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Spectacled Hare Wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus)

The spectacled hare wallaby is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling macropod of spinifex grasslands, open woodlands and shrublands in central and northern Australia. It is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act and in Western Australia, and Near Threatened in the Northern Territory, so suitable hummock grassland, shelter sites and feeding areas require assessment before clearing or construction.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Near threatened.

Breeding season

Breeding may occur in every month, with recorded peaks in March and September. The timing of dependent young is not fully described in the supplied documents, so the seasonal profile treats young as potentially present whenever breeding occurs.

Months are January to December. Seasonal timing is based on the supplied survey guidelines and species accounts. No separate period of absence, migration or hibernation is documented.

  • Breeding: Breeding has been recorded throughout the year, with peaks in March and September.
  • Young: One young is produced. Because breeding occurs throughout the year, dependent young may be present at any time, but the duration of dependence is not stated.
  • Movement and dispersal: The species is nocturnal and ground-dwelling. A defined migration or dispersal season is not stated; night movement between shelter and feeding areas should be expected throughout the year.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing risk is present throughout the year because sheltering animals and dependent young may be present in any month. Risk is marked highest in March because breeding peaks then; September is also a recorded breeding peak.

Identification

The species is a small to medium-sized hare wallaby and is usually detected at night or from shelter sites and signs found during daytime searches. Identification from tracks alone is unreliable where other macropods occur.

Spectacled hare wallabies are ground-dwelling macropods that shelter in grass hummocks. The supplied sources do not provide a diagnostic description of coat colour, facial markings, ear dimensions or tail length, so field identification should rely on an experienced observer and supporting evidence rather than a brief sighting alone.

Identification: Size and field appearance

The Barrow Island subspecies weighs 1.6 to 4.65 kg, with an average body weight of approximately 3.05 kg in the survey guidelines. The species is nocturnal and solitary, so daytime observations are most likely where an animal is flushed from a spinifex hummock or other shelter.

Barrow Island body weight: 1.6 to 4.65 kg

Average body weight listed in survey guidelines: Approximately 3.05 kg

Social behaviour: Solitary

Identification: Similar species and signs

Tracks may be indistinguishable from those of other macropods on Barrow Island, including the burrowing bettong, black-flanked rock wallaby and Barrow Island euro. Tracks should therefore be treated as possible evidence only and followed by camera trapping or another direct detection method.

Scats have a distinctive flattened tubular shape that should be separated from other macropod scats. The animal may be flushed during daytime searches for scats or tracks, which creates a welfare and predation risk.

  • Record the location of tracks, scats and shelter sites with GPS coordinates and photographs.
  • Use baited camera traps to confirm species identity where tracks overlap with other macropods.
  • Avoid flushing animals when predators, including wedge-tailed eagles, are nearby.
  • Do not rely on calls, nests, tree hollows, sloughs or eyeshine as identification features because these are not described in the supplied documents.

Distribution: National range

The species has a broad but fragmented distribution across central and northern Australia. The supplied sources identify extant populations and records in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with the strongest site-specific information from Barrow Island and the Bullwaddy area.

The species formerly occupied almost half of Australia. It is now patchily distributed in the northern half of the continent, with records from central Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Named areas associated with records or former distribution include the Great Sandy, Gibson and Tanami Deserts, the Central Ranges, the Pilbara, the southern edge of the Kimberley, the MacDonnell Ranges and the Bullwaddy area of the Sturt Plateau.

States and territories identified in the supplied material: Western Australia and Northern Territory

Broad former range: Almost half of Australia

Current distribution pattern: Patchy and limited mainly to the northern half of Australia

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

The Barrow Island subspecies, Lagorchestes conspicillatus conspicillatus, is isolated on Barrow Island. Its population was estimated at approximately 10,000 animals in 1988 and was described as stable at that time.

The Northern Territory subspecies, Lagorchestes conspicillatus leichardtii, is unusually abundant in bullwaddy thickets at Bullwaddy Conservation Reserve. Suitable habitat there includes lancewood and bullwaddy communities with an open understorey.

