At North Barker, our team uses a wide range of methods tailored to different species and habitats, including:

• Dip netting and electro-fishing,
• On water surveys,
• Riparian and wetland vegetation mapping,
• Water quality surveys (testing and monitoring),
• Bioacoustic recorders for frogs and birds,
• Aquatic invertebrate surveys (AusRivAS), and
• Weed surveys for problem species such as willows.

Our rigorous approach means our clients can be confident that their surveys meet best practice and capture the information needed for sound decision-making. The outcomes of our surveys provide clear, practical advice, whether it’s ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, identifying areas of high conservation value, or informing environmental approvals. We able to provide our clients with the following outputs that are designed to give certainty and confidence:

• Natural values assessments and significant impact assessments of aquatic values,
• Threatened species avoidance, mitigation and management protocols (e.g. frogs, fish, crayfish),
• Erosion and sediment control plans,
• Project specific hygiene and working near waterways control plans, and,
• Platypus management plans, including for dam decommissioning and riparian works.

We also undertake ecological monitoring of wetlands to track changes over time, helping build a clear picture of ecosystem health and guide management practices.

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Classified as an environmental weed in Tasmania, mirror bush thrives in coastal dunes, seabird colonies, wetlands and rocky shores, where it can displace native vegetation, obstruct seabird burrowing, and hamper the natural seasonal flux of plant succession in these dynamic environments.

Reducing and ultimately eradicating mirror bush from coastal areas, particularly seabird breeding colonies, is critically important, as they (and other weeds) can:

• Compact the soil through increased root occupation, reducing burrowability for seabirds and native rakali (water rats),
• Restrict access to previously used nesting areas and burrows with impenetrable growth,
• Lead to the loss of seabird breeding habitat as they compete with natives and occupy space that would otherwise be occupied by breeding birds, and
• Ensnare, tangle and trap birds, sometimes leading to their death.

The significant risk to seabird habitat posed by weeds is acknowledged in the Australian Government’s Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds and within conservation listing advice for many state and nationally threatened sea birds.

Despite its apparent invasive tendencies and environmental impacts, mirror bush remains a non-declared weed in Tasmania. This means it lacks the legal status of a declared weed under the Biosecurity Act 2019, which could otherwise mandate eradication and impose penalties for non-compliance. Instead, it receives a lower-tier classification, resulting in a cautious, advisory approach, but still allowing free trade, cultivation, and lack of management. As such, control of the species is often left to volunteers and community groups savvy to the environmental risk and who don’t want to see their favourite patch of bush be taken over or their local seabirds displaced.

North Barker have somewhat adopted the voluntary task of mirror bush control on Picnic Island for this reason, helping restore the islands precious habitat after a rapid case of weed expansion and subsequent impact upon seabirds. These before-and-after images illustrate our success from 5 years of primary and follow-up treatments.

North Barker’s expertise in weed and hygiene management plans for sensitive environments has allowed us to develop and implement both a highly effective and cost-efficient program for Picnic Island while balancing works with the sensitive seabird habitat, with the results of the work clear in the dramatic reduction of mirror bush and improvement of penguin and shearwater burrowing habitat. Our work also benefits from an ecosystem-orientated approach, emphasising that high impact weeds aren’t just those declared under legal biosecurity provisions.

Our land management expertise extends beyond island seabird colonies, with North Barker contributing to the development of comprehensive weed management strategies for numerous municipalities, including Clarence, Sorell, and Flinders Councils. We have also delivered specialist roadside weed management projects across Tasmania, such as managing the Department of State Growth’s Priority Weed Sites program. To execute all of these projects we draw upon our ability to work at scale, coordinate multiple stakeholders, and apply consistent, science-based approaches to weed control across varied landscapes. If you have weed and hygiene requirements for your next project… or want to address the problem on your land before its too late, contact us for your land management needs.

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Located off Tasmania’s northeast coast, the island is managed by Traditional Owners from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC). Though being most famous for its supersized tiger snakes (Notechis ater serventyi), the island unfortunately also boasts supersized thickets of African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum), a declared weed in Tasmania (also a Weed of National Significance [WONS]), which poses a large threat to various ecosystems if left uncontrolled.

On Mt Chappell, boxthorn has crowded out many natives, including impressive coastal paper daisies – it’s also highly obstructive to seabirds, blocking burrows of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) and ensnaring migratory shearwaters, which once bred in their hundreds of thousands on the island.

So, with that in mind, FOBSI and our team had one clear mission: to battle the boxthorn. Braving harsh winds and remote conditions, the team removed boxthorn from the steep slopes and hard to reach places that TAC Rangers’ machinery couldn’t get to. The trip not only marked a continued step in ongoing weed management on the island, but also deepened our connections with the land and its cultural heritage, and opened the door for future NBES participants to aid the TAC Rangers mission of restoring Mt Chappell.

With company supported participants returning in August 2024 and 2025, the North Barker team are continuing to support FOBSI and the Rangers with their vital work with renewed momentum and refined strategies. With each boxthorn removed, native species are finding more space to thrive, reinforcing the long-term vision of ecological restoration. Our specialist input has also helped identify previously unknown infestations of mirror bush (Coprosma repens), a serious environmental weed on Tasmanian islands, which was subsequently targeted with primary weed control.

These trips aren’t just about removing a weed—they are about healing a landscape and honouring the shared commitment to protecting Country for future generations. All of the North Barker team have been grateful for the time to give back and contribute positively to the islands weed management. We are also thankful for the TAC Rangers for sharing the island with us and to Friends of the Bass Strait Island for facilitating the trip and for their long-term efforts, which are rightfully award winning.

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Mirror bush or taupata to those in New Zealand where it is native, is a highly invasive coastal weed that has a devastating impact on coastal bird colonies through alteration of habitats and the creation of impenetrable barriers to movement.

For the next 12 years, mirror bush proliferated across the island, forming large and dense infestations on the eastern slope in particular, but also gaining a toehold in every nook and cranny possible. Despite gallant attempts by the landowner to cut back bushes where they swamped the walking path or buildings, the mirror bush from humble beginnings spread to occupy more than 50% of the island. The tenacious plants also regrew after being cut back and, to make things worse, material left on the ground regenerated by sending out roots from discarded branches. Enter North Barker…

Since 2021 our team led by Andy North has adopted the island and taken on weed control as a voluntary team building initiative, with annual visits timed for when the migratory shearwater are not present to avoid impacts while they are in their burrows. Finishing a full sweep of primary control took 4 years, however the results have been fantastic and the task of follow-up treatments is much easier than early years, aided by good rates of knockdown using cut and paste on larger plants, and significant rates of recolonisation of bare soil by the native scrambling succulents. Ongoing maintenance control will be necessary for many years and potentially forever, as the mirror bush can recolonise from bird dispersed seeds from adjacent Coles Bay. We’re proud however for the time being to have restored the island habitat for the native seabirds and highly recommend a visit to the island during your next holiday – make sure to keep an eye out for mirror bush when you are there!

The post Voluntourism – Picnic Island weed control 2021-25 appeared first on North Barker Ecosystem Services.

Wapstra, M., Baker, M.L. & Daniels, G.D. 2021 (in press): Collecting history and distribution of the potentially invasive Disa bracteata (South African orchid) in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania v154: xx–xx. ISSN: 0080–4703.

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