PRIORITY ACTIVITIES – 2014/15
PROJECT PLAN
Riverina Highlands Wild Dog Monitoring Project
1. Activity Responsibility
Responsibility
Name
Position
Reporting Line
Manager
Ray Willis Riv LLS
Peter Flemming
MBES
DPI VP Research Unit
Rob Kelly
Michael Leane
Guy Ballard
Jess Sparkes
Toby O’Brien
Ian Eggleton
Mark Goldspink
Rod Baker
Matt White
TLISPH, Riverina LLS
DPI
UNE
SBO, Riverina LLS
Vertebrate Pest Contractor
NSW Forestry Corp
NSW Forestry Corp
NPWS
Ray Willis
Peter Flemming
Manager (Sponsor)
Key Contact (Project Manager)
Other key personnel
2. Project Description:
This is a collaborative project and part of a much larger project across NSW monitoring wild dog movements.
Collaboration is between NSW DPI Vertebrate Pest Unit, University of New England, Murray LLS, Riverina
LLS, South East LLS, NPWS and Forestry Corp researching the wild dog movements in the upper Murray
and Riverina highlands regions. To date work has been restricted to the northern NSW and this work will
extend that knowledge and skill from Qld to Victoria by DPI Invasive Species Unit.
It has both biosecurity and biodiversity benefits and will increase community awareness and understanding
of the wild dog activity. This project will be a major collaborative effort between Government, Researchers
and the community.
Through the use of GPS collaring of wild dogs and the use of remote sensor cameras the project aims to
provide a better understanding of the size and distribution of the wild dog problem across a landscape scale.
A sample of Wild dogs will be fitted with GPS collars providing real time data feed via a subscription to
satellite tracking that can identify movement and home ranges, daytime resting places, den sites and high
risk incursion pathways of wild dogs over a 12 month period. It has the potential to provide estimates of
population sizes and therefore provide baseline data to which wild dog removal can be compared against.
Understanding the characteristics of the wild dog behaviour and of these sites can assist the development of
targeted control practices. Knowledge of movements facilitates appropriate scaling of control relevant to the
target animal or impact. The use of remote trail cameras can identify the abundance of pest and native
animals but also the interaction between the species. Understanding animal activity across all species can
assist in developing wild dog control strategies that minimise the interference from other species such as
foxes as well as reducing the risk to non target natives. This will lead to more efficient use of resources.
Wild dogs are listed as a Key Threatening Process (KTP) to biodiversity therefore this holistic study will allow
for greater biodiversity outcomes with wild dog control strategies in place.
This innovative and collaborative approach will demonstrate Riverina LLS’s dynamic and targeted approach
together with greater community awareness of the key pest management issues in the Riverina.
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3. Key Priority Activities Table
Tasks
Responsibility
Resources (time/staff)
Contract Preparation
Michael Leane
Purchase Materials
Guy Ballard / Michael
Leane
Michael Leane
Ray Willis / Michael
Leane
5 Days
Michael Leane
2 Days
Michael Leane / LLS
Comms unit
15 Days
2 days
Promotion / Information / Field
Days
Media
Field Work
Ray Willis / Michael
Leane
Michael Leane / Jess
Sparkes
Monitor
Guy Ballard
Collation of Data
Guy Ballard / Toby
O’Brien
Guy Ballard / Peter
Flemming / Toby
O’Brien / Michael
Leane
Final Reporting
Michael Leane, Toby
O’Brien, Richard Lloyd,
David Kellit, Amy
Shergold
100 Days
Michael Leane, Toby
O’Brien
20 Days
Toby O‘Brien
15 Days
Toby O’Brien, Michael
Leane
5 Days
Expected Date of
Completion
30/7/2014
30/8/2014
Ongoing from 1/8/2014
to 30/10/2015
Ongoing from 1/8/2014
to 30/10/2015
Ongoing from 30/9/2014
to 30/6/2015
Ongoing from 30/9/2014
to 30/6/2015
Ongoing from 30/9/2014
to 30/6/2015
30/9/2015
4. Expenditure and Reporting
Item
Amount/Code/Duration
Comment
Total Budget
$60 000
Source Govt Funding
WBS Code
Project Reporting
Monthly reports from DPI and
final report 30/9/2015
5. Key Focus Area of Plan
This Project will contribute to :
All Riverina LLS functional areas will be integrated into this project.
