SPRING/SUMMER 2013 No.209

What's insidePure Sands donation ......................1

Kroombit tinkerfrog breeding ..........1

President’s Report ..........................3

Projects Report ...............................4

Goannas - our living dragons ..........6

Around the Tracks...........................8

Wildlife Land Fund news ..............10

WPSQ in action ............................11

Suite 1, Level 1, 30 Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill QLD 4101 Australia

Phone +61 7 3844 0129 Email wpsq@wildlife.org.au

www.wildlife.org.au

ISSN 1835-7019 (print) ISSN 1835-7105 (digital)

2018 ISSUE 223

Pure Sands donation

Endangered Kroombit tinkerfrog Taudactylus pleione captive breeding

Tammy & Tony, business owners of Pure Sands, visited our office on 27 April to present Wildlife Queensland with a cheque for $1,000. Our president Peter Ogilvie was on hand to accept the cheque and thank them for their generous donation.

Pure Sands makes an outstanding collection of sterling silver and glass rings and pendants featuring sand from Sunshine Coast beaches (collected with permission). They hand craft their jewellery in Noosa Heads.

As Pure Sands shares our passion for raising awareness of the devastation micro plastics cause to our beaches and marine life, they kindly donate $1 to Wildlife Queensland for every ring sold! See our website for more information.Tony, Tammy and Peter with the large cheque

The partially gravid female Kroombit tinkerfog at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Apr 2018. Photo: Michael Vella.

In a 2011 edition of this newsletter Harry Hines introduced readers to the critically endangered Kroombit tinkerfrog. Harry is still working on bringing this frog back from the brink has provided the following report on a captive breeding project.

The Department of Environment and Science’s Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) have commenced a collaborative project to undertake captive breeding of the critically endangered Kroombit tinkerfrog Taudactylus pleione. This comes on the back of a successful captive breeding trial using the closely related Eungella tinkerfrog T. liemi, by Professor Jean-Marc Hero (formerly of Griffith University), Dr Ed Meyer (consultant ecologist) and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

In early February 2018, Ed Meyer and Harry Hines, Senior Conservation Officer QPWS, undertook a field trip to Kroombit Tops National Park to collect a small number of tinkerfrogs for captive breeding. Efforts were focussed on finding an

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Read about the next stepon page 10

adult female but they were unable to locate one (due in part to the very wet, cold and windy conditions prevailing at this time). They did however locate and collect an indeterminate, possibly sub-adult female and an adult male on this trip. A subsequent collecting trip in March 2018, with Saskia Lafebre and Kimberly Revelly from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), Harry Hines of QPWS and Ben Revelly (a QPWS volunteer), resulted in the collection of a second indeterminate individual and a partially gravid adult female. Animals collected from the wild were carefully transported back to a dedicated husbandry facility at Currumbin within 48 hours of capture. They have all settled in to their new home and are eating well. It is hoped that the adult female will develop a full complement of eggs over the coming months with a view to breeding in spring.

Amphibian chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease responsible for declines and disappearances of frogs across the globe, is a major threat to the tinkerfrog species both in the wild and in captivity. The preceding work with the captive population of Eungella tinkerfrogs at CWS, developed

safe treatment protocols to rid adult and subadult tinkefrogs of amphibian chytrid fungus. In keeping with these protocols, treatment of Kroombit tinkerfrogs for chytrid commenced in the field, 12 hours after capture. Pre-treatment chytrid infection status was assessed by carefully swabbing the flanks and ventral surfaces of the frogs and subsequent DNA analyses. After swabbing, each frog was treated with a 10 minute bath in an antifungal solution. This same treatment was repeated every 24 hours for 10 days after capture. Analysis of skin swabs of the frogs immediately post-

treatment and in subsequent weeks, has shown that all four animals collected from the wild are now chytrid free.

Depending on the sex of the sub-adults collected, additional animals may be collected from the wild this spring. The Kroombit tinkerfrog husbandry team will regularly assess the progress of captive frogs and evaluate the need for additional animals as required. In the longer term, it is hope to release captive bred animals back to the wild.

Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) helped finance this important project and have supported survey and monitoring of threatened frogs at Kroombit Tops over many years. Their ongoing support of this

project and other conservation work at Kroombit Tops (in particular feral animal control) is critical to the continued survival of the Kroombit tinkerfrog. Other important contributors to this project include present and former staff of CWS, including Michael Vella, Saskia Lafebre, Natalie Hill and Matt Hingley. Department of Environment and Science staff (past and present) and numerous volunteers have also contributed over many years to our understanding of the distribution and abundance of the Kroombit tinkerfrog, its status, and the need for captive breeding. Thanks are also owed to the local QPWS staff for use of the barracks (warm, dry and mostly leech free!) and their ongoing efforts in controlling feral animals at Kroombit.

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A male Kroombit tinkerfrog, in the wild, Kroombit Tops National Park, Feb 2018. Photo: Ed Meyer

The captive breeding facility at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Apr 2018. Photo: Saskia Lafebre

Harry Hines gently coaxes a Kroombit tinkerfrog from its antifungal bath into sterile housing for transportation to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Feb 2018. Photo: Ed Meyer

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President’s Report It will be of little interest to most readers to know that I spent a large part of May in Japan. What may be of interest is that I visited the beautiful Yakushima World Heritage Area. Located on Yakushima Island (a circular island with a diameter of roughly 23 km located 60 km south of

Kyushu Island), the property covers some 40 percent of the volcanic island. It contains mountains up to 2000 metres elevation and temperate rainforest with Japanese cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica), many of which are thousands of years old. My previous visit was in 2001 when I was a guest of the Japanese Government as a lead-up to a World Heritage Conference in 2003 which was held at the only other natural (as opposed to cultural) World Heritage site in Japan – Shirakami Sanchi.

I mention this to reinforce the importance of World Heritage sites in the protection of unique segments of the natural environment. This recognition, which is difficult to achieve, adds a global dimension to the area as well as an invaluable additional level of protection beyond that which is already afforded under national and state laws. Queensland has all or part of five World Heritage areas (WHAs) within its borders: (i) Fraser Island WHA, (ii) Riversleigh section of Australian Fossil Mammal Sites WHA, (iii) Great Barrier Reef WHA (in part), (iv) Gondwana Rainforests of Australia WHA (in part), and (v) Wet Tropics of Queensland WHA.

Wildlife Queensland has representatives on two World Heritage advisory committees. Des Boyland is appointed to the Fraser Island WH Scientific Advisory Committee, and I have been appointed to the Gondwana Rainforest WH Community Advisory Committee. The latter committee met on 21-22 June and is presently considering, amongst other matters, the implications of a development application inside Main Range National Park which lies within the WHA. The matter is still being assessed by the Commonwealth Government under the World Heritage provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Ministerial Roundtable, where conservation groups have an opportunity to question and raise issues with the Minister, was held on 20 June. I represented Wildlife Queensland at that function. This was the first Roundtable the present Minister for Environment and Great Barrier Reef, Leeanne Enoch, has hosted. She participated freely in discussion and displayed a keenness to come to grips with her large portfolio (which also includes ministerial responsibility for science and the arts), freely admitting she was on a steep learning curve.

Each conservation group had an eight minute window to raise matters relating to one key topic. I highlighted our plastics campaign, and congratulated the government on the action it has taken to ban single use plastic bags and to introduce a cash-for-containers scheme (actions that were also supported by the Opposition). The Minister expressed her strong support for action on plastics, highlighting the damage certain plastics are having on our native wildlife.

I stated our desire for clear and unambiguous legislation to ban the deliberate mass release of helium balloons, and that we also supported the preparation of a Plastic Pollution Reduction Strategy, expressing our hope that a public discussion paper would be released later this year. We suggested that the Minister might also consider raising with her State and Federal counterparts at the end of June Meeting of Environment Ministers the possibility of phasing out polystyrene packaging in Australia. In addition, I stated our strong support for a significant portion of the income from the Waste Levy being allocated to nature conservation matters, particularly protected area acquisition and management. The Minister advised that a percentage of the levy income would be devoted to environmental matters, but exactly what that would encompass has yet to be determined.

I will let you know more about the above issues as some fragments of clarity emerge.

Best wishes,

Peter Ogilvie President Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland

Constitutional ChangesThe proposed changes to the constitution of Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland were presented to a meeting of members held on 21 April 2018 at the Albion Peace Hall, 102 McDonald Road, Windsor.

