Securing the future of the Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish

July 2021

Felicity Sturgiss - Senior NRM Officer

The Securing the Future of the Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish project is now in its third year. The project is set to run until June 2023. The project team and other interested parties recently came together at the beautiful Burrawang School of Arts Hall for the annual meeting.

Research partners from the University of Wollongong and NSW DPI Fisheries presented reports detailing population analysis, behavioural observations, water quality and pest animal activity. This information will eventually present as trend data that will be instrumental in guiding appropriate and targeted interventions for the long-term future of the Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus dharawalus, and its habitat that exists nowhere else in the world.

Land managers and locals have been wonderfully encouraging and supportive of the project, it’s goals and the Local Land Services team and partners. Over half of the habitat of this special animal is now protected by land managers. Ongoing support and knowledge shared by Aboriginal groups and individuals has been pivotal and enriching as we work together to care for Country.

The 2021 NAIDOC week theme is Heal Country. By working together to actively manage our waterways, in particular those that are the sole home for these critically endangered aquatic animals, everyone involved in this project is experiencing the joy of healing country. Witnessing the social and family benefits of land managers that place good water management and authentic biodiversity management at the centre of best practice farming is very satisfying too. Local Land Services’ capacity to support land managers with good information from new research, with financial backing and real on-ground assistance implementing these measures and by facilitating diverse community action and awareness is central to the project’s success.

The simplest and most effective way to protect the spiny cray (E. dharawalus) and its habitat is to restrict domestic livestock access to waterways. Most land managers already recognise that the combined outcomes of cleaner off-stream water for livestock, improved on-farm biodiversity services and improved soil health are big plusses when excluding cattle from the creek. The bonus of having a special animal like E. dharawalus to care for on behalf of the public means public funds can help farmers and other land managers to invest in the infrastructure that enables productive biodiverse systems to thrive alongside productive agriculture.

Off-stream water systems, fencing materials and labour and revegetation and weed management services are part of the investment into Securing the Future of the Fitzroy Falls Spiny Cray.

The Securing the Future of the Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish project is implemented by South East Local Land Services via funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.