3 - 4 September 2012 / Agenda Number:
11 (ii) / File Reference:
Various
LORD HOWE ISLAND BOARD
Business Paper
Item:
Environmental Grants Progress Report
Background:
The Board has recently been successful in obtaining a number of major externally funded grants. A summary of these grants is shown below:
Funding Body / Project Name / Total Project Value (excl. GST)Caring for Our Country (Australian Government) / Eradication is the Key. Facilitating the exodus of weeds from LHI / $400,000
Caring for Our Country (Australian Government) / Managing World Heritage Values of Lord Howe Island / $414,263
NSW Environmental Trust / Progressing the Eradication of weeds from World Heritage LHI to protect Island Ecology / $1,432,705
NSW Coastal & Estuary Management Program / Coastal Hazard & Management Study for Lord Howe Island / $80,000
A progress report on the Rodent Eradication is provided in a separate paper.
Comment:
Progress reports for each project are provided in Attachment A.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Board note the attached information.
Prepared By: David Kelly Manager Environment and Community Development
Endorsed By: Stephen Wills Chief Executive Officer
Attachment A
Project Name: / Eradication is the Key. Facilitating the exodus of weeds from Lord Howe Island
Grant Reference No: / X0000002847G
Maximum Funding Amount: / $400,000 (+GST)
Total Project Cost:
Funding Term: / April 2012 to June 2013 with reporting due August 2013
Brief Description of Project: / This project is generally focused on weeds within the LHI settlement area and specific projects such as removal of ground asparagus on Transit Hill, abseil control of weeds and helicopter operations
Activities completed during the reporting period: / · During the reporting period, 7 new casual staff were employed by the LHIB under the CFOC funds to work in the settlement area, both on vacant crown land and to assist on leasehold land. Staff were offered positions up to 30th July 2012 under this project
· Up to 85 hectares were treated throughout the settlement including adjacent weed management blocks in the PPP at Transit Hill (5.26ha)
· At least 25 leases have participated in the removal of weeds through this program
· Professional bush regeneration contractors (The Good Bush People) with specialist skills in rope access have completed the removal of Box Thorn and Lantana from known infested cliffs at Middle Beach, Clear Place Point and Bitou Bush from Neds Beach. Bridal Creeper and Ground Asparagus were also removed. Adjacent areas that did not require rope access were also systematically searched from Middle Beach to the Clear Place. Approximately 106 individual Box Thorn plants (juveniles and mature) and 15 Lantana (juvenile and mature) were removed from cliff lines through this project.
· Rope access control of Weeds of National Significance (WONS) and Cherry Guava commenced at ‘The Nobbin’ on Mt Lidgbird on the west side of Big Waterfall; weed management block LN014. Weeds removed on rope include Ground Asparagus (11 matures, 500 seedlings and 20 juvenile) and Cherry Guava (2 juveniles). Ground Asparagus has recently been listed as a WONS.
· Twenty five Madeira Vine infestations were treated under this project (mature vines were scraped and painted and foliage was sprayed) with up to 244 kilograms of tuber and vine material removed.
· Weed management blocks at Transit Hill TH003, 016, 019 (blocks to the west and south) and Malabar 023 have received follow up treatment for the control of Ground Asparagus and other priority weeds.
· During this reporting period one external volunteer was engaged (Silvia Kadrabova).
· The Friends of Lord Howe Island (FLHI) visited the island within the project period
· Casual, Temporary and permanent staff have been enrolled in Certificate III in Conservation & Land Management through TAFE
Program Name: / Caring for Our Country 2012-13
Project Name: / Managing World Heritage Values of Lord Howe Island
Grant Reference No: / X0000002620G
Maximum Funding Amount: / $414,263 (+GST)
Total Project Cost: / $414,263 (+GST)
Funding Term: / February 2012 to 30 June 2013
Brief Description of Project: / This grant involves a number of discrete projects including:
1) Employment of the Manager Environment/World Heritage to develop and implement programs to protect the World Heritage values of LHI for 1 year (1 Jul 2012 – 30 Jun 2013). Includes MERI and administrative support ($142,887).
2) Implement a strategy to eradicate African Big Headed Ant (ABHA) infestations on LHI over 2 years ($ 195,000).
3) Preventing the establishment of Phytophthora and Myrtle Rust on LHI ($46,376).
4) Improve biosecurity / quarantine awareness at LHI entry points (airport/jetty)($15,000)
5) Design and construct helicopter mounted directional spray unit to control weeds located on steep cliff lines and inaccessible terrain.
