PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

Key outcome The natural environment and the cultural heritage of are protected, both within and outside the park and reserve system, in accordance with legislative requirements and community expectations. 2

33 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR

• transfer of title of Mutawintji National Park, Historic Site and to the tradi- tional Aboriginal owners; the lands leased back to the NPWS • 46 new model reserve fire management plans commenced, bringing to 191 the number of plans either finalised or in preparation • in Mungo, Kinchega and Mallee Cliffs National Parks, rabbit numbers reduced by over 90 percent, allowing a significant recovery of important native species • nine voluntary conservation agreements signed with property owners, with a further 90 agreements currently under active negotiation • two threatened species recovery plans — for the Wollemi pine and the coastal shrub Zieria prostrata — finalised and being implemented • successful translocation of nestlings of the threatened Gould’s petrel from to

FIRE MANAGEMENT During the year an updated draft fire manage- ment manual was prepared, which includes Following the establishment of many new new policies on smoke management, national parks and nature reserves during the wilderness fire management, biodiversity year, the National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation, fitness and health, and wildfire is now responsible for the care and manage- suppression. ment of more than six percent of the land area of New South Wales. Much of this estate Currently 191 reserve fire management plans is remote and bushfire prone. are either in preparation or have been finalised. Performance indicators have been The NPWS has statutory responsibilities adopted that will enable the NPWS to moni- relating to the protection of human life, prop- tor and report on its effectiveness in achieving erty, and natural and cultural heritage values, the objectives of the plans. from bushfires on lands managed by the Service. Under the provisions of the recently The NPWS gave strong support to coopera- adopted NSW Biodiversity Strategy, the tive and coordinated firefighting with its NPWS is also a lead agency in the objective active membership of the Bush Fire to improve fire management regimes across Coordinating Committee and its subcommit- the State. tees, and in representation on bushfire man- agement committees for all rural fire districts With its strong emphasis on developing staff containing NPWS-managed land. The Service skills, the NPWS now has more than 750 was particularly proactive in promoting and trained firefighters and over 400 support staff supplying resources for the development of with a full range of vehicles, plant and equip- bushfire-risk management plans and plans ment for fire management operations, particu- of operations for bushfire management larly in remote areas. committees. A comprehensive fire management training A new three-piece firefighting protective uni- program was continued with courses conduct- form was adopted utilising recent research on ed in prescribed burning, fire meteorology, maximising firefighter comfort and safety. introduction to the incident control system, Staff have begun being issued with the helibase management, and situation and uniform. resources training. Other training for planning officers, air observers, air attack supervisors, Although wet conditions in the coast and aircraft officers, firefighters and crew leaders tablelands hampered fuel-reduction operations was also held. during the year, 65 operations over 12,876 34 hectares, mainly directed at neighbouring 1998-99 bushfire season areas, were completed. In addition, mainte- nance was undertaken on 4889 kilometres of With above-average rainfall during the sum- fire trails. mer, the bushfire season was relatively mild. The NPWS dealt with 228 bushfires — 189 The National Medal and Clasps were awarded (covering 14,195 hectares) on NPWS-man- to a further 36 NPWS staff who have given aged areas and 39 on neighbouring lands. The more than 15 years’ firefighting service. major event of the season was the Cooks Vale Thirteen staff were awarded a first clasp for 25 fire which entered Abercrombie River years’ service, and four staff awarded a second National Park and covered 24,600 hectares clasp for 35 years of service. including 10,100 hectares of the park.

Ten-year record of ‘on-park’ bushfires Hazard reduction 1998–99 year no. of fires area burnt(ha) region no. of operations area affected (ha) 1988-89 122 46,761 Central 19 1598 1989-90 249 66,464 Northern 23 1682 1990-91 425 125,469 Southern 16 9335 1991-92 396 66,409 Western 7 261 1992-93 213 21,772 1993-94 300 382,897 Total 65 12,876 1994-95 250 89,112 1995-96 189 15,192 1996-97 194 12,670 1997-98 466 236,152 Fire origin and progress 1998–99 1998-99 189 14,195 region started started started on park/ on park/ off park/ controlled moved moved on park off park on park ‘Off-park’ fires attended by the NPWS Central 106 7 16 region no. of fires Northern 7 0 13 Central 21 Southern 27 1 7 Northern 3 Western 5 0 0 Southern 9 Western 6 Total 145 8 36 Total 39 The NPWS continued its outstanding bushfire safety record, with no deaths or serious injuries.

