Tasmanian Platypus Fungal Threat

Caring for Tasmania since 1968

THE TASMANIAN CONSERVATIONIST Number 302 October 2005

Tasmanian platypus fungal threat The Tasmanian Conservationist is the regular Contents newsletter of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc, 102 Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000. From the (new) Director 3 ABN: 63 091 237 520 What Use is Policy Planning? 4 Phone (03) 6234 3552 Fax: (03) 6231 2491 email: [email protected] Platypuses are also Having a Devil of a Time 5 website: http://www.tct.org.au Mitigation or Make-Believe? Protecting the Spotted-tailed Quoll 6 Director: Craig Woodfield President: Geoff King Does Commonwealth Heritage Listing have any Value 8

The views expressed in this newsletter are not The War against Foxes 9 necessarily those of the Tasmanian Better Homes & Gardens for Little Penguins 10 Conservation Trust Inc (TCT) . Water: Facts, Issues and Problems 10 Editor: Craig Woodfield Don’t Miss Tasmania’s Environmental 11 Home Expo We permit photocopying of all original Feral Cats and Feral Weeds 12 material in The Tasmanian Conservationist. Feel free to make use of our news and articles, Coastal Orchid Haven Up for Grabs 13 but please acknowledge the source. Good Year for Greenhoods 14 Why Educate? Increased Community Awareness Contributions: We encourage our readers to could be Vital to Shorebirds’ Survival 15 submit articles of interest for publication. Articles should preferably be short (up to 600 words) and well illustrated. Please forward copy on computer disk or by email if possible. Guidelines for contributors are available from the TCT office. North-West Branch We reserve the right to edit contributions. Tasmanian Conservation Trust Meetings of the North-West Branch of the TCT are Deadline for next issue: 18 November 2005 held on the first Wednesday of each month at 12 James Street, Ulverstone from 5pm to 6pm. Advertising: We accept advertising of products All members resident in the north-west are invited and services that may be of interest to our to attend all or some of these meetings to readers. Our rates are GST inclusive: discuss conservation issues in the region.

1 Issue 2 Issues 3 Issues Writing Full Page $110 $192 $330 Editing Half Page $55 $93 $165 Proofreading Specialising in conservation issues and Quarter Page $30 $46 $82 promotional literature. Reports and management plans, newsletters and magazine articles, books and guides. Proofreading: Janice Bird Layout: Patricia McKeown Circulation: 475

Front Cover: Platypus. Photo: Dave Watts. BA (Hons) Literature See cover story,’ Playtpuses are also having a Member of Society of Editors (Tas), devil of a time’ on page 5. Tasmanian Writers’ Centre, Society of Authors. ABN 86 028 924 992 Phone (03) 6234 6569 Email [email protected]

2 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 From the (new) Director

As you are all now aware, after twelve and a half years of Although I am honoured to be appointed Director, I am distinguished service, Michael Lynch has retired as also somewhat anxious about the future of the TCT. I Director of the TCT. Michael’s contribution to this believe that the next few years will be as challenging as organisation and to the protection of Tasmania’s any the TCT has faced. Funding sources are shrinking, environment cannot be overstated. His professionalism, whilst competition for that funding is growing. At the leadership, good humour and, above all, common sense, same time, almost everything has become more expensive, will be sorely missed. As his replacement, if I can do no from appeals to printing. Those who would deny the more than simply maintain the TCT at the level of efficiency and effectiveness that Michael established, then I will be content. I have been encouraged to tell members a bit about my background and so offer the following abbreviated bio- graphy. I was born and grew up on the north-west coast of Tasmania before moving to Hobart to attend the University of Tasmania. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1991, I went back to the north- west to work for the poppy industry. The next ten years or Former Director Michael Lynch congratulates Craig Woodfield on his so included several more stints appointment as Director of the TCT in September of this year. in that particular job, conservation movement a voice have become more interspersed with two years in the United Kingdom and belligerent and proactive than ever before. And the wider four years in Sydney, where I was lured into the community often appears to be too busy or distracted to conservation movement by the meagre wages, long hours wade through the layers of spin and propaganda that and limited career opportunities. When I moved back to surround even the most straightforward of issues, let alone Tasmania in mid-2001, the TCT accepted the challenge the complex ones. of employing me to work on freshwater issues and the State Government obligingly provided a large, slow- Despite this, there is no shortage of conservation issues moving target in the form of the proposed Meander Dam. that need to be addressed, and there are still opportunities and processes for an organisation such as ours to achieve In my spare time I tend to read a lot, watch football and/ conservation outcomes. I look forward to working with or cricket, and plan the next phase of the seemingly endless the staff, council and membership of the TCT to achieve renovations of my house. I also practise Kendo, a these outcomes. traditional Japanese martial art which involves getting Craig Woodfield hit very hard with a bamboo sword. I have found this to Director be excellent preparation for dealing with the likes of the Forest Practices Board, RMPAT and the RPDC. Occasionally I get to spend time with my wife and family.

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 3 What use is Policy Planning?

