Goat control reduces threat to biodiversity
Recent aerial culling of feral goats from two rivers feeding into the Warragamba Dam will have substantial benefits on the biodiversity of the region and improve Greater Sydney’s water quality.
The joint project between the Tablelands and Cumberland Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA), the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the Sydney Catchment Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service focused on reducing the impact of feral goats in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee river areas.
Tablelands LHPA ranger Grant Eccles says that with both rivers feeding directly into the Warragamba catchment, the improvements to vegetation, soil and water in these regions by culling feral goats will benefit urban dwellers as well as landholders.
"Goats are pests that cause considerable damage to production and the environment in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment," Mr Eccles said.
"Feral goats remove and trample vegetation, which decreases soil stability and contributes to erosion. These animals also have the potential to overgraze and prevent the regeneration of plants.
"In addition, goat faeces around waterholes and springs are likely to eutrophy the water and therefore affect the water quality."
Feral goats range over large areas and compete with native animals and domestic stock for food and shelter; in the Hawkesbury Nepean region, their use of rock shelters excludes native animals such as brushtail rock wallabies from their habitat.
The aerial culling program accounted for 1168 goats, 18 pigs, 11 deer, 2 foxes and a wild dog on a property which had recently experienced attacks on livestock.
"This strategic approach to pest animal control will make a real difference to improving biodiversity in the Hawkesbury Nepean and Sydney catchments, while giving landholders a helping hand," Mr Eccles said.
"The result is that there will be an improvement in the river environment, which benefits all of us in the end."
The Hawkesbury Nepean catchment provides nearly all of the drinking water supplied to over 4 million people living in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.
Media contact: Suzie Robinson 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378