Neds Corner Station wins rabbit battle WHEN station manager Peter Barnes Th is success is due to a range including ancestral burials, scar came across four Australian bustards of controls including destroying trees, fi replaces and shell middens. while out watering new plantings, he warrens, laying poisoned baits, Warrens cannot be mechanically couldn’t believe his eyes. shooting, releasing the calicivirus ripped in some areas and instead Th e threatened birds, once and installing vermin-proof fences. more creative and sensitive ways of common in southern Australia, More than 20,000 warrens making them unusable are deployed hadn’t been recorded on the have been treated, 13,000 of them such as covering entrances or property since it was bought by destroyed. collapsing them by hand. Trust for Nature 16 years ago. Knowing how to most eff ectively Five hundred hectares of the The bustards are a testament control the rabbits on Neds Corner property has also been fenced to to the dramatic rehabilitation was initially a process of trial and keep predators and rabbits out. the 30,000 hectare Neds Corner error and methods have changed and Th is enables Trust for Nature Station has undergone since 2002. refi ned over the years. Th e property’s to explore the potential of Had the birds fl own across back sheer size makes the job diffi cult. reintroducing regionally extinct then, they would have looked down “We were good at killing them, animals to the property. at a heavily grazed property, blowing but not so good at controlling them,” Rabbit control is ongoing, red dust with bare clay pans and lots Peter said. and is likely to continually play a of rabbits, and kept fl ying. “We used to get straight into part in managing this important Neds Corner Station in North West ripping up warrens which would conservation property. Victoria is one of 43 conservation only leave the rabbits homeless and “Once you get down to low reserves owned by Trust for Nature. force them to live on the surface, numbers you just cannot stop Th e property has had a long battle fi nding homes in bushes and working. Now if we notice rabbits in with rabbits: they prevented natural anywhere they could hide.” a spot or re-infesting, we’ll treat that regeneration and de-stabilised the Reducing the number of rabbits as it comes up,” Peter said. A bustard sighted at Neds Corner Station. Photo: Peter Barnes. soil and sand dunes. before destroying warrens was a Controlling the rabbits has When the Trust purchased the more eff ective approach. completely transformed Neds Corner plant and animal species, including wonders is a new species of daisy property there were more than 30 Neds Corner is on Ngintait Station and allowed indigenous 77 threatened plants, 24 reptiles and for Victoria. rabbits per spotlight kilometre. country and the fi rst people of species to move back in. 112 types of birds. “And, fi ngers crossed, the After more than a decade of work Millewa Mallee. As one of Victoria’s largest Researchers have found 21 bustards will like what they see the average is now 0.4 rabbits per Th e property features numerous conservation reserves, it is now species not previously known and permanently call Neds Corner spotlight kilometre. important cultural heritage sites home to more than 1000 native to science and among its many Station home,” Peter said. New skills and partnership to fi ght feral pests FOR the fi rst time the unique skills agencies work together with a to help coordinate their fi rst wild dog and expertise of the Landcare coordinated strategy. baiting program held between August network are being harnessed to “Landcare is brilliant at doing and September this year. tackle feral pigs, dogs, foxes and other that sort of thing – networking “We had 20 landholders take pests on the Central Tablelands. and planning – so we expect this part in this group’s fi rst program,” Central Tablelands Local Land initiative to bring new people into she said. Services has contracted local a more strategic approach to pest “Th e majority of these people Landcare groups to provide pest management,” Paul said. had not taken part in a coordinated animal group coordinators, utilising “Th e idea is to get community baiting on this scale before, so that their networking and engagement members engaged in a structured was a great result.” skills to increase landholder format, with the help of pest animal Four new pest animal group participation and support eff ective coordinators to bring them to the table.” coordinators have now been engaged pest control. Beth Greenfi eld is the fi rst pest by Central Tablelands Local Land Agencies across the state are animal group coordinator to be Services, including Beth Greenfi eld, closely watching the pilot project. employed under the new Landcare Watershed Landcare; Mel Kiel, Little Central Tablelands senior land and Local Land