The first of two helicopter winch operations for this summer concluded on 17 November 2024. During this operation, members of the LHIB Environment Unit and external contractors were winched into remote areas of the southern mountains to carry out essential weed control activities as part of the Weed Eradication Program. 

The 2024 operation saw significant progress of remote coverage, with a total of 33.3 hectares searched. This included 154 km travelled on foot and 1,227.5 hours worked across 9 operational days. A total of 1,588 weeds were removed, with 92% of these being seedling and juvenile plants. The helicopter was also utilised to retrieve and deposit gear in the southern mountains.

This operation follows a successful winch operation in November 2023, which resulted in the removal of 2,261 individual weeds and the thorough searching of 39 hectares of rugged terrain over 12 operational days. 

Helicopter access to these remote areas is essential to ensure time critical search and control efforts in difficult to access areas. Helicopter winch operations are scheduled to be undertaken again in February 2025. 

This operation is supported by Commonwealth funding from North Coast Local Land Services and Saving Native Species, as well as state funding from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Biodiversity and Conservation Division through the Saving Our Species program.