Weed control at Big Island, Five Islands Nature Reserve

Media release: 14 May 2015

Restoration of seabird breeding habitat on Big Island, Five Islands Nature Reserve, off Port Kembla, is set to continue with weed control planned 18 May 2015 weather permitting.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Illawarra Area manager Anthony Horwood said the aerial spraying program is to control weeds that are destroying the seabird nesting habitat on Big Island.

“Following the weed control the project will revegetate the trial section of Big Island with a range of native species in late May 2015 with the help of the Friends of Five Islands volunteers and Berrim Nuru”, Mr Horwood said 

“Public access will be restricted at the proposed helicopter staging area located at Heritage Park off Gloucester Boulevard, Port Kembla”, he said.

“Spraying operations are weather dependant and some delay in operations is possible. NPWS apologises for any inconvenience.

“Invasive weeds such as kikuyu grass and morning glory have degraded the seabird habitat, with kikuyu grass up to 1.5 metres deep in some areas.

“This weed infestation provides an almost impenetrable barrier to burrowing seabirds such as little penguins, shearwaters and storm-petrels.

“The restoration project underway on Big Island is based on a similar highly successful project on Montague Island off Narooma, NSW.

“The project will involve a spray/mulch/respray/mulch/replant technique to trial weed control on Big Island”, Anthony said.

Five Islands Nature Reserve is significant for its biological values as it provides habitat and breeding sites for seabirds of conservation importance.

Contact: Danielle Schwerin