Making the State Coastal Policy Work The recent release of the State Coastal Policy prompts me Even here, when the Policy proves to be a hindrance the to think about what all this policy activity actually achieves. State has given exemptions – the Shack Sites Program State and local governments place a lot of emphasis on being the best example. policies and spend a great deal of time and money on The only bright spot is the setting aside of Marine preparing them, consulting the community, and promoting Reserves in the Kent Group and Bathurst Harbour. Whether policies once they have been finalised. these have resulted from the policy, of course, is another But what happens next? If the State Coastal Policy is matter. anything to go by, precious little. Apart from the above, the resources actually allocated to We have had a State Coastal Policy for almost a decade. coastal management by State and local government are There is nothing particularly wrong with the content of miniscule. In my view it would be more valuable to assess the existing policy. However, there is a yawning gap why the current policy is not producing the desired between what it says and what is actually happening on outcomes than to carry out another review. the ground and in the water. What is wrong? For example, the policy says, To my mind the current debate about the State Coastal ‘Natural and Cultural values of the Coast shall be Policy Review is at best misguided. The focus is on content. protected.’ But what does it matter what the policy says if there is no This is a principle to which most would subscribe. real commitment to its implementation? Following from this principle, Clause 1.1.9 says, In my view, the fundamental problem is that what is called ‘Important Coastal wetlands will be identified, protected, ‘policy planning’ is nothing of the sort. Activity that focuses repaired and managed so that their full potential for merely on producing ‘policy’ is not policy planning. It is nature conservation and public benefit is realised.’ only a part of it. In isolation, the production and review of policy documents is a meaningless exercise. As I sit and write this I can hear the bulldozers at work on the edges of a coastal wetland that contains high priority There are three essential components of any effective vegetation under the RFA; the clearing is for yet another planning exercise: speculative housing subdivision. No approvals to carry out 1 Establishing goals, objectives, desired future this clearing work have been given by the local council or outcomes etc. i.e. the purpose of the plan. by the Forest Practices Board under the Forest Practices 2 Putting in place mechanisms, resources and Act. programs to achieve the purpose i.e. the process of Quite simply, the natural and cultural values of the coast plan implementation. are not being protected. I could go on ad nauseum with 3 Ensuring through monitoring and assessment that examples of breaches of the policy: grazing on sand dunes, what happens on the ground is what was intended and clearing of riparian vegetation, construction of roads in the purpose of the plan is being achieved. i.e. having sensitive coastal locations without proper environmental a product which reflects the purpose. management controls, degradation of inshore marine Unless all three of these components are in place we do habitats, lack of management of uses that have an adverse not have policy planning – all we have is policy formulation impact on coastal resources, etc, etc. I am sure that readers (what has been referred to as ‘White Man’s Dreaming’). It have their own list. is a common activity of government. So why are policies so ineffective? Could it be that they The Coastal Policy Review are actually not meant to achieve the stated outcomes? One Readers will probably have noticed by now that the current might be forgiven for thinking this, considering the paltry review is very thin on implementation and borders on effort and resources that are put into implementing policy. ‘black hole’ territory when it comes to assessment and In the nine years since the approval of the State Coastal monitoring of the process against intended outcomes. Policy, the focus has been on two implementation efforts: Without an integrated approach consisting of all three Community-based Coastcare – financed primarily parts, the current review will not produce the intended through NHT funds. Despite the commitment and hard outcomes. If we were to allow our daily lives to be run on work of many hundreds of volunteers, this program is a system like that used for ‘policy planning’ in Tasmania woefully under-resourced and is focused mainly on dune we would, for example, dream of having a meal and just rehabilitation and management. hope that it happens. We will die from starvation unless Reliance on local planning schemes. Planning schemes we actually get out and get a meal. Likewise, without can only have effect when new development takes place. effective policy planning, the quality and value of our Much of that development is exempt (forestry, marine coastal resources will continue to degrade and, in many farming, a wide range of agricultural activities and cases, disappear entirely. development on public land under the control of PWS). Bob Graham

4 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 Platypuses are also having a devil of a time The Tasmanian platypus is generally a very robust and someone found one of these frogs, felt sorry for it, and healthy creature. In its natural environment it has virtually released it into the environment. no predators, and the greatest threat to its health is Since its initial discovery in 1982, the disease has spread probably tick infestations. In some areas platypuses can to encompass a large part of the state. In areas where the be found with well over a hundred ticks attached, usually disease occurs, around 35% of animals are infected. The around the hips and the base of the tail. ulcers they develop start off very small, and slowly increase No fatal diseases were reported in Tasmanian platypus in size. They can grow up to 10cm in diameter, and 1cm until 1982, when a local vet walking his dogs along the deep. In summertime these ulcers are sometimes infested Elizabeth River at Campbell Town found three very sick with maggots, and in severe cases the disease can eat away platypuses. These animals had large ulcers on various parts almost the entire tail of the animal. Although one animal of their bodies. At the time it was not known what was has been found that recovered from a very small ulcer, in causing the disease, and nothing more was heard about it the vast majority of cases the ulcers grow until the animal until 1993 when nine more ulcerated platypuses were eventually dies. The ulcers often attack the tail, which found and examined. Samples from these animals were causes a number of problems for the platypus. As the ulcers sent to a specialist in Sydney, who found a strange fungus leave large areas of flesh exposed, the platypus loses body in the ulcers. When growing in the tissue of the platypus, heat and has trouble thermoregualting, especially in winter it looked like a small cell filled with dozens of smaller when the water is very cold. Also, the platypus stores all cells. But when it was grown in the laboratory on agar, it its excess fat in the tail. In winter, it calls on these fat grew like other fungi and looked a bit like cotton wool. reserves when food is scarce. When the ulcers attack the Identification took a while, but it was finally positively tail, fat is lost and the platypus rapidly loses condition. identified as Mucor amphibiorum, which was first reported The only good news about the fungus is that it won’t in 1974 in Germany. A collector there had introduced a attack other Tasmanian species. It doesn’t grow at frog from Australia into his amphibian collection, and temperatures above around 350C, so mammals are safe shortly afterwards all his frogs started dying from a fungal (most have temperatures around 370C). Unfortunately for infection. The fungus was named Mucor amphibiorum in the platypus, it maintains its body temperature around 1978, because it affects amphibians. When it infects a 320C. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the disease, frog, the fungus grows in a form known as a sphaerule. including how it is spread, how far it has spread or whether This is basically a large spore that contains many smaller it also affects Tasmanian frogs.e spores. Eventually the large spore ruptures and the smaller Niall Stewart spores are released. They then grow into large spores themselves containing lots of smaller spores, and the cycle School of Medicine continues. University of Tasmania The fungus is found in Queensland, northern New South Wales and parts of the Northern Territory. In these areas it affects native amphibians, and has also been found in cane toads. However, no platypuses in these areas are TCT Council Members 2005–2006 affected by the fungus. We don’t know why Tasmanian platypuses get the disease, as those on the mainland don’t, At the Annual General Meeting but we have a few ideas. We think that the fungus has held on 27 August 2005 probably been introduced into Tasmania. On the mainland, the fungus and the platypus have evolved together, so the following members were elected platypuses there have a natural resistance to it. In to the TCT Council: Tasmania, platypuses has evolved without the fungus, and Geoff King, President therefore has no resistance to it. (This is a bit like the Bob Graham, Vice President invasion of South America by Spanish conquistadors, who were generally immune to smallpox, but carried the Phil Anstie, Treasurer disease. The natives had never been exposed to smallpox John Green, Neville Gray, John Forsyth, so it decimated the population.) The fungus was probably Bertel Lucht, Arnold Rowlands, and introduced into Tasmania by a green tree frog. These frogs Mavis Rowlands as the North West Delegate. are known to be infected by the fungus, and they are often found in bunches of bananas from Queensland. We suspect

