DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville
q u a l i t y s o l u t i o n s sustainable f u t u r e
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DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville
Prepared for: Nambucca Shire Council © GeoLINK, 2012
PO Box 1446 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 T 02 6651 7666
PO Box 119 Lennox Head NSW 2478 T 02 6687 7666
Version History UPR Description Date Issued Issued By Reviewed By 1790174 Draft Plan of Management 26/08/2011 David Andrighetto Tony Coyle / Simon Layout and Draft VMP Waterworth 1790322 Draft Plan of Management 22/12/2011 David Andrighetto 1790716 Draft Plan of Management 20/03/2012 David Andrighetto Anna Lloyd
Table of Contents
Part A – Flying-fox Plan of Management
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Preface ...... 1 1.2 Aim and Objectives ...... 1 1.3 Location ...... 2 1.4 Tenure ...... 2 1.5 Consultation ...... 2 2 The Natural Environment 9
2.1 Topography, Geology and Soils ...... 9 2.1.1 Existing Environment ...... 9 2.1.2 Relevant Management Issues...... 9 2.2 Climate ...... 10 2.2.1 Relevant Management Issues...... 10 2.3 Flora ...... 11 2.3.1 Existing Environment ...... 11 2.3.2 Relevant Management Issues...... 12 2.4 Fauna: Flying-foxes ...... 13 2.4.1 Importance of Flying-foxes ...... 13 2.4.2 Flying-fox Biology...... 14 2.4.3 Conservation Status ...... 14 2.4.4 Distribution ...... 14 2.4.5 Flying-fox Camps ...... 14 2.4.6 Reproduction ...... 15 2.4.7 Foraging ...... 16 2.4.8 Diet...... 16 2.4.9 NSW Flying-fox Camps ...... 16 2.4.10 Bowraville Camp ...... 16 2.4.11 Management Issues: Threats...... 21 2.4.12 Management Issues: Community Concerns ...... 22 2.5 Fauna: Other Significant Species ...... 25 2.5.1 Existing Environment ...... 25 2.5.2 Relevant Management Issues...... 26
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3 The Cultural Environment 27
3.1 History ...... 27 3.1.1 Indigenous History ...... 27 3.1.2 European History ...... 27 3.2 Land Uses and Community Values of the Reserve...... 27 3.3 Urban Land ...... 28 3.3.1 Relevant Management Issues...... 29 4 Legislation and Policy 31
4.1 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ...... 31 4.2 National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002...... 31 4.3 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 ...... 31 4.4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ...... 31 4.5 Nambucca Local Environmental Plan 2010 ...... 31 4.6 Crown Lands Act 1989 ...... 32 4.7 Local Government Act 1993 ...... 32 4.8 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ...... 32 4.9 DECCW Flying-fox Camp Management Policy ...... 35 4.10 Draft National Recovery Plan for Grey-headed Flying-fox ...... 36 4.11 NSW State Plan ...... 37 4.12 Nambucca River Estuary Management Plan ...... 37 5 Community Consultation Management Options Considerations 39
6 Action Plan 43
7 Introduction 57
7.1 Aims ...... 57 7.2 Objectives ...... 57 8 Site Assessment 59
8.1 Methods ...... 59 8.2 Vegetation Description ...... 59 8.2.1 Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain ...... 59 8.2.2 Zone 2 – Riparian Forest ...... 61 8.2.3 Zone 3 – Grassland ...... 62
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9 Management Strategy and Recommendation for Work Zones 69
9.1 Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest ...... 69 9.2 Zone 2 – Riparian Forest ...... 73 9.3 Zone 3 – Grassland ...... 75 10 General Management Recommendations 77
10.1 Project Establishment, Training and Liaison...... 77 10.2 Monitoring and Work Stages ...... 77 10.2.1 Regular Monitoring/Follow-up Treatment/Work Hints...... 78 10.3 Sourcing of Plants ...... 78 10.4 Threatened Plants ...... 78 10.5 Herbicide Usage Near Waterways ...... 78 10.6 Licensing ...... 78 11 Conclusion 79
Illustrations Illustration 1.1 Site Locality ...... 5
Illustration 1.2 Aerial Photo...... 7
Illustration 2.1 Core Camp Area ...... 19
Illustration 4.1 Nambucca LEP 2010...... 33
Illustration 5.1 Management Options Analysis ...... 41
Illustration 8.1 Vegetation Zones...... 65
Illustration 8.2 Work Zones ...... 67
Tables Table 2.1 Indicative Climate Data for Bowraville (Bellingen Post Office Records)...... 10
Table 2.2 Flying-fox Counts ...... 17
Table 6.1 Action Plan ...... 44
Table 9.1 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest ... 71
Table 9.2 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 2 – Riparian Forest...... 74
Table 9.3 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 3 - Grassland ...... 76
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Plates Plate 2.1 Nambucca River ...... 9
Plate 2.2 Drainage line in the south-east ...... 9
Plate 2.3 Dumped Garden Waste ...... 13
Plate 2.4 Inappropriate material stockpile adjacent to riparian vegetation ...... 13
Plate 2.5 Unauthorised access track ...... 13
Plate 2.6 Vine weed smothered remnant rainforest tree ...... 22
Plate 2.7 Powerlines adjacent to the camp ...... 22
Plate 3.1 Toilet block and adjacent maintained grassland area ...... 28
Plate 3.2 Access track to the swimming hole ...... 28
Plate 3.3 Sandy/gravelly beach at the swimming area...... 28
Plate 8.1 Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on floodplain with seedy vines smothering the lower stratum ...... 61
Plate 8.2 Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain with weedy vines growing into the canopy of the mature trees...... 61
Plate 8.3 Gully vegetation in the northern portion of the site ...... 62
Plate 8.4 Riparian Forest showing signs of disturbance ...... 62
Plate 8.5 Unmaintained grassland in the eastern portion of the study site adjacent to Riparian Forest community ...... 63
Plate 8.6 Maintained grassland in the western portion of the site adjacent to lowland Subtropical Rainforest ...... 63
Appendices A Flora Recorded in the Diet of Flying-foxes in Northern NSW Source: Roberts 2006 (advice from P.Eby)
B Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System Search Results
C Possible Funding Sources and Useful Websites
D Reserve Flora Species List
E Plants Suitable for Regeneration Planting
F Bush Regenerators’ Checklist Source: Envite 2010
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Executive Summary
Bowraville has long been home to a flying-fox camp and seen ongoing conflicts between the local residents and the camp. Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve (the Reserve) has supported the core camp area for approximately 10 years. The aim of this Plan of Management (PoM) is to guide future management of the Reserve to enhance its environmental and social values, particularly protecting and enhancing the flying-fox colony so that it can survive in harmony with residents of Bowraville. The PoM comprises two main components: Part A - Flying-fox Management Plan, and Part B – Vegetation Management Plan (VMP).
The PoM was developed through review of the natural and cultural environmental values of the Reserve, and identification of relevant management issues. Community consultation was also undertaken in the form of an open invitation community workshop and specific consultation with the Bowraville Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), with the aim of identifying community issues and preferred management options.
Key environmental values of the Reserve include: . The Bowraville flying-fox camp constitutes roosting habitat that is critical for the survival of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, by providing essential habitat as defined in the Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox (DECCW 2009). . The forested portions of the Reserve comprise the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) listed Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC): Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion and a transitional (ecotonal) assemblage with strong attributes of Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion, River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions and Subtropical coastal floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion.
Key cultural values of the Reserve include: . Potential indigenous heritage / cultural values. . Recreational and aesthetic values of the Reserve, which are largely associated with its location on the edge of the long-established township of Bowraville.
Key issues threatening the environmental and cultural values of the Reserve were in relation to human and flying-fox conflicts, and significant weed invasion. The Action Plan for the PoM primarily aims to address these issues, and incorporates short, medium and long-term strategies. Management actions relating to flying-fox management were developed through analysis of scientific literature relating to flying-fox biology, ecology and previous management experience, consideration of the aim of the PoM and community input. The key actions include: . Community information and education. . Obtain funding and implement the VMP. The VMP primarily aims to regenerate native vegetation within a core area of the Reserve to establish forest structured vegetation that in the long term will provide potential roosting habitat for flying-foxes away from adjacent residences and increase the Reserves overall flying-fox roosting values and carrying capacity; and reduce exotic weed infestation throughout the site to maximise the potential for controlled and natural vegetation restoration. . Work with riparian property owners to the east (private) and north (Nambucca Shire Council) to enhance flying-fox roosting habitat away from residential areas. . Reduce human/flying-fox conflicts through vegetation management and building modification at local residences. Obtaining funding to assist adjoining landholders implement these actions would be required.
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Part A
Flying-fox Plan of Management
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1 Introduction
1 1 1 1.1 Preface The riparian vegetation along the Nambucca River at Bowraville has long been home to a flying-fox camp (>20 years), with Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve (the Reserve) supporting the core camp area for approximately 10 years. Flying-fox management activities at the Reserve have largely been short-term reactive actions undertaken in response to community concerns and corresponding media coverage. The absence of a strategic and long-term strategy has meant: . Community concerns and conflicts have not been addressed, and re-surface when flying-foxes are present (particularly when the camp population temporally increases to above average levels in response to seasonal food availability). . Forest communities (flying-fox roosting habitat) at the Reserve are increasingly becoming degraded. . Flying-fox roosting activity at the Reserve is viewed in isolation of shire wide and regional factors. . Flying-fox roosting activities at other locations in Nambucca Shire have been viewed in isolation of management issues at the Bowraville camp.
The absence of a strategic and long-term strategy has compromised the management of land use conflicts that exist between humans and flying-foxes in a considered and strategic manner. Due to flying-fox population ecology and biology, one camp cannot be managed in isolation; it must be recognised that management of the Bowraville camp will have broader impacts on camps within the Nambucca Shire and other regional areas, and the species as a whole. It is therefore desirable to follow an integrated long-term management strategy, rather than short-term makeshift actions.
The plan of management aims to provide direction for the future management of the Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve for the next 10 years based on current social and environmental values, and legislative responsibilities. To achieve this, an integrated approach to vegetation management, restoration and regeneration works, humans, flying-foxes and their interactions is required.
1.2 Aim and Objectives The aim of this Plan of Management (PoM) is to guide future management of the Reserve to enhance the environmental and social values of the Reserve, particularly protecting and enhancing the existing flying-fox colony so that it can survive in harmony with residents of Bowraville.
Specific objectives include:
. Community Values: 1. Allow for passive recreation in designated areas. 2. Provide for environmental education. 3. Enhance the scientific and aesthetic values of the Reserve. 4. Maintain the heritage values of the Reserve. 5. Work with the community and adjoining residence to minimise flying-fox and human conflict, particularly for periods when the flying-fox camps core or spill over area (i.e. during periodic camp population increases) encompasses the riparian vegetation directly adjacent to residential housing. 6. Develop a monitoring strategy focusing on community responses to implementation of the plan (i.e. does the community feel the plan is reducing the community / flying-fox conflicts).
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. Ecological Values: 7. Protect all listed threatened species, Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs) and their habitat within the Reserve, and increase habitat quality and quantity through restoration works. 8. Allow for regeneration and rehabilitation of the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest and Riparian Forest which constitute state listed EECs, through active implementation of the Vegetation Management Plan (refer to Part B). 9. Maintain the integrity and quality of the flying-fox camp, increase the extent of flying-fox roosting habitat away from residential areas and relieving pressure on the existing riparian vegetation (e.g. from damage to canopy trees). 10. Increase riparian function and values. 11. Minimise the risk of inappropriate biodiversity and human conflicts such as disturbances to the flying-fox camp. 12. Develop a monitoring strategy for the restoration/rehabilitation works.
. Management Values 13. To incorporate all of Council’s legal responsibilities for land management and threatened species management into a consolidated PoM. 14. To categorise management issues associated with the Reserve and address them through a consolidated Action Plan.
The following sections of Part A of the PoM describe the natural and cultural environmental features of the Reserve and associated issues. This is followed by the Action Plan. Part B is the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP).
1.3 Location This Plan of Management (PoM) applies to Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve, a Nambucca Shire Council (NSC) managed area of crown land, on the eastern edge of the township of Bowraville (refer to Illustration 1.1 and 1.2). It is bound by the Nambucca River to the east, residential land to the west and south, Council owned land leased as pastoral land and supporting components of Council’s sewerage treatment services to the north, and private pastoral land to the south-east. Privately owned pastoral land occurs on the eastern side of the Nambucca River. Park Street occurs along the eastern boundary. The total area of the Reserve is approximately 5.4 ha. Bowraville is located on the NSW Mid-North Coast, in the NSC Local Government Area (LGA).
1.4 Tenure Nambucca Shire Council is the Reserve Trust Manager for Grassy Park crown land reserve. It consists of four parcels of land as follows: . Lot 1/21 DP 758150. . Lot 2/21 DP 758150. . Lot 7001 DP 1053846. . Lot 7301 DP 1133712.
1.5 Consultation A community workshop was held on the 21 September 2011 at the Anglican Church hall, Young Street Bowraville. The aim of the workshop was to clearly identify community concerns related to the flying-fox camp and suggested management options. Community attendance was low, with only 12 people (including six presenters/workshop organisers) being present. The outcomes of the workshop are detailed in Section 5. DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 2 1790716
Consultation was also undertaken with Bowraville Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) with regards to: . Community concerns related to the flying-fox camp and suggested management options (this has been incorporated into Section 5). . The sensitivity of the plan (in particular implementation of on-ground works) to any potential sensitive Indigenous heritage or cultural values of the Reserve.
Mr Phillip Hall (Bowraville LALC CEO) advised that there may be a land title claim application on the Reserve (or part of), which is being further investigated. In general the LALC was supportive of the need for the plan and key action principles (eg. regeneration of vegetation, access management, etc, refer to Section 5 and 6). In particular, Bowraville LALC was interested in being involved with implementing on-ground works, as the LALC includes bush regeneration trained persons. On-ground personnel would need to be aware of, and implement a stop-work procedure should any Aboriginal heritage items be uncovered.
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Drawn by: DSA Checked by: RE Reviewed by: DSA Date: October 2011 Information shown is for illustrative purposes only Source of base data: Topographic Map - Macksville 9436-1-S
L E G E N D Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve 0 280 Site Locality
North Flying-fox Plan of Management - Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville Illustration 1.1 1790046
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Drawn by: DSA Checked by: RE Reviewed by: DSA Date: October 2011 Information shown is for illustrative purposes only Source of base data: Nambucca Shire Council
I*
Nambucca River
ParkStreet
L E G E N D
Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve I* Amenities block Council access track Swimming hole track Drainage line
050 Aerial Photo Flying-fox Plan of Management - Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville
North Illustration 1.2 1790047
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2 The Natural Environment
2 2 2 2.1 Topography, Geology and Soils 2.1.1 Existing Environment The Reserve is located on the Nambucca River riparian zone, floodplain and river terrace for a length of approximately 800 m, between a residential area of Bowraville (west) and the Nambucca River (east). Elevation is generally around 10 m Australian Height Datum (AHD) along the western boundary, down to around 1 m AHD on the river’s edge. Dominant soil landscape features are: . Alluvial floodplain and terrace consisting of >3 m moderately well-drained Brown Kandosols and Red Kandosols, and 0.5 – 2 m well drained gravelly Static Rudosols. This covers the majority of the southern portion of the Reserve. . Residual alluvial terrace typically with 2 – 3 m well-drained Red Ferrosols tending to 2 - 3 m imperfectly drained mottled Brown Kurosols up-valley. This covers the majority of the northern portion of the Reserve (Eddie 2000).
The Nambucca River is the main aquatic system at the Reserve (refer to Plate 2.1) and is within the upper tidal zone, with the upper tidal limits being located 250 m upstream of Lanes Bridge (WBM 2008), approximately 1.6 km upstream of the Reserve. Drainage lines intersect the Reserve in the far north and far south-east (refer to Illustration 1.2 and Plate 2.2). Drainage from the Reserve flows east directly into the Nambucca River or subject drainage lines.
Plate 2.1 Nambucca River Plate 2.2 Drainage line in the south-east
2.1.2 Relevant Management Issues Habitat degradation and weed invasion are key issues affecting the flying-fox usage of the Reserve (refer to Section 2.4). A feature of this dynamic alluvial environment is the deposition of sediment and plant debris during regular floods events. This exacerbates weed management and habitat degradation issues, as new weed propagules are introduced, groundcovers and seedlings are often smothered and new exposed sediments provide opportunities for pioneer species (including a large number of weeds) to establish. The occurrence of weeds at the Reserve is discussed further in the VMP (Part B).
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2.2 Climate Bowraville is subject to hot humid summers; a warm wet autumn; a mild winter and a warm dry spring. Indicative average recorded monthly rainfall and temperatures are provided in Table 2.1, recorded from the Bellingen Post Office (approximately 21 km north). The mean annual rainfall is approximately 1520.4 mm. Typically, most of this rain occurs between January and April, peaking in March with approximately 218.3 mm on average (BoM 2011).
Table 2.1 Indicative Climate Data for Bowraville (Bellingen Post Office Records)
Month Mean Daily Max Mean Daily Min Temp Mean Monthly Temp (°C) (°C) Rainfall (mm) January 29.8 17.8 183.5 February 29.4 13.3 196.4 March 28.2 16.8 218.3 April 25.9 13.3 153.7 May 22.7 9.2 119.9 June 20.4 6.8 108.6 July 20.0 4.8 79.9 August 21.7 5.6 57.5 September 24.3 8.3 57.1 October 26.4 11.7 95.9 November 28.4 14.1 111.4 December 29.7 16.6 137.6 Annual 25.6 11.9 1520.4 Source: BoM 2011. Rainfall Data: 1899-2002; Temperature Data: 1947-1986
2.2.1 Relevant Management Issues 2.2.1.1 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Climate change is projected to include an increased frequency of hot days, increased intensity and frequency of extreme daily rainfall events and seasonal droughts, changes to sea levels and changes in the occurrence of intense storm events. Climate change projections at the local scale for the Nambucca Shire include: . Temperature: Annually the mean monthly maximum temperatures are projected to increase by approximately 6 % (0.89°C) in 2030; 14% (1.77°C) in 2050 and 22% (2.92°C) in 2070. Average maximum temperatures in December may increase by over 2°C by 2050 and 4°C by 2070. . Average Rainfall: Projected annual precipitation is similar to recent historical levels, however significant month and seasonal changes are projected. By 2030 rainfall is projected to increase during the period November to May and decrease during the period June to October. Similar patterns are projected for 2050 and 2070 though the degree of change is greater. By 2070 up to 22% increase in rainfall is projected for summer and up to 22% decrease is projected for winter. . Sea Level Rise: Predicted rise in sea levels for Nambucca is 63.95 cm by 2100 plus additional contribution from potential ice-sheet dynamic processes, causing current sea levels associated with 1- 100 year storm surges to occur every few years (Climate Risk 2010). . Key issues relating to the flying-fox management at the Reserve include: . Temperature increases in summer are of particular concern for the flying-fox camp, as extreme heat can cause stress and fatigue, and females may abort or drop their young. . Availability of food resources due to potential vegetation changes and changes in food species physiology and phenology. This would have corresponding impacts on migratory and roosting behaviour (e.g. camp numbers and roosting periods).
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. Changes in the Nambucca River levels and flood frequency is a potential concern as it is not known how this would affect the vegetation and micro-climate of the Reserve, and hence the area’s ongoing suitability as a flying-fox camp.
Anthropogenic climate change is a recognised key threatened process to indigenous biodiversity under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and a recognised threat to flying-foxes (DECCW 2009).
2.3 Flora 2.3.1 Existing Environment Field surveys were undertaken during development of the VMP (refer Part B). Despite some accessibility limitations through parts of the forested portions of the Reserve due to significant weed infestations, 149 species of flora were recorded, comprising of 97 native endemic species, one non-endemic native species and 51 exotic species.
The Reserve was found to support three main vegetation types: . Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. . Riparian Forest. . Open Grassland.
A comprehensive description of the floristic structure and composition, vegetation condition and associated mapping is provided in the VMP (Part B). In general the vegetation is in poor condition which is attributed to: . Significant weed invasion, particularly of woody weeds (e.g. Lantana Lantana camara, Small-leaved Privet Ligustrum sinense) and vine weeds (Balloon Vine Cardiospermum halicacabum, Madiera Vine Anredera cordifolia, Blue Morning Glory Ipomea indica and White Passionfruit Passiflora alba). . Historic clearing (the vegetation shows signs of historically being almost completely cleared), and adjacent urban and rural developments leading to edge effects and micro-climate changes (e.g. increased light availability). . Flood disturbances (e.g. tree loss, sedimentation, importation of weed propagules, etc). . Dumping of rubbish, including garden waste. . Inappropriate fire regimes (including arson).
