WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL
COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
REPORT
2008- 2009
Prepared By: Geoff Cunningham Natural Resource Consultants Pty Ltd, 9 The Crest KILLARA NSW 2071 ACN 058 178 493]
Telephone: 02 9416 1995 Fax: 02 9416 6626 Email: geoffcun @ bigpond.net.au
October, 2009
WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
CONTENTS
1 BACKGROUND...... 4 1.1 Introduction...... 4 1.2 Weddin Shire in Perspective ...... 5 1.3 Brief Historical Overview ...... 12 1.4 Climate...... 12 2 LANDFORMS, GEOLOGY and SOILS OF THE WEDDIN SHIRE...... 13 2.1 Landforms ...... 13 2.2 Geology...... 13 2.3 Soils...... 14 2.4 Soil and Land Condition...... 16 2.5 What is Council Doing About Soil and Land Condition?...... 18 3 AIR AND ITS QUALITY ...... 19 3.1 What is Council Doing About Air Quality? ...... 19 4 WATER AND ITS QUALITY ...... 20 4.1 Water Availability...... 20 4.2 Water Quality...... 20 4.3 Creek Systems and Important Wetland Habitats...... 20 4.4 What is Council Doing About Water Quality?...... 21 5 VEGETATION, FAUNA and BIODIVERSITY ...... 22 5.1 Vegetation...... 22 5.2 Fauna of Weddin Shire...... 41 5.3 Important Wildlife Corridors and Habitats...... 51 5.4 Unique/Important Landscapes and Vetegation...... 51 5.5 Uncommon Plant Species...... 52 5.6 Threatened Species...... 52 5.7 Endangered Ecological Communities...... 54 5.8 Threatened Species Recovery Plans...... 54 5.9 Endangered Populations...... 55 5.10 Critical Habitat...... 55 5.11 Key Threatening Processes ...... 55 5.12 What is Council Doing About Vegetation, Fauna and Biodiversity? ...... 55 6 WASTE MANAGEMENT ...... 56 6.1 Management of Domestic and Other Waste ...... 56 6.2 Recycling...... 57 6.3 Sewerage Arrangements...... 57 6.4 Contaminated Sites...... 58 6.5 What is Council Doing About Waste Management?...... 58 7 NOISE...... 58 7.1 What is Council Doing About Noise?...... 59 8 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE...... 59 8.1 What is Council Doing About Aboriginal Heritage? ...... 60 9 NON - ABORIGINAL HERITAGE...... 60 9.1 Sites of Heritage Significance...... 60 9.2 What is Council Doing About Non-Aboriginal Heritage?...... 63 10 REFERENCES ...... 64
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 2 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL - COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2008– 2009
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1 BACKGROUND
1.1 Introduction
The New South Wales Local Government Act 1993 [the Act] requires councils to prepare annual reports that include a report as to the state of the environment with the Council area.
The State of the Environment Report, according to the provisions of section 428A of the Act, must provide details of the state of the environment within the council area in relation to the following eight environmental sectors, namely: i] land, ii] air, iii] water, iv] biodiversity, v] waste, vi] noise vii] Aboriginal heritage, and viii] non – Aboriginal heritage, with particular reference, with regard to each such environmental sector, to: ix] management plans relating to the environment, x] special council projects relating to the environment, xi] the environmental impact of council activities.
The following Comprehensive State of the Environment Report describes the environment within the Weddin Shire and provides, so far as is known, an indication of the state or condition of the various aspects of the environment.
The State of the Environment Report presented here relates to the period from 1 st July, 2008 to 30 th June, 2009 and forms a segment of Weddin Shire Council’s annual reporting commitments.
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Previous State of the Environment Reports prepared by Council revealed many gaps in knowledge that can only be filled over time.
Some of these gaps can be filled, in part, by Council recording additional information during its day to day activities. However, there are other aspects of environmental assessment and monitoring which are clearly beyond the financial resources of Weddin Shire Council. These would require special funding and/or assistance from State Government agencies if realistic progress in these areas is to be made.
This Report, besides fulfilling the statutory requirements of the Local Government Act, provides Weddin Shire Council with a means of taking stock of the current state of the environment within its area. It also provides a tool that can be used in environmental management in the future.
1.2 Weddin Shire in Perspective
1.2.1 Location
Weddin Shire is located within the Central Western Slopes region of New South Wales to the south of the Lachlan River. It is bounded by the Shires of Forbes, Bland, Cowra and Young.
1.2.2 Area
Weddin Shire covers an area of 3456 km 2 or 345 683 hectares. See Figure 1. The Council administrative centre is the town of Grenfell.
Of the total Shire area only 4 km 2 is zoned “village”. The remainder is rural land mainly utilised for farming purposes or included in State and National Forests and National Parks.
1.2.3 Major Centres and Localities
In addition to the town of Grenfell, the Shire includes the villages of Greenethorpe, Caragabal, Bimbi and Quandialla and one locality or settlement - Bumbaldry.
1.2.4 Population
The figures for individual centres in Weddin Shire from the August, 2001 census are not available. However, the total Weddin Shire population recorded in 2006 is 3762– an increase of 106 since the 2001 cnesus that recorded the Shire population as 3656.
Recorded populations of the individual town and village areas are:
Grenfell 2414 Bimbi – 157 Caragabal – 199 Greenethorpe – 110 Quandialla - 312 GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 5 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 6 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Figure 1 – Map of Weddin Shire 1.2.5 Land Tenure
Land in Weddin Shire is predominantly freehold tenure with other lands held under a variety of leasehold titles. Other land is held by the Crown in State and National Forests and in National Parks. 1.2.6 Land Use Planning
The Weddin LEP 2002 was gazetted on 1 st July, 2002 and replaced the Grenfell IDOs that were previously in force. Zonings under this LEP are as follows • 1a - agricultural zone - 333,184 ha • 1c - rural residential zone - 203 ha • 1cii - small farm zone - 286 ha • 1ciii - rural retreat zone - 950 ha • 2t - township zone - 475 ha • 2v - village zone - Village of Quandialla 162 ha], Village of Caragabal 36 ha], Village of Greenethorpe 57 ha], Village of Bimbi 12 ha]. • 8 - national parks and reserves zone - 10, 432 ha
Land use planning within the Weddin Shire is subject to the provisions of a number of other planning instruments. These are:
• Section 90 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
• Weddin Shire Council Rural Residential Development Control Plan 2004
• Weddin Shire Council Development Control Plan- Grenfell and Environs.[adopted by Council on 20 March 1992].
• Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Lachlan Catchment 2002 [also known as Lachlan Catchment Blueprint]
• Bland Creek Catchment and Action Plans
In addition, the following State Environmental Planning Policies, Regional Environmental Plans and Draft State Regional Environmental Plans apply to land within the Shire.
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 1—Development Standards
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 4—Development Without Consent and Miscellaneous Exempt and Complying Development
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 6—Number of Storeys in a Building
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 7 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 15—Rural Landsharing Communities
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 19—Bushland in Urban Areas
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 21—Caravan Parks
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 22—Shops and Commercial Premises
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 30—Intensive Agriculture
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 32—Urban Consolidation [Redevelopment of Urban Land]
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 33—Hazardous and Offensive Development
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 36—Manufactured Home Estates
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 44—Koala Habitat Protection
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 50—Canal Estate Development
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 52—Farm Dams and Other Works in Land and Water Management Plan Areas
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 55—Remediation of Land
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 60—Exempt and Complying Development
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 62—Sustainable Aquaculture
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 64—Advertising and Signage
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 65—Design Quality of Residential Flat Development
• State Environmental Planning Policy No 70—Affordable Housing [Revised Schemes]
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Affordable Rental Housing] 2009
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Building Sustainability Index: BASIX] 2004
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Exempt and Complying Development Codes] 2008
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability] 2004
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Infrastructure] 2007
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• State Environmental Planning Policy [Major Development] 2005
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries] 2007
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Rural Lands] 2008
• State Environmental Planning Policy [Temporary Structures and Places of Public Entertainment] 2007
1.2.7 Land Use
Most of the land [93.81%] within Weddin Shire is rural land used for grazing and cropping with minor areas used for intensive raising of cattle, pigs, poultry and rabbits. Included in this area is land associated with roads and reserves of various types.
In the past years olive tree groves have been planted and a small-scale commercial olive industry is established within the Shire.
The area used for urban purposes including industrial uses] amounts to only 4 km 2 [0.12%] while the area in State and National Forests is 108.6 km 2 [3.14 %] and that in National Parks is 101.4 km 2 [2.93%]
Table 1 and Table 2 list the individual National Parks and State and National Forests within Weddin Shire along with their areas.
Table 1
National Parks in Weddin Shire
NATIONAL PARK AREA Weddin Mountains National Park 8361 ha Conimbla National Park 1780 ha approx Total Area 10 141 ha approx
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Table 2
State and National Forests in Weddin Shire
FOREST AREA [ha] BARBINGAL STATE FOREST 286 BIMBI NATIONAL AND STATE FORESTS 2,443 CARAGABAL STATE FOREST 421 EURABBA STATE FOREST 720 MAUDRY STATE FOREST 217 PULLABOOKA STATE FOREST 1,524 WARRADERRY STATE FOREST 2,843 WEDDIN NATIONAL AND STATE FORESTS 2,363 YAMBIRA STATE FOREST 42 TOTAL AREA 10,859
1.2.8 Agricultural Productivity
Weddin Shire annually produces large quantities of agricultural produce including grain, hay, straw, wool, meat, fruit, eggs and honey.
The main products of the area are wool and cereal grains, although sheep and cattle sales for meat and restocking, and pig sales for meat, are also substantial. A few alpacas are run, generally in conjunction with flocks of lambing ewes as protection against fox attack.
Smaller areas of grain legume and oil crops are sown. However, these crops, particularly canola, are considerable contributors to agricultural production.
The bulk of land used for agriculture within Weddin Shire is farmed under dryland conditions although a small area is irrigated, mainly from streams. Tables 3 and 4 list the range of agricultural commodities produced in Weddin Shire.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 10 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 3
Types of Agricultural Production [Hay, Grain, Fruit] in Weddin Shire
PRODUCT Barley Lupins for both human and livestock consumption Canola Oaten Hay Cereal Straw for use in the mushroom industry Oats Grain Chaff Olives Chick Peas Safflower Clover Hay Subterranean Clover Seed Field Peas Sunflowers Lucerne Hay Triticale Grain Lucerne Seed Wheat Grain
Table 4
Types of Livestock Production in Weddin Shire
PRODUCT Beef Cattle export and domestic Mutton Prime Lambs export and domestic Pork Goats for meat Wool
1.2.9 Commercial Profile
The range of businesses operating within the Weddin Shire is typical of that in many rural areas and is very much oriented towards serving agriculture. The usual range of food, apparel, hardware and household goods stores are represented in Grenfell with some of the district centres having a few small businesses operating part- or full-time.
Businesses include:
• Manufacturing and Service – building, bricklaying, electrical, plumbing; tank making; welding; motor repairs; tyre services; machinery dealers; fuel distributors; fertiliser and agricultural chemical distributors; farm suppliers; stock and station agents; insurance services; agricultural contractors; lime and fertiliser spreading contractors; spraying contractors; agricultural equipment manufacturers
• Finance - bank and credit union branches.
• Mining and Extractive Industries - sand extraction; dimension stone production
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• Sand, Gravel, Soil and Concrete Suppliers - ready-mixed concrete supplier; sand, gravel, soil suppliers
• Intensive Animal Industries - piggeries, cattle feedlots, egg production, rabbit farm including abattoir facilities
• Produce Mills and Grain Storage Facilities - animal feed mills, large private and Graincorp grain storage facilities plus many on-farm storages
1.3 Brief Historical Overview
The Weddin Shire was occupied by Aboriginal people in the days prior to European settlement. The first documented European settlers passed through the southern part of the Shire in 1826 en route to what became Burrangong Station near Young.
The first permanent settlement in Weddin Shire was in 1833 when John Wood and his family established Brundah Station to the east of Grenfell.
Subsequent to this, the other lands in the Shire were taken up as large station holdings and small selections. Livestock production - sheep for wool and meat and cattle - was the main agricultural activity in these early days
Grenfell was established after payable gold was found. The main mines were within the town boundaries but there were other mines in the district.