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 5 Mitigation or protecting the

In August the TCT finally got hold of a document entitled idea behind the plan appears to be to maintain a wildlife ‘Management Plan for Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus corridor around the edge of the dam as well as create new maculatus) on State Forest and rehabilitated land near the core habitat. Logging in the immediate area will not be Meander Dam’. This statutory plan was produced to allowed whilst this is occurring. comply with one of the conditions imposed on this The question is, would it work? Would it actually mitigate development when it was approved under the Environment the impacts of the proposed dam on this listed threatened Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 by the species, or is it simply paying lip service to the idea? This Commonwealth Environment Minister (Dr David Kemp question goes to the heart of a significant and growing at that time) in late 2003. The plan does not identify an author, but was produced by the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH). The approval condition that prompted the management plan states the following: ‘The Rivers and Water Supply Commission must submit a management plan or plans for Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) to the Minister for approval. The plan or plans must include measures to: • Protect suitable compensatory habitat or rehabilitation of habitat for the Spotted-tailed Quoll for denning and foraging; • Protect suitable corridor Spotted-tailed quoll. Photo: Dave Watts habitat around the Meander Dam site for the Spotted-tailed Quoll; conservation issue: how to offset the environmental impacts • Manage the above compensatory and corridor of major projects, and how such offsets should be developed. habitat to maintain suitable habitat for the Spotted- There is currently no formal process or policy at either tailed Quoll; and State or Commonwealth level against which to judge such • Monitor the impacts of the action on the Spotted- offset proposals. However, by comparing this management tailed Quoll. plan with all of the information that was available to DEH, we can get some idea about the quality of the job that was Construction of the dam must not commence until the done. plan has been approved by the Minister. The approved plan must be implemented.’ Essentially there are four principal ‘packages’ of information that DEH would have considered when writing The management plan is a 52-page document that basically requires three things to occur. Firstly, a strip of the management plan. The first of these is the significance land on the southern, eastern and northern boundary of of the impacts of the project and any advice or the proposed inundation zone will be turned into a formal recommendation by relevant experts. In this case, the reserve. Secondly, a five-year moratorium on silvicultural significance of the impact on the spotted-tailed quoll was practices in part or all of a number of State Forest coupes assessed by probably the two most highly qualified in the area of the proposed dam will be imposed. Finally, a scientists available as part of the Tasmanian Government’s schedule to rehabilitate a large area of degraded pasture initial development proposal. Their findings and on the western edge of the proposed dam is detailed. The recommendations were summarised as follows:

6 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 Make-believe? spotted-tailed quoll