Despite such disturbance/degradation, the forest vegetation communities have still retained some structural and floristic integrity, with significant habitat features (most noticeably an appropriate micro-climate as a flying-fox camp).
2.3.1.1 Endangered Ecological Communities The Reserve supports two main defined areas that constitute TSC Act listed Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs): . Lowland Subtropical Floodplain Rainforest vegetation constitutes Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion. . Riparian Forest vegetation constitutes a transitional (ecotonal) assemblage with strong attributes of Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion (mainly along the river’s edge), River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions and Subtropical coastal floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion.
Mapping of these EECs is provided in the VMP (Illustration 8.1 in Part B).
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2.3.1.2 Threatened Flora Species No threatened flora species were recorded during field surveys undertaken during development of the VMP (refer Part B). There are no local records of threatened flora on or within 3 km of the Reserve on the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) Macksville 1:100,000 threatened species map.
The Reserve provides potential habitat in broad structural terms for the following threatened flora that are known (NPWS 2011), or whose habitat is known/predicted (SEWPAC 2011) to occur within a 10 km radius of the Reserve: . Hairy-joint Grass (Arthraxon hispidus). . Clear Milkvine (Marsdenia longiloba). . Rusty Plum (Niemeyera whitei). . Red Boppel Nut (Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia).
2.3.2 Relevant Management Issues Despite an extensive disturbance history and significant degradation, the forested portions of the Reserve have maintained some significant native flora biodiversity conservation values, as well as other significant environmental functions such as bank stability, water quality filtering and significant fauna habitat values (refer to Section 2.4). The major threats to the flora biodiversity conservation values of the Reserve include: . Weed invasion: The Reserve supports significant weed infestations with a large number of significant environmental and noxious weeds. This is detailed further in VMP (Part B). Key threatening processes caused by listed weeds occurring at the Reserve include: - Invasion and establishment of exotic vines and scramblers (TSC Act): Currently a major threat that requires management. - Invasion, establishment and spread of Lantana (TSC Act): Currently a major threat that requires management. - Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses (TSC Act): Currently a minor threat as, most of the relevant grasses are restricted to the open grassland. - Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants (TSC Act and EPBC Act): Currently a moderate threat to the riparian vegetation. . Dumping of rubbish and garden waste: This is a recognised threat to the subject EECs (OEH undated) and is a moderate problem at the Reserve, with dumped materials including garden, household and industrial waste (refer to Plate 2.3 and 2.4). . Inappropriate fire regimes: Evidence of fire is common along the central sections of Riparian Forest and has predominantly been associated with arson (Jacqui Ashby, NSC pers. comm.). This has lead to opening up of the understorey, exacerbating weed invasion issues. Ecological consequences of high frequency fires is listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act, and a threat to the subject EECs (OEH undated). . Other Degradation: Other activities at the Reserve that has contributed to the overall degraded state of the vegetation present includes: - Excessive Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora*) control, leading to vegetation fragmentation, increasing light availability, and allowing further groundcover and shrub layer weed invasion. - Unauthorised access tracks: A small access track has been established off the southern end of the access track to the swimming area (refer to Plate 2.5). This has potential to contribute to erosion of sediment and increased edge effects (e.g. weed invasion).
With regards to flying-fox camp management, apart from direct degradation to the flying-fox roosting values of the Reserve, degradation of the forest vegetation is considered to have contributed to the shifting location of the core camp areas south, contributing to flying-fox and human conflicts. This is discussed further in Section 2.4.
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Plate 2.3 Dumped Garden Waste Plate 2.4 Inappropriate material stockpile adjacent to riparian vegetation
Plate 2.5 Unauthorised access track
2.4 Fauna: Flying-foxes 2.4.1 Importance of Flying-foxes Flying-foxes pollinate plants and disperse seeds of diet plants (>100 native tree species) whilst foraging over hundreds of kilometres along the east coast of Australia. This spreads genetic material across a fragmented and often degraded urban landscape. They therefore play a crucial role in the reproductive and evolutionary process of forest communities, regenerating forest communities, conserving native plants and animals as well as commercially important hardwoods.
It is acknowledged that other animals also provide the service of dispersing seed and pollinating plants however few cover the vast range (2,000 km) of flying-foxes or inhabit such a diverse range of vegetation communities.
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2.4.2 Flying-fox Biology Order: Chiroptera Suborder: Megachiroptera Family: Pteropodidae Genus: Pteropus Species in NSW: Pteropus poliocephalus (Grey-headed Flying-fox) Pteropus alecto (Black Flying-fox) Pteropus scapulatus (Little Red Flying-fox)
2.4.3 Conservation Status All three species of flying-fox that occur within NSW are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act). The Grey-headed Flying-fox is however also listed as Vulnerable within NSW, Commonwealth of Australia and internationally (IUCN Red List).
2.4.4 Distribution Grey-headed Flying-foxes are distributed throughout coastal eastern Australian from Mackay, Queensland in the north through NSW to Melbourne, Victoria in the south (Roberts et al. 2008). The NSW mid-north coast region is therefore the centre of the geographical range of the Grey-headed Flying-fox.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is a highly mobile, partial migratory species that relies on food sources which have largely irregular patterns of production (DECCW 2009). Some individuals migrate whereas others are sedentary (Fleming and Eby 2003, Tidemann and Nelson 2004). Some animals inhabit camps permanently and others have seasonal fidelity to specific camps (Eby 1991, Parry-Jones and Augee 2001, Fleming and Eby 2003, Tidemann and Nelson 2004). Reasons for undertaking long distance movements may include additional foraging opportunities, mating opportunities, information exchange about other parts of the range or a combination of these (Tidemann and Nelson 2004). Patterns of movement vary markedly between individuals in terms of distances travelled and time spent at different roosts within and between regions (Roberts et al. 2009). Most long distance movements involve latitudinal (north-south) shifts and cover a significant part of the species’ geographical range which spans approximately 2,000 km from northern to southern limits (Roberts et al. 2009).
Little Red Flying-foxes are highly nomadic and are irregular visitors to coastal areas in northern NSW; they mainly occupy inland areas (Eby 2008).
Black Flying-foxes occur along the northern coast of Australia and inland where there is permanent water, south to Sydney (DECCW 2009).
2.4.5 Flying-fox Camps Camps are large aggregations of flying-foxes that provide resting habitat, protection from predators, sites of social interaction, information exchange and refuge during significant phases of their annual cycle, such as conception, birth and lactation (Parry-Jones and Augee 1992 in DECCW 2009, Tidemann 1999). For several weeks in late spring and summer camps provide refuge for flightless young (DECCW 2009).
Camps may be occupied on a permanent, seasonal or irregular basis. They provide access to food and are a stopover for migrating animals throughout their range (DECC 2007). Grey-headed and Black Flying-foxes will regularly return to the same camp each year when food resources are available. Individual camps are therefore an integral part of a larger network of camps. Most camps are only occupied when food resources are available within approximately 20 km (DECCW 2007).
Typical characteristics of flying-fox roosting habitat* include: . Closed canopy (rainforest, mangroves, floodplain or riparian forest dominated by Casuarina spp or Melaleuca quinquenervia).
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. Continuous canopy area >1 ha (ideally >10 ha in size). . Within 50 km of the coast or at elevation <65 m. . Close proximity to waterways (<500 m), commonly rivers or creeks. . Level topography, <5° incline. . Canopy height >8 m. . Positioned within nightly commuting distance (generally <20 km) of sufficient food resources to support the population of a communal roost.
* References for all habitat characteristics: Eby 2002, Eby and Lunney 2002, Hall and Richards 2000, Peacock 2004, Roberts 2005.
The microclimate of sites also appears to be important. Camps occur in vegetation ranging from continuous forest to remnants as small as 1 ha (Eby 2002, West 2002). In general, Black Flying-foxes roost in the highest trees and Little Red Flying-foxes roost beneath.
Urban roosts are often located in shady, irrigated public Reserves which have ideal microclimates for flying- foxes. Additionally, street lighting may assist flying-foxes navigate (Birt et al. 2000). Flying-foxes have well- developed spatial memories, enabling individuals to remember the locations of camps (Roberts 2009) even those occupied very infrequently (Eby 2008).
Flying-foxes are increasingly roosting in camps in urban areas, exacerbating the conflicts with humans. Several possible reasons include: . Urban development near camps. . Loss or disturbances of/at former camp sites. . Increase in urban food supply provided by garden plantings, which is likely to be enhanced from loss and degradation of native forest and natural events that impact on nectar and pollen availability such as droughts (Eby 2008).
In order to survive, flying-foxes require a continuous sequence of productive foraging habitats, the migration corridors or stop over habitats that link them and suitable roosting habitat within nightly commuting distance of foraging areas (Fleming and Eby 2003). F 2.4.6 Reproduction Australian flying-foxes are seasonal, synchronous breeders (DECCW 2009, Eby 2008) in which polygamy is common. They are also panmictic, which means they randomly mate.
Mating behaviour in Black and Grey-headed Flying-foxes commences in January with conception occurring in April/May (DECCW 2009). They have a low reproductive rate with a single pup born in October/November. Grey-headed Flying-foxes lactate for six months (to approximately March). Individuals reach reproductive maturity in the second year of life but do not successfully raise young until the third and fourth year (Divljan 2008). Flying-foxes can live for over 16 years in the wild however average life expectancy is more likely to be under seven years (Divljan et al. 2006).
Grey-headed Flying-foxes and Black Flying-foxes can hybridise to produce fertile offspring (DECCW 2009). The reproductive cycle of Little Red Flying-foxes is approximately six months out of phase with those of Grey- headed Flying-foxes and Black Flying-foxes and hybridisation has not been observed (Ratcliffe 1931, Nelson 1965, DECCW 2009). Little Red Flying-foxes mate between November and January and give birth in April and May.
Newborn flying-foxes are unable to thermal regulate (Eby 2008). Young cling to their mothers continuously for approximately four to five weeks after which they are left at the camp, although suckled during the day.
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2.4.7 Foraging At night, flying-foxes navigate principally by sight (rather than echolocation as is the case with microbats), although their sense of smell and spatial memory assists them to locate food. Grey-headed Flying-foxes forage up to 50 km from camps, although >75% of foraging activity is within a 20 km radius (Eby 1991, Tidemann 1999). Black flying-foxes also typically forage within 20 km from their roost (Markus and Hall 2004).
2.4.8 Diet Grey-headed and Black Flying-foxes are canopy feeding frugivores and nectarivores; feeding primarily on blossom and fruit in canopy vegetation and supplement this with leaves (Ratcliffe 1931, Parry-Jones and Augee 1991, Eby 1995, Tidemann 1999, Hall and Richards 2000 in DECCW 2009). The majority of animals feed on nectar and pollen from Eucalypts, Corymbia, Angophora, Melaleuca and Banksias. They also feed on introduced tree species in urban areas and in commercial fruit crops. The Little Red Flying-fox feeds almost exclusively on eucalypt and paperbark blossoms and nectar and often follow one particular flowering species (Birt 2005). A list of flora recorded in the diet of flying-foxes in Northern NSW (Roberts 2006 with advice from P. Eby) is provided in Appendix A.
2.4.9 NSW Flying-fox Camps In NSW, only 5% of roost sites for flying-foxes occur in conservation reserves (NSW Scientific Committee 2001). The locations of approximately 250 camps are known within the range of Grey-headed Flying-foxes (Eby 2008). At any time, the majority of camps are empty however as experienced in Bowraville, flying-fox numbers can quickly increase to >40,000 (Roberts, Griffith University, pers. comm.). Eby (2008) notes that camps associated with rainforest fruits and highly diverse flower-producing forests show more consistent patterns than camps associated with less complex vegetation. In winter, Grey-headed Flying-foxes tend to congregate in coastal lowlands in the northern part of their range. In spring and summer they move south and west and by autumn they are highly dispersed, occupying twice the number of camps as winter but in smaller populations (Eby 2008). Individuals may leave a camp at different times and move to different locations. Migration is associated with changing patterns of flowering. Migrations are not random but are also not predictable.
2.4.10 Bowraville Camp Bowraville has been home to a maternity Grey-headed Flying-fox camp since at least 1989 (Roberts, Griffith University, pers. comm.). The Black Flying-fox is also known to share the camp in recent years, though in much lower numbers to the Grey-headed Flying-fox. The Little Red Flying-fox is potentially only an irregular visitor during nomadic movements when significant food resources area locally available. While there are no known records of Little Red Flying-foxes at the camp, it is possible that the species has used it at some stage in the past, however possibly only in low numbers, hence avoiding detection.
Historically Bowraville has been a permanent flying-fox camp (Jacqui Ashby, NSC, pers.comm.), however the camp has been vacated over winter for the last three years. The last two winters in particular have coincided with two significant food shortage periods (Billie Roberts, Griffith University, pers. comm.).
Key factors associated with the long-term usage of the camp include: . Presence of forested structured riparian vegetation with a micro-climate suitable for flying-fox roosting. . Presence of significant and reliable food resources within nightly foraging distance (typically within 20 km radius of the camp).
Of particularly significance is the fact that the Grey-headed Flying-fox and Black Flying-fox occupy the camp during October to May, at which times females in the population give birth to and care for dependent young, and conception takes place (April or May). Not all camp sites are selected by flying-foxes as being suitable for maternity cycles and this is a very important feature of the Bowraville camp. The Bowraville camp constitutes roosting habitat that is critical for the survival, or essential habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox as defined in the Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox (DECCW 2009 - refer to Section 4.9). DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 16 1790716
The results of flying-fox counts from September 2007 to June 2009 are provided in Table 2.2 overleaf. These counts were primarily undertaken by community volunteers. Camp numbers fluctuated dramatically over the monitoring period, with number being the highest over the maternity period (October to March). The camp returned the following summer arriving in October 2009 and leaving in March 2010 (Jacqui Ashby, NSC, pers. comm.). These fluctuations are essentially associated with the availability of foraging resources within a 20 km radius of the camp, as well as throughout the species range.
The location of the core camp area has reportedly shifted over time, with the camp moving south into Grassy Park in 2001 (Our Living Coast 2010). Since occupation of Grassy Park, the core camp area has been located around the central-northern portion of the Reserve (refer to Illustration 2.1). Some works were undertaken in 2005 to discourage flying-fox roosting. More recent weed control works included the removal of four large Camphor Laurel trees in 2010. Since the latest works, the camp has reportedly spanned further south (Jacqui Ashby, NSC, pers. comm.). Small groups have also been observed roosting in the adjacent riparian vegetation to the east (David Andrighetto, GeoLINK, pers. obs.).
Table 2.2 Flying-fox Counts
Month Number of Flying- Comment foxes September 2007 1,100 Grey-headed and Black Flying-foxes October 2007 1,200 Grey-headed and Black Flying-foxes November 2007 2,500 – 3,000 Approximately 95% Grey-headed Flying-fox and 5% Black Flying-foxes December 2007 6,000 - January 2008 8,000 – 10,000 Approximately 90% Grey-headed Flying-fox and 10% Black Flying-foxes February 2008 N/A No count undertaken March 2008 8,000 Grey-headed Flying-fox (mostly) and Black Flying- foxes April 2008 7,500 Approximately 99% Grey-headed Flying-fox and 1% Black Flying-foxes May 2008 500 Grey-headed Flying-fox only June 2008 0 No flying-foxes July 2008 0 No flying-foxes August 2008 0 No flying-foxes September 2008 4,300 - October 2008 12,250 - November 2008 5,500 – 6,000 - December 2008 >20,000 Approximately 98% Grey-headed Flying-fox and 2% Black Flying-foxes January 2009 10,000 – 15,000 Approximately 75% Grey-headed Flying-fox and 25% Black Flying-foxes. Count undertaken by Dr Peggy Eby. February 2009 18,000 - March 2009 5,000 - April 2009 1,000 - May 2009 0 Vacated the camp between 9 and 15 of May. June 2009 0 No flying-foxes October 2009 N/A Flying-foxes return, but numbers not available
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Month Number of Flying- Comment foxes March 2010 0 No flying-foxes October 2010 10,000E Number of flying foxes were reported by the community 25 May 2011 Low numbers Camp vacated shortly after
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Drawn by: DSA Checked by: RE Reviewed by: DSA Date: October 2011 Information shown is for illustrative purposes only Source of base data: Nambucca Shire Council
Nambucca River
ParkStreet
L E G E N D Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve Core flying-fox camp area
050 Core Flying-fox Camp
North Flying-fox Plan of Management - Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville Illustration 2.1 1790048
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2.4.11 Management Issues: Threats The following threats are related to the Grey-headed Flying-fox. Threats to the Black and Little Red Flying- foxes are not clear but are likely to be similar.
2.4.11.1 Negative Public Attitudes and Conflict with Humans Negative attitudes from community members often impede the management of flying-foxes throughout their range. This often results in unauthorised disturbance to flying-foxes which cause stress, fatigue and females may abort or drop their young. This overall exacerbates natural stress on flying-fox wellbeing (e.g. natural periods of food shortages) and population dynamic, which are intensified by other human induced impacts (e.g. habitat loss). The resolution of conflicts between humans and flying-foxes is important to the long-term conservation and management of flying-foxes in the region.
2.4.11.2 Loss of Habitat Habitat loss has resulted from activities such as agricultural clearing, urban settlement, industrial development, forestry activities, development of transport and utility corridors and tourism and recreation developments (Environment Australia 1999). Habitat loss includes foraging resources and roosting habitat. The degradation of vegetation in small remnants threatens the longevity and may also reduce the suitability of sites as camps (Pallin 2000).
Reductions in nectar flow and fruit productivity occur as a result of forest clearance and degradation; reductions in floristic diversity; simplification of age structure from forestry practices; eucalypt dieback; drought; fire; and climate change. Furthermore, flowering and fruiting schedules are vulnerable to fluctuations of such factors as temperature and rainfall (DECCW 2009). Clearing of winter foraging resources is a particular concern. Recurring food shortages during late gestation, birth and early lactation are associated with rapid weight loss in adults and poor reproductive success (Collins 2000, Parry-Jones and Augee 2001 in DECCW 2009). Flying-foxes range over relatively large areas and thus require large areas of habitat for foraging (Environment Australia 1999).
The floodplains and foothills within a 50 km radius of the Bowraville (i.e. Bellingen, Nambucca and Macleay valleys) have been extensively cleared for grazing land. This has substantially reduced the extent of preferred roost and foraging habitat for flying-foxes locally. There are however still some large areas of forest (particularly on the steeper slopes) and coastal scrub communities within this area. These areas contain food for flying-foxes from the Bowraville camp that are productive throughout most of the year. These remaining areas of vegetation are therefore of high importance for flying-foxes in Bowraville.
At a site specific scale, the available of roosting trees at Grassy Park and therefore the roosting carrying capacity of the Reserve, has been reduced by the following impacts: . Significant weed infestations (particularly vine weeds) smothering and outcompeting canopy trees, inhibiting the growth of recruitment canopy species; and degradation of the understorey vegetation which is critical for maintaining the desirable micro-climate. This is particularly an issue in the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. . Excessive tree weed management (authorised and unauthorised). Camphor Laurel, despite being a locally listed noxious weed under the Weeds Management Act 1994 (WM Act), is a key roosting tree for the flying-foxes at the Reserve, and is dominant along much of the local riparian stretch of the Nambucca River. DECCW (2009) acknowledges that camps critical to the survival of the Grey-headed Flying-fox may consist of introduced tree species. Removal and poisoning of Camphor Laurel at the Reserve as part of attempted flying-fox roosting control and weed management (both authorised and unauthorised) has led to a reduction in the number of suitable roosting trees, while failing to control flying-fox usage. Removal of tree canopies increases light availability for understorey species and where these works are not undertaken strategically or in tandem with understorey weed control, the result is an improvement in the growing conditions for understorey weeds. Understorey weed proliferation impairs the potential for recruitment of canopy trees (native or exotic) and hence forest regeneration.
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Tree loss from flooding and erosion is likely to only be a minor contributing factor to the overall canopy tree loss at the Reserve, as the subject river bank shows insignificant levels of bank instability (GECO Environmental 2005, cited in WBM 2008).
Degradation of vegetation at the Reserve, resulting in reduced canopy roosting opportunities and potentially affecting the microclimate at the site through changes in the mid storey structure and ground cover has resulted from weed incursion. These factors can reduce the suitability for flying-foxes of a previously used camp. There was increased usage of a small temporary camp in Nambucca Heads and a new temporary camp in Macksville in 2010. When camps become unfavourable for flying-foxes, alternative roosting sites experience increased flying-fox numbers, increases in lengths of stay affecting usage patterns or new alternative camps can occur.