In the 1860s Weddin Shire was also the haunt of the well known bushrangers, Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall and their associates, who used the Weddin Mountains and other nearby hill country as places to hide from the searching police.
As the 19 th century drew to a close, the large stations were much reduced in area by individuals selecting properties within their boundaries after the various Land Act reforms. By this time, the lands in the eastern section of the Shire began to be used for grain production, assisted by the promotion of sharefarming - on Iandra and Brundah stations, in particular.
Agricultural land use diversified during the 20 th century and grain growing spread to the western section as better grain varieties and production technology and larger, faster and more suitable machinery became available.
1.4 Climate
Climatic observations were originally taken at the Grenfell Post Office, where the details were recorded for over 100 years. In more recent years the observations have been recorded from a site on the Quondong Road.
The climate of Weddin Shire is hot and relatively dry in summer and cool and moist in winter.
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The mean annual rainfall received at Grenfell, based on 124 years of records kept by the Bureau of Meteorology 1885 to 2008] is 621.3 mm with the occurrence being relatively uniform throughout the year. Slight peaks occur over the three months from June to August and in December - January.
Evaporation is not measured at Grenfell but observations at the Cowra Soil Conservation Research Centre [Lang, 1973] suggest that the average annual loss from a free water surface in the area is in the vicinity of 1321mm. The Cowra observations indicate that this figure increases to about 1550mm in drought years and falls to around 1100mm in wetter years.
Average daily maximum temperatures vary from 31.70C in January to 12.90C in July while average daily minimum temperatures vary from 16.20C in January to 3.10C in July. Bureau of Meteorology website, October, 2009].
Relative humidity data has only been recorded for a period of 23 years with the Quondong Road site currently recording 9am and 3pm relative humidity data. The mean relative humidity values are generally low with the 3pm average values varying from 32% in December to 64% in June and July.
No wind direction detail has been recorded for Grenfell but the wind regime at Grenfell would approximate that at Cowra where the winds are predominantly north-westerly from July to February and southerly and south-easterly from March to June [Lang, 1973]. The period from November to January inclusive] receives the most wind and the least windy month, on average, is May.
The Quondong Road site currently records 9am and 3pm wind speeds but no further wind detail is available from the Bureau of Meteorology website. 2 LANDFORMS, GEOLOGY and SOILS OF THE WEDDIN SHIRE
2.1 Landforms
Weddin Shire consists of generally more elevated and, at times, steep and rocky hill country in the east, grading through undulating land to the level plains in the far western section. The western level section of the Shire is associated with the floodplain of Bland Creek and its tributaries.
Elevations in the east vary from 742m ASL at Red Cliff Trig in the north-east, 671m ASL at Crowther Mountain in the south-east of the Weddin Shire to about 200m ASL in the west towards Lake Cowal.
The highest elevations in the Weddin Mountains National Park, just to the south-west of the town of Grenfell, are a little over 700 metres.
2.2 Geology
The geological formations of the Weddin Shire fall into two broad groupings - the eastern uplands that are composed of a variety of sedimentary and igneous rocks and the alluvial western plains.
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The 1: 250 000 scale geological maps that cover Weddin Shire are the Forbes [Raymond et al , 2000] and Cootamundra [Warren, Gilligan and Raphael, 1996] sheets.
The Marsden [Raymond and Wallace, 2000] and Grenfell [Raymond et al , 2000] 1: 100 000 scale map geological sheets are also available
2.2.1 The Eastern Uplands
The rock types in the eastern uplands fall into four main groups:
• . The Nangar Sediments - white, red and green sandstones; siltstones; shales; conglomerates. These occur in the Pinnacle area as well as in Weddin Mountains and Conimbla National Parks. • . The Granite Country - granites of the Grenfell, Caragabal, Eugowra and Bogalong Granites and the granodiorites of the Young Granodiorite group. These formations occur in the Grenfell, Warraderry, Piney Range, Bumbaldry, Greenethorpe and Tyagong areas. • . The Undifferentiated sediments of the Cowra Trough that form a belt from Wirrinya through Piney Range and the foothills of the Weddin Mountains towards the Tyagong Creek and then extend north through Quondong and Wirega to Warraderry. These rocks are a mixture of boulder conglomerate, boulders of andesite, quartz, quartzite, tuff and greywacke. • . The Illunie Rhyolites that are mainly rhyolites with some limestone. These occur in the Adelargo, Bumbaldry and Yambira Mountain areas.
In addition, there are small occurrences of the Milpose Volcanics that comprise andesites, dacite, rhyolite, tuff and limestone and the Pullabooka Beds of quartzite, sandstone, siltstone, conglomerate, shale and limestone. These are found in the Wirrinya - Pullabooka area. An outcrop of serpentinite occurs north of the Tyagong Creek and south-east of the Weddin Mountains.
In the extreme south-west of the Weddin Shire, a small area of the Jindalee Beds of amphibolite, basic volcanics and intrusives, quartzite and quartz magnetite rocks intruded by serpentinite, talc carbonate rocks and pyroxenite occurs.
2.2.1 The Western Plains
In the western plains section of the Shire the geology is dominated by wind and water transported deposits of sand, silt and gravel with some areas of sand and clay. These deposits also extend along the floodplains of the major creeks in the area.
2.3 Soils
The soils of the northern section of Weddin Shire have been described by King [1999a]. King has identified ten different broad soil types within this section of the Shire with a number of variations being noted within each. GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 14 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
The soil landscapes map of the Forbes 1: 250 000 scale map sheet [King, 1998b] should be consulted if specific detail regarding the soils of a particular part of the northern section of Weddin Shire are required.
The broad soil types that occur within the Shire are listed below. More technical detail relating to the characteristics of each soil type can be found in Isbell [1996].
Calcarosols – soils that are usually calcareous containing lime] throughout the profile.
Chromosols – soils with a strong difference, or contrast, in texture between the surface and upper subsoil layers; the subsoils are not strongly acidic; and do not contain high levels of sodium. Red, Yellow and Brown coloured Chromosols are recorded from Weddin Shire
Dermosols – soils with a structured upper subsoil horizon but lacking a strong difference in texture between the surface and subsoil horizons. Red, Brown and Grey Dermosols are recorded from Weddin Shire.
Ferrosols – soils with high levels of free iron oxide in the subsoil and lacking a strong difference in texture between the surface and upper subsoil layers.
Kandosols – soils lacking a strong difference in texture between the surface and upper subsoil layers; having an unstructured or poorly structured subsoil; and are not calcareous throughout. Red, Brown and Grey Kandosols are recorded from Weddin Shire.
Kurosols – soils with a strong difference in texture between the surface and upper subsoil layers and a strongly acid subsdoil. Red and Yellow Chromosols are recorded from Weddin Shire.
Rudosols – soils that show little soils layer development. These are often relatively young soils ie. those that have formed in recent geological time.
Sodosols – soils with a strong difference in texture between the surface and upper subsoil layers; the subsoil layers contain high levels of sodium but are not strongly acidic. Red and Brown Sodosols are recorded from Weddin Shire.
Tenosols – soils with weak development in layers other than the surface layer.
Vertosols – clay soils that show strong cracking when dry and with some forms that are self-mulching - ie. dry out on the surface to form distinct soil granules
The remainder of the Shire lies within the boundaries of the Cootamundra 1; 250 000 scale sheet that is yet to be formally published although field work is complete and digital data is available.
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2.4 Soil and Land Condition
The Weddin Catchment Action Plan that covers parts of six local government areas, namely Cabonne [0.001%], Cowra [7%], Forbes [29%], Harden [0.02%], Weddin [47%] and Young [17%] Shires was published during 1998-99. It is unlikely that there has been any significant change in the situation reported in this document in the time since its publication.
Four sub-catchments were identified in the report. These are:
• Ooma • Kangarooby / Warraderry • Tyagong • Burrangong
The first three sub-catchments lie mainly within Weddin Shire and so the findings outlined in the report are of relevance to the current state of the environment in those sub-catchments. The fourth sub- catchment is mainly within Young Shire and so is not further discussed in this report.
The report provides an assessment of the amount of remnant native vegetation present in each sub- catchment as well as a measure of the areas affected by various forms of land degradation.
It is not possible to separate statistics contained in the report to provide a set of data that strictly relates to Weddin Shire. However, the overall assessment of the situation in the Weddin Shire portion of each sub-catchment can be taken to be the same as that for the whole sub-catchment.
As a consequence, it is useful to summarise the relevant statistics to show the proportion of each sub- catchment impacted by the various forms of land degradation.
Table 5 shows that a large proportion of the three sub-catchments of interest has been cleared of native vegetation. Some 30% of the Kangarooby / Warraderry area retains a native vegetation cover while the figures for Ooma and Tyagong sub-catchments are about 5% and 14% respectively.
It is unfortunate that the study did not provide any details of the proportion of the various sub- catchments that are affected by soil structural decline – a form of land degradation that has been commonly associated with crop production in the western slopes area.
Nevertheless, Table 5 summarises the report findings with regard to the other major forms of land degradation and provides an indication of the degree of clearing that has occurred in each sub- catchment.
The most prevalent forms of land degradation, in terms of area affected, in all sub-catchments are induced soil acidity and minor sheet erosion. However, the most concerning statistic from a land degradation viewpoint is the area affected by dryland salinity.
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The study shows that over 2650 hectares of land were affected by dryland salinity which is an extremely difficult problem to overcome and usually precludes normal agricultural use of the land again. In the absence of more recent data it is unknown whether the area affected by dryland salinity has increased or decreased. The former is the most likely prediction.
The greatest concern about this statistic is that it is probably an indicator of more serious problems to come in the future. Table 5
Remnant Vegetation and Land Degradation Data for the Weddin Shire Area.
KANGAROOBY / OOMA TYAGONG ATTRIBUTE WARRADERRY SUB-CATCHMENT SUB-CATCHMENT SUB-CATCHMENT
TOTAL AREA 66, 180 hectares 155, 500 hectares 83, 532 hectares PROPORTION COVERED BY 30.2% 6.1% 14.3% REMNANT NATIVE VEGETATION AREA AFFECTED BY DRYLAND SALINITY 46 hectares [0.07%] 335 hectares [0.2%] 2, 271 hectares [2.7%] AREA AFFECTED BY MODERATE 7, 059 hectares [10.7%] 27, 660 hectares 13, 083 hectares INDUCED SOIL [17.8%] [15.7%] ACIDITY pH 5.0 – 6.0] AREA AFFECTED BY SEVERE INDUCED 42, 848 hectares 73, 864 hectares 43, 979 hectares SOIL ACIDITY pH 3.0 [64.7%] [47.5%] [52.6%] – 4.0] AREA AFFECTED BY MINOR SHEET 13, 526 hectares 24, 913 hectares 21, 724 hectares EROSION 20.4%] 16.0%] 26.0%] AREA AFFECTED BY MODERATE SHEET 719 hectares 1.1%] 3, 098 hectares 2.0%] 6, 228 hectares 7.5%] EROSION AREA AFFECTED BY SEVERE SHEET 276 hectares 0.04%] 221 hectares 0.1%] 3, 433 hectares 4.1%] EROSION AREA AFFECTED BY MINOR / MODERATE 27.3 hectares [0.04%] 29.9 hectares [0.02%] 17.5 hectares [0.02%] GULLY EROSION AREA AFFECTED BY SEVERE GULLY 12.5 hectares [0.02%] 21.8 hectares [0.01%] 35.7 hectares [0.04%] EROSION
In addition to the above survey information, the Lachlan Catchment Blueprint that was released during the 2001 – 2002 year, has identified a number of key resource management issues that affect the Lachlan Catchment including the Weddin Shire. GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 17 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
These issues are:
• Dryland salinity • Declining surface water quality • Declining health and abundance of native vegetation • Degradation of riparian and wetland ecosystems • Deterioration of the soil resource.
2.5 What is Council Doing About Soil and Land Condition?
Weddin Shire Council supports the use of land within the Shire according to its capability. While Council does not have direct controls over the agricultural land uses that are carried on over much of the Shire, it is keen to ensure that the basic soil resources within its boundaries are not degraded, or if they are currently degraded, that they are rehabilitated.
Council maintains contact with appropriate NSW Government organisations to ensure that any proposed developments within the Shire do not degrade soil resources.
Council actively supports the implementation of catchment management through its encouragement of Landcare activities.
