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Fine-faced Gecko (Diplodactylus pulcher)

The Fine-faced Gecko is a poorly known Australian desert gecko that feeds almost exclusively on termites and shelters under rocks or in burrows. It is mapped in South Australia and Western Australia, where it has conservation significance, so clearing and construction projects should retain suitable desert habitat and use targeted reptile survey methods.

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare.

Breeding season

The Fine-faced Gecko is poorly known, and no species-specific breeding months are established. For clearing planning, use a precautionary warm-season window, with year-round protection because the species shelters under rocks or in burrows and can be difficult to detect.

Breeding mode: Not recorded

Clutch or litter size: Not recorded

Incubation period: Not recorded

Fledging or weaning: Not recorded

Age at maturity: Not recorded

Breeding sites: Not recorded. The genus shelters under rocks or in burrows, but breeding use of these sites has not been established for the Fine-faced Gecko.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded

Activity and breeding timing may vary between years and between arid regions in South Australia and Western Australia, so site-specific survey results should guide the final work program.

  • Potential breeding activity, warm-season planning guide: No species-specific breeding calendar is available, so spring to autumn is used as a precautionary planning window for a desert reptile.
  • Potential eggs or dependent young, planning guide: The timing of eggs and young is not recorded, so clearing controls should be maintained through the warmer months when breeding is possible.
  • Shelter and foraging activity: Retain careful searches and habitat controls year-round because the species uses ground shelters and seasonal activity limits are not established.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest precautionary risk window is September to April, when works may affect breeding animals, eggs or young, although year-round risk remains because detection is poor.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Fine-faced Gecko is a small terrestrial gecko of Australian desert environments. Species-level field information is limited, so surveyors should photograph any suspect animal and retain enough detail for expert confirmation.

A reliable description of its colour, pattern, body length and weight is not established in the field guidance used here.

Do not rely on a quick visual impression for identification. Handle geckos as little as possible and use photographs, location details and habitat notes to support verification.

Identification: Calls and similar species

A species-specific call or echolocation description is not available. Geckos do not use echolocation in the way that microbats do.

The Fine-faced Gecko may occur in landscapes where other desert reptiles are present, including the Eyed Knob-tailed Gecko, Diplodactylus conspicillatus, and the Ornate Burrowing Snake, Rhynchoedura ornata. A confirmed identification is preferable to identification from habitat alone.

Identification: Field signs

No species-specific droppings, nests, stains, odour or shelter marks are established. A gecko may leave little obvious evidence between surveys.

Check beneath loose rocks and around burrow entrances, but replace rocks carefully and do not collapse or block burrows.

  • Record photographs, GPS location, date, time, substrate and nearby vegetation.
  • Record whether the animal was found beneath a rock, in a burrow, on the soil surface or in disturbed ground.
  • Use a qualified herpetologist or relevant state fauna authority for difficult identifications.

Identification: Survey guidance

The species can be difficult to detect. In one study using pitfall traps, only 18 Fine-faced Geckos were captured, despite 11,520 trap nights across the broader survey.

A negative survey result should not be treated as proof that the species is absent. Survey design should be prepared by an experienced reptile ecologist and matched to the habitat, season, proposed disturbance and permit requirements.

  • Use suitably designed pitfall trapping with appropriate drift fencing where permitted and safe.
  • Include searches of loose surface cover and suitable burrow margins, with all cover replaced immediately.
  • Inspect traps frequently, protect animals from heat and predators, and provide shelter in traps where required by the approved method.
  • Scale survey effort to the South Australian Rare or Western Australian Priority 4 listing, particularly where intact desert habitat will be cleared.

Distribution: States and regions

The Fine-faced Gecko is an Australian species with a poorly defined distribution. Current mapping places it in South Australia and Western Australia, with records associated with desert and specialised soil or vegetation regions.

The species is mapped in South Australia and Western Australia. A fauna list for the Kondinin Local Government Area includes the species, although it was not recorded at the particular subject site listed in that assessment.

A precise regional range and the limits of its distribution are not established in the field information used here.

  • South Australia, where it is listed as Rare.
  • Western Australia, where it is listed as Priority 4.
  • Desert areas and other landscapes associated with particular soil or vegetation belts should be treated as potentially relevant until assessed.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Fine-faced Gecko is Australian. No overseas range is recognised.

