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Category Archives: Islands

Pests threaten WA islands

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Pristine islands off WA that harbour threatened species often found nowhere else in the world are at an unacceptable risk of being invaded by foreign pests, one of the State's leading biologists has warned.

Andrew Burbidge told a Senate committee investigating environmental biosecurity arrangements in Australia there was a lack of a "co-ordinated" plan for keeping out feral animals and plants from the country's islands.

Dr Burbidge, a former public servant who advises State and Federal governments, said the shortcoming was not good enough given Australia's "appalling" record of extinction.

He held up Christmas Island as a salutary lesson, saying the biosecurity performance there had been "shockingly inadequate" and led to the loss of many of its unique species.

He said unless governments set up a system to enable them to prioritise islands based on their environmental value and vulnerability to pest invasion, there was a risk of similar events happening again.

A spokeswoman for WA's Department of Parks and Wildlife noted the role many of the State's 3474 islands played as "arks" for threatened plants and animals.

The spokeswoman also pointed out the agency had been involved in many programs to eradicate pests from islands, including one under way on Dirk Hartog Island off the Gascoyne.

"The department is two years into a project that is working towards developing a prioritisation model for biosecurity measures for WA islands," she said.

Noting that most pests could not swim and were invariably brought to islands inadvertently on boats, Dr Burbidge recommended further regulation and education.

He said resource or tourist companies that visited islands should need to prepare quarantine plans, citing oil giant Chevron's example on Barrow Island as a model.

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Pests threaten WA islands

Hidden WWII wonders of the Solomon Islands

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Across the water they paddle, their timber dugout canoes swaying slightly, little hands clinging to the sides as their children keep balance.

The various villages from which these women hail lie on islands dotted all over the Solomons' unspoilt Western Province.

But every day they travel to the commercial hub of Munda, on New Georgia, to sell their produce.

At the market near the jetty, coconuts, papayas and betel nuts are lined up in orderly piles beside newly rooted sweet potatoes and a bounty of fresh fish.

The women, some with gloriously large bottoms, sit smiling and chatting on upturned crates. "Halo oloketa," one says, greeting me in Pijin.

You'll be lucky to spot a tourist here.

With nearly 1000 tropical islands (only about 350 are inhabited), the palm-fringed beaches, azure waters and volcanic islands of this archipelago nation are some of the least explored of the South West Pacific.

Life runs on Solomons time, an unwinding pace that will gradually alter an outsider's physiological make-up.

But scratch the surface of the laid-back lifestyle and rich cultural diversity, and you'll discover some fascinating wartime history.

During World War II, the Solomon Islands and neighbouring Papua New Guinea formed a critical corridor for the Japanese in their 1942 offensive to take Australia.

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Hidden WWII wonders of the Solomon Islands

Phillips 66 Welcomes Channel Islands Aviation To FBO-Branded Network

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CAMARILLO, Calif. Family-owned and operated Channel Islands Aviation (CIA) is Phillip 66 Aviations newest addition to its growing Fixed Base Operation (FBO) network, with more than 850 facilities scattered across the U.S. A steadfast structure, CIA opened its doors in 1976 when co-owners Mark and Janie Oberman were selected as the first operator at Camarillo Airport (KCMA).

Weve seen quite an influx of activity this past year, said Janie Oberman. Luckily, the entire Oberman family contributes to the operation. Our two adult children work at the facility with Michael serving as chief pilot, and Sarah managing our flight school. Co-owner Mark is captain on the two company Britten-Norman Islanders and copilot on the CJ and CJ3.

In addition to its FBO services, CIA also offers charter, rentals, sales, FAA 145 approved repair station for maintenance, avionics and parts. CIA is an authorized Cessna and Cirrus Service Center and a Diamond award-winning FAA 141 approved Cessna Pilot center for exceeding company operational standards and for excellence in flight training. Adding to its accolades, CIA also operates as the official aviation fixed-wing concessionaire for Channel Islands National Park.

Located off the coast of Southern California are the Channel Islands. Five of the eight islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) make up the national park. The general public can access Santa Rosa Island year round, but only by park concessionaire boats and planes, or private boats. The preservation is home to more than 2,000 plant and animal species, 145 of which are exclusive to the island.

Selected for its extensive professional aviation experience, CIA has recently partnered with Santa Barbara Business College to offer the first Associate of Science in Aviation degree program. After the program students will walk away with the associate degree as well as a Commercial Pilot License and CFI, CFII and MEI certificates. The first class commences in mid-October.

For more information about Channel Islands Aviation, visit its website at http://www.flycia.com.

Phillips 66 Aviation is the nations largest network of branded aviation dealers. Visit http://www.phillips66aviation.com for more information.

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Phillips 66 Welcomes Channel Islands Aviation To FBO-Branded Network


  1. Islands