There are currently eleven Landcare groups in the Shire that are affiliated with the Weddin Landcare Steering Committee Inc. Activities of these groups have been limited in recent years [including the past year] due to the dry conditions experienced in the Shire.
In the past, these groups have addressed a wide range of land degradation issues including dryland and irrigation salinity, induced soil acidity, vegetation decline and soil structure decline.
The Weddin Shire Landcare groups are: • Brundah Landcare Group • Caragabal Landcare Group • Emu Creek Landcare Group • Eualdrie Valley Landcare Group • Grenfell Urban Landcare Group • Ooma Creek Landcare Group • Pinnacle Landcare Group • Upper Barbingal Creek Landcare Group • Warraderry Landcare Group • Weddin West Landcare Group • Yuline Landcare Group
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DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: • A detailed soil survey of the Shire, probably at 1: 100 000 scale • Such surveys are beyond Council’s staff and funding capabilities and would have to be carried out within the appropriate Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water programs • This information would assist Shire landholders to prevent land degradation and to rehabilitate degraded sites
3 AIR AND ITS QUALITY
No detailed studies of air quality have been conducted in Weddin Shire.
Vehicle emissions, while of concern in a total environmental impact sense, do not cause any localised problems within the Weddin Shire since the population of vehicles is relatively low.
3.1 What is Council Doing About Air Quality?
Council applies the following conditions to industries to minimise air pollution:
• Activities must be carried out in a manner that will minimise emissions of dust from the premises.
• It is the operator's responsibility to control dust generated generated by an activity to prevent it entering the atmosphere.
• If odour or dust becomes a nuisance to neighbours, then the operator must take all necessary actions to reduce the nuisance to acceptable levels. This may involve increased landscaping, dust suppression measures or changes to work practices.
Council does not restrict backyard burning within the Shire, however, EPA regulations prevent burning of large amounts of refuse at the garbage tips in the Shire.
Stubble burning is carried out by some farmers after the grain harvest is complete in summer or early autumn. This practice has a short-term impact on areas surrounding the site of the burn.
More long-lasting impacts on air quality are experienced when hazard reduction burning is carried out in the National Parks within the Shire or when bushfires occur.
During the year, Council received some complaints relating to air pollution from dust generated at an industrial site and has consulted with the owners with a view to rectifying the problem.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 19 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS • studies of air quality at selected sites within the Shire would provide a quantitative overview of air quality, particularly near intensive animal industry sites and industries that generate smoke and dust pollution • such data would provide guidance as to whether air quality is being maintained or whether it is improving or deteriorating • Council does not have the resources to carry out this monitoring and would require special funding for the task
4 WATER AND ITS QUALITY
4.1 Water Availability
Grenfell is supplied with town water by pipelines from Lake Rowlands and a bore on the Lachlan River floodplain at Gooloogong. Greenethorpe is connected to a town water supply system operated by Cowra Shire Council.
Quandialla is connected to a mains water supply and Caragabal has access to raw water supplied from local sources for use in toilets and on gardens. Residents in Caragabal use rain water for drinking and other purposes. In Bimbi some properties have bores or wells. Others rely on rainwater tanks.
4.2 Water Quality
No audits of water quality have been carried out within the Shire in recent years although observations indicate that runoff from agricultural and urban land contributes nutrients and suspended solids to the various creek systems during and after major storm events.
4.3 Creek Systems and Important Wetland Habitats
No major rivers originate in, or run through, Weddin Shire. Drainage occurs in two directions - basically west to Lake Cowal and north to the Lachlan River.
The creeks originate in the higher country in the east of the Weddin Shire and flow out onto the level plains to the west and north. At times the water from these creek systems floods low lying sections of these plains - especially towards Lake Cowal.
The westerly draining creek system flows to the south of the Weddin Mountains and then via the Bland Creek into Lake Cowal. The creeks in this system include Emu Creek, Ironpot Creek, Brundah Creek, Murrays Creek, Kellys Creek, Tyagong Creek, Clearys Creek, Caragabal Creek and Burrangong Creek.
The creeks that drain to the north are Ooma Creek, Native Dog Creek, Warraderry Creek, Stumphole Creek and Red Creek.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 20 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
For much of their length, these creeks have stable banks and have maintained remnants of their native vegetation cover although this has been thinned out in many instances. Along some reaches the canopy has been destroyed altogether. Because of the grazing use of the land adjacent to these creeks, very little regeneration of native tree and shrub species is occurring.
Willows [Salix spp.] have either established or have been planted along some creeks but, in general, this is a feature of small lengths of stream. Other sections are infested with weeds ranging from Bathurst Burr [Xanthium spinosum ] and St.Johns Wort [Hypericum perforatum ] to Tree of Heaven [Ailanthus altissima ], African Boxthorn [Lycium ferocissimum ] and Briar Rose [Rosa rubiginosa ]..
The main wetland areas within Weddin Shire are very much ephemeral wetlands. These are primarily located in the western part of the Shire. They receive water from the higher country to the east and provide periodic habitat for water birds.
In addition, the many dams and ground tanks on farms that are spread throughout the area also provide habitat and food for a wide range of waterbirds. This is particularly the case during dry times.
There no wetlands within Weddin Council area which are listed in the ‘Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia’ which is published by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency [Anon, 1996] although Lake Cowal, which is located immediately to the west of the Shire boundary, is listed.
4.4 What is Council Doing About Water Quality?
Council is concerned about the accessions of nutrients to waterways from urban runoff but to date no study has been done to quantify the level of accession.
However, to ensure that the sewage effluent water used to irrigate Council controlled parklands and the Henry Lawson High School Oval in the town of Grenfell continues to be safe for use in such situations Council monitors its quality.
Also in the urban context, Council policy requires removal of illegal connections of stormwater from houses in Grenfell to minimise the possibility of overtaxing the urban drainage system and causing sewerage spills during heavy rain.
Council also requires the installation of runoff retention structures at major intensive animal industry establishments as these come before it for approval.
From a broader perspective, observations suggest that the products of soil erosion on more sloping land in the various creek catchments are still very much components of the water in many creeks during major flows.
During the year no escapes of industrial waste likely to cause water pollution problems were recorded.
Council ensures by the strategic placement of hay and straw bales and geotextile sediment traps that sediment loss from roadwork sites involving Council staff and equipment, as well as contractors, is minimised during rain events. GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 21 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Similar requirements apply at other building sites where there is a possibility of runoff and sediment loss that might affect local waterways.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS • studies at selected sites within the Shire would provide a quantitative overview of water quality, particularly near intensive animal industry sites and near urban areas • systematic studies of water quality in major waterways would be of considerable value in monitoring water quality and providing benchmarks on which to develop approaches designed to improve water quality for the future. • Council does not have the resources to carry out this monitoring and would require special funding for the task 5 VEGETATION, FAUNA and BIODIVERSITY
5.1 Vegetation
5.1.1 Flora of Weddin Shire
A wide range of flora species has been recorded within Weddin Shire. Table 6 contains a list of the species of flora recorded within Weddin Shire. This information was sourced from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water Atlas of NSW Wildlife website.
Overall, some 561 flora species have been recoded within the Shire boundries
Table 6 Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
* indicates an introduced species
SPECIES COMMON NAME Acacia acinacea Gold-dust Wattle Acacia amblgona Fan Wattle Acacia ausfeldii Ausfeld's Wattle Acacia baileyana Cootamundra Wattle Acacia brachybotrya Grey Mulga Acacia buxifolia Box-leaved Wattle Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle Acacia deanei subsp. deanei Deane's Wattle Acacia deanei subsp. paucijuga Green Wattle Acacia decora Western Golden Wattle Acacia doratoxylon Currawang Acacia genistifolia Early Wattle Acacia gunnii Ploughshare Wattle Acacia hakeoides Hakea Wattle Acacia harpophylla Brigalow Acacia implexa Hickory Wattle Acacia lineata Streaked Wattle GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 22 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Acacia melvillei Yarran Acacia mollifolia Acacia oswaldii Miljee Acacia paradoxa Kangaroo Thorn Acacia pendula Myall Acacia penninervis Mountain Hickory Acacia pravifolia Coil-pod Wattle Acacia spectabilis Mudgee Wattle Acacia stenophylla River Cooba Acacia trineura Three-nerved Wattle Acacia verniciflua Varnish Wattle Acacia vestita Weeping Boree Acaena ovina Acetosella vulgari*s Sorrel Acianthus collinus Acianthus exsertus Mosquito Orchid Actinobole uliginosum Flannel Cudweed Adiantum aethiopicum Common Maidenhair Aira cupaniana* Silvery Hairgrass Ajuga australis Austral Bugle Alectryon oleifolius subsp. elongatus Rosewood Allocasuarina diminuta subsp. diminuta Allocasuarina luehmannii Bulloak Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping Sheoak Alternanthera denticulata Lesser Joyweed Alternanthera nana Hairy Joyweed Amaranthus hybridus* Slim Amaranth Amaranthus retroflexs* Redroot Amaranth Amphibromus nervosus Swamp Wallaby Grass Amsinckia intermedia* Common Fiddleneck Amyema miquelii Box Mistletoe Amyema quandang var. bancrofti Anagallis arvensis* Scarlet/Blue Pimpernel Apophyllum anaomalum Warrior Bush Arctotheca calendula* Capeweed Aristida behriana Brush Wiregrass Aristida ramosa Purple Wiregrass Aristida ramosa var. scaberula Purple Wiregrass Arthropodium minus Small Vanilla Lily Asperula conferta Common Woodruff Asperula cunninghamii Twining Woodruff Asplenium flabellifolium Necklace Fern Astroloma humifusum Native Cranberry Austrodanthonia bipartite Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia caespitosa White-top
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 23 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Austrodanthonia eriantha Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia fulva Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia racemosa var. racemosa Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia richardsonii Small-flowered Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia setacea Wallaby Grass Austrostipa aristiglumis Plains Grass Austrostipa bigeniculata Yanganbil Austrostipa blackii Speargrass Austrostipa densiflora Foxtail Speargrass Aristida nodosa Speargrass Austrostipa platychaeta Flat-awn Speargrass Austrostipa ramosissima Stout Bamboo Grass Austrostipa scabra Speargrass Austrostipa scabra Speargrass Austrostipa setacea Corkscrew Grass Austrostipa wakoolica Speargrass Avena ludoviciana Ludo Wild Oats Baeckea crassifolia Desert Heath-myrtle Bertya oblonga Beyeria leschenaultia Beyeria oblonga Beyeria viscosa Sticky wallaby Bush Boerhavia coccinea Tar Vine Boerhavia dominii Tar Vine Boronia glabra Sandstone Boronia Bothriochloa macra Red Grass Brachychiton populneus Kurrajong Brachyloma daphnoides Brachyscome gracilis Dookie Daisy Briza maxima* Quaking Grass Briza minor* Shivery Grass Bromus catharticus* Prairie Grass Bromus hordeaceus subsp . Molliformis* Soft Brome Bromus racemosus* Smooth Brome Bromus rubens* Red Brome Bulbine bulbosa Bulbine Lily Bulbine semibarbata Wild Onion Bursaria spinosa Native Blackthorn Caladenia capillata Fringed Spider Orchid Caladenia catenata White Caladenia Caladenia cucullata Hooded Caladenia Caladenia fuscata Caladenia gracilis Musky Caladenia Caladenia phaeoclava Caladenia sp. aff. pusilla
