Blog Articles

National Hitchhiker Plant Pest Action Plan launched

By Emily Mason posted 02-11-2022
The National Hitchhiker (Contaminating) Plant Pest Action Plan 2022–2032 was recently launched and covers plant pests including exotic bees, Asian spongy moth, brown marmorated stink bug, giant African snail and the spotted lanternfly. The National Priority Plant Pests , identified by Plant Health Committee , highlight the sort of threats Australia faces from plant pests. While they are not the only plant pests of biosecurity concern, they are used to focus government effort and national preparedness capability. These pests have the potential to cause significant damage to our plant industries, our environment and our way of life, and it is in the ...

Crocs v cane toads: can crocodiles in Western Australia be taught to avoid the toxic intruder?

By Toby9005 posted 24-10-2022
Researchers are lacing corpses of the amphibian with nausea-inducing chemicals to train freshwater crocs not to eat them... Cane toads are poisoning freshwater crocodiles as they continue their march across Western Australia’s Kimberley region. But in Windjana Gorge, ahead of the front, researchers are gearing up to combat a mass mortality event – lacing cane toad corpses with nausea-inducing chemicals in a bid to train native crocs to stay away from the pests. As the Kimberley’s dry season progresses through September into October, and rivers shrink to pools, “you get this huge density of crocodiles from the whole river system congregating,” Dr Georgia ...

Have you seen the new nursery plant eco-labels that are labelling invasion risk?

By Melissa Higgins posted 21-10-2022
A new labelling scheme is being trialled to help Aussie gardeners choose plants that won't jump the fence and become the next big problem for native species! The scheme will see commonly sold nursery plants labelled according to their invasion risk in the hope of preventing more ecological disasters like the lantana invasion. The green-tick plant labels are the work of Gardening Responsibly and are underpinned by scientific risk assessments carried out by Macquarie University. The scheme is backed by a searchable website to make it easy for gardeners to assess plants they might want to put in the yards. Entire lists can also be uploaded, giving landscapers ...

Cat desexing trial achieves milestone while managing overpopulation and welfare | Weddin Landcare

By Toby Davidson posted 17-10-2022
Weddin Shire Council, in partnership with RSPCA, Weddin Landcare and Lachlan Valley Vets has passed a major milestone in their attempts to address the overpopulation and welfare of cats in their local council area. On Tuesday, October 11, the 100 th local cat had been desexed as part of the RSPCA NSW's Keeping Cats Safe at Home Project - one of seven evidence-based best practice free cat desexing and microchipping programs currently run in the state. Council Ranger Allison Knowles said the 'Keeping Cats Safe At Home" Project has provided residents from the Weddin Shire the opportunity to have their cats microchipped and desexed for free. Lachlan Valley Vets' ...

Desert Channels Queensland Prickly acacia removal with camels trial achieves large feat

By Emily Mason posted 14-10-2022
If you've got troublesome weeds at your place, you might be able to knock them over with some weeding or even a spot of poison. But when your property is hundreds or even thousands of hectares... e lbow grease and your trusty gardening gloves probably aren't going to do the trick to help contain the spread of a very invasive weed like prickly acacia! Desert Channels Queensland, a Landcare group out west, ...

The invasion of exotic perennial grasses in native communities: risk assessment, critical species prioritisation

By Toby9005 posted 13-10-2022
The University of Wollongong's three year study on the invasion of exotic perennial grasses in native communities has been released! The first of the five reports released by National Parks focuses on assessing the risk of invasive grasses. It outlines a four-step process to prioritise the most critical species in the native communities on your land for management. Click HERE for the report overview Go to: Section 2 for information on the grasses invading the NSW North Coast Section 3 for information on the grasses invading the NSW Northern Tablelands & Slopes Section 4 for information on grasses invading the NSW Southern Tablelands & ...

Mount Isa Landcare Tackles Mesquite!

By James307 posted 05-10-2022
Mount Isa Landcare volunteers and Lake Eyre Basin Rangers have teamed up to treat an infestation of a large plant native to North and South America, Mesquite! Mesquite has been declared a pest under the Cloncurry Shire Council's Pest Management Plan and was also recognised as a Weed of National Significance due to its invasiveness and potential impacts on biodiversity. The plant is native to North and South America and was initially introduced in Australian as fodder for stock, and as ornamentals in station homestead or town gardens. It was also used in mine dumps and other soil stabilisation programs. Mount Isa Landcare Secretary Mark Van Ryt said ...

