Bushfire Grant

Fire affected habitat in East Gippsland. Treetec to install wildlife hollows under government grant. (c) Tom Oldmeadow
Fire affected habitat in East Gippsland. Treetec to install wildlife hollows under government grant. (c) Tom Oldmeadow

Treetec is excited to announce a new direction in our business as we have been awarded a $230,000 research grant from The Australian Governments Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Program.

Our Project: “Introduced hollows for priority species impacted by wildfire in East Gippsland” will create hollows of different sizes and designs, focussing on habitat preferences for obligate-hollow using species known to have been negatively impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires including;

  • Male and female Gang-gang Cockatoos. EPBC Act status: endangered (effective 2/3/22). (c(c) E. Campbell).
    Male and female Gang-gang Cockatoos. EPBC Act status: endangered (effective 2/3/22). (c) E. Campbell.

    Greater Gliders (Petauroides volans)

  • ,Yellow-Bellied Gliders (Petaurus australis)
  • Glossy Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
  • Red-browed Treecreeper (Climacteris erythrops)
  • Gang Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)

Our project will also, for the first time, apply our cavity creation process to create refuges for priority terrestrial (ground dwelling) species known to utilise fallen logs and timber including;

  • Smoky Mice (Pseudomys fumeus)
  • Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus)
  • Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum)
  • Glossy Grass Skink (Pseudemoia rawlinsoni)

In addition to using this grant money as an opportunity to create much required habitat for impacted species, we also aim to use this opportunity to conduct further empirical research into the efficacy of created hollows for target hollow-using species.

This will include how hollow-using fauna respond to our created hollows. How created hollows compare to natural hollows and nest boxes. Also how, if at all, created hollows impact host tree health.

We will also trial several designs and applications of terrestrial cavity creation and monitor future occupancy. More information on introduced hollows created by Treetec.