‘Our recommendation, based on the findings detailed The third piece of information to be considered is a report in this report, is that the proposed Meander Dam site in authored by a consultant employed by the Tasmanian the upper Meander catchment should remain Government, who is not recognised as an expert on quolls, undisturbed. This site represents a very rich area for but consulted with scientists who were experts. One of spotted-tailed quolls, in a region that has been severely these later wrote to both the TCT and the Commonwealth impacted in terms of spotted-tailed quoll habitat and Environment Minister to complain about the manner in movement corridor... There are no viable alternatives which their views had been represented. This report other than protection of this important habitat and recommended three principal ways to address the impacts population. The current conservation status of the of the dam, summarised as follows: Tasmanian spotted-tailed quoll is of great concern. ‘(a) Maintenance of an area of D. maculatus habitat Based on current estimates of habitat loss, this small in the vicinity of the dam at least equal in area to and genetically distinct population is almost certainly the total D. maculatus habitat lost through in decline. This species has already experienced a inundation (360 ha); dramatic reduction in geographic extent and population (b) Maintenance of wildlife corridors (minimum size nationally. Tasmania supports the largest remaining width 100 m; either forest or cleared land with population of the species and so is critical to its survival. rehabilitation) on all sides of the proposed dam to The predicted detrimental effects of the dam on ensure movement of D. maculatus through the area. populations at a local, regional and state-wide level are significant.’1 (c) Management of this replacement habitat in such a way that its value as D. maculatus foraging and The second piece of information to be considered is the wildlife corridor habitat is retained.’3 decision of the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal, which overturned the approval of the As it turned out, the final management plan would bear dam in January 2003. The following is an excerpt from a remarkable resemblance to this report. the Tribunal’s decision: The final information that DEH would consider was the ‘It was proposed by the applicant to provide an area to economic benefit of the dam. This would allow a the north west of the area to be inundated, on land owned comparison of the benefit to the economy with the by the applicant, as an alternative corridor and habitat environmental impacts. It is not so easy to give an area. The major mitigation strategy proposed was to overview of this information, as it consists of no less than rehabilitate an adjacent 1.37 square kilometre area to seven assessments by five different authors, and provide the suitable hunting grounds; and to reserve undoubtedly DEH also had their own internal advice. The two areas adjacent to the inundation area. One of those forecasts ranged from deeply pessimistic to incredibly areas was on State forest land. In the experts’ opinion optimistic. Even issues such as the capital cost of the dam the replacement area was unsuitable to provide either varied, ranging from $23.5 million in the most optimistic hunting or transit corridor habitat for the quoll in that forecasts to $35 million in the pessimistic ones (the capital it was too small; was unlikely to support much prey; cost was eventually revealed to be $35 million). This and the only access between the denning area and the situation was further complicated when, at a later stage, rehabilitated area would be a long distance of open area one of the authors turned up as a member of one of the around the perimeter of the dam, open areas normally consortia bidding to build the dam. Despite all this, DEH being avoided by quolls. In addition, areas which had appear to have accepted the assertion that the project would been used for pasture as opposed to simply being have a significant economic benefit, and that the impacts denuded of trees, were particularly difficult to on the spotted-tailed quoll (and other species) were rehabilitate due to changes to soil structure and acceptable. vegetation seed bank… Having regard to those findings Which finally brings us back to the management plan the Tribunal is satisfied that the effect upon the quoll itself. The TCT engaged the services of ecologist and quoll will be an “actual adverse effect on the environment expert Dr Chris Belcher to give his opinion on the actual that is not negligible”, within the meaning of the efficacy of the plan. His assessment was not positive. definition of “material environmental harm” in the ‘The management plan does not provide a timeline to Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act show how there will be continuity of suitable habitat. If 1994’.2 Continued on page 9

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 7 Does Commonwealth Heritage Listing have any value?

I recently wrote a submission to the Productivity cottages, store rooms and other buildings) the government’s Commission’s Inquiry into Built Heritage which is policy seems to be to restrict its involvement only to the reviewing the Australian Government’s role in built portion it owns or controls, even though the site calls for heritage management. In my submission, I expressed integrated management. concern primarily about the management of properties Classic examples are former lightstation properties that listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. are presently on the Commonwealth Heritage List. Where I have volunteered for a number of community the federal government used to own these stations, in the organisations such as the Tasmanian Conservation Trust 1980s or 1990s they were returned to the state governments. (TCT) and the Lighthouses of Australia Inc (in relation to In some cases where the lighthouse light is still operating cultural heritage projects) and I would like to acknowledge and needed for navigational purposes, the Australian that the TCT has received funds from the National Estates Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) leases back the tower Grants Program and with only a small the Cultural Heritage portion of the sur- Projects Program for rounding land, just projects that I co- enough to land a ordinated. Therefore helicopter for my submission was not maintenance. prompted by dis- One could be gruntlement about not excused for thinking receiving requested that a listing on the funding. Commonwealth The Australian Heritage List would Government should do include all the re- much more than levant cultural simply stick a few of features of the light- the more portable station such as elements of our culture residences, out- into museums. Pre- buildings, stables, serving our cultural tracks and grave sites heritage in situ as well as the tower receives a very Goose Island Lighthouse, Furneaux Island Group. and its related inadequate portion of Photo: Christian Bell equipment. In fact, the the available funding. listing on the The federal government is responsible for a large number Commonwealth Heritage List means only the tower. In of heritage structures in Australia but the lower levels of many cases this excludes most of the built fabric of the government, as well as the private sector, are required to lightstation. maintain an even greater list of heritage buildings. I recently contacted the Australian Government about a With various heritage assets, such as lighthouses, being number of lightstation properties on the Commonwealth returned to state governments during the last 20 years, the Heritage List, offering my help with the production of federal government has substantially reduced its financial management plans for those properties. The response was very disappointing: the plans were to be only a desktop obligations to maintain them. As this trend continues and exercise and did not even involve anyone visiting the sites. it has fewer properties to be responsible for, we should Also, they were for the towers only and would not deal expect exemplary standard of performance from the with any other issues. This response gave me the impression Australian Government in looking after the heritage that the management plans were not going to be produced properties that are still left under its control. Unfortunately, in a comprehensive fashion at all. Restricting these it is not meeting this expectation. In my experience it seems management plans to the towers only and leaving all the that the present attitude is to shift responsibility for other elements of the management of lightstations aside is maintaining the buildings to some other body whenever impractical and fails to capture the heritage values of these possible. places. When management of the historical structure involves One example is Goose Island. Keepers who died in a multiple issues or tenures (for example a lightstation boating accident while they were employees of the containing the lighthouse tower and the associated keepers’ Commonwealth Lighthouse Service are buried in its

8 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 graveyard. These grave sites could do with some long- There are a few vandalised buildings at Cape Wickham overdue maintenance, but the Commonwealth and the sight of them only encourages further vandalism. management plan for Goose Island does not include their The tower itself was attacked by vandals, its door nearly management. Surely, dealing respectfully with the graves smashed open: a further example of what a nonsense it of men who died while serving the Commonwealth should would be to write a management plan for the tower without be a key part of the management plan and site maintenance including the overall aspect of the site. funded by the Australian Government. I believe the federal government should undertake joint In a similar case, when I recently sent AMSA a copy of management plans for the lightstation properties in a letter of complaint to Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife cooperation with the state governments. That way, a listing Service, where I expressed my disappointment with the on the Commonwealth Heritage List would have a real state of the lighthouse reserve at Cape Wickham on King impact on preserving our valuable historic sites. Island, AMSA were good enough to respond, but their Christian Bell letter stated that they were only responsible for the tower. Email [email protected]

