Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00432:reg:5:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00432
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 3/8)
Character Range: 66639–69537

behavioural changes that increased their chance of survival (Ross et al. 2019). However, it is assumed that feral cat predation is likely at most locations, and along with fox predation may be the key impediments to reintroduction at many sites.
Artificial watering points for domestic livestock may contribute to the expansion in the range of introduced predator such as fox (James et al. 1999; Davies et al. 2010), however fox may also avoid water points when dingoes are present (Brawata & Neeman 2011).

5.2                 Predation by wild canids in Queensland
In western Queensland, wild canids (dingoes, wild dogs (Canis familiaris), and their hybrids) are known to predate on bilbies and may potentially threaten bilby population resilience at Astrebla Downs National Park (Augusteyn et al. 2021). A study at Astrebla Downs NP (Qld) between 2012 and 2019 (Augusteyn et al. 2021) showed that of 723 canid scats collected over the period, on average
43 % of the scats contained bilby remains of an average 84 % volume. There was considerable variation across years and seasons with the frequency of occurrence of bilby remains in canid scats ranging from 13 to 85 % and volume ranging from 20 to 100 %.

5.3                 Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
Land clearing leads to loss of habitat, degradation of surrounding habitat, increased predation and fragmentation effects (Bradley et al. 2015). Bilbies did not persist in unfragmented landscapes such as those found in western Victoria (Abbott 2001), so even in largely unfragmented landscapes extinction debt due to stochastic loss of small populations (for example groups of bilbies) results in delayed extirpation (Loehle & Li 1996).
Roads, rail lines fences, dams, mines and associated camps, pipelines and other industrial structures, agriculture, and settlements may threaten bilbies through vegetation clearance, increased risk of road kill, creating barriers to dispersal and gene flow, and elevated predator densities resulting from increases in food and water resources (Bradley et al. 2015). The development of large-scale pivot irrigation agriculture in the Pilbara and Kimberley in the WA, and areas of central NT, may contribute to these effects.
The construction of and upgrading of roads in areas where road access has previously been limited is likely to increase the threat of mortality or injury of bilbies on roads. There are areas in the north Pilbara and Kimberley where numerous road mortalities of bilbies have been reported over the last decade, with medium to longer term impacts on bilbies unknown.
Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and couch grass (Cynodon dactylon) have been recorded in bilby habitat. Sandy soils are preferred by buffel grass in Central Australia (DENR) where it presents a threat to affected habitat by changing fire intensity and regimes, altering vegetation composition and