Cat Curfews | Call for Feedback

By Emily Mason posted 30-09-2022
Myrtleford Landcare & Sustainability is gathering information on support for a cat curfew in an anonymous online survey - give your feedback! Calling all residents of the Alpine Shire to complete Myrtleford Landcare's "Cats of the Alpine Shire' survey! It is a brief, anonymous survey for both cat owners and non-owners to understand local's opinions and ideas on the introduction of an Alpine Shire cat curfew. Why? They would like feedback from the community on how you would feel if a cat curfew was introduced throughout the Shire. Your survey results means Landcare can talk to our council representatives on points that will ensure cat owners and ...

Biosecurity & Australia: Do we have what it takes?

By Emily Mason posted 28-09-2022
Xylella. The Aurora mite. Phytophthora dieback. Blackberry. Myrtle rust. Invasive to Australia, these species and plant diseases thrive in an ecosystem overruled by non-native predators. The State of the Environment Report 2021 warns of the persistent and irreversible damage to Australia’s biodiversity, inland waters and coasts that invasive species have rampaged. Further native extinctions are forecasted for the coming two decades, over 200 threatening species are currently bombarding our megadiverse ecosystem, and established non-native species are likely to increase by 36% between 2005 and 2050. The recent report also notes invasive species have affected ...

Is weed management as simple as “let’s just get rid of all of them”?

By Bruce Boyes posted 15-08-2022
Tackling weeds in the landscape is an important focus for many in the Landcare community. This is because weeds in Australia damage our natural landscapes, agricultural lands, waterways, and coastal areas by displacing native species, contributing to land degradation, and reducing farm and forest productivity. This damage also comes at a very significant cost, with a 2018 report [1] for the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions estimating that weeds impose an overall annual average cost of nearly $5 billion across Australia. Given this, it’s easy to feel that we should just be getting rid of all weeds in the landscape as soon as possible. But weed management ...

Sell your weeds

By Rob posted 03-08-2021
In an essay on the practice of exotic mushroom foraging by the Polish community, Max Kwiatkowski argues for a deeper understanding of what he terms 'ethnoscape', the ethnic-specific interaction with landscape, its values and cultural returns. The act of foraging has been exercised by indigenous and non-indigenous people alike, the latter focusing on non-indigenous flora. With this paper I will present the need to acknowledge the social imperative of environmental belonging, a necessary step to consider when fostering care and empathy in these times of disconnection and alienation. I argue that the process of simplistic labelling of spontaneous exotic species’ ...

Drone technology for natural resources organisations

By Rob posted 03-08-2021
Weed control has always been part of the Landcare ethic. In the Desert of Queensland, Prickly Acacias cover around 19 million of hectares. They are a threat to the Australian environment as they kill the pasture needed to feed the livestock. The economic impact on Queensland’s grazing industry was estimated at $5 million per year in 2003 when they were only covering 6.6 million of hectares. For 10 years, DCQ has been aiming at eradicate them in order to restore the native grass. As Prickly Acacias are widely spread, DCQ and Sunbirds partnered in 2019 and 2020 to test the use of long-range fixed wing drones to monitor the weed. Objectives In June 2019, ...

Case study on successfully minimising weedy Sporobolus grasses (WSGs)

By Mick1845 posted 20-01-2021
A case study at Byfield, by WaterPark Farm owner-manager Jordan Slarke, has successfully minimised weedy Sporobolus grasses (WSGs) through a single herbicide treatment followed by successive fertiliser applications. Following earlier management attempts, including the use of herbicide only or of different fertiliser mixes and applications, Jordan found a combined application of herbicide and fertiliser created gaps in the WSG that enabled a competitive pasture response; also enhancing the proportion of desirable pasture species to undesirable WSGs. Testing a fertiliser-based approach to weed reduction, over the heavy use of chemicals, the Byfield case study ...

