ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
25 November 2013 – 21 February 2014
See separate Board papers for progress reports on external funding.
General Policy and Planning
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Finalise procedure for access to leasehold land
Finalise Alcohol and other Drugs in the Workplace Policy.
Finalise amendments to Plant Importation Policy
Finalise amendments to Dog Importation & Management Policy
Finalise internal procedure for the collection and use of GPS data
Liaise with Australian Government regarding 3 year funding agreement for World
Heritage Officer position
Assist in the internal review of Uniform Policy
Provide consent for Mt Gower Challenge, review risk assessment and insurances
Biodiversity Management
 Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation Group meeting held in December 2013;
 Remove bunting from Blinky Dune;
 Prepare background planning information to conduct a nocturnal survey for the LHI
Phasmid population on Balls Pyramid and conducting weed control of Coastal Morning
Glory from their food plant during daylight.
 Complete data entry and commence analyses of vegetation surveys and mapping
Research & Volunteers
 The following research applications have been assessed and approved since 26
November 2013 up til 21 February 2014:
Name
Dr Jane
DeGabriel
Organisation
University of
Western
Sydney
Project
Study the genetic isolation and local ecological adaption
between fig trees (Ficus), fig wasps (Agaonidae) and the fig
psyllid (Mycoppsylla fici.) on Lord Howe Island.
Dr. Jennifer
Lavers
Institute for
Marine &
Antarctic
Studies
Office of
Environment
and Heritage
NSW
Reef Life
Surveys
Study of the long-term trends in the frequency of plastic
ingestion by Flesh-footed Shearwaters.
Nicholas Carlile
Rick Stuart
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Study Wedge-tailed Shearwater foraging habits on Lord
Howe Island
Reef Life Surveys
During the above period, the research facility was used by the following researchers and
volunteers. Three volunteers stayed in the research station during the period, Mr
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Kiyoaki Ozaki, Deputy Director General of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology Japan
and Miss Jenni Le-Cussan and Mr Rye Gollan who was undertaking a University
Placement as part of his course work at the University of Newcastle. Kiyoaki came to
observe and assist with the annual Woodhen census as he works with the endangered
Okinawa Rail Gallirallus okinawae from the Okinawa Islands and wanted to learn about
successes with the LHI Woodhen recovery project. Jenni and Rye both assisted with
remapping of weed density and distribution initially conducted by Jenni at the
commencement of the weed eradication program in 2004 and also conducted weed
control works. Rye also assisted with woodhen surveys, ABHA monitoring and treatment
and assisted with data entry for a range of projects.
Approval was given to the use of the research facility for 6 volunteers to assist with the
clean-up of the former nursery site
Name
No. People
Project
Address
Kiyoaki Ozaki
1
Woodhen Survey
115 Konoyama, Abiko Japan
Jenni LeCussan
1
Weed Eradication
Narooma NSW
Rye Gollan
1
Student Placement
University of Newcastle
3
BRUVS, marine
mapping
1
2
seabird surveys
annual microchiropteran
bat surveys
Reef Life Surveys
School of Earth and Environmental
Sciences Faculty of Science
University of Wollongong NSW
NSW OEH
Fly By Night Bat Surveys – Belmont NSW
Michelle
Linklater
Nicholas Carlile
Glenn and
Margaret Hoye
6
Rick Stuart
6
Mike Maxwell
Clean-up of former LHIB
Nursery
Reef Life Survey.
Private Bag 49, Hobart 7001
c/o Kentia Fresh Consortium
Pest Management
 Update rat baiting schedule for 2014;
 Continue African Big headed Ant monitoring and treatment; see Board Paper Environmental Grants progress report for update on ABHA;
 Control Order gazetted under the Animal Diseases and Animal Pests (Emergency
Outbreaks) Act 1991 for ABHA eradication; Staff appointed as inspectors under
ADAPEO Act
Quarantine
 Assess plant, dog and chicken importation requests;
 Green Tree Frog found by resident was handed in to LHIB staff and repatriated to
mainland;
 Prepare draft biosecurity information via CFOC funding for airport terminal;
 Prepare background paper on listing Lord Howe Island as a Myrtle Rust Protected Area
under the Plant Diseases Act 1924 (NSW);
 Construction and installation of a walk through boot scrub bay at Old Settlement.