Changes proposed were adopted with two amendments made. An amendment was made to Clause 13 Membership of the Council, namely Clause 13.1.2 which now reads Should the immediate past president be invited by the incoming Committee to serve as a non-voting member. The other amendment was made to Clause 23.2. A semi-colon was inserted after the word persons so an extract of that Clause now reads ….by two of the following persons; Treasurer or Secretary or by such

The approved changes will be sent to the Office of Fair Trading for their concurrence.

Wildlife Queensland 3

2018 Issue 223

Projects ReportAccess Community Services team members busily planting birdwing butterfly vines

Suitable habitat for the birdwing vine is hard to find, but Wildlife Queensland was able to locate small areas of wet forest to work with. Here, Access Community

Service students get busy caring for planted vines

Over the last six months the Projects Team has spent much time and effort developing the Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network’s habitat corridor along the Albert River and into Shailer Park. This achievement represents the first significant step in a long-term, multi-phase project to expand the range of the Richmond birdwing. This will involve facilitating the expansion of core butterfly populations on Tamborine Mountain, into the Albert River catchment and north to Mount Cotton. As it is going to take a lot of vines to achieve this ultimate goal, we figured it was best to get started!

These are not the first birdwing butterfly vines to be planted in the Logan area, however. Wildlife Queensland established two sites in Forrestdale in early 2014, and the Logan City Council then planted vines at the Griffith University campus at Meadowbrook. At both locations, the vines are growing steadily.

This year, the RBCN has worked closely with Logan City Council’s Environment Team to identify and establish suitable vine planting sites on Logan City Council reserves. Shailer Park represents a vital link to habitat and vines previously planted in the Mount Cotton region, while the Albert River site will hopefully form the ‘highway’ of vines bringing the butterflies north from core birdwing populations on Tamborine Mountain.

Planting locations were narrowed down using a process of overlaying GIS layers of essential habitat factors for vine growth - soil type, rainfall, regional ecosystem and aspect, etc – which resulted in a map of favourable areas given their biotic and abiotic factors. We then investigated reserves owned and managed by Logan Council within these identified favourable areas, and through a process of on-ground verification, selected five sites on which to begin planting.

As a direct result of Logan City Council’s support and involvement, there are now 240 vines growing within these five sites. Not only

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Birdwing butterfly vine in flower ©Jenny Thyne

A female Richmond birdwing butterfly searching for nectar on Mount Tamborine

A newly planted birdwing butterfly vine beginning the slow climb into the canopy

Logan City Council Environment team personnel plant a birdwing butterfly vine as part of a team building event

has the Council contributed financial support for the project, members of their Environment Team and Natural Areas Team utilised the project as a team-building event, working together to plant over 115 vines.

The project has also provided an opportunity for Wildlife Queensland to work with Access Community Services, a Logan-based employment and training provider. This community-based not-for-profit organisation provided two teams of willing students to plant and maintain the vines at three of the five sites. The students, as part of the ‘Employment and training – creating pathways to employment’ program, were undergoing training in bush regeneration and horticulture. Their eagerness and enthusiasm to get stuck in was fantastic and we could not have completed the work without their help.

The Projects Team has kept a close eye on the vines since planting to ensure they receive all the water and care essential for their survival, and we will continue to do so until they become established.

Additional planting sites are required to continue the development of this corridor; plans are in place to work with Land for Wildlife properties and eventually suburban backyards will play their part. Further, sites within the Gold Coast Council LGA around upper Ormeau and within the Scenic Rim Council LGA will also significantly contribute to the corridor.

It will take an enormous amount of effort, and the planting and establishment of many hundreds, if not thousands, of birdwing butterfly vines before we can consider the corridor complete. But everything has a beginning and it’s exciting to have made a start!

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2018 Issue 223

Goannas will eat just about anything they can catch or scavenge. This young lace monitor has captured a large centipede. Cooloola National Park.

The shrieking sulphur-crested cockatoo clinging to a nearby fan palm had our undivided attention. It was a beautiful, sunny day at Carnarvon Gorge, and this dazzling explosion of white feathers was expressing its angst at the goanna clinging to a nearby palm.

As the cockatoo leaned over and cheekily nipped the reptile’s wildly-twitching tail, a fellow photographer and I attempted to catch a photograph of the drama. Meanwhile, a colleague commented on how much, like the aggravated cockatoo, she disliked goannas.

