Fish River Rejuvenated

A section of the Fish River was recently rejuvenated to create a healthier
habitat for native flora and fauna to flourish, including the endangered
Booroolong Frog.

The initiative was a joint project between Bathurst Regional Council and
Oberon Council which received funding of nearly $8000 for the restoration
of a section of the Fish River at O’Connell.

The grant was provided by the Central Tablelands Local Land Services and
the Central West Councils Environment and Waterway Alliance.

Bathurst Mayor Graeme Hanger OAM said the works have greatly improved the local
natural environment.

“It’s important for us to be involved in projects that nurture and enhance
our local environment,” he said.

“Initiatives such as this can build positive change at grassroots level to
regenerate the natural environment for future generations to enjoy and
appreciate”.

The project has involved the Skillset Green Army that planted native trees
and shrubs along the riverbank. The new vegetation will reinforce the banks
of the river, giving greater stability during floods and reducing weeds.

Environment & Waterways Alliance featured in Australian Business News Source Magazine

The Australian Business News Source Magazine, a growing digital publication that caters to top senior executives, has featured the Environment & Waterways Alliance in their current issue.

A theme of the January-February 2017 issue of the magazine is the 202020 Vision; a collaborative project that aims to make urban areas 20% greener by the year 2020.  As a proud partner of this initiative, the Environment & Waterways Alliance was chosen to feature in the magazine.

The article discusses the history of the Alliance, the current projects that are being implemented as well as the many challenges facing the 18 Alliance Member Councils.

While the interview with then Project Support Officer of the Alliance, Mick Callan, was conducted in late 2016, many of the issues are still pertinent to the Alliance moving forward.

To read the article as well as the entire current edition of the Australian Business News Source Magazine please refer to: Australian Business News Source Magazine Jan-Feb 2017.

New strain of rabbit virus released this week across the Central Tablelands

A new strain of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus is being released across the Central Tablelands this week to reduce the impact of wild rabbits on agriculture and the environment.

Landholders, Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are working together to release the RHDV1 K5 virus across more than two hundred control sites in NSW.

This work is part of a national project to reduce wild rabbit numbers—a damaging pest species estimated to reduce Australia’s agricultural productivity by over $200 million each year. Wild rabbits also have a direct impact on 304 threatened species nationally.

This is the first time in 20 years that a new rabbit biocontrol agent is being released into Australia. However, RHDV1 K5 is not a new virus. It is a strain of the existing virus already widespread in Australia, commonly known as calicivirus.

Unlike previous biocontrol releases, the K5 strain will not result in a 90 per cent reduction of wild rabbit populations. Rather, it is expected to ‘boost’ current management and help slow down the increase in rabbit numbers.

Farmers should continue to manage wild rabbits on their land, said Tim Seears.

“We know that rabbit biocontrol is not a silver bullet solution and is most beneficial if applied as part of an integrated and complementary pest management approach,” Tim Seears said.

“We recommend landholders carry out follow-up control measures after the release of the virus. The release of the K5 virus offers a chance for a conversation with neighbours for coordinated rabbit control across the landscape.”

Pet owners should contact a veterinarian for advice on how to protect their rabbits, with online information available from the Australian Veterinary Association www.ava.com.au/rabbit-calicivirus

The national release of RHDV1 K5 has been delivered through the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, with major financial and in kind resources provided by the Australian and NSW governments, CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and Foundation for Rabbit Free Australia.

The release of RHDV1 K5 comes after more than 10 years of testing through the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre RHD Boost project.

Landholders and other community members can report sightings of rabbits or evidence of disease through the Rabbit Scan online portal www.rabbitscan.org.au

To keep up to date with progress of the RHDV1 K5 release visit www.healthierlandscapes.org.au