Out and about


As the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator, each week I meet with people working hard to reduce the negative impact of rabbits. Below is a snapshot of some of the engagement activities I was involved in over the past few months.

"<emCISS staff, Darren Marshall, Heidi Kleinert and Sean Freney, attended the 9th National NRM Knowledge Conference in Cairns.

 

NSW
There are 11 Local Land Service Regions in NSW. I’ve been connecting with the regions to learn more about the rabbit issues and the landholder programs that they plan and deliver for their communities. Below, I outline some of the work I’ve been doing with Western LLS and Greater Sydney LLS.

Western Local Land Services
Kaye Gottschutzke, Senior Land Services Officer, Western Local Land Services, leads rabbit management and cultural heritage management at the Willandra Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in far southwest NSW.

Western Local Land Services, in collaboration with the First Nations Advisory Group, Western Landcare NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and local landholders of the Willandra Lakes Region, has developed a comprehensive Rabbit Management Plan. This plan outlines a coordinated pest control strategy with clearly defined roles and shared responsibilities. Its goal is to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of Willandra Lakes, as well as the region’s agriculture and cultural heritage.

The plan emphasises that continuous and coordinated action, combined with integrated rabbit management, will have the greatest impact in controlling rabbits in the Willandra Lakes Region.

Through its Pathways to Country program, Western Local Land Services works with First Nations people to undertake on-country work that helps safeguard significant cultural sites within the Willandra Lakes region.

Find out more about the Pathways to Country program and the work Western Local Land Services does at www.lls.nsw.gov.au

Some other resources that may be useful:
• Watch Sustaining Willandra – Championing World Heritage Values
• Watch Willandra Lakes Region – Protecting Cultural Heritage
• Watch Sustaining Willandra – Connecting Country, Cultures and Science
• Read the Willandra Lakes Rabbit Management Plan (2023)

Greater Sydney Local Land Services

Annaliese Geddes from Greater Sydney is using drones and thermal imagery as a game-changer to pest management programs in recording rabbit distribution and abundance. If you are using thermal scopes, drones and imagery to monitor and manage rabbits please contact me on heidi.kleinert@invasives.com.au so I can share the technology advances with everyone.

Victoria

The Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network presented the Rub on Rabbits webinar. I joined experts from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) and CSIRO to share what’s involved in planning and delivering a well-informed rabbit control program.

Click here to access all the presentations and my tips on where to go to find digital rabbit resources to help you build your knowledge on best practice rabbit management.

National

NRM Knowledge Conference

Joining the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions’ colleagues Sean Freney and Darren Marshall, I was fortunate to attend the 9th National NRM Knowledge Conference held in Cairns in September. Craig Magnussen and I (CEO Darling Downs – Moreton Rabbit Board and Chair of Rabbit Free Australia) co-authored a paper which was presented during the Biosecurity Panel discussion.

Conference highlights:

  • David Hudson, a celebrated Ewamian/Western Yalanji acclaimed EDU-trainer and cultural ambassador, opened the NRM Knowledge Conference with warmth and wisdom. As Master of Ceremonies, he brought a strong cultural foundation to the event, starting with a musical performance at the Welcome Reception and continuing to entertain and engage over three days. His presence helped ground the conference in Country, culture, and connection.
  • The Biosecurity panel featured Darren Marshall from LandSmart, Jane McKenzie, the National Feral Deer Management Coordinator, and Craig Magnussen, Queensland Biosecurity Mates Ambassador. The session explored the impact of pest vertebrates – particularly feral rabbits, pigs, and deer – on Australian landscapes and communities. The message was clear: these pest species are not going away by themselves, planning and the use of data in tracking and managing pest populations are critical, and coordinated strategies work best.
  • Dr Nici Sweaney, founder of AI Her Way, delivered a compelling keynote titled “Ethical AI and What It Means for Our Future.” With a PhD in ecology and extensive experience in data science, she urged natural resource managers to recognise the potential of AI and embrace its transformative power.Dr Sweaney’s message: AI can help us do what we already do, but better. Start with what good AI use would achieve for your organisation, your community, your landscape and get some training.