Rodent Eradication
 See Board Paper - Rodent Eradication progress report
Weed Management
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See Board Paper - Environmental Grants progress report
Commence review of Weed Management Strategy, develop project plan and terms of
reference for steering committee
Assist with application for funding for biological control of crofton weed
Revegetation
 Undertake maintenance of revegetation sites in accordance with Revegetation Work
Schedule;
 Water revegetation areas along foreshore to reduce drought stress on seedlings;
 Planning for winter planting season;
 Propagation of nursery stock for revegetation.
Compliance
 Final report on LHIB Remediation Direction Report submitted to OEH;
 Letter of compliance was sent in January 2014 to all commercial boat operators
regarding the storage of their vessels on Crown Lands under the foreshore policy. The
letter was also a reminder to all commercial boat operators to apply to the Board using
relevant forms and to pay associated fees.
Incident Management
 Nil
Community Programs & Education
 Review LHI Destination Management Plan
Cultural Heritage
 Complete Statement of Heritage Impact for planned replacement of Government House
laundry
 Assess application for installation of roof ventilators on Pro Dive boat shed.
Visitor Infrastructure
 Maintenance of walking tracks, bridges, install platform around new BBQ’s at North Bay
visitor facilities;
 Order materials for upgrade of Muttonbird Point walking track;
 Conduct track audit;
 Replace three ropes on Mt Gower track.
Marine Management / Moorings
 Complete maintenance inspection on 4th February 2014. All minor works completed with
next inspections due in March prior to Gosford Yacht Club Race on 5th April 2014.
 Liaise with Roads and Maritime Services regarding abandoned vessel - sandshoe.
Human Resource Management
 Dan Kennedy has ceased duties with the LHIB;
 Shane Deacon is acting as Field Supervisor for a 4 month period.
Training
 Presentations provided on eradication projects to Island Arks Symposium
Work Health & Safety
 Review Job Safety Analyses for general field operations
 Finalise risk assessment, dive plan, dive safety log and record keeping for mooring
related work
Environmental Assessment
 Ecological assessments for all OC / DAs
 Tree assessments
 Assessment of need for Review of Environmental Factors (REF) to conduct monitoring
of the LHI Phasmid population on Balls Pyramid;
Land Administration
 Provide briefings to DPC with regarding review of land tenure arrangements
 Continue review of Significant Native Vegetation.
 Project management of Coastal Hazard Study. Finalise draft report
 Liaise with Department of Planning & Infrastructure regarding rezoning application for
Portion 279 (Nursery)
 Liaise with Department of Planning & Infrastructure regarding Planning Proposal for
Capella Lodge
 Change of mortgage - Perpetual Lease 1954.30 (Turk)
 Proposed Transfer of Lease (Heffernan)
 Proposed transfer of Lease (Dignam)
 Transfer of perpetual lease by way of mortgage (Green)
 Proposed Transfer of Lease (Thompson / Pittar to McFadyen)
 Prepare and register consolidated plan for right of carriageway (Wilson)
 Organise survey of proposed Right of Carriage way through Portion 279 (former Nursery
land)
 Application for a lease in perpetuity for the purpose of residence (Curtin)
 Seek Ministers consent – Permissive Occupancy Pinetrees
 Finalise Precinct Planning – Neds Beach Road and indicative costs for each option
 Liaise with Air Services Australia regarding commonwealth lease and closing out a
number of ongoing development matters
Development Assessment
Advice provided on:
 replacement of garden sheds (LHIB),
 dwelling / tourist accommodation (Pandanus),
 rebuild of Anglican Church shed
 recladding of Janetville
 LHI Airport Runway
 Dignam boatshed
 food and beverage business at cargo shed
 demolition of green houses at former LHIB Nursery
Assessment reports completed for:
OC2014-08
OC2014-09
OC2014-10
OC2014-11
OC2014-12
OC2014-13
OC2014-14
Jeremy
Rourke
Gower Wilson
Retmock
Crombie
Jeremy
Boatshed
Kentia Fresh
Portion 31
Portion 179
Portion 127
Portion 33
Portion 319
Government Reserve,
off Lagoon Road
Portion 279
OC2014-15
DA2014-05
Golf Club
Kennedy
Portion 120
Portion 309 and 215
Installation of Wastewater Management System
Installation of Wastewater Management System
Re-cladding of dwelling
Installation of Wastewater Management System
Alterations and addition to existing dwelling
Repairs and maintenance of existing heritage
boatshed and slipway area.
Construction of glass house and refurbishment of
nursery shed
Construction of awning
Consolidation of Road Reserve
Health & Wellbeing
 Review North Coast Ageing Strategy
 Liaise with NSW Food Authority regarding meat processing facility