2.4.11.3 Electrocution on Powerlines, Entanglement in Netting and on Barbed-wire Flying-foxes may become injured by collision with powerlines or electrocution. Similarly flying-foxes may become entangled on netting or barbed-wire. The significance of these threats to flying-foxes in the region is not known, however the presence of such features directly adjacent to the camp (e.g. powerlines along Park Street – refer to Plate 2.3) suggest is it likely to affect flying-foxes locally.
Plate 2.6 Vine weed smothered remnant Plate 2.7 Powerlines adjacent to the camp rainforest tree
2.4.11.4 Unregulated Shooting Flying-foxes are known to eat and destroy fruit cultivated in backyards through to commercially viable orchards. Killing of animals via shooting is recognised as a threat to the survival of the Grey-headed Flying- fox (DEC 2005).
As at other camps in the broader region, shooting of flying-foxes at Bowraville and in the general locality is likely to have occurred historically (Lunney and Moon 1996, Billie Roberts, Griffith University, pers. comm.). This is currently unlikely to be a major threat locally given the location of the camp directly adjacent to an urban area (hence high community surveillance) and the main agricultural activity in the area being cattle grazing.
2.4.11.5 Climate Change Climate change is a recognised threat to flying-foxes (DECCW 2009) and is discussed in Section 2.2.
2.4.12 Management Issues: Community Concerns 2.4.12.1 Noise and Wellbeing Impacts Flying-foxes use sound to communicate with each other for example during mating, courtship and territorial disputes. In general, vocalisation associated with territorial disputes and mother-infant recognition is most DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 22 1790716
concentrated pre-dawn, when animals return to camps (DECCW 2009). Calls (loud squabbling) during daylight hours occur mainly during the mating season or in response to external disturbances. Little Red Flying-foxes are more active and noisier than the other species (Eby 2008).
The range of calls made include contact calls, chirps and squabbles, searching calls by mother flying-foxes seeking their young when returning to the colony, and a range of mating and warning calls. At night feeding flying-foxes are often heard in flowering or fruiting trees as they compete for food (Ku-ring-gai Bat Conservation Society 2007).
Disturbance to humans due to noise of flying-foxes can lead to wellbeing issues such as sleep deprivation and stress, particularly for occupants of adjacent residences. This was a key issue during the community consultation workshop. The impact is difficult to isolate and quantify and can affect individuals differently.
Noise generated by human occupation including dogs barking, cars backfiring, lawn mowers and loud music may disturb flying-foxes who then make more noise in response, however flying-foxes generally habituate to everyday noise. Resident flying-foxes can be very tolerant to noises whilst new arrivals to a camp are more likely to alight but will also quickly habituate if allowed to settle. It is acknowledged that some issues cannot be viewed in isolation, for example noise by humans can cause flying-foxes to vocalise and take flight, defecating on surrounding areas in the process which creates annoyance and associated wellbeing issues.
2.4.12.2 Odour Odour is produced by the scent glands of the male flying-fox to mark their territory (a branch or a few branches within one tree of the camp), which contributes to the characteristic pungent smell of flying-fox camps. The odour emitted from camps is noticeably stronger following prolonged periods of rain (as the male needs to remark branches) and can be offensive to some people. One of the key issues raised from the community was in relation to odour from the camp, which co-insides with general wellbeing and lifestyle impacts, as well as health concerns (particularly with regards to respiratory issues).
2.4.12.3 Faecal Droppings Flying-foxes often defecate during flight which can create a mess and dirty private property such as vehicles, railings, footpaths, washing hanging on clothes lines and solar panels, and was a concern for many Bowraville residents. Faecal drop may cause damage to vehicle paint work and be an inconvenience through the need to clean possessions and property as well as individuals. Touching or coming into contact with flying-fox urine or faeces will not transmit Lyssavirus, Hendra or any other disease to humans (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009, NSW Health 2009).
Faecal drop is actually important for seed dispersal as the faeces contain seeds which are spread as flying- foxes fly (sometimes over long distances) and roost. If the faeces land in an appropriate area, they can then germinate to grow into trees and potentially forests.
Other impacts of faecal droppings include an overall reduction in the aesthetic values of the Reserve (refer to Section 2.4.12.5).
2.4.12.4 Perceived Health Risks Health concerns associated with flying-foxes inhabitance of the Reserve was a key issue for many local residents. Concerns were in relation to contamination of the Nambucca River and private properties (yards, pools, fruit trees, and rain water tanks), respiratory concerns from camp odours, and, people and pets coming into contact with sick flying-foxes. Some residents saw these health risks as contributing to lifestyle impacts associated with living near the camp.
Health risks of key flying-fox associated diseases are discussed below.
Hendra Virus Hendra Virus, also known as equine morbillivirus or bat paramyxovirus no. 1, has killed four out of seven people who have contracted the virus from horses (University of Queensland 2010). The original case was isolated in 1994 when a horse trainer and a horse breeder caught the disease from horses that were DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 23 1790716
suspected to have caught it from bats (Environment Australia 1999). All remaining people that contracted the virus were equine veterinarians. There is no evidence of bat to human or human transmission (NSW Department of Health 2010, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009a) and it is not readily spread between horses (Tanton 1999).
Handling infected horses (ill horses and during autopsies) appear to have been the source of infection to humans (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009a).
Australian Bat Lyssavirus Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) belongs to the same group of viruses as rabies. It is a fatal disease that can only be transmitted to humans in saliva from an infected flying-fox via a penetrating bite or scratch. Only two cases of human infection with ABL have ever been recorded in Australia, both caused fatalities. In 1996, a woman in Rockhampton, Queensland contracted the virus after she was bitten by a Yellow-bellied Sheathtail- bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris). In 1998, a woman died in Mackay from a flying-fox bite that she sustained two years earlier. She had refused the five-shot rabies treatment prior to symptoms appearing (Daily Telegraph December 1998). Both women were wildlife carers that came in regular contact with sick bats.
No cat or dog has ever been recorded as having contracted Lyssavirus from a flying-fox (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009a). If people do not handle bats, there is no risk of infection however all bats should be considered potentially infective and handling bats should be avoided.
Since the vaccination and post-exposure treatment has been made available for Lyssavirus, there have been no recorded cases of human ABL infection.
Menangle Virus Little is known about the epidemiology of Menangle virus (also known as bat paramyxovirus no. 2). It was isolated from pigs during an outbreak at a piggery in NSW in 1997. Two piggery workers had experienced an unexplained febrile illness following exposure to pigs infected with the virus. Pigs are suspected to have contracted the virus from flying-foxes as approximately 30% of archival sera from flying-foxes were positive for this virus (Philbey et al. 1998).
Histoplasmosis Histoplasmosis refers to infections due to the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum found in soil enriched with bird or microbat droppings. The disease is rare in Australia and most cases have been associated with cavers or overseas travellers from endemic areas. To November 2009, medical tests on humans within the North Coast Area Health Service have proven negative for Histoplasmosis (NSW Department of Health 2009).
2.4.12.5 Reduced Amenity Reduced amenity can be caused by the odour of flying-foxes, faecal drop and defoliation of vegetation. The significant weed infestations are also a major contributing factor to the reduced visual amenity of the Reserve.
Severe defoliation of roost trees can occur as a result of prolonged flying-fox occupation or through intensive occupations of camps by large numbers, of Little Red Flying-fox in particular. The loss of structure and canopy gaps allows increased light to penetrate the characteristically closed canopy of the rainforest and assists weeds to proliferate. The problem is then exacerbated when exotic vines cover canopy trees, the weight of which becomes too much for the remaining trees which break, causing more canopy gaps.
Little Red Flying-foxes have been known to cause greater amounts of structural damage to trees than Black and Grey-headed Flying-foxes despite their smaller size (Hall and Richards 2000). Little Red Flying-foxes arrive in much greater numbers often following one particular flowering species and roost very close together, sometimes in clumps. The weight of these close-roosting animals can break limbs of roost trees.
Historically flying-fox camp preservation and rainforest restoration has been seen as conflicting due to vegetation damage caused by flying-foxes (Lunney and Moon 1996). In additional to the vegetation damage discussed above, flying-foxes may exacerbate weed issues as: . Flying-foxes forage on a range of fruiting weed (e.g. Broad-leaved Privet Ligustrum lucidum) and DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 24 1790716
contribute to their dispersal. Congregation of flying-foxes at camps and associated weed dispersal further contributes to weed problems at camps. . Concentration of faecal materials at camps increases soil nutrient levels. However, in pre-European settlement conditions, the disturbances and habitat changes associated with flying-fox camps would have contributed to rainforest development and biodiversity. The key problem is the presence of weeds that colonise and flourish from such disturbances, intensifying and exacerbating the impacts of flying-fox roosting at camps. From a management and camp conservation perspective, due to extensive loss of alternative roosting habitat from historic land clearing locally, more stringent weed management is therefore required and justifiable to combat these issues.
2.5 Fauna: Other Significant Species 2.5.1 Existing Environment No comprehensive fauna surveys have been undertaken in the Reserve. However the Reserve supports a number of significant habitat features for other significant fauna including: . Aquatic habitat and riparian interface along the Nambucca River and associated drainage lines provides potential forage and roosting habitat for waterfowl (refer to Plate 2.7), including the locally recorded threatened Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) and Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus). . Several of the mature Eucalypts and rainforest species support tree hollows of varying sizes up to around 30 cm aperture diameter (refer to Plate 2.8). These trees provide potential roosting/denning/nesting habitat for a range of hollow-obligated fauna including the locally recorded threatened microbats. . The Reserve supports a diverse range of fruiting rainforest species which provides foraging sources for fruigivours such as the threatened Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) which has been recorded within the locality. . Emergent canopy trees provide ideal vantage points for raptors foraging within the forest vegetation, along the Nambucca River, or adjacent urban gardens. Some of the larger Eucalypts may also be suitable as nesting sites for such species, however no raptor nests were detected during the field inspection undertaken as part of the VMP (25 May 2011, refer to Part B). . Tallowwood (Eucalypts microcorys) is listed as a primary Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) browse species. It is common on top of the river terrace in the Riparian Forest. . The Reserve forms part of a fragmented riparian corridor along the local section of the Nambucca River and interconnecting drainage lines. It allows for local movement for predominantly mobile species, as well as a stepping stone link for broader fauna movements across the landscape.
In addition to the Grey-headed Flying-fox, the Reserve provides habitat of reasonable value (ranging from opportunistic foraging habitat as part of a broader range to potential core roosting/denning habitat) for the following threatened fauna that are known (NPWS 2011) or whose habitat is known/predicted (SEWPAC 2011) to occur within a 10 km radius: . Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) . Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) . Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) . Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) . Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) . Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) . Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) . Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa). . Eastern Freetail-bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis) . Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) . Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) . Little Bentwing-bat (Miniopterus australis)
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. Eastern Bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis) . Eastern Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus bifax) . Greater Broad-nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii)
Of the EPBC Act listed migratory species on the SEWPAC Protected Matters Search Tool identified as species or species habitat likely to occur within a 10 km radius of the Reserve, the following are considered reasonably likely to occur on occasions: . Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus) . White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) . Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) . White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) . Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) . Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis) . Spectacled Monarch (Monarcha trivirgatus) . Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons) . Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) . Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)
2.5.2 Relevant Management Issues This PoM aims to enhance the habitat values of the Reserve for the above species through the collective benefits of managing the vegetation (weed) and flying-fox issues discussed in Section 2.3 and 2.4 respectively. Feral predators such as foxes are known to frequent the locality and are a significant threat to native fauna. Domestic cats and dogs are also a predatory threat to many of the potentially occurring threatened species and may be a local issue considering the location of the Reserve adjacent to an urban area.
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3 The Cultural Environment
3 3 3 3.1 History 3.1.1 Indigenous History The Reserve is contained within the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people. No known archaeological surveys have been carried out on the Reserve to date. The OEH Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) database shows five Aboriginal heritage sites recorded within approximately 1.5 km of the Reserve (refer to Appendix B), with the closest being greater than 500 m away. A land title claim application for the Reserve (or part of) may exist (Mr. Phillip Hall, Bowraville LALC CEO, pers, comm.).
3.1.2 European History Clement Hodgkinson was the first European known to arrive in the Nambucca Valley, whilst exploring the upper reaches of the Nambucca and Bellinger Rivers in March 1841. The township of Bowraville (originally named Bowra) developed in the 1850s and 1860s. It was originally primarily a timber town, meeting the needs of the local timber cutters. Agriculture was a developing industry in the district by 1880s, and is still a dominant land-use in the region today (Bowraville Technology Centre for the Community 2010). The development of the agricultural industry in the late 1800s/early 1900s is likely to have coincided with the broad-scale clearing of much of the floodplains and foothills, as in the Bellingen and Macleay valleys during this period.
The exact history of the Reserve is not known to the author, however it appears the area may have been completely cleared at some stage possibly for agricultural purposes or in association with the establishment or growth of Bowraville township.
3.2 Land Uses and Community Values of the Reserve The Reserve is used as a place of passive recreation, including mostly low-impact activities such as walking, walking pets, picnicking, swimming and kayaking. It forms part of a network of Council managed Reserves throughout the area catering for different recreational uses.
Additional community values of the Reserve include its aesthetics for recreational users and adjacent residents. Key features are the riparian vegetation and Nambucca River, providing a contrast to the adjacent cleared farmed land and urban area of Bowraville.
Existing infrastructure includes: . Amenities block, located in the central north (refer to Illustration 1.2 and Plate 3.1). . Loop access road to Council’s sewerage treatment facilities on adjacent land to the north (refer to Illustration 1.2). . Informal walking track to the local swimming hole (refer to Plate 3.2 and Plate 3.3). . Powerlines along Park Street.
Management activities currently undertaken at the Reserve by NSC include regular mowing of grassland areas and cleaning of the amenities block. The southern portion of the Reserve within the road and powerline easement associated with Park Street is also used as an informal stockpile area.
Nambucca Valley Landcare facilitates a ‘Green Youth’ employment program team which periodically undertakes works in the Reserve. Specific actions undertaken by this group have included weed control
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 27 1790716
works and planting of 2000 Lomandra tube stock in the Riparian Forest along the river’s edge (Tim Ryan, Nambucca Valley Landcare, pers. comm.).
Nambucca Valley Landcare and NSC have recently also coordinated contractors to undertake weed removal and tree plantings in the north-eastern corner of the Reserve (refer to VMP). The aim of this planting was to create a self-managing buffer between the flying-fox roosting area and adjacent residential land (Joy van Son, Nambucca Valley Landcare, pers. comm).
A local community volunteer group has also periodically undertaken weed control works in the Reserve.
Plate 3.1 Toilet block and adjacent maintained Plate 3.2 Access track to the swimming hole grassland area
Plate 3.3 Sandy/gravelly beach at the swimming area
3.3 Urban Land The urban area to the west of the Reserve comprises mostly of residential houses (approximately 25 houses within 100 m), with a church occurring directly to the north-west. The exact age of these houses is not known to the author, however it is a long established residential area.
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3.3.1 Relevant Management Issues Key management issues relating to the flying-fox camp and community concerns have been discussed provided previously in Section 2.4.
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4 Legislation and Policy
4 4 4 4.1 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 All three species of flying-fox that occur within NSW and the Reserve (Grey-headed Flying-fox, Black Flying- fox and Little Red Flying-fox) are protected under Section 98 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act).
The Director-General may issue a general licence under Section 120 of the NPW Act to harm protected fauna. The Director-General may issue a scientific licence under Section 132C of the NPW Act to harm, pick or damage protected fauna for scientific, educational or conservation purposes.
4.2 National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002 The National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002 exempts Aboriginal people from restrictions imposed by the NPW Act on hunting protected animals and gathering certain plants.
4.3 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 All actions must be assessed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) to determine if they’re likely to result in harming or picking of a threatened species, population or ecological community, or in damage to their habitat. Where there is considered to be a likelihood of a significant impact on threatened species then a species impact statement must be prepared. The Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the TSC Act.
4.4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Impacts on protected and threatened species are to be considered when assessing and approving proposals under Part 3A, 4 or 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). A seven-part assessment of significance in accordance with Section 5A of the EP&A Act is also required to determine if a proposed activity is likely to have a significant impact on a threatened species, population, ecological community or their habitat.
4.5 Nambucca Local Environmental Plan 2010 The Reserve is located within the NSC LGA and covered under the Nambucca Local Environment Plan (LEP) 2010. The Reserve is zoned RE1 Public Recreation (refer to Illustration 4.1). Objectives of this zoning are: . To enable land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes. . To provide a range of recreational settings and activities and compatible land uses. . To protect and enhance the natural environment for recreational purposes. . To identify proposed or existing publicly owned land that is used or is capable of being used for the purpose of active or passive recreation.
Adjoining residential land to the west is zoned RU5 Village, while land to the north, south and east is zoned RU1 Primary Production.
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4.6 Crown Lands Act 1989 The land covered by this PoM constitutes a ‘reserve’ within the meaning of Part 5 of the Crowns Land Act 1989. The provisions of the Crown Lands Act 1989 guide the management and use of the Reserve. NSC is the ‘trustee’ of the Reserve and is consequently responsible for its management. There is no formal Plan of Management in place pursuant to Section 112 of the Act. Council have relied on previous plans / studies, and land use zoning to guide management.
4.7 Local Government Act 1993 The approvals provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 may be applicable for areas outside of the Crown Reserve. Section 68 of the Act set out requirements relating to a range of activities, generally focused on the provision of infrastructure.
Approval for most activities / development would be required under the EP&A Act in addition to the Local Government Act 1993.
4.8 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act requires an assessment of actions which may significantly impact upon matters of national environmental significance. Proponents of activities that significantly impact Grey-headed Flying-foxes or their habitat may need to submit a referral to the Australian Government.
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4.9 DECCW Flying-fox Camp Management Policy The main policy provisions outlined within the Flying-fox Camp Management Policy prepared in 2007 by Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), now OEH, are summarised below.
DECC will: . Encourage the conservation of flying-fox camps on public and private land and will protect and manage flying-fox camps on lands administered by DECC. . Generally not support disturbing a flying-fox camp to force the animals to desert a camp, or to try and relocate a camp. . Not support disturbing camps under the following circumstances: - From when females are heavily pregnant until the young can fly independently. - When there are adverse climatic conditions. - When daytime temperatures are extremely high. - When DECC considers it likely that, due to proximity, flying-foxes disturbed from a camp will join camps in nearby towns, compounding problems at those sites. . Support camp management options that aim to retain flying-foxes in-situ. . Require preparation and implementation of a strategic plan to manage a camp in-situ before consideration of any proposal to relocate a camp. . Assess the level of compliance with the ‘Procedure for developing a flying-fox camp relocation proposal’ when assessing applications for a licence under s.91 of the TSC Act. . Require submission of a report assessing whether an attempt to relocate a flying-fox camp has been successful following all relocation attempts licensed by DECC. . Require any person wishing to harm flying-foxes or damage their habitat obtain appropriate licences, including for cultural purposes under the TSC and NPW Acts. . Encourage research into the ecology of flying-foxes and their use of camps, including research into camp selection criteria. Support for national population estimates will continue as a method of monitoring population trends and identifying new camps. . Support bushland restoration activities that improve the quality, quantity and integrity of habitat in flying- fox camps and maintain camp function. . Support licensed wildlife carers’ use of best practice to rehabilitate and release flying-foxes that have suffered as a result of extreme weather. . Coordinate the preparation and implementation of an education and communication strategy in partnership with other agencies or organisations that share responsibility for addressing community needs and concerns. . Provide access to information on flying-fox camp locations. . Respond to public complaints about flying-fox camps promptly, courteously and efficiently. . Liaise with the relevant authorities to develop joint strategies and actions where flying-fox camps are located near airports. . Encourage local government to protect flying-fox camps through local environmental planning controls. . Encourage local government to consider the location of flying-fox camps early in strategic planning processes, particularly when planning for proposed residential areas, schools and similar infrastructure. . Encourage local government to prepare plans of management for flying-fox camps on council land, and on land under councils’ care and control. . Encourage consideration of the location of flying-fox camps and the provision of spatial separation between camps and hazard reduction activities in the planning and implementation of bushfire hazard reduction activities. . Encourage consent authorities for native vegetation clearing and approval authorities for property vegetation plans under the Native Vegetation Act 2003, and organisations responsible for infrastructure development under various legislation, to identify and protect camps and provide for their expansion when undertaking strategic and site planning. DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 35 1790716
This policy also outlines legal responsibilities regarding Flying-fox management, outlines how to appropriately conserve and manage flying-fox camps in NSW and manage public complaints about flying-foxes. It outlines strategies for flying-fox education and communication, provides guidelines to assist in forward planning, so conflicts caused by locating inappropriate land uses near flying-fox camps are avoided or mitigated, provides guidelines and recommended procedures for relocating flying-fox camps and informs those wishing to relocate flying-fox camps how to obtain and meet the conditions of an appropriate licence.
