I.C.E. Internships
Coastline Conservation
Island Conservation
Help protect Australia's environment by participating in conservation
projects around the Brisbane area. You will be participating on a
property that has been turned over to the Nature Conservation Act of
Queensland as a "Nature Refuge." On this property, you will be do work
in areas of re-vegetation and rehabilitating an area which has been
heavily grazed and removing weeds that will allow natural regeneration
to take place. The wetland area is a breeding habitat for several
birds including the Great Egret and the White Bellied Sea Eagle. As an
I.C.E intern, you will be working with an organization that is
nationally renowned throughout Australia. It will be a great way of
meeting young Australians and potential leaders in the environment and
to develop your skills in conservation efforts.
Heron Island
This breathtakingly beautiful, small, low island (the highest point of
land is just about ten feet above sea level) is a National Park about
one mile in circumference. Heron is a true coral cay, an island made of
coral debris and sand, sitting right on the Great Barrier Reef. The
island is covered by pisonia forest, with growth to a height of almost
50 feet. The environment consists of pandanus and casuarina near the
beaches, with coconut palms, oaks, coral, sand and grass. From a
distance and up close, Heron Island looks just like the proverbial
tropical desert island. At low tide, visitors may walk on part of the
fifteen miles of surrounding Great Barrier Reef. Heron Island is
situated in the Capricorn Group, 43 miles northeast of Gladstone. It was
first charted in 1843 and was named because of the presence of
distinctive white, black, and gray herons. Although home to thousands of
birds, the island is perhaps best known as a breeding ground of giant
sea turtles. One of the islands' first commercial enterprises, in fact,
was the establishment in 1925 of a turtle soup factory and cannery which
also marketed tortoise shell products with little regard for depletion
of these venerable and rather scarce animals. In 1932 an attempt was
made to establish a resort on the island, but after World War II the
effort foundered. The island became a marine national park in the
1940's, and in 1974 P & O Australia bought an interest in the resort and
assumed full control of the resort lease in 1979. They upgraded and
refurbished most of the facilities, and established the water
desalinization system for the resort.
The waters surrounding Heron Island are a paradise for scuba divers,
snorkelers and photographers. Manta rays, angelfish, cod - 1150 species
of sea life in all--swim in these waters. Surrounded by approximately 10
square miles of what well may be the best, most easily accessible, coral
beds in the entire region.
Job Description:
1) Seeding new trees
2) Removal of exotic species
3) Documenting shorebird numbers
4) Educating the public on marine ecology
5) Creating a management plan for the area
6) Working in the greenhouse to propagate native plants
