PROJECT LIST: Biodiversity; Water; Coast; Land
BIODIVERSITY
Enhancing King Island Brown Thornbill habitat for future corridor
This project started in 2022 and is on-going. It aims to support species recovery on private land by working with landholders and land managers to promote the benefits of native vegetation protection and create a pathway to the establishment of linking habitat between identified KI Brown Thornbill populations. Further stages are planned. Landholders interested in participating can find more information in this KIBT Landholder Engagement Brochure. This project is supported by Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government Environment Restoration Fund.
Inkweed Eradication – Phytolacca octandra L. p
We need your help! If you have seen this weed and know of its location, please contact us ASAP. Phone 6462 1825 or email: kingisland@landcaretas.org.au . This weed can rapidly become an environmental and agricultural problem so we need to act NOW! Inkweed has been found on King Island around Fraser Road, North Pegarah and Pegarah Forest. This is a NEW INCURSION on King Island, the only known location in Tasmania, was found in 2021. KINRM started an Inkweed control program to eradicate this weed from King Island with funding from Landcare Tasmania. Click here for more information about this weed and project.
KILG continue to work towards eradication. Survey and eradication of Inkweed from King Island – to control Phytolacca octandra (inkweed) infestations on the east coast of King Island. Funded by Northern Tasmanian NRM, supported through funding from the Tasmanian Weeds Action Fund, a $5 million Tasmanian Government initiative funded until 2024. The funds provided by the Tasmanian Government will be invested with landholders, land managers, and other organisations to tackle weeds that are impacting valuable agricultural and environmental assets.
Ongoing weed control and revegetation
King Island Landcare on-ground works crew continue to carry out for Council, Parks & Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania along with work for private landowners.
Many Weed projects have been completed since 2010- variously funded through NRM North, CCNRM, Tasmanian Government, Australian Government and Landcare Tasmania’s funding grants:
Sea Spurge Mapping and Management Plan – A plan was developed and 2 control trial sites were established and treated.
Asparagus Fern and Spanish Heath Management Program – 7 hectare on 4 properties were treated.
Serrated Tussock – control next to Colliers Swamp, in addition to fee for service work completed for several adjoining landholders.
Spray Unit Purchase – Tasmanian Community Fund Grant.
Threatened Species Recovery Plan for King Island Scrubtit and King Island Brown Thornbill
A Conservation Action Plan has been developed for both the King Island Scrubtit (Acanthornis magnus greenianus) and King Island Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza apical Archibaldi). A Recovery Team with members from all stakeholders including the KINRMG was formed in 2019 under BirdLife Australia’s Preventing Extinctions Program.
Extensive searches to ascertain the abundance and distribution of both species were done and habitat information has been updated and is available: Defining and mapping habitat requirements to support the survival of King Island threatened birds January 2023 report prepared by Phil Bell and Matt Webb, Biodiversity Maintenance Australia.
Key information on the endangered King Island birds: King Island Scrubtit and Brown Thornbill Survey Results March 2019 report prepared by Matt Webb and Dr Ross Crates
“Enhancing KIBT habitat patches for future corridor”, supported by Cradle Coast Authority, through funding from the Australian Government. It aids the recovery of the endemic and critically endangered King Island Brown Thornbill (KIBT) via protection and restoration of native vegetation through stock exclusion, improved wallaby and weed management.
Wings on King – monitoring the birds of King Island
Despite King Island being such an important location for birds, we know very little about the conservation status of the land birds of King Island or its value to birds migrating across Bass Strait. This project started in 2017 and continues as a joint program of the KILG and BirdLife Australia in association with Birds of King Island. We aim to:
- monitor the presence, absence and populations of the land birds of King Island
- establish current population levels of the King Island subspecies and monitor these in the future
- establish how the Bass Strait migrating birds use the Island when they are here
- watch for evidence of southward drifts in distribution ranges of mainland land birds
More information is available at Birds of King Island website.
King Island Landcare Group won the 2022 Natural Environment Sustainability Award for this ‘Wings on King’ project at the 2022 Australian Sustainable Communities, Tidy Towns Award, presented in Hastings, Victoria.