Goannas always seem to attract attention. Family picnics are disrupted by the swaggering approach of the tongue-flicking, scaly monster in search of a meal. Backyard chicken coops have been under siege by these egg-munching opportunists.

Researchers and rangers work to stop them digging up the precious eggs of loggerhead turtles from beach nests. Goannas are widely disliked for their aggro, sneaky, scavenging, thieving natures. They are also admired, for their striking dragon-like appearance, survival skills and cheeky, confident character. Indeed, this is a creature adorned in Australian culture with a myriad of associations.

Goannas have a prominent place in the culture of Indigenous Australians, including in totemic relationships and through the Dreamtime. Their different colours have been attributed to ochres

and sand, their black markings caused by the scorching of fire. Stories from European settlers about these reptiles included their ability to drag away sheep and even children. Goanna oil was imbued with mystical healing properties and it was claimed that goannas would eat a legendary plant to neutralise the venom of any snakes they ate (as immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s poem Johnson’s Antidote). Goanna bites are said to be liable to break out annually, or every seven years, and in many cases never completely heal.

But what exactly is a ‘goanna’? The word itself is thought to be a corruption of ‘iguana’, used by European visitors to the continent when faced with the large reptiles that reminded them of another group of (unrelated) lizards from the Americas. We actually have more than one type of goanna, with Australia being home to 30 of the world’s 50 (currently) described species of what are more widely-known as monitors, all from the family Varanidae.

While all species have much the same general body shape, they vary greatly in size. Some are enormous, with the perentie (Varanus giganteus) thought to be the third-largest monitor in the world, at over two metres in length. Indeed, Australia once hosted a six-metre, 600-kilogram monster known as megalania (Varanus or Megalania priscus) — the largest living land reptile since the dinosaurs. The lace monitor (V. varius), probably the monitor most associated with the term ‘goanna’, can also reach over two metres in length. In contrast, other monitors are very small, with 18 species being less than 80 centimetres long. The short-tailed monitor (V. brevicauda) is

Goannas usually get a reaction. A lace monitor

being harangued by a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Carnarvon Gorge, central

Queensland.

Text and photos by Robert Ashdown

Goannas — our living dragons

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Like snakes, all monitors have forked tongues. These play a crucial role in finding food. Lace monitor, Glasshouse Mountains National Park.

One of Australia’s largest lizards, the lace monitor can reach over two metres in length. This is the banded ‘Bell’s form’ of this species. Expedition National Park.

Some monitors, such as this pygmy mulga monitor, are relatively small. This species reaches a maximum total length of about 38 centimetres. Simpson Desert.

The sand goanna is Australia’s most abundant and widely-spread species, being found over most of mainland Australia. It shelters in deep burrows. Rinyirru National Park, Cape York.

A sand goanna on the prowl. Cooloola National Park.

The beautifully-patterned freckled (or black-headed monitor) shelters under bark, in rock crevices and in hollow timber. Isla Gorge National Park.

just 23 centimetres from nose to tip of tail.

Monitors are all carnivorous, eating just about anything that can be caught or scavenged. They grasp food with long, curved teeth and swallow with jerking motions of the head and neck. While they have excellent eyesight and hearing, it’s their forked tongues that do the most in helping them find food. Using advanced chemoreception (also found in snakes), the goanna detects the slightest trace of food, with the difference in chemical trace found between the left or right side of their forked tongue assisting them in heading straight to the source. The tails of different monitor species are adapted for particular lifestyles, such as swimming or climbing. All species lay parchment-shelled eggs, with some, including the lace monitor, using termite nests in which to lay their eggs. The egg chamber is sealed over by the termites and the eggs are incubated within the mound. It is now thought that the mother lace monitor returns to the mound to expose the eggs just before they hatch.

Photographing monitors is always interesting. As you attempt to get close enough to capture something of their character, you become aware that an intelligent animal is watching you back and thinking about what you’re up to. After capturing a tiny, exquisite pygmy mulga monitor (V. gilleni) in a dry Simpson Desert creek bed at night, I had placed the animal back on a piece of wood to attempt a photo. After a few unsuccessful shots I reached out to try to coax a better position from my subject. The tiny monitor looked up at me with a disapproving, exasperated look before leaning over and suddenly nipping me once

on the hand. I got my shot and left it alone. Those studying goannas in detail have found them to be highly intelligent. They can memorise maps of their surroundings, returning directly to shelter after widely meandering about the place. Their intelligence has even been described as mammal-like, as they can recognise individual keepers and even have a limited ability to count.

