Pest predator control in priority areas for biodiversity enhancement
Reef Island and Bass River Mouth Nature Conservation Reserve supports terrestrial components of the Westernport Bay RAMSAR site and important habitat for many threatened and migratory species including Red-capped Plover, Pied Oystercatcher, Fairy Tern, Grey-tailed Tattler and Swamp Skink. This project will deliver strategic feral predator control to protect native biodiversity of the reserve.
This project has utilised Strategic Management Prospects (SMP) modelling to consider latest science and cost-benefit effectiveness aiming to maximise and enhance biodiversity benefits of the project within the landscape. Reef Island and Bass River Mouth NCR is a priority location for controlling pest herbivores under Protecting Victoria’s Environment- Biodiversity 2037 (Bio2037), with a cost-benefit ranking in the top 20% for action (fox & cat) across the whole state.
This project has been identified as a high priority under the Western Port and South-East Melbourne Conservation Action Plan.
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Native Animals |
| Other Themes: | Native Vegetation, Coasts, Estuaries |
| Primary Local Area: | Bass Coast, South Gippsland & islands |
| Other Local Areas: | Western Port |
| Project location: | Priority locations of the Reef Island and Bass River Mouth Nature Conservation Reserve |
| Scale of the project: | Local |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Parks Victoria |
| Key partners: | Bass Coast Landcare Network, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Melbourne Water |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 2-10 years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | Reef Island and Bass River Mouth Nature Conservation Reserve is 297 hectares and has the ability to contribute to the RCS target for 40,000 hectares of sustained predator control in priority locations from 2017-2037. |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Undertake pest predator control to protect native animal species in priority areas |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Ramsar – Western Port Ramsar site – Ecological character maintained or improved Priority species – Eastern Curlew, Orange-bellied Parrot and/or Hooded Plover – Trajectory improved Priority species – Eastern Barred Bandicoot – Trajectory improved |
More information
Western Port and South-east Melbourne Conservation Action Plan
https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/working-together-for-biodiversity
