Updates on Major Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS) Achievements: January to March 2009

Biodiversity Extension Service

• Conducted four Extension Service visits with landholders on properties in Mullumbimby, Inner Pocket, Eureka and Tyagarah
• Liaised with NRCMA, Nature Conservation Trust, PAS and Climate Change Corridors project consultants and Wetland Care Australia to facilitate Shire landholders gaining access to available incentive programs. Four landholders invited to participate in the PAS and Climate Change Corridors project. Approximately 160 landholders contacted in the Simpson's Ck catchment and invited to submit an expression of interest to obtain funding for Wetland rehabilitation through Wetland Care and participate in the Extension Service where eligible
• Participated in Birds in Backyards improving bird habitat community workshop and training in Land for Wildlife assessment

Bush Regeneration Team

• Follow up monitoring of restoration works at Vallances Rd project site undertaken. Monitoring confirmed excellent restoration outcomes including confirmation of current use of the site by threatened species including koala and rose-crowned fruit dove.
• Site based management plans prepared for Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan sites and site assessments, baseline monitoring and restoration action plans completed for Lowland Rainforest project sites.
• Control of key environmental weeds including:
  • Winter Senna prior to flowering; and
  • Glory Lily during restricted window of opportunity prior to fruiting and winter foliage loss.
• Progress report completed and submitted for Environmental Trust High Conservation Value Vegetation + Wildlife Corridor restoration project.

Indian Myna project

• Joint 2 year control and research program funded by Environmental Trust underway with Tweed Shire Council;
• 62 traps deployed with community volunteers;
• 336 birds captured and euthansed
• Trapping underway at Mullumbimby and Ocean Shores Golf Course. Trapping program pending at Club Banora.
• Ongoing positive media coverage throughout both Shires
• Regional coordination of myna control initiated. Northern Rivers local governments are collaborating with DECC, DPI, RSPCA and Southern Cross University to produce a regional management strategy.

Cane Toad Control Project

• Year 2 actions of the Environmental Trust funded Cane Toad control project have been completed within budget and timeframes. This includes:
  1. 4 community musters held with local communities at Wilsons Creek, Goonengerry, West Byron and Arakwal National Park;
  2. Demonstration toad exclusion pond established and operating effectively;
  3. Significant levels of media coverage for the project in all media.  This includes the recent discovery of the largest toad recorded for the Shire.  Also of note was the identification of the toads diet including crabs and mussels which had not previously been recorded.