Not many people get to spend multiple days and nights on the special place that is Montague Island, seven kilometres off Narooma.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now there is an opportunity to spend up to six days on the island thanks to funding obtained by Narooma National Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake weed control works on Montague Island over the next four months.
Spaces have filled fast, but the SCPA South East Producers group has asked its members to get involved.
SCPA spokesperson Carolyn Wells said funding would be used to target some of the revegetated areas on the island, which are subject to vine infestations, particularly Morning Glory (Ipomea sp.), Dolichos Vine and Rambling Dock (Acetosa sagittata).
While National Parks still require some chemical-handling certified volunteers to assist with cut and paste application of herbicide control, they will also accept non-chemically-certified volunteers to hand weed and cut, with certified volunteers or NPWS staff doing the chemical application pasting.
This will be undertaken in key locations on the western side of the south island, which is free of seabird nesting activity, and complemented by further intensive NPWS weed spray control work occurring by NPWS staff in more remote sections of the island.
Work by the volunteers will take place through until June with trips lasting up to six days, weather depending. Ideally there would be three to four volunteers assisting NPWS staff.
Volunteers need to be fit to undertake the task, and to climb the ladder from the boat to the wharf and the hill to the lighthouse under their own steam.
There would be the expectation that volunteers work five hours per day, so there would be plenty of time to enjoy the island as well.
Transport to and from the island would be aboard the NPWS vessel Shearwater II, and of course the timing would depend on the weather and sea conditions.
Volunteers would need to bring their own food/bedding/work boots, and would be expected to stay in the shared living quarters in the crew quarters. All protective clothing and equipment for undertaking the weeding task will be provided by NPWS.
If you are interested in getting involved with National Parks island weed program, contact Discovery Coordinator for Montague Island Nature Reserve Tours, Cassandra Bendixsen at Cassandra.Bendixsen@environment.nsw.gov.au
