About the Consortium
Who are we?
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium is a group of wildflower enthusiasts who share a common aim to undertake projects that assist in managing the habitats supporting many of the wildflower species unique to the Granite Belt.
Credit for the formation of the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium is attributed to Mr Paul Donatiu, who, in 2004 was the Ecoregion Program Manager for World Wildlife Fund for Nature. Whilst undertaking work in the Granite Belt, he approached the then Stanthorpe Shire Council to see what could be done about raising awareness and protecting the Granite Belt’s wildflowers. It was agreed that work was required in this area, but it was decided that a broader group was needed made up of stakeholders who had a key interest to achieve similar outcomes.
The Consortium is an incorporated association in it's own right, but is made up of representatives from affiliated groups who have an interest in the projects the Consortium undertakes, or has the Consortium as a major stakeholder in their projects.
The Consortium also includes amateur botanists, private landholders who have areas with plants of significance, people who have skills relevant to the Consortium's projects, or members of the general public who have an interest in the Consortium's projects.
What do we do?
The members of the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium assist with species identification, community education and landholder management of habitats in which wildflowers exist.
What will you find out?
Readers can use this site to find out about our immensely popular wildflower walks hosted by consortium members each spring, or publications the consortium produces. You can also find information that may assist you in maintaining your little piece of the Granite Belt in a manner that allows you to keep enjoying Granite Belt wildflowers from year to year.
What can you do?
Readers can find out how to manage the major threats to our wildflower habitats that include:
Land clearing - Grazing - Weed invasion Inappropriate fire regimes
Illegal harvesting - Roadworks
Incorporation
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium became incorporated in July 2013 under the Qld Associations Incorporations Act 1981.
Our incorporation number is IA41209.
ABN
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortiums's ABN number is
54 508 191 896.
GST
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium is not registered for GST.
DGR status
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium is not eligible to receive tax deductible gifts.
“Working together to maintain and enhance local ecosystems through increased awareness and improved protection and management."
What have we done?
The timeline below outlines major projects we have undertaken since formation.
In 2005 the then Qld Murray Darling Committee and the Worldwide Fund for Nature provided funding for the first large awareness project which provided for:
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Development of the SWRC awareness brochure.
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Development of a training package for local volunteers.
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Running a Botanical awareness workshop for community and council members covering Granite Belt ecology, ID of major plant species, habitats, threats, management strategies.
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Identification, categorisation and mapping of roadside reserves.
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Development of a management strategy for roadside reserves administered by the council.
In 2007 the Threatened Species Network grant provided for:
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Initial survey work to identify priority rare and threatened species.
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Development of a recovery plan.
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Development of a native vegetation management manual (= Stanthorpe Nine publication).
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Fire and Biodiversity Workshop – managing fire and native vegetation on private property.
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Recovery Plan Workshop – meeting with community members to identify recovery plan objectives.
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Publication of the first edition of Wildflowers of the Granite Belt booklet which is a photographic guide to 170 wildflower species you may encounter in Stanthorpe's Granite Belt region.
In 2008 funding through the Caring for Our Country grants program provided for:
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Additional survey work.
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Training and extension activities.
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Identification of roadside conservation areas.
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Increased community participation.
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Creation of a monitoring manual.
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Publicity material including a pull up banner and wildflower walk signage.
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Publication of Wildflowers of the Granite Belt - 2nd edition booklet (which now includes 270 species)
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Development of Rare plants of the Granite Belt.
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Publication of leaflet series.
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Interpretative Guiding Workshop – wildflower walk leaders can plan and host a wildflower walk safely and informatively.
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Weeds Workshop – top 10 weeds of the Granite Belt and their control.
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Planned Burning Workshop – tips on using fire as a management strategy to achieve the most effective outcome.
2013 projects included:
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Production of the Wildflowers of the Granite Belt e-book
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Work commenced on a comprehensive guide to the flora of the Granite Belt, a plant list and on a eucalypt book.
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The Consortium developed a constitution and became incorporated.
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Members undertook a botanical training course.
2014 projects included:
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Publication of the Eucalypts of the Granite Belt book
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Publication of the Wildflowers of the Granite Belt - 3rd edition booklet
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Creation of the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium web site.
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Creation of the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium Facebook page.
2015 projects included:
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Eucalypt identification workshop
2017 projects included:
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Start of work on compiling a Wattles of the Granite Belt book.
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Working with Ergon to ensure threatened plants were not impacted by powerline construction and maintenance.
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Members were involved in assessing the potential impact of the proposed mountain bike trail network on Mt Marlay on any threatened plants there.
2018 projects included:
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Publication of the Flora of the Granite Belt book
2019 projects included:
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Survey work was undertaken and a nomination prepared to increase the status of Grevillea scortechinii subsp. scortechinii from ‘Vulnerable” to “Endangered” and to list Eucalyptus dalveenica as “Endangered”.
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Members participated in a post bushfire assessment in Girraween National Park.
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A second edition of the Eucalypts of the Granite Belt was produced.
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The Consortium applied for a grant from the Department of Environment and Science to undertake surveys of Boronia granitica and Boronia repanda.
2020 projects included:
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Publication of the Wattles of the Granite Belt book.
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A submission was made to the review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
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3rd edition of the Eucalypts of the Granite Belt reprinted.
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The Consortium became a member of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation.
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Members assisted the QPWS with assessments of the flora in 20 fire monitoring sites within Girraween National Park.
2021 projects included:
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The Consortium was successful in obtaining a grant from the Council’s Community Grant program to produce a range of new display posters, the printing of more handout material and the purchase of a new digital frame for use at our displays.
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Comments on the draft Invasive pests strategic plan were provided to Southern Downs Regional Council.
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Comments were made on the Council’s draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
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Suggestions of what additional threatened plants needed to be surveyed on the Granite Belt were provided to the Qld Herbarium.
2022 projects included:
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Working with officers from the Threatened Species Unit in the Dept. of Environment and Science on draft recovery plans for the critically endangered Greviilea scortechinii subsp. scortechinii and Eucalyptus dalveenica.
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Survey work on Boronia repanda and Boronia granitica continued.
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Attendance at the Qld Fire and Biodiversity Consortium workshop, Property planning workshop, Landcare adventure, Gardenfest and Eco Expo.
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Working with a team from the Southern Downs Industry Education Association to weed around Grevillea scortechinii subsp. scortechinii populations.
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Publication of the 4th edition of Wildflowers of the Granite Belt booklet.
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Publication of the 2nd edition of the Wattles of the Granite Belt book.
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Grant received from Acciona to support the development of a traprock flora list.
2023 projects included:
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Publication of the 1st edition of the Plants of the Traprock list.
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Completion of the project surveying two endangered boronia species.