Volunteering Survey Effort – 2017-2021
- 129 individual surveyors have participated
- 2952 hours of effort – (estimate)
- 680 surveys have been undertaken
- 5654 individual species records collected
Of those Volunteers:
- 98 were visitors to KI – who came specifically to assist with the surveys
- 31 were King Islanders
WOK 2019 – 2020
The WOK spring surveys were all successfully completed under Kate Ravich’s leadership. Visiting surveyors included Fred van Gessel (Australian bird expert and author) and ornithologist Mark Holdsworth. Fred recorded bird calls during his visit and has since donated the files to KINRMG. The survey included a very exciting field trip to find KI Brown Thornbill. “Excellent views were obtained and at one point we had 5 birds in the immediate vicinity at one time which is more than has been recorded previously. ”. The autumn 2020 survey was scaled back because of COVID restrictions. The survey was possible without visitor participation because there is now a local base of trained keen observers, demonstrating the success of one of WOK’s key objectives.
Acoustic Sensors to monitor fauna activity have been set up on Kate’s property and at Pegarah State forest, with assistance from KI Council and PWS. This is part of a five year national project conducted by The Australian Acoustic Observatory using 400 continously operating sensors.
King Island Feral Cat Population Control
The long-term aim of KILG is to eradicate feral cats from the island. Further progress is dependent on cooperative projects with King Island Council and the Tasmanian Government. In 2022 KILG are actively working with a number of organisations to develop a long term population control program.
2006 to 2007 – the first King Island Cat Control Project was funded by WWF and Threatened Species Network, to protect from cat predation the Orange-bellied Parrots when they come to rest here during their migration.
KINRM continued working on controlling feral cat populations in 2010. Downloads available: King Island Cat Management Plan 2008 – 2013 and King Island Cat Control Program 2010
Impact of Forest Raven populations on Black Currawongs
Since 2017 KINRMG members have worked with Matthew Fielding (Utas)
Tufa Terraces at Boggy Creek Protection Project
View the Project Image Gallery & Coastal Complex Info Sheet. KINRM aim to protect ‘Boggy Creek Geoheritage Site’, otherwise known as ‘tufa terraces‘, and ‘Coastal Complex on King Island’, a rare and endangered ecological plant community, by excluding stock and controlling weeds. The tufa terraces are in Cataraqui Point Conservation Area, while the Coastal Complex on King Island lies in the coastal zone as well as into the neighbouring landholder’s property. In 2017 landholders fenced out part of their coastal paddock to protect the endangered plant community.
Project funding started through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative and continued through the Australian Government Communities Environment Program.
2003 to 2007 Environmental Management Systems Pilot Program
Working with farmers to identify and address environmental issues.
One of 18 national pilot projects funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, Australia wide and the only one in Tasmania.
Sixteen farms participate in the program with farm mapping, risk assessment and the development of an environmental management plan.
Consolidation of project in 2006/07 through monitoring and evaluation, benchmarking, external reviews and developing continuous improvement cycles. More Information…
2004 and On-going Threatened Birds Recovery
A project funded by the Threatened Species Network, to: determine the extent of vulnerable to critically endangered birds, and to address their habitat needs; to raise awareness in the community about King Island’s threatened bird species; collate data of bird sightings and encourage Green Rosellas to breed, through volunteers setting up and regularly checking nest boxes. More Information…
2000 to 2003 Devolved Grant
Included fencing, re-vegetation and direct seeding, and waterway protection, the development of several strategies and the publication of a number of books and reports. A community group worked intensely for over a year on the publication of ‘King Island Flora: a field guide’. A revolving fund was set up to protect valuable ecosystems on the island through buying properties, covenanting and re-selling, this is ongoing run by Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
WATER
Rehabilitation of lower reaches of Porky Creek, ongoing
This highly successful project has rehabilitated the lower reaches of Porky Creek. Both the KINRM weed team and the adjoining landowner continue to control difficult weeds such as boxthorn. Originally funded through Tasmanian Landcare Association grants 2011-2012, this project has had a great deal of volunteer input. Activities include: initial clearing of boxthorn and other weeds; 41 Ballarat and Clarendon students planted 75 trees; further planting and seedling maintenance by volunteers; on-going weed follow-up by KINRM Weed Crew. The project has been sponsored by Landcare Tasmania, Wildcare Inc, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, King Island Dairy/Lion, KI Men’s Shed and HBL.