Activities completed during the reporting period: / The MEWH has been undertaking the range of duties identified in the project description. A key focus has been planning for the eradication of rodents and compliance of un-authorised vegetation clearing and damage to threatened species habitat. The position oversees environmental team projects and provides reports to federal, state and regional NRM bodies and key stakeholders.
The ABHA strategy has been updated following input from CSIRO ABHA eradication expert Dr Ben Hoffmann, who also provided training to staff on ant identification, survey, treatment and monitoring. Targeted surveys and treatments undertaken prior to winter. Surveys and treatments will re-commence with the onset of warmer weather. The project is progressing well and is expected to significantly reduce the extent of ABHA on LHI and eventually lead to their eradication.
A key outcome of the project was the delivery of training to accurately identify the difference between a non invasive species of Pheilode (Big Headed Ant genus) and ABHA. The non invasive species of Pheilode was previously identified by staff as ABHA and resulted in the distribution mapping of ABHA exceeding 200ha. The extent of ABHA is now estimated between 50 ha to 20ha. Ongoing surveys and treatments are required. The training has given staff the expertise to identify, map, treat and monitor for ABHA with certainty. This is essential to deliver eradication of the species.
A draft fact sheet on phytophthora has been drafted. Planning has commenced to establish additional boot scrub facilities.
A draft fact sheet on quarantine has been prepared as part of the project to improve biosecurity awareness at LHI entry points. Planning has commenced on this project.
The design and construction of a helicopter mounted directional spray unit is well progressed and at the testing stage. It is anticipated the unit will be available for use on island by winter 2013 (which is when we target Bitou Bush).
Program Name: / NSW Environmental Trust
Project Name: / Progressing the eradication of weeds from World Heritage Lord Howe Island to protect Island Ecology
Grant Reference No: / 2011/MG/008
Maximum Funding Amount: / $1,432,705 (+GST)
Total Project Cost: / Including LHIB contributions: $1,872,784
Funding Term: / Jun 2012 to Aug 2015
Brief Description of Project: / This project aims to deliver eradication targets for at least 15 priority invasive weed species including 4 Weeds of National Significance (Bitou Bush, Bridal Creeper, Ground Asparagus and Lantana) from the Lord Howe Island Permanent Park Preserve.
The project requires 450ha of landscape to be systematically searched and controlled of priority weeds each year for 3 years (1350ha total).
Other milestones:
· Address new and emerging weed threats;
· Identify and remove weeds in remote and complex terrain (aerial surveillance and control);
· Targeted control of Glory Lily
· Community Education (focus group sessions, establish project partners with LHI businesses, visitor survey, media etc)
· Secure funding - establish philanthropic trust fund
· Monitoring and Evaluation (ongoing data mgt; quantified landscape scale weed mapping; formal review of eradication outcomes and direction, by 2015)
Activities completed during the reporting period: / 50 page project plan approved by the Trust
Recruitment of Bush Regeneration Supervisor
Staffing strategy approved by LHIB
Recruitment of bush regeneration positions (in progress)
Program Name: / Coastal Management Program 2011-12
Project Name: / Preparation of Coastal Hazard Study and Coastal Management Study, Lord Howe Island
Grant Reference No: / 2011-12-CM-0051
Maximum Funding Amount: / $ 60,000
Total Project Cost: / $ 80,000 (i.e. contribution of $20,000 from LHIB and NSW MPA over 2 years)
Funding Term: / March 2012 to October 2013
Brief Description of Project: / In March 2012, the Lord Howe Island Board (LHIB) received funding under the NSW Government’s Coastal Management Program to prepare a Coastal Hazard Study for Lord Howe Island.
The study will improve our understanding of the coastal processes and hazards that affect the coastline, define areas at risk from coastal hazards and identify management options.
Activities completed during the reporting period: / · Steering Committee formed for the assessment of Tender applications.
· Terms of Reference prepared and circulated.
· Expressions of Interest sought for community representatives on Steering Committee
· Two community representatives (Luke Hanson, Anthony Riddle)
· Briefing prepared and provided to six consultants using selective tender process
· All four tenders were assessed and a decision was finalised.
· Haskoning, Australia, a consultancy firm based in Sydney have been selected to carry-out the study
· Consultant was engaged on 29 June 2012
· Inception Meeting held by telephone conference on 11 July 2012
· Two senior Haskoning Australia staff (Gary Blumberg and Peter Horton) are planning to visit the Island between Monday 27 August and Friday 31 August 2012.
· An informal information session at the Museum between 5pm to 7:30pm on Thursday 30 August 2012