Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01713:body:0:p41
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01713
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 182261–185207

habitat component for the water mouse. Historical widespread use of residual herbicides may have led to the loss and degradation of water mouse habitat along the east coast of Queensland. The use of residual herbicide is now controlled, although contraindicative use may continue and have adverse impacts in some areas.
Oil spill
As intertidal species, the water mouse and its invertebrate prey may occasionally be impacted by widespread oil spills e.g. the 2009 oil spill off the coast of Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island (Burnham 2000; Gynther 2011). The risk of oil spill impact is highest from the Torres Strait to Coomera due to the presence of the Great Barrier Reef and/or a high density of shipping (Australian Maritime Safety Authority).
Port Melville on the Tiwi Islands may represent a significant risk to water mouse on the Tiwi Islands due to its extensive capacity as a diesel storage supply base and lack of environmental regulation. The response of water mouse populations to coastal oil spills is unknown.
Plastic
Coastal pollution from drifting plastics and other waste is a significant concern for coastal areas in northern and eastern Australia (Reisser et al. 2013; Galaiduk et al. 2020). The long-term impact of coastal plastic pollution on the water mouse, and its habitat and prey are unknown.

4.8                  Large herbivores
The water mouse requires intact shelters and a cover of vegetation to avoid predation. In southeast Queensland, free-standing shelter mounds decline in overgrazed areas (Gynther 2011; Kaluza 2013, 2018). Feral cattle (Bos taurus), water buffalo, and horses (Equus caballus) all have the potential to damage and degrade large areas of water mouse habitat through overgrazing and trampling, particularly in remote areas (Ovington 1978; Burnham 2000; Woinarski 2006; Gynther 2011; ASRAC 2017). Habitat degradation by feral cattle, buffalo and horses is a recognised Key Threatening Process for threatened species in Australia under novel biota and their impact on biodiversity.
Figure 23: Significant cattle pugging and mud disturbance in water mouse habitat.
Sources: © Janina Kaluza (left in 2012) and © Ian Gynther (right @ Coomera River).

4.9                  Fire
Fire is known to destroy and degrade water mouse shelters within saltmarsh communities (Van Dyck & Gynther 2003) and fire removes supratidal and intertidal vegetation cover, exposing the water mouse to increased predation pressure (Burnham 2000; Kaluza 2019). Extensive and frequent fire intrusion into saltmarsh and other supratidal habitats is likely to increase in extent and severity across the known distribution of the water mouse as climate change progresses (Ward et al. 2020; State of Queensland 2021). Fire is unlikely to impact mangrove habitat (Woinarski & Winderlich 2014).
Figure 24: Burnt water mouse mud mound and surrounding habitat.
Source: © Ian Gynther (Donnybrook in the Pumicestone Passage).

4.10