Threatened Species Strategy to protect Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Eastern Quoll

The funding is intended to aid the eradication of feral cats, and is part of a $5 million Threatened Species Recovery Fund, announced on Sunday by Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Lyons Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson.

Minister Hunt said the Recovery Fund would provide seed money and community grants for local projects that align with the targets of Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy.

“Across Australian local communities, environment groups and ‘friends of’ groups are working tirelessly to protect our vulnerable species. We want to support their efforts,” he said. 

Group leader of the Upper Meander Catchment Landcare Group Kevin Knowles welcomed the funds.

“This is really important as we are currently reviewing the state’s Cat Management Act.

“Which has been unworkable in the past, but with changes to legislation, it will fit nicely in with the federal government grant and put pressure on the state government to implement the new act with haste,” he said.

Mr Knowles said he just finished the state’s first-ever density study into the impact of feral cats, which identified feral cat numbers of between 10-12 per square kilometre. 

“They've only done spotlighting surveys in the past and that revealed 1 feral cat per square kilometre,” he said. 

He said he hoped Labor would match the commitment. 

Mr Hutchinson said the funds would community efforts to protect Australia’s unique wildlife.

“The Threatened Species Recovery Fund will help galvanise community action on the ground, where it is needed most,” he said.

The federal government’s Threatened Species Strategy committed to the creation of five feral cat-free islands, 10 mainland feral cat-free wildlife enclosures and the culling of two million feral cats.

It contains targets to turn around the flight paths of 20 priority birds, 20 priority mammals and 30 priority plants by 2020.