While I have yet to see the emerald monitor from the Torres Strait or the beautiful red pygmy desert monitor, I’ve had some memorable encounters with goannas. I’ve snuck up on a curious, strikingly-patterned freckled monitor (V. tristis) at Isla Gorge and at Expedition National Park I met a stunning ‘banded phase’ form of the lace monitor (V. varius). With photographer and writer Steve Wilson at Cooloola, I photographed a young lace monitor chomping on a huge centipede. Walking the red sand of a dune isolated by the floodwaters of Cooper Creek near Windorah, I marveled at the exquisite tracks left by a marooned monitor. I’ve watched a sand goanna (V. gouldii) sharing a dry-season waterhole at Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, and in far western Queensland wriggled into a narrow cave to attempt a shot of a large perentie, before being warned by (then) Queensland Museum curator of reptiles Jeanette Covacevich that I was about to get my fingers bitten off!

While I’ve only seen a few of Australia’s 30 monitor species, every interaction has been enjoyable. I’ve seen enough to develop a deep admiration and respect for these astonishing reptiles — beautiful in form and pattern, remarkable in adaptation and attitude.

The distinctive tracks of a monitor in red sand. Windorah

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2018 Issue 223

Around the Tracks

Townsville Branch Celebrates 50 yearsIn April 1968 a small group of birders, amateur naturalists and biologists from the newly founded University College met in Townsville to establish the second WPSQ branch in North Queensland. They had been encouraged by Society president Judith Wright, secretary Arthur “Taff” Fenton, and by that pioneer of conservation activism, John Büsst, who had founded the Innisfail branch two years earlier.

Fifty years on, today’s members marked our half-century with a return to the city’s iconic Town Common which had been a major focus of Townsville branch’s early years. Back then, these bird-rich wetlands had become a neglected pasturage reserve, stocked with cattle, infested with weeds and used as a dumping place for old car bodies and other unsavoury rubbish. The fledgling branch held regular clean-ups, led excursions for schools and the wider public and lobbied for proper protection.

Today, with the active presence of the North Queensland Conservation Council, Landcare, and several smaller natural history and environmental groups, we are no longer the lone voice for conservation and environmental education in a city that has almost trebled in size. But we continue to make ourselves heard on local, regional and state-wide issues and to introduce people to the beauty and value of our natural heritage through our program of monthly

field outings. And, perhaps appropriately in such a significant year, a Queensland Government Community Sustainability Action grant has enabled us to start a major mahogany glider monitoring project on land 65km to our north. The project will run till mid-2020.

So, in celebration of our special birthday, we climbed to the spectacular Tegoora Rock lookout on one of the many trails that have been created in what is now the fully protected Town Common Conservation Park. After recent long-awaited deluges it was looking wonderfully refreshed and following our walk we found our own refreshment at a bush picnic in the adjoining Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park. Here a cake was cut, a toast was raised, “Happy Birthday” was sung and some documents and photos from earlier days were on display. Among those present was a former member who had re-joined just a few days earlier and another brand new member delighted to be present at the start of our next fifty years! But perhaps we’ll concentrate on the next five before we begin preparing for the centenary.

Liz Downes

The celebration cake © Liz Downes

Entranced by the beauty of Acacia flavescens © Julia Hazel

Picnic behind the beach, Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park © Julia Hazel

View across Town Common Conservation Park from Tegoora Rock © Julia Hazel

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Around the Tracks

We need your help!WPSQ will run a BBQ at Bunnings Manly West on Saturday 1 September.

If you can spare a couple of hours to help please call Janelle on 3844 0129

Bayside BranchMembers of Bayside branch participated in the Garden Expo held at the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre. The Expo had a focus on sustainability, breaking the cycle of waste and reducing single use plastic.

Environmental and horticultural experts were on hand to demonstrate sustainable lifestyles and alternative products plus there were environmental and sustainable product stalls.

Bayside branch president Steve Homewood gave a presentation on local frogs and demonstrated how to build a quick and inexpensive frog pond.

Fraser Coast BranchThis branch has a busy round of activities which includes monthly nature walks and talks in the Hervey Bay Library plus workshops and other events.

