The Palaszczuk Government has announced $64,345 for two projects in Western Queensland that will help protect Queensland threatened species including an endangered fish, and an Australian bird.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said Bush Heritage Australia and BirdLife Northern NSW had received funding as part of the most recent round of the Palaszczuk Government’s Community Sustainability Action Grants Program.
“The Palaszczuk Government is ensuring Queensland’s threatened species are protected,” she said.
“BirdLife Northern New South Wales are receiving $15,345 to undertake surveys to define the distribution and preferred habitat of endangered Australian bird, the Grey Grasswren, on the Bulloo Floodplain.
“Bush Heritage Australia is receiving $49,000 to support ongoing conservation work to protect one of Australia’s smallest and most endangered fish, the Red-finned Blue-eye fish, in the springs on Edgbaston Reserve.”
Bush Heritage Australia CEO Heather Campbell said the 3cm long fish was only found in a few small springs in Edgbaston Reserve.
“The springs at Edgbaston are small, but absolutely vital. The total area of all springs currently supporting Red-finned Blue-eye is less than half a hectare,” Ms Campbell said.
“This means that the species is extremely vulnerable, particularly to the introduced Eastern Gambusia or ‘mosquitofish’.
“Mosquitofish have already invaded several of the springs at Edgbaston and have reduced the original seven populations to one naturally-occurring population. The work Bush Heritage has done over the last 10 years, including creating eight translocated populations of Red-finned Blue-eye has helped to manage this major threat, but there is still more work to be done.”
Ms Campbell said all the Red-finned Blue-eye populations were now protected by barrier fences, essential to prevent invasion by mosquitofish.
“Ongoing work to fence and eradicate mosquitofish from selected springs is critical for establishing new habitat into which the Red-finned Blue-eye can be translocated,” she said.
“We’re also improving their habitat by removing woody weeds from 10 springs and managing other pest species - like pigs - that degrade the water quality.
“Part of our overall recovery plan for this species includes relocating the Red-finned Blue-eye to expand its range and increase the number of springs on Edgbaston Reserve that it occupies.”
Ms Campbell said the ultimate goal was to ensure the survival of the species – listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of the world’s 100 Most Endangered Species.
Minister Enoch said the funding for these Western Queensland projects was part of the Queensland Government’s $18 million Community Sustainability Action Grants Program.
“Under this round that specifically targets projects that protect threatened species, 29 successful recipients are sharing in a total $1.4 million for local conservation projects,” Ms Enoch said.
“This is the first time, since the Community Sustainability Action Grants Program began in 2016, that there has been a specific threatened species category.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring our threatened species are protected, and this funding will fund on-the-ground projects that help restore important habitat and conduct important research into some of Queensland’s most vulnerable flora and fauna.”
The full list of the successful projects can be viewed online.
The Community Sustainability Action Grants Program is providing $18 million over six years to community groups and individuals for innovative projects to address climate change, protect our unique wildlife and conserve Queensland’s natural and built environment.
Ms Enoch said the program supports locally based, community driven projects which encourage real change in Queensland.