Biodiversity and Water Monitoring on King Island. Cradle Coast NRM 2010-2011
Data collected includes water monitoring of selected waterways, comparison vegetation data from 2010 to 2011 on wallaby exclosures, a small study involving protecting the endangered orchid Pterostylis cucullata (leafy greenhood) from wallaby browsing and recording differences with unprotected sites. Only 2 Orange-bellied parrots were recorded during the blitz in March 2012, in which staff of the Threatened Species Unit, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and volunteers monitored all known sites for the presence of the critically endangered bird. Population monitoring and habitat restoration work will continue to be completed by volunteers and as project funds become available.
Waterwatch 2000 – 2011
King Island WaterWatch Project Details
KINRMG ran water monitoring and education activities over many years culminating in Water Quality and Stream Condition on King Island, 2004 – 2008
Aims were to:
- To collect sound scientific data on the quality of King Island’s key waterways;
- To inform & train the King Island community in “caring for waterways”;
- To establish and maintain an island wide community-based water quality program
- The work focussed on water quality data collected at sites located on the following waterways: Sea Elephant River, Ettrick River, Fraser River, Yellow Rock River, Porky Creek, Egg Lagoon Creek, Seal River, Yarra Creek, and Lake Flannigan.
Since 2001
Waterwatch: to assess the quality of King Island’s waterways. [Project Details]
The project was for a time part of North-West Waterwatch and included monthly monitoring of nine sites to obtain baseline data of the quality of King Island’s streams, additional monitoring by community members and educational activities for the community, including school students. More details…
COAST
Tufa Terraces at Boggy Creek Protection Project
KI Natural Resource Management Group continues to protect ‘Boggy Creek Geoheritage Site’, otherwise known as ‘tufa terraces’, and ‘Coastal Complex on King Island’, a rare and endangered ecological plant community, by excluding stock and controlling weeds. The tufa terraces are in Cataraqui Point Conservation Area, while the Coastal Complex on King Island lies in the coastal zone as well as into the neighbouring landholder’s property. The landholders have fenced out part of their coastal paddock to protect the endangered plant community. The project began with funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative and has current funding through their Communities Environment Program.
The ‘tufa terraces’ rim stone pools are delicate formations, which are nationally significant and listed in the Tasmanian Geoheritage Database.
Removal of the coastal weed Sea Spurge will also protect these sensitive environmental assets from weed invasion. Sea Spurge will be replaced with coastal native plants where needed. Dune vegetation will also be enhanced to stop erosion and weed spread. Community groups, individuals and schools will be encouraged to be involved in weed removal and planting. View more project details, and project image gallery.
Currie Wharf Bush Restoration Project
The area is a great example of King Island coastal bushland, including peaceful gullies and lookout spots. It was overrun by weeds and most of it is very difficult to access, but plantings and natural regeneration are turning this area into a trhiving, diverse coastal habitat.
A new track links the harbour with the museum and Currie Light, following the path taken by Lighthouse Keepers in the past.
This project won the Australian Community Media Landcare Community Group Award 2019.
This site of approximately 19 ha is located directly adjacent to the Main Street of Currie and contains some recreation tracks, seats and lookouts already established by King Island Council, making it an ideal site to access for community awareness activities in the future, as well as tourist walks.
The project began with funding to KINRM through Australian Government Caring for our Country in 2011 and has current funding through their Communities Environment Program. The program has received much support and funding from Cradle Coast NRM, KI Council, KI Ports. The site is much improved, now more accessible and user friendly, as a result of stakeholder support and massive amounts of time and energy given by community volunteers.
Life on the Coast – funded by Tasmanian Landcare Association
Community and school field days to promote weed management, shorebird and habitat awareness, and responsible use of coast to avoid disturbing shorebirds feeding and breeding areas.
