AUTUMN 2013 Issue 55 FROM GROUND A land management publication for the South East Welcome to the new look FTGU! We felt that now From IN THIS EDITION the Ground Up is into its 50’s it was starting to look a little Feral Pigs squidgy around the edges and so it was probably time for After years of rumour, the presence of feral pigs a facelift. in the South East has now been confirmed FTGU was initially a collaborative promotion of land management projects that were being PAGE 3 implemented in the region as a result of funding provided by the State and Australian Governments. It still continues in this vein and is currently supported by the Australian Governments Caring for SE Field Days Our Country program and Natural Resources South East. Natural Resources South East is your one stop While things may look a little different now, we are intent that the content remain true to its shop for all natural resources information original aim of presenting “information about land management issues, programs and funding opportunities in the south east”. From the Ground Up has been published quarterly since 1999 PAGE 7 and since its inception, has focused on providing relevant, local information for landholders. Our regular contributors have always been local project staff implementing a combination of Native Veg Funding sustainable agriculture and environmental projects. The most noted being Wayne Hawthorne - Native vegetation management funding for rural our regular “Raising Your Pulse” author - who has never missed an edition from 1999! I’d like to landholders take this opportunity to thank Wayne and all our regular contributors, the original editorial team PAGE 8 of Donna Bartsch, Melissa Hunter, Ben Bruce and Bryan Haywood and you the reader for creating, supporting and helping this small local tradition continue. Protein Supplement Protein Supplementation assists Dry Paddock Cathy Ashby, Editor Feed and Stubble Utilisation PAGE 10 Introducing some new faces! Ken Baker Cross-border Community Nursery & Seed Collections Project Co-Ordinator Hello everyone. In February I took on the job of coordinating the Cross-border Community Nursery & Seed Collections Project for Nature Glenelg Trust, having taken over from the very talented Becky McCann. The focus of this Project is working with and supporting native seed collectors, growers, direct seeding contractors, and anyone else with an interest in revegetation across South East South Australia and Victoria’s South West. The aim is to improve the diversity of plants available to revegetation projects in the area. I have recently moved down from Coonabarabran NSW, where I was the Regional Landcare Facilitator for the East Namoi. I’ve previously worked on a wide range of NRM projects in various parts of Australia including water quality in the Border River’s catchment of NSW/QLD, Shorebirds and feral cats on King Island and riparian revegetation in South West Victoria. I am really looking forward to working with Becky and other NGT staff and supporters and getting out and meeting everyone involved in creating productive and biodiverse local landscapes. You can contact me by phone 0437 597 685 or email: [email protected]. Michael Dent On Ground Works Officer Hi there my name is Michael Dent I am the new on ground works officer at Natural Resources SE, based in Mount Gambier. For the last four years I have been working at Forestry SA in a variety of roles but mainly the research section. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Applied Science and am due to complete it by the end of 2013. My role at DEWNR is in the Sustainable Landscapes Team and my role will include undertaking field works such as weed control and revegetation for a number of sites. I will also be involved with Kalangadoo and Penola primary and Millicent High schools helping out with their plant propagation programs. I am really enjoying my role so far and am looking forward to continuing my work. You can contact me on (08) 8735 1177 or email [email protected]. Libby Mapletoft Fire Management Officer I am very excited to have joined Natural Resources SE and to be living and working in the South East having recently moved from the Adelaide Hills. My passion for the environment led me to return to university to study Environmental Science and undertake a mid-life career change. Having recently completed my degree, I have taken up the position of Fire Management Officer. I will be working with the Regional Fire Management Officer, Kay Richardson, to plan and implement our prescribed burn program designed to conserve and protect our remnant bushland in the numerous parks throughout the South-East. We will also be monitoring the effects of fire to increase our knowledge base of how Australian flora and fauna respond to fire. You can contact me on (08) 8735 1177 or email [email protected]. FROM THE GROUND UP FROM GROUND ACT NOW for effective rabbit management The current combination of high temperatures, minimal breeding and low feed resources are ideal to aid in the effective management of rabbit populations. Undertaking an integrated program during the warmer months (Nov – Apr) involving monitoring, baiting, warren destruction and follow-up will help to achieve the greatest impact on rabbit numbers. Monitoring will help to assess the size and location of your rabbit populations so you can undertake targeted management, continued monitoring will also help to assess the effectiveness of your management program. Free feeding is an essential component of a baiting program and should be conducted at least 3 times with a space of 2-3 days between feeds. Free feeding aids in rabbits overcoming their fear of a new food source and also helps you to assess the amount of rabbits through observing bait take. Poison baiting, typically conducted with 1080 treated bait, should be laid within 3 days of the last free feed, preferably in the early morning or evening to limit bait take by other animals eg birds and kangaroos. Do not lay poison baits if rain is expected. The warren is the key to a rabbits survival, so eliminating it will significantly contribute to your overall management program and achieving long term control. Depending on the size of your problem, you should match your implement or machinery to the task. Before undertaking any warren destruction, ensure you consider issues like cable/service locations (contact 1100 - Dial Before you Dig) and vegetation clearance. You may need to contact Natural Resources South East, your local Council and the Native Vegetation Council for advice. Multiple trails may be needed to ensure enough bait is laid, Photo I Qualmann Natural Resources South East Authorised Officers can provide a range of services, equipment Feral pigs are extremely destructive to both material in the cages is non-toxic fermented agricultural and environmental systems and grain, fruit or vegetable. The cages are are estimated to cost Australian farmers more currently wired open to encourage movement than $100 million annually. Their impacts in and out of the cages to allow the pigs to include predation on lambs and native become accustomed to the cages and bait wildlife, spreading of weeds, competition with material. In the near future the cages will be stock and wildlife for food, harbor and spread ‘set’ to trap any pigs that enter. If you see a cage, of disease, and destruction of environmental please do not disturb it or the bait material. systems, particularly wetlands. If you have any information about the release It is believed that feral pigs were caught in of feral pigs in our region or wish to report other areas of the country and brought to any sightings of feral pigs please contact your the South East for hunting purposes. Such local Authorised officer or Natural Resources activity not only puts our natural environment South East on 8735 1177. at severe risk but also threatens the local livestock industry. Feral pigs are a declared pest under the Feral Pig Natural Resources Management Act (2004) (Sus scrofa) and it is an offence to release animals into the wild. Feral pigs are a high priority pest animal After years of rumour, the presence and significant penalties of up to $100,000 or of feral pigs in the South East has imprisonment for 2 years apply for deliberate now been confirmed. DEWNR release. Landholders are also required to control feral pigs on their land. staff are joining forces with local The SENRM Board and DEWNR have landholders to monitor, trap and established 3 trap cages around areas of eradicate these destructive feral known activity and are currently baiting and animals from the South East. monitoring the cages on a regular basis. Bait Page 3 Karst Expressions World Wetlands Day was celebrated in February by an event showcasing some of the oldest wetlands in the South East, Karst Rising Springs. Karst Rising Springs are fed almost exclusively by groundwater that is forced out of the ground under pressure. The resulting pools, creeks and wet peat soils The World Wetlands Day event kicked off with many bird species that have flocked to the site around the springs provide habitat for a range a series of talks on the Wednesday evening since its restoration. of charismatic plants and animals including covering topics such as the restoration of Staff from DEWNR, the Nature Glenelg Trust the Swamp Greenhood, Glenelg Spiny Picks Swamp (part of the Piccaninnie Ponds and Birds SE spoke to participants about some Crayfish and the Ewens Pygmy Perch. Conservation Park), groundwater dependent of the most interesting species found in the ecosystems and threatened species.