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 24 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Callitris endlicheri Black Cypress Pine Callitris glaucophylla White Cypress Pine Calochilus robertsonii Purplish Beard Orchid Calostemma purpureum Garland Lily Caloti anthemoides Cutleaf Burr-daisy Calotis cuneifolia Purple Burr-daisy Calotis hispidula Bogan Flea Calotis lappulacea Yellow Burr-daisy Calytrix tetragona Capsella bursa-pastoris* Shepherd's Purse Carduus pycnocephalus* Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus* Winged Slender Thistle Carex appressa Tall Sedge Carthamus lanatus* Saffron Thistle Cassinia arcuata Sifton Bush Cassinia laevis Cough Bush Cassytha pubescens Casuarina cristata Belah Centaurea calcitrapa* Star Thistle Centaurea solstitialis* St Barnaby's Thistle Centaurium erythraea* Common Centaury Centaurium tenuiflorum* Slender Centaury Centipda cunninghamii Common Sneezeweed Centrolepis strigose subsp. strigosa Hairy Centrolepis Cerastium glomeratum* Mouse-ear Chickweed Chamaecytisus palmensis* Tree Lucerne Chamaesyce drummondii Caustic Weed Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia Rock Fern Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi Rock Fern Cheiranthera cyanea var. cyanea Finger Flower Chenopodium album* Fat Hen Chenopodium carinatum Keeled Goosefoot Chenopodium desertorum Desert Goosefoot Chenopodium murale* Nettle-leaf Goosefoot Chenopodium pumilio Small Crumbweed Chloris truncata Windmill Grass Chondrilla juncea* Skeleton Weed Choretrum candollei White Sour Bush Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons Chrysocephalum semipapposum Clustered Everlasting Cirsium vulgare* Spear Thistle Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus* Camel Melon Clematis microphylla Old Man's Beard Convolvulus erubescens Pink Bindweed Conyza bonariensis* Flaxleaf Fleabane
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 25 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Conyza viscidula* Correa glabra var . leucoclada Cotula australis Common Cotula Crassula sieberiana Australian Stonecrop Cryptandra amara Bitter Cryptandra Cryptandra amara var . floribunda Pretty Cryptandra Cucumis myriocarpus subsp . Leptodermis* Paddy Melon Cuscuta campestris* Golden Dodder Cyanicula caerulea Blue Caladenia Cymbonotus preissianus Austral Bear's Ear Cynodon dactylon* Common Couch Cynoglossum australe Australian Hound's Tongue Cyperus gunnii subsp. Gunnii Cyperus lhotskyanus Cyperus lucidus Leafy Flat Sedge Cyphanthera albicans Grey Ray Flower Cyrtostylis reniformis Gnat Orchid Dampiera lanceolata var. lanceolata Grooved Dampiera Daucus glochidiatus Native Carrot Daucus glochidiatus forma D Native Carrot Daviesia acicularis Sandplain Bitter-pea Daviesia latifolia Daviesia leptophylla Daviesia mimosoides Derwentia perfoliata Digger's Speedwell Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil Dianella longifolia var. longifolia Dianella revolute Spreading Flax-lily Dianella tarda Dichelachne micrantha Shorthair Plumegrass Dichelachne sieberiana Dichondra repens Kidney Weed Dichopogon fimbriatus Nodding Chocolate Lily Dichopogon strictus Chocolate Lily Dillwynia phylicoides Dillwynia sericea Showy Parrot-pea Dillwynia seeberi Diplachne Muelleri Diuris goonooensis Western Donkey Orchid Diuris maculata Spotted Doubletail Diuris pardina Diuris tricolour Pine Donkey Orchid Dodonaea viscosa subsp . cuneata Wedge-leaf Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa subsp . mucronata Dodonaea viscosa subsp . spatulate Broad-leaf Hopbush Drosera peltate Pale Sundew Echinochloa esculenta* Japanese Millet Echinopogon ovatus Forest Hedgehog Grass
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 26 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Echium plantagineum* Patterson's Curse Ehrharta longiflora* Annual Veldtgrass Einadia hastate Saloop Einadia nutans Climbing Saltbush Elymus scaber var. scaber Common Wheatgrass Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush Enneapogon polyphyllus Leafy Nineawn Enteropogon acicularis Curly Windmill Grass Epilobium billardiereanum Epilobium hirtigerum Hoary Willow-herb Eragrostis benthamii Eragrostis brownii Brown's Lovegrass Eragrostis cilianensis* Stinkgrass Eragrostis falcata Sickle Lovegrass Eragrostis parviflora Weeping Lovegrass Eremophila debilis Amulla Eremophila glabra Tar Bush Eremophila longifolia Emubush Eriochilus cucullatus Parson's Bands Erodium crinitum Blue Storksbill Erodium moschatum* Musky Crowfoot Eucalyptus albens White Box Eucalyptus blakelyi Blakely's Red Gum Eucalyptus bridgesiana Apple Box Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Eucalyptus conica Fuzzy Box Eucalyptus dealbata Tumbledown Red Gum Eucalyptus dwyeri Dwyer's Red Gum Eucalyptus fibrosa Red Ironbark Eucalyptus goniocalyx Bundy Eucalyptus intertexta Gum Coolibah Eucalyptus macrorhyncha Red Stringybark Eucalyptus melliodora Yellow Box Eucalyptus microcarpa Western Grey Box Eucalyptus polyanthemos Red Box Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil Bimble Box Eucalyptus rossii Inland Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus siderophloia Grey Ironbark Eucalyptus sideroxylon Mugga Ironbark Euchiton sphaericus Eulalia aurea Silky Browntop Exocarpos cupressiformis Native Cherry Fumaria muralis subsp. Muralis* Wall Fumitory Galium aparine* Goosegrass Galium gaudichaudii Rough Bedstraw Genista monspessulana* Montpellier Broom Genoplesium rufum Red Midge Orchid Genoplesium sagittiferum
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 27 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Genoplesium systenum Geranium potentilloides var. potentilloides Geranium retrorsum Common Cranesbill Geranium solanderi Native Geranium Glossodia major Waxlip Orchid Glycine canescens Silky Glycine Glycine clandestina Glycine latifolia Glycine tabacina Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa Native Liquorice Gompholobium huegelii Pale Wedge Pea Gonocarpus elatus Gonocarpus tetragynus Goodenia bellidifolia subsp . bellidifolia Goodenia cycloptera Cutleaf Goodenia Goodenia glabra Smooth Goodenia Goodenia hederacea Ivy Goodenia Goodenia macbarronii Narrow Goodenia Goodenia ovata Hop Goodenia Goodenia pinnatifida Scrambled Eggs Goodia lotifolia Goodia medicaginea Western Golden-tip Gratiola pedunculata Grevillea anethifolia Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda Seven Dwarfs Grevillea Grevillea lanigera Grevillea polybractea Grevillea ramosissima subsp. ramosissima Fan Grevillea Haloragis heterophylla Hardenbergia violacea False Sarsaparilla Helichrysum scorpioides Button Everlasting Heliotropium europaeum* Heliotrope Hibbertia incana Hibbertia obtusifolia Hibbertia riparia Hibbertia serpyllifolia Hairy Guinea Flower Hordeum leporinum* Barley Grass Hovea apiculata Hovea linearis Hyalosperma semisterile Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus Shrub Violet Hybanthus monopetalus Slender Violet-bush Hydrocotyle laxiflora Stinking Pennywort Hypericum gramineum Small St John's Wort Hpericum perforatum* St John's Wort Hypochaeris glabra* Smooth Catsear Hypochaeris radicata* Catsear Hypoxis glabella var .glabella Tiny Star
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 28 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Indigofera adesmiifolia Tick Indigo Indigofera australis Australian Indigo Indigofera coronillifolia Isolepis gaudichaudiana Benambra Club-sedge Isotoma axillaris Showy Isotome Isotoma fluviatilis subsp. australis Joycea pallida Silvertop Wallaby Grass Juncus aridicola Tussock Rush Juncus bufonius* Toad Rush Juncus capitatus* Capitate Rush Juncus flavidus Juncus fockei Juncus homalocaulis Juncus planifolius Juncus psammophilus Juncus remotiflorus Juncus subglaucus Juncus subsecundus Finger Rush Juncus usitatus Juncus vaginatus Kickxia commutata subsp. graeca* Kunzea parvifolia Violet Kunzea Lachnagrostis filiformis Lactuca saligna* Willow-leaved Lettuce Lactuca serriola* Prickly Lettuce Laxmannia gracilis Leiocarpa websteri Leionema sympetalum Rylstone Bell Lepidium africanum* Common Peppercress Lepidium pseudohyssopifolium Peppercress Lepidosperma laterale Variable Sword-sedge Leptospermum continentale Prickly Teatree Leptospermum multicaule Silver Teatree Leucopogon attenuatus Leucopogon microphyllus Leucopogon virgatus Lissanthe strigosa Peach Heath Lobelia gibbosa Tall Lobelia Logania albiflora Lolium perenne* Perennial Ryegrass Lolium rigidum* Wimmera Ryegrass Lomandra filiformis Wattle Matt-rush Lomandra glauca Pale Mat-rush Lomandra leucocephala Woolly Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra multiflora subsp. multiflora Many-flowered Mat-rush Lomatia silaifolia Crinkle Bush Luzula flaccida
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 29 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Luzula meridionalis Lycium ferocissimum* African Boxthorn Macrozamia secunda Mairean decalvans Black Cottonbush Maireana enchylaenoides Wingless Fissureweed Maireana microphylla Eastern Cottonbush Marrubium vulgare* Horehound Marsilea drummondii Common Nardoo Medicago laciniata var. laciniata* Cutleaf Medic Medicago mininma* Small Woolly Burr Medic Medicago sativa* Lucerne Medicago truncatula* Barrel Medic Melaleuca erubescens Pink Honeymyrtle Melaleucalanceolata Moonah Melichrus erubescens Melichrus urceolatus Urn Heath Mentha diemenica Slender Mint Mentha satureioides Native Pennyroyal Microlaena stipoides Weeping Grass Micromyrtus ciliata Micromyrtus sessilis Microtis unifolia Common Onion Orchid Minuria denticulata Monotoca scoparia Muehlenbeckia florulenta Lignum Muehlen beckia rhyticarya subsp. Rhyticarya Muellerina eucalyptoides Myoporum montanum Western Boobialla Myosotis australis Australian Forget-Me-Not Myriophyllum crispatum Myriophyllum verrucosum Red Water-milfoil Nicotiana glauca* Tobacco Bush Olea europaea var. cuspidate African Olive Olearia ramosissima Olearia ramulose Onopordum acanthium subsp. Acanthium* Scotch Thistle Opercularia aspera Coarse Stinkweed Opercularia hispida Hairy Stinkweed Ophioglos5um lusitanicum Adder's Tongue Orobanch minor* Broomrape Oxalis corniculata* Creeping Oxalis Oxalis perdicaria* Oxalis perennans Ozothamnus obcordatus subsp . obcordatus Grey Everlasting Ozothamnus tuckeri Small-leaf Everlasting Pandorea pandorana Wonga Wonga Vine Panicum effusum Hairy Panic Panicum simile Two-colour Panic
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 30 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Papaver aculeatum* Bristle Poppy Papaver hybridum* Rough Poppy Papaver somniferum subsp. Somniferum* Opium Poppy Parietaria debilis Native Pellitory Parsonsia eucalyptophylla Gargaloo Paspalidium aversum Bent Summer Grass Paspalum dilatatum* Paspalum Patersonia sericea Silky Purple-flag Pelargonium australe Native Storksbill Pelargonium inodorum Pentaschistis airoides* False Hairgrass Persicaria decipiens Slender Knotweed Persicaria hydropiper Water Pepper Persicaria prostrata Creeping Knotweed Peroonia curviflora Persoonia rigida Persoonla curvifolia Persoonia sericea Petrorhagia nanteuilii* Phalaris aquatica* Phalaris Phalaris minor* Lesser Canary Grass Phalaris paradoxa* Paradoxa Grass Phebalium glandulosum subsp . glandulosum Desert Phebalium Philotheca myoporoides subsp. acuta Phyllanthus hirtellus Phyyanthus occidentalis Picris hieracioides* Hawkweed Picris Pimelia linifolia subsp. linifolia Slender Rice-flower Pimelea stricta Gaunt Rice-flower Pittosporum angustifolium Butterbush Plantago cunninghamii Sago Weed Platysace lanceolata Shrubby Platysace Pleurosorus rutifolius Bristly Cloak Fern Pleurosorus subglandulosus Clubbed Blanket Fern Poa fordeana Sweet Swamp Grass Poa labillardierei var . labillardierei Tussock Grass Poa sieberiana var . cyanophylla Poa sieberiana var . sieberiana Snowgrass Polygonum aviculare* Wireweed Pomaderris angustifolia Pomax umbellata Pomax Poranthera microphylla Small Poranthera Portulaca oleracea Pigweed Pratia concolor Poison Pratia Proboscidea louisianica* Purple-flowered Devil's Claw Prostanthera ovalifolia Purple Mintbush Pseudanthus divaricatissimus Pteridium esculentum Bracken
