Elizabeth Island in the Clarence River is managed by the Susan and Elizabth Island Recreation Land Manager Board. The Board manages the regeneration and restoration of both the islands near Grafton. The management plan is to restore the Lowland Rainforest with species that are endemic to the area.
It has obtained a Crown Land Grant for Elizabeth Island for two years consecutively which has helped them to clear weeds and plant native species local to the area. As the current grant expires at the end of June 2026, the Board is hoping to obtain another grant to continue this work.
The Project Coordinator for Elizabeth Island is Ant van Haren. Two permanent workers are employed to assist him. Further work is provided by around 8 to 10 volunteers who go over to the island once a month to weed and plant young trees as well as curtaining more established climbers which cover the large native trees such as Tulipwood.
Tree species growing on the on the 32 ha island include Forest Red Gum, Red Bean, Black Bean, Moreton Bay Fig, Coogera, Native Elms, Giant Stinging Tree, Whalebone, Hairy Birds Eye, Red Bottlebrush and Tulipwood. Elizabeth and Susan Islands have the southern-most stand of Tulipwood.
Plantings on the island are sourced from Maclean Landcare Nursery and Minnie Waters Nursery as well as from Susan Island. Seeds from Susan Island are collected and propagated by National Parks officers Wayne Stevens and Matt Clarke and TAFE teacher Gary Clark and then planted on both islands.
Adapted from a report given by Rhonda Coleman at a recent Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition committee meeting. Rhonda has been volunteering on both Elizabeth and Susan Island working bees for some years.