Much of the Australian bush is highly fire-prone. The NPWS S requires a well-trained and equipped firefighting staff in order to manage fires on parks and J GREEN/NPW reserves as well as adjoining areas. 35 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

Expenditure on fire management 1998–99

Directorate Suppression Prevention Planning Equipment Total $ $ $ $ $ Policy & Science 328,434 0 567,671 4,259 900,364 Central 1,681,058 438,352 716,834 442,046 3,278,291 Northern 631,293 107,518 308,886 676,027 1,723,723 Southern 631,798 124,181 710,578 139,640 1,606,198 Western 113,794 136,821 249,047 321,788 821,450

Total 3,386,377 806,872 2,553,016 1,583,760 8,330,026

The main cause of bushfires, where known, cross-border cooperative pest program with was arson (69 fires), suspected arson (44) and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. lightning (34). Control of pest animals in urban areas is more PEST MANAGEMENT difficult, and in northern the NPWS is working closely with six local councils and Weeds and pest animals are a major threat to the community to address this issue. In and the conservation of biodiversity and sustain- around Marramarra and Ku-ring-gai Chase able agricultural production. Hence, the man- National Parks, for example, fox control to agement of pest populations is a major priority protect wildlife such as the threatened south- for the NPWS. ern brown bandicoot is undertaken jointly with local councils. The program has wide The importance given to pest management is community support and its effectiveness is emphasised by the number of vertebrate pests being monitored with regular fauna surveys. and weeds being identified as broad threaten- ing processes under the Threatened Species Pest animals Conservation Act 1995. Pest management has also been recognised as an important compo- Foxes nent of the NSW Biodiversity Strategy. Foxes are listed as a threatening process under Released in March, the strategy identifies a the threatened species legislation and the number of priority pest programs to be imple- NPWS is in the process of preparing a fox mented over the next three years. Funding threat abatement plan. has been provided particularly for programs on bitou bush, Scotch broom on the In Mutawintji National Park and Mutawintji Barrington Tops, rainforest restoration pro- Nature Reserve, an intensive fox control pro- grams on the North Coast, bush regeneration gram has been a major factor in a 400 percent in the Blue Mountains and the Sydney metro- increase in the yellow-footed rock wallaby politan area, and for a program to evaluate population over the last four years. the effectiveness of the Service’s weed and pest animal control programs. Another successful program is at South Ballina Beach, where the NPWS is working The NPWS is committed to a regional/catch- with other government agencies and ment approach to pest management where Southern Cross University in a cooperative the programs are developed and undertaken fox control program to protect the threatened in collaboration with other agencies, commu- pied oystercatcher. The program has signifi- nity groups and park neighbours. A good cantly increased the survival of fledgling oys- example of cooperative control occurs on the tercatchers. At Lake Wollumboola near Jervis South Coast where the NPWS is working Bay, an intensive fox control program has jointly with the local rural lands protection resulted in a doubling in numbers of little tern boards, State Forests and the Victorian chicks leaving their nests in 1999. Department of Natural Resources and Environment to develop a regional approach In the central west, the NPWS is working to vertebrate pest control. Similarly, the closely with NSW Agriculture, State Forests, Queanbeyan district of NPWS undertakes a the Forbes Rural Lands Protection Board and 36 local landholders in a large-scale fox control program in and around Weddin Mountains National Park. NSW Agriculture intends to use this as a model for a community-driven fox management program. In Coolah Tops National Park, the NPWS has contracted the Mudgee Rural Lands Protection Board to undertake an extensive baiting program. To complement the control efforts within the park, the board is also carry- ing out more extensive fox control on neigh- bouring properties.

