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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

Ngambaa Nature Reserve feral predator–free area: update October 2024

Construction on the Ngambaa Nature Reserve feral predator-free area is complete.

 

Construction is complete

Construction works took 12 months to complete and included:

  • various environmental and cultural assessments, plans and approvals
  • building 23 km of predator fence
  • installing 4 new waterway crossings complete with predator-proof flood gates.

Baseline ecological surveys complete

Over the past 3 years, baseline surveys conducted at 20 monitoring sites have captured information about:

  • resident species
  • ecosystem functions
  • local threats.

Each monitoring site measures a range of biodiversity indicators using appropriate monitoring techniques such as:

  • traps – Elliot traps, pitfall traps, artificial reptile refugia
  • remote cameras – ground and arboreal cameras
  • sound recorders – for recording vocalising mammals and birds
  • quadrats – for recording plants, fungi, forests structure and soil function.

Eradication phase

Eradication has ramped up to remove feral predators such as cat, fox and wild dogs inside the fenced area with the aim to be declared 'feral free' in July 2025.

Techniques will include a full array of trapping, aerial and ground baiting. Four Felixer Cat grooming traps have been in operation since March 2024 and have proven to be successful to date.

Once the site is declared 'feral free' locally extinct species such as the eastern quoll will be returned to the area after a 60-year absence from the Australian mainland.

Updates on local conditions

Cedar Park picnic area will remain open during this period.

The following roads are now subject to permanent closures as part on the new feral predator-free area:

  • Wittigs Road
  • parts of Stockyard Creek Road
  • Seams Road
  • Jacks Road
  • Buds Crossing Road.

For the latest information on Ngambaa Nature Reserve and other park closures and conditions, go to National Parks and Wildlife Service local alerts or call the National Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS).

For the latest on road conditions related to this reserve, check Live Traffic NSW.

Visitors must follow any on-ground signage directions.

  • Man in NSW parks uniform closing a large wire gate. A dirt road leads into the area with forest beyond.
    Staff closing the gate to Ngambaa feral predator-free area
    Staff closing the gate to Ngambaa feral predator-free area
    Image Credit: Remy Brand
  • Two staff in NSW parks uniform walking along a very long fence in the red dirt. There is thick, green forest on both ides.
    Staff walking along fenceline of Ngambaa feral predator-free area
    Staff walking along fence line of Ngambaa feral predator-free area
    Image Credit: Daniel Parsons
  • Common Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina) standing on a rock. This small marsupial has a slender body, pointed snout, and large, dark eyes. Its fur is a mix of grey and brown, with a lighter underbelly.
    Common dunnart (Sminthopsis murina)
    Common dunnart (Sminthopsis murina)
    Image Credit: DCCEEW
  • Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) foraging in the grass at night. It is on a leaf littered floor with forest in the background.
    Northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
    Northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
    Image Credit: DCCEEW
  • Man in NSW parks uniform attaching camera to tree in a dense forested area.
    Staff setting a camera trap to detect the presence of extant species
    Staff setting camera trap to detect presence of extant species.
    Image Credit: Remy Brand
  • Man in NSW parks uniform crouching in the forest by 'Felixer' - a small, green, house-shaped box.
    Staff deploying Felixer to control feral cats
    Staff deploying Felixer to control feral cats
    Image Credit: Remy Brand