Barrow Island population estimate: Approximately 10,000 animals in 1988

Bullwaddy status: Unusually abundant in bullwaddy thickets

Northern Territory distribution noted in the supplied material: Common in suitable habitat between 16 and 18 degrees south

Distribution: Trend

The species has the largest range among the extant hare wallabies, but its abundance is declining. The supplied sources associate decline with introduced predators, land use change and possible changes in burning patterns.

Historical accounts and Aboriginal knowledge indicate local extinction or decline across much of the southern and western former range, while populations persisted in parts of central Australia, the Pilbara, the Kimberley and the Northern Territory.

Habitat: Habitat types

Suitable habitat is structurally varied ground cover that provides both food and daytime shelter. Spinifex hummocks, open understorey and adjoining feeding edges are the main habitat features identified in the supplied documents.

The species occurs in tropical grasslands, open woodlands and shrublands. More specific habitats include sand and gravelly plains, dunes, stony rises and hills with spinifex, sometimes with mulga.

On Barrow Island, spinifex hummock grassland is the identified habitat. In the Northern Territory, lancewood and bullwaddy thickets with an open understorey provide suitable habitat.

Primary habitat feature: Spinifex hummock grassland

Other habitat types: Tropical grasslands, open woodlands, shrublands, sand plains, gravelly plains, dunes, stony rises and hills

Associated Northern Territory communities: Lancewood and bullwaddy communities with an open understorey

Habitat: Structure and site conditions

Dense or continuous spinifex provides shelter, while open edges and disturbed areas can provide feeding opportunities. The species uses both long-unburned areas and areas of moderate disturbance on Barrow Island.

The supplied documents do not specify an elevation limit, minimum patch size, canopy height or required distance from water. They do show that the species is adapted to hot, dry conditions and can survive without free water.

  • Retain spinifex hummocks and low shrubs, particularly where they form connected shelter and feeding areas.
  • Map open understorey within bullwaddy and lancewood communities before clearing.
  • Assess recently burnt, long-unburned and moderately disturbed areas separately because habitat use can vary with fire history.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The spectacled hare wallaby is a herbivore that feeds at night around shelter areas and habitat edges. Food plants vary between regions and after rainfall.

On Barrow Island, the species grazes on colonising shrubs and spinifex leaf tips. Elsewhere, the diet includes spinifex seeds and leaves, fruits including Solanum species, and leaves of other plants.

For mainland populations, the supplied survey profile describes the diet as forbs, grasses and succulents. Food availability may increase after rainfall when grasses and forbs are available.

Feeding guild: Herbivore

Barrow Island foods: Colonising shrubs and spinifex leaf tips

Mainland foods: Forbs, grasses and succulents

Other recorded foods: Spinifex seeds and leaves, Solanum fruits and leaves of other plants

Foraging habitat: Foraging locations

The species feeds around the edges of bullwaddy thickets and uses stands for daytime shelter. This creates a practical need to assess both dense shelter and adjoining open ground, rather than treating the thicket alone as habitat.

The supplied documents do not provide a measured foraging range, home range or nightly travel distance.

Measured foraging range: Not stated in the supplied documents

  • Inspect the edges of spinifex hummocks, bullwaddy thickets and open understorey for tracks, scats and feeding signs.
  • Retain food plants and connected feeding areas around known or potential shelter sites.
  • Record recent rainfall and fire history when interpreting signs or survey results.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding has been recorded throughout the year, with peaks in March and September. A female produces one young, and breeding appears to depend on access to suitable shelter and food.

The supplied documents state that the species produces one young. They do not provide a gestation period, pouch period, age at maturity or lifespan.

Breeding has been recorded throughout the year, with peaks in March and September. Female reproductive cycles may be influenced by rainfall and food availability, although the strongest evidence for this relationship in the supplied material is discussed for related hare wallabies.

Breeding season: Throughout the year, with peaks in March and September

Litter size: One young

Gestation: Not stated in the supplied documents

Age at maturity: Not stated in the supplied documents

Lifespan: Not stated in the supplied documents

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Breeding habitat must include secure daytime shelter in spinifex hummocks or low shrubs, with nearby feeding areas. The supplied documents do not identify a separate nesting structure or breeding den.

For project planning, treat occupied hummocks, scrapes and dense low vegetation as potential breeding and dependent-young habitat throughout the year.