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 31 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Pterostylis alata Pterostylis biseta Pterostylis boormanii Pterostylis curta Blunt Greenhood Pterostylis cycnocephala Swan Greenhood Pterostylis mutica Midget Greenhood Pterostylis nana Dwarf Greenhood Pterostylis aff. parviflora pterostylis aff. Revolute Pterostylis truncate Little Dumplings Ptilotus indivisus Tangled Silver-tails POterostylis obovatus var. parviflorus Silver-tails Pultenaea foliolosa Pultenaea largiflorens Twiggy Bush-pea Pultenaea microphylla Pultenaea procumbens Pultenaea spinosa Ranunculus pachycarpus Thick-fruited Buttercup Ranunculus sessiliflorus var. sessiliflorus Common Buttercup Rhagodia spinescens Spiny Saltbush Rhodanthe corymbiflora Small White Sunray Rhodanthe pygmaea Pigmy Sunray Rosa canina* Dog Rose Rosa rubiginosa* Briar Rose Rostraria cristate* Annual Cat's-tail Rumex brownii Swamp Dock Rumex crispus* Curled Dock Rumex tenax Shiny Dock Salsola kali var. kali Buckbush Salvia verbenaca* Wild Sage Sambuccus gaudichaudiana White Elderberry Sanguisorba minor subsp. muricata* Sheep's Burnet Santalum acuminatum Quandong Schoenus apogon Fluke Bogrush Schoenus latelaminatus Medusa Bog-rush Sclerolaena bicornis var. horrida Goathead Burr Sclerolaena muricata Black Rolypoly Sclerolaena stelligera Star Copperburr Scutellaria humilis Dwarf Skullcap Senecio bathurstianus Senecio bipinnatisectus Senecio hispidulus Senecio hispidulus var. dissectus Hill Fireweed Senecio lautus subsp. dissectifolius Variable Groundsel Senecio phelleus Senecio prenanthoides Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed Senna aciphylla Sprawling Cassia
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 32 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Setaria palmifolia* Palm Grass Setaria pumila* Pale Pigeon Grass Setaria verticillate* Whorled Pigeon Grass Sida corrugata Corrugated Sida Sida cunninghamii Ridge Sida Sigesbeckia australiensis Sigesbeckia orientalis subsp . orientalis Indian Weed Silybum marianum* Variegated Thistle Solanum cinereum Narrawa Burr Solanum elaegnifolium* Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum esuriale Quena Sonchus oleraceus* Common Sowthistle Specularia parviflora Sporobolus caroli Fairy Grass Sporobolus creber Slender Rat's Tail Grass Sporobolus mitchellii Rat's-tail Couch Syridium eriocephalum Heath Spyridium Stackhousia monogyna Creamy Candles Stackhousia viminea Slender Stackhousia Stellaria angustifolia Swamp Starwort Stuartina muelleri Spoon Cudweed Stylidium graminifoliu Grass Triggerplant Stylidium laricifolium Tree Triggerplant Stypandra glauca Nodding Blue Lily Styphelia triflora Swainsona galegifolia Smooth Darling Pea Swainsona oroboides Kneed Darling Pea Templetonia egena Desert Broombush Teucrium corymbosum Forest Germander Teucrium racemosum Grey germander Thelymitra megacalyptra Scented Sun Orchid Thelymitra pauciflora Slender Sun Orchid Themeda australis Kangaroo Grass Thysanotus patersonii Twining Fringe-Lily Thysanotus tuberosus Common Fringe-lily Tricoryne elatior Yellow Autumn-lily Trifolium angustifolium* Narrow-leaved Clover Trifolium arvense* Haresfoot Clover Trifolium campestre* Hop Clover Trifolium glomeratum* Clustered Clover Trifolium incarnatum* Crimson Clover Trifolium tomentosum* Woolly Clover Tripogon loliiformis Five-minute Grass Triptilodiscus pygmaeus Common Sunray Typha orientalis Cumbungi Urtica urens* Small Nettle Verbascum virgatum* Twiggy Mullein Verbena quadrangularis*
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Table 6 cont Plant Species Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES COMMON NAME Veronica plebeia Trailing Speedwell Vittadinia cuneata var. hirsuta Vittadinia dissecta Vittadinia pterochaeta Rough Fuzzweed Vulpia bromoides* Squirrel Tail Fescue Vulpia muralis* Rat's-tail Fescue Vulpia myuros forma megalura Fox-tail Fescue Wahlenbergia communis Tufted Bluebell Wahlenbergia fluminalis River Bluebell Wahlenbergia gracilenta Annual Bluebell Wahlenbergia gracilis Sprawling or Australian Bluebell Wahlenbergia luteola Wahlenbergia queenslandica Wahlenbergia stricta subsp . stricta Tall Bluebell Wurmbea dioica subsp. dioica Early Nancy Xanthium spinosum Bathurst Burr Xanthorrhoea acaulis Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea australis Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea glauca Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp . angustifolia Grass Tree Xerochrysum bracteatum Golden Everlasting Xerochrysum viscosum Sticky Everlasting Zieria cytisoides Downy Zieria
5.1.2 Remnant Native Vegetation
5.1.2.1 General
Much of the level and undulating country within Weddin Shire has been cleared for cropping and grazing for probably 100 years or so.
A map showing the remnant vegetation of the north-western part of the Shire was published by Sivertsen and Metcalfe [1995]. This map covers only the areas of Weddin Shire with an elevation less than 300 metres. This artificial line approximates the boundary between the western slopes and the western plains.
The map prepared by Sivertsen and Metcalfe shows a number of remnant White Cypress Pine Woodlands, Box Woodlands, Dwyer’s Red Gum And Pine woodlands and some Bull Oak / Belah woodlands which are generally associated with State Forests, roadsides/ travelling stock routes and with generally steep hill country.
Some small areas of River Red Gum forests in gallery stands also occur along the major creeks.
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In 2001 the Mid-Lachlan Regional Vegetation Management Plan [DLWC, 2001] was approved and released. This Plan was accompanied by a series of maps that identify the remnant vegetation in the Mid-Lachlan Region including Weddin Shire. The Plan was in force until 2003 when legislation was enacted to change catchment management arrangements in New South Wales.
Although the Plan itself now has no legal status, the maps and landform descriptions that accompanied it provide valuable inventories of the landscapes and remnant native vegetation of Weddin Shire.
More recently the Department of Environment and Conservation [now DECCW] prepared a report on the 'Reconstructed and Extant Distribution of Native Vegetation in Lachlan Catchment '. This publication provided remnant native vegetation community descriptions and broad-scale maps of their occurrence within the Lachlan Catchment and so within Weddin Shire.
5.1.2.2 Remnant Vegetation Communities
In essence, the Weddin Shire has four different broad vegetation types. These are:
• Ironbark Ridge Communities which occur on the higher hill country and which are dominated by Mugga Ironbark [Eucalyptus sideroxylon ], Blakely’s Red Gum [Eucalyptus blakelyi ], Red Stringybark [Eucalyptus macrorhyncha ], White Box [Eucalyptus albens ], Scribbly Gum [Eucalyptus rossi i], Apple Box [Eucalyptus bridgesiana ], Tumbledown Gum [Eucalyptus dealbata/dwyeri ], Currawang [Acacia doratoxylon ] and Black Cypress Pine [Callitris endlicheri ]. These communities often have patches of dense heathy understorey comprised of a wide range of Wattles [Acacia spp.]. At times the vegetation can comprise patches of low heath vegetation devoid of taller trees. These latter communities are often associated with areas where bare rock surfaces are prevalent.
• Box and Pine Communities of the lower slopes and undulating country are woodlands which have largely been cleared for grazing and cropping. Some more or less remnant stands survive in the State and National Forests, along roads, on reserves of various types and to a lesser extent on farms. The main species in these communities are White Box, Blakeley’s Red Gum, Yellow Box [Eucalyptus melliodora ], Grey Box [Eucalyptus microcarpa ], Fuzzy Box [Eucalyptus conica ] and White Cypress Pine [Callitris glaucophylla ]. Bull Oak [Allocasuarina luehmannii ] is common in the more westerly parts of the Shire in Grey Box communities. The understorey in these communities comprises Wattles [Acacia spp.], Hopbushes [Dodonaea spp.] and other shrubs.
• River Red Gum [Eucalyptus camaldulensis ] communities that occur as ribbon stands along the main creeks with some understorey species including Wattles.
• Open Plains Communities with a generally open sparse tree cover of Belah [Casuarina cristata ], Myall [Acacia pendula ], Bulloak [Allocasuarina luehmannii ], Yarran [Acacia homalophylla ] and Rosewood [Alectryon oleifolius ] along with Saltbushes [Atriplex spp. and Rhagodia spp.] and a ground cover of grass and herbage.
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Much of the steep hill country in the Shire was reprieved from clearing because of its relative infertility, although some of the more fertile valleys and other isolated areas have been cleared.
The State and National Forests in the area support a relatively dense timber cover although forest management techniques applied in the past have tended to favour development of productive, almost monospecific, White Cypress Pine stands at most sites rather than the mosaic of communities that were present in the natural state.
Many of the State and National Forests are also grazed under licence and this practice has added impacts on plant species diversity.
Almost all of Yambira State Forest was added to the Conimbla National Park in the 1980s. This forest was used as a source of hardwood timber during its time as a forest and so has retained a more diverse plant community composition.
The Weddin Mountains National Park is a very significant remnant native vegetation area with a diverse flora and communities ranging from heaths to woodlands and forests.
In addition to the major remnant vegetation occurrences in the State and National Forests and the National Parks there are significant areas of native vegetation which have been retained along roads and in camping and travelling stock reserves. As mentioned above, these are mapped now for the north-western section of the Shire.
While these remnant areas are often in the form of corridors they are nevertheless valuable as pools of species diversity and provide native wildlife with food and shelter. Many of these areas, and particularly the roads and stock routes have been subjected to less grazing pressure in recent years with the reduction in numbers of travelling stock using them on a regular basis. This has allowed tree and shrub seedlings to establish where they had previously been grazed out.
Finally, there are considerable areas of remnant stands of trees and large numbers of single trees left in farm paddocks in the Weddin Shire. These trees provide food and shelter for birds but are of limited value for native marsupials.
Unfortunately many farm trees, whether single trees or remnant stands, are very old and often unwell and have a limited life span. Because they are in grazed or cropped situations they are not being replaced naturally.
However, in recent years there have been considerable numbers of trees planted – often in association with Landcare initiatives but also instigated and funded by individual landholders. These plantings will go some way towards redressing the tree decline in the Shire.
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5.1.3 Approved Clearing of Remnant Native Vegetation
During the year there were no applications to clear remnant native vegetation under the provisions of the Native Vegetation Act 2003submitted by Weddin Shire landholders.
In addition, Weddin Shire landholders signed agreements with the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority for the protection and improved management of 639 hectares of native vegetation communities as part of the Authority's Focus Landscape Project.
5.1.4 Noxious Plants
Along with most urban and farming land in New South Wales, the Weddin Shire has been invaded by a range of weed species. These plants not only grow in farm paddocks but in household gardens and urban wasteland, in streets, along roadsides and in the various reserves scattered through the district.
The responsibility for weed control on farmland rests with the individual occupier. Council controls weeds along roads and other lands for which it is responsible and uses a combination of mechanical and chemical control measures. Weed control on government reserves is the responsibility of the controlling body.
Many weed species are controlled in the course of normal farm and garden maintenance practice and cause little economic and aesthetic damage. There are others, however, which if allowed to grow unchecked can cause major environmental degradation.
Table 7 lists the 96 species declared noxious for Weddin Shire and their classification in terms of the level of control required [source NSW Department of Primary Industries [Agriculture] website, 14 th October, 2009].
It should be noted that the list of Noxious Weed Declarations for the Shire covers many more species than have been recorded in the past in the Shire. The list is prepared by the Department of Primary Industries [Agriculture] and appears to provide for the possibility that some of these species may be recorded in the Shire in the future.
In reality, only a small proportion of the listed species have been found to date.
Weeds of particular concern to Council are Wild Radish [Raphanus raphanistrum ], St. John’s Wort [Hypericum perforatum ], Scotch Thistle [Onopordum acanthium ssp. acanthium ], Illyrian Thistle [Onopordum illyricum ssp. illyricum ], Bathurst Burr [Xanthium spinosum ], Silver-leaf Nightshade [Solanum elaegnifolium ] and Hemlock [Conium maculatum ]. These weeds invade valuable land and compete with pastures as well as causing contamination of agricultural produce and, in the case of hemlock, livestock poisoning.