Continued from page 7 there is not continuity of suitable habitat, the Spotted- Committee for Dam Construction AND SA Tiffin v Rivers tailed quoll population will become locally extinct…The and Water Supply Commission and Assessment Committee inundation area has not been surveyed for fauna, nor for Dam Construction [2003] the diet of the Spotted-tailed quoll determined. How 3. North Barker & Associates, ‘Meander Dam mitigation can the management plan provide alternative suitable Strategy for Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)’ June habitat, when the habitat and the quolls’ habitat 2003. requirements are unknown?... The time lag between 4. Belcher C.A. (BSc. MSc. PhD), Review of the: clearing for inundation and establishment of suitable Management Plan for the spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus habitat is not discussed. Five-year-old revegetated forest maculatus) on State Forest and rehabilitated land near the is unlikely to have any of the characteristics required Meander Dam. July 2005. for breeding quolls. Logging moratoriums are also only in place for 5 years… Research to date has shown that regrowth forest does not provide suitable breeding habitat. It is not known how long regrowth forest takes to develop into suitable breeding habitat, so the premise The war against foxes of the management plan that 5 years is adequate is The recent confirmation that a scat collected at unfounded… At best the proposed management plan Conara in February originated from a fox is bad will provide a wildlife corridor. If the resident breeding news for the eradication program. This came hot quolls become extinct, the actual movement of quolls on the heels of a high-quality, daylight sighting of through the corridor will either decline or cease.’4 a fox near Arthurs Lake, which also included a What has occurred in the attempt to offset the impacts number of digital photographs of an alleged fox of the proposed Meander Dam on the spotted-tailed quoll print. Although the print images are not conclusive, would appear to be a worst-case scenario. Unambiguous, the scat is confirming that at the start of the year uncontested advice and recommendations from experts there was a fox roaming loose in the northern was ignored. On the other hand, advice that supported midlands. This is despite the fact that the area has the project, even when that advice was contested, was been baited a number of times over the last two accepted. The result was a seriously flawed plan that would years. The area has also been baited since February. probably not have worked anyway. There is something The scat is the only one out of 180 collected across seriously wrong with a system that works this way. This the state in February that returned a positive fox not mitigation. It is not even proper environmental result. assessment. It is nothing more than an untidy, ineffective With the Fox Taskforce due to start winding down waste of time and money that gives the impression that eradication activities next year, this evidence is the right thing is being done. Considering that the timely. A five-year eradication program was always Meander Dam is thought to be one of the more considered to be the minimum acceptable comprehensive assessments conducted under the EPBC timeframe. We hope that this evidence will prompt Act to date does not give one much hope for the future. the State Government to extend the life of the Craig Woodfield Taskforce for at least another year. Despite the problems that have dogged the eradication effort, 1. H. Hesterman & M.E. Jones, ‘Potential Impact of the and the well-founded criticisms of both the evidence Proposed Meander Irrigation Dam on the Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), October 2001. and the methodologies that have been used, the risk that an established fox population presents to 2. TASRMPAT 12 (22 January 2003), File No: 225/02E 226/ Tasmania is so great that it cannot be easily ignored 02W 233/02W, J 12/2003. The Tasmanian Conservation Trust or dismissed. Future generations will judge us very v Director of Environmental Management and Rivers and harshly indeed if this issue gets away from us. Water Supply Commission AND The Tasmanian Conservation Trust v Rivers and Water Supply Commission and Assessment Craig Woodfield

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 9 Better Homes & Gardens Water for Little Penguins The Community Action for Penguins (CAP) project plans to provide facts members of the Derwent Estuary community with the knowledge to take practical actions to help the survival of the local little penguins (on issues & public reserves and even in private gardens). CAP, which is Stage 2 of the Derwent Estuary Penguin Project, will put into action the problems recommendations of Stage 1, which found only 70 breeding pairs of little penguin still living in the Derwent estuary. Readers of The Tasmanian The Derwent penguins lead a precarious life, threatened by stray dogs Conservationist will be very familiar with the work of Dr and cats, and find it difficult to raise chicks. Some of them are even David Leaman. In the last few trying to nest in people’s gardens in an effort to find a home. The CAP years he has become a vocal project aims to provide safe homes for penguins by protecting and advocate for sustainable water improving nesting areas between Sandy Bay and Tinderbox. The work management and an effective will include removing weeds, planting penguin-friendly coastal species, critic of current land and installing artificial burrows, fencing and signage. There will be management practices, in school and community workshops to learn about improving habitat, particular plantation forestry. building burrows, and little penguin ecology and behaviour. The Taroona The author of a number of High School is keen to help establish a new Community Penguin Colony previous books on history, by constructing artificial burrows. The Taroona Environment Network walking and geology, Dr Leaman (TEN) will contribute to the project by removing weeds and improving has recently published a book on and creating burrows along the Alum Cliffs. the issue which has given him A field day on Saturday 12 November will provide expert advice and such a high profile in recent times. hands-on experience in protecting and restoring little penguin habitat. Water: facts, issues and People living in the south-east region are welcome to attend this free problems is a wide-ranging event, hosted by the Hobart City Council (see the invitation in this consideration of the properties of newsletter). water and the interactions that The Tasmanian Conservation Trust is administering the CAP project, water has with vegetation and which is an initiative of the Derwent Estuary Program. It is funded by geology. It also contains analysis the Australian Government’s Envirofund through the Natural Heritage of water-related issues such as Trust, with additional support provided by the Biodiversity Conservation environmental flows, climate Branch (Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment), change and salinity. Because of six councils, Parks and Wildlife Service, Taroona Environment Network, the specific focus of this book on Birds Tasmania, Wrest Point Hotel, Hobart Water, Hobart Ports topical environmental issues, it Corporation, Norske Skog and Zinifex. is invaluable to those with an Please contact the project coordinator, Veronica Thorp, on 6244 4154 interest in water and landscape management. Although by or 0412 146 460 if you have any questions or would like to be involved. necessity technical in nature, it For more information on little penguins, refer to the Little Penguin is by no means unreadable, and fact sheet and Guidelines for Works in Areas of Little Penguin Habitat anybody with a basic under- (Marker & Wind, 2003) on the web at www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au. standing of the natural sciences should have no problem with it. Veronica Thorp All in all, a very informative and Community Action for Penguins timely work. Available from Derwent Estuary Penguin Project quality bookshops, the (Stage 2) Tasmanian Environment Centre (for $32.95) or directly from the author. Craig Woodfield

