Kamarooka Mallee Version Has Been Prepared for Web Publication

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This Action Statement was first published in 1992 and remains current. This Kamarooka Mallee version has been prepared for web publication. It retains the original text of Eucalyptus froggattii the action statement, although contact information, the distribution map and the illustration may have been updated.

Published by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. Kamarooka Mallee (Eucalyptus froggattii) Distribution in Victoria (DSE 2002) 8 Nicholson Street, (Illustration by Anita Barley) East Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Australia Description and Distribution sites, generally in the north, and mostly on This publication may be of Kamarooka Mallee (Eucalyptus froggattii) private land (Franklin et al. 1983). It also assistance to you but the grows to 6 m as a multi-stemmed mallee or occurs in restricted areas to the north and State of Victoria and its to 9 m as a tree. Its bark is rough and west of Wedderburn, and in the Mount employees do not guarantee fibrous, grey to grey-brown on lower stems Arapiles area south-west of Horsham. New that the publication is populations within these areas continue to be without flaw of any kind or or its trunk, which then becomes smooth, found. is wholly appropriate for grey-green and peeling in strips higher up. your particular purposes Adult leaves are alternate, thick, shining Many of the stands of Kamarooka Mallee in and therefore disclaims all green, 7.5 cm long, 1.2-2 cm wide; the the Whipstick area are on uncleared private liability for any error, loss lateral veins are faint, marginal vein land, although some are protected within the or other consequence which prominent and up to 3 mm from the Kamarooka State Park. In the Wedderburn may arise from you relying margin. Flowers, 5-11, are borne freely in area, the Kamarooka Mallee on private land on any information in this terminal panicles or often in clusters rising will possibly die out as there is no publication. from the axils during January to April. regeneration. There are, however, some stands reserved in the Wychitella Flora and ISSN 1448-9902 Buds are quadrangular, strongly four- angled, on short, thick pedicels and the bud Fauna Reserve and on roadsides. These cap is hemispherical with a sharp point. roadside populations need to be carefully Fruit is pear-shaped and strongly four- protected. angled, on thick, flattened pedicels, valves Four populations near Horsham are 4 or 5 (for a more detailed description refer protected on public land; the main one is in a to Flora of Australia Vol. 19). Flora Reserve in the Parish of Nurkong and Kamarooka Mallee is endemic to Victoria, another in the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State and restricted to three main areas. It is most Park. The other two, one at Vectis and the common in the Whipstick area north of other at Nurrabiel, have not been checked Bendigo where it is known from several recently. Unlike most-other mallee communities in Australia, which grow on sandy or limestone areas, the Whipstick mallee Major Conservation Objectives community grows on clay and rocky soils derived from • To ensure the long term viability of naturally occurring Ordovician sandstones. Kamarooka Mallee occurs in small Kamarooka Mallee by protecting existing populations. stands on fine-textured soils on flats and lower hillslopes. • To maintain intact native vegetation canopies to prevent The higher terrain is usually dominated by Blue Mallee weed invasion. (Eucalyptus polybractea), Green Mallee (E. viridis) or both. • To encourage natural regeneration on both public and Kamarooka Mallee often grows in association with Bull private lands. Mallee (E. behriana), and less commonly Blue Mallee (E. • To maintain habitat in an undisturbed condition so that polybractea), Green Mallee (E. viridis) or Grey Box (E. natural ecological processes continue to operate. microcarpa). Understory species often include Williamson's Wattle (also commonly known as Whirrakee Wattle) (Acacia Management Issues williamsonii), Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea), Broom Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca uncinata), Violet Honey-myrtle Ecological Issues Specific to the Taxon (Melaleuca wilsonii), Totem-poles (Melaleuca decussata)and The original distribution of Kamarooka Mallee has been Slaty Sheoke(Allocasuarina muelleriana). drastically reduced through clearing areas of the deeper, more fertile soil which it prefers. The progressive clearing of Conservation Status Kamarooka Mallee on private land is eliminating the species Current Status over a large part of its former range. Briggs et al. (1988) Rare The long-term viability of the species is unknown. In the Gullan et al. (1990) Rare and vulnerable locations north of Bendigo there is little or no evidence of recent seedling germination. Kamarooka Mallee has been listed as a threatened taxon on There is evidence of damage to Kamarooka Mallee by stock Schedule 2 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. and rabbits, and it is clear that successful conservation of the species depends heavily on excluding grazing by domestic Reasons for Conservation Status stock and rabbits. There is strong evidence that Kamarooka Mallee is Weed invasion poses a threat due to the continuous exposure extremely rare in terms of both abundance and distribution. of the Kamarooka Mallee areas to propagules from the The species has been recorded from only seven ten-minute surrounding agriculture areas. There is some evidence of grids (DCE Flora Information System) and is restricted to smothering weeds being present and this may be attributing to three areas in the west of Victoria, on private and public poor recruitment of seedlings. land, including roadsides. Only some of the stands are There is concern that the current practice of burning strategic adequately protected, and clearing is continuing. Those on strips in the Kamarooka State Park in autumn for fire private land, where management is not likely to reflect protection encourages the growth of grasses, particularly conservation objectives, are probably not secure. The introduced grasses, resulting in changes to the vegetation remaining populations on public land are mostly not in community. reserves and may contain insufficient numbers and genetic Increased nutrient levels caused by runoff from the material to ensure long-term survival. surrounding agriculture maybe influencing changes in species Kamarooka Mallee grows on fairly deep fertile soils, and composition. The effect on Kamarooka Mallee is not yet has been eliminated from a large part of its former range by known. clearing for agriculture. Stands on private land may die out Kamarooka Mallee was used in the past for charcoal as there appears to be no regeneration. production, and apiarists have been operating in and around In view of its original limited distribution, and the fact that the Whipstick Public Lands for at least eighty years (Whipstick it has been very much reduced, Kamarooka Mallee is one of Public Lands Proposed Management Plan 1989). The mallees the few eucalypts that is highly endangered and close to are useful nectar producers, with the Kamarooka Mallee being extinction (Pryor 1981). of most value. The potential ecological effects of apiculture on Its short-term survival is assured, despite the extensive Kamarooka Mallee is not known. clearing which has occurred throughout its restricted range. Other threats include eucalyptus oil production, off-road However, continued clearing of Kamarooka Mallee will vehicle activity, fossicking, mineral exploration, and rubbish further restrict and isolate the remaining populations on dumping. The fragmented nature of the public land and its public land. close proximity to the large population centre of Bendigo In its final recommendation the Scientific Advisory exacerbate these threats. Committee (1991) has determined that Kamarooka Mallee The insufficient information available on the ecology, biology, is: appropriate fire regime and distribution of Kamarooka Mallee • in a demonstrable state of decline which is likely to is a limiting factor in determining appropriate management result in extinction; and options. • significantly prone to future threats which are likely to lead to extinction.