Biosecurity
There will be six Biosecurity staff (3BO/SBO, TL, MBES, DV) involved in all aspects of the project. The
Biosecurity team will manage this project in accordance with the Cooperative Wild Dog Management
Plans(Gilmore, Goobaragandra and Brindabella), Biosecurity Operational Plan, NSW Invasive Species Plan
and the NSW Wild Dog Management Strategy. See section 6 for KPIs.
Land Services
There will be five Land services staff involved in the project.
Cherie White – Community engagement through Riverina Highlands Landcare network
David Kellit – Field work
Peter Fitzpatrick – Field work
Leanna Moerkerken – incorporating Biodiversity outcomes through KTP guidelines.
Strategic Land Services
This unit will play a key role in the success of this project through the partnership building, stakeholder
engagement and reporting aspects. We will build and strengthen partnerships with DPI, University of New
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England, NPWS, Forestry Corporation, Murray LLS and South East LLS as each will have a strategic role to
play. All stakeholders will be engaged via meetings, field days, education programs, participation and
receiving regular updates on the project.
Staff involved:
Mark Wilson – mapping and data management
Tracey Bell – media releases and development of educational programs
Sue Buik - MERI
6. Key Performance Indicators
Strategies
KPI’s met
Biosecurity Operational Plan
Goal 2 - Eradicate or contain
Objectives 2.1 & 2.2
Goal 3 - Effectively Manage
Objectives 3.1 & 3.2
Goal 4 – Capacity
Objectives 4.3,4.4,4.5,4.6,4.7 & 4.11
NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015
Goal 2- Eradicate or Contain
Objectives 2.1 & 2.2
Goal 3- Effectively Manage
Objectives 3.1,3.2
Goal 4 – Capacity
Objectives 4.2,4.3,4.6,4.7 &4.11
NSW Wild Dog Management Strategy 2012-2015
Objectives 2, 3, 4,5 &6
7. Objectives
Goals
Targets
Outcomes
Identify pathways of wild dogs
Wild dog behaviour on public /
private land interface
More efficient and targeted
programs
Identify wild dog home ranges
All tenures from state forest, national
park, crown land and private lands
Understand movement
patterns and den location
sites to better inform
programs
Increase cost effectiveness and
efficiency of control methods
Knowledge of wild dog movement
patterns, behaviour and preferred
pathways
Demonstrates LLS
efficiencies and potential to
expand the programs
Interaction of wild dogs with livestock
Wild dog behaviour on public /
private land interface
Increased knowledge to
better inform affected
landholders
Community knowledge
Community meetings with technical
experts providing latest research and
knowledge of results from Northern
NSW
Informed community
working together, better
community reporting
Staff skills
Upskilling LLS staff through
mentoring and teaching from DPI
Invasive Species Unit technical
specialists
Improved relationships and
trust between LLS and
community, staff satisfaction
Quality data set
Data capture, storage and use of wild
dog data including camera data
Meaningful data resource to
explain issues to
landholders, better inform
the public and share with
agencies, assist with quality
spatial representation.
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8. Risk Assessment
Identified Risk
High/Medium/Low
Mitigation Measures
WHS
Medium to low
Risk assessment and SOP developed for each activity
Baiting program fails to bait dogs
Low/Medium
Can overlay wild dog movement with baiting program
using GIS maps to show gaps, update baiting program
Collar failure
Low
Use only field tested products
Livestock attack from collared dog
Low
DPI to report when dogs enter private property
Collared dog goes missing
Medium
Community expectations managed and developing a
shared understanding, baiting program to run at the
same time to give comfort to community that aim is still to
capture and remove wild dogs.
Community backlash
Low
Community consultation and education
Inability to trap wild dogs
Low
Use experienced wild dog trappers
9. Timeline
JUL
Tasks
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2014
Contract
XXXX
Purchase materials
XXXX
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
2015
XXXX
Promotion
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
Field Work
Monitor
XXXX
Collation of data
Reporting
10. Approval
Recommendation of Project Plan
Key Contact
(Project Manager)
Manager (Sponsor)
Approved by
General Manager
Print Name
Michael Leane
Ray Willis
Rob Kelly
Signature
Signed
Signed and Approved
Signed and Approved
Date
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