This policy has been considered during the preparation of this PoM.
4.10 Draft National Recovery Plan for Grey-headed Flying-fox The Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox developed by DECCW in partnership with Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Government was placed on public exhibition in 2009 with submissions closing in 2010. The plan is now being finalised in the light of these submissions and to reflect current issues in flying-fox management. The draft plan considers the conservation requirements throughout the species’ range, sets objectives for recovery and identifies actions to be undertaken to reverse decline and ensure long-term viability.
The overall objectives of recovery of Grey-headed Flying-foxes are to: . Reduce the impact of threatening processes. . Arrest decline throughout their range. . Conserve their functional roles in seed dispersal and pollination of native plants. . Improve the comprehensiveness and reliability of information available to guide recovery.
Specific objectives relevant to the five year duration of the recovery plan aim to: . Identify, protect and enhance key foraging and roosting habitat. . Substantially reduce deliberate destruction associated with commercial fruit crops. . Reduce negative public attitudes and conflict with humans. . Involve the community in recovery actions where appropriate.
Further objectives aim to address the impact on the species of artificial structures such as powerlines, loose netting and barbed wire fences; and to improve knowledge of demographics and population structure.
Actions to meet these objectives incorporate principles of sustainable development and promote procedures to minimise significant adverse social and economic impacts, such as the use of environmental incentive schemes and equitable cost-sharing arrangements.
The draft recovery plan identifies foraging habitat critical to the survival of Grey-headed Flying-fox as: . Productive during winter and spring, when food bottlenecks have been identified (Parry-Jones and Augee 1991, Eby et al. 1999). . Known to support populations of >30 000 individuals within an area of 50 km radius (the maximum foraging distance of an adult). . Productive during the final weeks of gestation, and during the weeks of birth, lactation and conception (September to May). . Productive during the final stages of fruit development and ripening in commercial crops affected by Grey-headed Flying-foxes (months vary between regions). . Known to support a continuously occupied camp.
The draft recovery plan identifies roosting habitat critical to the survival of the Grey-headed Flying-fox as: . Is used as a camp either continuously or seasonally in >50% of years;
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. Has been used as a camp at least once in 19 years (beginning in 1995) and is known to have contained >10,000 individuals, unless such habitat has been used only as a temporary refuge, and the use has been of limited duration (i.e. in the order of days rather than weeks or months); and/or . Has been used as a camp at least once in 10 years (beginning in 1995) and is known to have contained >2,500 individuals, including reproductive females during the final stages of pregnancy, during lactation, or during the period of conception (i.e. September to May).
As mentioned in Section 2.4, the Reserve constitutes roosting habitat critical to the survival of the Grey- headed Flying-fox, while the broader locality contains foraging habitat critical to the survival of Grey-headed Flying-fox.
4.11 NSW State Plan The 2010 NSW State Plan (investing in a better future) is the NSW Government’s plan to achieve promised results over the medium to long term across seven broad areas of activity: better transport and liveable cities, supporting business and jobs, clever state, healthy communities, green state, stronger communities and keeping people safe.
This PoM contributes to meeting the 2010 NSW State Plan objectives as set out in Chapter 5 – Green State. The target is to protect our native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways. The action is
to increase the extent and improve the condition of native vegetation and habitats.
4.12 Nambucca River Estuary Management Plan The Nambucca River Estuary Management Plan (WBM 2008) was adopted by NSC in 2008. The overarching management objectives include: . Land Tenure and Usage - Protect and enhance the existing uses and values of the estuary in both the short- and long-term by adoption of best practice land use planning and development controls. . Entrance Condition and Behaviour - Maintain navigation within the lower estuary for shallow draft vessels, consistent with current use, to maintain user amenity, safety and aesthetics, within the natural constraints of ocean and fluvial processes. . Boating and Waterway Usage - Encourage waterway use that causes a minimum of environmental and social impact, and where possible, enhances user amenity through improved safety controls and reduced conflict. Improve the safety of swimmers of all ages within the estuary. . Water Quality - Maintain and improve water quality within the estuary to support ecosystem function, commercial fishing/oyster production and tourism, and other forms of human recreation including swimming. . Habitat Management - Protect and enhance habitats to improve the health and biodiversity of the Nambucca River estuary. . Bank Erosion and Sedimentation - Improve overall riverbank condition on all major streams and waterways of the Nambucca Valley to limit future bank erosion and sedimentation. . Climate Change and Sea Level Rise - Consider the potential implications of sea level rise on the estuary and its surrounds as a result of global scale climate change. . Cultural Heritage - Protect areas and items of Aboriginal and European cultural heritage within the estuary. . Community Liaison - Maintain open lines of communication with the community and local Aboriginal groups in relation to the ongoing management of the estuary. . Fisheries and Oyster Aquaculture - Maintain and improve the viability of existing (and potential future) types of ecologically and commercially sustainable estuary-based aquaculture industries and enterprises.
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. Tourism Management - Maintain and improve the recreational and amenity values of the Nambucca River estuary, without resulting in deleterious impacts on the natural environment.
The local reach of the Nambucca River at the Reserve is within the study area for this project. Key management strategies relevant to the Reserve and this PoM include: . Management Strategy 1: Improve overall riverbank condition (including riparian habitats) on all major streams and waterways within the Nambucca Valley (high priority). . Management Strategy 8: Enhance condition of habitats of high ecological/ conservation value (high priority). . Management Strategy 21: Protect habitats of moderate or local ecological value (eg areas of native regrowth) (low priority). . Management Strategy 22: Enhance condition of habitats of moderate or local ecological value (low priority).
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5 Community Consultation Management Options Considerations
5 5 5 This section provides an analysis of the management options identified during the community workshop. A list of management options used or considered in other flying-fox management plans was provided, as well as an invitation for other suggestions. Identified options include: . Do nothing. . Bush regeneration at the Reserve: regenerate roosting habitat away from residential area. . Bush regeneration on adjacent land: regeneration known/potential roosting habitat away from residential areas on adjacent land. . Modifications to affected residential buildings (e.g. air conditioning). . Manage vegetation on private properties (e.g. trim foraging trees which overhang dwellings, clothes lines, etc). . Access management: manage human access in roosting areas to reduce conflicts. . Signage (e.g. general information regarding health concerns, etc. . Buffers: visual. . Buffers: physical. . Cull. . Disperse / attempt relocation. . Habitat removal. . Planning instruments (rezoning to avoid future conflicts, development control plans). . S149 certifications for adjacent housing (inform future landowners). . Re-evaluation of rates for neighbouring land holders (local government compensation). . State government compensation for adjacent residents. . Health monitoring. . Education. . Ecotourism. . Vaccinations for landholders adjacent to flying-fox camps.
Additional suggested management actions to help implemented the plan include: . Obtain funding to support affected residents to implemented modifications to houses and private vegetation, etc. . Monitoring of community response to flying fox plan.
Each management option was reviewed against the following considerations: . Statutory considerations. . Animal welfare. . Scientific validity / previous experience. . Strengths. . Weaknesses. . Feasibility. . Consistency with PoM objectives.
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It is acknowledged that different species of flying-foxes require slightly different management regimes. Hence this analysis focused primarily on the management of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, the primary species associated with the Reserve.
The management options analysis is provided in Table 5.1. It is largely based on the findings of a comprehensive analysis of management options available for flying-fox management in the Maclean Flying- fox Management Strategy (GeoLINK 2010) which are consistent with the underpinning principles of each specific management option provided above. Community response regarding each option at the community workshop is also shown. This analysis was used to identifying preferred management options for the Action Plan (Section 6).
Other general community suggestions included undertake a questionnaire to gain greater understanding of what the community wants in terms of managing the Bowraville flying-fox camp. This was unable to be undertaken due to project budget limitations, especially considering the limited community response to the workshop. The community would be able to provide further comment during public display of the PoM.
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Illustration 5.1 Management Options Analysis Management Option Statutory Animal Welfare Issues Scientific Community Feasible from Consistency Considerations Validity/ Support at a Cost With PoM to Address Previous Workshop as Perspective Objectives Experience a Preferred Option Do nothing. N/A N/A N/A No Yes No Bush regeneration at the Reserve: regenerate roosting habitat Possible in No - provided appropriate Yes Yes Yes Yes away from residential area. some instances timing to avoid flying-fox disturbances Bush regeneration on adjacent land: regeneration Possible in No - provided appropriate Yes Yes Yes Yes known/potential roosting habitat away from residential areas some instances timing to avoid flying-fox on adjacent land. disturbances Modifications to affected residential buildings (e.g. air Possible in No Yes Yes Yes – but Yes conditioning, noise insulation). some instances assistance would be needed. Manage vegetation on private properties (e.g. trim foraging Possible in No - provided appropriate Yes Yes Yes Yes trees which overhang dwellings, clothes lines, etc). some instances timing to avoid flying-fox disturbances Access management: manage human access in roosting No No Yes Yes Yes Yes areas to reduce conflicts. Signage (e.g. general information regarding health concerns, Possible in No Yes Yes Yes Yes etc). some instances Buffers: visual. No No - provided appropriate N/A Yes Yes Yes timing to avoid flying-fox disturbances Buffers: physical (maintaining existing buffers and enhance No No - provided appropriate N/A Yes Yes Yes through vegetation regeneration away from residence). timing to avoid flying-fox disturbances Cull. Yes Yes No No N/A (depends No on method) Disperse / attempt relocation. Yes Yes No Yes No No
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Management Option Statutory Animal Welfare Issues Scientific Community Feasible from Consistency Considerations Validity/ Support at a Cost With PoM to Address Previous Workshop as Perspective Objectives Experience a Preferred Option Habitat removal. Yes Yes No No Yes but would No have high legislative cost Planning instruments (rezoning to avoid future conflicts, Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes development control plans). S149 certifications for adjacent housing (inform future Yes No Not known Conflicting Yes Yes landowners). (some in support and others against) Re-evaluation of rates for neighbouring land holders (local Yes No Not known Conflicting Possible Not known government compensation). (some in support and others against) State government compensation for adjacent residents. Yes No Not known Yes Possible Not known Health monitoring. No No Not known Yes Possible Not known Education. No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Ecotourism. Possible in No N/A Yes Possible Yes some instances Vaccinations for landholders adjacent to flying-fox camps. No No Not known Yes Possible Not known
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6 Action Plan
6 6 6 The following section outlines the management actions to achieve the core objectives of the PoM as detailed in Section 1.4. The life of the PoM is 10 years, with a review recommended at 5 years. It is critical that this PoM maintains flexibility with an ‘adaptive’ management approach, as new research and information, particularly with regards to flying-fox management and bush regeneration becomes available to ensure best practice management and efficiency. Scientific research and not politics should be key factors influencing the long-term management of the Reserve and maintaining its biodiversity values.
Timeframes for actions recommended are: . Short: < 2 years . Medium: 2-8 years . Long: > 8 years . Ongoing: work without a definitive time period for action.
Responsibility (refer to Table 6.1) refers to the organisation or authority that will have the most influence over actually implementing the proposed management action. It does not necessarily indicate that this organisation or authority is required to fund the management action. Possible sources of funding and useful websites are listed in Appendix C and are provided as suggestions only.
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Table 6.1 Action Plan
Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 1. Education 1.1 High 2, 5 Inform the community about flying-foxes and management NSC, OEH, . Community has greater Commence: Community at the Reserve through: WIRES understanding of the long-term short. information . Council website updates. strategy for managing flying- Implementation: and education . Media releases. foxes. Ongoing. . Information packages for adjacent landholders or . Complaints to Council regarding other concerned community members. flying-foxes are reduced. . Sick flying-foxes or other fauna Information should include (but not be limited to): associated with the reserve are . General information about flying-foxes and their reported to local animal welfare conservation status. group (i.e. WIRES). . Long-term strategy for managing flying-foxes at the Reserve (i.e. creating/enhance roosting habitat away from residencies). . How to make their properties less attractive to flying- foxes (refer to Action 5.2 and 5.3). . Threats to the flying-fox and relevant threat abatement measures. . Health information relating to flying-foxes. . Keeping domestic animals away from the forested areas of the Reserve. . Encourage joining volunteer weed control group and explaining how it will help minimise flying-fox roosting in/adjacent to backyards in the long-term. . Contact details of wildlife carers if sick or injured flying-foxes or other fauna are identified. . Importance of correct disposal of waste and consequences of disposing of waste (including garbage waste) in the Reserve.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 2. Biodiversity Management 2.1 High 5, 13 Have NSC endorse the flying-fox PoM and associated NSC . Flying-fox PoM endorsed by Short NSC VMP. This is important for improving community NSC. endorsement understanding of the camp and associated issues, and of flying-fox demonstrating to the community Council’s management PoM position and understanding of the complex flying- fox/community issues at Bowraville. 2.2 Medium 13 Have OEH endorse the flying-fox PoM and associated NSC, OEH . Flying-fox PoM endorsed by Medium Obtain OEH VMP. This is important for ensuring streamlined regional OEH. endorsement management of flying-foxes and maintaining clear of flying-fox communication with a key stakeholder group. OEH may PoM require some additional processes be undertaken prior to endorsing the PoM (e.g. development of a steering committee to guide management at the Reserve), and these steps should be undertaken if required. Additional advantages OEH endorsement may include improving the Reserve profile and resources/funding for implementation of the PoM. 2.3 High 13 Obtain legislative approvals for implementation of the on- NSC . Legislative approvals obtained. Short Obtain ground PoM and VMP works, by Section 91 application to . Consent conditions adhered to. legislative OEH. Any consent conditions must be adhered to. approvals for implementatio n of VMP 2.4 High 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, The Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) provided in Part NSC, Landcare . Grants funding for Commence: Obtain funding 10 B identifies a number of vegetation rehabilitation and implementation of VMP short. for restoration actions for Reserve, with a fundamental aim of obtained. Implementation: implementatio managing flying-fox roosting through enhancement of . Onground VMP works initiated. Ongoing to n of VMP vegetation away from residential areas. ensure sufficient long-term funding The initial high priority weed management works are of an is obtained. intensity which would be overwhelming for any volunteer group and would be most effectively implemented (at least
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) initially) by a professional bush regeneration crew. Consequently to effectively get these works underway, funding should be obtained by relevant potential grants programs (refer to Appendix C). 2.5 High 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, The VMP identifies a number of vegetation rehabilitation NSC, Landcare . Forest vegetation enhanced Commence: Implement 10 and restoration actions for Reserve, with a fundamental through regeneration and short. VMP on- aim of managing flying-fox roosting through enhancement restoration works. Implementation: ground works of vegetation away of residential areas. It also aims to . Weed incursion reduced. Ongoing. minimise human/flying fox conflicts and the potential for . Natural restoration continuing weed proliferation (e.g. reduce areas to edge ratios). where native seed banks are still present. During implementation of on-ground works, the following . Quality and quantity of would be adhered to minimise disturbances to flying- vegetation suitable for flying-fox foxes: roosting increased, particularly . Any major works and use of motorised equipment away from adjacent residential would be scheduled when the flying-foxes are absent area. from the camp. . Flying-fox numbers roosting . When the flying-foxes are present: near residences reduced as - No works would be undertaken during periods of more desirable habitat away environmental stress (e.g. excessively hot, cold from houses is rehabilitated. or windy days, periods of significant flying-fox . Improved riparian condition. food shortages). . Overall visual amenity of - Any works in or within 50 m of core camp area Reserve enhanced. would be of low intensity and undertaken progressively to allow for habituation by the flying-foxes (progressively work towards the camp) and restricted to small areas and undertaken over short periods to minimise flying- fox disturbance. - Visual monitoring of flying-foxes would be undertaken whilst undertaking onground works around the camp. If disturbance isevidenced (e.g. flying-foxes taking flight away from works area and/or loud protest squeals), works in the DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 46 1790716
Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) vicinity of the camp would stop immediately. - No works would be undertaken within 50 m of the camp if numbers of Little Red Flying-foxes are high. . Noisy machinery is not permitted within 50 m of the camp from October to April.
Only biodegradable chemicals appropriate for riparian environments would be used. Chemicals usage methods would be undertaken to ensure negligible impacts on frogs and other aquatic life.
Any access tracks should be minimal and restrict public access to core camp areas. 2.6 High 5, 9, 10, 11 Riparian vegetation to the east and north of the Reserve NSC, NRCMA, . Liaison with the relevant private Commence: Work with has been known to support flying-fox roosting in OEH, Landcare landholder and Council short. riparian association with the Reserve at various stages. department undertaken. Implementation: property Enhancement of these areas for purpose of flying-fox . If interested, flying-fox PoM Ongoing if owners to the roosting would help reduce human/flying-fox conflicts, by revised to encompass relevant relevant east (private) creating /enhancing flying-fox roosting habitat away from parcels of riparian land. stakeholders are and north the residential areas to the west. The following steps . Onground works implemented interested. (NSC) to would be required to ensure effectiveness: to create/enhance flying-fox enhance . Liaison with the private landholder of the riparian roosting habitat away for flying-fox vegetation to the east and relevant Council residential areas. roosting department responsible for the land to the north to habitat away discuss opportunities and constraints. from . If interested, liaise with NRCMA/OEH/Landcare to residential identify funding opportunities for riparian regeneration areas. works on private land. . Revise flying-fox PoM and associated VMP to incorporate these parcels of land. . Implement onground works to create/enhance flying- fox roosting habitat away for residential areas.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 2.7 High 13 All persons associated with the undertaking on ground NSC, Landcare . All persons undertaking works Training of on VMP works or other works within the Reserve (including at the Reserve are subject to ground works volunteers) would be subject to a site induction, detailing: environmental inductions. personnel and . Environmental values of the Reserve. . Risk of injury to workers is volunteers . Identification of potentially occurring threatened flora minimised. and actions to be undertaken if detected. Stop-works procedures if . Stop-works procedures if potential Indigenous potential Indigenous heritage heritage items are encountered in accordance with items are encountered. OEH requirements. . Works within the Reserve are . Actions to minimise disturbance to flying-fox camp. undertaken in a way that . Environmental hygiene protocols to minimise spread minimises flying-fox disturbance of weeds and other diseases (e.g. amphibian chytrid). and does not compromise the . Occupational Health and Safety risk associated with environmental values of the the Reserve, including not to handle sick or injured Reserve. flying-foxes and to call appropriate animal care and rescue group. 2.8 High 7, 13 Develop and communicate hygiene protocols for on- NSC, OEH, . Hygiene protocols developed, Short Develop ground works personnel to minimise the risk of: Landcare communicated to and adhered hygiene . Spreading weeds to and from the site; to by all on-ground personnel. protocols for . Lyssavirus infection; and on-ground . Spread of amphibian chytrid (TSC Act key works threatening process). personnel 2.9 High 12 Develop and implement a monitoring program to monitor NSC, Landcare, . Monitoring program established Commence: Biodiversity flying-fox activities and implementation of the VMP. This OEH and implemented. short. monitoring would include: . Flying-fox data collected Implementation: . Monitoring of flying-fox numbers and composition, monthly. Ongoing. GIS mapping of ‘core’ camp areas and spatial . Flora monitoring undertaken changes over time, identification of key foraging every 2 years. resources locally during times of camp influxes . Adaptive management >20,000, and flying-fox responses to restoration responses identified and activities. Grey-headed Flying-fox data should be implemented. incorporated into monitoring undertaken as part of the . Grey-headed Flying-fox
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) Draft National Recovery Plan (DECCW 2009). monitoring data incorporated . Fixed point vegetation monitoring sites (including with DECCW 2009 monitoring. photos and transects) should be established to monitor native and weed species diversity and abundance. Bran-Banquet cover scores of the current flora composition (Appendix D) should be used for base line records of floristic composition across the Reserve.
Flying-fox monitoring should be undertaken monthly, while vegetation monitoring should occur every 2 years. Appropriate actions to protect any identified threatened flora should be developed and communicated to all persons involved in undertaking onground works at the Reserve.
Adaptive management responses identified during monitoring should be implemented, and incorporated into the PoM at review points. 2.10 Medium 7 Liaise with Essential Energy, WIRES and adjacent NSC, Essential . Flying-fox electrocution Medium Reduce flying- residents to identify opportunities to reduce the risk of Energy, incidence/risk adjacent to the fox flying-fox electrocution adjacent to the Reserve, including: adjacent camp reduced. electrocution . Potential relocation of above ground powerlines residents, risk adjacent to underground. WIRES the Reserve . Potential modification to powerline design to reduce flying-fox connection risk.
