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Saxicoline Sunskink (Lampropholis mirabilis)

The saxicoline sunskink is a small Queensland endemic skink associated with rocky areas, thickets of hoop pine and pockets of rainforest. It may be encountered during vegetation clearing or earthworks, particularly on Magnetic Island, and should be managed as protected near threatened wildlife in Queensland. Tampering with a breeding place requires an approved species management program.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Near threatened.

Breeding season

The Saxicoline Sunskink is poorly known, and no species-specific breeding calendar is established. This indicative Queensland skink pattern places breeding and young in the warmer months, with local variation expected, including around Magnetic Island.

Breeding mode: Egg laying

Clutch size: Not recorded

Incubation period: Not recorded

Hatching or weaning: Not recorded

Age at maturity: Not recorded

Breeding place: Not recorded; rocky areas in thickets and rainforest pockets are recorded habitat.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded

Timing may shift between years and regions, so treat September to March as a precautionary window and refine it with local records, habitat checks and pre-clearance surveys.

  • General surface activity: Allow for surface activity in every month, with more activity generally expected during warm, suitable weather.
  • Breeding activity: Use September to February as the main precautionary breeding window, with peak activity generally expected from September to January.
  • Eggs and dependent young: Eggs or young may be present from late spring into summer, so inspect ground cover and rocky shelter before clearing.
  • Highest clearing risk: Schedule clearing outside September to March where practicable, and use a qualified fauna spotter catcher with staged searches during this period.

Identification: Appearance

The saxicoline sunskink is a poorly known member of the skink family. Confirm identification from photographs and expert advice where needed, especially because small Lampropholis skinks can be difficult to separate in the field.

A detailed field description, including body size, colour and pattern, is not available here. Treat small skinks found in suitable rocky or rainforest habitat as potential saxicoline sunskinks until checked by a suitably experienced ecologist.

  • Record clear photographs of the head, back, flanks and tail.
  • Include a scale object in photographs where safe to do so.
  • Record the exact location, habitat, substrate and activity of each animal.

Identification: Calls and similar species

No distinctive call or echolocation behaviour is associated with this species. It is primarily located by visual searches and by checking suitable sheltering places.

Other small skinks may look similar. Do not rely on a general identification as a sunskink without checking the animal's features and habitat.

Identification: Field signs

Specific droppings, nests, stains, odours and other field signs have not been established for site use. Live animals are likely to provide the most reliable evidence.

  • Search around rocks, rock edges, fallen timber, leaf litter and dense ground cover.
  • Check crevices and shaded pockets before moving rocks or starting ground disturbance.
  • Use photographs and location records to support confirmation and follow-up surveys.

Distribution: Australian range

The saxicoline sunskink is endemic to Queensland. Available mapping identifies essential habitat on Magnetic Island, but the species should not be assumed to be absent from other suitable Queensland sites without an appropriate assessment.

The species naturally occurs in Queensland and has no stated distribution in other Australian states or territories. Magnetic Island is a confirmed mapped location of concern for project planning.

  • Check current Queensland mapping and local records before planning clearing.
  • Treat records as location evidence, not as a complete map of the species' occurrence.
  • A lack of previous records does not demonstrate that a suitable site is unoccupied.

Distribution: Overseas range

There is no overseas range. The saxicoline sunskink is a Queensland endemic.

Distribution: Site assessment

Assess rocky rainforest and hoop pine habitat early in project design. Confirm whether proposed disturbance overlaps mapped essential habitat, rocky shelter and connected native vegetation.

  • Review desktop records and habitat mapping before finalising access tracks, work areas and stockpile locations.
  • Inspect both the proposed footprint and adjacent habitat that could be affected by machinery, drainage or edge disturbance.
  • Keep a record of all sightings, including animals found during clearing supervision.

Habitat: Vegetation to look for

The saxicoline sunskink has been associated with rocky areas in thickets of hoop pine and pockets of rainforest. These habitat elements can be small and easily overlooked during site inspections.

Prioritise inspections in dense native vegetation with a shaded, humid ground layer. Look for hoop pine thickets, rainforest pockets, vines, leaf litter and low structural cover.

