Historic distribution of vegetation groups on the Gold Coast Exposed Coastal Vegetation of the Gold Coast
Native vegetation grows in groups of local native plants and these groups vary depending on local conditions such as soil, landform, aspect and climatic features including rainfall. There are 10 major groups of vegetation on the Gold Coast. Tidal Wetlands
Eucalypt
Coastal
Riverine & Alluvial Wet Eucalypt
Swamp Forest
Rainforest Montane
Freshwater Wetlands
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Regional ecosystems and vegetation types
The Queensland State Government uses Regional Ecosystems to classify and describe vegetation within a region associated with a particular combination of geology, landform and soil. You can request a map (Queensland Government website) of biodiversity status or broad vegetation group to find out what preclearing vegetation, remnant vegetation and regional ecosystems your property has, or view descriptions of regional ecosystems.
The City uses vegetation types to map its vegetation cover. Gold Coast vegetation types were defined by botanists from the Queensland Herbarium in 2003 and are more descriptive, locally-relevant and informative than Regional Ecosystems. Vegetation types of the Gold Coast are detailed in the table below.
Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha) EXPOSED COASTAL Distinctly zoned vegetation exposed to strong salt laden winds, wind and wave erosion. Typically dominated by sand binding grass (Spinifex sericeus) EC towards the shoreline and wind shorn shrubs and trees (e.g. coastal banksias and sheoaks) inland from the shore. Dune
23 Foredune Complex (Casuarina. equisetifolia/Spinifex sericeus) on Coastal Sand 12.2.14 360 160
26a Sand Blows 12.2.16 487 42
Rocky Headlands
31 Rocky Headlands with Heath/Grasslands 12.12.19 13 2
TIDAL WETLANDS Mangrove, salt marsh, swamp oak and related vegetation communities associated with tidal flats within estuaries. Mosaic of treed and treeless areas. TW Highly dynamic and changeable in extent as flood events modify estuarine shores. Mangroves
18a River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum) Low Open Forest on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 371 356
18b Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) Open Forest to Woodland on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 3,252 2,762
1 Based on Regional ecosystem mapping. Equates to ‘pre 1750’ or ‘pre-European’ 2 Current extent as mapped in 2015 and includes remnant vegetation only. It does not include disturbed remnant or regrowth.
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha)
18c Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) Low Open Forest to Shrubland on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 669 640
18d Yellow Mangrove (Ceriops tagal) Open Forest on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 495 491
18e Red Mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa) Open Forest on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 264 230
18f Mixed Mangrove (Avicennia marina/Aegiceras corniculatum) Open Forest on Marine Deposits 12.1.3 515 490
18g Mangrove Shrubland to Low Closed Forest on Marine Clay Plains and Estuaries 12.1.3 32 31
Salt Marshes
22 Marine Couch (Sporobolus virginicus) Grassland on Marine Deposits 12.1.2 1044 556
22a Common Reed (Phragmites australis) Grassland on Marine Deposits 12.1.2 70 44
22b Marine Sedgeland on Marine Deposits 12.1.2 4 3
22c Samphire on Marine Deposits 12.1.2 251 153
22d Claypan +/- Samphire on Marine Deposits 12.1.2 496 472
Swamp Oak
16 Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) Open Forest on tidal flats 12.1.1 1,794 944
COASTAL Variety of vegetation communities in protected coastal areas. Includes open woodlands and heathlands (wallum). Flowering shrub component includes C tea trees, banksias, peas, wattles and grasstrees. Vegetation is flammable and fire-reliant. Herbaceous wildflowers are especially prolific after burning. Wallum (Heathlands)