Implement identified actions as appropriate. 2.11 High 7 Encourage reporting of feral pest and stray domestic pets NSC, LHPA . Proactive pest management Ongoing Exotic fauna by stakeholders working at the Reserve (e.g. Landcare undertaken as required. management groups and Council maintenance personnel). Implement . Stray cats and dogs removed pest and stray domestic pet management in accordance from the Reserve by Council with NSC and LHPA responsibilities. rangers as required.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 2.12 Medium 7 Fire management plan developed to allow for rapid NSC, RFS, . Fire management plan Short Develop fire response to all wildfires and arson in the Reserve OEH development. management . Wildfire or arson events are plan rapidly extinguished. 2.13 Medium 1, 3, 5, 11 Ensure access to and around core roosting areas is NSC, Landcare . Only designated access tracks Short Access minimised, with formal access tracks restricted to: remain formal. management . Northern sewerage works area access road: ideally . Access tracks associated with this should be reduced to a single access road along vegetation management works the western track and modified to support a turning informal and inconspicuous. circle at the end; . Unnecessary access tracks are . Swimming-hole access track: ideally this should be closed and re-vegetated. formalised as an unsealed walking track to minimise . Incidences of vandalism are the risk of erosion, while controlling access area to minimised. designated track.
Any other access tracks established for weed management would be minimal and designed to reduce public access (e.g. foot tracks out of public sight). This is particularly important to minimise flying-fox disturbances, reduce the risk of vandalism and minimise the likelihood of the general public coming into contract with orphaned or diseased bats. Existing unnecessary access tracks should be closed and re-vegetated. 2.14 Medium 3, 12 Formalise relations with relevant research stakeholder NSC, NRCMA, . Bowraville flying-fox camp Medium Research groups associated with the Reserve and flying-fox OEH, relevant included in regional management/research. Benefits would include: territory management/research . Sharing of relevant information where appropriate. education programs. . Greater input into new project scopes as well as institutions where information gaps are identified. . Streamline research process to avoid duplication of research projects. This should be correlated to the Action 2.9 Biodiversity monitoring, where appropriate.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 2.15 High 13 Evidence of inappropriate work protocols at the Reserve NSC and . Reserve no longer used for Short Refinement of include using the Reserve for stockpiling materials and contractors stockpiling construction Council’s on- dumping of road construction waste. Council should materials or disposal. ground works review works protocol (including those for contractors) to procedures ensure appropriate construction activities are undertaken to minimise environmental impacts, improve aesthetics of the Reserve and improve the community ‘culture’ with regards to valuing the Reserve. This should be communicated to other government agencies (e.g. RTA, Essential Energy, etc) who may undertake works locally. 2.16 Medium 5 Establish management committee with representatives of NSC, Landcare, . Management committee Short Management all stakeholder groups involved with management of the NRCMA, OEH, established and working Committee Reserve, flying-fox conservation and implementation of Bowraville together to achieve key the VMP. This would ensure clear lines of communication LALC. objectives of the PoM. with all relevant stakeholders to allow for uniform best practice management at the Reserve. 3. Planning Instruments 3.1 Low 7 Review zoning of the Reserve with appropriate zoning of NSC . Zoning of the Reserve modified Medium Rezoning of high conservation value areas (i.e. flying-fox camp and to enhance protection status of land for EECs) and recreational areas (i.e. open grassland). high conservation value areas, Environmental while maintaining designated Protection recreation areas. 3.2 Medium 7 Investigate potential for interagency conservation NSC, NRCMA, . Interagency conservation Short Interagency agreements for the Reserve (e.g. Voluntary Conservation OEH agreement potential conservation Agreement – VCA, Biobanking, etc) to help secure investigated and obtained (if agreements protection of high conservation value areas and appropriate). management funding. Obtain conservation agreement if appropriate.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 4. Additional Human/Flying-fox Conflict Management Actions 4.1 High 5 Liaise with local landholders to identify property specific NSC (advisory . Flying-fox/human conflicts with Medium Reduce vegetation management actions to minimise human/flying- role only), local adjoining landholders are human/flying- fox conflicts on their properties such as: residence reduced. fox conflicts . Removal or trimming of potential roost or foraging . Complaints to Council regarding through trees on private lots where they overhang dwellings, flying-foxes are reduced. vegetation car parking areas, clothes lines, etc. Legislative management approvals would need to be obtained where at local appropriate. residences . Removal of inappropriate species on their properties with potential to contribute to habitat degradation at the Reserve through weed invasion and/or may have direct adverse effect on flying-fox health (e.g. Cocos Palms). . Planting potential flying-fox food sources away from dwellings, clothes lines, etc. 4.2 Medium 5 Liaise with adjoining landholders (with residences within NSC (advisory . Flying-fox/human conflicts with Medium Building approximately 300 m of the camp) to identify actions to role only), local adjoining landholders are modifications reduce flying-fox/human conflicts, such as: residence reduced. to reduce . Building carports over car parking areas. . Complaints to Council regarding human/flying- . Relocation of clothes lines. flying-foxes are reduced. fox conflicts . Installation of acoustic batts. . Laminate or double glaze windows. . Ways to protect backyard orchards. 4.3 High 5 Investigate opportunities and obtain funding to implement NSC, Landcare . Funding for implementation of Commence: Obtain funding building and vegetation management at local residencies Action 4.1 and/or 4.2 obtained. short. to assist (Action 4.1 and/or 4.2) to reduce flying-fox/ human . Onground works undertaken. Implementation: adjoining conflicts. Ongoing to landholders ensure sufficient implement long-term funding vegetation is obtained. management and/or building
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) modifications to achieve Action 4.1 and/or 4.2. 4.4 High 6 Develop and implement a monitoring program to monitor NSC, OEH . Monitoring program established Commence: Community the community’s response to implementation of the plan. and implemented. short. monitoring In particular, this should identify whether the community . Adaptive management Implementation: think existing flying-fox/human conflicts are improving as a responses identified and Ongoing. result of implementation of the plan, and if not what implemented. additional actions could be undertaken to help reduce the conflicts. Results would be compared with the outcomes of the biodiversity monitoring (Action 2.9) where appropriate. Baseline data of existing community views should be obtained. 5. Additional Community Based Actions 5.1 Medium 1 The following task would help ensure the recreational NSC . Recreation values of the Medium Maintain values of the Reserve are maintained: Reserve maintained. recreational . Undertaking ongoing maintenance of the grassland values of the areas in the north-east of the Reserve (which provide Reserve in open space for local residences), as well as designated associated toilet block. areas . Control/improve access to the local swimming area by with an unsealed pedestrian access designed to: - limit the potential for erosion; - ensure no vehicle access; - prevent trampling of adjacent vegetation; and - reduce edge effects by limiting the width of the access. The design must give due consideration to the flooding constraints of the site as well as the character of the area.
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Action Priority Management Management Details Suggested Performance Indicators Timeframe Objective Responsibility (refer to Section 1.2) 5.2 High for 2 Install signage and interpretive material at the Reserve to NSC . Appropriate signage / Short Reserve health inform the public of: interpretative material installed in signage / signage, . Biodiversity values of the Reserve. high visibility areas. interpretative low . Health concerns (e.g. do not touch flying-foxes) and material other contact numbers of wildlife carers if sick or injured signage flying-foxes are identified. . Prohibitive actions (e.g. domestic animal restrictions within forest vegetation, dumping of rubbish). 5.3 Low 1, 2 Promote the Reserve and viewing of flying-fox camp as a NSC, local . Viewing of flying-foxes at the Long (needs VMP Ecotourism tourism feature, complementing other tourism feature of tourism board Reserve encouraged as part of works to improve Bowraville. local tourism program for visitors aesthetics in the to Bowraville. short to medium term first)
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Part B Vegetation Management Plan
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7 Introduction
7 7 7 7.1 Aims . Ensure all works in the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) are in accordance with the Grassy Park Flying-fox Management Plan (Part A). . Regenerate native vegetation within a core area of the Reserve to establish forest structured vegetation that in the long term will provide potential roosting habitat for flying-foxes away from adjacent residences and increase the Reserves overall flying-fox roosting values and carrying capacity. . Reduce exotic weed infestation throughout the site to maximise the potential for controlled and natural vegetation restoration. . Design and establish screening/buffer vegetation in specific areas of the site to enhance amenity and improve microclimatic conditions suitable for the ongoing forest regeneration.
7.2 Objectives . Undertake vegetation surveys across the Reserve, documenting floristic structure and composition, conservation significance. . Develop a species list and corresponding percentage cover per species to form a bench mark for subsequent monitoring. . Identify exotic invasive weed species and provide a detailed weed control and restoration strategy for each of the identified Management Zones. . Map management zones throughout the site and identify specific restoration works required in each zone. . Development of a prioritised restoration schedule that will maximise efficiency of available labour and funding utilising recognised restoration techniques. . Outline a 10 year maintenance plan for weed control, habitat enhancement and monitoring.
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8 Site Assessment
8 8 8 8.1 Methods Field inspection was conducted on the 25 May 2011. Surveys involved a traverse of the entire Reserve and documentation of the occurrence of plant communities, native plant species, introduced species, threatened flora and identification of the impacts affecting these components of the Reserve’s vegetation community. The conservation significance of the various plant communities was also recorded (refer to Section 8.2). The field inspection comprised a total of approximately 10 person hours. Additionally, aerial photo interpretation was undertaken in conjunction with ground-truthing.
Native and introduced plant species were identified and their abundance listed in accordance the Braun- Blanquet cover abundance scale (refer to Appendix D). The location, extent and condition of native vegetation was assessed and work areas were identified, designated and mapped (refer to Illustration 8.1 and 8.2). Management recommendations for each work area were developed and are presented in Section 9 (refer to Table 9).
Landuse issues were discussed with Jacqui Ashby (NSC) and incorporated into the management assessment presented in Section 5. Landuse impacts, including the location of access tracks and illegal dumping, were also noted during the field investigation.
8.2 Vegetation Description Three work areas were designated within the study site based on the three broad vegetation communities identified. These include the following: . Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. . Zone 2 – Riparian Forest. . Zone 3 – Open Grassland.
The locations of the plant communities are shown in Illustration 8.1. The location of the work areas are provided in Illustration 8.2. A description of the structural and floristic composition of each plant community is provided below. All flora encountered during the survey are listed within Appendix D.
8.2.1 Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain Structure and Floristic Composition Emergent – a small number of emergent remnant rainforest trees are conspicuous. These trees are up to 20 m in height and have a DBH <1.5 m. Species include Hard Quandong (Eleocarpus obovatus), Maidens Blush (Sloanea maidenii), Native Tamarind (Diploglottis australis) and Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis). Several of these trees are currently supporting dense infestations of weedy vines within their canopy including Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum*), Madiera Vine (Anredera cordifolia*), Blue Morning Glory (Ipomea indica*) and White Passionfruit (Passiflora alba*).
Upper Mid-Storey – comprises a small number of rainforest trees to 10 m in height. Species include Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa), White Bolly Gum (Neolitsea dealbata), Guioa (Guioa semiglauca) and Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora*). The majority of this community is heavily infested with weedy vines as described above.
Lower Mid-Storey – comprised predominantly of woody weeds to 3 m in height. Dominant species include Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum sinense*), Wild Tobacco Bush (Solanum mauritianum*) and Lantana (Lantana camara*). A very dense blanket of weedy vines is smothering the majority of this stratum including Balloon DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 59 1790716
Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum*), Madiera Vine (Anredera cordifolia*), Blue Morning Glory (Ipomea indica*) and White Passionfruit (Passiflora alba*). The density of these weedy vines combined with the foliage associated with the tree and shrub species present in this stratum equate to a foliage percentage cover (FPC) between 50-85% across the community.
Groundcover – Between 0.2 and 0.5 m in height and predominantly poorly developed. This community occurs predominantly underneath the dense blanket of weedy vines supported by the lower mid-stratum. It is comprised of native and introduced species including Lomandra (Lomandra hysterix), Creek Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata) and Whip Vine (Flagelleria indica). Introduced species are more prevalent in the less shaded areas including Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis*) and a wide range of weedy vine seedlings.
Distribution and Variation of Community within Study Area This community occurs in the north-western portion of the Reserve (refer to Illustration 8.1) and is uncommon in the Nambucca Valley. The community is roughly triangular in shape and comprises an area of approximately 1.2 ha. The longest edge is bound by the river and faces south-east. The two other sides of this community adjoin open grassland, with the western edge fringing the township of Bowraville and the northern edge is subject to mixed uses including grazing.
The landform on which this community occurs comprises low-lying riverbank with a number of small drainage lines with steep banks. This area would become inundated by floodwaters during relatively minor flood events due to its low topography and location on the outside of a tight river bend.
Condition of Vegetation This structure and floristic diversity of this community is very poor. The range of species present, including a small number of mature canopy trees, are characteristic of Lowland Subtropical Rainforest, however the floristic structure of this community has been dramatically reduced.
It is likely that this community has historically been subject to a wide range of impacts including direct clearing. Infestation by a wide range of weed species, particularly vine weeds, is currently the most influential impact that requires addressing. Vine weeds currently form a blanket over much of the lower stratums, smothering the native vegetation that is attempting to re-grow and limiting regeneration. Vine weeds are also present in several of the mature trees and are affecting the health and vigour of several large trees. The blanket effect created by the vine weeds has provided a suitably positive level of shade in the drainage lines, further preventing the growth of groundcover weeds and allowing a number of endemic native groundcovers/pioneer species to persist, including Lomandra and Sandpaper Fig seedlings.
Small-leaved Privet and Lantana are common throughout the lower stratum along with Wild Tobacco Bush. Much of this vegetation is however also smothered by vine weeds as described above.
Introduced tree species such as Pinus sp. and Camphor Laurel are also present in this community, however their effect on the ongoing integrity of the community is minimal relative to the impacts from vine weeds and woody weeds.
Generally the community is in very poor condition with a dramatically altered structure and low floristic diversity.
Conservation Significance This community closely corresponds to the TSC Act listed Endangered Ecological Community, Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion. This is detailed further in Section 8.3.
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Plate 8.1 Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Plate 8.2 Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on floodplain with seedy vines Floodplain with weedy vines growing smothering the lower stratum into the canopy of the mature trees
8.2.2 Zone 2 – Riparian Forest Structure and Floristic Composition Upper – Consists of dense canopy of mature Eucalypts up to 20 m tall. Diameter at breast height (DBH) ranges from 0.1 to 1.2 m. Species present include Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys), Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis), Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousia floribunda) and Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora*).
Mid-storey – Consists of mid-dense taller trees from 5-10 m in height. Dominant species include those occurring in the upper stratum as well as Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), Brushbox (Lophostemon confertus), Northern Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia), Small-fruited Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua) and Large-leaved Privet (Ligustrum lucidum*). A number of taller rainforest species also occur including Guioa (Guioa semiglauca), Red ash (Alphitonia excelsa) and White Euodia (Melicope micrococca). Weedy vines occur throughout this stratum including Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum*), White Passionfruit (Passiflora subpeltata*) and Purple Morning Glory (Ipomea indica*).
Lower Stratum – Consists of a mid-dense to dense layer of introduced and native species to a height of 2 m. Dominant species include Lantana (Lantana camara*), Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum sinense*) and a range of understorey rainforest species including Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum), Large Mock Olive (Notelaea longifolia) and Orange Thorn (Pittosporum multiflorum). A wide range of weedy vines, herbs and grasses are also present including Canna Lilly (Canna indica*), Blue Billy Goat (Ageratum houstonianum*) and Palm Grass (Setaria palmifolia*).
Distribution and Variation of Community within Study Area This community occurs over the majority of the Reserve and riparian zone locally in varying species compositions (refer to Illustration 8.1). Within the confines of the Reserve it comprises approximately 2.3 ha in area, and occurs as an east-west orientated strip of vegetation on the southern bank of the Nambucca River. The community is bound by the river to the north and open grassland (road reserve) to the south. The southern bank of the river in this location varies in height and slope, however much of the community is on a very steep slope with a bank height of approximately 5 m.
Variations in structure and species dominance occur throughout the site. The south-eastern extremity of the Reserve (south of small drainage line) is located adjacent to cleared paddocks and comprises very little upper stratum and low floristic diversity in general. This area is comprised predominantly of a large thicket of introduced woody weeds and vines. The small drainage line perpendicular to the main strip of vegetation occurs towards the south-eastern end of the site and supports creek-line habitat that is well developed structurally and floristically, including well developed mid and upper strata. The lower stratum above the drainage line is heavily infested with woody weeds and vines, however the drainage line itself is comprised predominantly of endemic native species.
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The Riparian Forest is narrower in the south-eastern portion of the Reserve resulting in a less well developed mid stratum. The western portion of the Riparian Forest is noticeably wider, allowing for the development of a more floristically diverse and structurally complex mid stratum, including a range of rainforest species with a variety of growth forms such as palms and epiphytes.
Condition of Vegetation This community is heavily infested with a broad range of noxious and environmental weeds in most strata. Weedy vines occur in all strata and woody weeds such as Privet and Lantana are dominant in the lower stratum. Garden escape weeds such as Canna Lilly are present and indicative of other conspicuous impacts such as dumping, which is mostly prevalent along the top edge of the community.
Other impacts include historic clearing (evidenced by the lack of canopy in the southern portion), burning (evidenced by the charcoal present up to 4 m high on mature trees), dumping (garden waste and municipal rubbish is prominent along the edge of the community) and recreational use (pushbike tracks/jumps have been built in sections of the understorey). The recent removal of several large Camphor Laurels has contributed to an increased level of mid and lower strata weed infestation in several locations within this community.
Generally the community is in poor (e.g. south-east) to moderate (e.g. central portions) condition with a relatively sound structure and a moderate level of floristic diversity.
Conservation Significance This community represents an intermediate assemblage of transitional habitats representative of a number of TSC Act listed Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC). Those communities include the following: . Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion; . River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions; and . Subtropical coastal floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion.
Plate 8.3 Gully vegetation in the northern Plate 8.4 Riparian Forest showing signs of portion of the site disturbance
8.2.3 Zone 3 – Grassland Structure and Floristic Composition Groundcover – Between 0.2 and 0.5 m in height with >90% cover. This community occurs in a number of locations within the site as relatively small open areas that are maintained to a lesser or greater degree (refer to Illustration 8.1). Generally this community occurs within the road reserve/powerline easement and is directly adjacent to the narrow strip of Riparian Forest community and to a lesser degree the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain community. It also occurs as patches adjacent to a number of landscape trees and dwellings adjoin the site. Dominant species include Narrow-leaved Carpet Grass
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(Axonopus fissifolius*), Broadleaved Paspalum (Paspalum wettsteinii*) and Pidgeon Grass (Setaria sphacelata*).
Distribution and Variation of Community within Study Area This community occurs throughout the study site (approximately 1.9 ha) and is common as roadside verge throughout the wider study area (refer to Illustration 8.1). It is present as maintained grassland where it occurs near the road edge or the parkland area at the western end of the site, however in the less-accessible locations it is unmaintained. Where it occurs towards the eastern end of the study site (west of the tributary) it is heavily infested with vine weeds such as Blue Morning Glory and Maderia Vine. Scattered shrubs and trees occur throughout including Tobacco Bush, Lantana and a number of small groves of trees comprising such species as Black Wattle (Acacia melanoxylon) and Cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi var. ferdinandi).
Weed removal and tree plantings have recently been undertaken in the northern portion of the grassland area (refer to Zone 3a in Illustration 8.2). The aim of this planting was to create a self-managing weed and flying- fox buffer between the flying-fox roosting area and adjacent residential land (Joy van Son, Nambucca Valley Landcare, pers. comm).
Condition of Vegetation This community is not an endemic native vegetation community. It is comprised predominantly of introduced grasses, herbs, vine weeds and woody weeds. A number of noxious weeds are present within this community (refer to Appendix D).
Conservation Significance This community does not have any specific conservation significance under any local, state of federal planning instruments.
Plate 8.5 Unmaintained grassland in the eastern Plate 8.6 Maintained grassland in the western portion of the study site adjacent to portion of the site adjacent to lowland Riparian Forest community Subtropical Rainforest
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Drawn by: DSA Checked by: RE Reviewed by: DSA Date: October 2011 Information shown is for illustrative purposes only Source of base data: Nambucca Shire Council
Nambucca River
ParkStreet
L E G E N D
Zone 1 - Lowland Subtropical Rainforest (EEC) Zone 2 - Riparian Forest (EEC) Zone 3 - Open Grassland
050 Vegetation Zones Flying-fox Plan of Management - Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville
North Illustration 8.1 1790049
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Drawn by: DSA Checked by: RE Reviewed by: DSA Date: October 2011 Information shown is for illustrative purposes only Source of base data: Nambucca Shire Council
Zone 3a
Zone 1
Zone 3d
Zone 3e
Zone 3b Zone 2 Nambucca River
ParkStreet
Zone 3c Zone 3c L E G E N D Zone 3e Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 2 Fencing Zone 3a Zone 3b Zone 3c Zone 3d Zone 3e
040 Work Zones Flying-fox Plan of Management - Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville
North Illustration 8.2 1790050
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9 Management Strategy and Recommendation for Work Zones
9 9 9 Note: control of weed species should be undertaken using the methods outlined in Appendix 8 of Subtropical Rainforest Restoration – A practice manual and data source for landcare groups, land managers and rainforest regenerators (Second Edition) produced by Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group (2005).
