My story began about nine years ago when we purchased our 47 acre tree change block in Coochin, a short distance from Boonah. From the outset I could see that the predominant portion of the wooded part of the land (approx. 35 acres) was choked by lantana. The terrain of the property (deep wide gullies and many old trees) had provided the lantana the perfect conditions to flourish and spread. It had rendered over 70% of this area impenetrable. I declared it enemy number one. Whilst I didn’t have a true vision because of the sheer scale of the invasion, I decided that every weekend and during school holidays, I would devote myself to three hours of lantana removal.
So began a slow and steady conquest over the next 5-6 years. My method, to say the least, was laborious. I upgraded my reciprocating saw and battery size over the first year to more efficiently employ the stump cut method using glyphosate herbicide.
All the areas in these photos were under Lantana when Jo-Ann bought this block about nine years ago. Her outstretched arms indicate how high the Lantana was back then. She has manually controlled nearly all the Lantana on her property, turning the country back into an open grassy forest with some emerging Allocasuarina torulosa trees.
The gullies were the greatest challenge as the lantana had reached metres in height and had spread just as wide. It was climbing trees and smothering natural habitat in its path. I spent many hours beneath lantana ‘forests’ sawing away and then cutting these massive plants into manageable sized pieces. I pulled them up and away from the site so that I could open up the earth to what nature had intended – light, water and air. It was these such moments that I have to admit felt the most satisfying – to see the light touch where it had not for a long, long time.
And so it was, nearly six years of persistent slog. I had made good progress and could now see the fruits of my labour. Native grasses and groundcovers were now taking hold, as well as a multitude of native trees. It was now that I entered a new phase of the conquest – the ‘sweeps’. I systemically went back section-by-section to spend 1-2 hours pulling lantana or in some cases, cutting larger ones, which had escaped the previous cull.
As I was spending less time on the lantana, I turned my attention to other invaders such as Tree Pear, Chinese Elm, thistle, Tipuana, Balloon Vine and Jacarandas. They were now top of my hit list.
In 2025 I am rewarded with what lies before me each and every day – the land is now as natural as I’m sure it once was many decades ago.
In my role as secretary of the Boonah & District Landcare, I recently met Greg Tasney from the Scenic Rim Regional Council Land for Wildlife team, at one of our Cane Toad busting events this year. Greg knew of my lantana project and said he was keen to come for a visit. He visited the property some weeks later and was very impressed with what he saw and enjoyed hearing of the conquest I had embarked on to bring about such a transformation. Greg’s knowledge and expertise was certainly music to my ears, as he listed so many native plant species that he observed on our two hour walk.
My advice fellow land for wild lifers: start now!!
Article by Jo-Ann Morris
Land for Wildlife member
Coochin, Scenic Rim