Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

• Listing of reserve areas as “Protected Areas” under the Companion Animals Act.
• Need for a feral and pest species program including a council policy including
nuisance birds, pigs, deer and foxes
• Further research on Indian mynah problem (and other pest bird species) and
consideration of possible management actions.
• Further investigation of threatened species locations and links to specific recovery
plans and other actions.
A - 3.2.6
Regional Fox Management Strategy and Coastal Fox Baiting Program
As a result of community interest and concern regarding foxes, and their significant impact on
fauna species, Council developed a Central Coast Regional Fox Management Strategy (GCC
2005) with the support and contributions of members of the Regional Fox Management
Committee. This enabled the gathering together of relevant organisations involved in pest
management, more coordinated baiting programs and better data collection. The strategy
documents current fox management programs and makes recommendations for future
coordinated programs. It was endorsed by all members of the Central Coast Fox Management
Committee in 2005.
The Committee has now extended its role to address other vertebrate pests and has increased
its range into the Lake Macquarie local government area through the formation of a Central
Coast Vertebrate Pest Management Committee. One of the first tasks of this committee will be
to develop a list of priority vertebrate pests for the region and investigate opportunities for future
funding and collaborative management programs.
Council also applied for an off-label permit for the use of 1080 'Foxoff'baits in the coastal
reserves of the City. This was based on the success of a long running program in the northern
areas of Sydney that has been a collaborative project between councils and the National Parks
and Wildlife Service Division of DEC where an "off-label" permit is used to bait closer to
residences that would otherwise be permitted under the Pesticides Act. Council was successful
in its application and the first coastal fox baiting program took place in June and August 2004.
Council applied for a renewed permit in 2004 and has now been issued with a permit in force
until 2007. This will enable ongoing fox baiting in the coastal areas (i.e. Rumbalara, Katandra,
Kincumba Mountain and Kincumber Sewerage Treatment Works). Anecdotal information
received as part of Council’s ongoing collection of fox sightings is that there has been some
decline in fox numbers where coastal baiting has been carried out.
A - 3.2.7
Specific Threatened Species Programs
Management of threatened species continues to be a challenge for Council however improved
staff resources such as threatened species profiles, mapping of known locations of threatened
species on Council’s Geographic Information System (GIS) and improved assessment
procedures have led to more rigorous and informed environmental assessments for both
internal Council operations and development assessment. Council commissioned Threatened
Fauna and Flora Species Profiles in 2000 for use by planners and development assessment
officers. These are provided to Council staff via its intranet. In addition, Council adopted
Regional Flora and Fauna Assessment Guidelines in 2002. These set standards for survey
methodology and reporting and provide for greater consistency and a higher standard for
surveys undertaken for development proposals.
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 63