Council has a program to control weeds on land under its control and actively encourages landholders to control problem weeds on their properties.
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In the past year Council spent $60,417 on weed control during the year. Included in this expenditure is the salary of an officer who checks private property, roadsides and land held by government organisations for infestations of noxious weeds. Part of this expenditure was funded by a grant received by Council for this purpose
Table 7 Noxious Plant Declarations for Weddin Shire.
BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME WEED STATUS Acacia karroo Karroo Thorn 1 Acacia nilotica Prickly Acacia 1 Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven 4 Ambrosia confertiflora Burr Ragweed 5 Asparagus asparagoides Bridal Creeper 5 Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator Weed 2 Ambrosia artemisifolia Annual Ragweed 5 Annona glabra Pond Apple 1 Argemone mexicana Mexican Poppy 5 Asystasia gangetica subsp. Chinese Violet 1 micrantha Avena strigose Sand Oat 5 Bassia scoparia Kochia 1 Brassica barrelieri subsp . Smooth-stemmed Turnip 5 oxyrrhina Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba 5 Carthamus glaucus Glaucous Starthistle 5 Cenchrus biflorus Gallon's Curse 5 Cenchrus brownii Fine-bristled Burr Grass 5 Cenchrus echinatus Mossman River Grass 5 Cenchrus incertus Spiny Burr Grass 4 Cenchrus longispinus Spiny Burr Grass 4 Centaurea calcitrapa Star Thistle 4 Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed 1 Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed 1 Cestrum parqui Green Cestrum 3 Chromolaena odorata Siam Weed 1
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Table 7 cont Noxious Plant Declarations for Weddin Shire.
Conium maculatum Hemlock 4 Cryptostegia grandiflora Rubbervine 1 Cuscuta campestris Golden Dodder 4 Cuscuta spp. Dodder 5 Cylindropuntia spp. Prickly Pear 4 Cynaria cardunculus Artichoke Thistle 5 Cyperus esculentus Yellow Nutgrass 5 Cytisus scoparius Scotch Broom, English Broom 4 Egeria densa Leafy Elodea 5 Eichhornia azurea Anchored Water Hyacinth 1 Eichhornia crassipes Water Hyacinth 2 Equisetum spp. Horsetail 1 Festuca gautieri Bear-skin Fescue 5 Gaura parviflora Clockweed 5 Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal Tea Plant 1 Harrisia spp. Harrisia Cactus 4 Heliotropium amplexicaule Blue Heliotrope 4 Helianthus ciliaris Twxas Blueweed 5 Hieracium spp. Hawkweed 1 Hygrophila polysperma East Indian Hygrophila 1 Hymenachne amplexicaule Hymenachne 1 Hypericum perforatum St.John’s Wort 4 Ibicella lutea Yellow-flowered Devil’s Claw 4 Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon 1 Lantana spp. Lantana 5 Limnocharis flava Yellow Burrhead 1 Ludwigia longifolia Long-leaf Willow Primrose 5 Lycium ferocissimum African Boxthorn 4 Miconia spp. Miconia 1 Mimosa pigra Mimosa 1 Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian Water Milfoil 1
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Table 7 cont Noxious Plant Declarations for Weddin Shire.
Nassella neesiana Chilean Needlegrass 4 Nassella tenuissima Mexican Feather Grass 1 Nassella trichotoma Serrated Tussock 4 Onopordum spp. Scotch Thistle, Illyrian Thistle, 4 Stemless Thistle, Taurian Thistle Opuntia spp. Prickly Pear 4 Orobanche spp. Broomrape 1 Oryza rufipogon Red Rice 5 Oxalis spp. Oxalis 5 Parkinsonia aculeate Parkinsonia 2 Parthenium hysteriophorus Parthenium Weed 1 Pennisetum macrourum African Feathergrass 5 Pennisetum setaceum Fountain Grass 5 Pennisetum villosum Longstyle Feather Grass 4 Picnomon acarna Soldier Thistle 5 Pistia stratiotes Water Lettuce 1 Proboscidea lousianica Purple-flower Devil’s Claw 4 Prosopis spp. Mesquite 2 Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish 4 Romulea spp. Onion Grass 5 Rosa rubiginosa Sweet Briar 4 Rubus fruticosus[agg.] spp. Blackberry 4 Sagittaria montevidensis Arrowhead 5 Sagittaria platyphlla Sagittaria 5 Salix spp. Willows 5 Salvinia molesta Salvinia 2 Sclerolaena birchii Galvanised Burr 4 Scolymus hispanicus Golden Thistle 5 Sisymbrium runcinatum African Turnipweed 5 Sisymbrium thellungii African Turnipweed 5 Solanum elaegnifolium Silverleaf Nightshade 4
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Table 7 cont Noxious Plant Declarations for Weddin Shire.
Solanum rostratum Buffalo Burr 4 Sonchus arvensis Corn Sowthistle 5 Sorghum halepense Johnson Grass 3 Sorghum X almum Columbus Grass 3 Stachytarpheta cayennensis Cayenne Snakeweed 5 Striga spp. Witchweed 1 Tamarix aphylla Athel Pine 5 Toxicodendrum succedaneum Rhus Tree 4 Trapa sp. Water Caltrop 1 Xanthium spp. Bathurst Burr, Noogoora 4 Burr, Californian Burr, Cockle Burrs
Explanation of Noxious Weed Status Codes
1 – the plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant
2 – the plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant
3 – the plant must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed 4 – the growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority and the plant may not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed
5 – the requirements of the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for a notifiable weed must be complied with
5.2 Fauna of Weddin Shire
5.2.1 Fauna Diversity
A diverse group of fauna species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates can be found within the Weddin Shire.
Tables 8, 9, 10 and 11 contain lists of the species of mammal, birds, reptiles and amphibians respectively] recorded within Weddin Shire. This information was sourced from the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation [National Parks and Wildlife Service] Atlas of NSW Wildlife website
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No information is readily available on the invertebrate fauna of the Shire.
5.2.1.1 Mammals
Overall, thirty four species of mammals have been recorded within Weddin Shire. Of these the Bilby is now extinct in New South Wales [and the Shire] and nine of the recorded species are introduced. This leaves twenty four mnative mammal species still present within Weddin Shire. The recorded species are listed in Table 8.
Table 8 Mammals Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES NAME Bilby Macrotis lagotis Black Rat* Rattus rattus Brown Hare* Lepus capensis Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata Cat* Felis catus Chocolate Wattled Bat Chalinolobus morio Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecular Common Dunnart Sminthopsis murina Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Wallaroo Macropus robustus Common Wombat Vombatus Ursinus Dingo, domestic dog * Canis lupus Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus Fox * Vulpes vulpes Goat * Capra hircus Gould’s Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldi Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii Greater Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis House Mouse* Mus musculus Inland Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens balstoni Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi Little Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens greyii Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus Little Mastiff-bat Mormopterus planiceps Rabbit* Oryctolagus cuniculus Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus Sheep feral]* Ovis aries Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor White-striped Freetail-bat Nyctinomus australis Yellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus flavipes
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5.2.1.2 Birds
A total of 203 bird species have been recorded in Weddin Shire. Of these five are introduced and the remaing 198 are native species. These are listed in Table 9.
Table 9 Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
COMMON NAME SPECIES Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Astralasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Australian Hobby Falco longipennis Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian Pipit Anthus australis Australian Raven Corvus coronoides Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor Barking Owl Ninox connivens Barn Owl Tyto alba Black Falcon Falco subniger Black Honeyeater Certhionyx niger Black Kite Milvus migrans Black Swan Cygnus atratus Black-chinned Honeyeater [eastern subsp.] Melithreptus gularis gularis Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis Brown Falcon Falco berigora Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus
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Table 9 cont Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Calamanthus pyrrhopygius Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus Common Bronzewing Phaps chaicoptera Common Starling* Sturnus vulgaris Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes Crimson Chat Ephthianuratricolor Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus Eastern Rosella Platycercus adscitus eximius Eastern Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhnchus tenuirostris Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae Eurasian Blackbird* Turdus merula Eurasian Tree Sparrow* Passer montanus European Goldfinch* Carduelis carduelis Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis Galah Eolophus roseicapillus Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum Gilbert’s Whistler Pachycephala inornata Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Great Egret Ardea alba Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
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Table 9 cont Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica Grey Teal Anas gracilis Grey-crowned Babbler [eastern subsp.] Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis Grey-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus Ground Cuckoo-shrike Coracina maxima Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo Chalcites basalis Horsfield's Bushlark Mirafra javanica House Sparrow Passer domesticus Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Button-quail Turnix velox Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides Little Egret Egretta garzetta Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Raven Corvus mellori Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri Mallee Ringneck Barnardius zonanus barnardi Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis Painted Button-quail Turnix varia Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta
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Table 9 cont Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius Pied Currawong Strepera graculina Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygia Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta Rock Dove* Columba livia Rose Robin Petroica rosea Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsii Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus Silvereye Zosterops lateralis Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens Southern Boobook Ninox boobook Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
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Table 9 cont Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lambertii Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons White-fronted Honeyeater Phylidonyris albifrons White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mysticalis White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 47 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Table 9 cont Birds Recorded from Weddin Shire
Yellow-rumped Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus xanthopyge Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
5.2.1.3 Reptiles
A total of 20 native reptile species have been recorded in Weddin Shire. These are listed in Table 10 .
Table 10 Reptiles [Snakes and Lizards] Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES NAME Bandy-bandy Vermicella annulata Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata Burton’s Snake-lizard Lialis burtonis Copper-tailed Skink Ctenotus taeniolatus Dwyer's Snake Parasuta dwyeri Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textiles Gould's Goanna Varanus gouldii Grey Snake Hemiaspis damelii Lace Monitor Varanus varius Patternless Delma Delma inornata Robust Ctenotus Ctenotus robustus Shingle-back Tiliqua rugosa South-eastern Morethia Skink Morethia boulengeri Spiny-palmed Shinning-skink Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Spotted Black Snake Pseudechis guttatus Tree Dtella Gehyra variegata Tree Skink Egernia striolata Wood Gecko Diplodactylus vittatus Wood Mulch-slider Lerista Muelleri
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5.2.1.4 Amphibians
A total of nine amphibian species has been recorded in Weddin Shire. These are listed in Table 11.
Table 11 Amphibians [Frogs] Recorded from Weddin Shire
SPECIES NAME Bibron’s Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii Eastern Banjo Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii Common Eastern Froglet Crinia signifera Eastern Sign-bearing Froglet Crinia parinsignifera Giant Banjo Frog Limnodynastes interioris Sudell's Frog Neobatrachus sudelli Peron's Tree Frog Litoria peronii Spotted Grass Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Brown Striped Frog Limnodynastes peronii
5.2.2 Further Reading about Fauna
Further information on the fauna of Weddin Shire can be obtained from the following references that are a selection from the available publications.
Mammals
• Strahan, R. [Ed] [1991] – The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals. The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Collins Angus and Robertson, North Ryde.
Birds
• [Anon 1997] – Reader’s Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Readers Digest, Sydney.
• Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F. and Reilly, P.N. [1984] – The Atlas of Australian Birds. Royal Australian Ornithologists Union and Melbourne University Press, Carlton.
Reptiles [snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises]
• Cogger, H. G. [1992] – Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Revised Edition. Reed Books, Chatswood.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 49 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Amphibians [frogs]
• Barker, J., Grigg, G.C. and Tyler, M.J. [1995] – A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Chipping Norton.
• Cogger, H. G. [1992] – Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Revised Edition. Reed Books, Chatswood.
• Robinson, M. [1993] – A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia from Port Augusta to Fraser Island including Tasmania. Australian Museum / Reed Books, Chatswood.
Invertebrates [insects, land snails etc]
• Braby, M. F. [2000] – Butterflies of Australia. Their Identification, Biology and Distribution. CSIRO Publishing, Colllingwood .
5.2.3 Noxious Animals
The main noxious animals within the Weddin Shire are rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, feral cats and feral goats.
Rabbit infestations are generally low with most landholders taking their responsibility to control these pests quite seriously. There are isolated parts of the Shire where rabbits are an ongoing problem - particularly in the Bumbaldry area in the east and in the vicinity of Eurabba State Forest in the south- west of the Shire. This problem is regularly addressed by the local Livestock Health and Protection Authority in association with landholders.