One of the recent nature walks was from Gatakers Bay through the mangroves at the mouth of Eli Creek, then returning via Parraweena Park. Another was along the newly opened section of the Walligan Rail Trail, and the most recent one was on The Wild, a stunning 100-acre private property owned by a member on the Mary River at Gundiah. The walks have been very successful in attracting new participants, as well as new branch members.

Recent Nature in the Library talks at the Hervey Bay Library have included topics such

as satellite tracking of turtles and dugongs.

There was well-attended Butterfly Identification and Butterfly Plants afternoon at Tinana State School, with Kelvin Nielsen as the guest speaker.

The branch recently held its first Wildlife Friendly Gardens afternoon for 2018. This is a partnership between the branch and Fraser Coast Regional Council, with four speakers from the two organisations. Two more Gardens afternoons are planned for the year.

Members spent a morning with visiting Gympie Field Naturalists at Arkarra Lagoons and Mungomery Vine Forest. This was an excellent 'networking opportunity'.

The branch continues to produce Wambaliman, our regular newsletter/journal,

and president Audrey Sorensen makes excellent use of the branch’s 10-minute slot on local community radio on the second Tuesday of each month.

The branch has recently instigated a three-year annual prize of $500 for a student undertaking studies in Endangered Animals and their Conservation (part of a degree in Wildlife and Ecology) at the University of the Sunshine Coast Fraser Coast campus.

Submissions to Queensland and Federal governments have also been completed.

Vanessa Elwell-Gavins

Richmond Birdwing © Albert Orr

Steve and his quick frog pond

Moreton Bay branchThe Wild Koala Day held at Old Petrie Town was a great success with lots of people and stalls plus activities to keep them interested. Moreton Bay branch stand attracted a fair share of interest and they were able to encourage many to purchase a Richmond Birdwing vine to help create a corridor in the Petrie /Dayboro area.

Wildlife Queensland 9

WILDLIFE LAND FUND LIMITED

During this reporting period the Wildlife Land Fund Limited has continued to work on the organisation as a whole, as well as our land under management. Encouragingly, progress has been made on both fronts.

The WLFL board has begun a process of re-evaluating and refreshing its mission statement, vision, goals and priorities as part of preparing a strategic plan. This plan will become an important ‘road-map’ for the organisation to follow in a consistent and progressive direction. To ensure our ability to actively conserve important habitat well into the future, sustainable growth is a priority. Members will be provided the opportunity to give input on the strategic plan and the WLFL board looks forward to receiving it.

All WLFL land under management has benefitted from rainfall over the summer/autumn season. The 2017-2018 weed management contracts issued for Witta Nature Refuge and Neil Holloway Reesville Nature Refuge have been completed, and reports so far indicate that both sites continue to gain from the consistent efforts undertaken. News from the Neil Holloway Reesville Nature Refuge suggests that the assisted revegetation area is growing strongly. Further, the natural recruitment of natives is taking off where the broad-

leaf privet has been controlled. This is encouraging news for a site so heavily dominated by this weed.

WLFL would like to take this opportunity to thank Gael Paul for her many years of assistance with the organisation. During this time, Gael has voluntarily carried-out the majority of our administration workload including management of the membership process, company reporting, audit preparation and communications. Unfortunately for us, the demands of Gael’s professional life have increased, making regular visits to the WLFL office more and more difficult, and Gael has decided to step back from her administrative volunteer work with WLFL as a result. The board is incredibly grateful for Gael’s contribution and support, and we wish her all the best into the future. This has created an opportunity for someone similarly keen to step in and help out with some of our administrative duties. If you feel this is something you would enjoy, please email wlfl@wildlife.org.au.

With the closing of another financial year comes the opportunity to re-new your membership with the Wildlife Land Fund. It also presents the chance to encourage friends, family members and colleagues to take part in actively conserving Queensland’s natural environment by becoming a WLFL member, the cost of which remains $20 per annum with a one-off joining fee of $5.

