SAVING TURTLES BRINGS EXCELLENT REWARD

A project designed to protect Cape York's marine turtle population has won a regional excellence award, Minister for Natural Resource and Water Craig Wallace announced today.

Mr Wallace said the project – Controlling feral pigs to minimise marine turtle predation in north-west Cape York – was one of the largest control projects in Queensland, and involved high levels of support from local indigenous communities.

"The project was developed in response to concerns from a number of indigenous communities about the impact feral pigs were having on local turtle populations," Mr Wallace said.

"Surveys at nesting sites showed predation rates of up to 100 per cent with evidence that pigs were patrolling beaches each evening looking for nesting turtles.”

Mr Wallace said after consulting with councils and traditional owners throughout the area, the department developed a two-phase control project combining aerial shooting and follow-up baiting that would put as large a dent as possible in the feral pig population.

"The project involved months of logistical work, negotiations and risk assessments, followed by extremely long, hot days and weekends for the actual control activities.

“In the end, almost 10,000 pigs were removed from the area, including more than 5,000 pigs from Aurukun in seven days."

NRW Regional Service Director, Mark Cranitch said the project's strong level of community support and involvement was a major factor in its win.

"To win the regional area business award, a project has to be exceptional. It has to demonstrate a commitment or approach above and beyond business as usual.

"This project was not only important from a natural resource perspective, it also created a new and vital relationship between government and the Cape York community.

"The project team worked closely with indigenous rangers and traditional owners, which was a great benefit to everyone concerned.

"The rangers and traditional owners were able to provide the team with detailed knowledge of the area and pig habitats, and the project team was then able to train the rangers in activities such as survey and control techniques.

The winning project team consisted of Paul Horrocks, Shaun Seymour, David Cranitch, Xavier O'Higgins and Andrew Congoo.

Responsibility for managing feral animal pests and weeds has since transferred to BioSecurity Queensland, which began operations on March 1.

Caption: Paul Horrocks (NRW Manager Vegetation Management and Use) and Boydy Heinemann ( then-member of Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council).

Electronic version of photo available on request

Media contact: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office, on 3896 3694.