ECCLA AIMS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Historical Involvement with Scouts Australia

1. Eprapah~Link program initiated by SCOUTS Australia through the initiatives of staff of Eprapah Scout Environment Training Centre (EPRAPAH) to link two freehold Scout Activity Centres (totalling over 250 hectares) one at each end of Eprapah Creek now resulting in a revegetated wildlife corridor, about 20 km in length.
2. Concept later expanded to include whole catchment - ECCLA formed as a separately Incorporated Landcare Association
3. EPRAPAH was original focus - now still heavily involved
4. Landcare Australia and the Scout Association of Australia collaborated to devise a special Landcare Achievement Badge for Scouting youth members showing the Landcare Australia logo.

Description of Project

1. Revegetation of sections of banks of Eprapah Ck and enhancement of wildlife corridor and thus assisting survival of koalas for example;
2. Monitoring of water quality of Eprapah Ck in relation to chemical & microbial contamination;
3. Community education on environmental and other landcare matters;
4. Encouragement of wider community participation in projects.

Assessment of need

1. Community greatly concerned about loss of bushland and of wildlife particularly koalas - numerous surveys have indicated this to be the case;
2. General community interest in the effects of pollution;
3. Research has shown that environmental awareness is present but most people at a loss to know what to do - education needed.

Benefit to target group

1. Information generated from water testing should help to supplement databases held by local authorities, government bodies and interested community groups;
2. Methods developed in creek catchment regeneration should benefit other groups with similar aims;
3. The catchment population is estimated at >3,500.

Extent of community support

1. Redland Shire Council and community groups such as Koala Action Group, Wildlife Preservation Society (Bayside Branch), Men of the Trees, Greening Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Scout Association of Australia (Queensland Branch) have demonstrated support for the project;
2. Landcare Queensland strongly supports the projects.

Acknowledgements
 Last updated 02 April, 2000
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