Wildlife Land Fund Limited is on Instagram - be sure to follow us! WLFL

Wildlife Queensland HQ: Who’s who

State Council President: Peter Ogilvie

Vice-Presidents: Andrew Dinwoodie, Robert Standish-White, and Michael Lusis Secretary: Des Boyland Treasurer: David Keogh

Councillors: Keith McDonald and Nina Hardie Council Observer: Paul Sutton

Regular volunteers: John Hutt, Warren Johnson, Beth Pegg, Jenny Thynne, Maryann Kenny, Linda Sulakatku, Rensche Schep, Steve Homewood and Diane Lam. Plus the wonderful teams who help with mail-outs, projects and surveys

Staff: Policies and Campaigns Manager: Des Boyland

Operations Manager: Janelle Devery Membership Support Officer: Doreen Payne

Projects Officer: Matt Cecil Communications Officer: Natasha Bryant

Book-keeper: Madeleine Hodder Newsletter: graphic designer: Joy Hinckley; editor: Doreen Payne

Top & bottom:Tube stock planted in the Neil Holloway Nature Refuge Reesville in 2016 as part of a regeneration project are growing quickly as a result of good rainfall over the growing season. Photo Credit Brush Turkey Enterprises

Our 2018 ANNUAL APPEAL asks you to help us take the next step.

We have achieved a ban on the use of single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags beginning 1 July 2018. This will reduce the impacts littered plastics have on our environment and especially our marine life and birds.

But we knew it was only the first step.

Now we must take the next step to

1. Stop the continued use of thicker single-use plastic bags, and have them removed from circulation in the future and

2. Achieve a ban on the deliberate mass release of helium balloons in Queensland and

3. Target and reduce other single-use, non-biodegradable plastic items

Help Wildlife Queensland achieve these goals by making a tax-deductible donation today. Go to

http://wildlife.org.au/shop/donations/donations

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WPSQ in Action A snapshot of advocacy work on your behalf

Submissions

March

The National Biodiversity Strategy Secretariat, Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy called for comments on Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2018-2030. Wildlife Queensland (WQ) advocated that a revision of the Strategy was essential if the decline in biodiversity was to be arrested, let alone reversed. There was a need for key performance indicators so progress could be evaluated, responsibility for actions assigned and accepted, legislation strengthened and adequate resources allocated.

Submission forwarded to the Queensland parliamentary State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee on the Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018. WQ strongly supported the Bill that afforded protection to high conservation regrowth and better protection for catchments that will enhance water quality for the Great Barrier Reef; strengthened compliance and removed high-value agricultural cropping and high-value irrigation as valid reasons for broadscale clearing. WQ also indicated that further enhancement of vegetation manage-ment was required and opposed continued reliance on self-assessable codes.

April

Submission to Minister Trad, Treasurer and Minister Enoch regarding waste levy funds allocation. When the waste levy was in existence prior to its removal by the Newman government, significant funds raised from the levy were directed to waste management and recycling, the management and acquisition of national parks and koala research. A submission was made advocating that once again a portion of the funds raised from the new waste levy be directed to national parks and wildlife rescue for fauna impacted by plastic waste.

A response from Minister Enoch in May indicated that the waste disposal levy will underpin the implementation of a new comprehensive resource recovery, recycling and waste strategy and will provide funds to support waste and recycling industries to develop local markets for recycled and recovered materials.

May

» Submission to the Queensland parliamentary Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee on the Safer Waterways Bill 2018. The bill aims to create a Cairns-based advisory board called the Queensland Crocodile Authority and would allow hunting of crocodiles, egg harvesting and culling of crocodiles by landholders on their own land. This private member’s bill allegedly places greater value on human life than that of crocodiles. WQ opposed the bill on the grounds that it is not underpinned by science and has the potential to introduce adverse animal welfare issues. Dealing with rogue crocodiles already occurs. The government is endeavouring to introduce an egg harvesting pilot project subject to various conditions to which WQ is not opposed. Should government establish such an authority it could be achieved by amending the Nature Conservation Act legislation designated to manage wildlife.

» The Queensland government has responded to the Queensland Koala Expert Panel’s report to which WQ made a submission. There are 6 recommendations: • A strategic, coordinated approach to koala conservation• Protection of koala habitat• Strategic and landscape scale restoration of habitat • Coordination of threat reduction and koala population management• Strong community engagement and partnerships• Targeted mapping, monitoring and research. The government is committed to all recommendations and these will be implemented in 3 phases: immediate, within 3-6 months and within 12 months. WQ commends the government on its action but has grave concerns that it is too little too late.

» WQ forwarded a submission in February on the draft EIS for Walton Coal Project adjacent to Taunton National Park, home to the endangered nailtail wallaby. The final terms of reference for the EIS were issued to the proponent on 10 May 2018. The proponent has up to 2 years to submit an EIS or maybe longer depending on Department of Environment and Science approval. When the EIS is submitted it will be made available for public comment.

