7 September 2004

Darwin City Council and Charles Darwin University will work together to determine a management plan for agile wallabies at East Point Reserve.

Council recently conducted a count at the Reserve and found that the numbers had not declined in the past couple of years but were down significantly on a decade ago.

Numerous strategies have been implemented to assist Wallaby numbers to recover in the area including new watering points, wild dog traps and supplementary feeding.

With a recent count of wallabies in the area suggesting a low of 71 and a high of 120 Council decided to investigate further management options.

Council approached the Charles Darwin University to help produce a species management program for wallabies at East Point.

Among the issues is an assessment of the area’s wallaby population capacity to determine how many wallabies can be sustained within the reserve.

The project will utilise all existing data and will provide for new research using population viability analysis.

The study will include an historical analysis of past use of the East Point Reserve, compare a range of management strategies, and set a framework for periodic review.

The research will include a population model that explores mortality and reproduction and incorporates a risk analysis to identify dangers to wallabies including dogs, watering points and poor dry seasons.

Acting Lord Mayor John Bailey said the study should put Council on a sound footing for management of the wallaby population well into the future.

“This is a very worthwhile project and Council is looking forward to working with Charles Darwin University’s knowledgable staff to find some solutions to the wallaby issue.”

The program will involve three of the University’s top Academics and should be completed in the New Year.