continue in Girraween National Park as well as Broadwater State Forest.
• Contact us at community@gbsan.org.au if you have a project for the Bushcare group or would like to join the group.
Upcoming Bushcare dates:
24 September 2025 – 9am to 12:30pm – Weeding around the endangered Black Grevillea (Grevillea Scortichinii) at Thulimbah as well as assisting the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium to survey these plants.
October and November – Weeding Accommodation Creek Riparian Zone
October – Tree planting at Rick and Mary's Nature refuge
Community Engagement Team
• Trivia night – 11 October 2025 – keep this evening free so you can come along and enjoy a night out with friends at our fundraiser. Details to follow.
• Pub Chat – Friday 6 September, 5pm O'Mara's Hotel – out the back.
• Stanthorpe Trade and Gardenfest – 10th and 11th October 2025
-Geraldine Hollingsworth, Convenor CET and Landscape Linkages