Reef Assist Project
MICDA is one of the project partners working to make a positive environmental, social and economic benefit for our local reefs and communities
The project activities focus on the manual removal of overgrowing, weeds in the creeks and waterways on the Island.
GROUP COORDINATOR
Chris Sampson
Coming Event
Creek Caretakers Workshop
Saturday 24 May 2025
9.30am to 12.30pm
At Magnetic Island Bowls Club
Bring: Sun protection
This is a free workshop for locals who live near waterways. Learn the basics of waterways, and methods to increase the resilience of your property against long term erosion.
This workshop includes in-situ examples close by, where you can step through the foundations of how to prepare and plant your site for erosion management. Arcadia Coastcare native plant booklets will also be for sale on the day - cash only.
The Project: 2023 - 2025
Since Reef Assist started on Magnetic Island in 2021, the project has been incredibly successful:
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Reef Assist continues to successfully maintain the re-vegetated areas, using soil enhancement to create a more sustainable Island with no chemical additives being used. Along the way lessons have been learnt on how to best achieve this, with the Magnetic Island Reef Assist Creek Rehabilitation Report 2025 outlining best practices.
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The program has continued to develop and train employees.
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Earth Soil is now available for Magnetic Island residents to enhance their gardens, by encouraging residents to use ready made Earth Soil.
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A Magnetic Island Plant Resources Kit has been compiled with links to plant identification sources, resources for local gardens, and a list of local nurseries who stock native plant species.
Creek Rehabilitation Report 2025
We can make FREE 'earth soil' from your compost!
If you live on Magnetic Island, you can enhance your garden with soil enriching 'earth soil' for FREE every Saturday morning from 10am to 12pm at:
Chris Sampson's House
3a The Esplanade, Nelly Bay.
Simply register on the day any pay for a $10 Earth Bucket. The next time you need another bucket full, free swap your bucket for the amazing ‘Earth Soil’ that is being created right here on Maggie Island!
With raving reports on how great earth soil is for your garden, you may need to get there early to not miss out!
Resources
For a handy list of plant resources including:
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Plant Identification Links
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Local Natural Garden Resources
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Local Nurseries with Native Species
Download or view our Resources PDF and click on the links within the PDF to access further reading.
Reef Assist Reports
For earlier reports, please see our MICDA Newsletters:
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26-28 Yates Street Nelly Bay Report: September - August 2024
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Nelly Bay Habitat Reserve Report: February 2024
The Project: 2021 - 2023
The Townsville City Council received project grant funds from the Queensland State Government in 2021 to remove weeds, and to use the weeds through an innovative humification process to create Humisoil which is used for stabilising and enhancing soils through reinvigoration of the naturally occurring microbes of the local areas.
The project also included collecting and storing native seeds, fostering native plants, constructing walking trails and helping local businesses (through local purchases) as well as individuals (through employment and training). In doing so the larger outcome would assist the Reef by stabilising creek lines and lessen the overall impact on the Reef, especially in large rain events.
In February 2021 MICDA successfully applied for, and received approval and funding to implement the Reef Assist Project on Magnetic Island. The program aptly named Reef Assist ran from March 2021 to the end of November 2021 with 15 part-time employees engaged. Then a second round of funding was received to support a smaller scale program involving 6 part-time employees until the end of June 2022.
A local Islander with decades of horticultural experience, local knowledge and innovative sustainable soil enhancement techniques, led the team of 15 part time individuals to assist creek lines in several of the bays of Magnetic Island.
Areas developed can be found on Kelly Street in Nelly Bay, along the creek line near Mandalay Avenue in Nelly Bay, the end of Pollard Street in Horseshoe Bay, Henry Lawson Drive in Horseshoe Bay, and Hordern Avenue in Arcadia.
The MICDA Reef Assist team also collaborated and worked with MINCA, the Arcadia Coastcare in Geoffrey Bay and Alma Bay, and the Beach Scrub Project Team.
As well as the above sites, the Reef Assist team have also worked removing weeds and rubbish across a larger number of sites from the Golf Club course edges and Dog Shed in Picnic Bay, to sites at the end of Horseshoe Bay beach, Sandals drainage lines and many others in between.
Removed weeds included Mother in Law’s Tongue, Siam weed, Mother of Millions, Mile a Minute vine, Praxalis, etc.
Reef Assist has successfully maintained the re-vegetated areas, using soil enhancement to create a more sustainable Island with no chemical additives being used, as well as create trained and skill employment.
The following maps show the areas of interest for the Reef Assist Program on Magnetic Island in 2024:
Reef Assist Project Partners
