Lord Howe Island Board, 3 April 2023
The southern walking tracks in the Permanent Park Preserve (PPP) were re-opened on March 31st, after a brief closure in response to the escalating risk of Myrtle rust to the critically endangered ecosystems within that section of the PPP.
The entire PPP is now open in full to managed visitation.
Open tracks:
| Southern Mountains – Mt Gower Track – Goat House Track | Transit Hill – Middle Beach – The Clear Place – Valley of the Shadows |
| Intermediate Hill – Smoking Tree Ridge – Boat Harbour – Mutton Bird Point – Rocky Run | Northern Hills – Max Nichols – Kim’s Lookout – Malabar – Mount Eliza – North Bay – Old Gulch |
| Blackburn Island |
Photo: LHIB.
A myrtle rust incursion was detected on Lord Howe Island on the 3rd February 2023, the first time it has been seen since a successful eradication in 2016.
The exotic fungus myrtle rust presents a significant risk to the island’s terrestrial ecosystems and World Heritage values. Myrtle rust is a serious plant disease that affects plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family. On Lord Howe Island, this plant family includes the lowland Mountain Rose, Lord Howe Island Tea Tree, and Scaly Bark, as well as the Mountain Tea Tree and highland Mountain Rose that are found in the critically endangered Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest that Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird wear as their crowns.
The fungus impacts plant foliage, in particular flower buds and new growth, preventing the plant’s capacity to photosynthesize causing plant decline or death.
In the first week that myrtle rust was detected on the island, searches across the entire settlement area were conducted by LHIB staff and have continued on a fortnightly basis.
Two further outbreaks were identified, however when the rust was detected within 230 metres of the PPP boundary, vegetatively connected to the park, the difficult decision was made to close the park for all people not working on myrtle rust directly. This decision, on the 14th March, was the culmination of many steps that were taken to minimise this escalating risk. Following intensive track searches, the Northern PPP was reopened from the 25th March.
A further systematic search of the settlement and formal and informal track network in the PPP was undertaken, with no new myrtle rust infection points detected. As of Wednesday, 29 March, there were no active spores at known sites.
Successful treatment of known myrtle rust sites, extensive and ongoing monitoring together with establishment of hygiene stations and rigorous protocols meant that the entire PPP could be safely reopened.
It is important that the community and visitors work together to consistently and effectively implement the necessary hygiene practices to manage the risks posed by myrtle rust. We thank you for the responsiveness and willingness to help that has been shown.
Regular checks for myrtle rust will continue on the island, along with the rapid treatment of any future detected outbreaks. The re-opening protocol includes triggers for review should myrtle rust be detected again, and at one month after re-opening.
Planning is underway to increase our preparedness and response to any future detection, and more information will be provided how the community can be involved once the emergency response phase is complete. A response report will be developed detailing the science, policy and community engagement activities undertaken, and will be available later in the year.
The reopening of the PPP is a result of the combined effort of the community, visitors, LHIB NPWS and experts cooperating for the continued protection of the unique values of Lord Howe.
Related story: LHI Permanent Park Preserve closed for the first time in Island’s history due to Myrtle Rust