  • Hoop pine thickets
  • Pockets of rainforest
  • Dense ground vegetation and leaf litter
  • Native vegetation adjoining rocky areas

Habitat: Landforms and ground features

Rocky ground is the clearest habitat feature identified for this species. Search around exposed rock, rock piles, boulder margins, crevices and shallow sheltered gaps.

  • Rock outcrops and boulder fields
  • Rock edges beside dense vegetation
  • Shallow crevices and gaps under rocks
  • Leaf litter and fallen timber near rocks

Habitat: Habitat condition

Retain connected native vegetation and undisturbed rocky shelter wherever practicable. Avoid breaking up small rainforest pockets or isolating rocky habitat with tracks, pads or cleared edges.

  • Mark habitat constraints before machinery enters the site.
  • Keep spoil, fill and stored materials out of rocky shelter and native ground cover.
  • Prevent unnecessary removal of rocks, fallen timber and leaf litter.

Foraging habitat: Likely foraging places

The diet of the saxicoline sunskink is not well documented. As a small skink, it should be assessed as a ground-active insectivorous or small invertebrate-feeding reptile unless field evidence indicates otherwise.

Search the ground layer around rocks, leaf litter, fallen timber, dense low vegetation and the edges of rainforest pockets. These areas can provide both small prey and cover.

  • Rock margins and shallow crevices
  • Leaf litter beneath dense vegetation
  • Ground cover in hoop pine thickets
  • Moist edges of rainforest pockets

Foraging habitat: Site practices

Avoid unnecessary disturbance of the ground layer. Clearing, repeated vehicle movements, soil compaction and removal of shelter can reduce usable foraging habitat even where mature vegetation is retained.

  • Use existing access routes where possible.
  • Keep work areas tightly defined.
  • Limit night lighting and avoid directing lights into retained habitat.
  • Prevent sediment, chemicals and waste from entering rainforest pockets or rocky ground.

Foraging habitat: Survey approach

Use active visual searches by an experienced reptile ecologist, with attention to rocks, litter and dense ground cover. Search effort should be scaled to the amount of suitable habitat and the extent of proposed disturbance.

  • Inspect habitat before clearing and again during staged clearing where required.
  • Lift or move potential shelter only under an approved fauna handling procedure.
  • Stop work and obtain advice if a suspected animal is found in the disturbance area.

Breeding habitat: Potential breeding places

Breeding habitat and breeding timing for the saxicoline sunskink are poorly documented. Treat suitable rocky shelter within native vegetation as potential breeding habitat unless a qualified ecologist supports a different conclusion.

Potential breeding places may include sheltered spaces under rocks, within rock crevices, beneath fallen timber or in dense ground cover. These features should not be disturbed casually during clearing.

  • Rock crevices and protected gaps
  • Sheltered spaces beneath rocks or fallen timber
  • Dense leaf litter and ground vegetation
  • Shaded sites within rainforest pockets or hoop pine thickets

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing

A breeding season, clutch size and development period have not been established for practical site scheduling. Plan protection around the habitat rather than relying on a short seasonal exclusion period.

  • Schedule habitat inspections before disturbance begins.
  • Use staged clearing where suitable habitat cannot be retained.
  • Maintain fauna handling and stop-work procedures throughout the clearing period.

Breeding habitat: Legal protection

In Queensland, the species is near threatened and is protected wildlife. Tampering with its breeding place requires a species management program, so suspected breeding habitat must be referred to the project ecologist and relevant Queensland authority before disturbance.

  • Do not destroy, fill or relocate suspected breeding features without approval.
  • Document the location and condition of any suspected breeding place.
  • Keep fauna spotter catchers, supervisors and machine operators briefed on the constraint.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Sheltering habitat is likely to be concentrated close to rocks and dense ground cover. Small shelter features can be used during heat, dry conditions, predation risk and disturbance, so they should be retained wherever possible.

Look for rocks, shallow crevices, fallen timber, leaf litter and dense low vegetation. Rocky areas within hoop pine thickets and rainforest pockets warrant close inspection.

  • Rock piles, outcrops and boulder margins
  • Gaps beneath rocks and fallen timber
  • Leaf litter and woody debris
  • Dense vegetation at the edge of rocky habitat

Sheltering habitat: Handling during clearing

Do not place hands into crevices or lift rocks without checking for fauna and following the approved handling procedure. A fauna spotter catcher should direct any search, capture or relocation.

