Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536:reg:4:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 35763–38818

4                        Implementation

4.1                   Implementing the plan
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts will work with other Australian Government departments, appropriate state/territory government representatives, and other individuals or groups with expertise, to facilitate the implementation of this plan. The Department will support the implementation of the Plan through targetted investment from programs such as Caring for our Country and appropriate management through committees such as the Environmental Biosecurity Committee.

Many islands with rodents, including some potentially high priority ones such as Lord Howe, Norfolk and Christmas islands, are also inhabited by people. Involving these primary stakeholders is essential across all objectives, but for the eradication objective the particular need is at the planning level of decision making. The participation and support of island residents, where present, is a key factor in any eradication feasibility plan and their approval and support is more readily given if they are involved throughout the planning phases. The level of residents' involvement in the actual eradication operation (rather than the planning) depends on how the control is done. For example, large-scale aerial baiting requires technical skills beyond those available to island residents, and often beyond those within government agencies. Elsewhere in the world these skills are usually contracted to experts.

In contrast, ongoing actions under the sustained control and quarantine objectives will require active involvement of island residents or permanent ranger staff of governments in both planning and delivery of the control.

Indigenous people have an interest in many islands and own and live on many. Thus they are key stakeholders both during planning and as actions are developed on each island.

4.2                   Duration and cost
This plan provides a framework that will guide stakeholders in determining and undertaking targeted priority actions. The level of investment in many of the actions will be determined by the level of resources that stakeholders commit to management of the problems caused by exotic rodents on islands, and therefore the cost of implementing the plan cannot be quantified at this time. There may be budgetary or other constraints on achieving the objectives set out in this plan, and as knowledge changes the actions proposed in the plan may be modified over the life of the plan.

The plan has both finite (eradication of exotic rodents) and ongoing (sustained control and quarantine) objectives. The costs for eradication can be estimated for each island where this strategy is possible and then funds allocated as different islands are proposed, with deadlines identified by jurisdictions according to their respective capacities and priorities. Annual costs for the eradication actions will vary depending on the size and location of islands from millions of dollars for large remote islands to a few thousands