ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES parviflora subsp. parviflora restricted to the NW of Sydney in the The following information is provided to Berrilee-Maroota district on sandstone assist authors of species impact and is also listed as a threatened species statements, development and activity under the TSCAct. proponents, and determining and consent authorities, who are required to prepare Surveys should target flat to gently or review assessments of likely impacts sloping land within areas of geology with on threatened species pursuant to the both a shale and sandstone influence. At provisions of the Environmental higher altitiudes in shale/sandstone Planning and Assessment Act 1979. transition areas the location of These guidelines should be read in Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest on the conjunction with the NPWS Information crests and upper slopes coincides well Circular No. 2: Threatened Species with G. parviflora subsp. parviflora Assessment under the EP&A Act: The ‘8 habitat. Soils often contain ironstone Part Test’ of Significance (November gravels and are highly infertile and often 1996). poorly drained. Populations are more commonly found in relatively open, Survey disturbed sites along roads and tracks in areas of open-forest or woodland. G. parviflora subsp. parviflora is an Canopy species vary greatly with inconspicuous, often small which community type but generally are species is similar in appearance to other that favour soils with a strong lateritic Grevillea species which may grow in influence including Eucalyptus fibrosa, similar habitat including G. diffusa and E. parramattensis, and G. montana. It is best surveyed during . Key associated the main flowering period between July understorey species include Daviesia and December when it is easier to ulicifolia, Allocasuarina littoralis, identify. Distinctive features include the ambigua, spinulosa, reddish stems; crowded, erect to Leptospermum trinervium, Acacia ascending, narrow, light green leaves, terminalis, , Pimelea often with a silvery sheen on lower linifolia, Themeda australis, Entolasia surface; and small white to pale pinkish stricta and Eragrostis brownii. flowers. Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora G. parviflora subsp. parviflora may be may be more common than currently confused with several closely related documented in view of it’s wide taxa. G. linearifolia is a taller shrub with distribution and habitat requirements. longer leaves 3-11cm long and is found on sandstone in the Sydney district. G. Due to the suckering nature of G. patulifolia also grows on sandstone and parviflora subsp. parviflora it is often has stout, angular and strongly ribbed difficult to determine the number of branchlets, broader, more rigid leaves present at a site. Sucker stems and pink flowers. It is found south of generally occur in patches close to the Sydney including within the Wedderburn parent . The rhizome can be easily and Picton districts. G. parviflora subsp. seen below the soil surface. supplicans also grows in the Sydney district and can be distinguished by its Life cycle of the species spreading branches and branchlets which Little information is available on the life are held to one side with the leaves held cycle of G. parviflora subsp. parviflora. skyward. Leaves are generally narrower Although most populations are relatively (to 1.3mm wide). This subspecies is large as a result of suckering, the health August 2002 and long-term viability of populations is is also listed on Schedule 3 of the TSCA likely to be dependant on adequate and should be considered in relation to G. seedling recruitment. Any activity or parviflora subsp. parviflora. development that impacts on the Urban development, road maintenance accumulation of seed in the soil and weeds are also recognised as threats seedbank, seed germination or seedling by the Scientific Committee (Final growth is likely to be a threat to the Determination). population or species. Inappropriate fire regimes are a primary Viable local population of the threat to these critical stages of the life species cycle. High fire frequency may be responsible for a decline in the soil The viable population size for G. seedbank and limited seedling parviflora subsp. parviflora is unknown. recruitment and low fire frequency may Until such information is available all result in poor levels of seed germination populations should be assumed to be and dense growth of the shrub layer. viable. Such fire regimes may result from locating new developments too close to A significant area of habitat populations of G. parviflora subsp. Until there is adequate protection of parviflora and associated habitat without Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora, all provision of adequate buffer or fire sites are considered important and the protection zones. habitat considered significant. Sites of Other developments or activities that may particular significance would include the