Rabbits

To gain a better understanding of the epi- demiology of the rabbit calicivirus, the NPWS has continued to contribute towards the national calicivirus program. To capitalise on BAYNE/NPWS PAUL the spread of the disease, the Service is work- Feral goats are a major environmental pest especially in semi-arid and arid ing closely with NSW Agriculture and rural areas. Goat mustering programs have been successful in many western parks. lands protection boards to ensure that effec- tive follow-up programs are implemented to have a positive impact on the number of using conventional control techniques, such domestic cats entering protected areas. as 1080 baiting, fumigation and warren destruction. Wild dogs The management of wild dogs where NPWS In Mungo and Mallee Cliffs National Parks, lands adjoin grazing properties remains a diffi- rabbit numbers have been reduced by over 95 cult issue. The NPWS has to balance the con- percent, and 97 percent of the warrens flicting objectives of protecting dingoes on destroyed. Similarly, in Kinchega National the NPWS estate and meeting its responsibili- Park, the calicivirus has been very effective ties under the Rural Lands Protection Act and rabbit numbers have been reduced by 1998, which requires wild dogs, including din- over 90 percent, allowing a significant recov- goes, to be controlled. The Service is working ery of important native species such as wattles with rural lands protection boards and wild (including the endangered Acacia carnei), but- dog associations to identify problem areas and terbush, belah and rosewood. In a similar pro- to implement effective control programs. gram on Nombinnie Nature Reserve, some 6000 warrens have been destroyed. As an example, the NPWS is participating in an adaptive research project in south-east Cats NSW with a number of government agencies, rural lands protection boards and a leasehold- Cats are a major threat to wildlife in many er group to monitor the movements of wild national parks and the NPWS undertakes dogs so that a more strategic approach to con- programs on most reserves. Trapping and trol can be developed. Funding has been pro- shooting, and improved management of vided by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (from garbage are the most common control the Natural Heritage Trust) as well as the par- methods. ticipating agencies. As part of the project, a contractor has been employed to trap wild A major and continuing problem is the dump- dogs on the NPWS estate and surrounding ing of unwanted cats in parks and reserves, lands in areas where livestock predation has and night-time predation by domestic cats in historically been a problem. urban parks. Hence, most cat control pro- grams incorporate a community consultation In the Blue Mountains, the NPWS conducted component. Extensive education programs by a targetted perimeter baiting program with local councils following the introduction of over 300 permanent bait stations along fire the Companion Animals Act 1998 is beginning trails in on the edge of the Kanangra-Boyd, 37 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

Gardens of Stone, and Blue Mountains often with air support to direct ground crews, National Parks. The program has greatly have been undertaken in Gundabooka and reduced the number of wild-dog attacks on Willandra National Parks and in Nombinnie, neighbouring properties. Control programs Round Hill, Woggoon, Tollingo and have also been established in Wollemi, Nocoleche Nature Reserves. Goulburn River and Barrington Tops National Parks where over 800 bait stations In Mount Kaputar National Park, more than have been laid near adjoining properties, and 1000 goats were shot during the year. In and NPWS staff have worked closely with various around Cocoparra National Park and Nature wild dog associations. Reserve, aerial shooting has reduced goat den- sities by almost 90 percent in the past nine Feral pigs years. Together with reduced rabbit densities from the introduction of rabbit calicivirus and Effective pig control programs have been good seasonal rainfall, this has increased the implemented in most reserves in western regeneration of native species such as rose- NSW. In the Narrabri district, the NPWS wood and cypress pine. combined with local rural lands protection boards to remove over 1200 pigs on the pro- Cane toads posed Planchonella Hill Nature Reserve and 70 surrounding properties, and more than 500 Cane toads are now well established on the around the Narran Lake Nature Reserve. North Coast of NSW as far south as the Apart from the conservation benefits of this Clarence River. Two separate infestations are program, one farmer reported a 30 percent known at Yamba/Angourie and at Lake Innes increase in lambing which he attributed to near Port Macquarie. Although cane toads are reduced pig numbers. reported each year from various locations around Sydney and Wollongong and on the Similar programs were undertaken in Central Coast, the reports are usually of indi- Kinchega National Park where 430 pigs were vidual animals and are unlikely to represent culled, in the Lake Burragorang catchment, established infestations. and in the Cobar district along the Culgoa and Birrie River systems. During the year, a successful awareness and control program in Yuraygir National Park, As part of an Australian Alps control pro- with the assistance of the Angourie Dune gram, the NPWS combined with the ACT Care Group and the local community, result- Parks and Conservation Service in a cross- ed in nearly 400 toads being collected and border pig-baiting program in Brindabella destroyed. In the Port Macquarie district, the National Park, and Bimberi and Scabby NPWS has run cane toad awareness programs Range Nature Reserves bordering Namadgi over the past couple of summers and has pre- National Park in the ACT. pared a cane toad brochure and a Cane Toad Management Strategy for the Lake Innes Feral goats Nature Reserve.

In Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, research Rodents has indicated that feral goats cause significant damage to the dry rainforest communities in A collaborative research program with the the Macleay Gorges, and also significantly Lord Howe Island Board was completed in increase soil erosion. June, and a plan prepared for the future man- agement of introduced rats and mice on the On reserves in western NSW, goat mustering island. programs have been very successful. In Mutawintji National Park and Mutawintji Weeds Nature Reserve, for example, over 2300 goats were mustered during the year, bringing the The NPWS is working closely with volunteers total removed since 1995 to over 8000. to control weeds and help regenerate bush- Similar mustering programs in Mungo and land in many national parks. More than 500 Mallee Cliffs National Parks and Tarawi volunteers have helped in Lane Cove, Nature Reserve have removed over 6000 Garigal, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Sydney Harbour, goats since 1993. Other mustering programs, Botany Bay and Royal National Parks. In Blue 38 Mountains National Park, the Great Grose The NPWS continued its support of the Gorse Walk has become a major community national research program on biological con- event with over 140 person-days contributed trol of bitou bush. Three agents have been by the community over the past 12 months. released under this program. One of them — A major aim of bush regeneration programs is the bitou seed fly — is now well established to increase community awareness of the sig- along the NSW coastline and populations of nificance of environmental weeds and the the fly have reduced seed production by need for their control. NPWS staff played a around 50 percent in many areas. key role in the National Weedbuster Week in October 1998. Because of seed reserves in the soil, good fol- low-up bitou bush control programs are An extensive program of regeneration has required for several years following treatment, continued on the Barrenjoey headland in Ku- and NPWS staff have fostered the formation ring-gai Chase National Park. The headland of volunteer groups such as Dunecare and contains a number of regionally significant assisted in the preparation of a number of native plants and the program targets a num- funding applications from the Coastcare ber of weeds, the most widespread being Program. The Angourie, Iluka, Diggers Camp asparagus fern which has developed into an and Southern Yuraygir Dunecare groups in impenetrable carpet smothering understorey the Grafton district are funded from grants species. from the Coastcare and Green Corps pro- grams, while in the Lismore district the In other parts of Ku-ring-gai Chase National NPWS is working with groups in Broadwater Park and nearby Garigal National Park, weed and Broken Head Nature Reserves. infestations have been mapped along river- bank areas and control programs have com- On the South Coast, the NPWS has com- menced targeting invasive species such as bined with the Eurobodalla Shire Council and privet. local Dunecare groups in a collaborative pro- gram on an 800-hectare infestation of bitou The NPWS has embarked on a massive bush in Eurobodalla National Park and regeneration program on several coastal head- surrounding lands. land areas around Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay National Parks. This has involved abseiling down cliff faces, weed pulling, strate- gic use of herbicides (including aerial applica- tion for bitou bush) use of fire to stimulate weed seed germination and preparing sites for major replantings of native species. In northern NSW, the NPWS is undertaking rehabilitation works in a range of rainforest remnants. The strategy is to replace weeds with native species in such a way that the process of natural regeneration and succession is sustainable and that weeds are not simply replaced by other weeds.

Bitou bush An aggressive noxious weed, bitou bush has invaded more than 20 coastal reserves in NSW where it is a serious threat to ecological stability. Its threat to biodiversity has been recognised by its listing as a threatening

process under the Threatened Species CREAMER/NPWS HARRY Conservation Act 1995 and as a weed of national significance under the National Weed control … field officer Douglas Smith sprays blackberries in Weeds Strategy. It has also been declared a Werrikimbe National Park. Blackberries are a particular problem in noxious weed in all coastal shires. the regenerating bushland of this park. 39 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