  • Search and map shelter hummocks before vegetation removal.
  • Use non-invasive methods such as camera traps where breeding use needs to be confirmed.
  • Schedule any necessary clearing outside periods of confirmed breeding activity where practicable, subject to approval conditions and fauna handling procedures.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter types

The species shelters during the day in ground-level vegetation rather than tree hollows. Shelter sites can be easier to locate than the animal and should be mapped before clearing.

Spectacled hare wallabies shelter in tunnels among spinifex grass on Barrow Island. Across the broader arid-zone range, they shelter in a scrape under a spinifex hummock or leafy shrub and may dig a short burrow under cover during hot weather.

The supplied documents do not give dimensions for the tunnels, scrapes or short burrows.

Shelter type: Tunnels, scrapes and short burrows under spinifex hummocks or leafy shrubs

Shelter dimensions: Not stated in the supplied documents

  • Search spinifex hummocks, low shrubs, scrapes and the bases of dense thickets during daylight.
  • Mark shelter locations on project plans and avoid driving or storing materials over them.
  • Use cameras or carefully targeted dusk and night searches rather than repeatedly flushing animals from shelter.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter protection on worksites

Daytime searches for scats or tracks can flush an animal from its shelter. This may expose it to predators, so searches should be planned for times when predators are not immediately present.

Potential shelter resources should be searched systematically across the site. For small sites, the guidelines describe transects spaced 50 to 100 metres apart or quadrats in representative habitats, with a suggested effort of two hours for every one hectare of stratified survey site within a 5 hectare area.

  • Complete a systematic pre-clearance search across all spinifex and dense low-vegetation habitat.
  • Use a 50 to 100 metre transect spacing or representative quadrats for small sites, adjusted to site conditions.
  • For a site up to 5 hectares, use the guideline starting point of two hours per hectare of stratified survey area for habitat and sign searches.
  • Stop work and seek fauna spotter catcher advice if an occupied shelter or wallaby is found.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main documented threats are introduced predators, land use change and altered fire regimes. Clearing can remove both shelter and food, while roads and construction activity can cause direct mortality, disturbance and habitat fragmentation.

Land use change has contributed to decline, and clearing of spinifex, low shrubs, bullwaddy thickets or open feeding edges can remove habitat. Fragmentation can separate shelter from food and reduce movement between habitat patches.

The supplied documents do not provide a species-specific road mortality rate, crossing distance or minimum viable patch size. Roads and work areas should nevertheless be treated as risks where they cut through occupied or potential habitat.

  • Avoid clearing spinifex hummock grassland and bullwaddy or lancewood thickets where practicable.
  • Retain connected shelter and feeding areas rather than isolated hummocks.
  • Use fauna spotter catcher supervision during clearing and establish exclusion zones around occupied shelter sites.
  • Control vehicle speeds and avoid night vehicle movements through known habitat where practicable.

Threats: Fire and predators

Changes in burning patterns are identified as a possible cause of decline. The species uses long-unburned areas and areas of moderate disturbance on Barrow Island, so repeated broad-scale burning can remove the mix of shelter and feeding habitat it uses.

Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and foxes, are identified as major threats to hare wallabies. An animal flushed from shelter during works may be more exposed to predators.

  • Prevent accidental fire and apply an approved fire regime that maintains a mosaic of habitat ages.
  • Do not burn occupied or potential shelter areas without species-specific advice and approval.
  • Manage feral cats and foxes around project areas where authorised and practicable.
  • Time sign searches to reduce the chance of flushing animals when aerial or other predators are active.

Threats: Other project risks

Construction noise, lighting, vibration, dust and increased human activity may disturb nocturnal movement and feeding, although the supplied documents do not quantify thresholds for these impacts.

The supplied documents do not identify a disease or hydrology threat specific to this species. Changes to drainage, flooding or groundwater should still be assessed where they alter spinifex, shrub or grassland food and shelter resources.

  • Keep night lighting directed away from retained habitat and shelter edges.
  • Prevent sediment, weeds and construction materials from entering retained feeding and shelter areas.
  • Assess drainage changes and altered fire behaviour as part of the ecological impact assessment.
  • Do not infer absence from a single negative survey because the species is nocturnal, solitary and difficult to confirm from tracks alone.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop review and habitat search

The spectacled hare wallaby is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling macropod that shelters in spinifex hummocks, grass tussocks and leafy shrub cover. Survey design should target suitable shelter and feeding habitat, then use non-invasive methods to confirm records before clearing.

