Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00199:reg:6:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00199
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 6 (pt 13/17)
Character Range: 39194–42353

directly or indirectly via lack of flushing flows, increased concentrations of pollutants in run-off, saline discharge, pesticide and herbicide run-off or spray drift; and vegetation removal leading to erosion and turbidity. Many possible impacts due to water quality are hypothetical and remain to be proven in the case of Australian Painted Snipe but can be inferred from studies of other species and/or relevant wetland types.

2.2.4     Invasive plants

 Non-indigenous weeds
   Changes to water regimes, water depth and surrounding land management has led to changes in terrestrial and aquatic plant species and structure associated with wetlands. These changes may advantage native and non-native plant species that are invasive and consequently negatively affect the habitat for the Australian Painted Snipe. For example, in the Murray–Darling Basin the introduced mat-forming plant Lippia (or Fog-fruit, Phyla canescens) has infected large areas. This plant out-competes native grasses (which are preferred livestock fodder) in areas subject to infrequent inundation and thus is favoured by the current regime of reduced frequency and duration of floodplain inundation. In response, landholders have opted to convert natural wetlands to cropland, thus ultimately removing habitat of the Australian Painted Snipe and other waterbirds.

              Changes to vegetation structure by native plants
             Native plants such as Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and Cumbungi (Typha spp.) may increase in cover in shallow wetlands altered by permanent or semi-permanent water regimes. These plants provide cover for secretive waterbirds and are integral habitat to many natural wetlands including many used by Australian Painted Snipe. However, if these tall plants invade and totally transform open wetlands to tall closed cover, they can transform Australian Painted Snipe habitat into areas that are no longer suitable. Hird Swamp in Victoria is an example where sections of the swamp are being actively managed to control the spread of these plants, resulting in the maintenance of suitable habitat for Australian Painted Snipe as well as other bird
             species. Fivebough Swamp in NSW is a good example of managed compartmentalisation of a modified natural wetland, to provide areas of habitat suitable for different species –including Australian Painted Snipe and Australasian Bittern which are priorities for conservation.

                   2.2.5     Climate variability and change
             Drought is a natural part of Australia's climate and the present-day existence of the Australian Painted Snipe demonstrates that the species is well-adapted to cope with a dry climate. However, the relatively recent and rapid decrease in available habitat, coupled with prolonged or more frequent drought periods, could prove to have irreversible impacts on an already depleted population.

             Declines in reporting rates within the Murray–Darling Basin, despite increased observer numbers and effort, might be explained by drought forcing the Australian Painted Snipe to move to drought refuges (Rogers et al. 2005). Hence