Western Downs management actions

Aerial view by Guy Roth
Photo: Guy Roth		 Possum in a nest by Phil Spark
Photo: Phil Spark		 People planting trees by Milly Hobson
Photo: Milly Hobson

General management action

Routine control of terrestrial and aquatic weeds, including via management agreements with NRM agencies, councils and other organisations.

Routine control of feral animals, including via management agreements with NRM agencies, councils and other organisations.

Targeted revegetation works to increase native vegetation cover over the long term, focussing efforts adjacent to existing remnant vegetation, within threatened ecological communities, within identified regional corridors, and adjacent to rivers, streams and wetlands.

Prevent livestock from having permanent access to rivers, streams and wetlands, and where possible excluding grazing altogether to allow the condition of river banks and wetlands to recover.

 

Priority management actions for this region

  • Consider any new water efficiency measure that could leave more water in the river for aquatic species.
  • Exclude livestock from sensitive wetlands and waterways as they can degrade river banks and trample and destroy aquatic habitat important for species such as Australasian Bittern, Brolga, Glossy Ibis, Adorned Delma and Yakka Skink, and native plants such as Austral Cornflower.
  • Minimise the use of insecticides and pesticides, particularly close to riparian areas, and avoid application on windy days. Chemicals could have a negative effect on native species such as Corben’s Long-eared Bat, Large-eared Pied Bat, Tawny Frogmouth, Willie Wagtail and Adorned Delma.
  • Protect known roost sites for species including Grey-headed Flying-fox, Glossy Ibis and Royal Spoonbill.
  • Do not remove termite mounds as these are important for native animals such as Short-beaked Echidna, Laughing Kookaburra and Sand Goanna.
  • Reduce grazing pressure from domestic livestock, particularly in times of drought, to reduce impacts on native plants such as Austral Toadflax, Belson’s Panic, Kogan Waxflower and Small-leaved Denhamia.
  • Work with the community to control the cane toad as it will impact native animals such as Northern Quoll, Rainbow Bee-eater, Carpet Python, Common Death Adder, Lace Monitor and Sand Goanna.
  • Work with the community to control aquatic weeds as these will impact native species such as Common Greenshank, Double-banded Plover, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Stint, Eel-tailed Catfish and Yellow-belly.
  • Work with the community to control feral cats which prey on native species such as Australian Painted Snipe, Laughing Kookaburra, Plains Wanderer, Squatter Pigeon, Tawny Frogmouth, Willie Wagtail, Adorned Delma, Condamine Earless Dragon, Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard and Yakka Skink.
  • Be aware of animals on the road (e.g. Koala, Common Brushtail Possum, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Northern Quoll, Emu and Squatter Pigeon), particularly at dusk and dawn when animals are most susceptible to vehicle strike – practice defensive driving.

 

For more information about the key management actions listed above click here