At Diamond Head in Crowdy Bay National escarpment parks from Narooma to the Park, a 20-year program involving the NPWS, Queensland border. It is a vigorous and inva- the National Parks Association and the local sive species with major impacts on natural community has virtually eradicated bitou bush and agricultural ecosystems. In the Nymboida from the whole headland. Important heath- National Park, infestations ranging from iso- land and grassland vegetation is flourishing lated clumps to large areas of impenetrable, once more. highly competitive thickets occur along the entire length of the Mann River. Scotch broom In the Kangaroo Valley, the NPWS has The NPWS has continued to participate in removed large areas of lantana to protect the program for biological control of Scotch important habitat for brush-tailed rock broom. This multi-agency program has so far wallabies. resulted in the release of three insects (twig mining moth, psyllid and a seed beetle), and The NPWS is also a major contributor to the several others are under evaluation. collaborative biological control research program being undertaken by the Queensland The largest infestation of Scotch broom is in Department of Natural Resources and the Barrington Tops National Park, a park sponsored by state and local government and known to contain threatened populations of catchment management committees. Three the broad-toothed rat and a number of threat- biological agents have been released from this ened orchid species. The NPWS has prepared program to date. a detailed management strategy identifying a containment zone and priority areas for con- Other weeds trol, and contractors have been engaged for works on high-priority areas. Other important weed control programs target privet, alligator weed, Bathurst and Noogoora Lantana burrs, St John’s wort, giant Parramatta grass, camphor laurel, exotic vines such as Lantana occurs in most coastal and eastern Protasparagus spp., bridal creeper, Madeira vine, cat’s law creeper, balloon vine and morning glory.

CONSERVATION OUTSIDE THE PARK AND RESERVE SYSTEM The conservation of biodiversity cannot be restricted only to the areas managed by the NPWS, and the Service is committed to working with local communities to conserve biodiversity outside the public reserve system. The Service’s community conservation program is essentially a suite of voluntary initiatives for landholders to implement protection on their own or other land in partnership with the NPWS. The core group of programs includes volun- tary conservation agreements, wildlife refuges, Land for Wildlife, Bushcare and Farming for

PAUL BAYNE/NPWS PAUL the Future. These programs range from setting up legally enforceable protection through to Under threat … the brush-tailed rock wallaby was once providing conservation information and common throughout the mountainous areas of eastern advice, and a communication network with New South Wales but is now restricted to isolated cliffs and outcrops. and between landholders. 40 Voluntary conservation agreements program aiming to encourage and assist land- holders to conserve wildlife and wildlife habi- The VCA program provides landholders with tat on private land. The program builds on a means of permanently protecting the con- the existing commitment of many landholders servation values of their land by entering into to nature conservation by providing informa- a negotiated agreement with the Minister for tion, advice and encouragement through an the Environment. These conservation agree- extensive communication network. LfW is ments cover a range of land types from not legally binding and does not change the declared wilderness through to sites of legal status of private land. Aboriginal significance, and they protect species listed as nationally endangered as well During 1998–99 the NPWS released the first as of statewide significance. Landholders with seven in the series of NSW Land for Wildlife VCAs receive assistance with on-ground Notes covering specific management issues works, such as fencing, weed control and sur- and species information. The notes were dis- veys, to help implement their agreements. tributed to all current participants in the Nine voluntary conservation agreements were Service’s community conservation programs, signed with property owners during 1998–99, as well as coordinators in the Landcare, bringing the total to 49. These will be regular- Farming for the Future and Bushcare pro- ly monitored. Approximately 5340 hectares grams, catchment management committees are now protected by voluntary conservation and rural lands protection boards. agreements in NSW. A further 90 agreements The notes, plus a regular newsletter (currently are currently under active negotiation and being developed), will be used to maintain interest in the program continues to increase, ongoing contact between all participants with regular inquiries and media coverage. in the Service’s community conservation programs. Wildlife refuges

The wildlife refuge program is one of the Bushcare longest-running community conservation pro- The NPWS plays a key role in the delivery of grams in the State, with over 600 refuges the Bushcare program. Bushcare is a compo- declared since 1950. The program enables nent of the Commonwealth Government’s landholders to enter agreements to protect Natural Heritage Trust and funds a large num- the natural heritage values on their properties. ber of projects focused on biodiversity conser- While the agreements are voluntary and can vation, especially vegetation protection and be terminated at the landholder’s request, the restoration. The NPWS is responsible for declaration of a refuge gives recognition to statewide coordination of Bushcare and joint- the landholder’s commitment to conservation, ly manages the program in conjunction with and enables him or her to work jointly with the Department of Land and Water the NPWS by receiving technical advice and Conservation. Broad oversight of the program developing management guidelines. The pro- is provided by the Bushcare Reference Group, gram is currently being reviewed with the aim which comprises a range of stakeholders. of making it more complementary with the Numerous partnerships have been established other community conservation programs, and across NSW including arrangements with improving the delivery of service to the refuge community groups to provide regional bush- owners. Six wildlife refuges were gazetted in care facilitators. The NPWS has also 1998–99. employed two urban bushcare facilitators.

