Cane rat loss slashed in waterways replant

CANE farmers across the Wet Tropics region are experiencing a significant drop in rats destroying their crops thanks to riverside revegetation projects.

Growers and researchers have reported a 70 to 100 per cent reduction in rat numbers after tree-planting initiatives on land between cane crops and waterways.

Woopen Creek cane farmer Frank Gatti said he began planting trees on his property just north of Innisfail 25 years ago at a time when rats were destroying up to 20m of cane either side of a creek on his land each harvest season.

He said, since he and his brother Stephen collaborated with the Bureau of Sugar Experimental Station and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to revegetate 3.5km of land as a 30-40m strip between cane and creek on their property, there had been an 80 per cent reduction in the rat population within 12 months.

“There was no grass for the rats anymore,’’ Mr Gatti said.

“As part of the trial we initially left some sections of grass and during the trial rats were captured in those areas, while there was virtually nil capture where we had revegetated.”

Terrain NRM’s Bruce Corcoran said riverside revegetation projects had provided many benefits for both landholders and the environment.

“Watercourses that are revegetated are much healthier with habitat for beneficial birds and animals and shade helping to remove choking grass and sediment build-up,’’ he said.

“This improves water quality and allows clean-flowing water to provide diverse habitats.”

But, for Tully cane farmer Brice Henry, it was as simple as taking advantage of a local council-run revegetation program more than 30 years ago when a team came on to properties and undertook the plantings and the initial maintenance work.

He is now considering revegetating another strip of land between cane crops and a different creek.

Trees planted as part of the program are 12m high and the rainforest area has increased thanks to seeds coming in with bird populations.

“Before the project, we would lose cane on both sides of the creek,’’ Mr Henry said. “We used to burn the grass out but still have a rat problem.”

Mr Henry said the project also stopped regrowth of pest plants hymenacne and para grass.