25 Wallum Banksia (Banksia aemula) Woodland on Coastal Sand 12.2.9 514 67
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha)
25b Closed or Wet Heath on Coastal Sand 12.2.12 366 25
25c Closed or Wet Heath on Alluvium 12.3.13 531 0
Coastal Woodlands
Pink Bloodwood +/- Brush Box/Beach Cypress (Corymbia intermedia +/- Lophostemon confertus/Callitris 39 12.2.5 2,445 919 columellaris) Woodland on Coastal Sand
3e Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus racemosa) Woodland on Coastal Sands 12.2.6 59 3
SWAMP FOREST Lowland coastal vegetated swamps. Canopy can be open or closed. Understorey highly variable according to drainage. Sedgelands, fernlands and wet SF heath commonly associated in waterlogged areas. Broad-leaved Paperbark - Forest Red Gum - Swamp Box (Melaleuca quinquenervia - Eucalyptus 8 12.3.6 tereticornis - Lophostemon suaveolens) Woodland to Open Forest on Alluvium 6,135 318
Broad-leaved Paperbark +/- Swamp Mahogany +/- Pink Bloodwood (Melaleuca quinquenervia +/- 8a 12.2.7 Eucalyptus robusta/ +/- Corymbia intermedia) Open Forest on Coastal Sand 1,391 476
9 Broad-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) Woodland to Open Forest on Alluvium 12.3.5 4,083 262
Broad-leaved Paperbark - Swamp Oak +/- Forest Red Gum (Melaleuca quinquenervia - Casuarina glauca 15 12.3.20 +/- Eucalyptus tereticornis) Open Forest on Alluvium 7,191 365
FRESHWATER WETLANDS Vegetation communities dominated by aquatic or semi- aquatic plants adapted to low oxygen soil environments and prolonged periods of freshwater FW inundation. Characteristic plant families include sedges, rushes and rush/sedge like plants (Cyperaceae, Juncaceae and Restionaceae). 21 Ephemeral Wetlands on Alluvium 12.3.8 70 29
25d Sedgeland/Wetland on Coastal Sand 12.2.15 58 51
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha) RIVERINE AND ALLUVIAL Forest and woodlands which occur on alluvial banks and plains adjacent to waterways. Periodically subject to flooding. May include rainforest species RA when fire is excluded for long periods. 2b Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) Tall Open Forest to Woodland on Alluvium 12.3.2 892 179
Forest Red Gum-Pink Bloodwood-Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus tereticornis-Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus 6 12.3.11 siderophloia) Woodland to Open Forest on Alluvium 6,040 444
7a Gum-topped Box (Eucalyptus moluccana) Woodland on Alluvium 12.3.3 17 1
12 Black Tea Tree (Melaleuca bracteata) Open Forest on Alluvium 12.3.7a 3 3 Forest Red Gum +/- River She-Oak (Eucalyptus tereticornis +/- Casuarina cunninghamiana) Woodland on 20 12.3.7 Alluvium 895 323
EUCALYPT Forest and woodlands with canopy dominated by eucalypts3 and/or their allies4. Conspicuous understorey plants include wattles, she oaks, peas, E grasstrees, herbaceous wildflowers and grasses (especially Kangaroo Grass, Themeda triandra). Dry Broad-leaved White Mahogany - Queensland Stringybark (Eucalyptus carnea - E. tindaliae) Woodland to 1 12.11.24 Open Forest on Metasediments 21,654 10,208
Grey Gum - White Mahogany - Tallowwood (Eucalyptus propinqua - E. acmenoides - E. microcorys) Open 1c 12.12.15 Forest on Mesozoic Igneous Rocks 613 467.3
Broad-leaved White Mahogany - Queensland Stringybark - Tallowwood +/- New England Blackbutt 1d (Eucalyptus carnea - E. tindaliae - E. microcorys +/- E. campanulata) Woodland on Cainozoic Igneous 12.8.20 371 369 Rocks
Narrow-leaved Red Gum - Pink Bloodwood +/- Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus seeana - Corymbia intermedia 3 12.11.27 +/- E. siderophloia) Woodland on Metasediments 1,440 51
Scribbly Gum - Pink Bloodwood (Eucalyptus racemosa - Corymbia intermedia) Woodland on Sedimentary 3a 12.9-10.4 Rocks 120 18
3 Eucalypts - Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora species; ** Eucalypt allies - Lophostemon and Syncarpia species. 4 Eucalypt allies - Lophostemon and Syncarpia species.