Land for Wildlife Farming for the Future Land for Wildlife (LfW) is a national program The NPWS continues to co-sponsor this farm which the NPWS joined in 1997. A memo- planning program which is administered randum of understanding between Victoria, jointly by the Service, the Department of the originator of the scheme, and the other Land and Water Conservation, NSW States provides the opportunity for coopera- Agriculture and the NSW Farmers’ tive arrangements for the implementation of Association. The program provides the LfW program. LfW is a voluntary support information to landholders through a series 41 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

of integrated workshops. The NPWS has NPWS is represented on the committee employed facilitators in Queanbeyan, which runs training and workshops on assess- Bathurst, Armidale, Grafton, Griffith, Cobar, ment and conservation of remnant native Dubbo and the Upper Hunter. roadside vegetation. The Service has received Natural Heritage The NPWS also has strong links with the Trust funding to enhance the biodiversity Landcare network through representation on component of the program’s Property the NSW State Landcare Working Group. Management Planning Workshop series. This has provided NPWS with opportunities to work closely and share information with Other programs on private land groups involved in on-ground work addressing important biodiversity issues, and has also The NPWS has continued its involvement in involved membership on working groups such the and New Zealand Environment as the organising committee for the and Conservation Council (ANZECC) work- Landcare/Total Catchment Management con- ing group on nature conservation on private ference. land. This group has provided oversight for the national implementation of the Land for THREATENED SPECIES Wildlife program and is developing a national framework for nature conservation on private The NPWS manages its threatened species land. programs with both statewide coordination of conservation planning (including recovery As remnant vegetation is not only important and threat abatement planning) and, on a for the protection of biodiversity but regional level, with site-specific assessment enhances the cultural identity of our rural and conservation planning for threatened centres, the NPWS continued to provide species. sponsorship to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council for its Wildlife Habitat and Corridors The specific purpose funding to threatened Award. The Service has also assisted in judg- species in NSW was increased from $4 mil- ing the awards. lion to $6 million in 1998–99 with the addi- tional funding targeted specifically for the The NSW Roadside Environment Committee preparation of recovery plans and threat facilitates the management of NSW roadsides abatement plans. for the benefit of the environment. The The NPWS participates as the lead agency in NSW for the Natural Heritage Trust’s Endangered Species Program, with 21 projects funded in this State.

Recovery planning

Major initiatives have included the prepara- tion of 150 threatened species profiles, provid- ing basic information on the distribution, ecology and management needs of some of the most threatened plants and animals. These are being progressively placed on the NPWS web site as well as released in a folder form.

A database of marine species sightings has been developed to provide basic distributional information on threatened whales and turtles

NPWS in NSW, as the first stage in planning for their conservation. Local Farming for the Future facilitator Stuart McMahon (centre) at Surveys of suites of poorly known threatened a property management planning workshop in the Monaro. plants in the Blue Mountains and Hunter 42 JAIME PLAZA/ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS BOTANIC JAIME PLAZA/ROYAL

Hidden treasure … a recovery plan was finalised during the year for the endangered Wollemi pine.

regions have been carried out to provide basic The preparation of recovery plans has started distributional information and to allow the for a range of endangered ecological commu- start of recovery planning for these species. nities including the Cumberland Plain Surveys have also been undertaken on poorly Woodland and Eastern Suburbs Banksia known threatened flora in western NSW, and Scrub. on a suite of declining woodland birds of the Broadly distributed NSW threatened species central west. for which recovery plans are under prepara- Two recovery plans — for the Wollemi pine tion include forest owls, threatened microchi- and Zieria prostrata — have now been finalised ropteran bats, quolls, bush thick-knee, little and are being implemented. tern, green and golden bell frog, brush-tailed rock wallaby, and koala. Six recovery plans have been prepared to Urgent conservation actions are underway for exhibition draft form and placed on public dis- a large number of the species for which recov- play, while 50 plans are in final draft form and ery plan preparation is occurring. Proposals under negotiation with other public authori- have been prepared to identify critical habitat ties and key stakeholders prior to going on for the Gould’s petrel and the shrub, Zieria public display. baeulaerii, through their recovery plan An additional 50 plans are at an intermediate development. stage of development and it is expected that these will be carried through to exhibition Threat abatement planning draft stage in 1999–2000. A further 50 plans Development of a fox threat abatement plan are at an early stage of development. has commenced and a number of actions Twelve multispecies recovery plans are under taken to reduce the impacts of fox predation development dealing with approximately 60 on threatened species. A threat abatement species. plan for bitou bush has also been initiated. 43 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

istrative support for the committee to under- take its functions. It also include provision of technical information on a range of issues, and dissemination of information on threat- ened species listings. Approximately 30 advices were provided to the Scientific Committee during the year, and 35 final determinations made by the committee.