The overall long-term objective is to establish an environment in which the vegetation communities are self- sustaining and need minimal follow-up weed control maintenance, while continuing to provide roosting habitat for flying-foxes. All weed management works must been mindful of flying-fox roosting values of the Reserve. Consideration must be given to: . Ways of minimising flying-fox disturbances whilst undertaking on-ground works (refer to Part A). . Maintaining a microclimate suitable for flying-fox roosting, acknowledging that in some areas (e.g. Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain) the weeds in the understorey strata layers are currently maintaining this function. Hence weed works within the locations used by flying-foxes are proposed to be staged in minor working areas rather than broad scale weed removal. . Camphor Laurel provides key roosting habitat for flying-foxes at the Reserve and removal (including poisoning) of any Camphor Laurel that is 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater must not be undertaken until a mature canopy of native rainforest species has been established.
Tables 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 provide a description of the proposed management strategies for each zone including an assessment of the priority of each strategy. Condition ratings are as follows: 1 = weed dominated, native trees absent or dead. 2 = weed dominated with a few emergent native trees and shrubs. 3 = has structure of forest or original vegetation type with heavy weed infestation leading to rapid decline. 4 = has structure of forest or original vegetation type with heavy weed but some natural regeneration. 5 = has structure of original vegetation type with a number of stratums, healthy but threatened by encroaching weeds. 6 = vegetation in good order, sporadic weeds. 7 = forest or system self-sustaining, needs no assistance
Any works undertaken by licenced community group should be supported by NSC and relevant stakeholders to ensure works are undertaken in accordance with best practice techniques and maximise efficiency of efforts.
9.1 Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest The primary vegetation management issue is the absence of a shady canopy stratum which is currently allowing introduced weeds species to outcompete (outgrow) any native plant species that would naturally germinate. This problem is exacerbated during flood events when weed seeds are deposited from floodwaters and by the impacts of flying-fox roosting (e.g. defoliation, increased soils nutrients from excrement, weed seed dispersal, etc). The other primary management issue is the presence of vine weeds (particularly Madeira Vine) and poor native species diversity.
The following, in order of priority, are the broad steps required to achieve recovery within this zone:
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1. Reduce the impact of weeds species on existing mature vegetation. 2. Create minor work areas in accessible locations with the greatest potential for short-term recovery (e.g. at the base of mature rainforest trees where there is proximity to good seed source and shade). 3. Remove weed species from native plants already present in the minor work area. 4. Plant specifically selected pioneer rainforest plant species in the minor work areas at moderate density to encourage the fast development of a canopy. 5. Maintain the plantings in a weed free state until canopy development has reduced light levels enough to suppress weed growth. 6. Undertake secondary and mature phase planting over time to enhance species diversity and bolster genetic diversity. 7. No clearing (including poisoning, ring barking, burning, etc) of any Camphor Laurel trees (>10 cm DBH) would be undertaken until a mature canopy of native species has established.
This zone encompasses the majority of the core flying-fox roosting area and is the primary target area for enhancing flying-fox roosting values due to its location away from local residences (>50 m).
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Table 9.1 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 1 – Lowland Subtropical Rainforest
Management Issue Condition Recommendations Priority Work to be Performed by: Rating Vegetation comprises Lowland 2 . Workers operating in this area should consult the Bush Regenerators High S132C Licence holders Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain Checklist prior to undertaking works (refer to Appendix E). . Professional bush community which is classified as an regenerators. Endangered Ecological Community . Licenced community group under the TSC Act. (e.g. Landcare, Green Corp). Vine weeds are strangling the mature 2 . Manage vine weeds ascending all mature trees throughout zone. High Project establishment and initial rainforest trees. . Cut and scrape individual Madeira Vine stems where possible (this will primary treatment: Professional treat aerial tubers also). bush regenerators. . Where a large number of Madeira Vines stems are present, cut vines at ground-level and allow to re-shoot, then spray re-shooting vines along Ongoing maintenance: Licenced with the sprouting tuberlings until tubers are exhausted. community group. . Where possible remove aerial tubers from trees, as they can survive for at least 5 years and still be viable when they fall to the ground. . Madeira Vine should be composted on site under secured black plastic (out of flood zone). Absence of shady canopy is causing 2 . Establish minor work zones (approximately 7 m radius) around the base High Project establishment and initial weed species to outcompete native of one or more of the mature trees (e.g. the large Hard Quandong) and primary treatment: Professional rainforest species. undertake the following work: bush regenerators. 1. Hand-clear around all natives prior to undertaking any works. 2. Remove all vine weed species (starting with those climbing mature Ongoing maintenance: Licenced trees). community group. 3. Collect all accessible aerial tubers from Madeira Vine and bag. 4. Treat all Privet and flatten Lantana with a brush hook and spread flattened vegetation as mulch. 5. Maintain Tobacco Bush, as this species will provide some initial shade for regenerating native plants. 6. Plant native pioneer rainforest species 1.5 – 2 m apart to encourage tall, fast growth (refer to planting list in Appendix E). 7. Plant groundcovers (e.g. Lomandra hystrix) in lower-lying locations such as in the small tributaries. . Expand minor work zones as maintenance required in these areas lessens as a result of reduced light levels due to canopy growth. . Where possible, over time, attempt to join minor work-zones. . Plant endemic strangling figs (Ficus sp.) in the fork of dead Camphor DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 71 1790716
Management Issue Condition Recommendations Priority Work to be Performed by: Rating Laurels outside working areas to increase native canopy cover and flying-fox roost trees. Must be monitored in the long-term to ensure consistent with native vegetation floristic and does not become over dominant. Wandering Jew dominating ground 2 . Treat Wandering Jew as required to reduce impact on plants, however Low Licenced community group. cover. specific widespread control will be more effective after canopy has been established.
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9.2 Zone 2 – Riparian Forest The primary management issue is the presence of vine weeds throughout all strata (particularly Madeira Vine), including the canopy, and the presence of woody weeds in the lower strata. The presence of vine weeds in the upper strata pose a threat to the vigor and overall long-term health of the mature trees, which are also receiving impacts from flying-fox roosting. Canopy trees currently contribute an adequate level of shade that is generally allowing the native vegetation in the understorey to compete with the weeds that currently occur. The removal of these vine weeds will increase the vigour and health of these trees. The other primary management issue is the treatment of the woody weeds that occur in the lower strata.
The following, in order of priority, are the broad steps required to achieve recovery within this zone: 1. Reduce the impact of weeds species on existing mature canopy vegetation (emergent trees in particular) by removing the vine weeds from the upper strata throughout the whole work zone. 2. Divide the zone into minor work zones, small enough to allow ongoing treatment of persistent weeds such as Madiera Vine. 3. Remove vine weeds and woody weeds in the subwork zones. 4. Plant specifically selected pioneer rainforest plant species in the minor work areas where the canopy is absent, at moderate density to encourage the fast development of a canopy and maintain the plantings in a weed free state until canopy development has reduced light levels enough to suppress weed growth. 5. Manage other impacts on the site, such as illegal dumping, that have the potential to contribute to ongoing vegetation disturbance. 6. No clearing (including poisoning, ring barking, burning, etc) of any Camphor Laurel trees (>10 cm DBH) would be undertaken until a mature canopy of native species has established.
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Table 9.2 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 2 – Riparian Forest
Management Issue Condition Recommendations Priority Work to be Performed by: Rating Vegetation comprises of intermediate 5 . Workers operating in this area should consult the Bush Regenerators High S132C Licence holders assemblage of three TSC Act listed Checklist prior to undertaking works (refer to Appendix E). . Professional bush Endangered Ecological Communities regenerators. . Licenced community group. Vine weeds are strangling the mature 5 . Manage vine weeds ascending all mature trees throughout zone. High Project establishment and initial canopy trees . Madeira Vine should be composted on site under secured black plastic primary treatment: Professional (out of flood zone). bush regenerators.
Ongoing maintenance: Licenced community group. Woody weeds are present throughout 5 . Treat woody weeds in lower stratum, focusing on core vegetation areas High Licenced community group. the lower stratum (i.e. 3 m away from the edges). Vine and understorey weeds are 5 . Treat weeds and plant pioneer rainforest species at high densities (~1.5 Low Licenced community group. blanketing localised areas of vegetation m – 2 m apart) in these areas. without canopy cover Environmental weeds (i.e. many of which 5 . Treat environmental weeds when time and money allow including Canna Low Weed control works: licenced are garden escapee plants) are present Lily, Tibouchina, Loquat, Cocos Palm, Taro and Palm Grass and community group. along the river access track formalise alignment of access track to prevent damage to regeneration Formalising access track areas. alignment: NSC Manage illegal dumping 5 . Manage other impacts on the site, such as illegal dumping, that have the Medium NSC potential to contribute to ongoing vegetation disturbance. . Erect Landcare and regulatory signage. Zone 2 Fencing - . Fence area to prevent stock access. Low Landowner / NSC Stock has access to the riparian zone in . Remove all vine and woody weeds and undertake primary planting of the south-eastern portion of the Reserve. pioneer species favouring species suited to toe and mid-bank planting.
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9.3 Zone 3 – Grassland The management issues for this zone vary with location. Key management issues threatening adjacent forest vegetation communities include the presence of vine weeds, particularly Madeira Vine, which provides a sources of re-infestation onto adjoining forest communities. Other management issues in this zone include the presence of a number of listed noxious weeds including Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica).
The following, in order of priority, are the broad steps required to achieve recovery within this zone: 1. Undertake ongoing mowing in relevant areas. 2. Reduce the occurrence of weeds which provide weed propagule sources for adjacent forest, particularly vine weeds. 3. In grassland areas where planting is desired, undertake spot spraying (600 mm dia.) and plant specifically selected pioneer rainforest plant species at moderate density to encourage the fast development of a canopy and maintain the plantings in a weed free state until canopy development has reduced light levels enough to suppress weed growth.
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Table 9.3 Management Strategy and Recommendations for Zone 3 - Grassland
Management Issue Condition Recommendations Priority Work to be Performed by: Rating Zone 3a – North-west of Reserve 3 . Undertake ongoing maintenance of plantings, in particular, manage weed vines. Medium Professional bush regenerators, NSC Manage buffer tree plantings and/or community group. Zone 3b – Central grassland areas along 2 . Planting of native endemic shrubs not suitable for flying-fox roosting (i.e. <3 m Low Professional bush regenerators and/or Riparian Forest where flying-foxes roost, tall) along edge of Riparian Forest to create a visual buffer for adjacent community group. opposite dwellings residents to the west. Create visual buffer from adjacent residents . Should include spot spraying (600 mm dia), then planting at approximately (~1.5 to the west m – 2 m) apart in a staggered arrangement. . Additional benefits include reducing light into adjacent core Riparian Forest areas. . Plantings must be located outside of powerline easement. Zone 3c – South-eastern Grassland within 2 . Manage vine weeds to reduce local weed stock. Medium Professional bush regenerators and/or Riparian Forest . Madeira Vine should be composted on site under secured black plastic (out of community group. Vine weeds flood zone). Zone 3c – South-eastern Grassland within 2 . Undertake spot spraying (600 mm dia.) and plant specifically selected pioneer Low Project establishment and initial Riparian Forest rainforest plant species at moderate density to encourage the fast development primary treatment: professional bush Expand Riparian Forest of a canopy (refer to planting list in Appendix E) and maintain the plantings in a regenerators. weed free state until canopy development has reduced light levels enough to suppress weed growth. Ongoing maintenance: Licenced community group. Zone 3d – Central-northern maintained 2 . Monitor flying-fox and recreational usage (i.e. picnicking) in this area. Low Project establishment and initial grassland area . If conflicts occur, plant out area to exclude recreational usage by undertaking primary treatment: professional bush Potential expansion of Riparian Forest to spot spraying (600 mm dia.) and plant specifically selected pioneer rainforest regenerators. minimise flying-fox human conflicts plant species at moderate density to encourage the fast development of a canopy (refer to planting list in Appendix E) and maintain the plantings in a Ongoing maintenance: Licenced weed free state until canopy development has reduced light levels enough to community group. suppress weed growth. Zone 3e – Maintained groundcover areas 2 . Manage vine weeds to reduce local weed stock. Medium NSC and Essential Energy. used for recreation and powerline . Madeira Vine should be composted on site under secured black plastic (out of easement flood zone). Maintain and expand mowing/slashing . Maintain and expand mowing/slashing regime to minimise weed occurrences, regime and suppress vine weeds in south- maintain powerline easement and maintain areas for recreational usage. This eastern areas. would help maintain buffers between flying-fox roosting area and adjacent residences.
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10 General Management Recommendations
10 10 10 10.1 Project Establishment, Training and Liaison Project establishment works should be undertaken by professional bush regenerators for the following reasons: . They have the plant identification skills required to identify valuable native seedlings already present on- site. . They have experience with establishment of monitoring plots (quadrats or transect) and photo points. . Initial works are extremely labour intensive and small skilled teams would enable works to be undertaken efficiently and effectively. . They generally have the appropriate licences to undertake works within EEC’s.
Other points for consideration throughout the course of the project include: . Liaison should be undertaken between all parties involved in the works to allow a working relationship to be developed between those coordinating the project and those undertaking the works, in particular NSC, licenced community groups (e.g. Landcare) and professional bush regenerators. . Opportunities should be sought to allow members of licenced community groups (e.g. Landcare) to undertake some work with the professional bush regenerators in the early stages of the project to allow knowledge transfer and to foster a sense of ownership and co-operation. . Ongoing primary work (post-project establishment) and secondary and mature phase works, could be undertaken by skilled Landcare members, however ongoing liaison and support from qualified, experienced bush regenerators is required throughout the duration of the works. . Keeping local residents informed of progress with the project and encouraging them to become involved.
10.2 Monitoring and Work Stages Monitoring should be undertaken to provide a means of evaluating and recording the progress of the rehabilitation works. This will allow an educated appraisal to be undertaken of the methods being implemented at the site. Funding bodies require at least a minimum amount of monitoring and recording to be undertaken if they are to allocate funding to a project. EnviTE have developed a detailed database (called MERV) that provides a useful structure on which to base monitoring and recording processes and it is recommended that any group or organisation undertaking works at the Grassy Park site contact EnviTE for further details. The minimum recording effort required for the site should involve the following parameters: . Photo points – fixed point should be established at a number of strategic locations and photos taken seasonally. . Recording of field data – the species list and cover-abundance data provided in Appendix D of this document is a starting point on which to build further information. A number of quadrats or transects should be established at the site at the beginning of the regeneration works to gather baseline data. Repeat monitoring should be undertaken annually or at two year intervals depending on the amount of work that is undertaken at the site.
The following information should be recorded as a minimum: - Species present. - Species abundance. - Growth stage (juvenile, sapling, adult). - Percentage ground cover of weeds. DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 77 1790716
- Canopy cover (e.g. percentage cover). - Depth of leaf litter.
10.2.1 Regular Monitoring/Follow-up Treatment/Work Hints . Complete work thoroughly in each small work zone prior to initiating work in a new zone. . Undertake regular inspections of previously worked sites to ensure that reoccurring issues can be attended to prior to starting starting/carrying on more extensive work. . Undertake repeat treatment as required in order to prevent small infestations or reshooting weeds growing in to larger infestations. . Avoid making large piles, rather spread cut vegetation as mulch over site (Note: Wandering Jew and Madeira Vine should not be spread but composted on site).
10.3 Sourcing of Plants Source plants from suitably qualified, experienced and licenced rainforest nurseries to avoid planting stock of inappropriate genetic origin. This is especially important with secondary and mature phase plantings. Ideally these plants will have local provenance from seed sourced from natural wild population as close as possible to the site (i.e. within the immediate catchment). Note: forward planning and liaison with local nurseries or seed collectors may be required in order for seed to be sourced in a timely manner.
10.4 Threatened Plants If any threatened plants are detected on site the following on site management measures would be adhered to: . No additional planting should occur within 5 m of the threatened plant to minimise the potential for disruption to the root zone. . Spraying would not occur within 2 m of the threatened plant and all care should be taken to avoid any wind-drift onto the plant.
10.5 Herbicide Usage Near Waterways The site is located along the edge of the Nambucca River and supports several small creeklines and tributaries in Zone 1 and 2. Only herbicides registered for use within 5 m of the waterway should be used within these zones.
10.6 Licensing Organisations or groups undertaking bush regeneration activities within the Reserve should give consideration to applying for a Section 132C Licence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. In general terms this is a scientific licence that acknowledges that bush regeneration activities are being undertaken at a given location and that the activities associated with these works, as described in a site plan, have been accepted by NSW OEH.
A checklist that can be used to contribute to the application for a S132C licence is provided in Appendix F. Bush regeneration activities that are assessed as having potential impact on the flying-fox colony (e.g. tree removal, disturbance, etc) would require further detailed assessment and specific licencing under Section 91 of the NPW Act.
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11 Conclusion
11 11 11 Grassy (Lions) Park Reserve at Bowraville is small, mostly forested remnant on the southern/western bank of the Nambucca River. The forested vegetation comprises a highly degraded remnant of Lowland Subtropical Rainforest and an adjoining strip of Riparian Forest dominated by a mixture of mature Eucalypts species. Both forest types are listed as EEC under the TSC Act.
Both forest communities have historically and are currently used as a flying-fox camp and are substantially impacted by a wide variety of weed species. Factors contributing to the degradation and weed proliferation in these forests include illegal dumping, excessive tree weed removal, historic clearing and flying-fox disturbances (e.g. canopy defoliation).
Extensive bush restoration works are required at the site to restore the floristic and structural integrity of both communities. Currently, the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain community is heavily impacted by invasive vines as well as a number of less problematic woody weeds such as Small-leaved Privet. Priority works for this section of the site is to strategically control the invasive weeds and plant pioneer rainforest species in order to re-establish a forest canopy. Priority works elsewhere on the site, including throughout the Eucalypt dominated Riparian Forest, include controlling the invasive vine weeds, particularly those attached to mature trees, then controlling the woody weeds in the lower strata.
With regards to flying-fox camp management, the vegetation management plan identifies works that will help alleviate conflicts with adjacent Bowraville residents though enhancement of flying-fox roosting habitat away from residents (ie. within the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest).
It is anticipated that these works will require ongoing input from a number of different organisations, including community groups (e.g. Landcare), professional bush regenerators and NSC.
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Project Team
The project team members included:
David Andrighetto Ecologist
Tony Coyle Ecologist
Simon Waterworth Senior Planner / Principal
Simon Williams Senior Planner / Senior Associate
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References
Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group (2005). Subtropical Rainforest Restoration – A practice manual and data source for landcare groups, land managers and rainforest regenerators (Second Edition). Birt, P (2005). National Population Assessment- Grey-headed Flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus.
Birt, P., Markus, N., Collins, L., and Hall, L., (2000). Urban Flying-foxes in Nature Australia. Bowraville Technology Centre for the Community (2010). Bowraville. http://bowraville.nsw.au/history-of- bowraville. Accessed 28/06/2011. Bureau of Meteorology (2011). Climate Data Online. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/. Accessed 02 May 2011. Climate Risk (2010). Climate Change Risk Assessment: Nambucca Shire Council. Climate Risk Pty Ltd, Sydney. Collins, L., (2000). “Impact of periods of foot shortage on the body weight of grey-headed flying-foxes” in Proceedings of a Workshop to Assess the Status of the Grey-Headed Flying-Fox in New South Wales, Ed. G Richards. pp 99-101. Australasian Bat Society Inc. Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (2007). Flying-fox Camp Management Policy, Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW, Sydney Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011). Protected Matters Search Tool. http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/pmst/index.html. Accessed May 2011 Department of Environment and Conservation [DEC] NSW (2005). Grey-headed Flying-fox – profile. http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10697 Accessed 25/5/10. Last updated 1/9/05 Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. (2009). Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-Fox Pteropus poliocephalus. Prepared by Dr Peggy Eby. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney. Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009). Flying-foxes and People http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpa.nsf/FID/-9A908C20EBB100B1CA256BF2001E8E5C?OpenDocument. Accessed 25/5/10. Last updated 1/4/09 Divljan, A., Parry-Jones, K. and Wardle, G. M. (2006). Age determination in the grey-headed flying fox, In Journal of Wildlife Management, 70 (2) 607-611. Divljan, A (2008). Population ecology of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus: a study on the age-structure and the effects of mortality on a vulnerable species. PhD thesis. University of Sydney. Eby, P., (1991). Seasonal movements of Grey-headed Flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), from two maternity camps in northern New South Wales. Wildlife Research 18:547-559. Eby, P., (1995). The biology and management of flying-foxes in NSW. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW. Eby, P., (2002). Using New South Wales planning instruments to improve conservation and management of Grey-headed Flying-fox camps. Pp. 240-250 in Managing the grey-headed flying-fox as a threatened species in NSW, edited by P. Eby and D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman. Eby, P. (2008). Overview of Flying-fox Biology and Ecology. In Managing Flying-fox Camps for Land Managers. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Sydney.