Distribution: Site assessment

Before clearing, compare the site with current state fauna mapping and local records. Mapping should guide survey planning, but it should not replace a site inspection.

Give additional attention to intact desert ground, areas with loose rocks, burrows, termite activity and distinctive soil or vegetation transitions.

  • Check whether the proposed footprint intersects mapped habitat or a known record.
  • Keep accurate location data for all captures, sightings and suitable habitat patches.
  • Report records through the relevant state database or fauna authority where required.

Habitat: Habitat to look for

Species-specific habitat descriptions are limited. At genus level, Diplodactylus geckos occur in deserts and in areas associated with particular soil or vegetation types, so habitat assessment should focus on both surface features and landscape setting.

Prioritise dry terrestrial habitat with intact sandy or stony ground, loose surface cover and access to burrows. Look for habitat that forms part of a larger desert patch rather than isolated disturbed ground alone.

Record the soil type, surface rock, litter, vegetation structure, degree of disturbance and evidence of termites.

  • Desert landscapes and other dry, open terrestrial habitats.
  • Belts of distinctive soil or vegetation that remain relatively intact.
  • Ground with loose rocks, shallow cavities, burrows or other secure cover.
  • Edges and connections between suitable habitat patches, especially where clearing would create isolation.

Habitat: Vegetation and landform

The vegetation communities used by the Fine-faced Gecko are not defined at species level. Avoid assuming that cleared or sparsely vegetated ground is unsuitable, as shelter and termite resources may remain after vegetation has been removed.

Map dunes, stony rises, rocky flats, drainage features and changes in soil texture where they occur within or beside the works footprint.

Habitat: Construction planning

Use the smallest practicable clearing footprint and retain connected areas of suitable ground. Keep stockpiles, laydown areas and vehicle tracks out of habitat wherever possible.

Mark no-go areas before machinery enters the site. Include rocks, burrowed ground and undisturbed termite-bearing soil in the site inspection.

  • Brief operators on the species, likely shelters and stop-work requirements.
  • Keep retained habitat free from unnecessary vehicle movement and material storage.
  • Inspect the footprint immediately before clearing, particularly after rain or changes in site conditions.

Foraging habitat: Foraging features

The Fine-faced Gecko is an Australian desert dietary specialist that feeds almost exclusively on termites. Foraging habitat is therefore likely to depend on intact soil, termite activity and nearby shelter, although the species-specific relationship has not been fully described.

Search areas with termite activity, including loose soil, small mounds, soil cracks and the margins of logs, rocks or burrows. Treat these features as potential foraging resources rather than proof of gecko presence.

Retain a mosaic of open ground, surface cover and undisturbed soil around suitable shelters.

  • Termite activity and undisturbed soil profiles.
  • Loose rocks and litter that provide cover beside open ground.
  • Burrow margins and other sheltered edges.
  • Connected habitat where geckos can move between feeding and shelter sites.

Foraging habitat: Impacts from works

Clearing, grading and compaction can remove termite resources and alter the soil features used for feeding. Dust, repeated vehicle movement and storage of fill can also reduce the value of retained ground.

Do not disturb termite mounds or colonies unnecessarily. If termite habitat must be removed, document the impact and include it in the project fauna management plan.

  • Keep machinery within approved work areas.
  • Avoid unnecessary grading of retained habitat.
  • Prevent fill, spoil and concrete washout from entering suitable ground.
  • Rehabilitate disturbed areas with locally appropriate soil and surface cover where approved.

Breeding habitat: Potential breeding features

Breeding places, breeding timing, clutch size and development details are not established for the Fine-faced Gecko. Until better information is available, treat suitable shelters and undisturbed desert soil as potential breeding habitat.

Inspect burrows, spaces beneath rocks and other protected ground-level cavities for possible breeding use. Do not excavate or dismantle these features during a routine search.

A lack of visible eggs or animals does not confirm that a shelter is unused.

  • Stable cavities beneath rocks.
  • Burrows and protected soil openings.
  • Undisturbed ground with low risk of flooding, collapse or repeated vehicle movement.
  • Habitat connected to nearby feeding and shelter areas.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing and places

The breeding season, number of young or eggs, incubation period and age at maturity are not established. Avoid setting project timing assumptions around an unverified breeding calendar.

Where suitable breeding features occur within the footprint, obtain advice from the relevant fauna authority and a reptile ecologist before disturbance.