Threatened species field programs Lord Howe Island woodhen Responsibility for the monitoring program for the Lord Howe Island woodhen is being handed to the Lord Howe Island Board over a three-year period. In future, only one census of the population will be made each year (in November). This

STUART COHEN/NPWS STUART should be adequate to detect any significant decline in the population and to allow man- A recovery plan is being developed for the threatened agement intervention. green and golden bell frog. The most recent census showed the popula- tion stable at about 50 breeding pairs. Community information, participation and education Malleefowl A program of threatened species education In October 1998, malleefowl bred and raised and awareness has been established. This at Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, were released funded 14 projects aimed at improving into to bolster recov- threatened species awareness in the wider ery of the local population following experi- community. Key examples include landholder mental aerial and ground baiting of foxes, the information sheets, production of Land for prime predator of malleefowl. The effective- Wildlife material, a booklet on threatened ness of this fox control continues to be greatly species of the Riverina Plains, and threatened enhanced by the participation of the local species displays and information days. Other community in coordinated control programs initiatives include: on surrounding properties. • production and distribution of four fact sheets on the Threatened Species Little tern Conservation Act; • a threatened species speakers kit; The endangered little tern, once on the brink • coordination of development of a conserva- of extinction in New South Wales, continued tion management network for the critically to make substantial steps towards recovery. endangered grassy white box grassy wood- Management prescriptions — the outcome of land. careful long-term scientific research undertak- en by the NPWS — were implemented at all Scientific Committee major colonies during the 1998–99 breeding season. Little terns nest on beaches and are Support was provided for the continued oper- highly susceptible to disturbance and to ations of the NSW Scientific Committee, attack by introduced predators. With guid- which is responsible for listing all threatened ance from the NPWS, local community species populations, ecological communities groups assisted in protecting these highly vul- and key threatening processes under the nerable nesting sites. Continued breeding suc- Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. cess has led to an increase in numbers and the This includes provision of funding and admin- emergence of new colonies. 44 Gould's petrel WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Apart from a few birds recently discovered In the Lismore district, the NPWS, in con- breeding on nearby Boondelbah Island, junction with Southern Cross and Newcastle Cabbage Tree Island is the sole breeding Universities and community volunteers, is ground for this endangered seabird. conducting a long-term study monitoring whale movements and numbers in the Cape Just six years ago the breeding population Byron area. numbered fewer than 250 pairs, and these pro- duced fewer than 50 fledglings annually. The NPWS responded to a number of Experimental recovery actions on Cabbage cetacean strandings during the year with the Tree Island increased the number of breeding NPWS Grafton District acquiring a new, fully petrels to more than 700 pairs. During the equipped trailer and Zodiac inflatable boat 1998–99 breeding season, these birds success- for stranded marine mammal rescues. fully fledged more than 350 young. The NPWS provides financial and in-kind Despite these remarkable achievements, the support to wildlife carer groups across the Gould’s petrel remains vulnerable to extinc- State. The Wildlife Information and Rescue tion through the inadvertent introduction of Service (WIRES) received a $10,000 contri- exotic predators such as rats, cats, dogs and bution from the NPWS this year and the foxes to Cabbage Tree Island. To safeguard Metropolitan Wildlife Rescue Service and against such a catastrophe, an innovative ORRCA both received $5000 contributions. translocation program was initiated in an attempt to augment the small colony on Boondelbah Island. A total of 100 nestlings ABORIGINAL HERITAGE were moved between islands in 1999. Success CONSERVATION exceeded all expectations, with 95 percent of Return of lands these nestlings successfully fledging from Boondelbah Island. These birds will spend the Following amendments in 1996, the National next five or six years at sea before returning to Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 now provides a their adopted island to breed.

