Addressing biodiversity priorities for the North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve including Quail Island terrestrial herbivore management
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 builds on previous successful eradication of feral pigs from Quail Island within North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve. Feral pigs are a major environmental pest species that wreak havoc on Australia’s fragile landscapes. To ensure feral pigs are not reintroduced into the area this project will deliver critical monitoring to ensure continued success of eradication and protect fragile vegetation communities including Saltmarsh and Mangrove, Dry Forest and Woodland, Wetland and Waterbodies. Additional future monitoring surveys are also proposed on Saltmarsh regeneration post feral pig eradication.
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 Nature Conservation Reserve is a priority location for controlling pest herbivores under Protecting Victoria’s Environment- Biodiversity 2037 (Bio2037), with a cost-benefit ranking in the top 5% for action (feral pigs) 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 vegetation |
| Other Themes: | Waterways, Native animals, Coasts |
| Primary Local Area: | Casey, Cardinia & Baw Baw |
| Other Local Areas: | Western Port |
| Project location: | Quail Island and targeted areas 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: | Melbourne Water, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), City of Casey, Agriculture Victoria |
| 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: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 2-10 years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve is around 750 hectares and has the ability to contribute to the RCS target for 120,000 hectares of sustained pest herbivore control in priority locations from 2017-2037. |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Undertake weed or pest herbivore control to maintain and enhance vegetation quality 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