Foxes are a continuing problem over most of the Shire as predators of native fauna and birds as well as lambs. They have been controlled in the past to some degree by shooting for their fur and for sport. However, the demise of the fur trade and changed community attitudes towards firearms use, has largely removed these constraints on the fox population and so other methods of control have had to be utilised.
Periodic baiting by Weddin Shire landholder groups, over blocks of properties covering considerable areas, has been a factor in reducing fox numbers.
Feral goats are a continuing problem in hilly country to the north and east of Grenfell and in the two National Parks, although present numbers are low due to regular shooting and trapping activities.
Feral pigs are present in low numbers in the Conimbla National Park and the surrounding lands but are subject to ongoing control programs.
Feral cats are a continuing problem as they prey on native fauna and cause considerable losses – particularly of birds and small mammals. These animals are present Shire-wide and are a serious pest.
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5.3 Important Wildlife Corridors and Habitats
Until 1993 there had been no formal attempts to establish wildlife corridors to facilitate movement and to provide habitat for native wildlife within Weddin Shire. However, since 1993 Council and the Department of Environment. Climate Change and Water have been considering possible wildlife corridors linking the Weddin Mountains National Park with the well vegetated hilly country in the north- east of the Shire.
The proposal is a long term one. Two possible corridors are being considered. These would utilise travelling stock routes and hill country south-west of Grenfell to link the National Park with the hills to the north-east of the town and thence with Conimbla National Park.
The successful implementation of these proposals is an ongoing task and will depend very much on the cooperation of landholders in retaining existing cover and encouraging regrowth since much of the land in the corridors is in private hands.
5.4 Unique / Important Landscapes and Vegetation
The Weddin Mountains form a spectacular range that rises some 400 m out of the plains and contains sheer cliffs, a sloping plateau and sheltered gullies. These mountains change in their “mood” or appearance with different lights and provide a spectacular vista from the eastern side.
In addition, the Weddin Mountains and Conimbla National Parks conserve within their boundaries examples of ironbark and pine communities along with heathlands.
These communities are not well conserved elsewhere in the State’s reserves system and so can be regarded as examples of unique vegetation. In effect these areas are sites where the eastern and western “floras” in New South Wales meet. Both National Parks are listed in the Register of the National Estate.
A report prepared for a number of central western [then] Rural Lands Protection Boards and published in 1997 examines the biodiversity values of travelling stock routes and associated reserves in the Central West, including Weddin Shire. This report, ‘Sustainable Management Strategy for Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves in Central Western New South Wales’ [Nowland, 1997], discusses, amongst other issues, the location of threatened plant communities within the Shire.
It nominated the grassy White Box Woodland community that occurs on sections of the Bogolong - Eualdrie Travelling Stock Route and on Eualdrie Reserve as being important remnant stands of this once common [and now quite uncommon] vegetation community.
There have been no subsequent studies of unique important landscapes / vegetation undertaken within the Shire since this report was prepared.
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5.5 Uncommon Plant Species
A number of less common plant species, plant communities and native fauna species occur in the Weddin Mountains and Conimbla National Parks. The work of Lembit [1996] recognises eleven species of plants that occur in Weddin Mountains National Park as being at the limits of their distribution. These populations are thus of considerable value as examples of the genetic diversity within their particular species. The plants that are at the limits of their distribution in Weddin Mountains National Park are: • Pixie Caps [Acianthus collinus ] - a small orchid [western limit] • Garland Lily [Calostemma purpurea ] - lily [eastern limit] • Dampiera purpurea - shrub [western limit] • Autumn Wings [Eriochilus cucullatus ] - orchid [western limit] • Shrub Violet [Hybanthus floribundus ] - small shrub [eastern limit] • Lobelia gibbosa - herb [first collection for the Central Western Slopes] • Small-Leaf Daisy Bush [Olearia microphylla ] - shrub [western limit] • Blunt Greenhood [Pterostylis curta ] - orchid [most inland record] • Prostrate Bush-Pea [Pultenaea procumbens ] - creeper/ shrub [western limit] • Tree Triggerplant [Stylidium laricifolium ] - shrub [western limit]
5.6 Threatened Species
5.6.1 Threatened Fauna Species
There are twenty four threatened fauna species recorded from Weddin Shire to the 30 th June, 2009 that are listed in the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995.
These are:
Australian Bustard [Ardeotis australis ] [listed Endangered]
Barking Owl [Ninox connivens ] [listed Vulnerable]
Bilby [Macrotis lagotis ] [listed as Presumed Extinct]
Black-chinned Honeyeater [eastern subspecies] [Melithreptus gularis gularis ] [listed Vulnerable]
Brown Tree-creeper eastern subspecies] [Climacteris picumnus victoriae ] [listed Vulnerable]
Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby [Petrogale penicillata ] [listed Endangered]
Diamond Firetail [Stagonopleura guttata ] [listed Vulnerable]
Gang-gang Cockatoo [Callocephalon frimbriatum ] [listed Vulnerable] GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 52 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Gilbert's Whistler [Pachycephala inornata ] [listed Vulnerable]
Greater Long-eared Bat [Nyctophilus timoriensis ] [listed Vulnerable]
Grey-crowned Babbler [eastern subspecies] [Pomatostomus temporalis ] [listed Vulnerable]
Hooded Robin [south-eastern form] [Melanodryas cucullata cucullata ] [listed Vulnerable]
Koala Phascolarctos cinereus ] [listed Vulnerable]
Little Lorikeet [Glossopsitta pusilla ] [listed Vuknerable]
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo [Cacatua leadbeateri ] [listed Vulnerable]
Painted Honeyeater [Grantiella picta ] [listed Vulnerable]
Pied Honeyeater [Certhionyx variegatus ] [listed Vulnerable]
Regent Honeyeater [Xanthomyza phrygia ] [listed Endangered]
Speckled Warbler [Pyrrholaemus sagittatus ] [listed Vulnerable]
Spotted-tail Quoll [Dasyurus maculatus ] [listed Vulnerable]
Square-tailed Kite [Lophoictinia isura ] [listed Vulnerable]
Superb Parrot [Polytelis swainsonii ] listed Vulnerable]
Swift Parrot [Lathamus discolor ] [listed Endangered]
Turquoise Parrot [Neophema pulchella ] [listed Vulnerable]
These species constitute the list of fauna species that must be considered in assessing the likely environmental impact of developments within Weddin Shire.
5.6.2 Threatened Flora Species
Three threatened flora species that are listed in the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act have been recorded from Weddin Shire.These are:
Acacia ausfeldii [listed Vulnerable]
Austrostipa wakoolica [listed Endangered]
Leinema sympetalum [listed Vulnerable] GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 53 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
5.7 Endangered Ecological Communities
Four Endangered Ecological Communities that are listed on the Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act occur within Weddin Shire. These are the
• White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Woodland [See Figure 2]
• Fuzzy Box Woodland on Alluvial Soils of the South Western Slopes. Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions
• Inland Grey Box Woodland in the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions; and
• Myall Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes Bioregions
The White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland community that is equivalent to the White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland [NSW} is listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservtion Act.
As a consequence of the occurrence of these communities within Weddin Shire, impacts of developments on these communities must be assessed in environmental impact statements prepared for areas where it occurs in the Shire.
5.8 Threatened Species Recovery Plans
Under section 70 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, any public authority identified in a Recovery Plan as being responsible for implementation of measures included in the Plan must report annually in its State of the Environment Report on the actions taken to implement those measures.
An examination of the total listing of Approved Recovery Plans on the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water website indicates that there are two threatened species recorded for the Weddin Shire for which final Recovery Plans have been approved.
These are:
• the Koala [ Phascolarctouus cinereus ]; and
• the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby [ Petrogale penicillata ].
Weddin Shire Council is not specifically identified in these Plans as being an entity that is responsible for implementing sections of the Recovery Plans.
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5.9 Endangered Populations There are no Endangered Flora or Fauna Populations listed for Weddin Shire in the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995.
5.10 Critical Habitat
There are no Areas of Critical Habitat listed for Weddin Shire in the Schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995
5.11 Key Threatening Processes
There are a number of processes that have been gazetted as Key Threatening Processes under the provisions of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995.
Under this Act, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water must prepare a Threat Abatement Plan that identifies actions required to be taken and identifies the responsible authorities, including local government councils.
Perusal of the Department of Environment and Conservation's website indicates that only one Threat Abatement Plan relevant to Weddin Shire has been finalized. This relates to Predation by the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes ].
There are no actions listed in the Plan that require involvement by Weddin Shire Council.
5.12 What is Council Doing About Vegetation, Fauna and Biodiversity?
Weddin Shire Council is concerned that remnant vegetation within the Shire is retained and that native fauna populations are conserved as much as possible.
Council has policy requiring consideration of impacts on threatened plant and animal species, endangered populations and endangered ecological communities at the development consent stage of any development application.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: • Data is required on the range of habitats present within the Shire • Data is required on the type and condition of the remnant vegetation within the Shire • Mapping and description of the remnant native vegetation occurrences within the Shire is needed • A complete listing is required of the flora species present within the Shire [ie. in addition to the listing in the Atlas of NSW Wildlife] • A complete listing is required of the fauna species present within the Shire [ie. in addition to the listing in the Atlas of NSW Wildlife]
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• A listing of the threatened flora and fauna species present within the Shire is needed to assist in assessment of development applications and for environmental management generally • Special funding is required to enable the above work to be carried out as Council does not have the staff or financial resources to carry out these programs 6 WASTE MANAGEMENT
6.1 Management of Domestic and Other Waste
Weddin Shire Council operates a garbage collection service in Grenfell town area that handles some 2690m 3 of garbage per annum. The estimated total mass of waste deposited at the tips is 760 tonnes per annum.
This includes all household garbage and that from Council’s street bins. An analysis of sources of waste indicates that household garbage accounts for about 80 - 85% of the total and trade waste from 10 - 15% while waste gathered in street cleaning operations contributes about one percent.
The weight of household and industrial waste which is privately disposed of at Council tips is unknown in precise terms but is estimated by Council staff to be at least two to three times that collected by Council.
No special provision is made by Council for disposal of industrial waste in the collection service. Individual businesses deposit their own waste at Council’s tips.
For residents at Quandialla the responsibility for disposal at the local tip rests with the individual.
Rural residents either dispose of garbage on-farm or use Council tips. Rural residents pay a separate levy of $20 per assessment for waste management.
Of the villages in the Weddin Shire only Quandialla & Caragabal have tips. Bimbi residents use Quandialla tip. Areas have been set aside for metal recycling and green waste at these two village tips.
Greenethorpe has fortnightly collection service as well as having access to Grenfell and Cowra tips for for other items. The Greenethorpe community has also undertaken a recycling program for household waste, which they then deliver to Cowra.
All tips have buffer zones around them and the Grenfell tip, because of its location in hilly country has a filter strip below it to minimise accessions to the creek that takes its source in the area.
Each tip in the Weddin Shire is a landfill operation at which Council regularly covers and compacts [to some degree] the deposited material. Council does not use fire to reduce volume of domestic waste although fires do occur at the individual tips on a sporadic basis after being lit by unknown persons...
Grenfell and each of the villages, excluding Bimbi, now have oil-recycling facilities in place..
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There are also no special facilities for the disposal of toxic or hazardous chemicals within Weddin Shire. Where asbestos material has been removed from buildings, this material is securely wrapped and buried in deep pits.
Farmers in the area use drum recycling programs. DrumMuster program collections were made at Grenfell, Caragabal and Greenethorpe during the year. A total of 12 079 plastic chemical drums was collected.
6.2 Recycling
Collection facilities for steel and other metals, glass, cans and paper are located at the Grenfell tip.
Council operates a recycling program for metal, glass, aluminium, plastic bottles, green waste and paper. During the year 87 tonnes of steel and 115 tonnes of cardboard/paper, glass, aluminium and plastic bottles were sold to recyclers.
Green waste accumulations amounting to less than 200 tonnes mass were burned during the year to relieve pressure on space at the Grenfell Tip.
A number of larger agricultural properties are continuing to use treated sewerage sludge that is transported from the Sydney metropolitan area, as an organic fertiliser for crop and pasture land. This material is often stockpiled on-farm within bunded areas [while awaiting spreading] at locations where environmental impact will be minimal
Once spread, the sludge is quickly incorporated into the soil by tillage to avoid its erosion by runoff water.
