List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (Ec2) Instrument 2021 (Cth)

Commonwealth of Australia

List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC2) Instrument 2021

I, SUSSAN LEY, Minister for the Environment, pursuant to paragraph 184(c) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, amend the list referred to in section 181 of that Act by transferring the following item in the list of threatened ecological communities from the endangered category to the critically endangered category:

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region

as described in the Schedule to this instrument.

This instrument commences the day after registration.

Sussan Ley

...................................................................................

Sussan Ley

Minister for the Environment

Dated ....22^nd November 2021...................................

SCHEDULE 1

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region

The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region ecological community is the assemblage of plants, animals and other organisms (i.e. all biota) associated with a type of temperate heath and shrubland occurring in Sydney’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs, between the Hawkesbury River in the north and Stanwell Park at the southernmost extent of Royal National Park. It typically occurs on perched, low nutrient, highly podsolised sands associated with dunes and sand sheets of Quaternary age, overlying sandstone plateaux. It is now mainly restricted to elevated headlands and adjacent areas.

The vegetation structure of the ecological community is predominantly sclerophyllous heath or scrub, with either an open or closed canopy and containing a range of woody species from small to large shrubs. The ground layer of mostly sedges and forbs is typically open on freely draining sands and may be quite dense in damp depressions. Trees sometimes occur in the community as scattered emergents or localised stands, particularly eucalypts (Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora species). They are typically low growing or wind-pruned. Vines and climbers are not prominent components of the ecological community, but do occur, particularly in limited wetter areas.

The range of species present varies, but the shrub layer frequently includes Banksia species such as Banksia aemula (Wallum Banksia) and Banksia serrata (Old Man Banksia, Saw-leafed Banksia, Wiryagan) as well as other characteristic woody species such as Monotoca elliptica (Tree Broom-heath), Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle), Allocasuarina distyla (Scrub Sheoak), Isopogon anemonifolius (Broad-leaf Drumsticks), Kunzea ambigua (Tick Bush), Ricinocarpos pinifolius (Wedding Bush) and  Leptospermum laevigatum (Coast Tea Tree). A wide range of other woody species may also be present, including Banksia ericifolia subsp. ericifolia (Heath-leafed Banksia), which may become locally abundant in damp sites and where soils transition from deep Quaternary sands to shallower yellow earths derived from sandstone. The ground layer also varies but frequently contains a range of sedges, graminoids and forbs. Depending on site topography and hydrology, some remnants contain small areas of eucalypt woodland, low forest or limited wetter areas.

Variation in the structure and species composition of the community is related to variable site conditions including soil nutrient status and drainage, proximity to the ocean, soil and vegetation disturbance, and influence of neighbouring areas. The disturbance history (including soil disturbance and fire occurrence) at each site can profoundly influence the state of the ecological community in terms of structure, as well as species composition.

The ecological community includes a variety of fauna species, including several species that are listed as threatened at a national or state level.