Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Notice of Final Determination (1997-488) [GG No 97 of 5.9.1997, p 7782] (NSW)
1997 No 488
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:
Blue Gum High Forest
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 it 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 StreetHURSTVILLE NSW 2220
and at all District Offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service during
business hours.
Signed at Sydney, this 22nd day of August 1997.
Associate Professor Paul Adam
Deputy Chairperson Scientific Committee
Annexure “A”
Schedule 1 to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 is amended by inserting in Part 3, in alphabetical order, the matter “Blue Gum High Forest (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 Blue Gum High
Forest as an endangered ecological community.
Published in Gazette No 97 of 5 September 1997, page 7782 Page 1
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Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 1011
Annexure “B’’
NSW Scientific Committee
Final Determination
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a final determination to list the Blue Gum High Forest occurring on the northshore and in the northern suburbs of Sydney 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.
The Ecological Community to be listed is:
1. The Blue Gum High Forest which is the accepted name for a plant community occurring on deep shale-derived soils with high rainfall in the northshore and northern suburbs of Sydney.
2. It has the structural form predominantly of tall open-forest to open forest.
3. The characteristic assemblage of vascular plant species in the
community is:
Acacia implexa Adiantum aethiopicum AIlocasuarina torulosa Angophora floribunda Billardiera scandens Blechnum cartilagineum Brachycome angustifolia Breynia oblongifolia Calochlaena dubia Clematis aristata Clematis glycinoides Clerodendrum
tomentosumCommelina cyanea Dichondra repens Echinopogon caespitosus Elaeocarpus reticulatus Entolasia marginata Eucalyptus paniculata Eucalyptus pilularis Eucalyptus saligna Eustrephus latifolius Glochidion ferdinandi Glycine clandestina Goodenia heterophylla Hardenbergia violacea Helichrysum Hibbertia scandens scorpioides lmperata cylindrica Indigofera australis Kennedia rubicunda Leucopogon juniperinus Leucopogon Lomandra longifolia lanceolatus Microlaena stipoides Notelaea longifolia Omalanthus populifolius Oplismenus aemulus Oxalis exilis Pandorea pandorana
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Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 101
Persoonia linearis Pittosporum revolutum Pittosporum undulatum Playtlobium formosum Poa affinis Polyscias sambucifolius Poranthera microphylla Pratia purpurascens Pseuderanthemum
variabilePteridium esculentum Rapanea variabilis Rubus parvifolius Smilax glyciphylla Syncarpia glomulifera Themeda australis Tylophora barbata Zieria smithii 4. The total species list of the community is considerably larger than that given in 3 (above), with many species present only in one or two sites or in very small quantity. In any particular site not all of the assemblage listed in 3 may be present at any one time (at least above ground), seeds of more species may be present in the soil seed bank. The species composition of a site will be influenced by the size of the site and by its recent disturbance history. For a number of years after a major disturbance, dominance by a few species may occur, with gradual restoration of a more complex composition and vegetation structure over time. The balance between species will change over the fire cycle, and may also change in response to changes in fire frequency.
5. The Blue Gum High Forest is confined to soils derived from Wianamatta Shale, and is distinct from the open-forest that occurs in sandstone gullies or on alluvium which may include trees of Eucalyptus deanei, Eucalyptus pilularis, Eucalyptus saligna or Syncarpia glomulifera.
6. The community has been reported from areas of Wianamatta Shale in the Local Government Areas of Lane Cove, Willoughby, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Baulkham Hills, Ryde, Parramatta.
7. The Scientific Committee noted that general information on the Blue Gum High Forest is contained in Benson, D. and Howell, J., 1990, Taken for Granted; The bushland of Sydney and its suburbs, Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst.
The Scientific Committee has found that:
8. 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.
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9. About 1% of the original area of the community currently exists in the form of a number of remnants.
10. Threats to the survival of the community include fragmentation, developments, increased nutrient status, inappropriate fire regimes, invasion by exotic plants, mowing and clearing.
11. Although a small part of the surviving Blue Gum High Forest is included within Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve, this in itself does not ensure the survival of the community unless the threats to the integrity of the community are ameliorated. 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 Blue Gum High Forest is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the factors threatening its survival cease to operate.
12. In view of 9, 10 and 11, 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. Accordingly the Committee has made a Final Determination to support the listing of the Blue Gum High Forest on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act.
Associate Professor Paul Adam
Deputy Chairperson Scientific Committee
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