Services pilot project. River Landcare; Sally Kirby, Central service offi cer Paul Gibb said it is the She started her new role in July, Tablelands Landcare; and Jayden fi rst Local Land Services region in working in the Watershed Landcare Gunn, Mid Lachlan Landcare. A new New South Wales to launch a formal region covering Mudgee, Gulgong, pest animal group coordinator will joint pest management project with Rylstone and Hill End. also be appointed to the Lithgow Landcare. “I’ve been getting to know Oberon Landcare region. “Th is partnership is funded by landholders in this region and “Landcare and Local Land Local Land Services, where we’re identifying the key challenges Services have already been working together to achieve the goals we need to tackle, including working with each other on a of the recently released Regional overcoming some of the basic regular basis, but this new project Pest Management Strategy,” he said. problems for landholders engaging will formalise and enhance that Feral pests are a big problem and communicating with their local process, combining our biosecurity for both agriculture and the pest groups,” Beth said. expertise with Landcare’s knack Networking and engagement are new tactics being used to manage foxes and environment, and pest control Beth also worked with the newly for networking and community other feral pests. works best when landholders and formed Piambong Yarrabin Pest Group engagement,” Paul said. Clean4Shore voted Australia’s favourite Landcare project NEW South Wales Coastcare group Each year, Clean4Shore leads Graham Johnson was very Clean4Shore won the coveted up to 70 fi eld trips: engaging the excited to win this esteemed award People’s Choice Award at the National community, schools, disability, on behalf of the group. Landcare Awards held in October. indigenous and business groups “I’m very proud that Landcarers Operating on the Central Coast, in the removal of plastic and have voted for litter management,” Clean4Shore was chosen above 64 polystyrene around the Hawkesbury Graham said. “I have a great support group from other national fi nalists by receiving River, Brisbane Waters and Tuggerah my Facebook page, and from people the most votes from the Australian Lakes. that follow our program who are willing public in an online poll in the lead- Volunteer groups led by to get out there and do something up to the 2018 National Landcare Clean4Shore remove garbage from about the litter in our waterways. Awards gala dinner. waterways while simultaneously “Th is is a pretty big achievement It is the only award among all 11 educating themselves about the for us. It makes it all worthwhile.” handed out that is voted on by the Central Coast foreshores and For all the 2018 National Landcare public and not a judging panel. mangroves. Award winners, see inside. Graham Johnson receiving the People’s Choice Award on behalf of Clean4Shore. Managing the pest animals and weeds that hurt farmers’ pockets By Minister for Agriculture Farmers are waking up to a trail tools and another $15 million of destruction left by wild dogs on this year for communities and Water Resources, sheep flocks and Landcarers find in drought. themselves battling weeds invading Pests and weeds are an even David Littleproud MP native habitat. bigger threat in a drought where It would be easy to give up - farmers struggle to keep them under PESTS and weeds are unfortunate especially when weeds are growing control and when livestock is under realities that cost farmers money. resistant to chemicals. stress. The bill for weed control is But the government is committed They are a drag on drought around $4 billion a year including to fight harder and smarter. As pests recovery. production losses. Pests cost up to and weeds adapt, we’ve got to find We’ve set up our command $800 million. new ways to take back control. centre in this war. We’re investing It’s a huge drain on the rural There’s too much at stake. $20 million in the Centre for Invasive economies where about $18,000 is Even though pest and weed Species Solutions. spent on the average farm every year management is the responsibility The centre is running 21 new keeping weeds under control. of landholders and the states, the projects to help prevent, detect and Australia has about 3200 Coalition Government is making big manage invasive pests. introduced plants. Around 500 are investments. This includes a project to weeds. We’ve invested $76 million investigate how viruses can be used At least 73 introduced animals through the Agricultural to control rabbits - one of the most now have feral populations, Competitiveness White Paper costly pests for Aussie farmers. including 25 mammal species, 20 to tackle pests and weeds, with We’re developing technology to birds, four reptiles, one amphibian $25.8 million going to drought- get pests and weeds off our land.