July 2024
Summary
The company has been through a particularly busy period over the last quarter with the capital fund raising and purchase of the Tothills property, and the transfer of the Talyala property title now at an advanced stage. These acquisitions significantly increase the land holdings of the company. Ongoing management of these properties is only made possible through the dedicated volunteer efforts of a number of our members, the annual fee from members, government grants and collaboration with groups such as Second Nature Conservancy (previously GWLAP).
Bushland Conservation has an impressive record of being run through volunteer work and this was clearly
evident during the planting days in June this year at Rockleigh with over 40 volunteers putting in nearly
3000 plants. Our volunteer base is a huge asset to the company and the board extends its gratitude to all
the volunteers.

The AGM will be at our Kangaroo Island property this year. The AGM is a good opportunity to visit this
wonderful bush property and coastline. If you are planning to attend the meeting it is advisable to book the ferry now.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of Bushland Conservation and the AGM will be at Rockleigh.

Company News
Capital Raising
The company raised capital from members through the issue of new shares to fund the purchase of the
Tothills property. The excess raised over the purchase price and costs will be kept as a
separate fund for possible future land purchases in the Tothills.

Tothill Ranges Land Acquisition
The acquisition of Sections 4 and 204, totalling about 70 hectares, has now been finalised and the titles
have been transferred to Bushland Conservation. This acquisition was made possible by the successful
capital raising that many of the members participated in. These contributions from members are much
appreciated and a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to protect valuable bushland.
The process of integrating these sections into the existing Tothills management plan and applying for a Heritage Agreement is now underway.

Talyala Land Acquisition
The agreement to gift Bushland Conservation the Talyala property has now been signed and the process of grant of easement and title transfer is being finalised. Members will be notified once the transfer has been formalised.

Property News
Rockleigh
NVHA Grant Re-vegetation Project
The Rockleigh planting day was well attended with over 20 volunteers turning up to enjoy the lovely fine
winter weather. A total of 1850 plants were put in on the day, 1500 of which were grown by Second Nature conservancy (SNC) and 350 grown by Bushland Conservation volunteers. The contribution of the
volunteer members, family, and friends is greatly appreciated. We hope they felt rewarded by their planting efforts and the opportunity to enjoy some tasty picnic food and a chat around the campfire.
A further 150 plants grown by Ian Roberts, Angela Wilde and Nic Nicole will be planted this season to
complete our commitment for the first year of the grant of 2000 plants. These were mainly upper storey
species distributed over much of the exclosure, with the plan to plant the remaining 7000 plants as mid andlower story infill over the next 2 years.
The company was again able contract SNC using the grant funding provided through the Native Vegetation Heritage Agreement Large Grant programme. SNC provided much appreciated support in preparing for planting through scraping and auguring holes to remove weeds as well as watering on the planting day.
There will be plenty of opportunity for further volunteer work over the next 2 years of the grant for anyone
disappointed to have missed out.

Biodiversity Links Project Monarto to Tungkillo – Planting Dates
The other planting project at Rockleigh was undertaken using the funding provided by a Biodiversity Links
grant obtained by SNC. Bushland Conservation was contracted as part of this grant to grow the 1000
plants allocated to Rockleigh. We are grateful to our volunteer growers, particularly Angela Wilde and Nic
Nicole, enabling the company to receive a payment of $2500.
Preparation for the planting day was again supported by SNC, with the company providing 17 keen
volunteers on the day to plant, water and guard the 1000 plants. The plants were split between two areas,
one adjacent to the eastern end of the exclosure and the other at the far eastern end of the property near
the gate.
We were fortunate to have a fine day for planting and a warm fire to sit around and chat during “smoko” and lunch.

Deer Control
Bushland Conservation applied for a grant to help monitor and control deer at Rockleigh through the
Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Grassroots Grant programme but was unsuccessful. The
company will continue its efforts to eradicate deer and will consider how best to manage this activity without the benefit of grant funding.

Tothill Ranges
In addition to engaging a professional shooter for pest animal control, the company also agreed to
participate in an aerial shooting programme undertaken and paid for by NPWS. This programme is carried
out using a helicopter and high tech thermal imagining to identify animals that would otherwise be hidden.
The good news is that despite excellent conditions and a blanket thermal imaging coverage of the Tothills
Ranges there was a complete absence of deer although they did manage to shoot 3 foxes. We do know
from our camera traps that there are deer in the general area but they had moved on by the time of the
aerial programme.
Bushland Conservation will continue to monitor and control deer activity in the Tothills. The company was
fortunately successful in obtaining a $1000 grant through a Northern and Yorke Landscape Bite-sized
Grants to support our feral deer eradication programme.
Andrew Wurst continues to be busy with his “tile project” to research reptiles. He regularly records
interesting dragons and skinks but is yet to find the elusive worm lizard.

Kangaroo Island

The main ongoing activity on the property is the feral cat eradication programme. Cat numbers are
reportedly declining noticeably but substantial work remains to be done. A second Felixer cat trap has now been installed on the Bushland property to target a known area of cat activity. The NPWS plans to
undertake fauna surveys in the area, particularly focussed on investigating the presence of Bandicoot, so it will be interesting to see the results.

2024 AGM
The 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on our Kangaroo Island Property on Saturday 5 October.
Members are reminded to book the ferry now. More details will be provided closer to the time.
Annual Fees.
The annual fee is now due.
The directors have agreed to leave the annual fee unchanged. Details for payment are in the e mailed newsletter.

Peter Vincent.