Confirm whether the project area contains spinifex hummock grassland, open woodland or shrubland with dense grass or shrub cover. In the Northern Territory, also check for lancewood and bullwaddy communities with an open understorey.

Review vegetation mapping, aerial photography, topographic maps and satellite imagery before fieldwork, then ground-truth the mapped habitats.

Search the full project area, or representative sites within each habitat type, for grass hummocks, scrapes, short burrows, tracks and scats.

Key shelter habitat: Spinifex hummocks, grass hummocks, leafy shrubs, scrapes and short burrows

Key feeding habitat: Spinifex, shrubs, forbs, grasses and succulents

Recommended transect spacing for small sites: 50 to 100 metres

Suggested effort for a 5 hectare area: Two hours for every one hectare of stratified survey area

  • Plan transects 50 to 100 metres apart, or use quadrats in representative habitats, so the search can be repeated and compared between sites.
  • For a 5 hectare site, allow two hours for each hectare of stratified survey area, combining the habitat search with searches for signs of fauna activity.
  • Record habitat type, cover condition, recent fire history where known, shelter sites, feeding areas, tracks, scats and any predator activity.

Survey methodology: 2. Diurnal searches for signs

Search during the day for shelter sites, tracks and scats, especially beneath spinifex hummocks and other dense ground cover.

Treat a possible sighting or sign as a record requiring confirmation where other macropods occur. Tracks may be indistinguishable from those of kangaroos, wallabies and other macropods.

Look for the species' distinctive flattened, tubular scats, but have an experienced ecologist confirm identification where possible.

Best track substrates: Sandy soil, wet clay, muddy watercourse edges, vehicle tracks, animal trails and sandy shelter floors

Less suitable track substrates: Leaf litter, gibber plains and rock or boulder surfaces

Scat identification feature: Flattened tubular shape

  • Mark each scat location with flagging tape and record it with a GPS or on a map.
  • Record the colour, moisture and contents of scats, and note the date, season and recent weather when making a rough age estimate.
  • Avoid flushing animals from shelter when wedge-tailed eagles or other predators are nearby.
  • Target any track or scat location with camera trapping, spotlighting or another direct method to confirm presence.

Survey methodology: 3. Baited camera trapping

Use baited camera traps where tracks or scats cannot be assigned confidently, where handling should be avoided, or where works may affect occupied habitat.

Place cameras at shelter entrances, along animal trails, beside scrapes and in suitable spinifex or bullwaddy habitat identified during the diurnal search.

Use universal bait with almond, walnut or truffle oil added, as recommended for the Barrow Island population.

  • Aim cameras at the ground and shelter edge so the animal can be identified from body shape and markings.
  • Use cameras as part of an integrated survey rather than relying on tracks alone.
  • Check cameras at an interval that limits disturbance and record camera position, operating dates, bait and habitat type.

Survey methodology: 4. Spotlighting and dusk observations

Conduct spotlighting on foot through suitable spinifex, grass hummock, shrub and bullwaddy habitat when signs or habitat searches indicate likely activity areas.

Schedule observations from dusk into the early night because the species is nocturnal.

Use dusk or early-night observations at potential resource sites where confirmation is required, including suitable feeding areas and water points where present.

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Useful observation period: Dusk and early night

  • Follow the survey guideline method and effort for spotlighting and dusk observations for the project area, recording the walked route, start and finish times, weather, moon conditions and observers.
  • Move quietly and avoid trampling or collapsing shelter hummocks.
  • Do not flush an animal towards known predators, roads, active machinery or other hazards.

Survey methodology: 5. Hair sampling and cage trapping

Use hair collecting devices at shelter sites where a non-invasive confirmation method is suitable. The guideline records hair identification as possible for the Barrow Island subspecies when a reasonable sample is available.

Set hair tubes or funnels for several consecutive days, with bait enclosed so the animal cannot reach it, and submit adhesive inserts to a suitably qualified laboratory or specialist.