  • Plan pre-clearing checks close to the start of works.
  • Use staged clearing where feasible, allowing animals to move into retained habitat.
  • Stop work if eggs, juveniles or a suspected breeding shelter are found, until the fauna ecologist confirms the response.

Breeding habitat: Protection of breeding habitat

Retain rocks, burrows and intact soil wherever practicable. Do not cap, fill or block burrow entrances in retained habitat.

Use physical barriers and clear markings to prevent machinery entering retained breeding and shelter features.

Sheltering habitat: Shelters to inspect

Diplodactylus geckos generally shelter under rocks or in burrows, and the Fine-faced Gecko is expected to use similar ground-level cover. Shelter information for this species is limited, so all suitable cavities within a clearing footprint should be treated cautiously.

Look beneath loose rocks, within shallow burrows and around stable soil cavities. Inspect from the surface before lifting cover, and replace every rock exactly as found.

Shelters may be used during hot, dry conditions and may be difficult to distinguish from unused holes.

  • Loose rocks and slabs with a cool space beneath.
  • Burrow entrances and short soil tunnels.
  • Cracks, cavities and compacted soil margins that provide protection.
  • Sheltered ground close to termite activity.

Sheltering habitat: Handling and relocation

Do not catch or relocate a gecko unless the action is covered by the project approval and carried out by an appropriately authorised person.

If an animal is found during clearing, stop work in the immediate area, keep it shaded and secure, and contact the fauna spotter catcher or project ecologist for the approved response.

  • Keep animals away from direct sun, heat, water hazards and machinery.
  • Use clean equipment and minimise handling time.
  • Release animals only at an approved nearby location with suitable shelter.

Sheltering habitat: Retaining shelter

Retain natural rocks, burrows and surface cover in habitat protection areas. Do not use retained rocks for construction, erosion control or landscaping unless their removal has been assessed and approved.

Prevent access by vehicles, graders and stockpiles during the works period.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

The main project risks are likely to arise from loss of desert habitat, removal of shelter and disturbance of termite-bearing soil. Species-specific threats are poorly documented, so apply precautionary controls at sites within the mapped range.

Vegetation clearing, grading, trenching and excavation can remove shelters, burrows and foraging ground. Soil compaction can also reduce access to termite resources and make burrows unusable.

Keep the disturbance footprint as small as practicable and retain connected habitat around the works.

  • Mark the approved clearing boundary before machinery arrives.
  • Use existing tracks and previously disturbed areas for access and laydown.
  • Avoid unnecessary removal of rocks, litter and surface soil.
  • Rehabilitate temporary work areas promptly with suitable local materials.

Threats: Loss and fragmentation of habitat

Roads, pads, pipelines and utility corridors can divide suitable habitat and increase vehicle traffic through retained areas. Fragmentation may also separate shelter from termite-rich foraging ground.

Plan linear works to follow already disturbed corridors where possible and maintain links between retained habitat patches.

  • Avoid isolated clearing within intact desert patches.
  • Keep permanent barriers and drainage structures to the minimum needed.
  • Design fauna crossings or escape features where trenches or other unavoidable barriers could trap reptiles.

Threats: Disturbance to shelter and prey

Removing rocks, filling burrows, disturbing termite colonies, storing spoil and repeated vehicle movement can reduce habitat quality even where vegetation remains.

Control dust, runoff and material storage so that retained soil and shelter features remain usable.

  • Do not block burrow entrances with spoil or waste.
  • Keep concrete washout, chemicals and fuel away from retained habitat.
  • Avoid unnecessary disturbance of termite-bearing ground.
  • Inspect trenches and pits regularly for trapped reptiles.

Threats: Fire, weeds and compliance

Changed fire regimes, invasive plants and inappropriate site rehabilitation may alter the open ground, soil and shelter features used by desert geckos. Use local ecological advice when planning fire, weed control and restoration.

The South Australian Rare listing and Western Australian Priority 4 status warrant a higher level of survey and management attention than would normally be applied to an unlisted common reptile.

  • Obtain the required state approvals and fauna permits before survey, capture, handling or relocation.
  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher during clearing where required by the approval.
  • Record all sightings, captures, injuries and deaths, and report them through the project environmental system.
  • Escalate unexpected records or repeated captures to the project ecologist and relevant state authority.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Fine-faced Gecko is poorly known and can be difficult to detect. Treat apparently suitable desert or semi-arid habitat as occupied until surveys and habitat assessment support a different conclusion.