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Eby, P., and Lunney, D., (2002). Managing the grey-headed flying-fox as a threatened species in NSW, edited by P. Eby and D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman. Eddie, M. W. (2000). Soil Landscapes of the Macksville & Nambucca 1:100 000 Sheets. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Kempsey. Environment Australia (1999). The Action Plan for Australian Bats, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/bats/index.html. Accessed 3/5/10 Fleming, T.H. and Eby, P., (2003). Ecology of Bat migration. Pp. 156-208 in Ecology of Bats, edited by T.H. Kunz and M.B. Fenton. University of Chicago Press, Chicago USA. Fleming, T.H. and Eby, P., (2003). Ecology of Bat migration. Pp. 156-208 in Ecology of Bats, edited by T.H. Kunz and M.B. Fenton. University of Chicago Press, Chicago USA. GeoLINK (2010). Final Maclean Flying-fox Management Strategy. Unpublished report for Clarence Valley Council, and Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water on behalf of the Maclean Flying-fox Working Group. Hall, L., and Richards G., (2000). Flying-foxes – fruit and blossom bats of Australia, UNSW Press, Sydney. Ku-ring-gai Bat Conservation Society Inc. (2007). Sydney Bats: Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.sydneybats.org.au/cms/index.php?id=13,74,0,0,1,0. Accessed 25/5/10. Last updated 14/1/07 Lunney, D. and Moon, C. (1996). Flying-foxes and their camps in remnant rainforest of north-east New South Wales, in Australia’s Ever-Changing Forest III: Proceedings of the Third National Conference of Australian Forest History. Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, the Australian National University, Canberra. Markus, N. and Hall, L. (2004). Foraging behaviour of the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) in the urban landscape of Brisbane, Queensland. In Wildlife Research 31, 1-11. National Parks and Wildlife Service (2011). Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database. http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp. Accessed May 2011 Nelson, J.E., (1965). Movements of Australian flying-foxes (Pteropodidae: Megachiroptera). Australian Journal of Zoology 13: 53-73. NSW Department of Health (2009). Flying-foxes Correspondence to Ms Kelly Roche 12 November 2009. NSW Department of Health (2010). Rabies and Bat Lyssavirus Infection http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/rabiesbatinfection.html. Accessed 15/5/10 Last updated 15/1/08 NSW Scientific Committee (2001). Final Determination to list the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus Temminick 1825, as a Vulnerable Species on Schedule 2 of the TSC Act 1995. Our Living Coast (2010). Regional Flying Fox Program. Alliance for Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen Shire Council and Nambucca Shire Council, with assistance from NSW Government through the Environmental Trust. Pallin, N. (2000). Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: Habitat Restoration Project, 15 years on in Ecological Management and Restoration Vol. 1 No. 1 April 2000 Parry-Jones, K.A., and Augee, M., (1992). Movements of Grey-headed Flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to and from a colony site on the central coast of New South Wales. Wildlife Research 19: 331-340. Peacock, L., (2004). The Roost Preference of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, in New South Wales. Thesis, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW. Peacock, L., (2004). The Roost Preference of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, in New South Wales. Thesis, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW. Philbey A.W., Kirkland P.D., Ross A.D., (1998). ‘An apparently new virus (family Paramyxoviridae) infectious for pigs, humans and fruit bats’. Emerging Infectious Diseases 4: (2) 269-271. Ratcliffe, F.N., (1931). The flying-fox (Pteropus) in Australia. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin No. 53: 1-81
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Roberts, B., (2009). A summary of information related to the management of flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Maclean, northern NSW. Unpublished report prepared for Clarence Valley Council, Department of Lands, Department of Environment and Climate Change, and Department of Planning. Roberts, B., Catterall, C.P., Kanowski, J., and Eby, P. (2008). ‘A re-evaluation of the northern distributional limit of the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus’ in The Australasian Bat Society Newsletter, Number 31. The Australasian Bat Society. Roberts, B.J. (2006). Management of Urban Flying-fox Camps: Issues of Relevance to Camps in the Lower Clarence, NSW. Valley Watch Inc., Maclean. Tanton, M T., (1999). Maclean Rainforest Reserve Precinct Plan. Unpublished report prepared for the Maclean Rainforest Reserve Trust. Tidemann, C.R., (1999). Biology and management of the grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. In Acta Chiropterologica 1(2) pp. 151-164. Tidemann, C.R., and Nelson, J.E., (2004). Long-distance movements of the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus). Journal of Zoology, London, 263, pp 141-146. The Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom. University of Queensland, (2010). Bat man takes on killer viruses. 30/03/2010 WBM (2008). Nambucca River Estuary Management Plan. Unpublished report for Nambucca Shire Council. BMT WBM Pty Ltd, Brisbane. West, C. (2002). ‘Contemporary issues in managing flying-fox camps: a publicly-documented conflict from Maclean on the north coast of NSW’, in Managing the Grey-headed Flying-fox as a Threatened Species in New South Wales, pp 176-195. eds. P Eby and D Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW.
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Copyright and Usage
GeoLINK, 2012
This document, including associated Illustrations and drawings, was prepared for the exclusive use of Nambucca Shire Council for the Grassy (Lions) Park Flying-fox Plan of Management. It is not to be used for any other purpose or by any other person, corporation or organisation without the prior consent of GeoLINK. GeoLINK accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered howsoever arising to any person or corporation who may use or rely on this document for a purpose other than that described above.
This document, including associate illustrations and drawings, may not be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without the prior consent of GeoLINK. This includes extracts of texts or parts of illustrations and drawings.
The information provided on illustrations is for illustrative and communication purposes only. Illustrations are typically a compilation of data supplied by others and created by GeoLINK. Illustrations have been prepared in good faith, but their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. There may be errors or omissions in the information presented. In particular, illustrations cannot be relied upon to determine the locations of infrastructure, property boundaries, zone boundaries, etc. To locate these items accurately, advice needs to be obtained from a surveyor or other suitably-qualified professional.
Topographic information presented on the drawings is suitable only for the purpose of the document as stated above. No reliance should be placed upon topographic information contained in this report for any purpose other than that stated above.
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Appendix A A Flora Recorded in the Diet of Flying-foxes in Northern NSW Source: Roberts 2006 (advice from P.Eby)
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Table A.1 Flora Recorded in the Diet of Flying-foxes in Northern NSW
Family Botanical Name Common Name
(a) NATIVE FRUITS
GYMNOSPERMAE Podocarpaceae Podocarpus elatus Plum Pine ANGIOSPERMAE Anonaceae Rauwenhoffia leichardtii Zig Zag Vine Apocynaceae Melodinus australis Southern Melodinus Arecaceae Livistona australis Cabbage Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Bangalow Palm Avicenniaceae Avicennia marina Grey Mangrove Cunoniaceae Schizomeria ovata Crabapple Davidsoniaceae Davidsonia spp. Davidson's Plum Ebenaceae Diospyros pentamera Myrtle Ebony Ehretiaceae Ehretia acuminata Koda Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus obovatus Hard Quandong E. reticulatus Blueberry Ash E. grandis Blue Fig Escalloniacae Polyosma cunninghamii Featherwood Mallotus discolor White Kamala Icacinaceae Pennantia cunninghamii Brown Beech Meliaceae Melia azedarach White Cedar Monimiaceae Hedycarya angustifolia Native Mulberry Moraceae Ficus coronata Creek Sandpaper Fig F. fraseri Sandpaper Fig F. macrophylla Moreton Bay Fig F. obliqua Small-leaved Fig F. rubiginosa Rusty Fig F. superba Deciduous Fig F. virens White Fig F. watkinsiana Strangler Fig Maclura cochinchinensis Cockspur Thorn Myrtaceae Acmena hemilampra Broad-leaved Lilly Pilly A. ingens Red Apple A. smithii Lilly Pilly Rhodamnia argentea Malletwood Syzygium australe Brush Cherry S. corynanthum Sour Cherry S. crebrinerve Purple Cherry S. luehmanii Riberry S. oleosum Blue Lilly Pilly Passifloraceae Passiflora sp. Native Passionfruit sp. Pittosporaceae Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum Rhamnaceae Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash
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Family Botanical Name Common Name Rubiaceae Morinda jasminoides Morinda Sapindaceae Diploglottis australis Native Tamarind Sapotaceae Planchonella australis Black Apple Urticaceae Dendrocnide excelsa Giant Stinging Tree D. photinophylla Shining-leaved Stinging Tree Viscaceae Notothixos cornifolius Kurrajong Mistletoe Vitaceae Cissus hypogaluca Five-leaf Water Vine
(b) NATIVE BLOSSOMS
Fabaceae Castanospermum australe Black Bean Myrtaceae Angophora costata Smooth-barked Apple A. floribunda Rough-barked Apple Corymbia gummifera Red Bloodwood C. henryi Large-leaved Spotted Gum C. intermedia Pink Bloodwood C. maculata South Spotted Gum C. trachyphloia White Bloodwood C. variegata North Spotted Gum Eucalyptus acmenoides White Mahogany E. albens White Box E. amplifolia Cabbage Gum E. andrewsii New England Blackbutt E. bancroftii Orange Gum E. campanulata New England Blackbutt E. crebra Narrow-leaved Ironbark E. fibrosa Broad-leaved Ironbark E. grandis Flooded gum E. macrorhyncha Red Stringybark E. melliodora Yellow Box E. moluccana Grey Box E. paniculata Grey Ironbark E. pilularis Blackbutt E. planchoniana Bastard Tallowwood E. propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum E. punctata Large-fruited Grey Gum E. pyrocarpa Large-fruited Blackbutt E. resinifera Red Mahogany E. robusta Swamp Mahogany E. rummeryi Steel Box E. saligna Sydney Blue Gum E. seeana Narrow-leaved Red Gum E. siderophloia Grey Ironbark E. sideroxylon Mugga Ironbark E. tereticornis Forest Red Gum
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Family Botanical Name Common Name E. tetrapleura Square-fruited Ironbark Lophostemon confertus Brush Box Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Tea Tree Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine Proteaceae Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia B. serrata Old Man Banksia Grevillia robusta Silky Oak
(c) LEAVES
Avicenniaceae Avicennia marina Grey Mangrove Salicaceae Populus spp. Poplar
(d) EXOTIC FRUITS
Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica Mango Annonaceae Annona spp. Custard Apple Caricaceae Carica papaya Papaya Ebenaceae Diospyros spp. Persimmon Lauraceae Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Laurel Moraceae Morus nigra Mulberry Musaceae Musa spp. Banana Myrtaceae Psidium guajava Guava Oleaceae Ligustrum lucidum Large-leaved Privet L. sinense Small-leaved Privet Palmae Syagrus romanzoffiana Cocos Palm Passifloraceae Passiflora spp. Passionfruit Rosaceae Malus spp. Apple Prunus persica Peach P. persica var. nectarina Nectarine Prunus spp. Plum Rutaceae Citris reticulata Mandarin Citris spp. Orange Sapindaceae Litchi chinensis Lychee Solanaceae Solanum mauritianum Wild Tobacco
Ulmaceae Celtis sinensis Chinese Elm
Vitaceae Vitis spp. Grape
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Appendix B B Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System Search Results
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
AHIMS Web See AWS e e e Your Ref Number : 1790
Geolink - Coffs Harbour Date: 24 May 2011
Attention: David Andrighetto
Dear Sir or Madam: AHIMS Web See e!" # "e #$$%&' !e! ! (! )0 12(A3 4&e 1 563 7! &' 1 895@9A B 89C8D83 E "&' 1 66D9@DD B 66FD@D@ % " ! G)##e # D 0e eH AII &!$ I&# 1 &I) eI bP (!I A&I'"e & A8 M!P ADFF A search of the DECCW AHIMS Web Services (Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System) has shown that: 5 Ab'&!$ e !e eIeI & &e! "e !be $! &H D Ab'&!$ Q$!e "!e bee& Ie$!eI & &e! "e !be $! &H R I# P) e!" "% Ab'&!$ e Q$!e %"! ")$I P) IS You must do an extensive search if AHIMS has shown that there are Aboriginal sites or places recorded in the search area.
If you are checking AHIMS as a part of your due diligence, refer to the next steps of the Due Diligence Code of practice. You can get further information about Aboriginal places by looking at the gazettal notice that declared it. Aboriginal places gazetted after 2001 are available on the NSW Government Gazette (http://www.nsw.gov.au/gazette) website. Gazettal notices published prior to 2001 can be obtained from DECCW's Aboriginal Heritage Information Unit upon request
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AHIMS records information about Aboriginal sites that have been provided to DECCW and Aboriginal places that have been declared by the Minister;
Information recorded on AHIMS may vary in its accuracy and may not be up to date .Location details are recorded as grid references and it is important to note that there may be errors or omissions in these recordings,
Some parts of New South Wales have not been investigated in detail and there may be fewer records of Aboriginal sites in those areas. These areas may contain Aboriginal sites which are not recorded on AHIMS. Aboriginal objects are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 even if they are not recorded as a site on AHIMS. This search can form part of your due diligence and remains valid for 12 months.
PO BOX 1967 Hurstville NSW 2220 ABN 30 841 387 271 43 BridgeStreet HURSTVILLE NSW 2220 Email: [email protected] Tel: (02)9585 6094. Fax: (02)9585 6094 Web: www.environment.nsw.gov.au AHIMS Web Services (AWS) Extensive search - Site list report Your Ref Number : GEO01790
SiteID SiteName Datum Zone Easting Northing Context SiteFeatures SiteTypes Reports 21-6-0274 Bowraville Race Course - Conflict site. AGD 56 487090 6609500 Open site Conflict Contact Mr.Darrel Flanders Recorders Vic Buchanan Permits 21-6-0273 Flanders Burials AGD 56 487090 6609500 Open site Burial,Aboriginal Ceremony and Dreaming Contact Recorders Vic Buchanan Permits 21-6-0314 Nambucca 19_Bowraville Reserve AR 62815/6 AGD 56 485350 6608300 Open site Aboriginal Resource and Gathering Contact Recorders Susan (Now McIntrye-Tamwoy) McIntyre Permits 21-6-0030 Bowraville Mission Cemetery AGD 56 485500 6608700 Open site Aboriginal Ceremony and 1626,1746,101029 Dreaming,Burial Contact Recorders Permits 21-6-0217 Nambucca 19 Bowraville Reserve AR 62815/6 AGD 56 485350 6608300 Open site Habitation Structure Contact Recorders Susan (Now McIntrye-Tamwoy) McIntyre Permits
Report generated by AHIMS Web Service on 24/05/2011 for David Andrighetto for Datum :GDA, Zone : 56, Eastings : 485382 - 487404, Northings : 6608300 - 6610303 with a Buffer of 0 meters. Additional Info : Preparation of a Plan of Management. Number of Aboriginal sites and Aboriginal objects found is 5 This information is not guaranteed to be free from error omission. The Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water (NSW) and its employees disclaim liability for any act done or omission made on the information and consequences of such acts or omission. Page 1 of 1 Appendix C
C Possible Funding Sources and Useful Websites
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Australian Carbon Traders http://www.australiancarbontraders.com/
Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities http://www.environment.gov.au/about/programs/gveho/index.html Australian Government Caring for Country http://australia.gov.au/topics/environment-and-natural-resources/environment-grants
Caring for Country http://www.nrm.gov.au/index.html
Green Corp http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/EmploymentServices/Pages/NEIS.aspx
Landcare Australia http://www.landcareonline.com.au/
Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority http://www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au/funding.php
NSW Environment Trust http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm
OEH Information http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/policiesandguidelines/flyingfoxcamppol.htm
Protecting Commercial Crops from Flying-fox Damage http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifelicences/s120licence.htm
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome_to_bgt/royal_botanic_gardens/garden_features/wildlife/flying-foxes
The Ian Potter Foundation http://www.ianpotter.org.au/
The Myer Foundation's and Sidney Myer Fund’s http://www.myerfoundation.org.au/
Threatened Species Listing http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/GreyheadedFlyingFoxVulSpListing.htm
Queensland Government Information http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlifeecosystems/wildlife/living_with_wildlife/flyingfoxes/
WIRES Northern NSW http://www.wiresnr.org/Flyingfoxes.html
Wildlife Save our Species Inc. www.wildlifesos.org.au
WWF Australia http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/tsngrants/
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Appendix D D Reserve Flora Species List
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Table D1: Reserve Flora Species List
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Adiantaceae Adiantum hispidulum Rough Maidenhair X 2 2 Anacardiaceae Shinus terebinthifolius Brazilian Pepper Tree X (3) 1 Apiaceae Centella asiatica Pennywort 1 1 Apiaceae Hydrocotyle sp. A Pennywort 1 Apocynaceae Gomphocarpus physocarpus* Balloon Cotton Bush X 1 Apocynaceae Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Banana Bush 1 Araceae Calocasia esculenta* Taro X 1 2 Arecaceae Syagrus romanzoffiana* Cocos Palm X 1 Asteliaceae Cordyline stricta Narrow-leaved Palm Lily 1 1 Asteraceae Ageratina riparia* Mistflower X (4) 1 2 2 2 Asteraceae Ageratum houstonianum* Blue Billygoat Weed X 2 2 2 2 Asteraceae Ambrosia artemisiifolia* Annual Ragweed X 1 Asteraceae Bidens pilosa* Cobbler's Pegs X 1 2 2 Asteraceae Conyza sp.* A Fleabane X 1 3 2 Asteraceae Gamochaeta americana* Cudweed X 1 2 Asteraceae Hypochaeris radicata* Catsear X 2 2 Asteraceae Onopordum acanthium subsp. Scotch Thistle X 1 1 acanthium* Asteraceae Ozothamnus diosmifolius White Dogwood 2 Asteraceae Senecio madagascariensis* Fireweed X (4) 2 2 2 Asteraceae Soliva sp. Bindii X 2 2 2 Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus* Common Sowthistle X 2 Asteraceae Tagetes minuta* Stinking Roger X 1 Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale* Dandelion X 1 Basellelaceae Anredera cordifolia* Madiera Vine X 3 2 2 2 Blechnaceae Blechnum cartilagineum Gristle Fern 2 Blechnaceae Doodia aspera Prickly Rasp Fern 2