also impact on the life cycle of G. following: parviflora subsp. parviflora include those • Population of >50 plants. that require regular mowing or slashing • Population with a varied age structure of the understorey to maintain visibility including active recruitment of or for protection around buildings. Urban seedlings. development generally, including road • Area of intact habitat away from high construction, may result in condsiderable disturbance areas. modification of habitat including overshading, altered hydrology, Isolation/fragmentation increased soil nutrients and dumping of Connectivity between populations of G. fill and waste. Potential impacts include parviflora subsp. parviflora is likely to preventing plants from maturing and be good along the shale/sandstone setting seed, changes in the relative transition zone in southern parts of its frequency of species, potential increase distribution and within the localised in weed colonisation and changes in soil occurrence of Kurri Sand Swamp conditions. The native shrub Tick Bush Woodland in the Lower Hunter Valley. is an aggressive early In more urbanised areas closer to Sydney, coloniser of bare sites and has prolific isolation of populations is likely to be seedling recruitment in disturbed areas. It increasing and possibly reflected in the is considered to be a threat to G. smaller population sizes in these areas. parviflora subsp. parviflora at several sites. Isolation of populations is likely to result in reduced gene flow and low genetic Threatening processes diversity which may affect long-term viability. Due to limited natural seed Loss of biodiversity and degradation of dispersal (probably <-2 m) in G. habitat following clearing and parviflora subsp. parviflora, even fragmentation of native vegetation is a minimal clearing may act as an effective key threatening process listed on barrier. Plants may re-colonise a nearby Schedule 3 of the TSCA and is relevant area where a population has been lost by to G. parviflora subsp. parviflora. suckering, however, there will still be a High fire frequency resulting in the loss in genetic diversity. disruption of life cycle processes and loss Most developments will create such of vegetation structure and composition barriers as a result of clearing for the August 2002 construction of roads, tracks, houses, Adequacy of representation in factories, hobby farms etc. Activities conservation reserves or other such as mowing, frequent fires, the similar protected areas dumping of fill and grazing by domestic animals may also isolate populations at a Substantial numbers of this species occur physical and/or genetic level. in Werakata National Park. One Degradation of habitat may also cause population of at least 50 plants of G. isolation of populations in G. parviflora parviflora subsp. parviflora occurs subsp. parviflora by creating barriers of within Wirrimbirra Sanctuary at Bargo, dense weed growth. however, the conservation status of this area is uncertain. Two populations (one Regional distribution of the habitat. population with only 1 plant) occur on Sydney Water land within a Schedule 1 G. parviflora subsp. parviflora is Special Area, however, both are in restricted to the Sydney Basin Bioregion. disturbed sites. A small population is located within a Wildlife Refuge near Limit of known distribution Maldon. A Wildlife Refuge does not The northern limit of G. parviflora subsp. provide permanent reservation and plants parviflora is at Heddon Greta in the at this site appear to be threatened by the Lower Hunter Valley. The southern and spread of Kunzea ambigua. G. parviflora western limit is Bargo and the eastern subsp. parviflora is not considered to be limit is Awaba, near Newcastle. If an adequately protected. uncertain record from Moss Vale is confirmed, this would be the new Critical habitat southern limit Critical habitat cannot be declared for Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora as it is not listed on Schedule 1 of the TSC Act. For Further Information contact Threatened Species Unit Conservation Programs and Planning Division, Central Directorate NSW NPWS PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220 Phone 02 9585 6678. www.npws.nsw.gov.au

References Benson, D & McDougall, L. (2000) Ecology of Sydney plant species Part 7b: Dicotyledon family to Rubiaceae. Cunninghamia 6(4):1058. Makinson, R.O. (2000). Grevillea, Flora of , 17A: (ABRS/CSIRO:Australia). McGillivray, D. (1993). Grevillea, a taxonomic revision. Melbourne University Press. Olde, P. & Marriot, N. (1995). The Grevillea Book. Kangaroo Press.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the editor expressly disclaim all liability and responsibility to any person, whether a purchaser or reader of this document or not, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in reliance upon the contents of this document although every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented in this document is accurate and up to date.

August 2002