10 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 Don’t miss Tasmania’s Environmental Home EXPO The Environmental Home Expo is on again on Saturday • Helen Cushing, who has written regularly for 19 November and Sunday 20 November at the Hobart City ‘Gardening Australia’ and worked on the TV show, Hall. This year the Expo will focus on promoting and will give a talk on an aspect of her wonderful new encouraging sustainable living – living comfortably while book Beyond Organics – Gardening for the Future. using the Earth’s resources wisely. There will be a wide range of ideas, information, practical demonstrations and products on the following topics: • energy efficiency • renewable energy • sustainable transport • sustainable building • environmentally friendly interior design • organic food growing • water conservation in the home and garden • consuming wisely If you are thinking about building a new home or renovating an existing one and want to incorporate passive solar, energy-efficient design, there will be a range of qualified architects at the Expo to help you. You will also be able to find information about environmentally friendly building materials such as hebel bricks and straw bales, and explore ideas and the costs of insulating, heating and curtaining. If you would like a healthy happy garden, several permaculture and organic gardening experts will be on hand to help you grow your own food without harmful chemicals. If you want to use less water on your ornamental And to cap it all, the Expo will feature representatives garden and attract native birds, then come along to learn of the Natural Edge Project who have produced a stunning about the benefits of our local Tasmanian native plants. primer on business opportunities and innovations for a The Hobart City Council will give out native plants on sustainable future. The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) won both days between 11 am and 3 pm. a prestigious Banksia Awards for 2005 in the category of The talks program throughout the Expo will include Environmental Leadership, Education and Training. the following: TNEP is a group of young Australian engineers and scientists passionate about a sustainable future. They • Rick Coleman, from the Southern Cross recently released The Natural Advantage of Nations, a Permaculture Institute who is in Southern Tasmania publication which compiles literature from local and to run a permaculture design course in late November, international leaders providing a strong case for will talk about ‘Backyard Food Forests’ and sustainable development as a path to economic growth ‘Permaculture in the suburbs’. and business competitiveness. TNEP have developed • The University of Tasmania team working on a educational programs based on the book to assist project in Mornington – ‘the No Bills House’ and the engineers, business people and policy-makers in delivering Best Five Star House – will talk about their project. truly sustainable solutions. • Since most of us live in older houses that we might We are still interested in hearing from potential be trying to make more energy efficient and exhibitors, so if you have a good idea or product you would comfortable, there will be a retrofit house tour like to promote, please contact us. coordinated by the Australian and New Zealand Solar Sustainable Living Tasmania Energy Society (ANZSES) on Sunday 20 November. (formerly Tasmanian Environment Centre) • Strawbale builder from Victoria, Brian Hodge, will ask the question ‘Is building your own strawbale house Phone: 03 6234 5566 for you?’ He will also help people work out the trials [email protected] and joys of ‘Being an Owner Builder’.

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 11 feral cats & feral weeds

The Threatened Species Network has been hard at work spotted pardalote and swift parrot, which also nest there. in recent months targeting introduced threats to Tasmania’s Desexing domestic cats will stop these pets from endemic flora and fauna. reproducing and potentially adding to the feral cat Beach Daisy Eradication population. Microchipping will greatly increase the chance of a cat being returned to its owner if it strays from home. The coastal weed ‘beach daisy’ is likely to be eradicated entirely from Flinders Island (this is the only known Special thanks to vets Dr Penny King and Dr Andrew locality in Tasmania) in the next few years if the successful Nicholson for donating their time and to Kingborough control work started by the TSN last year is maintained. Council and the RSPCA for donating $1000 for the material On 27–28 August this year, the TSN Coordinator and one costs associated with desexing and the microchips. We have dedicated local sufficient funding volunteer to run one more searched 30km of free desexing and the east coast of microchipping day Flinders Island this year for Bruny around where the Island residents. weed has Please phone to previously been book in your cats. found. Although Prior to the we found more desexing day, the plants than last TSN Coordinator year, they were addressed the restricted to Bruny Island roughly the same Community two sites. At one Association and site near Sellars received their Point we removed wholehearted only 12 plants, support for seeking bagged and burnt funding for an them. At the other expanded feral cat site, we found trapping program several hundred on the island. We plants along a 7km stretch of coast adjacent to Camerons will be working with them and the local council on an Lagoon and meticulously marked each patch. The next application to the Envirofund later this year. day we returned with a Parks and Wildlife Service field King Island’s Cats Targeted officer who sprayed them. A follow-up visit is planned for King Island’s feral cat population will be targeted through October or November this year – hopefully before the a community-based project to protect the island’s daisies have set seeds. Local volunteers would be very threatened bird species. The Threatened Species Network welcome. Community Grants program awarded the King Island Bruny Island Cat Desexing and Microchipping Day Natural Resource Management Group $29,610 for a The TSN’s free cat desexing and microchipping day held community-based cat control project. at Bruny Island on 19 September was the first such event The project will initially focus on protection of the held in Tasmania. While the RSPCA and councils have endangered orange-bellied parrot and foster community held similar subsidised pet desexing days before, this is involvement and support in developing a long-term cat the first we have heard of that deliberately targeted an area management program. The entire world population of the with the purpose of protecting wildlife, including orange-bellied parrot visits King Island each autumn for threatened species. Only 12 cats were desexed on several months, feeding and roosting primarily around the 19 September but we reached a total of 35 on other days. mouth of the Sea Elephant River. Feral cat trapping will Given that Bruny Island only has about 200 households initially be concentrated in this area as a result. we think this was a good start. The fund will be used to purchase cat traps and chemicals Stray domestic and feral cats are known to predate heavily for euthanising feral cats, train volunteers in setting and on common birds such as fairy penguins and shearwaters, monitoring traps, produce a responsible cat owners’ which come each year to breed on Bruny Island. The cats brochure and run desexing events, and for a baseline study are possibly a threat to two endangered birds, the forty- of cat numbers and concentrations.