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Cannaceae Canna indica* Canna Lily X 2 Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle X 1 1 Caryophyllaceae Drymaria cordata Tropical Chickweed X 1 1 1 Casuarinaceae Casuarina cunninghamiana River Oak 1 1 1 1 Commelinaceae Commelina cyanea Native Wandering Jew 1 1 1 Commelinaceae Tradescantia fluminensis* Wandering Jew X 1 2 4 4 Convolvulaceae Ipomoea indica* Blue Morning Glory X 2 3 Cyatheaceae Cyathea cooperi Straw Treefern 1 Cyperaceae Cyperus sp. An Umbrella Sedge X 1 Cyperaceae Fimbristylis sp. - 1 Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium esculentum Bracken 1 1 Dicksoniaceae Calochlaena dubia - 2 Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus obovatus Hard Quandong 1 1 Elaeocarpaceae Sloanea australis Maiden's Blush 1 Euphorbiaceae Croton sp. Croton 1 Euphorbiaceae Glochidion ferdinandi var. ferdinandi Cheese Tree 1 1 Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis Red Kamala 2 Fabaceae Caesalpinia decapatala Thorny Poinciana X 4 1 (Caesalpinioideae) Fabaceae Senna pendula var. glabrata* - X 1 3 1 (Caesalpinioideae) Fabaceae Derris involuta Native Derris 2 (Faboideae) Fabaceae Desmodium rhytidophyllum - 2 (Faboideae) Fabaceae Acacia irrorata subsp. irrorata Green Wattle 1 (Mimosoideae) Fabaceae Acacia longissima Long-leaf Wattle 1 (Mimosoideae) Fabaceae Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood 1 2 (Mimosoideae) DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Flacourtiaceae Scolopia braunii Flintwood 1 Flagellariaceae Flagellaria indica Whip Vine 2 Geraniaceae Geranium homeanum - 1 Juncaceae Juncus sp. A Rush 1 Lamiaceae Ajuga australis Austral Bugle 1 Lauraceae Cinnamomum camphora* Camphor Laurel X (4) 1 3 1 2 2 Lauraceae Cryptocarya glaucescens Jackwood 1 Lauraceae Cryptocarya obovata Pepperberry 1 Lauraceae Endiandra discolor Rose Walnut 1 1 Lauraceae Neolitsea dealbata White Bolly Gum 2 Lobeliaceae Pratia purpurascens Whiteroot 2 1 2 Lomandraceae Lomandra hystrix - 2 2 Lomandraceae Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat-rush 1 Luzuriagaceae Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry 1 Luzuriagaceae Geitonoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily 2 Malaceae Eribotrya japonica Loquat X 1 Malvaceae Hibiscus heterophyllus Native Rosella 2 Melastomataceae Tibouchina 'Alstonville' Tibouchina X 1 Meliaceae Dysoxylum fraseriannum Rosewood 1 Meliaceae Toona ciliata Red Cedar 1 Monimiaceae Daphnandra tenuipes Red-flowered Socketwood 1 Monimiaceae Wilkiea huegeliana Veiny Wilkiea 1 Moraceae Ficus coronata Creek Sandpaper Fig 2 2 Moraceae Ficus sp. A Fig 1 Moraceae Maclura cochinchinensis Cockspur Thorn 2 Moraceae Morus sp. Mulberry X 1 Moraceae Trophis scandens subsp. scandens Burny Vine 1 Myrsinaceae Myrsine variabilis Mutton Wood 1 Myrtaceae Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood 2
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Myrtaceae Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum 1 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus grandis Flooded Gum 1 2 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus microcorys Tallowwood 1 3 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum 1 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus siderophloia Northern Grey Ironbark 2 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum 1 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus torelliana Cadaghi 1 Myrtaceae Leptospermum brachyandrum teatree 1 Myrtaceae Lophostemon confertus Brush Box 1 Myrtaceae Rhodamnia rubescens Scrub Turpentine 2 Myrtaceae Rhodomyrtus psidioides Native Guava 1 Myrtaceae Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine 2 Myrtaceae Syzygium floribundum Weeping Lilly Pilly 1 2 Myrtaceae Tristanipsis laurina Water Gum 1 2 Ochnaceae Ochna serrulata* Mickey Mouse Plant X 1 1 Oleaceae Ligustrum lucidum* Large-leaved Privet X 1 3 Oleaceae Ligustrum sinense* Small-leaved Privet X 2 3 3 3 Oleaceae Notelaea longifolia Large Mock-olive 1 Oxalidaceae Oxalis sp. X 2 Passifloraceae Passiflora edulis* Common Passionfruit X 1 1 Passifloraceae Passiflora subpeltata* White Passionflower X 2 2 Phormiaceae Dianella caerulea Blue Flax lily 2 Pinaceae Pinus sp.* A Pine X 1 1 Pittosporaceae Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipani 1 Pittosporaceae Pittosporum multiflorum Orange Thorn 2 Pittosporaceae Pittosporum revolutum Rough-leaved Pittosporum 2 Pittosporaceae Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum 2 Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata* Lamb's Tongues X 1 2 Poaceae Andropogon virginicus* Whisky Grass X 2 3
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Poaceae Axonopus fissifolius* Narrow-leaved Carpet Grass X 3 6 Poaceae Chloris gayana* Rhodes Grass X 1 1 2 1 Poaceae Digitaria sp. a grass 1 2 Poaceae Imperata cylindrica var. major Blady Grass 2 1 Poaceae Oplismenus aemulus. A Basket Grass 1 2 Poaceae Oplismenus sp. A Basket Grass 1 1 Poaceae Panicum effusum Hairy Panic 2 6 Poaceae Paspalum dilatatum* Paspalum 4 Poaceae Paspalum wettsteinii* Broadleaf Grass X 1 1 1 2 Poaceae Setaria palmifolia* Palm Grass X 2 Poaceae Setaria sphacelata* South African Pigeon Grass X 1 2 1 Polygonaceae Acetosa sagittata* Turkey Rhubarb X 1 Polygonaceae Persicaria decipiens Slender Knotweed 1 1 2 Polypodiaceae Pyrrosia sp. - 1 1 Polypodiaceae Platycerium bifurcatum Elk Horn 1 Proteaceae Grevillea robusta Silky Oak 2 Rhamnaceae Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash 1 1 Rosaceae Rubus nebulosus Green-leaved Bramble 2 2 Rosaceae Rubus rosifolius Native Raspberry 1 4 Rubiaceae Atractocarpus benthamianus Native Gardenia 1 Rubiaceae Morinda jasminoides Sweet Morinda 1 Rutaceae Melicope micrococca White Euodia 1 4 Sapindaceae Alectryon subcinereus Native Quince 1 Sapindaceae Cardiospermum halicacabum* Balloon Vine X 4 2 4 2 Sapindaceae Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckeroo 1 Sapindaceae Diploglottis australis Native Tamarind 1 1 Sapindaceae Guioa semiglauca Guioa 1 2 Sapindaceae Jagera pseudorhus var. pseudorhus Foambark Tree 1 2 Smilacaceae Smilax glyciphylla Sweet Sarsparilla 2
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Exotic Work Zone (Noxious 1 2 3a & 3b 3c,3e, & 3f 3d Weed Class) Solanaceae Solanum mauritianum* Wild Tobacco Bush X 1 2 1 3 Solanaceae Solanum nigrum* Blackberry Nightshade X 2 1 3 1 Sterculiaceae Commersonia bartramia Brown Kurrajong 1 Thelypteridaceae Christella dentata - 2 1 Ulmaceae Trema tomentosa var. viridis Native Peach 2 Urticaceae Dendrocnide excelsa Giant Stinging Tree 1 Urticaceae Urtica incisa* Stinging Nettle 1 Uvulariaceae Tripladenia cunninghamii - 2 Verbenaceae Lantana camara* Lantana X (4) 2 3 1 3 Verbenaceae Verbena rigida* Veined Verbena X Vitaceae Cissus antarctica Water Vine 2 Vitaceae Cissus hypoglauca Giant Water Vine 2 Key: Score =Braun-Blanquet (% cover) 1 <5% uncommon 2 <5% common 3 5-25% 4 26-50% 5 51-75% 6 76-100%
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Appendix E E Plants Suitable for Regeneration Planting
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Table E1: Plants Suitable for Regeneration Planting
Family Scientific Name Common Name Pioneer Work Zone Species 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 WE MB TB WE MB TB TB Areliaceae Polyscias elegans Celery Wood P* X Asteliaceae Cordyline stricta Narrow-leaved Palm Lily X X Casuarinaceae Casuarina cunninghamiana River Oak X X X Cunoniaceae Callicoma serratifolia Black Wattle P X X Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus obovatus Hard Quandong X X Elaeocarpaceae Sloanea australis Maiden's Blush X Euphorbiaceae Glochidion ferdinandi var. ferdinandi Cheese Tree P X X X X Euphorbiaceae Homolanthus populifolius Native Bleeding Heart P X X X Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis Red Kamala X X X Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood X X X X Flacourtiaceae Scolopia braunii Flintwood X X Lauraceae Cryptocarya glaucescens Jackwood X Lauraceae Cryptocarya microneura Murrogun X Lauraceae Cryptocarya obovata Pepperberry P* X X Lauraceae Endiandra discolor Rose Walnut X Lauraceae Endiandra muelleri Hard Corkwood X Lauraceae Neolitsea dealbata White Bolly Gum X Lomandraceae Lomandra hystrix - X X X Meliaceae Melia azedarach White Cedar X Meliaceae Toona ciliata Red Cedar X Meliaceae Dysoxylum fraseriannum Rosewood X Monimiaceae Wilkiea huegeliana Veiny Wilkiea X Moraceae Ficus coronata Creek Sandpaper Fig P X X Myrtaceae Callistemon viminalis Red Bottlebrush X X Myrtaceae Eucalyptus grandis Flooded Gum X X Myrtaceae Eucalyptus microcorys Tallowwood X X X Myrtaceae Leptospermum brachyandrum - X DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Family Scientific Name Common Name Pioneer Work Zone Species 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 WE MB TB WE MB TB TB Myrtaceae Lophostemon confertus Brush Box X X X Myrtaceae Rhodamnia rubescens Scrub Turpentine X X Myrtaceae Rhodomyrtus psidioides Native Guava X X X Myrtaceae Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine X X Myrtaceae Syzygium austale Brush Cherry X X Myrtaceae Tristanipsis laurina Water Gum X X Myrtaceae Waterhousia floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly P* X X Pittosporaceae Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipani P* X X X Pittosporaceae Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum P X X X Rhamnaceae Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash P X X X Rutaceae Achronychia oblongifolia Yellow-wood P* X Rutaceae Flindersia schottiana Southern Silver Ash X X Rutaceae Melicope micrococca White Eodia X X Sapindaceae Diploglottis australis Native Tamarind P* X Sapindaceae Guioa semiglauca - X X X X Sapindaceae Jagera pseudorhus var. pseudorhus Foambark Tree P X X X X Sterculiaceae Commersonia bartramia Brown Kurrajong P* X X X
Note: * indicates fast growing and should be included in initial planting WE = Waters Edge MB = Mid Bank TB = Top of bank. Refer also to Nambucca River Estuary Riverbank – Restoration Guide (DECCW 2010) for further suggestions.
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
Appendix F F Bush Regenerators’ Checklist Source: Envite 2010
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716
EnviTE Inc. PHOTO POINT MONITORING DATA SHEET
Site Attributes & Sampling Details Pr. Code: Site Name Date Observer 1 Start Time Finish Time Observer 2 Land Tenure Area of Site Nearest Town Catchment
Map Code Map Name Min. MGA (from 1:25,000 topo. map) E N Datum & Zone: Max. MGA (from GPS reading) E N Photo Point (PP) Details Plot / Area Name / Description Photo Point Description Image File Name(s) (IFN) / # Canopy Cover Reference Shot Y / N Indicative Area within PP (sq m) IFN Camera Location Marked in Field Yes No Comments: Camera Type Digital Standard Camera View Normal Wide Angle Zoom Comments Camera View Aspect Height above Ground (m) none 1 2 3 4 marked other Points of Reference (please circle) marked stake stakes stakes stakes vegetation GPS Coordinate of Photo Point E N Vegetation Type & Condition Very Very Vegetation Condition Excellent Good Moderate Poor No Good Poor Natural or Restoration Approach Maintenance Assisted Assisted Regeneration Reconstruction Fabrication Regeneration Vegetation Formation Vegetation Class Growth Stage Original Vegetation (describe if known) General Vegetation Structure & Composition using Estimated Plant Cover (PC) %
Projective Foliage Cover (PFC) Ground All Strata Emergent Canopy Mid-Storey Under-Storey Foliage Cover (FC) Cover Crown Cover (CC) Circle method used PFC / FC / CC PFC / FC / CC PFC / FC / CC PFC / FC / CC PFC / FC / CC PFC / FC Height Range (m) Total PC % Native PC % Exotic PC %
3 Largest Trees 1 2 3 Species / Common Name DBH / Circumference
Record dominant native species (assess within photo point / area) and life stage / Stratum Floristic Dominance (DP = Dead Plant, S = Seedling, J = Juvenile, A = Adult)
Stratum Sp. 1 No. Cover Sp. 2 No. Cover Sp. 3 No. Cover Emergent Canopy Mid-Storey Under-Storey Ground Cover Record dominant exotic species (assess within photo point / area) and life stage / stratum (see above for codes) Stratum Sp. 1 No. Cover Sp. 2 No. Cover Sp. 3 No. Cover Emergent Canopy Mid-Storey Under-Storey Ground Cover
Significant Flora Species Stratum Count Maturity Height Notes
Version: January 2010 1 of 2 Environmental Services\photo point monitoring data sheet 19-10-5 EnviTE Inc. Fauna Species Obs. Type Reliability Count Breeding Sex Notes
Physical Details Elevation(m): Slope%: Aspect%:
Topographic (circle which best describes morphological element) Position plateau crest ridge upper slope mid-slope lower slope gully stream bank flat other……………..
Proximity to Nearest Remnant Vegetation (m) Adjacent Land Use (describe)
Remnant Type rainforest sclerophyll-wet-dry-swamp heathland sedge / fernland grassland mangrove Landscape Context
Type(s) of Waterways Nearby (circle relevant term) Distance to Waterway (m) creek river estuary swamp dam lake ocean
krasnozem black earths chocolate soils podzols clays (brown,grey) Type Soil solonchaks (salty soils) soloths (acid soils) sands sandy loam clay loam other
Depth deep > 10cm shallow 2-10cm skeletal < 2cm
Geology Mapped: Observed:
Disturbance History Observation / Accuracy Intensity 1=light 1. Photo point DT % of Site Time Since Last i.e. + / - 2 years + 2=moderate Disturbance Type (DT) 1=visual est. / 2=written record / 2. Site No. 3=severe Affected Event (est.) 3=information 3. Both
1.Wild fire 2.Hazard reduction burn 3.Flooding 4.Frost 5.Wind storm 6.Hail storm 7.Electrical storm 8.Weeds 9.Soil removal 10.Dumping 11.Recreational vehicles 12.Insect damage 13.Logging / timber harvesting 14.Clearing 15.Herbicide 16.Erosion 17.Subsidence 18.Grazing 19.Native fauna 20.Feral animals 21.Runoff 22.Nutrification 23. Other
Notes: Habitat Attributes / Resource Score by counting / estimating % of trees / shrubs with HAR characteristic or the number of habitat (HAR) Assessment attributes or individuals, whatever is most appropriate under the corresponding column <5%, many <5%, few 1. Photo point HAR 100- 75- 50- 25- # hab / attr or on each on each 2. Site HAR Characteristic & No. None individuals No. 75% 50% 25% 5% individual individual 3. Both
1.Large tree hollows (trunk, >300mm) 2.Large tree hollows (branch,100-300mm) 3.Small tree hollows (branch, <100mm) 4.Decorticating bark 5.Fleshy fruit 6.Nectar producing plants / flowers 7.Mistletoe 8.Epiphytes (stag- elk ferns) 9.Soaks 10.Small stags (<100mm dbh) 11.Large stags (>100mm dbh) 12.Large rocks / rocky outcrops 13.Large logs 14.Small logs Notes: 15. Other If other, please describe Ground Layer (visible) Veg. Bare Soil Litter Rock Log Cover (%) (total add to 100%) Litter Average (cm) >10cm 10->2cm 2-0cm 0cm Litter Depth deep mod. shallow absent Humus Depth deep mod. shallow absent
Version: January 2010 2 of 2 Environmental Services\photo point monitoring data sheet 19-10-5 EnviTE Inc.
PLOT-SITE MONITORING DATA SHEET
Site Attributes Observers: Nearest Town: Date: Site Name: Pr. Code: Area of Site(ha): Plot Name / Description: Land Tenure: LGA: Plot Type: StartTime: Catchment: Plot Dimensions: Finish Time: Map Code: Map Name: Plot Area: Total Time: Datum & Zone: Grid Coordinates from Topo. Map or GPS Min. E: Min. N: (please circle) Max. E: Max. N: Photo Taken – Yes / No Notes / Ot her Info: GPS Coordinate of Photo Point E N
Vegetation Type & Condition
Very Very Vegetation Condition Excellent Good Moderate Poor Nil Good Poor Natural or Restoration Approach Maintenance Assisted Assisted Regeneration Reconstruction Fabrication Regeneration Vegetation Formation Vegetation Class Growth Stage Original Vegetation (describe if known)
Structural & Floristic Vegetation Assessment Sheet
Estimated Plant Cover (PC)%
All Strata Emergent Canopy Mid-Storey Under-Storey Ground Cover % Plant Cover Method Height Range (m) Projective Foliage Cover Total PC% Foliage Cover Total Native PC% Crown Cover Total Exotic PC%
3 Largest Trees 1 2 3 Species / Common Name DBH / Circumference
Number of individuals within life stage / stratum (DP = dead plant, S = seedling, J = juvenile, A = adult) A =Adult) Scientific / Common Name PC % Abundance GC US MS C E Rating D D D D D S J A S J A J A J A A P P P P P
Version: January 2010 1 of 2 Environmental Services\plot-site monitoring data sheet 19-10-4 EnviTE Inc.
Significant Flora Species Stratum Count Maturity Height Notes
Fauna Species Obs. Type Reliability Count Breeding Sex Notes
Physical Details Elevation(m): Slope%: Aspect%:
(circle which best describes morphological element) Topographic Position plateau crest ridge upper slope mid-slope lower slope gully stream bank flat other……………..
Proximity to Nearest Remnant Vegetation (m) Adjacent Land Use (describe)
Remnant Type rainforest sclerophyll-wet-dry-swamp heathland sedge / fernland grassland mangrove Landscape Context
Type(s) of Waterways Nearby (circle relevant term) Distance to Waterway (m) creek river estuary swamp dam lake ocean
krasnozem black earths chocolate soils podzols clays (brown,grey) Type Soil solonchaks (salty soils) soloths (acid soils) sands sandy loam clay loam other
Depth deep > 10cm shallow 2-10cm skeletal < 2cm
Geology Mapped: Observed:
Disturbance History
Intensity Observation / Accuracy % of Time Since 1. Plot DT 1 = light i.e. + / - 2 years + Disturbance Type (DT) Site Last Event 2. Site No. 2 = moderate 1=visual est. / 2=written record Affected (est.) 3. Both 3 = severe / 3=informant
1.Wild fire 2.Hazard reduction burn 3.Flooding 4.Frost 5.Wind storm 6.Hail storm 7.Electrical storm 8.Weeds 9.Soil removal 10.Dumping 11.Recreational vehicles 12.Insect damage 13.Logging / timber harvesting
14.Clearing 15.Herbicide 16.Erosion 17.Subsidence 18.Grazing 19.Native fauna 20.Feral animals 21.Runoff 22.Nutrification 23. Other
Habitat Attributes / Resource (HAR) Assessment
Score by counting / estimating % of trees / shrubs with HAR characteristic or the number of habitat HAR attributes or individuals, whatever is most appropriate under the corresponding column HAR Characteristic & No. No. <5%, many <5%, few # hab / attr 1. plot 100- 75- 50- 25- on each on each none or 2. site 75% 50% 25% 5% individual individual individuals 3. both
1.Large tree hollows (trunk, >300 mm) 2.Large tree hollows (branch, 100-300 mm) 3.Small tree hollows (branch, <100 mm)
4.Decorticating bark 5.Fleshy fruit 6.Nectar producing plants / flowers 7.Mistletoe 8.Epiphytes (stag-elk ferns) 9.Soaks 10.Small stags (<100 mm dbh) 11.Large stags (>100 mm dbh) 12.Large rocks / rocky outcrops 13.Large logs 14.Small logs 15.Other
If other, please describe.
Litter Average (cm) >10cm 10->2cm 2-0cm 0cm Litter Depth deep mod. shallow absent Humus Depth deep mod. shallow absent
(circle relevant terms to describe any water bodies occurring on site) Water Body Characteristics Temporary(ephemeral soaks, streams) Permanent (water present >80% of time) Natural Human Made Type stream lake dam soak oxbow estuary swamp constructed % of Site Covered
Version: January 2010 2 of 2 Environmental Services\plot-site monitoring data sheet 19-10-4 RESTORATION WORK REGENERATION DAILY RECORD DATA SHEET
Remnant / Site / Name / LGA: Supervisor Name & Contact: Site Owner and Contact: Permit Date Number Code
Team Members & Hours: e.g. J Bloggs - 7.36 Total Hours Total Days: Days Days Worked: Completed: Remaining:
Follow Time Time Primary Area / Zone / Description Dune R / F Riparian Other 2 Up Start Finish m m2
Volume Total Other Area / Zone / Chemical Rate Equipment Wind Wind Target Herbicide Brand Used Additives Volume Weather Description Used Used Used Speed Direction (ml) Used Details 5 km/h N Cloudy Roundup 1:100 Li700 bioactive® Backpack Glyphosate 1:50 Protec
Weedmaster plus® Stem 1:1.5 Metsulfuron duo® injector 1:50+1.5g / Pulse
methyl 10L Brushkiller 600® Tru Blue Poison pot Neat Other: Vege dye Power spray Associate® 1.5g/10L
Roundup 1:100 Li700 Backpack bioactive® Glyphosate 1:50 Protec Stem Weedmaster 1:1.5 plus®
Metsulfuron duo® injector 1:50+1.5g / Pulse methyl 10L Brushkiller 600® Tru Blue Poison pot Other: Neat Vege dye Power spray Associate® 1.5g/10L COMMENTS: Site / work details, manual weeding notes, growing conditions, vegetation type, priorities, significant flora / fauna, weather condition changes etc.
Version May 2009 MERV NRAC Trial Restoration Work Regeneration Daily Record Data Sheet 1 of 2 Insert mud map of site:
Version May 2009 MERV NRAC Trial Restoration Work Regeneration Daily Record Data Sheet 2 of 2
DRAFT Flying-fox Plan of Management – Grassy (Lions) Park, Bowraville 1790716