  • Clear vegetation progressively toward retained habitat where safe and approved.
  • Inspect ground features immediately before disturbance.
  • Keep captured animals shaded, secure and handled for the shortest practical time.
  • Release or relocate animals only to an approved suitable location.

Sheltering habitat: Retained habitat

Protect connected rocky habitat, rainforest pockets, hoop pine thickets and the surrounding ground layer. Avoid using retained shelter as a laydown area, access route or spoil storage area.

  • Fence or mark exclusion areas before works start.
  • Prevent vehicle access across rocky shelter.
  • Retain leaf litter, fallen timber and natural rock features where practicable.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

For development and land management, the main risks are loss and fragmentation of rocky native habitat, direct injury during clearing, and degradation of the ground layer. The species' near threatened status calls for early avoidance and careful supervision.

Removing rocky vegetation, rainforest pockets, hoop pine thickets, rocks, fallen timber or leaf litter can remove shelter and foraging habitat. Excavation and grading can also destroy crevices and other potential breeding places.

  • Avoid the habitat where practicable.
  • Minimise the clearing footprint and retain connected native vegetation.
  • Use clearly marked exclusion areas around rocky habitat.

Threats: Direct injury and mortality

Animals may be crushed by machinery, buried during earthworks or trapped in trenches and stockpiles. Unsupervised clearing increases the risk of missing small skinks sheltering close to the ground.

  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher during relevant clearing.
  • Inspect trenches, pipes, materials and machinery areas before work resumes.
  • Apply stop-work procedures for suspected animals or breeding places.

Threats: Fragmentation and edge effects

Tracks, buildings and cleared edges can isolate rocky habitat and alter shade, moisture and ground cover. Repeated vehicle movements can compact soil and remove the litter layer used for shelter and foraging.

  • Keep access routes within already disturbed areas where possible.
  • Avoid dividing small rainforest pockets or rocky habitat.
  • Rehabilitate temporary work areas with locally appropriate native vegetation and ground cover.

Threats: Fire, weeds and site disturbance

Poorly planned fire, weed invasion, rubbish, lighting and changes to drainage may reduce habitat quality. Manage these pressures around retained habitat and prevent materials or runoff from entering rocky rainforest areas.

  • Use fire planning that protects dense native ground cover and rainforest pockets.
  • Control weeds without damaging retained shelter or contaminating rocky habitat.
  • Keep waste, chemicals, spoil and sediment away from habitat.
  • Avoid unnecessary lighting and night disturbance near retained habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The saxicoline sunskink is poorly known. Survey effort should focus on rocky areas in hoop pine thickets and rainforest pockets, particularly on Magnetic Island where mapped essential habitat has been identified.

Check current WildNet records, essential habitat mapping, planning overlays and recent ecological reports before finalising the survey area.

Treat nearby records as a prompt for field investigation. A lack of records does not confirm absence.

Map rocky ground, rock piles, rock crevices, leaf litter, dense vegetation and connected rainforest or hoop pine habitat within and around the work area.

  • Confirm the current Nature Conservation Act 1992 listing as near threatened.
  • Check whether the action could affect a matter of national environmental significance and whether an EPBC Act referral is required.
  • Identify whether the work could disturb a breeding place or other shelter used by the species.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Use experienced herpetologists to undertake systematic visual searches in suitable habitat. Search around rocks, rock edges, fallen timber, leaf litter and dense ground cover.

Search slowly and quietly during warm conditions when skinks are likely to be active. Include shaded refuge areas and sunlit edges.

Use active searches and careful inspection of natural cover. Replace rocks, timber and other cover exactly as found unless an authorised handling or collection procedure applies.

Where suitable, use temporary artificial cover as a supplementary method. Leave it in place long enough to provide repeated sampling, and check it without damaging habitat.

Use trapping only where justified by the risk assessment, approved methods and relevant Queensland permits. Traps must be checked often enough to prevent heat stress, dehydration or predation.