Other field programs

• Continued implementation of the recovery plan for the endangered plant Grevillea caleyi, in conjunction with Warringah Council and the Roads and Traffic Authority. Measures included monitoring of impacts of the January 1994 fires, erecting fences and barriers to minimise disturbance, and carrying out weed control measures.

• Development of fire-response guidelines for threatened and common Leucopogon shrub species.

• Development of a modified IUCN risk assessment scheme for vascular plants and an associated spreadsheet for implementa- tion across Australia. JACQUI PAYNE/NPWS

• Monitoring the effects of a reduction of rabbit numbers from calicivirus and exten- Handback … jubilant Mutawintji elder William Bates holds up the sive warren destruction, on the threatened document returning Mutawintji National Park to its traditional purple wood wattle, Acacia carnei. Aboriginal owners. 45 PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION ASSETS

Ownership of the lands comprising Mootwingee National Park and Historic Site and Coturaundee Nature Reserve was trans- ferred to the Mutawintji Local Aboriginal Land Council on 4 September 1998. The land council holds title to the lands, on behalf of the traditional Aboriginal owners, and leases the lands back to the Minister for the Environment for use as Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Nature Reserve and Mutawintji Historic Site. A board of management with a majority of Aboriginal owners has been appointed for the care, control and management responsibility for the reserves.

Conservation projects In 1998–99, the NPWS allocated $350,000 to 55 discrete Aboriginal heritage conservation projects throughout NSW. As in previous years, the priority for these funds, particularly in the Western region, was Aboriginal burial sites. With the assistance of the relevant local Aboriginal communities, burial works, including reburials, occurred in the Broken Hill, Lower Darling, Griffith,

NPWS Coonabarabran, Lismore, Port Macquarie and southern Sydney districts.

Heritage conservation … NPWS carpenter Uwe On the east coast, midden protection works Petersohn reconstructs the chimney on Mawson’s Hut in were completed in Central Coast, Hunter, the Jagungal Wilderness of Kosciuszko National Park. Narooma and Nowra districts. Conservation works on rock art, engravings and tool-mak- ing sites were undertaken throughout the process for the return to Aboriginal ownership State. Additional rock art monitoring was of specified national parks and reserves that undertaken at a number of sites, jointly fund- are of special cultural significance to ed by the NPWS and the Aboriginal Heritage Aboriginal people. It ensures that parks are Research Program. managed by Aboriginal people in partnership with the NPWS and also provides for the Other projects included scar tree protection return of cultural property and ancestral works in Central West and Narooma districts, remains to the rightful Aboriginal owners. survey work at Tumut, Cobar and Coonabarabran districts, and works on places The specified lands, listed under Schedule 14 of spiritual significance and ceremonial of the Act, are Mungo National Park, ground protection works in the Lismore, Mootwingee National Park and Historic Site Armidale and Tumut districts and throughout and Coturaundee Nature Reserve, Mount the far south coast. Yarrowyck Nature Reserve, Mount Grenfell Historic Site and NSW Jervis Bay National HISTORIC HERITAGE Park. Arising from the Eden Forest CONSERVATION Agreement, Biamanga National Park was added to Schedule 14. Further parks can only The NPWS has helped raise awareness of the be included through separate legislation. need for better standards of assessment and 46 consideration of impacts on heritage items as carrying out maintenance and repairs on her- part of the Service’s obligations under the itage structures, but has generated such signif- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act icant external interest that it will be reprinted 1979. Technical guidelines have been pre- and sold to the public. pared to address the requirements for impact assessment on significant historic heritage Twenty nine maintenance works at a total assets to fulfil the approval process under Part cost of nearly $2 million were undertaken 5 of the Act. during the year to conserve many historic her- itage items of state significance. Improved standards in the preparation of con- servation management plans have been assist- The NPWS took out two major prizes in the ed by a ‘model’ brief that has set a high stan- National Trust’s 1999 Heritage Awards. The dard of report performance and ensures that Service won first prize in the government sec- reports meet Heritage Council requirements. tion for its Blue Mountains Walking Track The NPWS completed a Guide to Building Heritage Study, and was highly commended for Conservation Works, a complete manual to the the conservation study of the Third Class physical conservation of vernacular buildings. Dining Quarters Building at the Quarantine It was originally developed to assist staff in Station in Sydney Harbour National Park.

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