Yellow-spotted Bell Frog (Litoria castanea) and Peppered Frog (Litoria piperata) Recovery Plan

Table 1: Implementation schedule
Allocation of responsibility for implementation of recovery actions specified in this Plan to relevant government agencies for a period of five years. Priority is categorised as 1 (essential), 2 (highly desirable) or 3 (desirable). Each action is costed in Table 2.
Description	Responsibility for implementation	Timeframe	Priority
12.1 Survey and research
Action 1: expert survey of Monaro and eastern edge of southern SE Highlands	NPWS (Southern Directorate)	subject to funding	1
Action 2: community information pamphlet New England Tableland	NPWS (Northern Directorate)	Year 1 then ongoing	1
Action 3: community information pamphlet SE Highlands (southern section)	NPWS (Southern Directorate)	Year 1 then ongoing	1
Action 4: community information pamphlet SE Highlands (northern section)	NPWS (Western Directorate)	Ongoing	1
Action 5: liaison with ACT	NPWS (Southern Directorate)	Ongoing	2
Action 6: verification of historic records	NPWS	Ongoing	1
Action 7: research into causes of decline	NPWS, Research Institutions	subject to funding	2
Action 8: genetic study of Museum specimens	NPWS	subject to funding	1
Action 9: genetic study of extant unresolved populations	NPWS, Research Institutions	subject to funding	3
Action 10: hygiene protocol	NPWS, Research Institutions	Ongoing	1
12.2 Protection of potential habitat
Action 11: advice to other agencies	NPWS	ongoing	1
Action 12: community programs to encourage protection of habitat	NPWS	ongoing	1
Action 13: EIA guidelines	NPWS	Year 1	1
12.3 Legislative status
Action 14: review of legislative status	NPWS	Year 2 and Year 5	3
12.4 Protection of extant populations identified in future
Action 15: ex situ establishment protocol	NPWS	Year 1	1
Action 16: field investigation of sightings	NPWS	ongoing as required	1
Action 17: site assessment/local survey	NPWS	as required	1
Action 18: consideration of critical habitat	NPWS	as required	1
Action 19: investigation of VCA or JMA	NPWS	ongoing as required	1
Action 20: Devise and implement appropriate management strategy	NPWS	as required	1
Action 21: Research concerning management of extant populations	NPWS, Research Institutions	as required subject to funding	2

Table 2: Costing table
Estimated costs of implementing the actions identified in the recovery plan are provided below. Separate estimates are provided in the event that extant populations are identified. Cost actions are subject to funding availability unless noted as funding secured. Estimates do not include Goods and Services Tax.
Recovery action	Year of implementation
A: Cost of actions assuming extant populations not discovered	1	2	3	4	5	Total
Survey and research Action 1: survey Monaro/E edge SE Highlands	4000	-	3000	-	-	$7000
Action 2: community information pamphlet New England Tableland	2000	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	$2000
Action 3: community information pamphlet SE Highlands (southern section)	2000	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	$2000
Action 4 community information pamphlet SE Highlands (northern section)	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 5: liaison with ACT	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 6: verification of historic records	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 7: research into causes of decline	10000	5000	5000	-	-	$20000
Action 8: genetic study of Museum specimens	-	8000	5000	-	-	$13000
Action 9: genetic study of extant unresolved L. piperata populations	8000	-	-	-	-	$8000
Action 10: hygiene protocol	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Protection of potential habitat Action 11: advice to other agencies	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 12: encourage community habitat protection+	-	-	-	-	-	-
Action 13: EIA guidelines	ψ	-	-	-	-	-
Legislative status Action 14: review of legislative status	ψ	-	-	-	-	-
Protection of extant populations Action 15: ex situ establishment protocol	ψ	-	-	-	-	-
Action 16: field investigation of sightings	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Total cost of implementing actions (A)	$26000	$13000	$13000	-	-	$52000
B: Additional costs if extant populations found in Year 1
Protection of extant populations Action 17: site assessment/local survey	5000	-	-	-	-	$5000
Action 18: critical habitat	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 19: VCA/JMA	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	ψ	-
Action 20: management of sites	10000	10000	5000	5000	5000	$35000
Action 21: research into management	4000	3000	-	-	-	$7000
Total cost of implementing actions (B)	$19000	$13000	$5000	$5000	$5000	$47000

TOTAL COST OF RECOVERY PLAN (A + B)	$40000	$25000	$13000	$5000	$5000	$99000

Table 3: Agency Responsibilities Public authorities and community groups with responsibilities relevant to the protection of the Yellow-spotted Bell Frog and the Peppered Tree Frog and their potential habitat (apart from NPWS) are listed below.
Organisation	Relevant responsibilities
Relevant Local Councils include Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Tenterfield, Blayney, Bathurst, Evans, Queanbeyan and Bombala Councils.	Preparation of Local Environmental Plans under Part 3 of EPA Act. Consent authorities for development proposals under Part 4 of EPA Act. Approval authorities for Council works under Part 5 of EPA Act. Responsibilities under Rural Fires Act 1997. Management of Council reserves.
Department of Land and Water Conservation	Approval authority for native vegetation clearance applications under Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997. Management of Crown Land with potential habitat. Coordination of Regional Vegetation Committees, total catchment management and Landcare programs.
Department of Urban Affairs and Planning	Development of policy and strategies for land-use planning and environmental assessment. Advice and assistance on environmental planning matters. Assessment of major development applications.
State Government authorities	Approval authorities for activity proposals under Part 5 of EPA Act.
Rural Fire Service	Preparation of Bushfire Risk Management Plans. Fire management.
Landcare Groups and Bush Regeneration Teams	Community groups formed to tackle local land degradation and habitat rehabilitation issues.

Threatened species & ecological communities

Yellow-spotted Bell Frog (Litoria castanea) and Peppered Frog (Litoria piperata) Recovery Plan

Tables