2 Wider Conservation Issues Much of the freehold land is now zoned 'Rural Whipstick' in Myers & Elton (1982) regard the Whipstick area as unique the planning schemes of the Rural City of Marong and the and of utmost importance for conservation. They note the Shire of Huntly. The zone aims to protect and maintain native presence of many species of native plants and that it is an vegetation, encourage revegetation, and allow uses where area of mallee vegetation on rocky, clay soils. compatible with these objectives. A permit is required for Protection of Kamarooka Mallee complements other mineral prospecting or exploration. Mining and intensive conservation strategies in place in the Nurkong Flora animal industries are prohibited and minimum subdivision Reserve and the Whipstick area. sizes are set. DCE is a referral authority for planning permit Any land protection measures undertaken to protect applications ,for animal husbandry, eucalyptus leaf harvesting, Kamarooka Mallee, such as rabbit, weed and erosion forest production, mineral prospecting, exploration, native control, will have significant off-site benefits in reducing vegetation clearance and subdivision. land degradation. The Whipstick Public Lands Proposed Management Plan was completed in 1989 and the final plan, with input from the Social and Economic Issues community, is expected to be approved in 1992. Achievement of the conservation objectives requires that Land Conservation Council recommendations for Kamarooka several social and economic issues be addressed. However, State Park and Whipstick State Park that have been accepted by protection of Kamarooka Mallee will not have any Government include: significant adverse effect. • The eucalyptus oil leases be, terminated by 1987. Restrictions on landholder activities in areas where • Grazing be phased out by 1987. Kamarooka Mallee is located have been in place for some • The existing gravel pit, operated by the Shire of East time. Apart from Native Vegetation Retention Controls, Loddon, not be extended outside its present boundaries, local planning controls also operate in the Whipstick area. with all extraction to cease and reclamation and Protection of Kamarooka Mallee is only one of several landscaping to be started by no later than 1991. objectives of these planning controls, and their effects cannot be attributed to protection of Kamarooka Mallee The Department has carried out significant fire-protection alone. works in the Whipstick Public Lands since 1988 including: On private land, further actions necessary to protect • Increased road and track maintenance. existing populations and encouraging natural regeneration • Strategic autumn fuel-reduction burning of strips can be achieved largely through a cooperative approach approximately 60 m wide along most of the boundaries of involving landholders and community groups. the Kamarooka State Park. Landholders are likely to gain through improved shelter . benefits for stock and by reversal of land degradation on In the Horsham Region in 1985, private land to the east of the both their land and adjoining public land. Nurkong (State?) Forest was being cleared of a significant Several activities could threaten the Kamarooka Mallee on stand of Kamarooka Mallee. The National Trust of Victoria public land. However, these activities are already purchased a 10 ha block adjacent to the forest. DCE has now controlled to protect many values apart from this species. fenced this area into the forest and included it in the fire While the controls may have some negative effect, the protection plan. The area has been transferred to the Crown public benefits have been judged to be higher. and is part of a 582 ha area currently listed as a temporary Some illegal activities that occur on public land, such as Flora Reserve, soon to be gazetted as a permanent Flora grazing, off-road driving, firewood collection and removal Reserve. of plants, need to be addressed. The causes, whether ignorance, private gain or a perception of public land as Intended Management Action being a free resource or having little value, need to be Planning identified and addressed. • . The final Whipstick Public Lands Management Plan will Future studies on the ecology, biology, appropriate fire give conservation of this species a high priority for areas in regime and distribution of the species may indicate the which it is found. This plan and the current Huntly and need to alter current management practices to ensure its Marong Municipal Planning Scheme provide for the long-term viability. If necessary, these, matters can be fully conservation of Kamarooka Mallee. However, these need addressed once research findings are known. to be complemented with further information on the ecology, biology, appropriate fire regime and distribution Management Action of Kamarooka Mallee to determine specific management options. Actions that directly involve private landholders Previous Management Actions in protection are also important. There has been no active management of the Horsham or Research Wedderburn sites. • Establish the current distribution of Kamarooka Mallee on Within the Whipstick mallee area, previous management both public land and private land. actions have centred on planning controls to protect a range • Undertake research into the ecological requirements and of values, including Kamarooka Mallee. reproductive biology of kamaraooka Mallee. Make