  • Record the date, start and finish times, weather, temperature conditions in general terms, search personnel, search method and effort.
  • Record each animal's location, habitat, behaviour, photographs and whether it was handled, released or relocated.
  • Record all potential breeding places, shelter sites, rock features, habitat connections and signs of disturbance.
  • Record coordinates in a consistent datum and retain photographs that show the habitat context.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey design and interpretation

Use more than one visit where the project could remove or disturb suitable habitat. Repeat searches under different suitable conditions rather than relying on one negative inspection.

Increase effort around rocky habitat and mapped essential habitat. Include habitat immediately outside the clearing footprint where animals may move during works.

There is no published species-specific survey timing, effort or detection method in the available profile. Set the survey design with a qualified ecologist and document the reasons for the chosen effort.

Treat a detected animal, recent record or suitable refuge as evidence that further animals may be present nearby.

  • Do not describe the species as absent solely because it was not detected.
  • Stop and reassess if survey conditions are unsuitable, access is incomplete or important refuge habitat cannot be inspected.
  • Provide the construction team with a map of no-go areas, likely refuge habitat and any proposed clearing sequence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan the work to avoid rocky habitat and retain connected vegetation wherever practicable. Resolve the legal pathway before clearing, because near threatened wildlife is protected in Queensland and tampering with a breeding place can require a species management program.

Confirm the Nature Conservation Act 1992 requirements with the Queensland regulator before any animal is taken, handled, moved or interfered with.

Obtain any Queensland wildlife permits, authorities or approvals required for survey, capture, handling, relocation or disturbance.

Assess the action under the EPBC Act. The saxicoline sunskink has no EPBC listing stated in this profile, but an EPBC referral may still be required if other protected matters could be affected.

Seek a Queensland species management program before tampering with a breeding place where the legal threshold is met. Do not assume that a general clearing approval covers this activity.

Keep copies of approvals, conditions, maps, rescue procedures and contact details at the work front.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site controls

Redesign the footprint to retain rocky areas, rainforest pockets, hoop pine thickets, leaf litter and natural shelter.

Use clearly marked exclusion areas around retained habitat and avoid placing spoil, machinery, access tracks or stockpiles against retained rocks and vegetation.

Retain links between habitat patches so animals are not confined to isolated refuge areas.

Do not set a generic buffer without a site assessment. Have the ecologist define the exclusion area from the mapped habitat, rock features, animal records and the construction method.

Control dogs, cats, night lighting, dust, sediment and runoff near retained habitat.

  • Fence and sign exclusion areas before machinery arrives.
  • Brief all workers on the species, its appearance, habitat, exclusion areas and the stop-work procedure.
  • Nominate an experienced fauna spotter catcher and give that person authority to stop work.
  • Schedule a pre-start inspection after rain, earthworks changes or movement of exclusion fencing.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey

Complete the final pre-clearance inspection immediately before disturbance, after approvals are in place and while the spotter catcher is present.

Inspect rocky habitat, crevices, leaf litter, fallen timber, dense ground cover and any other features identified during the ecological assessment.

Use hand searches only where safe and authorised. Do not dismantle stable rock features or destroy shelter while searching.

Mark animals, active shelter or possible breeding places on the clearing plan and brief the operator before work begins.

If the survey finds an animal or potential breeding place, apply the stop-work procedure and obtain ecological advice before proceeding.

  • Check that fauna handling equipment, secure containers, shade, water and the injured wildlife pathway are ready.
  • Confirm where animals can be released if relocation is approved.
  • Record the inspection, effort, findings, photographs and names of the personnel involved.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing and breeding risk

The breeding season, breeding place type and seasonal movements of this species are not established in this profile. Do not rely on a particular month as a low-risk period.

Where breeding risk is suspected, avoid disturbance until a qualified ecologist has inspected the area and confirmed the approved approach.

Retain natural rocky shelter and connected vegetation through the breeding period if an active breeding place is found.

Treat eggs, young, guarding adults, repeated use of a refuge or any suspected breeding activity as a reason to stop work and seek advice.

  • Do not move rocks or clear dense shelter after a negative survey without maintaining the approved controls.
  • Document the ecological basis for the work timing and any seasonal restrictions.
  • Update the induction if the work program changes.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in small, supervised stages and keep escape routes into retained habitat open. The fauna spotter catcher must be able to stop work whenever an animal, shelter feature or possible breeding place is found.

Clear from the least suitable area towards retained habitat so animals can move away from machinery where that is safe and consistent with the approved method.

