Addressing biodiversity priorities for the North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve including strategic pest predator control
North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve supports terrestrial components of the Westernport Bay Ramsar site and important habitat for many threatened and migratory species. This project will deliver strategic pest predator control to protect native fauna including threatened species- Southern Brown Bandicoot, Swamp Skink, Orange-bellied Parrot and Growling Grass Frog, Glossy Grass Skink, Southern Toadlet, Southern Emu-wren and also migratory birds.
A cost-benefit analysis completed on Quail Island for foxes showed the conservation value is extremely high with a number of key biodiversity values found on Quail Island and many of these values are highly vulnerable to fox predation.
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. North Western Port NCR are priority locations for controlling pest predators under Protecting Victoria’s Environment- Biodiversity 2037 (Bio2037), with a cost-benefit ranking in the top 20% for actions (cat & fox control) 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: | |
| Primary Local Area: | Casey, Cardinia & Baw Baw |
| Other Local Areas: | Western Port, Mornington Peninsula |
| Project location: | Priority locations of the North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve |
| Scale of the project: | Landscape |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Parks Victoria |
| Key partners: | City of Casey, Cardinia Shire Council, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), 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: | 10+ years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve is over 2000 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 |
More information
Western Port and South-east Melbourne Conservation Action Plan
https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/working-together-for-biodiversity
