Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Notice of Final Determination (1997-231) [GG No 62 of 13.6.1997, p 4339] (NSW)

1997 No 231

New South Wales

THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT 1995 No 101

Notice of Final Determination and Amendment of Schedule 1 to Act

The Scientific Committee constituted under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 has, in pursuance of Division 3 of Part 2 of that Act, made a final determination to insert the following ecological community in Schedule 1 to that Act and, accordingly, that Schedule is amended as set out in Annexure “A” to this Notice:

Cumberland Plain Woodland

The final determination, set out in Annexure “B” to this Notice, to insert this ecological community in Schedule 1 has been made because the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the community is likely to

become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and

factors threatening its survival cease to operate.

Copies of the final determination may be inspected at:

The Information Centre (Level 1)
National Parks & Wildlife Service
43 Bridge Street

HURSTVILLE NSW 2220

and at all District Offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service during

business hours.

Signed at Sydney, this sixth day of June 1997.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PAUL ADAM,

Deputy Chairperson Scientific Committee.

Published in Gazette No 62 of 13 June 1997, page 4339 Page 1

1997 No 231

Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 101

ANNEXURE "A"

Schedule 1 to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 is amended by inserting in Part 3 in appropriate order the matter “Cumberland Plain Woodland (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community)”.

ANNEXURE “B”

Final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the Cumberland Plain Woodland as an endangered ecological community.

N.S.W. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Final Determination

THE Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act has made a Final Determination to list the Cumberland Plain Woodland as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Endangered Ecological Communities is provided for by section 12 of the Act.

Any submissions received following advertisement of the Preliminary Determination have been considered by the Scientific Committee.

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1.         The Cumberland Plain Woodland is the accepted name for the plant community that occurs on soils derived from shale on the Cumberland Plain.

2. plant species:

The Cumberland Plain Woodland is characterised by the following assemblage of Chloris truncata, Chloris ventricosa, Commelina cyanea, Cyperus gracilis, Dianella longifolia, Dianella revoluta, Dichelachne micrantha, Echinopogon caespitosus, Echinopogon ovatus, Entolasia marginata, Eragrostis leptostachya, Hypoxis hygrometrica, Lepidosperma laterale, Lomandra filiformis, Lomandra multiflora, Microlaena stipoides, Oplismenus aemulus, Panicum simile, Themeda australis, Tricoryne elatior, Acacia decurrens, Acacia falcata, Acacia implexa, Acacia parramattensis, Asperula conferta, Brunoniella australis, Bursaria spinosa, Daviesia ulicifolia, Dichondra repens, Dillwynia sieberi, Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus eugenioides, Eucalyptus fibrosa, Eucalyptus maculata, Eucalyptus moluccana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Exocarpos cupressiformis, Glycine clandestina, Glycine tabacina, Goodenia hederacea, Hardenbergia violacea, Hibbertia diffusa, Hypericum gramineum, Indigofera australis, Lissanthe strigosa, Melaleuca decora, Eremophila debilis, Oxalis exilis, Phyllanthus filicaulis, Pratia purpurascens, Solanum pungetium, Vernonia cinerea, Wahlenbergia gracilis.

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Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 101

The total list of plant species which occur in the community is much larger, with many species occurring in one or a few sites, or in very low abundance. Not all species listed above occur in every single stand of the Community.

3.        The Cumberland Plain Woodland sites are characteristically of woodland structure, but may include both more open and more dense areas, and the canopy is dominated by species including one or more of the following: Eucalyptus moluccana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus eugenioides

and Eucalyptus maculata.

4.         The understorey is generally grassy to herbaceous with patches of shrubs, or if disturbed, contains components of indigenous native species sufficient to

re-establish the characteristic native understorey.

5.         The Cumberland Plain Woodland includes regrowth which is likely to achieve a near natural structure or a is seral stage towards that structure.

6.         The Community has been reported as occurring in the local government areas of Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollondilly.

The Scientific Committee noted that a more detailed description of the community is provided in:

* Benson (1992) The natural vegetation of the Penrith 1:100,000 map sheet. See

particularly p. 556-7, p. 558, p. 566-575.

In addition, general information on the Cumberland Plain Woodland is also provided

in:

* Benson, D. & Howell, J. 1990. “Taken for Granted—The Bushland of Sydney
and its Suburbs”. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst
* Benson, D., Howell, J., and McDougall, L., 1996, Mountain Devil to Mangrove:

a guide to the natural vegetation in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment. Royal

Botanic Gardens, Sydney

The Scientific Committee has found that:

7.         The Community, as defined by the proposal, satisfies the definition of an Ecological Community under the Act, i.e. an assemblage of species occupying a particular area.

8.         Only 6% of the original extent of the community remained in 1988 (Benson, D. & Howell, J. 1990 Proc. Ecol. Soc. Aust. 16, 115-127) in the form of small and fragmented stands. Although some areas Occur within conservation reserves, this in itself is not sufficient to ensure the long term conservation of the Community unless the factors threatening the integrity and survival of the Community are ameliorated.

9.         Threats to the survival of the community include clearance for agriculture, grazing, hobby and poultry farms, housing and other developments, invasion by exotic plants, and increased nutrient loads due to fertiliser run off from gardens and farmland, dumped refuse or sewer discharge.

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10.       In view of the substantial reduction in the area occupied by the Community, its fragmentation and the numerous threats to the integrity of the Community, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Cumberland Plain Woodland is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the factors threatening its survival cease to operate.

DR CHRIS DICKMAN,

Chairperson,
Scientific Committee.