Work in small sections and inspect each section before and after clearing.

Use low-impact methods around rocks, leaf litter, fallen timber and dense vegetation. Avoid sudden removal of all cover from the edge of retained habitat.

Keep machinery, spoil and personnel out of exclusion areas.

Pause work during excessive heat, smoke, flooding, poor visibility or any condition that prevents effective fauna supervision.

  • Maintain a live map of cleared, inspected and uncleared areas.
  • Keep the spotter catcher in a position with a clear view of the active work area.
  • Reinspect exposed rock piles, soil heaps and vegetation before they are moved or disposed of.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and release

Only authorised and suitably trained personnel may capture, handle or relocate a saxicoline sunskink.

Use calm, minimal handling and keep the animal shaded and protected from heat, machinery, pets and loud activity.

Do not chase an animal into a crevice, dismantle a refuge or use chemicals, smoke or water to force it out.

Release an animal only under the approved procedure, in suitable nearby habitat and at a time that reduces exposure to heat, predators and traffic.

Record the animal's condition, original location, release location, time, method and the people involved.

  • Use clean equipment between sites to reduce disease and soil transfer.
  • Do not retain an animal overnight unless the permit, veterinary advice and approved procedure allow it.
  • Seek advice before relocating an animal from an active breeding place or from outside its normal habitat.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and other discoveries

Stop work immediately if an active breeding place, suspected breeding place, repeated shelter site, concentration of animals or important rocky refuge is found.

Protect the feature from machinery, vibration, people, spoil, runoff and direct lighting while the ecologist and regulator are consulted.

Do not excavate, fill, dismantle, move or otherwise tamper with the feature until the approved management response is confirmed.

Apply any species management program, permit condition, exclusion measure or revised clearing method before work resumes.

If a colony, roost or other non-typical concentration is reported, treat it as a significant discovery and seek advice.

  • Photograph the feature from a safe distance.
  • Mark a temporary no-go area without entering or damaging the site.
  • Record the discovery, time, location, weather, habitat, animal response and all decisions made.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Stop nearby work and protect an injured animal from machinery, people, heat and predators.

Do not provide food, medication or treatment unless directed by a wildlife veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer.

Contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian, regulator or project ecologist using the approved incident pathway.

Place a dead animal in a clean labelled container only if authorised and safe to do so. Follow instructions for examination, retention or submission.

Report collisions, crushing, heat stress, predation and unexplained deaths to the project manager and ecologist.

  • Record the animal's location, condition, apparent cause, photographs and actions taken.
  • Review the clearing method before work recommences.
  • Do not conceal or dispose of an animal without recording the incident.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance checks should confirm that the approved footprint was followed and that no animals, shelter features or breeding places were overlooked. Use the results to improve the remaining work stages and future site controls.

Inspect the completed section with the spotter catcher and ecologist before removing exclusion fencing or declaring the area complete.

Search exposed rock, remaining vegetation, debris, soil piles and the edges of retained habitat for animals requiring assistance.

Check that no retained rocky refuge has been damaged by vibration, storage, runoff or vehicle access.

Complete a second inspection after machinery has left where the risk assessment identifies concealed habitat or difficult visibility.

Record the area inspected, methods used, effort, findings and any limitations.

  • Photograph the final condition of retained habitat and exclusion areas.
  • Confirm that all animals were accounted for or that unresolved observations have an assigned follow-up action.
  • Keep post-clearance records with the project environmental file.

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

Check relocated animals only where this is required by the permit, management plan or ecological advice. Use approved methods and avoid repeated handling.

Confirm that the release site remains suitable, connected and free from active construction hazards.

Investigate any animal found outside the approved release area, injured after release or repeatedly returning to the work zone.

Do not assume relocation has removed the need to retain habitat. Protect the source and release areas from further disturbance.

Use monitoring results to adjust fencing, lighting, access, weeds and construction activities.

  • Record follow-up observations, condition, location and date.
  • Report mortality, repeated displacement or unexpected concentrations promptly.
  • Stop further relocation if the approved method is not achieving its purpose and seek advice.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Provide the regulator, approval holder and project ecologist with the required fauna records and incident reports.

Report all stop-work events, breeding place discoveries, permit breaches, injuries, deaths, captures and relocations within the timeframes set by the approval or permit.