Map all records, remnant vegetation, rocky areas, burrows, termite-rich ground and soil or vegetation types associated with the project area. Check the Atlas of Living Australia, state databases and local government records before finalising the survey design.

Review proposed clearing, access tracks, laydown areas, trenching, night lighting and construction footprints. Include connected habitat outside the immediate disturbance area, because the species may shelter under rocks or in burrows and its local distribution is poorly resolved.

  • Record whether the project is in South Australia or Western Australia, and check the relevant state conservation listing and permit requirements.
  • Assess whether the action may have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance. Seek an EPBC Act referral opinion where required.

Survey methodology: 2. Nocturnal and shelter searches

Search suitable habitat after dark and during warm, calm conditions when geckos are more likely to be active. Use experienced ecologists to inspect the ground surface, rocks, burrow entrances and other shelters without unnecessarily disturbing them.

Conduct searches over more than one suitable night where the species is a potential constraint. Do not rely on a single negative search, particularly where habitat is intact or connected to known records.

Inspect rocks and shelters carefully and replace them in their original position. Do not destroy burrows or remove large areas of ground cover during a survey.

  • Record air temperature, recent weather, time of search, observers, route, habitat, ground cover and search conditions.
  • Use head torches with low disturbance settings where practicable, and avoid prolonged illumination of an animal.

Survey methodology: 3. Trapping and survey effort

Use pitfall trapping with drift fences where permitted and where the habitat and soil conditions make this safe. Obtain animal ethics, wildlife research and land access approvals before trapping.

The available survey evidence shows very low detection for this species. Diplodactylus pulcher was the highest-captured gecko in one study, with only 18 captures and a reported detection rate of P = 0.002, despite 11,520 trap nights overall. This supports a cautious interpretation of negative results.

Use shaded traps, shelter and frequent checks to reduce heat exposure, dehydration and predation risk. Close traps during unsuitable weather and whenever animal welfare cannot be maintained. Trapping design and duration should be set by a qualified herpetologist for the site.

  • Record trap locations, trap type, trap nights, weather, checking times, captures, bycatch, injuries and release locations.
  • Mark or photograph animals only under an approved method. Release them promptly at the point of capture unless an authorised relocation plan applies.

Survey methodology: 4. Identification and records

Have a qualified person confirm records using photographs, measurements and diagnostic characters. Do not identify the species from habitat alone, especially where other small terrestrial geckos occur.

Submit verified records to the relevant state database and retain spatial data, photographs and survey metadata with the project file.

  • Record the date, time, location, habitat, behaviour, sex or life stage if reliably determined, and whether the animal was captured, handled or relocated.
  • Map all occupied habitat, shelter features and areas where survey confidence remains low.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan to avoid habitat first, then minimise the area and duration of disturbance. The Fine-faced Gecko is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, so clearing decisions should be conservative and supported by qualified ecological advice.

Confirm the listing that applies to the project location before works begin. Obtain any state wildlife, research, handling, trapping, relocation or clearing approvals that apply.

Assess the action under the EPBC Act where nationally listed species or other protected matters may be affected. Make a referral if the proposed action may have a significant impact.

If works occur in Queensland and an applicable near threatened animal or breeding place is affected, obtain or comply with the required species management program before tampering with that breeding place.

  • Keep permit conditions, approvals, maps and contact details at the site office and in the spotter catcher vehicle.
  • Do not assume that a general clearing approval authorises capture, handling or relocation of the species.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work limits

Retain intact habitat, rocky shelter, burrows, termite-rich ground and habitat links wherever practicable. Shift the footprint, access route or stockpile area before considering removal.

Mark approved clearing limits on the ground. Fence or flag retained habitat and no-go areas before machinery arrives.

Set buffers around confirmed animals, shelters and any suspected breeding place or occupied habitat using project ecologist advice and approval conditions. Do not apply an arbitrary buffer where the relevant authority requires a site-specific one.

  • Keep vehicles, spoil, fuel, materials and washdown activities outside retained habitat.
  • Control night lighting near retained habitat. Use the lowest practical intensity, direct lights away from habitat and switch lights off when they are not needed.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance inspection

Complete a final inspection shortly before clearing, after the approved survey work and before machinery enters the area. Search rocks, burrows, ground cover, debris and other potential shelters.