6.3 Sewerage Arrangements
The town of Grenfell is completely sewered with the exception of a small number of residences outside the area of access to the sewer mains. There are no pan collections in any of the villages and settlements and residents use septic systems. Similar arrangements apply in most rural dwellings.
Sewerage effluent from the Grenfell treatment works is wholly used to irrigate public parks and gardens in the town area and none is discharged into watercourses.
The volume of effluent available for irrigation is approximately 320,000 litres per day.
The sludge resulting from the sewerage treatment process, when it dries out, is used in land reclamation projects on eroded areas whenever possible. This sludge is not of sufficiently high quality to be used as a fertiliser on agricultural land.
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6.4 Contaminated Sites
The only registered polluted site within the Weddin Shire is the old Grenfell Gasworks site which was repurchased by Council some years ago.
The contamination at the site was recognised and a report was commissioned to provide advice on necessary remediation work and on options for its future reuse. No further action has ensued in regard to this site during the year.
There are undoubtedly a number of old sheep dip sites on farms where arsenic residues may exist but many of these sites are disused and, in the majority of cases, are overgrown with pastures and other vegetation suggesting that no problem of consequence is associated with these old dips.
Similarly there are many old mine sites in the district which may at one time have been the site of ore processing activity. No sites of concern from a pollution viewpoint are known.
6.5 What is Council Doing About Waste Management?
Weddin Shire Council promotes a “Tidy Town” image for Grenfell and the villages and settlements in the Shire. Council also supports the ‘Clean Up Australia’ campaign and this year organised a community cleanup of the Shire's parks and reserves. At times Council organises special clean-up campaigns to remove larger accumulations of rubbish from householders’ premises.A number of rural landholders also join the cleanup by picking up rubbish from roads adjoining their properties. Council has previously contracted a consultant to develop waste management plans for the Shire. Progress has been made in transforming waste management facilities at the Grenfell Tip It is intended that these new facilities and associated waste management processes will become operational in the 2009-2010 year.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
• The current data on waste generation in the Shire is adequate and does not warrant further expenditure given that Council has a measure of the quantity of material collected in Grenfell and the erratic nature of disposal by individuals where no garbage service is provided • More detailed figures would require expenditiure of large sums of money on recording the amounts of waste collected for little practical gain 7 NOISE
There have been no studies of noise levels carried out during the year that have provided additional information on incidence or levels of noise in Weddin Shire.
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Council occasionally receives complaints about noise levels associated with barking dogs and has a scheme whereby stop bark collars are hired to owners at reasonable cost. These complaints are dealt with by Council staff in the normal course of duty.
One complaint was received during the year about excessive noise emanating from one industrial site. The owner was cautioned about the issue.
7.1 What is Council Doing About Noise?
Council has not developed any new management plans related to the management of noise producing activities in the Shire nor has it any ongoing plans of this nature.
No Council activities or activities of individuals or corporations have had a major or significant impact on the incidence or level of noise in the Shire during the reporting year.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: • Existing recording arrangements are adequate
8 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
Little formal record of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the Weddin Shire exists and the possibility of enhancing this record diminishes annually as older inhabitants of the area with first-hand or handed- down knowledge of the Aboriginal people pass on.
Evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the Weddin Shire area is confined in the main to occurrence of stone artefacts on the soil surface, to a number of carved and scarred trees and to quarry sites where stone for implements and ochre for adornment were obtained. Examples of waterholes [wells] used by Aboriginal people, stone arrangements and burial sites also occur.
Many examples of stone artefacts - particularly stone axe heads and grinding implements - have been collected in the past and these reside in private collections throughout the district as well as in the Grenfell Historical Society’s Museum.
A report prepared in 1993, entitled ‘Grenfell to Caragabal - A Report On Use Wear And Residue In Grinding Stones’ [Wilkinson, 1993], examined a number of collections of grinding implements used by Aborigines in the western part of the Shire.
Work has been carried out to record aboriginal occupation sites in the area within a fifty kilometre radius of the Weddin Mountains. The work is was part of a post-graduate study being carried out at the Australian National University in Canberra.
During the year a scarred tree was located on the Henry Lawson Way
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8.1 What is Council Doing About Aboriginal Heritage?
Weddin Shire Council encourages the conservation of Aboriginal heritage items and sites when it is in a position do so. Very few studies of the Shire have been conducted and so the number of opportunities to achieve this objective are limited.
In addition, because of the long history of clearing and cropping in the Shire, it is likely that many sites have been destroyed in the past.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS • studies at selected sites within the Shire would provide an overview of Aboriginal heritage in the Shire • Council does not have the resources to carry out this monitoring and would require special funding for the task
9 NON - ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
9.1 Sites of Heritage Significance
9.1.1 National Trust Listings
Within Weddin Shire a number of sites of heritage significance have been listed by the National Trust. These are concentrated at two locations - the town of Grenfell and at historic Iandra Station to the south-east of Grenfell near the village of Greenethorpe.
In Grenfell, an Urban Conservation Area has been identified that is described as follows [see also Figure 3]:
‘From the corner of East and Camp Streets westerly along the centre line of Camp Street to Wood Street, thence along the centre line of Alexandra Street to the corner of Alexandra Street and Grafton Street, thence along the centre line of Alexandra Street to the rear alignments of the properties on the south side of Melyra Street, thence easterly along the rear alignments of those properties to the centre line of East Street, thence along East Street to the point of commencement.’
Particular buildings in Grenfell that are listed by the National Trust are:
• Railway Hotel [1914], corner Main Street and Alexandra Street • Grenfell Hospital [1890], corner Cowra Road and Sullivan Street • Sheriff’s Cottage, Police Station and Lock-up [1878] J.Barnet], Forbes Street • The Exchange Hotel Facade, 37 Main Street • The Grenfell Record Office, 41 Main Street • A.N.Z. Bank [1890], 77 Main Street • Bank of New South Wales [Westpac], 124 Main Street • Holy Trinity Anglican Church [1878] [J.Kirkpatrick], Middle Street • Grenfell Railway Station [1901], West Street. GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 60 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Figure 2 - Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Grenfell
Iandra Station, is regarded as being the birthplace of large scale sharefarming in New South Wales. The buildings that have been heritage-listed by the National Trust at Iandra are those in the homestead complex and include:
• The Homestead [1910] which includes the original 1880 homestead within its structure, along with the surrounding gardens and park • The Manager’s Residence [1910], situated to the south of the homestead • The Stables Complex • The Chapel [1890] and Cemetery
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9.1.2 Listings Under the NSW Heritage Act
In addition to the Grenfell Conservation Area and the individual buildings listed by the National Trust for the town of Grenfell, two sites are listed on the NSW State heritage Inventory. These are: • Grenfell Railway Station, and • Iandra Homestead Pastoral Eastate
9.1.3 Listing in the Register of the National Estate
A number of sites within Weddin Shire have been listed in the Register of the National Estate.These include buildings, graves and natural heritage areas. The sites listed on the Australian Heritage Database are: • Conimbla National Park, Kangarooby Road Bumbaldry • Graves on Warrawee, Mid Western Highway, Bumbaldry • Grenfell Courthouse, Camp Street, Grenfell • Grenfell General Cemetery, Henry Lawson Way, Grenfell • Grenfell Post Office and Postmasters Residence Group, Camp Street, Grenfell • Grenfell Town Centre Precinct, Grenfell • Iandra Chapel and Cemetery, Iandra, Greenethorpe • Iandra Homestead Group, Iandra, Greenethorpe • Iandra Homestead and Surrounding Garden and Park, Iandra, Greenethorpe • Iandra Managers Residence, Iandra, Greenethorpe • Iandra Stables Complex, Iandra, Greenethorpe • Lynroy Private Cemetery, Gibraltar Rocks Road, Caragabal • Marandoo Graves, Bumbaldry Road, Bumbaldry • Melrose [former], 7 Weddin Street, Grenfell • Priddles Reserve Grave, Mortray, Henry Lawson Way, Grenfell • Weddin Mountains National Park [1977 boundary], Stock Route Road, Grenfell
The Register of the National Estate has been frozen by Commonwealth legislation since 2007 and no additions or deletions can be made.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 62 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Figure 3 – Grenfell Court House
9.1.4 Other Heritage Sites
Weddin Shire contains other sites of heritage significance such as those associated with the gold mining era and the bushrangers - particularly Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall - along with the site of Henry Lawson’s birth.
In addition, there are a large number of other farm homesteads, farm sheds, woolsheds and other outbuildings within Weddin Shire which are worthy of consideration for heritage listing but many owners fear intervention in their use and enjoyment of these buildings if they are identified.
9.2 What is Council Doing About Non-Aboriginal Heritage?
Council has completed heritage studies of Grenfell and the surrounding villages and intends to place these on exhibition for public comment in 2009 /2010. This will provide the opportunity for public comment on proposed additional property listings.
In addition, opportunity will be provided for properties not located within the town or village boundaries to be added to the heritage list.
GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 63 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Council also proposes to expand the existing urban conservation area in Grenfell in the near future.
Weddin Shire Council encourages faithful restoration of buildings in the Urban Conservation Area and, indeed, within the Shire as a whole.
As evidence of this commitment, Council has retained an adviser to assess building applications from a heritage viewpoint and to assist residents wishing to restore historic properties. Council also conducts a Heritage Assistance Program whereby grants are made available to ratepayers to repair or conserve structures with heritage significance.
DATA GAPS AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS • lack a complete listing of the buildings and sites of heritage significance within the Shire • need for studies of selected sites to generate information on their significance • Council does not have the resources to carry out this work and would require special funding for the task
10 REFERENCES
Anon [1996] - Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Second Edition. Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Canberra.
DEC [2006] - Reconstructed and Extant Distribution of Native Vegetation in Lachlan Catchment. Foundation Building for Strategic Investment in Vegetation Management at a Landscape Scale. Department of Environment and Conservation, Information and Assessment Section, North-west Branch, Dubbo May, 2006
DLWC [2001] – Native Vegetation Resource Package for the Mid Lachlan Reion. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney.
Isbell, R.F. [1996] – The Australian Soil Classification. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
King, D.P. [1998a] – Soil Landscapes of the Forbes 1: 250 000 Sheet Report. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney.
King, D.P. [1998b] – Soil Landscapes of the Forbes 1: 250 000 Sheet Map. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney.
Lang, R.D. [1973] - Cowra Research Station. Meteorological Observations 1942-1971. J. Soil Cons.29[1]: 45 - 66.
Lembit, R. [1996] - Weddin Mountains National Park. [A discussion of the plant communities, significant plant species and the conservation status of communities in the Weddin Mountains National Park contained in a report by ERM Mitchell McCotter to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service]. GEOFF CUNNINGHAM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 64 WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL – COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT, 2008 - 2009
Nowland, A. [1997] - Sustainable Management Strategy for Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves in Central Western New South Wales. Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Forbes, Molong and Nyngan Rural Lands Protection Boards.
Raymond, O.L., Duggan, M.B., Lyons, P., Scott, M.M., Sherwin, L., Wallace, D.A., Krynen, J.P., Young, G.C., Wyborn, D., Glen, R.A., Percival, I.G. and Leys, M [2000] – Forbes. 1: 250 000 Geological Sheet SI 55-7. Second Edition . Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney and Geoscience Australia, Canberra
Raymond, O.L, Wallace, D.A., Krynen, J.P. and Young, G.C. [ 2000] – Grenfell. 1: 100 000 Geological Map 8530. First Edition. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney and Geoscience Australia, Canberra
Raymond, O.L. and Wallace, D.A [ 2000] – Marsden. 1: 100 000 Geological Map 8430. First Edition. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney and Geoscience Australia, Canberra
Sivertsen, D and Metcalfe, L. [1995] - Natural Vegetation of the Southern Wheatbelt. Forbes 1:250 000 Map. Cunninghamia 4 : 103 - 128
Warren, A.Y.F, Gilligan, L.B. and Raphael, N.M. [1996] – Cootamundra 1: 250 000 Geological Sheet SI 55-11 Second Edition. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney.
Wilkinson, K. [1993] - Grenfell To Caragabal - A Report On Use Wear And Residues In Grinding Stones. The Author, Eastwood.
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