We are proud to be running a Dune Resilience Project in Marcus Beach. This community-driven pilot study aims to find the most effective way to control Asparagus Fern in our local dune ecosystem — and give our native plants the best chance of recovery.
What are we trying to find out?
Asparagus Fern is one of the most persistent and damaging invasive weeds threatening coastal dune ecosystems in southeast Queensland. Dense mats of the plant smother native ground cover and prevent regeneration, yet it can be surprisingly difficult to eradicate. Different control methods come with different trade-offs in cost, labour, effectiveness and ecological impact and, until now, there has been limited rigorous evidence to guide bushcare groups on which approach works best in a dune environment like ours.
Our pilot study is designed to change that. We are comparing the following two treatment methods against untreated control areas:
- Manual removal using the Asparagus Assassin tool and hand weeding
- Herbicide treatment using a foliar spray of Metsulfuron-methyl with a wetting agent
By tracking outcomes carefully over twelve months, we aim to build a clear picture of which approach delivers the best results in terms of weed kill, prevention of regrowth, native plant recovery, and overall cost and effort.
Why does this site matter?
The study is taking place in a section of the Marcus Beach foreshore reserve classified as Regional Ecosystem 12.2.14 — a strand and fore dune complex that, in healthy condition, supports a rich community of native species. The canopy is dominated by Casuarina equisetifolia and Banksia integrifolia, and the ecosystem should also support a diverse understorey including Spinifex grassland, Pandanus, Acacia, and a range of ground cover species.
The study site itself has had no active weed control for several years, and Asparagus Fern now forms a heavy, dense mat across much of the area. Despite this, native understorey species including dianella, hibbertia, scaevola and wollastonia are still surviving beneath the canopy — a sign that the ecosystem retains real potential for recovery if the weed pressure can be lifted. The condition of the broader reserve has been mapped using the Bushland Operational Assessment (BOA) methodology, which guides restoration priorities across the site.
How is the study designed?
The project uses 18 randomly selected sample plots, known as quadrats, spread across the accessible upper and lower portions of the study area — a total of approximately 2,240 square metres. Each quadrat is 5 metres in diameter (25m²), and all are selected from areas with 75–100% Asparagus Fern coverage to ensure meaningful like-for-like comparison between treatment types. Six quadrats are assigned to each of the three groups: manual removal, herbicide treatment, and untreated control.
The random selection of quadrats is important — it removes any unconscious bias in where treatments are applied, and gives the results statistical credibility. Clearing is also carried out around each quadrat to reduce edge effects and avoid off-target damage to neighbouring plants.
Vegetation surveys will record stem counts and percentage cover for all species — native and exotic — within each quadrat. Surveyors will note incomplete weed kills, new Asparagus Fern recruitment, off-target damage, and native plant recruitment. Photo point monitoring using a GPS-enabled app will ensure consistent, comparable images are captured at each quadrat across all survey rounds. Results will be analysed at a 95% confidence interval, meaning we can be confident that any difference detected between treatments reflects a real effect rather than random variation.
Timeline
- October 2025 — Quadrat selection
- November 2025 — Initial surveys of all 18 quadrats and edge preparation
- December 2025 — Treatments applied
- June 2026 — Six-month follow-up survey
- December 2026 — Twelve-month follow-up survey
Funding, team and community involvement
This one-year project is funded by a Noosa Council Climate Change Grant and is led by Dr Sarah Lawson, Adrian Gallagher and Jude Tulloch. It is a genuinely community-driven project, relying on the skill, time and dedication of Noosa Coast Care volunteers to carry out surveys, prepare sites and apply treatments.
The treatments and follow-up schedules have been deliberately designed to reflect what is realistic and achievable for a volunteer bushcare group — because the goal is not just to generate data, but to produce practical, usable guidance for groups like ours.
Why it matters beyond Marcus Beach
The results of this study will be shared with Noosa Council and the broader bushcare community to inform best-practice Asparagus Fern control across the region. By running a properly designed, evidence-based trial, Noosa Coast Care is helping to build the knowledge base that land managers and volunteer groups need to tackle one of our coastline’s most challenging weeds — and to restore the dune ecosystems that protect our beaches, support biodiversity, and make Noosa the special place it is.
You can help too!
Find out how to get involved and learn more about the fascinating flora and fauna of Noosa’s Eastern Beaches by joining one of our regular working bees or become a member and receive our monthly newsletter.