June

» Submission to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy on amendments to the Wildlife Trade Management Plan (WTMP) – Queensland Crocodile Farming 2018-2022. This plan allows for the commercial harvest of crocodile eggs from the wild. WQ consulted with world recognised experts on crocodiles and based on that, and an examination of a report prepared by Dr L Taplin on a pilot project on Cape York, supported the amendment to the Queensland Crocodile Farming WTMP.

» Submission to Agricultural Review (an independent reviewer) on concerns WQ has about the interaction between the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and the agriculture sector. The review was commis-sioned by the Commonwealth Government to identify regulatory and non-regu-latory improvements to assist the sector while maintaining environmental standards. One of its aims is to practically improve how the agricultural sector is regulated under the EPBC Act and to reduce regulatory burdens faced by farmers.

Meetings of note

April May & June

» Attended meetings and teleconferences of the Nature and Wildlife Queensland Alliance — a group of conservation organisations including Wildlife Queensland (WQ) with interest in the Protected Area Estate (PAE). The aim is to develop a position paper outlining strategies to enhance the management and expansion of the PAE. Several draft documents have been circulated. State Council has considered the drafts and unless particular sections are amended WQ will not be a signatory to the document. At this stage WQ has difficulties with the desire to emphasise recreation on national parks detracting from the principal purpose for national parks of conservation of our natural and cultural heritage. Park visitation and passive recreation is a legitimate purpose but must be secondary to the prime purpose. Another key concern is the push to have tenure resolution as applied on Cape York expanded state-wide. WQ is not opposed to joint management with First Nation Peoples but does not share the view that national parks become aboriginal freehold land state-wide. Discussions are ongoing.

» WQ was invited to a Stakeholder Forum outlining the National Red Imported Fire Ant Program, introducing the 10 year eradication plan underpinned by $411 million focussing on south-east Queensland. A National Committee has been appointed to overview the project. More details about the Red Imported Fire Ant and the eradication program are available on our website.

» Ministerial roundtable with Minister Leeanne Enoch scheduled for Wednesday 20 June. Conservation organisations are limited to one attendee and one topic. WQ will be raising waste related issues, allocation of the waste levy and a ban on mass release of helium-filled balloons.

Your Voice for Your Wildlife AwardsWildlife Queensland recognises the achievements and efforts of our members through a special award presented in September.The categories for the awards are based on the period July to June. Categories are:A new and successful Wildlife Qld campaign in your regionA new or ongoing Wildlife Qld project involving the communityThe Margaret Thorsborne Award for an outstanding contribution by a financial member.For a full explanation of the categories and nomination forms, go to http://www.wildlife.org.au/awards/

Wildlife Queensland 11

2018 Issue 223

Goodwill Wine is a social enterprise dedicated to sourcing quality boutique wines from independent wineries across Australia and supporting Australian charities and NPOs. With over 50% of Goodwill Wine’s profi t – $2 from every bottle you purchase – going to Wildlife Queensland to help fund vital conservation projects, you can relax in the knowledge that your dollars are making a difference to Australian wildlife.

A 12-bottle case contains 2 of each variety and costs just $180. Freight for all casesis $9 Australia-wide* and if you select 2 x 6 bottle cases of different varieties, we will package them up as a single 12 bottle case to save you on postage.

Wildlife Queensland’s mission is to advocate for the protection and conservation of Queensland’s native plants, animals and landscapes by educating and engaging communities, infl uencing decision-making, advancing solutions and connecting people with wildlife.

‘These are seriously goodwines, sold in 6 or 12 bottle cases at below retail prices.’Epicure Magazine – The Age.

To purchase a case and help supportWildlife Queensland visitwildlife.org.au/shop/uncategorized/goodwill-wines/

6-BOTTLE CASE COSTSJUST $99 AND CONTAINS:1. Sauvignon Blanc 2016

(Coonawarra) 2. Riesling 2015 (Eden Valley) 3. Chardonnay 2016

(Limestone Coast) 4. Shiraz 2015 (Barossa) 5. Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (Coonawarra) 6. Merlot 2013 (Coonawarra)

Raise a glass toWildlife Queensland’s

crucial work!

$15A B O T T L E

12 www.wildlife.org.au/wqnews/223