Farmers and other rural property owners increasingly
recognise the value of providing habitats for native wildlife on their properties.
The presence of platypus is an indicator of the general health of a waterway,
which in turn reflects the sustainable productivity of adjoining land.
Planning improvements to waterways
Whole farm plans are an important part of good rural
property management these days. Such plans should consider how best to address
environmental issues which affect the economic viability of a farm as well
as regional water quality and wildlife values - such as restoring areas of
native vegetation, controlling the spread of soil erosion and dryland salinity,
and managing grazing pressure by livestock and feral animals.
To prosper over the long term, platypus populations
require large stretches of healthy habitat. Accordingly, it is essential
that landowners work in co-operation with their neighbours and local catchment
managers to conserve land and water resources effectively.
Restoring stream and river habitats
To survive and breed, platypus require abundant food
throughout the year in the form of aquatic insects and other invertebrates.
As well, they need stable banks in which to place their burrows. In practice,
both requirements are most likely to be met along waterways where the bank
face and top are protected by a dense layer of ground vegetation (potentially
including grasses) and substantial numbers of native shrubs and trees.
In areas where banks are bare and actively eroding,
a combination of management actions may be needed to halt and reverse the
trend:
* Grade control structures, such as rock chutes or weirs,
may be required to stabilise the stream bed. Beside working to control
erosion, such structures often increase habitat diversity and thereby immediately
improve conditions for fish, aquatic invertebrates and platypus.
* The vertical slope of a vulnerable bank may need to
be reduced (or its toe protected with large rocks or other structures) while
vegetation has a chance to become established.
* Grazing pressure by livestock along the edge of a
waterway may need to be controlled to achieve sustainable levels - this
may require additional fencing or the provision of formed watering points.
* Grazing pressure by rabbits or other feral animals
may need to be eliminated.
* Appropriate trees and shrubs may need to be planted
at key points.
The large amount of work and materials involved in repairing
badly eroded gullies or waterways can make the task seem very daunting.
Fortunately, nature is generally happy to provide plenty of free help with
the task - in most cases, plants will begin to re-establish very quickly
if given half a chance. To develop a workable plan for improving a particular
section of waterway (and find out what funding is available to help pay for
the work), start by contacting your local Catchment Management Authority
or Landcare co-ordinator.
"Platypus-friendly" farm fencing
Surveys undertaken in the WImmera River catchment in
western VIctoria have revealed that many platypus in this area are scarred
on the bill, head, front feet or tail - in one case, an adult male had lost
an eye and much of the original skin on the top of his head. The size and
shape of the scars suggest that the animals have been wounded by encounters
with something sharp and pointed that is commonly found in agricultural (but
not suburban) landscapes - the most obvious candidate is barbed wire fencing.
To minimise the likely hazard posed by barbed wire to platypus, we recommend
limiting its use in fencing across streams to strands which are normally
held out of the water. As well, special care should be taken when disposing
of old or surplus barbed wire to ensure that it does not end up in the bottom
of a waterway.
Solving problems from pumping
Pumps are often used on farms to obtain water from rivers
and streams for irrigation or other purposes. Based on a number of reliable
reports, platypus (especially small juveniles) can be injured or drowned
by being sucked into or against an intake pipe while a pump is being operated.
To address this problem, an appropriate grille or mesh cover can be fitted
around all intake points.
Spilled or leaking fuel from a generator or other machinery
set up near a waterway is an unpleasant and wholly unnecessary source of
water pollution. One litre of oil can contaminate up to nine million litres
of drinking water! To avoid this problem, maintain machinery in good working
order, be careful when pouring fuel, and consider placing some hay, sawdust
or sacking by the equipment to soak up any spillage that does occur.
Demands for water for farming and other purposes is
generally highest in the warmer months when natural flows are relatively
low. Improving the health of many waterways will ultimately depend on leaving
enough water in the channel to maintain a viable environmental flow. in
turn, this will require that farmers use water as conservatively as possible
- for example, by progressively replacing wasteful earthen irrigation channels,
adopting technology such as trickle irrigation systems, or improving the
efficiency of irrigation scheduling.
Controlling chemical use
It is important to avoid contaminating surface waters
or groundwater with agricultural chemicals, both to minimise environmental
problems and reduce the risk of human cancers, allergic reactions and birth
defects:
* To avoid having to dispose of toxic chemicals, buy
only the quantity you expect to use in the reasonably near future (within
two years or less).
* Store chemicals in their original container with the
label attached.
* Read the label carefully and apply the amount specified
in the instructions - avoid the common (and costly) mistake of thinking
that using more will do a better job.
* Never apply pesticides or other agricultural chemicals
near wells, ponds, swamps or streams unless the instructions specifically
allow for such use.
* Don't apply chemicals if rain is forecast unless otherwise
instructed by the label.
* Choose the least toxic chemical that will do the required
job.