Board Meeting:
3 - 4 September 2012
Agenda Number:
11 (iii)
File Reference:
AN0004
LORD HOWE ISLAND BOARD
Business Paper
Item:
Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication - Progress Report (September 2012).
Background:
In July 2012 the NSW and Australian Governments announced a joint funding arrangement
for the Lord Howe Island rodent eradication program (LHIREP), through the NSW
Environmental Trust and the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program.
This Project is complex and requires meticulous planning and a high degree of attention to
detail in the planning, logistics, and delivery stages.
The project has three broad stages that match the project objectives:
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Stage 1 will complete all planning and preparations for the eradication operation
(scheduled from July 2012 – June 2015);
Stage 2 will implement the baiting strategy including captive management and post
baiting monitoring (scheduled from July 2015 – Jan 2016); and
Stage 3 will monitor the environmental outcomes of the baiting operation (scheduled
from Feb – Jun 2016 and beyond).
Comment:
Listed below are key tasks for completion prior to the next Board meeting in November 2012.
Project Governance:
The initial task involves the establishment of a project Steering Committee that comprises
representatives from the LHIB (CEO and elected local board member), an Australian
Government funding partner, NSW funding partner, and an external eradication expert. It is
anticipated that the Steering Committee will be formally adopted and hold their inaugural
meeting in September 2012.
A Community Liaison Group (CLG), comprised of representatives from the Island community
will be formed. The CLG will play an important role in representing community views and
concerns and provide input into project planning.
A Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STaC) will provide expert advice to Steering
Committee and CLG.
In early June 2012 the Lord Howe Island Board Rodent Eradication Project Manager Dr Ian
Wilkinson announced his resignation. The Board is developing a revised Position Description
for the Project Manager and recruitment will commence following adoption by the Steering
Committee.
A temporary Project Manager will be appointed to progress planning while the recruitment
process is completed.
Project Planning:
A number of sub-plans are being developed to outline how various components of the
Eradication Plan will be designed and implemented. The plans will cover all operational,
logistic, procurement, biosecurity, communication, monitoring and administrative aspects of
the program. These component plans will be peer reviewed where appropriate and adopted
by the Steering Committee.
Community engagement:
The success of the project is dependent on the participation and support of the local
community. The CLG will be the main forum to address concerns and to provide solutions
raised by the local community. Part of the function of this Group will also be the development
of a Communication / Community Engagement Plan. There will be opportunities for
community involvement in promotion, research, education and implementation of the project.
Research:
Two priority projects have been identified that need to commence immediately due to
seasonal constraints and lead in times for effective planning. These are undertaking
research into the Lord Howe Island Currawong population and holding an expert workshop
on captive management for both the Lord Howe Island Currawong and Lord Howe
Woodhen.
The Lord Howe Island Currawong population research needs to be conducted in September
2012 to coincide with the species peak breeding season in order to collect baseline
population estimates for the Island for pre-eradication monitoring and to inform the number
of individuals that need to be held in captivity during a rodent eradication. This species
needs to be held in captivity during the eradication program as is has been identified at risk
from secondary poisoning. This work is identified in the Rodent Eradication Plan and
identified in the associated budget.
A Captive Management Expert Workshop is scheduled to be held at Taronga Zoo in October
2012. This workshop is essential to plan captive management trials to be held on Lord
Howe Island in August 2013, the same month that baiting is scheduled to occur in 2015. It is
imperative that captive trials of both Lord Howe Island Currawong and Lord Howe Woodhen
are conducted on LHI prior to the scheduled baiting period to ensure all husbandry issues
are resolved. Identified experts in these species have been invited to attend the workshop,
to discuss cage design, percentage of population to be held in captivity, duration of captivity,
husbandry techniques, area required to house the captive population and planning
requirements. The captive management of Lord Howe Woodhen will be based on work
undertaken on the Weka Gallirallus australis from New Zealand, which has been
successfully held in captivity during aerial baiting operations for offshore islands in New
Zealand. A LHIB and community representative will attend this meeting.
Woodhen surveys are scheduled for Nov 2012 as part of the ongoing population monitoring
program but also to provide the most up to date information required for future captive
management trials.
The ongoing use of brodifacoum on the island continues to present a risk to the mortality of
native wildlife including the LH Woodhen and exposes the rodent population to sub lethal
doses that could lead to resistance. Education and awareness asking residences and
businesses to cease use of brodifacoum products in the lead up to the eradication is
required.
2012/13 Priority Projects:
Other activities identified in the LHI Rodent Eradication Plan for implementation in 2012-13
are:
 Commence work on obtaining threatened species and APVMA approvals (Project
Manager);
 Develop a template and commence development of property management plans
(suggest contract);
 Undertake research into eradication methods for the Introduced Masked Owl
(contract);
 Commence training in quarantine and training of detector dogs (contract);
 Undertake resistance trials (OEH with LHIB assistance);
 Research brodifacoum uptake by plants (LHIB, local community);
 Commence fish toxicity studies (contract, local community);
 Research palm seed damage by rodents (contract);
 Predation studies (contract);
 Woodhen, Currawong, seabird and bush bird population monitoring (LHIB, OEH,
local community and volunteers);
 Invertebrate population monitoring (contract, local community);
 Plant and mountain palm monitoring (OEH, LHIB and contract); and
 Reptile population monitoring (Uni Melb).
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the Board:
1. note above information
Prepared By:
David Kelly
Manager Environment and Community Development
Endorsed By:
Stephen Wills
Chief Executive Officer