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha) 3b Eucalyptus racemosa - Corymbia intermedia Woodland on remnant Tertiary surfaces 12.5.3 27 0.3
Broad-leaved White Mahogany - Queensland Stringybark - Red Bloodwood +/- Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus 3c carnea - E. tindaliae - Corymbia gummifera +/- Eucalyptus fusiformis) Woodland on Mesozoic Igneous 12.12.14 98 87 Rocks
3d Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus racemosa) Woodland on Metasediments 12.11.27 84 21
Spotted Gum – Narrow-leaved Ironbark +/- Grey Ironbark (Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata - 4 12.11.5 Eucalyptus crebra +/- E. siderophloia) Woodland to Open Forest on Metasediments 8,385 3651
Broad-leaved Ironbark - Large leaved Spotted Gum/Fine-leaved Red Gum (Eucalyptus fibrosa -Corymbia 4a 12.11.25 henryi/E. seeana) Woodland to Open Forest on Metasediments 269 33
4b Gum-topped Ironbark (Eucalyptus dura) Woodland on Metasediments 12.11.25 38 34
Broad-leaved Spotted Gum - White Mahogany (Corymbia henryi - Eucalyptus carnea) Woodland to Open 4d 12.11.25 Forest on Metasediments 7,184 2,996
Forest Red Gum - Narrow-leaved Ironbark/Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus tereticornis - E. crebra/E. 6a 12.11.9 siderophloia) Woodland to Open Forest on Metasediments 702 145
Forest Red Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood - Brush Box (Eucalyptus tereticornis - E. siderophloia - 6b 12.9-10.7a Corymbia intermedia - Lophostemon confertus) Open Forest on Sedimentary Rocks 221 58
Narrow-leaved Ironbark - Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus crebra - E. tereticornis) Woodland on Cainozoic 6c 12.8.16 Igneous Rocks 10 10
Forest Red Gum - Pink Bloodwood - Grey Ironbark +/- Yellow Box (Eucalyptus tereticornis - Corymbia 6d 12.8.14 intermedia - E. siderophloia +/- E. melliodora) Woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks 909 769
7 Gum-topped Box- (Eucalyptus moluccana - E. siderophloia) Woodland on metasediment 12.11.18 212 57
Moist White Mahogany +/- Tallowwood - Grey Gum (Eucalyptus acmenoides +/- E. microcorys - E. propinqua) 1a 12.11.3 Open Forest on Metasediments 3,210 2,355
1b Grey Gum - Ironbark (Eucalyptus propinqua - E. siderophloia) Open Forest on Metasediments 12.11.3 7,432 4,312
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha) Grey Ironbark - Tallowwood - Pink Bloodwood +/- Grey Gum (Eucalyptus siderophloia - E. microcorys - 1e 12.8.8a Corymbia intermedia +/- E. propinqua) Open Forest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 1,189 985
5 Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) Woodland to Open Forest on Metasediments 12.11.23 6,980 658 WET EUCALYPT Open forests with canopy dominated by eucalypts3 and/or their allies4. Higher soil moisture and long intervals between fires allow rainforest trees and WE shrubs to become conspicuous in the understorey. Vines, ferns and sedges often replace light demanding grasses. 2 Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) Open Forest with Rainforest understorey on Metasediments 12.11.3a 2,570 1,488
2a Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) Tall Open Forest on Alluvium 12.3.2 4,930 3,030
2c Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) Open Forest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 12.8.9 819 781
New England Blackbutt/White Mahogany/Tallowwood (Eucalyptus campanulata/E. acmenoides/E. 38 12.8.1 microcorys) Tall Open Forest on Cainozoic Igneous 963 851
Blue Mountains Ash +/- New England Blackbutt (Eucalyptus oreades+/- E. campanulata) Open Forest on 38a 12.8.2 Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 79 66
Flooded Gum/ Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus grandis/E. saligna) Tall Open Forest on Cainozoic Igneous 41 12.8.8 Rocks 2,346 1,602
RAINFOREST Complex and often dense forests typically with closed canopies and an array of plant life forms which may or may not include mosses, ferns, vines, palms, strangler figs and epiphytes. At least half of the canopy contains rainforest species. Canopy trees can be overtopped by emergent eucalypt trees R in some types. Littoral rainforest
28 Littoral Vine Forest on Basalt Headlands 12.8.3 18 18
28a Littoral Vine Forest on Coastal Sand 12.2.2 366 0.25
Gallery rainforest
20a Vine Forest on Alluvium 12.3.16 1,378 234
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Historic 2015 Regional 1 2 Veg Type Description extent extent Ecosystem (ha) (ha) Dry Rainforest
29 Subtropical to Warm Temperate Vine Forest on Metasediments 12.11.10 2,578 665
Subtropical Rainforest
29a Gully Vine Forest on Metasediments 12.11.1 1,939 1,174
29b Vine Forest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks (usually <600m altitude) 12.8.3 5,694 3,411
29c Vine Forest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks (usually >600m altitude) 12.8.5 1,665 827
29d Araucarian Vine Forest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 12.8.4 567 312
29e Vine Forest on Lateritised Plateaus (usually <600m altitude) 12.8.3 92 7
29f Vine Forest on Mesozoic Igneous Rocks 12.12.16 122 28
Warm Temperate Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) Open Forest with Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum) Rainforest 2d 12.8.18 155 144 Understorey on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks Cool Temperate
30 Cool Temperate Rainforest on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 12.8.6 33 28
MONTANE Heathy shrub or grass dominated vegetation communities often associated with Spear Lilies and eucalypts. Rock orchids, ferns and herbaceous plants MT adapted to poor shallow soil and rocky surfaces may be common. Occasionally share similar species to coastal heath communities. 24 Montane Heath on Cainozoic Igneous Rocks 12.8.19 175 168
35 Rock Faces 12.8.19 50 50
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