Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635:reg:1:p19
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 19/23)
Character Range: 84034–87134

increased costs due to the requirement to provide offset funding for research, to secure or rehabilitate habitat, or for other threat mitigation work. Any further loss of forest and woodland habitat from areas known or likely to contain regent honeyeaters is regarded as significant.
Regent honeyeater habitat has been heavily modified through clearing, development, fragmentation and degradation. The more fertile areas have been targeted for agricultural pursuits. Restrictions on further clearing of regent honeyeater habitat will impact on some landowners/managers and developers. These restrictions are not predicted to impact significantly on agricultural and forestry industries since the remnants of these forest communities are generally located on less fertile soils and are, therefore, relatively unattractive for grazing or cropping. There is likely to be greater consideration of impacts from urban development in coastal areas containing swamp mahogany and spotted gum-ironbark associations, and from the mining industry. At this stage, the impact of any restrictions on proposed developments is unknown.
Public and private forestry harvesting operations are potential threats to the regent honeyeater. The retention of nesting areas and a suitable number of large mature trees for nectar production and to provide foraging habitat is required. Application of suitable prescriptions protecting regent honeyeater habitat in areas managed for forestry throughout the range of the regent honeyeater may reduce the volume of timber available for harvesting. The extent of this reduction is unknown at this stage.
The protection, enhancement and expansion of remnant vegetation of suitable type by fencing and restricting stock access is preferable to the undertaking of new planting programs. It is a more efficient and cost effective approach to habitat restoration. However, planting of the regent honeyeater's preferred foraging species to enhance the structural and species diversity of woodlands on private land is also beneficial and may improve the agricultural viability of some properties by encouraging insectivorous birds which may reduce insect attack of crops and pastures. Such plantings should include a diverse representation of the endemic habitat including understorey species. Planting patches of habitat or enhancing existing remnants rather than creating narrow corridors may be preferable because regent honeyeaters and many other native birds do not necessarily need corridors for movement provided the habitat patches are close enough together, and these plantings often provide perfect habitat for the noisy miner. Planting of eucalypts also lowers the water table and assists in reducing salinity, which may enhance property values in the longer term.
The main social benefit of this plan is that it addresses community concerns that further losses or local extinctions be prevented. Landcare groups and Land For Wildlife/NSW Nature Conservation Trust properties have shown interest in enhancing habitat for the regent honeyeater and take pride in helping conserve