Our Threatened Wallum Frogs

What are Wallum frogs and why are they threatened?

Our Wallum frogs are one of our most at risk species, due to vegetation clearing to make room for new coastal developments.

Wallum frogs are typically nocturnal and cryptic species that live in or near coastal wallum habitat in south eastern Queensland (and NSW). Wallum habitat is made up of acidic swamps, lagoon systems, and coastal sand dune swamp plains.

What are Wallum Frogs?

The Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula), Wallum Rocketfrog (Litoria freycineti) and Wallum Sedgefrog (L. olongburensis) are all listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld), while the Cooloola Sedge Frog (L. cooloolensis) is listed as near-threatened. 

The Wallum Sedge Frog also listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act; Commonwealth).

When are threatened species surveys for these species required?

A threatened species survey is required if the development property has essential habitat for the species mapped, meaning that a species record exists within 1km of the site.

What is involved in a survey for Wallum frogs?

Typically a targeted survey for Wallum Frogs involves a combination of nocturnal spotlighting surveys within suitable swampy habitat, aural surveys, the use of acoustic recorders set up over multiple nights and pitfall/ funnel trapping.

Each of the Wallum Frogs calls peak over different months of the year. Depending on the size of your development and its potential for impacts, surveys may need to be quite extensive and take place at different times of the year to ensure we have the greatest chance of capturing this specie’s presence.