Use cage trapping only when confirmation cannot be achieved with lower-impact methods and when the survey is conducted by appropriately experienced personnel under the required approvals.

Hair sampling device operation: Passive collection of fur on an adhesive insert while the animal is attracted to enclosed bait

Relevant body-size classification: The Barrow Island subspecies averages about 3050 grams and is treated as a large-sized ground-dwelling mammal in the guideline

  • Minimise handling and use non-invasive methods wherever possible.
  • Record trap or hair-device location, bait, operating dates, weather, captures, non-target animals and animal welfare actions.
  • Do not treat a negative hair sample or unsuccessful trapping session as proof of absence without considering habitat, timing and detection conditions.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use a stratified design that samples each relevant habitat type and replicate the survey within habitat types or plant communities where the site is larger than 5 hectares.
  • Combine daytime habitat and sign searches with at least one suitable direct method where confirmation is required.
  • Record survey dates, effort, transect spacing, area searched, weather, fire history where known, observers, equipment, raw observations, photographs and negative results.
  • Submit confirmed records and significant signs to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and notify the relevant wildlife authority where required.
  • Report any proposed clearing or disturbance of occupied or potentially occupied habitat through the project approval process, including consideration of an EPBC Act referral and state or territory requirements.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Before clearing or construction, identify and retain the habitat features that provide daytime shelter and nearby feeding areas. The Barrow Island subspecies is restricted to Barrow Island, while mainland populations use spinifex, grass hummocks, shrubs and, in the Northern Territory, suitable bullwaddy and lancewood communities.

Redesign work areas, access tracks and laydown areas to retain continuous patches of spinifex, grass hummocks, shrubs and open-understorey bullwaddy or lancewood habitat.

Retain shelter hummocks, scrapes, short burrows, dense shrub patches and adjoining feeding areas rather than removing isolated features one at a time.

Maintain connected retained habitat between shelter patches and avoid creating unnecessary gaps between retained areas.

Keep machinery, spoil, vehicles, lighting and stockpiles out of retained habitat and establish site-specific no-go buffers around occupied or high-quality shelter areas.

  • Use the smallest practicable clearing footprint.
  • Give priority to retaining large, continuous patches of suitable ground cover and habitat that links to adjoining native vegetation.
  • Avoid placing permanent infrastructure beside known shelter sites, animal trails or frequently used feeding edges.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Check the current EPBC Act listing and determine whether the proposed action may significantly affect the species or its habitat. Obtain advice on an EPBC Act referral where the action may have a significant impact.

Check the relevant Western Australian or Northern Territory approval, permit and wildlife handling requirements before survey, clearing or relocation.

Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies survey results, retained habitat, exclusion zones, stop-work triggers, spotter catcher duties, handling limits, release sites and reporting pathways.

Plan clearing outside periods of highest detection where practicable, while recognising that breeding has been recorded throughout the year on Barrow Island, with peaks in March and September.

Recorded breeding pattern on Barrow Island: Throughout the year, with peaks in March and September

  • Stage clearing in small, controlled sections so each area can be searched immediately before disturbance.
  • Schedule the final pre-clearance search close to the planned clearing date and repeat it if the work area remains undisturbed for an extended period.
  • Include a contingency for stopping work if a wallaby, fresh scat concentration, active shelter or other evidence is found.

Before habitat disturbance: Prepare the site

Complete the pre-clearance survey using the habitat, sign and direct-detection methods appropriate to the site.

Mark retained habitat, shelter hummocks, scrapes, burrows, animal trails, camera locations and no-go areas before machinery arrives.

Install exclusion fencing only where it will direct animals away from the work area towards retained habitat and will not block access to shelter or feeding areas.

Brief the fauna spotter catcher, machine operators, supervisors and subcontractors on the species' nocturnal activity, shelter behaviour, identification features and stop-work procedure.

  • Inspect fencing daily for gaps, trapped animals and signs that animals are being funnelled towards roads, machinery or predators.
  • Keep retained spinifex and shrub cover free of vehicles, rubbish, trench spoil and construction materials.
  • Where clearing is staged, close or secure each completed stage so animals cannot re-enter an active work zone.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

The fauna spotter catcher should control the sequence of clearing, keep machinery within the approved footprint and respond immediately to animals or occupied shelter. Work should proceed slowly enough to allow inspection of ground cover and safe escape towards retained habitat.

