Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00157:body:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00157
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 24809–28131

required to:
            •   minimise the spread of Phytophthora to uninfested sites
            •   mitigate the impact of Phytophthora at infested sites.

           A priority is to minimise the spread and mitigate the impact of Phytophthora in areas containing biodiversity assets of high conservation value, including:
            •   threatened species or ecological communities susceptible to Phytophthora
            •   habitat susceptible to Phytophthora and critical to the survival of threatened flora and fauna.

           Phytophthora dieback may cause native species or ecological communities not yet listed under the EPBC Act to become eligible for listing as threatened. This means that it is also important to address the impacts and spread of Phytophthora in areas that:
            •   support high plant species endemicity
            •   support high species diversity for a type of vegetation
            •   support significant remnant vegetation as per state or territory criteria
            •   are large, ecologically intact and mostly undisturbed
            •   support susceptible species listed as threatened at the state or territory level.

           The use of the biodegradable, systemic fungicide phosphite to assist existing management strategies has been recommended for protection of susceptible vegetation communities (Aberton et al., 1999, 2003; Barrett & Rathbone, 2018). The strategic application of phosphite has been shown to reduce the rate of autonomous spread of the pathogen, enhance the survival of susceptible species and ameliorate impacts on plant community structure.

           The Western Australian Government, in association with Murdoch University, has undertaken major containment and spot eradication projects using phosphite for Phytophthora in both the Fitzgerald River and Cape Arid National Parks in Western Australia.

           More information on the use of phosphite, containment activities and other management measures undertaken in Australia can be found in the background document (DoEE, 2018a).

2. Objectives and actions

         The goal of this Plan is to minimise the impacts of Phytophthora on matters of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act and priority biodiversity assets identified by the actions of this Plan. To achieve this goal, the Plan has four objectives:
           1. Identify and prioritise for protection biodiversity assets that are, or may be, impacted by Phytophthora. Prioritised biodiversity assets may include:
            •   listed threatened species and ecological communities
            •   areas where there is potential for Phytophthora to cause unlisted native species or ecological communities to become eligible for listing under the EPBC Act (in any category other than conservation dependent).
2.     Reduce the spread and mitigate the impacts of Phytophthora to protect:
            •   priority biodiversity assets
            •   areas where there is potential for Phytophthora to cause native species or ecological communities not yet listed to become eligible for listing under the EPBC Act (in any category other than conservation dependent).
           3.        Inform and engage the community by promoting information about Phytophthora, its impacts on biodiversity and actions