26-27 November 2012 / Agenda Number:
11 (ii) / File Reference:
Various
LORD HOWE ISLAND BOARD
Business Paper
Item:
Environmental Grants Progress Report
Background:
The Board has 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 (over 2 years)
Caring for Our Country (Australian Government) / Managing World Heritage Values of Lord Howe Island / $414,263
Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority / Lord Howe Island – Protecting Island Biodiversity 2012-13 / $55,000
NSW Environmental Trust / Progressing the Eradication of weeds from World Heritage LHI to protect Island Ecology / $1,432,705 (over 3 yrs) NOTE funding has only been received for year 1 of this grant which needs to be reported 1st April 2013 to release the next yr of funding
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 for the period between September to November 2012 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
Program Name: / Caring for Our Country 2012-13Project Name: / Eradication is the Key. Facilitating the exodus of weeds from Lord Howe Island
Grant Reference No: / X0000002847G
Maximum Funding Amount: / $400,000 (+GST)
Expenditure (16 Nov 2012): / $258,000 – Balance: 142,000
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: / · Follow-up works on Transit Hill – Block TH026 and TH001 (totaling 6.77ha) have been completed targeting Ground Asparagus, Bridal Creeper and the exotic Pea Lathyrus latifolius
· Bush regeneration contractors have been engaged to work alongside LHIB staff undertaking work in and adjacent to the Settlement.
· At least 12.26 ha have been treated throughout the Settlement Weed Mgt Blocks including 3 Madeira Vine sites removing 42kg of vegetative material and tuberlings.
Program Name: / Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority
Project Name: / Lord Howe Island – Protecting Island Biodiversity 2012-13
Grant Reference No: / NR-IS-12-13-AT3
Maximum Funding Amount: / $55,000 (+GST)
Expenditure (16 Nov 2012): / $29,500 Balance: $25,500
Funding Term: / October 2012 to May 2013 with reporting due May 2013
Brief Description of Project: / This project is focused on Bridal Creeper in the Northern Hills / Malabar; follow-up control of Coastal Morning Glory from Phasmid habitat at Balls Pyramid, remote area weed surveillance and control and community education.
Activities completed during the reporting period: / · Follow-up works on Bridal Creeper at Malabar blocks (MB037,038) covering an area of about 12 ha. This work is building on efforts undertaken by the LHIB and successive grants supported by the NRCMA. These blocks were harbouring the last dense and widespread infestations of Bridal Creeper on LHI and it is critical that successive effort is applied to reduce infestations to a lower level.
· Community Education – Terry Wilson (acting Environment World Heritage Manager) and Sue Bower (Flora Management Officer) ran a series of workshops to island residents show casing remote area weeding and an update/background on the LHI weed eradication program. Up to 6 presentations were held with 46 attendees in total. The workshops will be reported against other external grants.
· Surveillance for invasive weeds was undertaken on the Big Slope in October 2012. A six person team effort was applied covering an area approximately 10ha. No invasive weeds were found other than Crofton and Formosa Lily. This work coincided with remote area searches on Mt Gower.
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)
Expenditure (16 Nov 2012): / 78,837 + 71,382 = $150,219 Balance: $292,983
Funding Term: / February 2012 to 30 June 2013
Brief Description of Project: / This grant involves a number of distinct 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: / 1) The MEWH has been developing and implementing programs to protect the World Heritage values of the island in accordance with grant obligations and legislative responsibilities. To assist roll out of the Rodent Eradication project the MEWH was backfilled by former MEWH Mr Terry Wilson. The position has undertaken compliance of un-authorised vegetation clearing and damage to threatened species habitat, oversees environmental team projects and provides reports to federal, state and regional NRM bodies and key stakeholders.
2) In May 2012, the ABHA program was put on hold, due to cooler weather and reduced ant activity. In October 2012, the program recommenced, and staff were given training by CSIRO ABHA eradication expert Dr Ben Hoffmann in ant detection, mapping, treatment and monitoring. Recent work found there are some residual populations from previously treated areas in 2011. These populations are thought to be a result of ants persisting within houses. The use of Ant Cafés placed within each room of buildings suspected to harbour ABHA will resolve this problem. The focus of the program is to systematically search every lease within the settlement area. Approx. 30 team days are required to be completed over the next 3 months.
3) A draft fact sheet on phytophthora has been prepared. Planning and consultation has commenced to establish additional boot scrub facilities at track heads, the golf club and lodges.
4) A draft fact sheet on quarantine has been prepared as part of the project to improve biosecurity awareness at LHI entry points. Meeting held with LHI Tourism Association and Qantaslink regarding signage at the airport.
5) The design and construction of a helicopter mounted directional spray unit is well progressed and is at the testing stage. It is anticipated the unit will be available for use on island by winter 2013 in order to 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) pending yearly reporting. Year 1 $416,962
Expenditure (16 Nov 2012): / $108,000 Balance: $308,962
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: / · Recruitment of 10 staff working on the weed eradication program has been finalised.
· Remote area helicopter operations undertaken on Mt Gower – west side of Eddies Cave. In total 2824 cherry guava plants removed including 397 mature plants across an area about 1.5 ha using 186 hours of staff effort. Further stands of mature Cherry Guava were identified down slope and further west. These areas will be treated in Feb 2013 before the plant sets fruit at elevation in Aug/Sept.
· Control of Bridal Creeper and Ground Asparagus dominated blocks in the Northern Hills 34.43ha (separate to the NRCMA grant).
· Commencement of follow-up work across the northern flanks of Mt Lidgbird to target areas with Cherry Guava, Ochna and Ground Asparagus. A new location of Glory Lily was located in block LN-018 (approx 15 plants in a 1m2 patch) – the site was treated, marked on ground for ongoing monitoring.
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: / $ 80,000 (i.e. contribution of $20,000 from LHIB and NSW MPA over 2 years)
Expenditure (16 Nov 2012): / $16,000 + $21,000 = $37,000 Balance: $43,000
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: / · Haskoning Australia staff conducted a site visit between Monday 27 August to Saturday 1 September 2012.
· During the site visit Haskoning Australia met with a number of residents and obtained information and historical photographs of the Island.
· A public meeting was held on Thursday 30 August and was attended by approximately 10 people
· Assessments were made of currents within the lagoon. Sediment samples and penetrometer testing was conducted on Lagoon Beach
· The three ICOLLS were inspected during the site visit and had naturally opened due to rainfall.
· Haskoning Australia were asked to provide advice on the DA relating to the lowering of Blinky Dune to address CASA requirements.
· Inspections were also conducted on the Windy Pt area
· Steering committee meeting was held on 15 October 2012
· Literature review has been completed.
· Draft reports will be available in early December 2012