News
Read the latest GBSAN and Granite Belt sustainability news below.
EV event this Sunday 22 February 2-4pm
Electric Vehicle Show & Shine Sunday 22 February, from 2-4pm.
Visitors can chat to the owners and find out what they like about their vehicles. FREE entry.
Ready Communities program
Stanthorpe has been selected to take part in the Ready Communities program, a nationally recognised place-based approach that supports regional towns to shape their own future, on their own terms. The first step is a series of community forums on 10 and 11 February, open to anyone who cares about Stanthorpe’s future.
Landscape Linkages Project
The outcome of our grant application to the Queensland State Government’s Grassroots Environmental Grant for the Granite Belt Landscape Linkages project is still pending, with an announcement expected in February.
GBSAN Bushcare Group Activities
The Bushcare group will be kicking off activities for the year with a tree planting event at Haley’s property on Wednesday, 11th February 2026.
GBSAN Schools Project
GBSAN has commenced work with Granite Belt schools, starting with Ballandean State School, to incorporate local biodiversity into the curriculum.
Apple and Grape 2026 – GBSAN Float
Our GBSAN float for the Grand Parade at the Apple and Grape Festival on Saturday 7th March is well under way. Come and join us at the Farmer’s Market on Sat 14th Feb anytime between 8:00am and 11:00am to join in the fun of preparing items for the float.
2025 Waste and Recycling in Queensland Report
The 2025 Waste and Recycling in Queensland Report is now available.
Solar powered gate opener
We’d love to showcase local stories about using renewables and energy efficient changes. Let us know if you’d like to contribute your own story to this series.
EV Show & Shine - Sunday 22 February
GBSAN and Twisted Gum Wines are hosting an Electric Vehicle Show & Shine on Sunday 22 February, from 2-4pm.
2024/25 President’s Report
2025 has been another very successful year for GBSAN in terms of the activities of the Teams, our recognition and standing in the community and a marked increase in community engagement which has resulted in an increase in membership and supporters. As a result, we are in really great shape to embark on the next phase of the organisation’s evolution.
News from Climate and Energy
COP30 has come and gone; key outcomes are an acknowledgement an expected temperature rise of 2.6 degrees C by 2100 at current emission reductions targets.
Introducing New GBSAN Recycling Volunteers
GBSAN volunteers Lyn Rowley, Terry Pinney and Catherine Arden have formed a new recycling team to continue with, and hopefully expand on, projects originated by local community member Elaine, and Phillipa and Sancha from GBSAN, at the WhistleStop Heritage and Community Gardens.
GBSAN Bushcare Group Activities
Our Bushcare group had a great turn out on the 5 November, to plant 400 native plants at Rick and Mary’s place at Thorndale. Fantastic preparation with 400 holes 400mm wide dug by Bobcat saved a lot of back work and also prepared the ground well for the roots of the new trees to spread. We also had Andy Ferrier on board with his tractor and rake to pile up the mulch to tuck these beauties in. Seedlings, grown by Mole River Native Nursery, included local Eucalypts and Angophoras as well as understory of wattles, melaleucas and callistemons. This planting will hopefully assist in speeding up the natural revegetation occurring on the edge of some magic bushland. Our fantastic team had these new trees all sorted within 2 hours!
GBSAN Schools Project
GBSAN is working on connecting with and collaborating with local schools to include local biodiversity and cultural awareness into cross curriculum activities. We have commenced a pilot project with Ballandean SS with a focus on the endangered Bell’s Turtle.
Apple and Grape 2026 – GBSAN Float
One of our newest members, Patti, is fired up with ideas and enthusiasm for our 2026 entry with the theme of renewables. If you would like to be involved, come along to our meeting on Tuesday 9th December at 10:00am at the meeting room between the Art Gallery and the Library. This is a fantastic opportunity for members who want to help out with one-off projects.
New GBSAN Management Committee & AGM
GBSAN had a very successful AGM on 23 November with 22 members attending. It’s great to have this show of support.
Gladstone Power Station
The cost of keeping the aging power station going has prompted its owners to flag that it will now possibly shut in 2029 in the absence of some sort of tax payer funded subsidy. Over the last 5 years GPS has been offline due to breakdowns and unscheduled maintenance for an astronomical 4200 hours or in the vicinity of 50% of its operational time.
GBSAN Bushcare Group Activities
The Bushcare Group gathered in October to assist Pyramids Road Winery owners Sue and Warren to manage invasive weeds along a section of Accommodation Creek which is a buffer to Girraween National Park.
Next Bushcare date: 5 November at Rick & Mary’s.
RSL Grant
Great News! – we were successful in the Stanthorpe RSL Community Grants application and received $2000 towards the purchase of an electric Brushcutter and batteries as well as a magnetic sign for a car. These items of equipment will assist with weed management, site preparation for tree planting as well as building community awareness of our Bushcare activities.
Thanks to the Stanthorpe RSL!
GBSAN Biodiversity – Landscape Linkages Project
The Landscape Linkages Project continues to make notable progress, with 58 landholders now participating.
If you are interested in hosting a GBSAN gathering in your neighbourhood, to encourage your neighbours to participate, please contact Geraldine at community@gbsan.org.au.