A qualified spotter catcher or ecologist should brief the clearing supervisor on the approved footprint, exclusion areas, handling procedure and stop-work process.

Where the project may affect an active breeding place, obtain specific ecological and regulatory advice before disturbance. The breeding biology and breeding-place requirements of this species are poorly known.

  • Remove movable artificial debris by hand under ecological supervision where this is part of the approved method.
  • Do not dismantle natural shelter or excavate burrows during a pre-clearance search unless authorised and necessary for animal welfare.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction and equipment

Induct all workers before clearing starts. Explain the species identification, habitat features, exclusion markings, speed limits, lighting controls and stop-work authority.

Provide suitable containers, shade, ventilation and first aid materials for reptiles. Keep handling equipment clean and ready for use.

Give the supervisor, spotter catcher and project ecologist a current site map and contact list.

  • Tell every worker to stop work and protect the location if a gecko, burrow, shelter or possible breeding place is found.
  • Make the spotter catcher's authority to stop work explicit in the induction and contract instructions.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence from low-risk areas towards retained habitat, with a qualified spotter catcher present. Stop immediately when an animal, occupied shelter or possible breeding place is found.

Use staged clearing under the direction of the spotter catcher. Start with the outer edge of the approved footprint and work towards retained habitat so animals have an opportunity to move away from machinery where this is safe and lawful.

Clear slowly and inspect each work area before machinery advances. Keep machinery out of exclusion zones and avoid crushing rocks, burrows or ground shelters until they have been assessed.

Do not clear at night unless the method has been specifically assessed and approved. Avoid work during heat, cold, heavy rain or other conditions that increase reptile stress.

  • Use a pause and inspect approach around rocks, burrows, debris and dense ground cover.
  • Keep cleared material separate from retained habitat so that animals are not trapped beneath piles or pushed into remaining habitat.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and relocation

Only authorised and suitably trained people may capture, handle or relocate the Fine-faced Gecko. Handle the animal as little as possible and keep it shaded and secure.

Release an animal at the approved location and in suitable shelter, normally as close as practicable to the capture site unless the permit or relocation plan specifies otherwise. Do not move animals across roads or into unsuitable habitat.

Do not place animals in nest boxes, bat boxes or other artificial structures unless a qualified ecologist and the relevant approval specifically support that action.

  • Record the capture location before moving the animal.
  • Use separate clean containers for animals where required by the handling protocol, and prevent escape into active work areas.
  • Follow permit conditions for identification, marking, transport, release and reporting.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and occupied shelters

Stop work if an active breeding place, occupied burrow, shelter containing an animal, or a possible colony or roost is found. Establish an exclusion area and obtain advice from the project ecologist and relevant authority before disturbance resumes.

The species' breeding places and colony or roost requirements are not well established. Do not assume that a burrow or shelter is inactive because no animal is visible.

If an approved action must affect the site, follow the authorised species management program, permit and method statement.

  • Photograph and map the feature without unnecessary disturbance.
  • Keep people, machinery, vibration, dust and lighting away until the ecologist confirms the next step.
  • Document the decision, approval reference and person who authorised resumed work.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured animals and incident records

Place an injured animal in a secure, ventilated, shaded container and seek advice from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian. Do not offer food or water unless directed by a qualified person.

Report mortality, injury, unauthorised clearing, permit breaches and unexpected concentrations of animals to the project manager, ecologist and relevant authority as required.

Maintain a daily fauna log for all searches, sightings, captures, releases, injuries, deaths, stop-work events and habitat features.

  • Record time, coordinates, work activity, machinery, weather, animal condition, photographs, people involved and immediate controls.
  • Preserve evidence and do not restart the affected activity until the incident has been assessed.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Completion of clearing does not end the fauna risk. Check the cleared footprint, confirm that controls worked and use the results to improve later work stages.

Inspect the completed footprint on foot after machinery has left, under suitable conditions and with the spotter catcher or ecologist present. Check edges, soil piles, trenches, retained shelters and areas beneath debris.

Confirm that no animal is trapped in open trenches, pits, pipes, stockpiles or temporary fencing. Close or cover hazards when they are not being actively used.

Record any remaining shelter, burrow or habitat connection that requires protection during construction.

