Tree planting along turtle habitat along Accommodation Creek near Ballandean SS. Dr Andrew Pengelly talked to the school about what makes for a healthy riparian zone. And our final excursion for the year took place at Girraween National Park with Dr Darren Fielder.
We have developed a great partnership with the SDRC Parks team. They helped us with the planting of 50 trees along the Riparian Zone of Accommodation Creek near Ballandean SS. This is important turtle habitat. The students learned how to collect the seed of the native species in March with Sarah Caldwell from Mole River Native Nursery. Sarah then grew on the trees for us to plant in October 2026. The students have learned about preventing erosion and bank stability with this project funded by the Philanthropic group the NED foundation in partnership with Ballandean SS and GBSAN.
GBSAN Bushcare members on the shovels with the SDRC Parks Team.
And before you know it – 50 planting holes ready!
Creek bank at high risk of erosion. It’s important to keep the waterholes as deep as possible for the survival of the Bell’s Turtles and other life in the creek.
Our NED funding also allowed us to contract local experts to educate the students and teachers about what makes for a healthy riparian zone to protect the critically endangered Bell’s Turtle. Dr Andrew Pengelly talked to the students about weed invasion and what we can do about this.
Dr Andrew Pengelly
Even our GBSAN member and bus driver, Patti, joined in with the weedbusting.
The students had great enthusiasm to bust those weeds. Great to see kids learning about nature in nature.
And then…..the planting. Every family group planted a tree at the creek. The whole community was very excited and enthusiastic. The SDRC Parks team also turned up to give us a big hand and helped with the watering. Many thanks go to Carol Ellway for donation of compost and to the SDRC Parks team.
Our final excursion for the year took place at Girraween National Park with Dr Darren Fielder on Friday 16th October. We were also joined by our videographer for the project, Andrew Johnson and Will Rogers with his field recorder and hydrophone.
What a great turn of the circle. The GBSAN/Ballandean SS Bell’s Turtle project funded by the NED Foundation and Ballandean school started the year watching baby Bell’s Turtles hatch at the UNE and finishing with greeting many species of turtles out of Bald Rock Creek. Dr Darren safely trapped three species of turtles – the critically endangered Bell’s Turtles, the Eastern Long Neck turtles and the Murray River Turtle. Dr Darren even guided the students to gently feel the eggs ready for the Murray River Turtle to lay in the bank. The students were totally captivated as were all the adults.
Will guided us all to listen to the underwater tunes made by water beetles. Snails, molluscs and fish with his hydrophone. The students were turtley engaged all day with making bush houses and etchings.
Our project is nearing its end at the end of the 2026 school year. We are having a film finale at Ballandean Hall on Monday 7 December to show our film and the students’ work. You are welcome to join us.
