Yathong Nature Reserve feral predator–free area: update March 2023

Planning phase is underway

The planning phase is underway for the 40,000-hectare feral predator-free area in Central Mallee, including:

• a newly adopted Central Mallee Reserve plan of management
• a completed review of environmental factors and a decision statement in its final stages of completion
• sites selected for baseline ecological surveys.

Baseline ecological surveys

Over the past 18 months, 22 monitoring sites have been established for conducting baseline ecological surveys. Some of these sites have been used to collect biodiversity data to inform the environmental impact assessment or review of environmental factors.

Baseline surveys will capture information about the presence of biodiversity in the reserve, focusing on:

• plant species
• a variety of birds
• small mammals.

Each monitoring site will measure these biodiversity indicators, or 'bioindicators', using a standard set of tools and methods such as:

• traps – funnel traps and pitfall traps
• recordings – cameras and acoustic
• plots – for recording vegetation.

Information collected before the establishment of the feral predator-free area will be used to monitor the impacts of the project implementation and refine the selection of species suitable for reintroduction within the fenced area.

Intensive feral animal monitoring

Planning has commenced to roll out intensive feral animal monitoring before the eradication phase.

Through the high-rainfall season, wildlife has presented in abundance.

Construction work will begin with a smaller 'stage 1 breeding and release area' nested within the whole Yathong feral predator-free area. This smaller fenced area will enclose 500 hectares of the reserve, with a fence length of 10 kilometres.

Construction works include:

• clearing the fence corridor
• upgrading and/or building perimeter trails
• building the fence.

Updates on local conditions

No impact will occur to main roads and travelling by vehicle through Yathong Nature Reserve. The main roads will remain open during the construction period:

• Yathong Road
• Merri Road
• Kidman Way
• Round Hill Road.

Management trails within the reserve will be subject to temporary closures throughout the construction phase, including:

• Western management trail
• Greens management trail.

For the latest information on Yathong Nature Reserve and other park closures and conditions, go to National Parks and Wildlife Service 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 the Live Traffic NSW website.