  • Remove temporary fauna hazards as soon as practicable.
  • Keep retained habitat clearly marked until all construction activity is complete.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals and follow-up

Check relocated animals in accordance with the approved relocation plan and permit conditions. Use non-invasive checks unless monitoring methods have been approved.

Record the release site, habitat condition, shelter used, date, time and any subsequent observation. Do not repeatedly disturb the release area simply to look for animals.

If animals continue to be found in the work area, pause the relevant activity and review the exclusion and clearing method.

  • Report failed releases, mortality or unexpected movement to the project ecologist.
  • Do not claim successful relocation from release alone. Assess outcomes against the approved monitoring plan.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a completion report covering survey methods, effort, weather, records, clearing stages, exclusions, incidents, handling, relocations and rehabilitation actions.

Submit statutory reports and database records within the timeframes set by approvals. Keep permits, photographs, maps and raw data with the project environmental records.

Compare actual clearing with the approved footprint and investigate any discrepancy promptly.

  • Include a map of retained and cleared habitat.
  • List all stop-work events and the corrective actions taken.
  • Record any limitations that reduced survey confidence or affected animal welfare.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review each injury, death, escape, unexpected record or breach with the spotter catcher, supervisor and ecologist. Identify whether the cause was survey design, induction, machinery operation, weather, lighting or site layout.

Update the method statement and brief the crew before the next clearing stage. Escalate repeated incidents to the project manager and regulator where required.

  • Use lessons from each work area to refine exclusion zones, inspection points and clearing sequence.
  • Do not close an incident until corrective actions have been assigned and checked.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore the ground features and shelter used by terrestrial geckos, not just provide vegetation cover. Aim to reconnect retained habitat and maintain the soil, rocks, burrows and prey resources that support the species.

Replace salvaged rocks, logs and natural ground cover in their original habitat context where this is approved and safe. Retain natural cavities, loose shelter and suitable burrow-forming soil.

Recontour disturbed ground to match surrounding landform and prevent erosion. Use local soil and locally appropriate plant material where available.

Reconnect rehabilitation areas with retained habitat and avoid creating isolated strips or narrow habitat remnants.

  • Keep heavy vehicles and stockpiles off areas under rehabilitation.
  • Protect new rehabilitation from repeated traffic, grazing pressure and unnecessary soil compaction.
  • Do not bury or remove natural shelter features during final grading.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding and shelter structures

The Fine-faced Gecko's breeding places are poorly known. Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes or artificial nest sites as a default measure, because these structures are not established as suitable replacement breeding habitat for this species.

Where a qualified ecologist identifies a genuine need for artificial shelter or breeding habitat, design, locate and monitor the structure under an approved site-specific plan. Prefer natural rocks, ground shelters and retained burrows where they suit the site.

Do not use bat boxes or elevated roost structures for this terrestrial gecko unless an authority-approved assessment supports their use.

  • Document the ecological basis, design, location and maintenance requirements for any artificial structure.
  • Inspect artificial structures only under an approved monitoring method and minimise disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and fire management

Control weeds before they alter ground cover, shelter or termite habitat. Use methods that avoid contaminating retained or rehabilitated habitat and follow the site's chemical management requirements.

Do not create permanent water points as a substitute for habitat restoration. Manage drainage so that rehabilitation is not eroded, waterlogged or exposed to concentrated runoff.

Plan fire management with the land manager and ecologist. Avoid practices that remove all ground shelter or simplify the habitat used by terrestrial reptiles.

  • Use local weed hygiene procedures on vehicles, machinery and materials.
  • Inspect rehabilitation after heavy rain and repair erosion promptly.
  • Keep construction lighting and unnecessary night access away from rehabilitation areas.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation for establishment of ground cover, retention of shelter, weed invasion, erosion and connectivity with retained habitat. Include targeted nocturnal searches and approved trapping only where the monitoring plan and permits allow.

Set monitoring triggers before works finish. A lack of detections does not by itself demonstrate that the habitat is unused, given the species' low recorded detection rate.

Adjust weed control, erosion treatment, access management or lighting when monitoring shows that habitat quality is declining.

  • Record survey effort and conditions so results can be compared between monitoring periods.
  • Keep photographs from fixed points and update habitat maps after each monitoring event.
  • Continue monitoring for the period required by approvals and the project rehabilitation plan.

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