Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Notice of Final Determination (1999-39) [GG No 12 of 29.1.1999, p 331] (NSW)

1999 No 39

New South Wales

THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT 1995 No 101

Notice of Final Determination and Amendment of Schedule 1 to Act

The Scientific Committee established under the Threatened Species Conservation Act I995 has, in pursuance of Division 3 of Part 2 of that Act, made a final determination to insert the following ecological community in Part 3 of Schedule 1 to that Act and, accordingly, that Schedule is amended as set out in Annexure “A” to this Notice:

Kurnell Dune Forest in the Sutherland Shire and City of Rockdale (as described in the final determination of the Scientifc Committee to list the ecological community)

The final determination, set out in Appendix “B” to this Notice, to insert this ecological community in Part 3 of 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 or evolutionary development 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 5th day of January 1999

Dr Chris Dickman

Chairperson
Scientific Committee

1999 No 39

Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 101-Final Determination

Annexure “A”

Schedule 1
to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 is amended by described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the

inserting in Part 3 in alphabetical order the following matter:

ecological community )

Annexure “B”

Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the Kurnell Dune Forest in the Sutherland Shire and City of Rockdale as an endangered ecological community.

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 Kurnell Dune Forest in the Sutherland Shire and the City of Rockdale as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of endangered ecological communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act
The Scientific Committee has found:

1.        The Kurnell Dune Forest is a low open sclerophyll forest community with a distinct mesophyll element found on sand, often in association with areas of sclerophyll heath and scrub.

2.         The characteristic species composition of the community is:

Actinotus helianthi	Angophora costata
Aotus ericoides	Banksia ericifolia
Banksia serrata	Breynia oblnrlgifolia
Cissus antarctica	Cissus hypoglauca
Clemais aristata	Clematis glycinoides
Clerodendrum tomentosum	Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Elaeocarpus reticulatus	Endiandra sieberi

1999 No 39

Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 No 101–Final Det ermination

Eucalyptus botryoides	Eucalyptus robusta
Eustrephus latifolius	Glochidion ferdinandi
Hibbertia scandens	Lepidosperma laterale
Leptospermum laevigatum	Leucopogon parviflorus
Lomandra longifolia	Maclura cochinchinensis
Monotoca elliptica	Notelaea longifolia
Pandorea pandorana	Parsonia staminea
Pimelia linifolia	Rapanea variabilis
Smilax australis	Stephania japonica var. discolor

The total species list for the community is considerably larger, with many species restricted to single stands or having very low abundance. At any one time some species may be represented only in the soil seed bank.

3.         The community occurs in the Sutherland Shire and in the City of Rockdale (Leo Smith Reserve). Within Sutherland Shire the major occurrences are on the Kurnell Peninsula, with other stands near Bundeena.

4.         The extent of the community has been much reduced by clearing and development and remaining stands are disjunct. The The large edge/area ratio of remaining stands makes them vulnerable to disturbance and weed invasion. Weed invasion is a feature of most stands. Altered fire regimes may have long term impacts on species composition.

5.         Several stands are included in either NPWS estate or Council reserves. However, reservation itself does not, in itself, prevent degradation from weed invasion and disturbance. Non reserved stands which include Calsil Dune may be at risk from development.

6.         Given the limited extent of the community and in the light of 4 and 5 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Kurnell Dune Forest in Sutherland Shire and the City of Rockdale is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Dr Chris Dickman
Chairperson
Scientific Committee