12 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 North-east Boneseed Search Volunteer activities A large section of Tasmania’s north-east coast is thought More volunteers are sought for continuing this work. to be free of the dreaded coastal weed, boneseed. There are Contact the TSN on 6234 3522 if you can be of any no official records along 150km of coast from Bridport to assistance for any of the following events: Humbug Point near Binalong Bay and only a handful of 23 October: Beechford (80km north-east of Launceston) records (although some are large areas) for the entire north- – Boneseed around the township and in the Conservation east and east coasts. There is a very real likelihood that Area. This is a small outlier population of boneseed that boneseed can be eradicated from this region of Tasmania has the potential to spread throughout the reserve, which and an application to the Australian Government’s includes one of the best remaining examples in north- ‘Defeating the Weed Menace’ program for funding for this east Tasmania of native spinifex grassland. purpose is planned. 5 November: Bruny Island (50km south of Hobart) – Boneseed has devastated large areas of forest and coastal gorse and erica control at a population of the endangered vegetation around Hobart and the Tamar Valley and the Euphrasia collina. related plant bitou bush is rampant along coastal NSW. 19 November: Jordan Nature Reserve (30km north of While the north-east coast of Tasmania is quite pristine Hobart) – gorse control to protect a recently reserved and is not likely to have many big new infestations of native grassland remnant that includes 10 state-listed and boneseed, its absence from official databases is at least one nationally listed threatened plant species. partly due to the fact that no one has bothered to look. If we are to justify obtaining resources for eradicating 26 November: Royal George (15km south-east of Avoca) boneseed from these areas we need to know with greater – gorse control at several key populations of the vulnerable certainty where the weed is and is not. We need evidence Callitris oblonga. of the absence of boneseed between the outlier populations. From 21 to 23 September, with the help of Conservation Wanted: sea kayakers and intrepid coastal walkers to spot Volunteers and some local residents (this area is largely weeds. Are you visiting Flinders Island or isolated beaches unpopulated), we started the process of searching the of north-east Tasmania this spring/summer? Keep you eyes coastline between Bridport and Humbug Point. We covered peeled for beach daisy (only recorded in Tasmania from 40km of coast and discovered two new small patches of Flinders Island) and boneseed (very rare along the north- boneseed totaling only about 50 plants, both at Tomahawk east coast). Get in touch with TSN for colour pictures to (120km north-east of Launceston). Needless to say, all help identify each weed, and a map showing known plants were removed and seeds destroyed. locations. Peter McGlone Threatened Species Network Tasmania Coordinator

Coastal orchid haven up for grabs

The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) is currently marsupials and a wealth of birds inhabiting the ephemeral offering for sale a property on the northwest coast that wetlands and open woodlands. supports no less than 33 species of orchid, including two The natural values of this property are even more greenhoods (see article page 14). The Dorothy Reeves outstanding when the rampant clearing for agriculture Reserve is an 18.75 ha parcel of land located to the east of and housing development that has occurred in this part of Parkers Ford Road (C708), about 2 km south-southwest Tasmania over the last decade is considered. An area has of the coastal town of Port Sorell. TLC acquired this been set aside for building a house and establishing property with the intention that it be on-sold as part of a gardens while the majority of the property will remain a revolving fund program once an appropriate conservation private reserve. covenant was put in place. Better-drained parts of the TLC is seeking expressions of interest with offers over property support black peppermint (Eucalyptus $150,000. Contact Jim Mulcahy on 03 6225 1399 for more amygdalina) woodlands with an understorey ranging from information. heathy to sedgey, while more poorly drained areas support either black gum (Eucalyptus ovata) woodlands or sedgey wet heaths. Of the more than 150 native plant species recorded on this property, seven are listed as threatened. Resident wildlife includes burrowing crayfish, small

Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 13 Good year for Greenhoods It seems to be a good year for greenhood orchids, in However, the other colonies are probably best described as particular the swan greenhood Pterostylis cycnocephala. remnant colonies in remnant habitats, rather than colonies In early October there were two reports of populations in in remnant habitats. Pasture development has been the the midlands that have not flowered for some years, as main cause of the decline in the midlands as orchids are well as a brand new population that extends the range of extremely sensitive to ploughing and fertilising. The this species. security of some populations, The swan greenhood including the largest, has belongs to a group of native improved, as many orchids commonly known landowners/managers are as greenhoods because the sympathetic to the plight of dorsal sepal and petals are threatened plants. The united to form a pre- Campbell Town Golf Course dominantly green, hood- population is subject to a like structure that covenant and management dominates the flower. When plan. The population on the triggered by touch, the Pontville Army Range is labellum flips inwards being actively managed. towards the column, However, a fence erected in trapping any insect inside 1999 for the purpose of the flower, thereby aiding improved management of pollination as the insect threatened plants may have struggles to escape. unexpected serious impli- Greenhoods are deciduous cations due to local terrestrials that have fleshy overgrazing. The population tubers, which are replaced on the Tea Tree golf course annually. At some stage in has been lost due to their life cycle all improvements of the land greenhoods produce a through fertilisation and rosette of leaves. introduction of exotic grasses. In Tasmania, the swan The coastal colonies are greenhood is known from also remnants of a once wider widely separated localities distribution in coastal ranging from coastal grasslands and are also under lowland in the north and threat. In the Narawntapu east to 300 m altitude in the National Park, the species midlands, occupying an Pterostylis cycnocephala. Photo: Peter Tonelli used to occur behind the sand area of approximately 15 to dunes, in grassy swales now 20 hectares in total. In the midlands it grows in native almost totally overtaken by coast wattle (Acacia sophorae), grassland, grassy woodland and open forest on well-drained and the species has not been seen here for at least a decade. clay loams derived from basalt. In coastal areas it is found Coast wattle expansion is also likely to be the cause of the on the slopes of low stabilised sand dunes, and in grassy loss of the Lanoma Point population. The Swanwick Bay dune swales. It also occurs in Queensland, New South and Chain of Lagoons localities are extremely vulnerable, Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. as they are adjacent to vehicular tracks, in camping areas Swan greenhood habitats have been in serious decline and in openings giving access to a lagoon. One site at and continue to be under threat. In the past the species Swanwick Bay has been lost to development. The Cape would have been widespread and locally common in native Portland colonies are at risk from browsing from the pastures in the midlands but is now reduced to a few introduced garden snail Helix aspersa, as these snails eat colonies; only one qualifies as locally common with many the flowers before seed production. Much suitable habitat hundreds of plants almost uniformly throughout some in this area is likely to have been lost by conversion to hectares of grassland on basalt, a highly threatened habitat. grazing land.

14 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005 There are approximately 15 known populations of swan Jasmine Janes is a PhD student at the School of Plant greenhood in existence in Tasmania. The largest Science and is working on the conservation genetics and population, at the Campbell Town Golf Course, has many phylogeny of greenhoods. She would be keen to hear of hundreds of plants. The total number of swan greenhoods locations of populations of greenhoods of any species, in existence has been estimated to be less than 1000. The including the swan greenhood. Jasmine can be contacted species is poorly reserved. It was known to have once on 0407800420 or at [email protected]. The occurred in the Narawntapu National Park though it hasn’t Threatened Species unit of DPIWE is also keen to hear of been seen in the last decade and the habitat may have sightings of the swan greenhood, and can be contacted on become too overgrown for it to have survived. It occurs in 6233 6556. the Cape Portland Conservation Area and in a Coastal Craig Woodfield Reserve at the Chain of Lagoons. For these reasons, it is Acknowledgement: This article is in most part sourced listed as vulnerable on the Tasmanian Threatened Species from Threatened Species Unit 2000. Listing Statement Protection Act 1995. Swan greenhood Pterostylis cycnocephala. Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania. Why Educate? Increased community awareness could be vital to shorebirds’ survival

Tasmania has 43 species of shorebirds, including both staff to bird-watching mornings and discussion of threats migratory and resident species. The migratory birds are to shorebirds and possible actions. currently making their journey toward Tasmania, crossing We have also been working hard on the education front, 20 countries in the process, and making vital stopovers in hosting three days of creative activities with the Tasmanian places such as Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Japan and Museum and Art Gallery, speaking at school assemblies, Korea. Resident species, like the red-capped plover, pied and working with Sorell High School to provide resources oystercatcher and hooded plover, are now beginning to and add to the enthusiasm that already exists within this resume their breeding territories and lay their first clutch school for a shorebird education program. of eggs for the season. Anyone who has any knowledge of shorebirds will be The TCT/Comalco Shorebird Program aims to increase aware that they are definitely under threat from a whole shorebird habitat protection at five key sites around host of causes, both human-related and natural. The Tasmania. These sites have been chosen primarily due to shorebird populations that we see on our beaches today the presence of little and fairy terns, both listed threatened could all be older birds, as they are able to live 20 years or species, but many other shorebird species are found in more. If this is the case and these populations have not these areas as well. been able to replace themselves through successful The sites are: Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island, Marion Bay breeding, they may suddenly die out. spit, Orford spit, Falmouth/Scamander and Lades Beach It may seem that conservation resources are so scarce at Bridport. that we cannot afford the luxury of education but the Several workshops have been run to encourage and train Tasmanian community needs champions who are able to volunteers in shorebird awareness and conservation issues. address shorebird protection at a local level. The shorebird Although attendance has not been high, very important program hopes to foster such champions and provide them contacts have been made, which will aid efforts later in with the resources and direction to increase understanding the breeding season to provide continued training for new and awareness of, and achieve real protection for and existing volunteers. Shorebird monitoring takes time shorebirds in Tasmania. and patience and also requires people to develop an Esther Staal understanding of and relationship with their particular [email protected] stretch of coast. In addition to these workshops, the shorebird program will develop further community initiatives that raise awareness of shorebirds as well as provide on-ground habitat protection. At a later stage we hope to invite local councillors, police and Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers

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16 Tasmanian Conservationist October 2005