Coastal Users Guide – funded through CCNRM
Coastal vegetation grazing exclosure trials – funded through CCNRM
Extended monitoring of Alternatives to 1080 Program at four priority coastal sites, in conjunction with KI Field Naturalists Club.
LAND
2021
Sustainable Agriculture
Field days on pasture production and presentations on animal health and nutrition for beef producers with The Pasture Pathways project. This was funded by DPIPWE and conducted by Ana Pimenta who generously stepped in to manage the King Island presentations.
Sustainable Farming Projects – Regional Landcare Facilitator, five year position, Australian Government sponsored
Open The Gates – A video about 7 King Island farmers sharing experiences and knowledge
King Island Farmers’ Survey 2016 -See the results from 39 King Island farmers who replied to an online survey about their farm management processes and concerns.
Environmental Management Systems Pilot Program
Biodiversity Fund 1 Project
Wallaby Management
Waterwatch
2013
Reduce reliance on inorganic forms of fertilisers and improve soil biology on King Island
The project focus on impacts of changing management strategies to enhance release of nutrients bound in organic forms.
KI has an intensive beef/dairy production and depends on imported fertilisers (25% more costly than mainland price), increasing costs and soil and water pollution.
KI has a variety of soils, including acid sulphate and salinity problems, making it difficult to know which management strategy is appropriated.
The project will provide a great opportunity for farmers to interact with experts and explore the biological potential of soils, understanding how management and use of on-farm/organic nutrient sources, including home products (e.g. kelp), impacts on biological processes associated with pasture growth and soil health.
2010 to 2012
Sustainable farm nutrient management on KI Dairy and Beef Farms
Three projects funded by Landcare Australia, and Cradle Coast NRM.
Dr Bill Cotching, TIAR, tested 6 properties on King Island in October 2010 funded by the federal government program Caring For Our Country.
Nutrient budgets show that some farms are applying a surplus of nutrients while others are applying a deficit, which may require some adjustment. The variability between paddocks highlights the importance of regular soil tests. Economising on soil tests by only doing a small number of paddocks can lead to some paddocks being over fertilised and others under fertilised.
Three projects followed up this original project and included:
A soil fertility and drainage workshop. – Lesley Irvine, Dairy Extension Officer, talked about soil fertility and Dr Bill Cotching talked about drainage. Over 20 farmers participated in the Workshop.
A field day followed the workshop where Dr Bill Cotching gave a small talk about soil tests before sampling one paddock with all the participant farmers. About 30 farmers participated in this field day.
In March 2012 Dr Bill Cotching delivered the final report for the project. Dr Cameron Gourley, Agricultural Scientific Researcher, DPI Vic, presented infomation from “Accounting for Nutrients on Australian Dairy Farms” and Dr Richard Rawnsley, Research Fellow, TIAR, discussed nutrients on farm.
Download the presentation on Drainage and Wet Soil Management by Bill Cotching Waterlogging Management on King Island
Climate Change Impacts on Farming – funding through Tasmanian Climate Change Office
Well attended workshop on climate change and carbon emmissions.
2007
Consolidation of KISHAP
with expert panel and development of Salinity and Waterlogging Control Manual.
2002 to 2006
KI Salt Hazard Assessment Project (KISHAP)
Addressed management actions and hazard assessment of salinity on King Island, included the use of electromagnetic induction mapping and a hydrogeological study, drainage workshops and field days. Deep drilling to consolidate the results of KISHAP in 2006 completed the assessment. More Information…
KI Salinity Management Action Program (KISMAP)
Following the successful Salinity Partnership Project 2001, this project investigated the salinity problem in the north of the island and determine ways to best cope with it. A number of landholders set up piezometers on their properties and monitor once a month. Some trial pasture plantations were established to test salt-tolerant species. A presentation of the sites is displayed at Reekara Community Complex. More Information…
2000 to 2003
Devolved Grant
Included fencing, re-vegetation and direct seeding, and waterway protection, the development of several strategies and the publication of a number of books and reports. A community group worked intensely for over a year on the publication of ‘King Island Flora: a field guide’. A revolving fund was set up to protect valuable ecosystems on the island through buying properties, covenanting and re-selling, this is ongoing run by Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
Last Updated on 21 March 2023