Queenscliff Narrows Coastal Moonah Woodland - Polygala Removal Program

By Matt363 posted 22-10-2020
In 2019/20 the Bellarine Catchment Network, in partnership with the CFA and Borough of Queenscliffe commenced work on fuel and weed removal in the Coastal Moonah Woodland (CMW) area in the Narrows Queenscliffe. Listed as Vulnerable under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, the CMW was under threat due to the inundation of Polygala myrtifolia , or Bellarine Pea. A sustained effort of weed control, using various techniques and involving local school and community groups, was implemented with significant results. Bellarine Pea is a significant weed and fuel load in the Queenscliff township area. This threatens biodiversity and is a risk to community and assets. ...

Environmental Action: A Practical Guide - Weed Identification & Control

By Naomi425 posted 20-08-2020
The Bellarine Catchment Network has developed a series of environmental action videos to teach our community members new skills and get them ready for volunteering when safe to do so. The second video of the series features Biodiversity Officer Lachie as he shows you how to identify some of the more common pest plants found in Coastal Moonah Woodland, a threatened plant community. Lachie will show you some of the simple features of these plants and how you can use this knowledge to identify them. This video also describes how these plants enter our natural reserves and the methods that your land manager or local community group might use to control them. ...

Project Report on Endeavour and Normanby River catchments

By Trevor posted 30-06-2020
CY253 Cape York Progressive P2PGrazing Network FINAL Report_June_2020, Endeavour River Productivity Network Project:- 1/4/2020 to 1/6/2020. This project is funded through the state governments Extension and Education program and delivered in partnership by Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Incorporated, Cape York NRM and South Cape York Catchments. The project has piloted a new way of delivering extension services to famers and graziers in the Endeavour and Normanby River catchments. The new extension model is called Focus Farm Peer to Peer extension model. The model comprises a Focus Farm initiative, one to one (1:1) producer consultations, facilitated group ...

MCCL’s Green Cestrum Control Program covers 30km, reaches the Hunter River junction

By Pauline48 posted 21-02-2020
After three years (stages), MCCL's Green Cestrum Control Program (GCCP) to encourage local landholders to control Green cestrum will reach the junction with the Hunter River. Situated in the Upper Hunter region of NSW, and surrounded by Wollemi National Park, Martindale Creek's catchment is under the community care of Martindale Creek Catchment Landcare (MCCL). Covering over 30km of the lower portion of the creek, the Program has enabled landholders to have contract control works undertaken through MCCL funding, while providing free 5L drums of chemical to other farmers each year. Above: Green cestrum in flower. Partnering with major funders Muswellbrook ...

Bass Coast Landcare Network tackle gorse using EcoBlade technology

By Rob posted 11-04-2019
The EcoBlade in action. If you have never seen an EcoBlade in action then you are missing out according to Bass Coast Landcare Network. The EcoBlade is an attachment for machinery that uses ‘wet blade’ technology to cut, mulch and apply herbicide to stumps and stems on woody weeds in the same event. Utilising a community grant from the Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT), Bass Coast Landcare Network (BCLN) engaged a contractor with access to EcoBlade technology at private properties on Phillip Island. The results of using an EcoBlade to manage gorse have blown BCLN away. Spraying herbicide in previous years was ineffective due to the sheer mass of plants, ...

New community deer monitoring tool launched

By Rob posted 11-04-2019
DeerScan was developed in response to rising concerns about feral deer. Community website and smartphone app FeralScan has been helping thousands of landholders across Australia monitor and evaluate their feral animal management programs, through citizen surveillance. More than 100,000 records are hosted on the platform, detailing feral animal sightings including rabbits, wild dogs, toads, camels and foxes. Now groups and individuals managing pest animals and their impacts can use the popular website and app to report deer in their local area and the damage they cause with DeerScan. The new feature was developed in response to rising concerns from farmers, ...

Pest bird no ‘myna’ problem in St George

By Rob posted 29-01-2019
Indian myna trapping and removal has been extremely successful in Inglewood, Queensland. Indian Mynas in the St George area are being targeted as part of the next step in Queensland Murray-Darling Commitee’s (QMDC) regional control program. From 2013, QMDC officers, community volunteers and rangers have led control programs funded by the National Landcare Program in Texas, Miles, Warwick, Yelarbon, Inglewood, Stanthorpe, Millmerran and Toowoomba with the St George region now in the spotlight. In Australia, Indian mynas are considered a major pest, threatening biodiversity due to their territorial behaviours and nesting competition with native bird species. ...