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News from the weeds and pests initiative

New resources

DEPI and Parks Victoria (PV) are working in partnership with Victorian communities to manage invasive plants, animals and pathogens on public land. To support this work, two new brochures have been developed.

Protecting public land from invasive species: Towards a biosecurity approach outlines the Victorian Government’s approach to managing invasive species on public land. This brochure highlights three key principles applied by DEPI and PV to deliver best value investment in invasive species management.

Invasive plants and animals on public land: Roles and contacts assists stakeholders and community members to find the most appropriate agency to contact about weeds and pest animals on public land.

Both of these new resources can be found on the Invasive species page.

Making a difference on public land - progress report released

An update on the public land component of the Weeds and Pests Initiative is now available. This report outlines the work that is currently underway to limit the impact of weeds and pest animals on public land and encourage the recovery of native ecosystems and species.

Updates from the Ark fox control programs, Eden weed control programs and Mallee Bounce Back are all included.

Making a difference on public land progess report [PDF File - 1.5 MB]
Photo: Coastal healthland near Port Campbell part of the Otway Eden

Southern Ark - Endangered potoroos found at Cape Conran

Images of a long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) and her joey have been captured by remoted camera at Cape Conran.

These remarkable photographs confirm that the rare and endangered potoroo is resident in the area and provide important information about the species. According to Andrew Murray, Southern Ark Operations Manager, "It tells us not only that this species is resident, but that the food resources can support attempts at breeding'. These images also extend the known range of the species and are the only known record so close to the coast.

As a result of this find, a new study is now assessing the species' status at Cape Conran.
Photo: Long footed potaroo at night

Glenelg Ark - Measuring the impact

A new research report from the Arthur Rylah Institute at DEPI has found that the Glenelg Ark is having an impact.

Monitoring and evaluation of Glenelg Ark - 2004-2008 finds that there has been a significant and sustained decline in bait take, suggesting a reduction in the fox population. In response, Long-nosed Potoroos (Potorous tridactylus) and Southern Brown Bandicoots (Isoodon obsesulus) are increasingly likely to be found at Mt Clay and Lower Glenelg National Park respectively.

Monitoring and evaluation of Glenelg Ark 2004 - 2008 [PDF File - 654.6 KB]

Photo: Long Nosed Potoroo captured by remote camera


Grampians Ark - Protecting the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby

The Grampians Ark is providing a safer release site for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

Once common along the east coast of Australia, the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby was hunted to near extinction. This vulnerable native is now being gradually re-introduced into the Grampians and was recently featured on Stateline.

Watch Stateline's Saving brush-tailed rock wallabies report.
Photo: Brush tailed rock wallaby

Grampians Ark - Get away and get involved

Channel Nine's Getaway program recently featured the Grampians Ark monitoring project as a unique environmental holiday.

Grampians Ark encourages volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia to join rangers in checking, weighing and tagging small native animals. The information they collect is used to monitor native animal populations in the Grampians.

The endangered Smoky Mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) and Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) and the vulnerable Heath Mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei) and Long Nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) are all resident in the Grampians and supported by the Grampians Ark.

Watch Getaway's Mammal Monitoring program report.
Photo: Wildlife Officer


Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.