3 available limited quantities of seed or cuttings to foster • Where appropriate, fence the original, and any newly this resarch. established, populations on both private, and public land • Conduct ecological studies of the strategic autumn to reduce grazing and to prevent accidental or deliberate fuel-reduction burning of strips along most of the disturbance or destruction of Kamarooka Mallee. boundaries of the Kamarooka State Park. • In the Wedderburn area the Kamarooka Mallee on private • Undertake a comparative vegetation study of 126 ha land will possibly die out as there is no regeneration. along Tennyson Road, burnt on 15 November 1982, to However, some stands are reserved in the Wychitella Flora establish the effect of fire on Kamarooka Mallee. and Fauna Reserve and on roadsides. These roadside populations need to be carefully protected. In particular Monitoring the local shire and VicRoads need to be consulted with the • Monitor known colonies of Kamarooka Mallee. view to fencing and signposting the roadside populations. • Monitor grazing and browsing damage by both native and introduced animals and pursue an eradication Other Desirable Management Actions program for introduced animals if necessary. • . Continue to search for new populations of Kamarooka • Continue to inspect the standard of external fencing Mallee. If others are found they will increase the genetic with the view of maintaining stock proof fences. resource of the species and could be used in a program to • Monitor the invasion of introduced weeds and create more healthy, genetically diverse populations. investigate and pursue an eradication program. Subsequent discoveries would also further contribute to the ecological understanding of the Mon. Park Ranger Presence • . Increase Park Ranger presence in the area to deter Legislative Powers Operating illegal activities such as grazing, off-road driving and Legislation riding, firewood collection, removal of plants, and Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic): provides for protected regulate visitor activity, such as restricting walking to flora controls and the protection of critical habitat if so formed tracks. designated. Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic): provides, through the Propagation State Section of all planning schemes, protection of native • . Establish a small population of Kamarooka Mallee vegetation. specimens of known provenance at the Bendigo Seed National Parks Act 1975 and Regulations. Orchard, managed by Bendigo Environmental Reference Areas Act 1978. Services, from which future material for propagation Vermin and Noxious Weeds Act 1958. can be taken, thus relieving naturally occurring populations of further stress. Licence/Permit Conditions • Continue to propagate specimens of known A permit for the collection of Kamarooka Mallee seed or any provenance, under the Park Ranger's supervision, and vegetative material will only be given for work that is in consolidate existing populations with properly accordance with the conservation objectives. guarded tubestock. Page Top | Legislative Powers Operating • Guard isolated individuals, using double thickness tree guards, to minimise browsing. Consultation and Community Participation DCE will consult with the local community to ensure the Erosion Control protection of populations on public land, and with the adjacent • . Investigate methods to reduce gully erosion, landholders to foster conservation of the taxon on private land. particularly in gullies containing Kamarooka Mallee. Implementation, Evaluation and Review Road Closures The regional Manager, Bendigo, will be responsible for • Review the system of vehicle tracks and establish if any coordinating the implementation of this action statement and pose a threat to Kamarooka Mallee populations. annual monitoring of the effectiveness of actions taken.