Inspect the work area each day before machinery starts, including spinifex hummocks, grass cover, shrub bases, scrapes, short burrows, tracks and fresh scats.

Walk the clearing edge with the operator and clearly identify the approved clearing direction, exclusion zones, retained habitat and escape routes.

Direct machinery to clear towards retained habitat where this is safe and consistent with the fauna management plan, giving animals an opportunity to move away from the work face.

Maintain a slow, controlled clearing sequence and stop machinery whenever the spotter catcher cannot see the ground or a shelter feature clearly.

  • Do not allow machinery to enter marked retained habitat or operate outside the approved footprint.
  • Keep the spotter catcher in a safe position with clear communication to the operator and authority to stop work immediately.
  • Reinspect the work area after breaks, overnight shutdowns, changes in machinery or changes in the clearing footprint.

During habitat disturbance: Shelter and habitat feature handling

Inspect spinifex hummocks, grass tussocks, leafy shrubs, scrapes and short burrows before they are removed or crushed.

Treat a fresh flattened tubular scat, an occupied shelter, repeated tracks or a camera record as a reason to pause and reassess the clearing sequence.

Do not collapse, burn, mulch or bury an occupied shelter while an animal may still be inside.

Retain suitable undisturbed shelter and feeding cover nearby wherever practicable, because the species shelters during the day and feeds around cover at night.

  • Use hand tools or staged removal around a suspected shelter so the spotter catcher can check the feature without placing the animal or people at risk.
  • Do not remove logs, rocks, dense shrub bases or other cover features from retained habitat unless they are specifically addressed in the fauna management plan.
  • Manage trenches, pits and excavations so animals cannot fall in, and inspect them before work starts each day and before they are backfilled.
  • Do not use hollow-bearing tree, log or rock handling procedures designed for arboreal species unless those features are also used by other fauna identified in the project assessment.

During habitat disturbance: Animal response and stop-work triggers

Stop work if a spectacled hare wallaby is seen, found sheltering, injured, trapped, moving through the work area or recorded in a feature about to be disturbed.

Allow an uninjured animal to leave on its own where possible, and keep people, vehicles and machinery away from its escape path.

Only an authorised and appropriately trained person may capture, handle or relocate the animal, and handling must be limited to what is needed for safety, assessment and approved relocation.

Release an uninjured animal into nearby suitable retained habitat that is outside the work area and connected to cover, unless the relevant wildlife authority directs another response.

  • Do not chase, corner, stun, sedate or handle the animal without the required authority and competent personnel.
  • Place an injured animal in a quiet, secure container and contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian or wildlife authority immediately.
  • Stop work if an animal cannot be safely moved away, if predators are present near a flushed animal, if exclusion fencing is damaged, or if machinery enters a no-go area.
  • Recommence work only after the spotter catcher has inspected the area, the animal response has been completed and the supervisor has recorded the decision.

During habitat disturbance: Records and incident control

Record every sighting, sign, capture, relocation, injury, mortality, escape, stop-work event and breach of the clearing boundary.

For each record, note the date, time, GPS location, habitat, animal condition, evidence type, photographs, people involved, action taken and final outcome.

Report injuries, deaths, unauthorised handling and unexpected occupied habitat to the project environmental officer and relevant wildlife authority under the approval conditions.

Update the daily clearing map so remaining areas with signs or suitable shelter receive additional searches before disturbance.

  • Keep the survey and clearing records with the project environmental records and make them available for approval compliance audits.
  • Do not rely on a verbal handover between shifts; brief the incoming spotter catcher and machinery supervisor using the written map and incident log.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance work should confirm that no animal remains in the disturbed footprint, that retained habitat is intact and that controls are still working. Monitoring should test whether retained and restored habitat continues to provide shelter and feeding opportunities.

Complete a final inspection of the cleared area, access routes, trenches, pits, spoil areas and boundary fencing after each clearing stage.

Search the edge of retained habitat for displaced animals, fresh tracks, scats, disturbed shelter hummocks and signs of animals attempting to re-enter the work area.