Update the site map to show cleared habitat, retained habitat, exclusion areas, records, release locations and rehabilitation areas.

Retain photographs, GPS data, field sheets, induction records and decisions so the outcome can be audited.

Review whether the works affected mapped essential habitat or other suitable rocky habitat and document the result.

  • Compare actual clearing with the approved footprint.
  • List corrective actions, responsible people and due dates.
  • Use the review to update the next work stage before clearing continues.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Hold a short review after any injury, death, breeding place discovery or repeated animal encounter.

Identify whether the cause was survey timing, inadequate exclusion, plant movement, lighting, induction, supervision or an unexpected habitat feature.

Change the method, exclusion area, crew briefing or supervision level before restarting similar work.

Share the lessons with the spotter catcher, operators, supervisors and subcontractors.

Escalate unresolved risks to the project ecologist and regulator where required.

  • Record the incident cause, response, outcome and preventive action.
  • Check that preventive actions were completed in the field.
  • Do not close the incident until evidence of completion is retained.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore the rocky, sheltered structure used by the species and reconnect retained vegetation. The species' breeding requirements are poorly known, so restoration should favour natural habitat rather than untested artificial structures.

Reinstate natural rock features, crevices, leaf litter, fallen timber and ground cover where these were removed and the approved rehabilitation design allows it.

Reconnect rocky areas with hoop pine thickets, rainforest pockets and other retained native vegetation.

Use local native plants suited to the site and protect new plantings from trampling, vehicles and grazing.

Shape rehabilitation so it provides shaded refuge, basking edges and cover without creating unstable rock piles or unsafe voids.

Keep rehabilitation free of construction rubble, sharp waste, contaminated soil and material that can collapse onto animals.

  • Use clean soil and rock that will not introduce weeds or pathogens.
  • Stage rehabilitation as soon as areas are no longer needed for construction.
  • Fence or sign newly rehabilitated areas until they are stable and established.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Artificial structures and refuge features

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures as a default measure. These structures are not established as suitable replacements for saxicoline sunskink habitat in this profile.

If a breeding place or shelter feature is lost, ask a qualified herpetologist and the regulator whether a purpose-designed rock refuge or other replacement feature is appropriate.

Base any replacement on the original feature, local materials, safe thermal conditions, predator protection and the approved management plan.

Install and monitor any artificial refuge before removing the original feature where the approval requires replacement habitat.

Remove or modify a structure if it creates heat stress, traps animals, attracts predators or becomes unsuitable.

  • Do not use bat boxes or bird nest boxes as substitutes for rocky skink habitat.
  • Document the design, location, materials, installation date and maintenance requirements.
  • Inspect replacement features under the monitoring program and record animal use without unnecessary disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and lighting

Control weeds before they smother rocky ground, leaf litter or native understorey. Use methods that do not poison, trap or bury animals.

Prevent sediment, chemicals and construction runoff from entering retained or rehabilitated habitat.

Provide water management that maintains natural drainage and avoids erosion, ponding, drowning hazards and loss of shelter.

Use shielded, downward-directed lighting near habitat and switch off unnecessary lights when work is complete.

Avoid bright lighting on rocky edges and movement corridors.

  • Inspect rehabilitation after heavy rain and repair erosion promptly.
  • Store chemicals and fuels outside retained and rehabilitated habitat.
  • Use weed hygiene controls on vehicles, boots and machinery.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Set monitoring objectives with a qualified ecologist. Focus on survival of rehabilitation, habitat structure, weed control, connectivity and use by saxicoline sunskinks.

Use repeatable searches in suitable weather and record effort, conditions, habitat condition, detections and signs of disturbance.

Monitor both restored areas and nearby retained habitat so changes can be interpreted in context.

Continue monitoring for the period required by the approval or management plan, and extend it if rehabilitation is slow or animals are repeatedly displaced.

Adapt the rehabilitation method when monitoring identifies poor cover, unstable rocks, weeds, predators, lighting or other hazards.

  • Keep permanent photo points and mapped monitoring locations.
  • Report monitoring results and maintenance actions to the project manager and regulator where required.
  • Do not use non-detection alone to conclude that rehabilitation has failed or that the species is absent.

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