Liaison Contacts • Improve liaison with the Shires of Marong and Huntly Management in relation to their road works in the area, to minimise Flora and Fauna Guarantee Officer, Bendigo Region, DCE. weed invasion and disperse runoff from roads. Biology • Develop an extension program with appropriate Bob Parsons, La Trobe University, Botany Department. incentives for adjacent land holders to encourage them Neville Scarlett, La Trobe University, Botany Department. to consider the ramifications of current farming Flora Branch, DCE Kew. practices on the long-term viability of Kamarooka Taxonomy Mallee. David Albrecht, National Herbarium, Melbourne.

Protection of Original Populations

4 Compile•r References References RobMansergh, Davies I.M. (1984) • Briggs, D. & Leigh, J.H. (1988) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Special Publication No. 14, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. Further information • Bureau of Flora and Fauna (1988) Flora of Australia Volume 19, Myrtaceae, Eucalypts, Further information can be Angophora, AGPS, Canberra. obtained from Department • DCE (1989) Whipstick Public Lands Proposed Management Plan. Department of of Sustainability and Conservation and Environment, Victoria. Environment Customer • DSE (2002) Flora Information System (Electronic Flora Database). Parks, Flora & Service Centre on 136 186. Fauna, Department of Sustainability & Environment, East Melbourne. • Franklin, D., Lindner, J. & Robinson, J. (1983) Eucalypts of the Bendigo District. Bendigo Field Naturalist Club, Bendigo. Flora and Fauna • Gullan, P.K., Cheal, D.C. & Walsh, N.G. (1990) Victorian Rare or Threatened Species. Guarantee Action Department of Conservation and Environment, Victoria. Statements are available • Myers, R.D. & Elton, D.J. (1982) An Assessment of Habitat Significance in the Loddon- from the Department of Campaspe Region. Environmental Study Series No. 375. Ministry for Conservation, Sustainability and Victoria. Environment website: • Pryor, L.D. (1981) Australian Endangered Species: Eucalypts. Special Publication No.5. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Aust. Nat. Parks & Wildlife Service Canberra. • SAC (1991) Final Recommendation on a nomination for listing: Eucalyptus froggattii (Nomination no. 79). Scientific Advisory Committee, Flora and Fauna Guarantee. Dept. of Conservation and Environment: Melbourne.