Remove or secure hazards such as open trenches, uncovered pits, loose wire, netting and construction materials that could trap a wallaby.

  • Keep exclusion fencing, speed controls and no-go markings in place until machinery, vehicles and other hazards have been removed.
  • Repair damaged fencing or barriers immediately and reinspect the affected area before work continues.
  • Repeat the inspection after major rain, fire, earthworks changes or any reported wallaby movement.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and compliance reporting

Monitor retained habitat and nearby restored areas for shelter use, tracks, flattened tubular scats and camera detections.

Use the same survey locations, methods and effort where practicable so changes in detection can be compared over time.

Report confirmed records, mortalities, relocations, habitat damage and corrective actions to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and approval authority where required.

  • Set monitoring frequency, duration and trigger levels in the fauna management plan rather than ending monitoring when construction is complete.
  • Investigate a decline in detections, repeated road or machinery interactions, predator activity or loss of shelter cover.
  • Keep raw camera files, photographs, GPS data, field sheets and incident records with the project environmental record.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and residual impacts

Assess residual impacts after avoidance, minimisation, staging and rehabilitation measures have been applied.

Apply any EPBC Act, Western Australian or Northern Territory offset, conservation payment or other approval requirement specified for the project.

Use retained habitat and restoration outcomes that are suitable for the local population and linked to existing native vegetation, rather than isolated plantings with no shelter value.

  • Document the area and condition of habitat removed, retained, restored and protected.
  • Do not count temporary revegetation as a successful outcome until shelter cover and use by the species meet the approved success measures.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore shelter and feeding habitat

Rehabilitation should recreate the structure used by the species for daytime shelter and night-time feeding. The most useful works are those that restore native spinifex, grass and shrub cover, reconnect retained habitat and reduce threats from predators, inappropriate fire and weeds.

Reinstate native spinifex hummocks, native grasses, shrubs and, where locally appropriate, bullwaddy or lancewood communities with an open understorey.

Use locally appropriate native species and seed sources suited to the original vegetation community, rather than planting a generic grass mix.

Restore a patchwork of dense shelter cover and open feeding edges, reflecting the species' use of spinifex and shrubs for food and shelter.

Reinstate natural ground levels and drainage so restored areas are not left as erosion channels, water traps or compacted vehicle corridors.

  • Retain and protect naturally regenerating spinifex and native ground cover wherever it is present.
  • Do not place mulch, logs, rocks or woody debris so densely that the restored area loses the open edges used for feeding.
  • Keep restoration connected to retained native vegetation and existing animal movement routes.

Rehabilitation actions: Manage cover features and threats

Replace suitable logs, rocks and shrub cover removed during approved works only where this is consistent with the local habitat and will not create a fire, pest or access hazard.

Do not install nest boxes as a substitute for this species' normal ground shelter, because the species shelters in grass hummocks, spinifex and shrubs.

Control weeds that suppress spinifex, native grasses or shrub regeneration, using methods that do not injure animals or contaminate retained habitat.

Manage feral cats and other introduced predators in accordance with the approved site or reserve management programme.

  • Use predator control only under the relevant authority and with methods approved for the site.
  • Maintain exclusion fencing, speed controls and vehicle restrictions until restored cover is established.
  • Plan fire management to avoid extensive hot burns that remove shelter across the full restoration area, while meeting the area's lawful fire and safety requirements.
  • Use a fine-scale mosaic of different vegetation ages where local fire planning and Traditional Owner or land manager advice support it.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Inspect restored areas for plant establishment, native ground-cover composition, weed cover, erosion, shelter structure and connectivity with retained habitat.

Use fixed photographs, mapped plots, scat and track searches, and baited camera traps to measure whether the species uses restored habitat.

Compare monitoring results with nearby retained reference habitat and continue management when restored areas do not provide shelter or feeding edges.

  • Set measurable targets for native spinifex, grass and shrub establishment, weed suppression, fencing condition and absence of construction hazards in the approved rehabilitation plan.
  • Record the number and condition of shelter patches, signs of use, camera detections, predator activity and fire events.
  • Review the rehabilitation plan after each monitoring event and repair failed areas before the next survey period.
  • Submit confirmed records and rehabilitation outcomes to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and approval authority where required.

Sources