Pelican Point Revegetation Project
A re-vegetated area managed for Nature Conservation and Environmental Education
Pelican Point, in far northern Queensland, was cleared for farming about 80 years ago. When the Tinaroo Falls Dam was constructed, the area was declared a Flood Margin Reserve under the control of the Water Resources Commission. The first phase of a revegetation programme was initiated by the Commission in 1990; a year later, 2,000 native trees were planted along the lakeshore fringe. In 1992 the Queensland Department of Natural Resources employed consultants to prepare a further revegetation phase to cover the whole 20 hectare site. TREAT was invited to manage the project in 1993.
Aerial Photo of Pelican Point 1997
To establish and maintain diversity, the area was developed in a variety of ways. Incorporating the earlier plantation, an additional 13,000 native trees were planted at three locations, each with different techniques and different species. Further diversity was obtained by annual cutting of some grassland, ensuring that other grassland areas remained undisturbed and by preserving the sedge and reed vegetation along the lakeshore fringe.
TREAT members working to plant areas of Pelican Point
The vegetation now found in the area attracts many different birds and mammals; the numbers and species will change as plants grow, flower and seed; longer term changes will take place as the dynamics of the woodland and grassland areas take control. Four TREAT studies were designed to establish a base-line, so that changes can be measured in the future.
- A bird study carried out over a three-year period and now complete shows that more than 150 species visit the area or permanently live there.
- A small mammal survey currently underway, will be completed in 1999; the survey is designed to establish species and population levels.
- A survey of bats identified 8 species residing in or visiting the area.
- A phenology study aims to relate wildlife activity to the flowering and seeding of trees.
TREAT members at Pelican Point
The revegetation of Pelican Point was completed in 1996 and management of the area was taken over by the Department of Natural Resources on 1st July 1997. TREAT continues to run the Fauna and Vegetation studies and maintains an interest in the management of the area through an informal group known as the "Friends of Pelican Point". This group, though an adopt-a-plot scheme, provides some voluntary maintenance.
Pelican Point is open for visitors to walk the 4 kms of trails, observe the wildlife and enjoy the mix of trees and the views across the lake. It is used for educational purposes by the School for Field Studies, the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre and local Primary Schools; it has the potential for use by tour agencies for serious study and for visits by groups of tourists; in the longer term, the area offers unique opportunities for research and study on a wide range of issues.
Pelican Point Bird list page
Aerial Photo of Pelican Point taken in April 2002
The revegetation of Pelican Point was managed by TREAT and supported by a grant from the One Billion Trees Programme, a Federal Government initiative administered by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency through the National Landcare Program. Further support was provided by the Queensland Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, the Wet Tropics Tree Planting Scheme, the Atherton Shire Council and the Wildlife and Ecology Division of CSIRO.